Six Nights to Yearsend (Ptolus Group B)

[Tychus]

"Well," say Glau, straightening his coat, "that went well."

Glau pulls out his pocketwatch, checks the time, and winds it. "Shall we try to pick up the trail of the killers again?"

[sblock=OOC]As I said before, I'm running out of ideas, so maybe we should think about a "get captured" plan. We don't really have enough evidence to be going after House Vladaam at the moment, but if we rile them enough that they come after us...[/sblock]

 

[Deuce Traveler]

OOC: You can investigate one of the scenes or go back to see Yarek Nagel, who is your contact, with what you have found so far. He is here in the Noble District and can provide you with additional information and direction. He did ask to return with the evidence gathered.

 

[Tychus]

Glau yawns loudly. "I think the pre-dawn rousting is catching up to me. Let's pay another visit to the man responsible. Perhaps Yarek Nagel can connect the dots for us."

 

[bedford]

"Yes he should at least be able to give us some advice. Let's go"

 

[Deuce Traveler]

You arrive at the Nagel estate and visit Yarel Nagel in a huge study, roughly 30 feet wide by 60 feet long. He listens to your story intently while chewing noisily on some peanuts. When you finish he asks, "Well, well... some of this doesn't sound quite right now does it? What's your impression, gentlemen? If anything I'd guess that perhaps these deaths weren't as random as they appear, with that Quaelin Fillasti being killed the way he was and all. And if the Vai is involved, well I'd say you'd need someone with some coin that could pay for such service. So why don't you fellas have a mint and tell me your impressions over who might be behind this mess." With a wave of his arm he dismisses his servant and seems to suck absentmindedly on one of his mints.

 

[Tychus]

"House Vladaam's actions are very suspicious," Glau begins. "We know they were no friends of the Knights, yet they offer a princely reward for the capture of the killers. Aliaster's story about preventing similar incidents in the future doesn't hold water. The fact that the Vai killed Fillasti at the same time the other killings were taking place means this was a planned, coordinated event, not some random attack."

Glau pauses, sucking on a mint. When he speaks again, his storyteller's voice fills the chamber. "According to the Watch, the killers behaved oddly when they were captured. I suspect they were drugged or enchanted, or suffering from some sort of memory loss. The first reward was announced shortly after this Kareus fellow escaped, and the announcement included an awful lot of detail on someone who the Watch glimpsed only momentarily. How did Hosue Vladaam know his eye color, let alone his name, unless they already knew who he was?"

Glau paces back and forth as he speaks, "I don't know if this Destor connection is important. The symbols may have been drawn just to lead the investigation down the wrong trail. Perhaps a cult is working with the Vladaam, or perhaps the Vladaam are a Destor cult."

"This reward has set the whole city looking for the killers. No one is asking why they might have committed this crime. It seems to me that rather than helping eliminate chaotic elements from the city, House Vladaam is creating more chaos, while trying to tie up their loose ends." Finished, Glau takes a swig of his drink and eyes Yaren expectantly.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The 25th of Yearsend Month, 12:42 PM

Yarel looks at Glau and nods slowly. "Why don't you have Bobbaros listen at the door for a moment and make sure we aren't being interrupted." Once the chimp gets near the door and nods, Yarel gets up and begins to pace with his walking stick. He seems more vibrant and his eyes are focused. At your inquisitive looks he smiles and says, "I don't have much power within my House anymore. It's sometimes easier to get things done when your someone no one thinks to take a closer look at. Although I do like the mints..."

He sighs and says, "Something bad is about to happen to this city, I'm pretty certain of this, and I believe House Vladaam or at least some of the members of House Vladaam are involved. There is just too much chaos recently. The murders were too well organized and the Vai are too difficult for just anyone to buy. I also don't believe that Gattara Vladaam is trying to hunt down the assassins of the Knights just because she is feeling charitable. She, at least, is definitely involved and her agents have bribed certain officials and newsmen inside Ptolus. I can't have you move directly against their estate, but we can at least move against Gattara's agents and see what we can find. I have a few friends in law enforcement that are telling me Gattara has been bribing a certain Erda Schenk, Oldtown Captain of the City Watch. This is the same man who arrested the assassins and he may have some clues to what is going on.

I'm hearing that Liessa Vergan of the Celestial Conclave overheard a Cherubim elf named Winteril had gotten into a discussion with the deceased Dessis Palath of the Knights of the Golden Cross about a legend of several vile and long dead gods. The two were researching several books in the same section that spoke of the legends, since both had a knack for enjoying these kinds of readings. There was something in the books that agitated Dessis, and she left the conclave library in a hurry, confusing Winteril with her abruptness. The Knights then became more active in adventuring inside our dangerous city Necropolis and then got themselves murdered. If you feel like doing research into this, I'd head either to the Necropolis, which would be dangerous, or the Conclave Library.

A more dangerous option would be to go to the Ptolus Prison and talk to the Warden. I don't see how this group of assassins would have surrendered to his justice unless they believed themselves to be innocent or unless they didn't care if they were to be punished. So why did they flee the prison and why did he kill off two of their companions without orders from the City Council? Be careful though. Warden Odsen Rom is a man with strong connections and is himself a deadly swordsman. Still, he has the master of House Nagel, my brother Kurtlan, a captive because of House Sadar machinations. So far we are unable to pay a bribe large enough for his release, so I wouldn't complain if some ill-fortune fell upon him."

 

[Tychus]

Glau cocks an eyebrow at the last comment. "I'm of no mind to start a fight with city officials. These folks who killed the Knights may have been coerced, but they're not earning a lot of sympathy with their actions today. They'll have to sort out their own quarrel with the warden."

Glau twirls his pocketwatch on its chain as he stairs at the ground in thought. "We all agree that House Vladaam is behind this somehow. Leaning on the watch captain might confirm that, or it might get us arrested. I'd rather be standing on firmer ground before we let the enemy know we're onto them."

"We need to find out why the Vladaam moved against the Knights. What is it the Knights were in danger of discovering? I think we should visit the Library, and see if we this elf might be of any help." Glau looks at his companions for their reaction.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Bobbaros believes he hears someone approach the door and warns the group. Yarel sits back down and gives a warning look before saying, "Good luck to you." He grabs a mint and gives you a wink.

On the way out you notice one of the sentries hanging out close to the door attempting to seem as if he was examining a painting across from the study.

The Celestial Conclave is in the Temple District. Columns surround this round, white monopteron while the outside looks fairly plain. You walk inside and see that the interior contains a great hall that displays every known holy (and some not-so-holy) symbols. Some of these symbols that are celestial symbols hang from the ceiling of the foyer, such as stars, suns, moons, and comets.

A muscular and fit woman with a shaved head, silver torc, and wearing a long grey coat greets you and other visitors in the main hall. "Hello, visitors. I am Liessa Vergan. How may I help you?"

 

[bedford]

Skrymer stays close to the door and gives Glau a nod and looks at Liessa. while waiting for the diplomatic dwarf to question her skrymer sits down and takes out his wineskin and sips a galon or two of his beloved mead while watching the two. It is obvious that this was not the path the werebear was hoping for but then again detective work was never his strong side... " I still think we should pay the warden a vissit." he says as if talking to himself.