[IC Thread] Delving the Mists

[Salzorin]

"I think we all know quite well which one I should be taking a look at."

Turning and waving with the back of his hand to his companions, he smiles as he walks out the door, "I'll be back when I've got the pickpockets. Let me know if you need help with anything regarding the break-ins."

First stop is to gather a bit of bait, a small purse of gold, from his home. Then he'll proceed to the area and he'll try to make himself a rather inviting target, watching other possible victims as he goes.

 

[Telsar]

Natalie says, "If we're splitting up, I'll check out the rapes. It will be the more unpleasant to investigate, but the poor victims will probably be more willing to talk to a woman. We should probably just get a feel for the crimes right now, then regroup and decide which needs the attention of all of us."

Natalie waits to go, to see what everyone else will do, hopefully showing none of her actual concern over hunting down a rapist alone.

 

[Gramcrackered]

Orum listens to what the others have decided to do silently, furrowing his brow as he tries to figure out where he should go. At least he would finally get back out on the streets, whatever he chose. All this standing about and politely talking had really begun to grate on his nerves.
Of course, if he chose wrong he'd just be swapping one tedious task for another.

"I'll go along with Natalie. She's the only one who sounds like she might actually be in some danger today. That is, so long as the rest of you step lightly; I suggest you avoid confronting anyone too aggressively just yet. Get the attention of some of the guards first instead."

 

[Cerebus13]

Madeline hands out more detailed information on the cases people indicated interest in and tells everyone to be careful.

Stabbing incident at local tavern:

Spoiler

Occured three days ago, late in the evening
Location: The Boar's Whisker
Victim: Ronald Gwalk
Primary Police Officer who investigated: Usten Kinar
Officer's Notes:
Interviewed bartender (a large man who goes by the name "Red", probably named after his red beard) to get the victim's name. Far too many people involved in the brawl to be able to identify them all, will need more help tracking them down.
Victim was stabbed once in the lower back on the right side. I believe he collapsed from the pain and bled to death on the floor amidst the chaos of the fight. Unknown if he was killed in the heat of the moment or if it was planned beforehand. Murder weapon was never recovered.

Suicide:

Spoiler

Body was found 8 days ago, exact time of death unknown but assumed to have been dead at least 3 days if not more
Location: Apartment building owned by Margret Cole, room #3
Victim: Harold Rumit
Officer on duty: Seth Greensfield
Officer's Notes:
Body was discovered by landlord, Margret Cole, after she unlocked the door to investigate a putrid smell. Corpse was already beginning to rot so I assume that he has been dead for a few days already.
Victim was hanging from a rope fastened to a beam running across the ceiling, a chair was overturned under him. Door was locked, and the only keys are possessed by Margret and the victim. Near the body a note was found with this written on it:
"Please forgive me for what I have done. We killed her so she wouldn't sleep with other men...oh Scarlet forgive me."
Unsure who the note refers to but I surmise that the victim, Harold, killed someone else with the help of an accomplise and then killed himself from the guilt of it.

Breakin/Rapes:

Spoiler

One occured last week, the other occured 8 days previous to that.
Locations: Home of Ellen Duffin, Home of Allen & Muriel Olafsen
Victims: Ellen Duffin, Muriel Olafsen
Officer on duty: Sergei Peters
Officer's Notes:
The first crime was commited in the late evening in the home of Allen and Muriel. The criminal broke a window to gain entry into the home, and is likely to have proceeded directly to the bedroom because neither of the home owners reported hearing any ransacking before they were attacked. Criminal assaulted victim Allen with a blunt object and knocked him unconscious. Then tied up both Allen and Muriel with rope, and proceeded to rape Muriel. Ransacked house for several minutes then left. Neither victim could see the criminal's face as he was wearing a tight black mask of some sort with rough holes cut out for his eyes.

Second crime it appears criminal again went in through a window but this time it was already open to ward off heat. Order of events are unsure because the victim has not yet regained consciousness and is confined to a hospital (The Hand of Ezra hospital) with a guard posted. Criminal savagely beat her, cracking her skull slightly also causing her eyes to swell mostly shut. Victim also raped. Much more personal belongings were taken from the home (after we checked with victim's family on what victim owned) as compared to previous crime.

Pickpocketings:

Spoiler

Ongoing for several weeks
Locations: a stretch of three blocks of poorer residential homes (detailed directions to area is listed)
Victims: at least a dozen reported (no specific names listed)
Notes:
Normally not a documented crime we are taking particular interest in this one because members of a poor district are the ones being robbed. So far little has turned up because people are afraid to talk to the police and we have no snitches from that area.

Salzorin:

Spoiler

You go back to your apartment quickly for your pouch of gold, then you head to one of the blocks that you read about in the case file.

You spend some time wandering around trying to present yourself as an easy mark, but you soon realize that since you are a Halfling that many people mistake you for a child. Those that recognize you for what you are seem to eye you a little more suspciously and hold their hands tight around their money pouches.

Some time passes and you start to think that no thief will bother trying their luck on you, but you do catch a glimpse of a suspcious character hanging out in the shade of an alleyway watching people as they pass by. He never moves from his post during the time that you watch him but you find it strange that someone would simply stand in a shaded alley like that.

 

[Pyrex]

Anton looks suprised that Arthur ran off so quickly after leaving out too much information from his description of the murder.

"Alyson, I'm a little better with the living. If you'll check out the suicide I'll check into the stabbing."

After reading the information on the stabbing, Anton turns to leave, "I'll be back here by an hour past sundown so we can go meet with Mr. Pettigrew. If anyone can't make it back by then send word so we know you're all right."

With that, Anton heads out the door heading first to the barracks to interview Usten then on to the Boars Whisker to talk to the bartender.

 

[Cerebus13]

Pyrex:

Spoiler

[OOC: Usten is actually at the police building not at the barracks, sorry if I didn't make that clear.]

You move with a brisk walk towards the police office building. On a few blocks you have to weave through crowds of people but you make it there in good time.

At the front desk you are greeted by an officer of the law. After asking to speak to Usten he tells you to have a seat and he'll send someone to go find the man. A few minutes pass and an officer approaches you with his hat held under his arm. He extends his hand to be shaken and says, "Hello I am Officer Kinar, what can I do for you?"

 

[Telsar]

Spoiler

Discussing the two crimes with Orum, Natalie says “Hmmm… these two sound very dissimilar. There probably won’t be any connection. We only have a few hours, but I’d like to start with the more violent of the two. It’s the one more likely to need our special abilities. Unfortunately, that means it’s probably the more dangerous.” Natalie gently squeezes Orum’s arm, but doesn’t say anything more to indicate she’s glad he’s around. Can’t look weak in this business. Never show fear. Everyone’s smaller when they’re afraid.

She continues, “We should go to the hospital. If any of Miss Duffin’s relatives are around, I’d like to know what was taken from her.”

If Orum has no objections, they will head to the Hand of Ezra hospital, getting directions from Melanie if we need them. There, Natalie will flash whatever sort of identification law-enforcement uses in this city, and ask about Ellen Duffin’s condition.

 

[Cerebus13]

Telsar & Gram:

Spoiler

Madeline gives you some relatively easy to follow directions to find the hospital, and it takes you about a half hour to walk to the block that it is on.

Seated at a desk not far from the entrance to the hospital is an aged acolyte of Ezra wearing a plain white robe with Ezra's symbol enscribed on the front of it. Standing near her is a mail clad soldier with the Ezra insignia on his armor. He eyes you and Orum up suspiciously until you present your identification [OOC: a document with your name, physical description, and a seal of the Chief of Police that is very difficult to forge] to the seated acolyte.

Upon inquiring about Ms. Duffin's condition she says, "She still has not regained consciousness and is confined to a bed on the second floor where we have segregated rooms for patients with lockable doors. I forget which room she is in but if you simply look for the guard the police sent to watch over her you should be able to find her."

 

[Salzorin]

Spoiler

hmm... well, I suppose he's my only lead. I'll just watch him for now and hopefully he'll make a move. Picking a spot where he can observe the man without bringing attention to himself, Quilan will keep tabs on him for now.

 

[Cerebus13]

Salzorin:

Spoiler

The greasy man's hands twitch at times like he seems to be wanting to do something when he glances at certain people, but he doesn't move for quite a while. Later someone bundled quite tightly in a robe, you cannot tell if it is a man or a woman, comes by and whispers into Greasy's ear. His eyes widen after hearing something and he quickly jogs off down the alleyway.

You glance up at the sun and notice that it is getting rather low in the sky which makes you think the appointment at the morgue will be coming up soon.

[OOC: Because the group is currently split up time is passing independently for each part that split. Thus at some point it may be required to wait for another party member to "catch up" in time. I will indicate if something like this occurs.]