TIME June 18th, early morning LOCATION The Section House, Chuza seaport.
BACKGROUND:
The Agents interviewed Master Barwhalle, the merchant that had signed off the order for the crate. Barhwalle indicated that the binding seals were counterfeit.
The Agents followed up on the investigation of the impounded crate and its contents. The forensic and medical agent Sam revealed the crates hidden mechanism that covered a strange coral-rimmed mirror. The other contents of the crate were basically junk – rejects or poor imitations of pottery and glassware.
The Agents returned to the Section House to Interview the now conscious Marek and Shirdrella. Marek did give up one of the snipers’ names (Fuchs) but did not entertain arranging a meeting with his boss.
‘Shirdrella’ wasn’t really who they thought. Quite the opposite of a drow elf gang leader, Marella is a woman on the run from an unfortunate incident in Talismonde. And happened to be a good fit to be hired to act (literally) as Shirdrella’s delivery service. Both Marek and Marella insinuate that the Broken Tankard barkeep (Thom) has more in-depth knowledge of the arrangement.
WHAT HAPPENED
After a well-earned bit of holiday rest, the Agents resumed their night shift at the Section House. During their ‘breakfast’ at The Port Inn, the proprietor, Pitr deVries enquired about the wharf incident and whether he should be concerned about the rumoured shipment of monsters. The Agents rather rudely dismissed his concerns but accepted the packed lunches prepared by his wife, Vanda. A new culinary experiment, spiced yoghurt, with a special surprise, honey cubes.
The Agents set off to work in the bright but very humid evening and narrowly missed being struck by a barrel being unloaded outside an inn. The worker blamed the condensation, apologised, and cleaned up the mess but Hawke noticed a snake tattoo on his neck. The Zhakarov gang favours snake motifs…
The Agents reviewed the Section House notes and updates that had cropped up during their leave.
- Manifest follow-up
Sam indicated the manifests are original and legitimate. - Drug Analysis Report
Jan DeVries indicated the drugs found with ‘Shirdrella’ are a legal variant of ‘twitch’. The stimulant is based on Morning Glory seeds and can induce psychotic side effects. The side effects could manifest as a combination of delirium, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, speech disturbances, disorientation, violent and bizarre behaviour, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature, and superhuman strength. - Sanchez made arrangements for Thom (barkeep of the Broken Tankard) to be observed.
Nothing unusual reported so far.
Midway through the shift, after being on patrol in the thunderstorm, a messenger (Marlin) from the Cedartree museum arrived at the Section House urgently wishing to meet with the Captain. The Agents interviewed him, and Crowe convinced Marlin to allow them to assist in the captain’s absence. Apparently, a book had been stolen.
Crowe checked out two Kemercannon magazines and a pair of walkie-talkies that Rhabbatt would like tested before the Agents headed to the museum in the awaiting carriage.
It was still pouring rain when they arrived at the museum.
Marlin led them upstairs to meet Asquith at the crime scene on the private mezzanine floor.
A charred corpse [Hawke reckoned it is the remains of a small male child] lay next to a broken exhibit case.
Crowe figured the crude lock on the case had been forced.
Raven discovered small ‘muddy’ footprints downstairs, leading up to the mezzanine floor. Smears of a dark substance on the walls about 3’ off the floor were discovered.
Asquith described the background of the Book and that it was on loan from a collector in Kalitzim (Talen).
The two guards, Marcus and Tobol were interviewed. They claim to have heard a scream above the noise of the thunder and on investigating, found the smoking body and another unconscious man nearby. The stench that accompanied the man was so foul that Marcus was physically sick. They moved the unconscious man to a secure storeroom and checked the museum, finding an open window on the 2nd floor.
Hawke reviewed the tracks and indicated that 3 men came in through the windows [a ladder stretched from a nearby rooftop], possibly assisted by the child from the inside. Further investigation of the muddy tracks led them to the toilet on the ground floor. Those tracks weren’t in mud.
Hawke looks further into the toilet and after lighting a sunrod discovered a luminescing dye and a hook under the toilet with rope dropping into the sewers.
The trespassing man, Valka, awoke and the Agents interviewed him in the storeroom, still bound to the chair that Marcus and Tobol had secured him to.
Valka accepted the bargain offer to assist in locating the backstabbing companions in return for release in the Abandonment.
He described his accomplices – Priest, a follower of Hextor and Seth, a practiser of magic.
Raven is slightly unnerved by Valka’s dental issues.
The Agents’ wariness increased when Hawke discovered Valka’s ‘trappings’ bag held teeth.
Human teeth.
EXTRAS.
THE BOOK
Asquith Cedartree the 3rd, Chuza
“Enciervanal Doamni Soar – on the summoning of demons. A very rare, perhaps unique tome with a rather colourful past but it seems incomplete. The book is quite distinct – encased in a bone cage with a locking hasp. Alleged to have been made from the hides of half a dozen donkeys or calves. Pages are missing but still, a very informative treatise on the subject. It lacks detail.
The book is a translation of the original. The author mysteriously died a year and a day after completion. It was loaned to me, hence the urgency in recovering it.
The majority of the pages seem to cover the doctrine of Wee Jas, steward of the Dead, Keeper of the Cabal Macabre. The odd thing is that the information on the summoning of demons is inserted in a rather haphazard manner – jumping between doctrine and occult randomly. Or that’s how I interpreted it.”
“WALKIE TALKIE”
“These new communication units should be of use. Works similar to the Message spell. They have a limited number of exchanges but should be good for around 20 in total.
A couple of new recruits, Agents Dew and Branson, have been trying them out but in the field. One of them claimed he could hear other conversations – not ones from the paired sets.
We tested them here. They work fine of course. I’d appreciate a second opinion from some experienced Agents.”
A ring of blackened coal-like material has an amber button at the top. Press this and talk into the ring to transmit a message to the other unit. An earpiece is inserted into the ear with a loop that moulds around the base of the pinna, discretely melding onto the ear for receiving messages.Officer Rhabbatt, Section 18