The Found Arcana – Chapter 6 [IC], Continuation of https://www.rpgplayroom.net/forums/topic/the-found-arc Options

[Jack_Spade]

Jawsey followed McElroy into the crawlspace - contrary to his anticipation, the place was clean, well lit and not stuffy at all. To his left the massive outer wall showed no signs of damage, to his right he could sense a powerful ward behind which the whole wall was covered with slightly fluorescent lichen. The ward had been created by McElroy since he granted Jawsey the ability to look through the ward on the astral.
When they reached the place where Mato thought he had seen the figure, they focused their astral sight... and found nothing. Absolutely nothing - exactly like they had outside where the watcher had been destroyed.
McElroy spoke what Jawsey had thought: "It seems someone has cleaned this place in the astral just like they did with the watcher. But it doesn't look like they were able to break through the ward or the plants, otherwise the astral bacteria would glow like mad and the alarm would have been engaged."

[Gilga]

In the meanwhile, AM uses the cameras to find Masha(?) the maid that delivered the cheese/wine to van Der Bloom. If the system has recording capabilities she will backtrace her path and try to see if she finds anything suspicious.

[Jack_Spade]

AM didn't have to look long. Masha had delivered the stuff with a lot less eagerness than she had shown leaving the basement retracing her steps, she had delivered the food straight from the kitchen, stopping only once to answer a question form Harabia as the actor came out of the spa area. The audio wasn't perfectly clear, but it sounded as if Harabia asked where additional towels were stored. The whole exchange hadn't taken longer than 30 seconds. Unfortunately, Am couldn't be sure that that Masha hadn't put something on the food while she carried it, as her body at times obscured the angle of the camera to the food.

[Beta]

"Just as well they didn't get through. And they wiped any magic. While we are here, though, we should probably take a look for anything non-magical that could have been left behind. If they just materialized then it seems unlikely, but ... something weird is going on, I vote for paranoia."

With that Jawsey drops out of astral and spends a bit of time examining the area for any physical objects that seem out of place -- or for that matter any physical evidence that he and McElroy haven't already destroyed.

[ Spoiler ]

perception: 7d6t5 6

After looking around, it finally occurs to him "Of course this could all be a diversion to keep us busy, too."

[Gilga]

AM follows with the person that made the food Masha took from the kitchen focusing on the story of the food to see if she finds any tampering with that.

She texts the team + Cunningham
>> it may be prudent to question Masha and the kitchen crew considering what happened to Van der Bloom, and when it happened.

[Tecumseh]

Mato agrees with AM that it's probably time to question Masha.

That said, he's somewhat at the limits of what he can accomplish without permission and/or specific instructions. He's not going to barge in on the newly-engaged couple, nor is he going to start terrorizing household staff unless ordered to do so.

He stands at attention, looking good in his chasseur uniform while the magicians do their finger-wiggling.

[Gilga]

AM instructs Trouble to approach Masha and convince her to give him milk, and tell him about her most exciting deeds of the day. She'll guide Trouble to Masha's current location, according to the camera feed, and instruct him to materialize out of sight so he appears like a normal black cat.

[ Spoiler ]

Influence: 10d6t5 3

[Jack_Spade]

Jawsey scrupellously looked around the narrow area searching for any clue he might be able to find, but there was just nothing to see. So as he sighed and took a deep breath he noticed a faint smell. It took him a moment to place it: Olive oil, real cold pressed oil. He could identify it only as it had been part of one of the entrees of the dinner.

Cunningham replied: <<Yes do that. Such irregularities could mean nothing or they could be part of a plot - and seeing that you are here to prevent any such plots, it would be foolish to stop you. Do what you can for now and then go to bed. I'll take personally watch here at the door, ready to act should anything threaten his Lordship and his fiancee.>>

Masha certainly didn't have to be influenced hard to be nice to Trouble. Milk and a bit of roast beef landed on a saucer and while the girl stroked the cat, she began talking about the day. Nothing particularly interesting appeared - beside her talking about the three new servants and her confiding, that she fancies Jawsey already. She briefly mentioned that she had to bring food to van der Bloom and that she doesn't like him very much. But nothing indicates that she tried to poison or drug him.

The cameras are likewise inconclusive as the kitchen isn't monitored just like most of the other rooms except for the corridors.

[Gilga]

Only on team channel >> Trouble does not suspect Masha, she did not confess to poisoning Bloom, and her aura seems too relaxed for someone participating in a conspiracy.

[ Spoiler ]

I assume that Trouble assenses her so fix me if I am wrong on the last assertion.
Assensing: 10d6t5 3

[Gilga]

In the meanwhile AM goes back to the broken vase and times it in correspondence to the incident with Van Der Bloom and the looped sensor.
She looks again at the mercenary that apparently broke the vase to see if anything strange has happened there and examine the responses of people to the incident trying to see something that does not fit.

[Beta]

Jawsey relays his finding to the team and McElroy "A faint scent of fine olive oil. Perhaps one of the diners was here? Else someone was splashing around olive oil for reasons that are beyond me."

[Jack_Spade]

AM found to her frustration that the dinning hall also hadn't been surveilled - but there was something interesting nonetheless: The MET2K contingent had arrived at precisely 1930h, carrying with them the locked container for the ring.
They had waited in an orderly formation inside the entrance hall. At about 1943h - about a minute after Invictus had left the dinning hall - the mercenary holding the container had opened it and inspected its contents. The officer with him had apparently admonished the man immediately to close the container. Apparently the mercenary expected disciplinary measures, because he looked really uncomfortable and a bit confused. More important, this was the same man who had broken the vase inside the dining hall. All in all, this certainly hadn't been this man's evening.


McElroy turned to Jawsey: "Interesting. You have a fine nose, I didn't register that. Well done. Although not much we can do about it right now."

[Gilga]

AM shares her findings with the team >> I am beggining to think that Invictus is up to no good. He probably had line of sight to the ring, and cast the spells on it. The guard may have been influenced magically - I have no proof but his behavior is very strange. I am still missing the pieces - it feels more like he wanted to ruin the party than to steal anything. Perhaps a rival Pike? I am thinking about this. Jawsey - can you assense the guard that broke the vase? I can bless you if need be.

[Gilga]

Following, AM gave up the camera feed for the time being, and left to question Masha. Texting on the way>> Mato, Jawsey you might want to join me for that.

[Tecumseh]

Mato agrees.

"I'll hang back so it doesn't look like an interrogation. Masha might be more receptive to a fellow maid.

"Afterward, maybe I can talk to the MET2K merc. He might be willing to level with me."

[Beta]

Jawsey asks Copper Woman for one more favour "please go look for this man" he transmits what he saw of the soldier's aura, an let me know where he is. He should be alone the edge of this property, but he might not be where he aught to be. After that you are free to depart with my thanks."

After that he headed off with AM to talk with Masha. "I talked with her a bit at breakfast. Just a bit of repartee, or possibly flirting depending on how she interpreted it. So I can probably be a somewhat sympathetic presence. Can you have Trouble watch her aura while we talk? I'm going to leave some loopholes for a guilty person to hide in, but if she is it should be apparent in her emotions "

When they find Masha, Jawsey does an initial aura reading of her, then explains "we are here to try and keep you out of trouble, heading off your getting blamed for something you didn't do. We need to know who prepared the tray for Van Der Bloom, did you put it down anywhere on the way, and did you talk to anyone on the way to his rooms? Obvious from these questions, yes, someone tampered with his tray. No harm done, but it isn't acceptable of course. It doesn't make any sense that you would do it, too obvious. But maybe you saw something without even realizing it at the time."

[Gilga]

"Trouble says she fancies you, I'll try not to interfere."

[Jack_Spade]

Masha was on her way to her quarters when Jawsey and AM caught up to her. She smiled when she saw him. While Jawsey explained, her expression grew darker, but she didn't become hostile: "The cheese was already prepared on a plate and marked for van der Bloom. All I did was take it from the walk-in-fridge. One of the cooks - I think Tim - was in charge of preparing the cheese. But as far as I know, he just prepared the whole batch for everyone this afternoon.
The Duchess' bodyguard was even in the kitchen around 1800h, checking and tasting everything ahead that would be served to the Duchess. La Croix was furious, took it as an insult to his kitchen.
In any case, I'm certain that no-one put anything on the cheese between me fetching the plate from the freezer and delivering it to van der Bloom. Even if that guy is creepy like heck."

All signs pointed to her speaking the truth, a verdict that Trouble also ascertained.

Masha smiled at Jawsey: "Quite a bit of exitement for your first day. If you don't mind, I'll be going to bed now. There's a lot to do in the morning." She winked. "On boxing day it will be a bit more relaxed with free time for the servants."

The MET2K soldier was outside, manning the entrance gate together with one of his colleagues.

[Beta]

"Thank you so much. It sounds like almost anyone could have done something to it while it was in the fridge, but it would have been gutsy to do that with so many people around."

Then he lets his 'official' face and and voice fade into something more personal "It has been a busy and interesting day. Made easier by a pleasant start at breakfast. We'll let you get to bed now. Sweet dreams, and maybe we'll see each other tomorrow."

He headed toward the doors and let the others know "My spirit says he's guarding the main gate. Interesting that he is at such a critical spot, again."

[Gilga]

"Let's go question Tim, and the other kitchen stuff... a guilty person may try to escape or be nervous or something.

[Beta]

"Kitchen staff might be headed to bed? They are probably the first ones up in the morning. I mean, it could be Tim, but it seems to me that it was more likely someone dosing it while it was in the fridge. It would be pretty stupid to dose something that people know you put together -- then again, if there were no stupid criminals KE wouldn't make any real arrests, so it isn't impossible. Still, I think the Merc is more time sensitive. Mato, what do you think?"

[Tecumseh]

"I'd say that the smell of olive oil does suggest some kitchen involvement. The merc isn't going anywhere - not to bed at least - so I'd try to find Tim first.

"Masha said that the plate was prepared with van der Bloom's name on it. If we're swimming upstream then Tim's the next stop. Now, anyone could have entered the fridge, seen the label, and then tampered with the cheese. Jawsey's right that it would be clumsy for Tim to be so obvious about it. But, like with the merc, it's possible that Tim wasn't in his right mind, that he didn't know what he was doing until after it was already done. Maybe in his mind he was seasoning it. He might have done it under the influence.

"Let's see if we can find him."

[Beta]

"That all makes good sense. We might have to ask around to find him, I never looked at him astrally so I can't send a spirit to search for him. Unless Ana or Trouble had asensed him? Or maybe Ana can find room assignments in the matrix?" As Jawsey talked, he was however already turned toward the staff quarters.

[Jack_Spade]

Finding Tim wasn't hard, AM only had to look up his room - and as it happened, it was on the same floor the team already was at.
Knocking at his door, revealed that Tim was on his way to bed. He wore his pyjamas and looked pretty exhausted:
"Yes, what is it?"

[Beta]

Jawsey opened his astral sight, then asked point blank "Did you do anything to Van der Bloom's cheese plate?"

[ Spoiler ]

aura reading: 13d6t5 3