Matters of Blood [Glorious Bastards]

[xarvh]

The Town Hall of Eagle's Launch is a wide, spacious building, entirely built of solid dark rock and with a great view of the port.


The Meeting Hall is a luxurious room at the second floor, with a large marble table at the center and a small podium towards one side.


On the podium, a tall austere figure in jade armor, Wood Aspect Magistrate Cynis Dionjiis looks at the other attendants.


Commander Nellens Opal, Eagle's Launch Guard, Earth Aspect.


Lieutenant Nellens Kito, Eagle's Launch Guard, Water Aspect.


Ragara Moonlight, Fire Aspect.


Commodore Ragara Aya, Realm Navy, Water Aspect.


The Commodore looks like and older, meanier version of Leiji.


Impeccable, tight uniform, shining epaulets, face always stuck in an angry grimace and teeth chewing a oak smoking pipe.


Magistrate Ragara Shaodana, Water Aspect.


A magistrate of fame renown for her cunning, Shaodana looks like a joyful and relaxed middle-aged woman, fostering a disturbing and healthy paranoia in those who dare speak with her.


Capitan Peleps Najalin Leiji, Realm Navy, Water Aspect.


Cathak Nyusul, Fire Aspect.

Spoiler

Eris and Chu can be here or somewhere else at their choice, it's prerogative of a Bond Brother not to take part in the inquiry for the death of another Brother.


In case, I will open another scene for them.


Further investigation will be likely unsuccessful, however Dionjiis and Kito have further information to disclose.


Sand has been deliberately left out.


This scene will mostly be social combat:


Cynis Dionjiis wants to ensure that the murderer will be punished, more for reasons of House face than anything else.


You want to convince the two magistrates to let you sail West free from Aya's claws.


Their authority is enough to issue binding orders to Aya.


However, Shaodana is unlikely to go openly against a family member.

 

[Amethyst1]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Something wasn't right. The death of her brother had affected Leiji more profoundly than she had ever anticipated. It was like something had been plucked from her life, stolen from her, without her really knowing the value of what was taken until after it was gone. She knew she was supposed to be concerned with somehow devising a way to leave Eagle's Launch without Commodore Ragara's escort, but it seemed impossible to stay focused. The usually controlled naval commander was strangely fidgety as she stood there among the Magistrates, the officers of the city guard and the members of the Ragara clan. Oddly enough, she realized she missed Sesus Sand. He was human, and even though he was of a Great House, there was always that divide between mortality and godhood. With these other Dynasts, however, Leiji was at a disadvantage. The city guard would be protecting their home turf, while the Magistrates wielded great authority that they would put toward cleaning up the mess. And Commodore Ragara was both Leiji's superior and her most immediate threat.


Leiji approached the city guard commanders, Opal and Kito, first. Arms folded, she spoke in a low but firm voice. "How do you gentlemen think this inquiry will proceed? Do you have any ideas about who could have done this? Any strange reports at all?"

 

[Persell]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Nyusul steps in, keeping a slight grimace.


He takes a look of the people around him, and hold himself to not shout at those people.


He could see from their faces: they were not there for Aurethius or to find his assassin. They were there only to show they care.


Anyway, he was used to have a different strategy than when he fights: He simply crosses his arms and listen.

 

[xarvh]

Re: Legacy of a madman


With commanding voice, Cynis Dionjiis interrupts Leiji.


Capitan Peleps, this is an official Commission.


Please share your thoughts with you all, or keep your silence.


The old Wood Aspect strokes his long and thin, white beard, and releases his dismissive gaze from Leiji to stare at the whole assembly.


House Cynis is NOT pleased.


While House Sesus has expressed some vacuous apology for the incompetence of a mortal, that specific matter will be addressed in a dedicated session between the involved Houses.


We are here to ascertain the circumstances of the death of Cynis Aurethius and to ensure that those who dare strike the Dragon Blooded Host will incur in due punishment.


You have all been briefed about the event.


However, our esteemed Nellens Kito would like to update us on the latest finds of the investigation.


Lord Kito, please...


Kito stands up, uncomfortable with so much formality but apparently proud of his work.


He produces a large bag on the table, that he opens to reveal a large composite bow.


Ehm... The here bow uas tacken from Lady Eris from when the kille was found.


The bow uas mad by Master Cheyin, a vera good master craft in Eagle Launch.





Commodore Ragara Aya leans forward, smoking pipe sideways, to examine the bow with competent attitude.


A fine work, for a mortal.


Kito acknowledges and proceeds.


Yes. Cheyin very good. But says sold the bow to Dynast. But he not remembers detail. He just say I could not doubt he was Dragon Blooded Host.


Cheyin uas arrested, but likey bin decived from Exalt. He uas usually honest man.

 

[Persell]

Re: Legacy of a madman


"Let me understand. You have the assassin's weapon. You are supposed to be able to know something about the killer... And all you can... say, if we can call this a talk, is that the killer was a Dynast? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING US? OF COURSE HE WAS! He shot true from FIVE HUNDRED meters away!"


The warrior stands up, in unstoppable anger.


"People, if we want some clue, I think we should, first, think before talking, second... Stranger than the bow, are the arrows. Those were target arrows, really not easy to find.

 

[xarvh]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Magistrate Shaodana stands up and takes the word.


She sounds very calm and accommodating.


Lord Cathak, please.


We understand the situation of pressure you and your Brothers are experiencing.


What is important, in Lord Kito's assessment, is that whoever bought that archer had the means to pose as a Dynast, means that likely include Charms unavailable to the Terrestrial Exalted.


Shaodana takes a pause, then, with grave voice, she continues.


We have to consider the possibility that our killer, assuming an individual acting alone, bears the power of the Anathema.


The word sinks heavily in silence the room, and for a few seconds, no one utters a word.

 

[Persell]

Re: Legacy of a madman


A smile draws on Nyusul's face.


Finally she said that word.


"Are you saying that there is an Anathema wandering around the Blessed Isle? I assume I don't have to explain you that this means a serious failure of the Wyld Hunt!"


Walking in circle, he pretends to be thinking what he already thought.


Then, he stops and takes breath.


"If your conjecture is right, our enemy would be far away from here. I don't know how he managed to conceal himself from us and follow us, but it would be really unwise to stay here.


He surely knows about our mission... We are going to meet him again.


But this time... - Nyusul ends his words tightening his fist.

 

[Amethyst1]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Crestfallen at being so admonished by Cynis Dionjiis, Leiji did indeed keep her silence through Nellens Kito's presentation. She glanced at the composite bow and then looked up when Nyusul was consumed by his anger. She did not appear surprised, but she looked abashed once again. Finally, she addressed the commission once more, this time addressing all the members.


"An Anathema on the Blessed Isle would be highly unusual, but it's not entirely unreasonable," Leiji said. "No one can control where they appear, and their abilities allow themselves to sneak around wherever they please -- even if it is into the very center of the Realm. Still, even if an Anathema would be able to pose as a Dynast, that still doesn't explain how he or she was able to procure target arrows. We have to assume that whomever is behind this either has connections to the black market or to the Imperial armed forces."


She leaned back and rapped her fingers on the table. "Whatever the case may be, it's obvious we're dealing with an Exalted enemy who wants to disrupt our mission. As Brother Nyusul says, time is an issue. It may be best if we were allowed to leave Eagle's Launch for the West as quickly as quietly as possible -- with as little fanfare as possible."

 

[xarvh]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Aya seems pleased.


Lord Cathak and Lady Peleps are right.


The vile murderer has most likely left Eagle's Launch already.


We shall continue forth at once, he wants us and we'll make sure he gets what he wants...


Aya attempts a grin...

 

[Persell]

Re: Legacy of a madman


Finally things were going how Nyusul wanted.


"Awesome. As Leiji said, we have to leave early. And better if no one, unless who is in this room, knows about our departure. Letting other ships follow us is completely to be avoided."


A malicious idea take shape in Nyusul's mind. It is a dangerous idea but....If it works...


"The Southern Tempest...I have an idea for that.


Let me explain: our enemies probably do not know me or my brothers, but they are been surely informed about our ship. Not sure it will work, but...What if we try to deceive them? WE will take the Southern Tempest, and others men, possibly a Wyld Hunt's squad, will take the Scourge and sail in a different path.

 

[Amethyst1]

Re: Legacy of a madman


It is Leiji's turn to try and contain a smile. "Hmm... An attempted deception? I think Brother Nyusul is on to something, indeed. It seems those lessons at the House were not wasted. I have to agree that it makes sense. Like I said, we should avoid fanfare as much as possible, and nothing would draw more attention than a large fleet of ships leaving Eagle's Launch at once. It's obvious that the assassin knows who is part of this little brotherhood of ours, so we must assume they know that the The Scourge is my ship. If we take the Southern Tempest instead while Commodore Ragara acts as decoy, the assassin should be drawn out. And justice could be had for the Realm -- and for House Cynis."

 

[Fiaryn]

The doors swing open, and carry with them an out of place scent of the forest, not to mention the sounds of coughing and cursing. The man who enters one might, at first glance, mistake for a vagrant or perhaps a crazed hermit garbed in drab well worn leathers. The initial impression fades as one begins to notice the green tinge to his skin, marking him as a child of Sextes Jylis. Failing that, the green jade powerbow hanging across his back is something of a dead giveaway to his true nature.


Knocking back a long drink from his hip flask before even deigning to acknowledge anyone in the room, the disheveled man unceremoniously makes his way to the table and puts his boots up. "Ahh...home sweet fuckin' home. My but it's been too long." he calls out in obviously feigned cheer, his lip curling in disdain. "I got the message at the end of the ten foot pole, Magistrate. I take it it's pretty damned important that you're willing to have anything to do with little old me?"

 

[xarvh]

Unable to conceal embarrassment and loathe, Magistrate Dionjiis introduces the new guest.


Allow me to introduce... ehm... Magistrate Cynis Dezrik.


Then, in lower voice, he hisses at the newcomer.


Just in time, Dezrik...


With a deep breath, Dionjiis continues.


Dezrik is here on behalf of House Cynis, to ensure that the murderer will be punished.


He was intended as my very aide, but since we have established beyond doubt that the murderer has left Westwards, I see no other option but to assign him to the Brotherhood.


Dionjiis does little to conceal that he's delighted of not having other options...

 

[Fiaryn]

Dezrik lets out a dark chuckle at that last comment from Diojiis. "I was an only child so you can imagine my delight, a Brotherhood of my very own! Pinch me I must be dreaming." he drawls with characteristic irreverence before knocking back another drink.


"That said, thought you all might like to know some details I've turned up on the matter of your dear departed Brothers head on collision with a speeding arrow. How long has this investigation been going on again? Because I can't help but wonder why I was the first one asking obvious shit like this. Nevermind, not important." he finishes with a dismissive wave of his hand before digging a scroll out of his pack, unrolling it and clearing his throat before reading off his findings to the assembled.


"It would seem that our departed cousin Aurethius had a favorite fuck t-...I'm sorry, 'carnal satisfaction agent' within House Cynis that he was quite fond of, and she quite fond of him. Maybe he filled her head with dreams of a loftier life style, who knows really. Not important. Point is he confided in this Cailema girl before his death, and hers. She was seen handing a sealed envelope to Aurethius before the Bonding Ceremony, and she seemed borderline panicked. One week later? Dead as it bloody well gets, chopped and diced like my lunch today. Needed the Charms of the Dragons just to confirm it was even her. Lovely eh?" he forces a smile.


"So the question becomes, how exactly does our possibly-Anathema killer, or his associates I sincerely doubt these things are unrelated, know about Cailema in the first place? How is he posing as a Dynast? How does he have access to target arrows? The most obvious answer is often the right one boys and girls. I'd wager a fair bit he isn't posing as a Dynast, he is a Dynast. Something to chew on huh?"


With that he puts his hands behind his head and reclines in silence, letting them say what they will.

 

[Amethyst1]

Re: Legacy of a madman


When Dezrik enters the room, Leiji looks at him with surprise initially, then with contempt not unlike that of Magistrate Dionjiis. However, she remains relatively passive until Dionjiis announces that Dezrik will be joining the brotherhood, at which point she briefly buries her face in her hand. However, she quickly removes it, looks up and listens as Dezrik reveals the information about Aurethius and his deceased lover.


"Yes, we found a love letter from a 'Cailema' on Aurethius' person after he was murdered," Leiji says flatly, when Dezrik was finished. "As for the sealed envelope... Well, the only one of those we found contained a letter announcing an intention to attack us on our trip through the Pass of the Quiet Winds. An interesting missive indeed, considering that our intention to travel overland to Eagle's Launch was not known until shortly after the ceremony..." Her eyes rested for a moment upon Ragara Aya, a sharp and piercing look. "As unlikely as it is that one of the Dragon-Blooded Host would actively work against an official mission of the Realm, I do think it may be a fair assumption that our unseen foe is a Dynast. A target arrow might be procured on the black market with some effort, but it does seem like our foe -- our foes, as the case may be -- does have an a very deep knowledge of Dynast society and what is going on within it."

 

[Fiaryn]

The grin on Dezriks face only widens at her reactions, and as Leiji finishes he dons an expression of blatantly feigned realization. "Ah yes my dearies, it seems that I'd forgotten to mention one minor detail of importance. It would seeeeeem," he drawls the word out as he pretends to re-inspect his scroll of notations and points of interest before continuing, "that poor Cailema, according to the Charms use to analyze her manner and time of death, died before delivering the aforementioned sealed envelope. As much as several weeks before, in fact."


"Your guess is as good as mine." he shrugs and goes to take another drink, finding much to his chagrin that his flask is drier than the South.

 

[Persell]

Nyusul begin to lose patience.


"Guys, we are losing time. IF we have our Magistrate coming with us...Shouldn't we leave...NOW?"

 

[xarvh]

Cynis Dionjiis rises a lips in annoyance...


While I find the form inappropriate, I must agree with young Cathak's content.


I for one want the evidence collected as soon as possible, so that swift retribution may strike the assassin.


With both hands, he invites all the attendants to stand up and reach the for the door.

 

[Amethyst1]

Cynis Dionjiis rises a lips in annoyance...
While I find the form inappropriate, I must agree with young Cathak's content.


I for one want the evidence collected as soon as possible, so that swift retribution may strike the assassin.


With both hands, he invites all the attendants to stand up and reach the for the door.

Leiji glances at Dezrik as he drops his bombshell. "Wait... So, to be clear, someone adopted the form of Aurethius' paramour, even though she was already dead? That does seem truly remarkable... Though not unheard of. For all we know, it may very be the result of First Age technology. Still, there is the question of how this person knew what route they were taking, and what their intention was in informing us of what was supposed to be a surprise attack..."


When Nyusul and the Magistrate have their little exchange, Leiji raises her head. "Yes, let us go," she says, heading for the door.

 

[Fiaryn]

Dezrik merely nods, the emptying of his hip flask having unfortunately deprived him of distractions from the matter at hand. "That does seem to be the case. I'm all for getting moving sooner rather than later, but I'd suggest dropping by the scene of cousin Aurethius' demise on the way if at all possible. I have not actually had the chance to examine the scene itself and may be able to turn something up."


"Or we can sail around semi-aimlessly with but the vaguest of leads. Whatever floats your boat, darlin'. Is there any booze at this dinner party? You know, for the road." he queries with a forlorn look, scratching at his scruffy beard.

 

[xarvh]

Leaving her chair for the door, Shaodana interrupts Dezrik complaints.


Yes, yes, I agree, we shall definitely survey the roof.

 

[Amethyst1]

"A thorough re-examination of the crime scenes sounds like a good idea," Leiji said, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. Truth be told, she wanted to delay the Brotherhood's departure until it was plainly resolved that Commodore Ragara would not be sinking her withered talons into their mission. Any excuse to hinder their progress was welcome. Besides, she still was genuinely curious about who had killed Aurethius -- both due to the feelings the oath stirred in her, and because it was possible she would be another target. "I know some of my Brothers decided to investigate when Aurethius was killed, but their pursuits were fruitless. That the killer managed to elude Dynasts speaks as a testament to his or her skill. However, three magistrates trained in investigation may discover what they could not." As she walked along, she spoke to Drezik. "Magistrate, may I inquire as to how many cases you have handled before this one?"

 

[Fiaryn]

"Somewhere between a lot and many, oh Captain my Captain. Cynis doesn't like how I handle things though so...the Dragons share of them have been out in the West in asinine little satrapies. Why do you ask?" he responds with faux innocence as he shuffles along besides Leiji to their destination.

 

[xarvh]

Slowly, the group of Dragon Blooded moves through the streets of Eagle's Launch, showered in night.


Just a gentle, warm breeze, blows through the sleeping city, and carries the smell of saltiness and codfish.


At the feet of the small building, Dionjiis looks at the roof, and silently leaps on it, followed shortly by Kito and Opal, that land slowly on the flat, gray surface.


One by one, the other Dynasts reach upwards, with casual ease.


Below them, Eagle's Launch spreads dark and smelly.


The rooftop, or for that matter any one of the surrounding roofs, is too low to be called a vantage point, yet allows a view on the Sesus Residence, and especially on windows of the southern wall.


What is disturbing, however, is the sheer distance.


Squinting, it is possible to recognize through the windows the larger objects in the main hall.


Dionjiis focuses intensely on the manse, probably staring at the broken window, and a vortex of seeds spins in the air, hitting the ground and quickly blossoming into tiny buds.


He mumbles something, then announces: "Eight hundred and twelve meters.


Commodore Aya?"


Ragara Aya puffs her smoking pipe.


I saw Wood Immaculates striking true at such a distance, with a Jade bow... But with that? - she points at the envelope Derzik is carrying - Just no.


Ragara Moonlight snorts, her luscious upper lip contracting in a grimace.


Are you telling us that no Terrestrial could do that?


Silence falls, awkward and tense.

Spoiler

YAY casual wire-fu. =)


Well played everybody so far, 1XP to each.

 

[Fiaryn]

Upon reaching the scene of the crime, Dezrik either ceases to hear or ceases to pay attention to everyone else. His self assured, smug look that he typically wears melts into one of simple focused concentration as he moves across the crime scene slowly, laboriously even. Let the "respected officials" wring their hands at the prospect of an Anathema, he thought to himself, it didn't matter. He finally had a challenge worthy of his skills in front of him and wasn't about to be distracted by anything short of Danaa'd herself appearing to dance the White Wall Waltz.


"Anathema Anathema what's your name..." he murmured to himself in a sing song voice as Essence began to coalesce about him, at first in tendrils of vibrant viridian but shortly thereafter fading into sea-green and oceanic blue, his anima contorting itself to serve the needs of the moment. Watery essence gathered at the edges of his clothing before falling to earth and rippling outwards to uncover every scuff on the ground that suggested movement, every tiny object. Every crime scene was like a river bed, like a beach. One could not go back in time...but in knowing how the waves carved out the shore of the present, the past could be reconstructed. One simply had to follow the currents...

Spoiler

Ugggh I'm so rusty at stunting. And flowery emotes for that matter, but it'll do. Using Bloodhound's Nose Technique and the Second Investigation Excellency together for a net 11 motes (6 personal, 5 peripheral because ah what the hell why not) and 1 willpower. My own interpretation of the Charm is that since we already have pieces of evidence from the scene, the initial standard Investigation roll isn't necessary but in case you disagree with me I went ahead and rolled it for the lulz.

Initial Investigation Roll (Perception + Investigation)

Dezrik rolled the following in his 9 dice:
10, 2, 9, 3, 1, 8, 1, 5, 5
Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 4 successes.

Bloodhound's Nose Technique (Intelligence + Investigation)

Dezrik rolled the following in his 8 dice:
4, 2, 6, 3, 3, 8, 5, 2
Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 1 successes.

Plus two successes to the Bloodhound's Nose Technique roll. And that is why we use the second excellency. Because you can never, ever trust dice. They want to kill all humans.