Phyrric Legacy - Shackled City IC Thread

[Malvoisin]

Flannad eventually returns. "I could find nothing out of sorts with the locks. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't any fiddling of them."

Gretchyn Tashykk overhears Flannad, and comments offhandedly, "Well, I should hope not, Master Ghelve surely charged a pretty coin for them when they were put in!"

"I'll start on the search for trap doors, concealed or secret entrances or the like. I'll start with the ground floor and work my way up. Anyone care to lend a hand?" The young gnome is obviously starting to feel more at ease being the 'expert' in an area that can help the group.

[sblock=ooc]I guess then Flannad will take 20 on the search check (+8). Obviously this will take a while.[/sblock]

(OOC: Indeed, it takes awhile. )

Flannad makes a thorough search of the orphanage, familiarizing himself with the facility's basic layout in the process. He searches the main hall, the kitchen (with stairs that lead down to a cellar pantry), the dining hall, the playroom for the children, the school room, the staff quarters, and even the bathroom, to complete the ground floor. Proceeding to the second floor, he notes three large rooms...a spacious bathroom containing two large tubs, and two large bedrooms filled with cots. One bedroom appears to be for for the girls, the other for the boys.

Alas, the time and effort spent by the whisper gnome is for naught. By the time the noon bell rings, he has completed his exhaustive search, but he has not been able to find any evidence of trap doors, secret entrances, or anything else that would be considered untoward or unusual.

[sblock=Spot Check]Flannad, does however, notice that he keeps seeing Patch the janitor loitering nearby during much of his search. The janitor is always busy with something, be it cleaning or a minor repair, but Flannad thinks it a bit odd that the fellow seems to be constantly underfoot.[/sblock]

 

[Malvoisin]

"Mistress, if you will indulge me, please tell me everything that occured that evening, leading up to the disappearance of the orphans. There may be something you remember this time that slipped your mind previously."

The headmistress does her best to comply with Arak's request. She recounts how the orphans were fed and bathed, even so far as to offer the details of the meal they ate for dinner. She describes the evening routine of how the children were put to bed, and the doors locked, in order to prevent any mischief. Gretchyn relates how she always is the last to retire for the night, and that she always double checks to be certain that the doors are locked before doing so.

All told, there is nothing to Arak's ears that sounds suspicious or unusual. The whole process sounds very mundane, and indeed a bit tedious. The staff of the orphanage apparently works very hard in their labor of love.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Arak stands up and stretches. The details of the common life are exactly as bad as he'd always imagined. A thought strikes him.

"How do you know you have the only copy of the keys? You have people around you all the time. Could not someone have taken them, perhaps long ago, and made copies?"

 

[Land Outcast]

Remen sighs and smiles when they arrive with the children, after making direct questions and finding it to be of no use, he decides to change the approach... and trying not to sound scary...

He rises from his kneeling position, having just questioned a little girl and declares
"We will play a game" He looks at Jon... but goes on regardless how much this might ridicule him
"Find things that the missing ones had in common, went out the same day? slept on beds one beside the other?"
"Two teams, each team gets one point for each thing in common"

He approaches Jon and says in a low, death-promising tone "Tell no-one about this"

 

[stonegod]

He approaches Jon and says in a low, death-promising tone "Tell no-one about this"

Jon smiles and then nods solemnly. He helps with the game, trying things like age or visits by others.

~~

After reuiniting with the others, and on hearing Mistress Tashykk's remarks to Flannad, he leans over to Arak and whispers in his ear, "'One key opens all doors.' Even if the Mistress had her key on her, it is possible that the locksmith may have a spare..."

Jon then turns to the halfling, a smile on her face. "I'm sure Master Ghelve designed the locks well. Did he do all your locks?"

 

[Land Outcast]

"We'll have to have a word or two with those half elves sent by the mayor"

 

[Legildur]

When the group regathers to share their findings, Flannad is rubbing bloodshot eyes and attempting to stretch a stiff back. "This is hard work," he mumbles, looking around to be sure that they are alone. "The janitor, Patch, he gives me the creeps," says the young whisper gnome softly. "He was everywhere I was. Odd that he always had work in the same area that I was searching. I tell you, either he is very protective of this place, or he has something to hide."

 

[Malvoisin]

Arak stands up and stretches. The details of the common life are exactly as bad as he'd always imagined. A thought strikes him.

"How do you know you have the only copy of the keys? You have people around you all the time. Could not someone have taken them, perhaps long ago, and made copies?"

Gretchyn answers with just a trace of irritation, "Well, it's the only key so far as I know." Then she adds, "But, I suppose anything is possible. Still, I don't know how anyone could possibly have taken the keys without my knowing. I'm very careful with them."

 

[Malvoisin]

Remen sighs and smiles when they arrive with the children, after making direct questions and finding it to be of no use, he decides to change the approach... and trying not to sound scary...

He rises from his kneeling position, having just questioned a little girl and declares
"We will play a game" He looks at Jon... but goes on regardless how much this might ridicule him
"Find things that the missing ones had in common, went out the same day? slept on beds one beside the other?"
"Two teams, each team gets one point for each thing in common"

He approaches Jon and says in a low, death-promising tone "Tell no-one about this"

The young girl grins up at Remen in a way that would surely embarrass him if the situation weren't so serious. "Okay, Mister." She proceeds to round up some other players for the 'game' and soon the orphanage is buzzing with chatter, as the children try their hardest to come up with common links between their missing friends.

After a time, Remen and Jon have learned a bit more about the orphans, but not much that might indicate why these in particular have been targeted. Apparently, Deakon Stormshield is a dwarf, while Evelyn Radavec, Lucinda Aldreen, and Terrem Kharatys are all human. Deakon and Terrem are boys, while Evelyn and Lucinda are girls. Lucinda was the newest resident of the orphanage, having come to live there about four years ago. Evelyn has blond hair, while the other three children all have dark hair. By this point, the game-players have begun to lose their enthusiasm, and their attention wanders to a more important topic...lunch.

 

[Malvoisin]

After reuiniting with the others, and on hearing Mistress Tashykk's remarks to Flannad, Jon leans over to Arak and whispers in his ear, "'One key opens all doors.' Even if the Mistress had her key on her, it is possible that the locksmith may have a spare..."

Jon then turns to the halfling, a smile on her face. "I'm sure Master Ghelve designed the locks well. Did he do all your locks?"

Gretchyn answers, "Indeed, he did make them all. That was several years ago, but I knew I wanted Master Ghelve to install my new locks. He's the best in town, don't you know."