<<That's largely correct, except - per AM - the watcher couldn't have been pinged with a round of Blight because it can't take corporal form like a spirit can.>>
<<So I wonder if the MET2K merc was meant to cause a scene, knowing Hammington would overreact and send the mercs outside, thus preventing the hell hounds from being released and clearing the way for astral intruders. Some spirits have the power to influence minds, do they not? So that could have been Invictus, neh?>>
<<We know that Invictus was in the corridor outside Sir Pike's chambers, but it's unclear to what end. That olive oil scent seems to be unique to Invictus. Jawsey, are you familiar with scent compounds following a spirit in and out of its materializations, either in theory or in practice?>>
<<We know Invictus was waiting for someone or something. Jawsey, how to spirits arrange for their rendezvous? I presume they can't use commlinks like the rest of us. Would there be any record of that anywhere, in the astral realm or elsewhere? Was Invictus assigned any quarters that we could search?>>
<<We know Igor and Invictus left early. Perhaps an alibi? Do we have any information on Igor's whereabouts since then?>>
<<At this point it's easy to suspect anyone and everyone because we don't have a clear motivation in play yet. A theft? A political power play between rival factions? Boredom among the rich and idle?>>
<<Let's see what AM can turn up from a sound analysis, and if there are any inventory or records systems she can tap into about weapons discharging.>>
Full Version: The Found Arcana – Chapter 6 [IC]
>> Bloom did you get anything from the greenhouse our guest Invictus was disrupted.
she texted and begun performing the sound analysis.
she texted and begun performing the sound analysis.
[ Spoiler ]
The analysis was done quickly, despite the bad audio. Moving through the gun catalogue brought no matches until it moved on to custom models. There was a hit:
"Savalette Guardian with additional magazine, double barrel modification, silenced, wepean mount."
Only known weaponsmith to produce: Roman Czerniek, Czech Republic, Prague.
"Savalette Guardian with additional magazine, double barrel modification, silenced, wepean mount."
Only known weaponsmith to produce: Roman Czerniek, Czech Republic, Prague.
>>Kurt Van Der Bloom are you there? She orders Trouble to find Kurt.
Returning to the meatworld AM shares her finding with the team, and then goes over the guest list to figure out who might be connected to Roman Czerniek, ot to Czech Republic or at least to Prague.
Returning to the meatworld AM shares her finding with the team, and then goes over the guest list to figure out who might be connected to Roman Czerniek, ot to Czech Republic or at least to Prague.
[ Spoiler ]
[ Spoiler ]
<<I'm here, I'm here. Are you done soon? It's getting really late - even with the involuntary nap I took.>>
The guest list isn't much help, since more than half of them seem to be from Europe and therefore within driving distance of Prague.
<<So, what now? Go to bed and hope for the best? Or do either of you have any other ideas?>> Jawsey isn't crazy about just abandoning the hunt when something or someone could be lurking, but on the other hand 'bed' does have a lot of appeal, and they do seem to be out of leads.
Mato isn't sure how the sound analysis could pick up on an additional magazine, or a weapon mount, but he won't question it for the moment.
"Is anyone known to carry a Savalette?" he asks the other chasseurs. He doesn't want to rush to judgement, as he still suspects that the gun is being brought in from offsite, perhaps on a drone, but it's also possible that there's an inside agent, one who might have drugged Van Der Bloom. Best to eliminate all possibilities.
"Is anyone known to carry a Savalette?" he asks the other chasseurs. He doesn't want to rush to judgement, as he still suspects that the gun is being brought in from offsite, perhaps on a drone, but it's also possible that there's an inside agent, one who might have drugged Van Der Bloom. Best to eliminate all possibilities.
AM asks Troubles assense Van der Bloom as she taunts him and see how he reacts. Then she asks him to find out if his flying drone is armed.
>> Take a long haul or a coffee or something and stop crying. A guest was assaulted without traces, the camera's looped. I am not going to sleep until I know what is happening. How can you? It is your day job and reputation at stake. Also, despite all your expensive equipment, I am the one doing all the work. You are like the Wizard of Oz with infinite computing powers, years of expirience, and a legendary reputation- How come rookie me is the only one piecing the pieces together?
She texts the team >> Van Der Bloom files are top secret, not to say an attacker would not find them but it is possible that the man drugged himself as an alibi. There could be two flying drones in here, but we've only seen one - and this place should be secure enough to discover intruding drones. I sent Troubles to see if Bloom's drone is armed with the gun we are looking for. I think he knows more than he is telling us about this thing - no way he just wants to sleep.
Next she tries to see what the guest that leaved early (Igor) was doing, until he left the sensors of the mansion. She also checks all flying drones that any sensor recorded within the mansion to see if any of them could have taken the shot.
[ Spoiler ]
>> Take a long haul or a coffee or something and stop crying. A guest was assaulted without traces, the camera's looped. I am not going to sleep until I know what is happening. How can you? It is your day job and reputation at stake. Also, despite all your expensive equipment, I am the one doing all the work. You are like the Wizard of Oz with infinite computing powers, years of expirience, and a legendary reputation- How come rookie me is the only one piecing the pieces together?
She texts the team >> Van Der Bloom files are top secret, not to say an attacker would not find them but it is possible that the man drugged himself as an alibi. There could be two flying drones in here, but we've only seen one - and this place should be secure enough to discover intruding drones. I sent Troubles to see if Bloom's drone is armed with the gun we are looking for. I think he knows more than he is telling us about this thing - no way he just wants to sleep.
Next she tries to see what the guest that leaved early (Igor) was doing, until he left the sensors of the mansion. She also checks all flying drones that any sensor recorded within the mansion to see if any of them could have taken the shot.
Van der Bloom reacted cranky: "I got dosed up, ok? So shut your mouth, before someone does it for you. You are the subordinate, so of course you do the work. Feel free to stay up. You have access to the files. Deal with it."
Trouble saw no difference to before - only that Bloom was even more tired now. His drone certainly was too small to carry such a weapon without it showing obviously.
Next AM started to sift through the recorded data. Igor left the party and went down to the cellar - apparently he went to the wine cellar, returned with a bottle and went into the spa area. She didn't see him leave again, so he supposedly was still down there - possibly with an empty bottle of red wine.
As told before, AM sees that the mansion doesn't have any drones in its employ - neither ground nor flight. And likewise there are no records of drones around.
Trouble saw no difference to before - only that Bloom was even more tired now. His drone certainly was too small to carry such a weapon without it showing obviously.
Next AM started to sift through the recorded data. Igor left the party and went down to the cellar - apparently he went to the wine cellar, returned with a bottle and went into the spa area. She didn't see him leave again, so he supposedly was still down there - possibly with an empty bottle of red wine.
As told before, AM sees that the mansion doesn't have any drones in its employ - neither ground nor flight. And likewise there are no records of drones around.
<<I'm not entirely sure that spirits do anything special to arrange a meeting, other than showing up and talking, or sending an intermediary to to go talk. If there is a way for them to leave messages or something I don't know it. Although my magical education is still at about the 'define a verb, noun, and adjective' stage, so there could be something I'm ignorant of.>>
<<Someone could have reached Invictus almost anywhere. But the most obvious place would be his room, if he has one. Ana, I know you have a long list, but could check to see if there is a room assigned to Invictus? If there is I'll go see if I can get in astrally, and see if there is anything there with a signature different from his own.>>
<<Someone could have reached Invictus almost anywhere. But the most obvious place would be his room, if he has one. Ana, I know you have a long list, but could check to see if there is a room assigned to Invictus? If there is I'll go see if I can get in astrally, and see if there is anything there with a signature different from his own.>>
QUOTE (Tecumseh @ Dec 18 2020, 08:11 AM) 
Mato isn't sure how the sound analysis could pick up on an additional magazine, or a weapon mount, but he won't question it for the moment.
"Is anyone known to carry a Savalette?" he asks the other chasseurs. He doesn't want to rush to judgement, as he still suspects that the gun is being brought in from offsite, perhaps on a drone, but it's also possible that there's an inside agent, one who might have drugged Van Der Bloom. Best to eliminate all possibilities.
"Is anyone known to carry a Savalette?" he asks the other chasseurs. He doesn't want to rush to judgement, as he still suspects that the gun is being brought in from offsite, perhaps on a drone, but it's also possible that there's an inside agent, one who might have drugged Van Der Bloom. Best to eliminate all possibilities.
"That exact model? Nope, no chance. But I actually have the standard one - at home. It's a pretty reliable piece." Brad replied.
Mato drums his fingers, a bit lost. There are threads to pull on... but they're all short and not that promising. And there's an opportunity cost for every question in terms of time and effort.
<<Let's stay off the Long Haul>> he advises AM and Jawsey. <<This is supposed to be a week-long engagement and we can't afford to sleep through a day or two when it wears off.>>
Actually, due to his nephritic screen, Long Haul is almost useless for Mato anyway.
<<At some point we'll need rest. At this point all of our leads are so thin that we may need to let the situation develop.>>
"Alright, let's patrol," he says to the other chasseurs. "Mr. Kaminzky may be in the spa with an empty bottle of red wine. What's the etiquette for getting guests to bed? Or for making sure that they're not floating face-first in the hot tub."
<<Let's stay off the Long Haul>> he advises AM and Jawsey. <<This is supposed to be a week-long engagement and we can't afford to sleep through a day or two when it wears off.>>
Actually, due to his nephritic screen, Long Haul is almost useless for Mato anyway.
<<At some point we'll need rest. At this point all of our leads are so thin that we may need to let the situation develop.>>
"Alright, let's patrol," he says to the other chasseurs. "Mr. Kaminzky may be in the spa with an empty bottle of red wine. What's the etiquette for getting guests to bed? Or for making sure that they're not floating face-first in the hot tub."
"The etiquette is to be male, I don't go near any drunk guest." She sighs Something is foul, but there is a drone firing and no drone at the sky, and there is a guest disrupted... I mean how can you just sleep."
She texts Hamington to report the finding of Invictus and asks him to take a look of his own.
She texts Hamington to report the finding of Invictus and asks him to take a look of his own.
Hamington didn't reply - apparently he had turned his commlink off for the night. A more insistent message over the house intercom got AM an angry retort, that for magic she should ask the Courier McElroy.
McElroy replied: <<I'll take a look. Good work. For now stand down I'll have a powerful spirit patrol the house until the morning. Should there be any intruder still around, it will take care of it.>>
Brad replied: "I'm going to check on him. If he isn't in danger, we leave him there. It's warm enough down there that he won't need a blanket."
McElroy replied: <<I'll take a look. Good work. For now stand down I'll have a powerful spirit patrol the house until the morning. Should there be any intruder still around, it will take care of it.>>
Brad replied: "I'm going to check on him. If he isn't in danger, we leave him there. It's warm enough down there that he won't need a blanket."
Mato nods to Brad. Before going on patrol, he pings AM and Jawsey.
<<Bed may be in our best interests. I can't take Long Haul because my nephritic screen will chew it up. Plus, my sleep regulator has me on a minimal amount of sleep each night. I recommend that you don't take any either because this engagement lasts a week. Being awake for four days and then sleeping for a day or two isn't conducive to meeting the obligations of our contract.>>
<<Maybe I'm overlooking something, but at this point we don't seem to have enough information to act on. We can clutch at straws but we'll just exhaust ourselves in the process. It might be better to get some rest and come at the problem refreshed.>>
<<Bed may be in our best interests. I can't take Long Haul because my nephritic screen will chew it up. Plus, my sleep regulator has me on a minimal amount of sleep each night. I recommend that you don't take any either because this engagement lasts a week. Being awake for four days and then sleeping for a day or two isn't conducive to meeting the obligations of our contract.>>
<<Maybe I'm overlooking something, but at this point we don't seem to have enough information to act on. We can clutch at straws but we'll just exhaust ourselves in the process. It might be better to get some rest and come at the problem refreshed.>>
Jawsey agrees <<Let's get some sleep. Probably there will be something horrific to wake up to, but at least we'll be rested to deal with it. Besides, if we push this too far now, blame is more apt to come back to us.>>
He let's McElroy know <<I can set up a not-so-strong spirit to help keep an eye on things. I was thinking 50m up and 50m inside the perimeter, to keep an eye on the watchers so that we don't have as much mystery if anything happens to one overnight. Is that OK with you?>>
He calls up one of the Hunter Brothers, and for once today the summoning is routine. He instructs it to stay a bowshot in and a bowshot up from the fence, and to let Jawsey know of anything happening to any astrally active forms until sunrise.
He let's McElroy know <<I can set up a not-so-strong spirit to help keep an eye on things. I was thinking 50m up and 50m inside the perimeter, to keep an eye on the watchers so that we don't have as much mystery if anything happens to one overnight. Is that OK with you?>>
He calls up one of the Hunter Brothers, and for once today the summoning is routine. He instructs it to stay a bowshot in and a bowshot up from the fence, and to let Jawsey know of anything happening to any astrally active forms until sunrise.
[ Spoiler ]
McElroy replied:
<<Good, that will do nicely. Have a good night.>>
For the next 5 hours the team found a bit of rest - until 0830 sharp they were woken by a call from Cunningham: <<Get down immediately to the family quarters - there has been an incident. The family is fine though, but I think this calls for your talents as detectives.>>
<<Good, that will do nicely. Have a good night.>>
For the next 5 hours the team found a bit of rest - until 0830 sharp they were woken by a call from Cunningham: <<Get down immediately to the family quarters - there has been an incident. The family is fine though, but I think this calls for your talents as detectives.>>
Jawsey replied <<Acknowledged>> and threw back his covers before he could fall back to sleep.
His own alarm had woken him up 40 minutes earlier to check in with his spirit before sunrise and to thank it for its service, and he'd just settled back into a deep sleep when Cunningham called. Once he rolled out of bed he replayed the message a few times to try and process the info. Family Quarters --> means I have to dress properly. Incident --> Drek, that is what we were trying to head off. Talents as Detectives --> I really need to wake up.
He grabbed a quick cold shower, getting chilled but no more awake. Dressed in his uniform. Grabbed his cane. Wondered if it were possible to ask the kitchen to deliver coffee to the incident scene? Decided he shouldn't push it. And started heading out. Only then did he think to to message Mato and AM to ask <<You both ready? Or already there? Maybe it helps if we arrive together?>>
His own alarm had woken him up 40 minutes earlier to check in with his spirit before sunrise and to thank it for its service, and he'd just settled back into a deep sleep when Cunningham called. Once he rolled out of bed he replayed the message a few times to try and process the info. Family Quarters --> means I have to dress properly. Incident --> Drek, that is what we were trying to head off. Talents as Detectives --> I really need to wake up.
He grabbed a quick cold shower, getting chilled but no more awake. Dressed in his uniform. Grabbed his cane. Wondered if it were possible to ask the kitchen to deliver coffee to the incident scene? Decided he shouldn't push it. And started heading out. Only then did he think to to message Mato and AM to ask <<You both ready? Or already there? Maybe it helps if we arrive together?>>
Thanks to Mato's sleep regulator, he's already been awake for three hours when Cunningham's message arrives. After patrolling for a bit the night before, he had slept from 0230 to 0530 or so, then got up to shower, shave, and dress. Then it's small first breakfast, followed by patrolling, before a larger second breakfast. Then Cunningham's call comes through and it's time to really get to work.
<<En route>> he confirms to Cunningham.
<<I'm up and have been patrolling for a while. I'm a little farther out on the grounds so it will take me a few minutes to get back if I don't run. I'll meet you at the family quarters.>>
<<En route>> he confirms to Cunningham.
<<I'm up and have been patrolling for a while. I'm a little farther out on the grounds so it will take me a few minutes to get back if I don't run. I'll meet you at the family quarters.>>
AM is half baked at that hour and struggles to pull herself out of bed. Trouble is curious, and never sleeps so he decides to hang around Mato which is safer during mornings.
She gets dressed quickly and goes to see what happened. "No shit Sherlock..." she thinks "of course something is a miss... ", she stayed awake in her bed failing to connect the dots - which explains why she is so miserable right now. She pops a Caffeine gum, and does her best to not project her misery at being awake in her environment - she is on the clock after all.
She gets dressed quickly and goes to see what happened. "No shit Sherlock..." she thinks "of course something is a miss... ", she stayed awake in her bed failing to connect the dots - which explains why she is so miserable right now. She pops a Caffeine gum, and does her best to not project her misery at being awake in her environment - she is on the clock after all.
The team assembled in front of the family quarters with minimal delay and where called in by Cunningham.
Where the rest of the house was a feast of oppulence and wealth, the family quarters appeared surprisingly spartan and yet comfortably lived in. Instead of pricesless persian rugs, here a treadbare carpet, instead of gilded ornaments, simple, yet sturdy furniture, employed for functionality and not looks adorned the rooms.
"It turns out your fears for an intruder were not unfounded and I apologize for not taking any more stringent measures. And while both his Lordship and fiance are unharmed, they are considerably distraught. As it appears, someone got through the defenses around here, overcame the locked safe and stole the Blue Admiral. No locks were forced or alarms tripped. There are obviously no cameras inside these quarters. You and I secured the perimeter and I'm absolutely certain, that no-one could temper with the locks of the door - not without breaking the seals."
Cunningham explained while he led them to a kitchenette, where his Lordship and the Duchess both sat in bathrobes and enjoyed espressos. He looked somewhat confused and angry, while she had a look of fear on her face.
"Sir, Madam, I have a confession to make: These gentlemen and lady are not mere servants but specialists that I hired as extra protection against an eventuality like this. It is to my shame that I did not act yesterday night as they warned me about irregularities around the house. I did not come into your quarters for a full search, as I deemed your privacy a higher value than a hunch - as I thought then."
Thomas Pike spoke up then: "Enough with the recriminations. It's fair to say that I'd been rather put out if you'd disturbed us yesternight. Still, I'm most concerned about this. I have promised my love here that she would be safe with me. And upon my oath, I'm not a man who takes his promises lightly. So I give you free reign to investigate this.
Preferably before we set off for the hunt today."
Where the rest of the house was a feast of oppulence and wealth, the family quarters appeared surprisingly spartan and yet comfortably lived in. Instead of pricesless persian rugs, here a treadbare carpet, instead of gilded ornaments, simple, yet sturdy furniture, employed for functionality and not looks adorned the rooms.
"It turns out your fears for an intruder were not unfounded and I apologize for not taking any more stringent measures. And while both his Lordship and fiance are unharmed, they are considerably distraught. As it appears, someone got through the defenses around here, overcame the locked safe and stole the Blue Admiral. No locks were forced or alarms tripped. There are obviously no cameras inside these quarters. You and I secured the perimeter and I'm absolutely certain, that no-one could temper with the locks of the door - not without breaking the seals."
Cunningham explained while he led them to a kitchenette, where his Lordship and the Duchess both sat in bathrobes and enjoyed espressos. He looked somewhat confused and angry, while she had a look of fear on her face.
"Sir, Madam, I have a confession to make: These gentlemen and lady are not mere servants but specialists that I hired as extra protection against an eventuality like this. It is to my shame that I did not act yesterday night as they warned me about irregularities around the house. I did not come into your quarters for a full search, as I deemed your privacy a higher value than a hunch - as I thought then."
Thomas Pike spoke up then: "Enough with the recriminations. It's fair to say that I'd been rather put out if you'd disturbed us yesternight. Still, I'm most concerned about this. I have promised my love here that she would be safe with me. And upon my oath, I'm not a man who takes his promises lightly. So I give you free reign to investigate this.
Preferably before we set off for the hunt today."
Mato nods at the directions and gives a curt, formal bow.
"Thank you, sirs and madam.
"As we begin, were there any signs of intrusion beyond the absence of the ring itself? If I am understanding things correctly, the doors were locked and the seals were still intact this morning."
To the AM and Jawsey he comms: <<Can we scan things astrally? Given the presence of unknown magic on the ring, I wish to be sure that the ring is, indeed missing and not simply, say, in hiding... either due to an illusion or due to the Duke and Duchess being involuntarily manipulated into misplacing it.>>
He activates his sensors, especially his radar sensors and his millimeter wave detection system, to begin scanning the place. He takes particular interest in the area of the wall where he briefly detected a form last night. He walks the perimeter of the room to note possible entry and exit points, but slows for a moment when he comes to the questionable portion of the wall.
<<When we're alone with him, let's also follow up on why Cunningham is so sure that the locks of the door could not be tampered with without breaking the seals. And, equally importantly, let's ask about the nature of the seals. Perhaps they could have been 'reset' after someone tampered with the door locks.>>
"Thank you, sirs and madam.
"As we begin, were there any signs of intrusion beyond the absence of the ring itself? If I am understanding things correctly, the doors were locked and the seals were still intact this morning."
To the AM and Jawsey he comms: <<Can we scan things astrally? Given the presence of unknown magic on the ring, I wish to be sure that the ring is, indeed missing and not simply, say, in hiding... either due to an illusion or due to the Duke and Duchess being involuntarily manipulated into misplacing it.>>
He activates his sensors, especially his radar sensors and his millimeter wave detection system, to begin scanning the place. He takes particular interest in the area of the wall where he briefly detected a form last night. He walks the perimeter of the room to note possible entry and exit points, but slows for a moment when he comes to the questionable portion of the wall.
<<When we're alone with him, let's also follow up on why Cunningham is so sure that the locks of the door could not be tampered with without breaking the seals. And, equally importantly, let's ask about the nature of the seals. Perhaps they could have been 'reset' after someone tampered with the door locks.>>
AM chews her gum nervously, and she feels her knees getting weak. "Stolen..." she repeats overwhelmed with the possible consequences... but they are not fired yet, Cunningham apologizes which brings back some color to her cheeks.
She nods at the Duchess and asks quietly "What is your take on all this? Are you feeling well? Did you notice anything pit of the ordinary yesterday night? Even if it is a small insignificant detail, it may be important." she observes carefully her emotional response.
AM asks the dematerialized Trouble to find the ring, or if there are some astral traces to it and then responds to Mato's message
>> Trouble had the best look at the ring
She nods at the Duchess and asks quietly "What is your take on all this? Are you feeling well? Did you notice anything pit of the ordinary yesterday night? Even if it is a small insignificant detail, it may be important." she observes carefully her emotional response.
AM asks the dematerialized Trouble to find the ring, or if there are some astral traces to it and then responds to Mato's message
>> Trouble had the best look at the ring
[ Spoiler ]
Jawsey takes a good look at Cunningham as well as the couple, checking their auras for any magic or discruption. Then he goes to examine the safe, visuall and astrally. He messages Mato <<Probably best that you take your scanners to the safe too, and maybe see if you can tell what is behind the wall it is next to, too.>>
Jawsey looked over the assembled people and their auras:
Cunningham was as he had appeared before - rigorous, calm and considerably augmented. Pike was agitated but otherwise healthy. From the Duchess, Jawsey only got glimpses of fear and confusion. Both appeared to have minor essence loss through a datajack, but otherwise nothing significant.
The safe was much more interesting: There was definitely some residual magic signature there. It almost appeared like a high force spirit had been summoned - although there was no sign of a summoner present.
Trouble informed AM over their bond: 'There was a true name in that safe. But it's gone now. It smells of Invictus'
Now that Trouble had informed her about it, she too could smell the faint olive oil aroma lingering in the air.
Cunningham meanwhile displayed the security: "A mechanical lock, a maglock and an air gapped sensor suite for visual, IR, ultrasound, radar and a magnet resonance receiver protect the door. Neither has been tripped or shown any signs of having been bypassed."
The Duchess replied to AM: "No, I'm not feeling so well. I was quite swept away from all the attention. It's been a long while since I had so many people so close to me at once. I really think we should call Katya here..."
Cunningham interrupted: "Your bodyguard has been very active the last days, give her a bit more rest until we are finished here. Too many cooks... you understand."
Cunningham was as he had appeared before - rigorous, calm and considerably augmented. Pike was agitated but otherwise healthy. From the Duchess, Jawsey only got glimpses of fear and confusion. Both appeared to have minor essence loss through a datajack, but otherwise nothing significant.
The safe was much more interesting: There was definitely some residual magic signature there. It almost appeared like a high force spirit had been summoned - although there was no sign of a summoner present.
Trouble informed AM over their bond: 'There was a true name in that safe. But it's gone now. It smells of Invictus'
Now that Trouble had informed her about it, she too could smell the faint olive oil aroma lingering in the air.
Cunningham meanwhile displayed the security: "A mechanical lock, a maglock and an air gapped sensor suite for visual, IR, ultrasound, radar and a magnet resonance receiver protect the door. Neither has been tripped or shown any signs of having been bypassed."
The Duchess replied to AM: "No, I'm not feeling so well. I was quite swept away from all the attention. It's been a long while since I had so many people so close to me at once. I really think we should call Katya here..."
Cunningham interrupted: "Your bodyguard has been very active the last days, give her a bit more rest until we are finished here. Too many cooks... you understand."
AM texts >> Trouble says that the safe smells of Invictus, perhaps he stole the ring, and then he got disrupted, so someone else has it. Katya was strangely at the site despite her job as bodyguard she should have been near the Duchess rather than out on the roof. Something does not add up.
Oh, and he also says that the smell is Invictus and not really olive oil. So don't submerge him in olive oil, please.
Oh, and he also says that the smell is Invictus and not really olive oil. So don't submerge him in olive oil, please.
<<But even if Invictus grabs the ring, he still has to get it out of the room>> Mato points out. <<Setting aside the astral protections - the ivy or whatnot - Invictus can dematerialize and rematerialize, but he certainly couldn't do the same for the ring, could he? The ring would need to physically leave the room somehow.>>
He goes back to scanning the walls for holes or weak points, or looking for other avenues that a ring could be smuggled out. Air vents or plumbing or the like.
He goes back to scanning the walls for holes or weak points, or looking for other avenues that a ring could be smuggled out. Air vents or plumbing or the like.
<<We definitely are missing pieces here, somehow. I'm almost wondering if the wasn't stolen from the safe, but rather was never there. I'm reminded of a kid's trid I saw one time where a box of rough cut diamonds were reported stolen from a safe, but they'd been stolen earlier and replaced with ice crystals that had melted and then evaporated leaving almost no trace. Could Invictus have made himself look like the ring, and used magic to disguise his true nature? And then once in the safe de-materialized and worked his way through the wards? I don't know enough about what free spirits can do to even guess if that is possible, or how we'd ever prove it.>>
<<Also Cunniingham keeping Katya away seems odd to me, but I can't even come up with speculation to cover that one.>>
He thought a bit more, then approached the Duchess "I am very sorry, but we have just a few more questions, because it looks like someone has done something very tricky here so we need as much information as possible to sort it all out. Did you put the ring in the safe immediately upon arriving in the room, or a while later? And obviously the entire experience was overwhelming so I don't know if you would have noticed, but was anything about the ring that seemed unusual? Did if feel or like someone had oiled it? Or was it already warm when you put it on? Or anything about it at all that seemed unusual at the time?"
<<Also Cunniingham keeping Katya away seems odd to me, but I can't even come up with speculation to cover that one.>>
He thought a bit more, then approached the Duchess "I am very sorry, but we have just a few more questions, because it looks like someone has done something very tricky here so we need as much information as possible to sort it all out. Did you put the ring in the safe immediately upon arriving in the room, or a while later? And obviously the entire experience was overwhelming so I don't know if you would have noticed, but was anything about the ring that seemed unusual? Did if feel or like someone had oiled it? Or was it already warm when you put it on? Or anything about it at all that seemed unusual at the time?"
AM felt lost, but she continued thinking>> So Trouble mentions that the True name of Invictus was in the safe actually. True names can be used to compel a spirit. So I wonder if this is the case, or if Invictus really turned himself into a ring when the real one was stolen during the vase distraction. The drone we heard probably stole it and disrupted helpless Invictus so that he does not speak about what happened to him.
She listens, and feels really bad.
She listens, and feels really bad.
AM asks Pike, "Did you know that Invictus' true name was in your safe? Was the Blue Admiral Invictus' formula or are you missing another very important property?"
Pike looks taken aback at the mention of the formula: "How... Ah, yes. Investigators. And good ones it appears.
Well since you know about it already, I might as well tell you: Invictus was bound to a shortsword that my grandfather found at an auction some 70 years ago. At the time no-one knew that beside a remarkable well preserved relic, it also had Invictus in it - protected from the mana ebb. I'm not entirely sure about the mechanics of the whole thing, but I was told it was a similar affair as with the genie in the lamp. Invictus was aware inside and could interact in limited ways with the wearer of the sword. Unfortunately for him, his sword was stored in my grandfather's and then my father's safe most of the time - until I at about 8 years got hold of it while my father was cleaning out some papers. Invictus spoke to me. I was so shocked that I dropped the blade and ran away. I received quite some threshing for that, let me tell you. Anyway, the sword stayed locked away for another 8 years until my 16th birthday, when I remembered the occassion and asked to have it for a present.
That's when I became fully aware of Invictus' predicament - Manalevels were high, but he was still bound inside the sword - or in some kind of weird metaplane that can be accessed through the sword - if one is a spirit, or some such.
In any case, it took me another five years until I finally got a chance to free him. Since then Invictus was in my debt. I kept the sword naturally, it was quite handy to be able to contact him at will.
I will admit, that our relationship wasn't always carefree. He resented the fact I still kept the sword locked up. But - well, it is my sword..."
Pike seemed to realize something and went to the safe. With flying fingers he removed a false bottom plate and called out at the empty space below: "Son of a bitch. Not only the Blue Admiral but also the sword is gone."
Well since you know about it already, I might as well tell you: Invictus was bound to a shortsword that my grandfather found at an auction some 70 years ago. At the time no-one knew that beside a remarkable well preserved relic, it also had Invictus in it - protected from the mana ebb. I'm not entirely sure about the mechanics of the whole thing, but I was told it was a similar affair as with the genie in the lamp. Invictus was aware inside and could interact in limited ways with the wearer of the sword. Unfortunately for him, his sword was stored in my grandfather's and then my father's safe most of the time - until I at about 8 years got hold of it while my father was cleaning out some papers. Invictus spoke to me. I was so shocked that I dropped the blade and ran away. I received quite some threshing for that, let me tell you. Anyway, the sword stayed locked away for another 8 years until my 16th birthday, when I remembered the occassion and asked to have it for a present.
That's when I became fully aware of Invictus' predicament - Manalevels were high, but he was still bound inside the sword - or in some kind of weird metaplane that can be accessed through the sword - if one is a spirit, or some such.
In any case, it took me another five years until I finally got a chance to free him. Since then Invictus was in my debt. I kept the sword naturally, it was quite handy to be able to contact him at will.
I will admit, that our relationship wasn't always carefree. He resented the fact I still kept the sword locked up. But - well, it is my sword..."
Pike seemed to realize something and went to the safe. With flying fingers he removed a false bottom plate and called out at the empty space below: "Son of a bitch. Not only the Blue Admiral but also the sword is gone."
"Trouble do you remember seeing Invictus' True name before? Can you determine how long ago it was removed from the safe?" she thinks at Trouble through their shared link.
She nods as Pike speaks.
Can you tell who had access to your safe within the last few days?
She nods as Pike speaks.
Can you tell who had access to your safe within the last few days?
Trouble replied at once: 'No longer than a few hours - the signature is quite fresh'
Pike replied: "Only my beloved one and I have access to the safe." He turned to the Duchess: "I think I gave you access about a month ago."
The Duchess nodded, still timidly.
Pike replied: "Only my beloved one and I have access to the safe." He turned to the Duchess: "I think I gave you access about a month ago."
The Duchess nodded, still timidly.
She asks Trouble "can it be followed?" She says "The sword was in the safe until a few hours ago, so either it is still in this room, or it left the safe when you were in here. How did you discover that the Blue Admiral was stolen - and what exactly did you do when you discovered?"
The Duchess spoke: "I had a bad dream. I can't remember it, but it had something to do with the ring and the stone. So when I woke up, I went to the safe to take a look. That's when I saw it was open and the ring was gone. Only the open box lay there."
Trouble replied: 'I can't follow it - there is no astral trace to chace after.'
Trouble replied: 'I can't follow it - there is no astral trace to chace after.'
[ Spoiler ]
Jawsey hesitates a bit at asking Pike yet more questions, but it feels like they almost have hold of something and just need to tease it out a bit more. "Sir, you said Invictus was not happy about you keeping the sword. Did he know where you kept it? I presume that you did not give him access to the safe, but had he ever seen you open it, to your knowledge? For that matter is the safe normally concealed or obvious, and would you have a list of who normally has access to your room who would know about it? This feels like something planned, not spontaneous, so someone must have known enough about the safe to have a plan to deal with it."
Bothering the Duchess was the inverse problem to bothering the Duke, worried about stressing out the poor woman rather potentially angering her husband. "The safe was already open? Did you happen to notice the time when this happened?" To both he said "Was there anything else at all odd in the room when you woke up? Or anything that disturbed your sleep at all last night?"
Bothering the Duchess was the inverse problem to bothering the Duke, worried about stressing out the poor woman rather potentially angering her husband. "The safe was already open? Did you happen to notice the time when this happened?" To both he said "Was there anything else at all odd in the room when you woke up? Or anything that disturbed your sleep at all last night?"
Pike replied: "He was disrupted about a year ago - which meant I had to free him from his sword... again. At that occassion he certainly saw where I kept it.
Only I and, since a month ago, Maria are keyed to open the locks.
Hm, I gather you suspect Invictus is behind the theft. I can't say I'd put it beyond him, he is powerful and can be manipulative - but he isn't exactly the longterm planner. Luckily, I have protection from his powers as I entered a kind of spirit pact when I freed him the first time. He can't harm or influence me. But apparently that doesn't extent to my belongings since I'm now missing two magical artifacts."
Maria answered Jawsey: "I felt odd when I awoke. But I can't remember why or what I dreamed that night. I only knew it had something to do with the safe and the ring."
Only I and, since a month ago, Maria are keyed to open the locks.
Hm, I gather you suspect Invictus is behind the theft. I can't say I'd put it beyond him, he is powerful and can be manipulative - but he isn't exactly the longterm planner. Luckily, I have protection from his powers as I entered a kind of spirit pact when I freed him the first time. He can't harm or influence me. But apparently that doesn't extent to my belongings since I'm now missing two magical artifacts."
Maria answered Jawsey: "I felt odd when I awoke. But I can't remember why or what I dreamed that night. I only knew it had something to do with the safe and the ring."
Jawsey rubbed his temples, wondering if any of this would make more sense once he was outside something warm and caffeinated? "I don't know if this is relevent, but at this point it is probably worth tracking down every oddity ... we were told that Invictus rubs olive oil in his hair every day -- or at least took olive oil every day for this purpose, we'd have to double check if anyone saw him do it. It seems like odd behavior for a spirit. Do you know anything about that?"
"That, oh yes, quite a waste if you ask me, but it was a habit of him - half a bottle everyday." He sniffed: "You are right, I can smell it in here. I never understood how he could bring that with him through the astral."
<<Who created these wards?>> Mato asks AM and Jawsey, wondering if there's an astral signature that makes it obvious. If not, they'll have to ask.
<<I presume they've very strong, neh? As such, powerful magical artifacts wouldn't be easily smuggled through them, at least not without alerting the creator of the ward. So let's find out who made them and see if they gave permission for someone or something to travel through the wards.>>
<<Alternatively, it seems that Invictus has a unique ability. The fact that olive oil follows Invictus when the spirit materializes and dematerializes suggests that Invictus can convey physical things between the physical realm and the astral realm. If so, perhaps that is how the ring and sword left the room. Pike said it himself: Invictus "was still bound inside the sword - or in some kind of weird metaplane that can be accessed through the sword". If so, that could be the way out.>>
<<I presume they've very strong, neh? As such, powerful magical artifacts wouldn't be easily smuggled through them, at least not without alerting the creator of the ward. So let's find out who made them and see if they gave permission for someone or something to travel through the wards.>>
<<Alternatively, it seems that Invictus has a unique ability. The fact that olive oil follows Invictus when the spirit materializes and dematerializes suggests that Invictus can convey physical things between the physical realm and the astral realm. If so, perhaps that is how the ring and sword left the room. Pike said it himself: Invictus "was still bound inside the sword - or in some kind of weird metaplane that can be accessed through the sword". If so, that could be the way out.>>
she texts the group channel >> We need to search for the artifact with a spirit, or with Tatanka and Trouble. Can you ask McElroy to give them permission through the wards? Time is of the essence.
In the meanwhile, AM checks the cameras/logs to see if anyone left the mansion in the last recent several hours.
In the meanwhile, AM checks the cameras/logs to see if anyone left the mansion in the last recent several hours.
The cameras revealed, and the guards concurred that no-one had left the premises so far.
Jawsey looks at AM and Mato, and asks "Any more questions here, for now? Or do we move on to searching?"
===========================
With questions done, Jawsey got started on the spirit searching. "To me, the sword should be easier to find, or at least harder to hide. And it should clearly enough show Invictus's aura that hopefully our spirits can make a reasonable job of it. We should look for the ring too, but I'm thinking of starting with the sword."
Hunting for something hidden? That sounded like a good job for one of the Hunter Brothers. Trouble was likely more clever, but more searchers was not a bad thing.
Fortunately the spirit was as eager for the hunt as Jawsey was, and gave him no trouble. After a moment's thought, Jawsey provided the image of Invictus's aura and asked the spirit first to search the astral within the wards for any sign of the spirit or magics with that signature. He explained to the Pike's what he was doing, and begged their patience while the spirit searched "After all," he explained "The easiest answer to how someone moved a magical artifact through wards without raising an alarm is that they didn't, but instead concealed it well within this suite, to recover at a later time."
===========================
With questions done, Jawsey got started on the spirit searching. "To me, the sword should be easier to find, or at least harder to hide. And it should clearly enough show Invictus's aura that hopefully our spirits can make a reasonable job of it. We should look for the ring too, but I'm thinking of starting with the sword."
Hunting for something hidden? That sounded like a good job for one of the Hunter Brothers. Trouble was likely more clever, but more searchers was not a bad thing.
[ Spoiler ]
Fortunately the spirit was as eager for the hunt as Jawsey was, and gave him no trouble. After a moment's thought, Jawsey provided the image of Invictus's aura and asked the spirit first to search the astral within the wards for any sign of the spirit or magics with that signature. He explained to the Pike's what he was doing, and begged their patience while the spirit searched "After all," he explained "The easiest answer to how someone moved a magical artifact through wards without raising an alarm is that they didn't, but instead concealed it well within this suite, to recover at a later time."
[ Spoiler ]
[ Spoiler ]
The spirit acknowledged after almost three quarters of an hour that he was unable to find the sword.
"Sorry to have taken so long. I can't promise that the sword isn't hidden in here, as my spirit likely couldn't have cut through any concealment that Invictus itself put in place _if_ that was still up after its disruption. But if it was shoved behind furniture or something it should have been able to find it. We'll take our search outside the wards now."
After they were in the rest of the house Jawsey set his spirit to searching again, this time in all of the unwarded areas of the house. Then he suggested that they take a few minutes to see if they could still get some breakfast and something caffeinated.
After they were in the rest of the house Jawsey set his spirit to searching again, this time in all of the unwarded areas of the house. Then he suggested that they take a few minutes to see if they could still get some breakfast and something caffeinated.
[ Spoiler ]
The second attempt proved to be more successful. The spirit replied:
"The remains of the sword are on the grounds, but it appears to be broken."
Jawsey saw a glimpse of the position - apparently the sword was at the center of the hedge maze.
"The remains of the sword are on the grounds, but it appears to be broken."
Jawsey saw a glimpse of the position - apparently the sword was at the center of the hedge maze.
Jawsey tells Mato and Ana what he has finally found, and suggests <<We should probably let our various bosses know soon, but I think we should examine the maze for any magical or physical traces before anyone else tramps through it. I'll fly out astrally, perhaps Trouble could come look too? I assume no cameras there, but Mato, are you free to skate out that way and look for other signs?>>
Once they have planned, Jawsey projects, grateful to have had enough sleep to have refreshed his spirit, and heads out to examine the Hedge maze -- first the centre, then the maze as a whole.
Once they have planned, Jawsey projects, grateful to have had enough sleep to have refreshed his spirit, and heads out to examine the Hedge maze -- first the centre, then the maze as a whole.
[ Spoiler ]
In the maze itself, Jawsey found no sign of overt magic beyond very faint traces of the watchers that moved past on their way to the perimeter. At the indicated spot though, it looked like a small explosion had rocked the astral. A lot of mana had been released recently in a fashion that reminded Jawsey of alchemy gone wrong. The mundane site showed a little gravel and sand pit that once had been part of the stone garden at the center, but now was marred by molten slag of what once had likely been the sword. A heavy slab of concrete - part of a large sun screen stand - showed fitting markings, indicating that whatever had destroyed the sword had likely been covered with the slab while it did its work.
Someone had offed Invictus and made sure he couldn't come back any time soon to tell any tales...
Someone had offed Invictus and made sure he couldn't come back any time soon to tell any tales...
Jawsey returns to his body with a heavy heart. No way should all have this been possible without someone knowing something. He liked the people here well enough, but at least one of them was at tHe least lying, and more likely actively plotting. Given which, who should he tell?
His team, of course. Cunningham had hired them, so maybe wanted them to succeed? As their employer he had to be told. But McElroy and his peers? Pike?
Jawsey passes the information to the team, and asks their opinion on who to tell, and how soon? At the least it would be good to get physical eyes out there to look for clues that might not show up on the astral, before anyone else trapped around and messed with things more.
His team, of course. Cunningham had hired them, so maybe wanted them to succeed? As their employer he had to be told. But McElroy and his peers? Pike?
Jawsey passes the information to the team, and asks their opinion on who to tell, and how soon? At the least it would be good to get physical eyes out there to look for clues that might not show up on the astral, before anyone else trapped around and messed with things more.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.
Dumpshock Forums © 2001-2012