Muhme replied: <<I am not keeping things from you deliberately. I am studying the patterns that I can make out on this map - and I'm using divinations of my own. But it's never a good idea to rely on those. It is always better to have people indipendently research these things, lest you change the future through your predictions.
I can tell you that this won't be as hard as you fear it to be.
Anything more precise risks catastrophic reversal. It's bad enough that I had Eliza cultivate contacts all over Europe a few years ago on the behest of those divinations.>>

<< Alright, we have some mages to find. Let's start with those former sites, as intended, and the lead on the two girls, and see where that gets us. >>

She says "I have no idea how Shark does it" She texts >> Alright, if it is good for Nova I'll take it.

Taurus was really enjoying the boar, but he was also listening, and looking at the map.

"I am not really clear on what it is we are talking about, but if these site are accurate and they are here because of the nexus, maybe the future spots for more rituals would be the two other points creating a pentagon, or a pentagram, around the nexus. One east of Shlechtnow, and the last to the north of Todtnau."

"I am in, for this run. It's quite some scored out Ys for a weekend job. Regardless, we don't have any reason to doubt that there are, indeed, rituals happen that threaten the fraggin' world. Sushiman go slot himself, the world is more than about nuyen.

I guess you should pay a visit to their parents in person. We need to find out whether they were kidnapped, or lured. According to the intel I'm transferring to you right now, they both are minorities here in at least one way. They mighta been lured by those sect-like demon-worshipper drekheads. If that's the case, we might find out something about their method, and how they get to those girls. Might set up a trap.

I don't know where you see a pentagramma here, Taurus. The axis 'tween ritual 1 and ritual 2 is way shorter than ritual 3. Even if it were a pentagramma, it'd be a very irregular one, making it impossible to guess where the last two points would be. If we can spare the resources, we should definitely search and patrol the forest areas south and north to Todtnau, but I ain't sure what we can find what the police doesn't.

Speaking of. What do you think about a second police host raid to find out what they already know about the ritual spellcasters?"

Anna did know rituals because they required reagents that she could not afford when she studied. Yet, Mhume admitted to doing divination rituals so she must have some capabilities in ritual magic. Anna asks I would not expect much from the police to investigate but I am not local so this particular police may be better. Mhume, can you find the kids if we bring you something they love, or perhaps some of their hair?

Muhme answered: <<If they aren't shielded too strongly and still in this area, I can find them. Bring me an image and if possible some hair.>>

Once they finish eating Anna says "Alright, let's go visit the parents of the girls and the ritual sites." she accompanies Taurus looking to see their monocycles and if she can actually ride one.

After saying goodbye to Häberle, who quite insistently asked them to come by again some time, the team foundthemselves closest to the bike repair shop, making it the logical first destination.
Ubruk was a heavyset, grim looking ork with a constant haze of perspiration and low grade anger surrounding him.
His face grew even harder when he saw the monowheels turn up in front of his shop.
"I don't do fully electrics."

bnc mutters under her breath, only barely audible in the group channel. "And you wonder why I don't bother asking for your opinions anymore...", then sets off to investigate the host of the local police.

The local police host doesn't seem to be too well funded. At R5 it's configuration speaks of an amateur doing the work: A8 S5 D7 F6.
The iconography is likewise barebones out of the box - chrome and neon lights with default skins everywhere.

Anna drops the bike and says "These... " with a distasteful look at the ridiculous minibikes. Are not broken. She says
approaches the stern orc. Mr. Ubruk, we are here to help finding your daughter Yasmine.

The man's eyebrows rose, but his expression immediately darkened: "And who are you, that this is of interest to you? The police certainly didn't take it seriously. How do you know about my daughter?"

Nova accompanied Anna with the cycles. Unlike her, she found them pretty fun. Sure, they did look a little silly, but certainly not that bad.

When they arrived at the repair shop, and Anna provoked a bit of an angry response, the blonde woman spread her arms out in a calming gesture, saying: "Relax, Mr. Ubruk. We are... private investigators, and we are on a case here, that might be related to your daughter's disappearance. Can we have a word with you, please?"

"Alright then, come in."
The man still looks unhappy - though that might be his natural state.
"Tea?" He asks while he busies himself with a samowar. His movements reveal a certain anxiousness.
"Now, what is this all about? What case are you talking about?"

Nova nods and follows the grumpy repairman. She gladly accepts the offer for tea.

"We are investigating a sort of cult here in the area, which your daughter might have come into contact with. We are not entirely sure about the specifics, and we would rather leave speculations out of it, which is why we are here. Look, we do not have access to the police files, so it is our best chance to talk to you directly, in the hopes that you can tell us more about your daughter and her disappearance. Some of our questions might be a little uncomfortable, and I apologize in advance. But trust me when I say this: We are by far and wide your best shot of getting your daughter back."

"So, if you allow, let's dive right into the uncomfortable zone here. How would you describe your relationship with your daughter? Could you maybe have driven her away? Could she be looking for a 'family' elsewhere? Have you, maybe, been too harsh on her? This could be one reason for her leaving, out of her own free will, being seduced by false promises that were just too easily believed. There could be other reasons, too. Even abduction isn't off the table. I'm sorry. I know this isn't easy."

"Also, there is another girl missing. Did your daughter know her? Know her well? Anything you can tell us about that other girl?"

It takes a bit to get through anger and denial, but the combined charm of Anna and Nova - as well as the rather intimidating presence of Taurus soon cuts through the man's bullshit:
"Yes. Ok. Since the death of my wife, my daughter and I had problems. She didn't want to conform to her role in this household, took liberties that were not right for her age.
But I'm sure she didn't run away - she would have taken her mother's picture with her. It's still in her room.
Her being friends with the dwarf girl... I think she was good for her. A very polite girl and a good counter balance to my daughter's wilder side.
If they were taken in by a sect, she certainly didn't come willingly. I know my daughter. She is smart and she doesn't like rules."

Nova nodded understandlingly.

"Thank you for opening up. So, my thoughts were going into the right direction here. Now, willing or not, one thing is clear. These people are the worst influence. And we need to find your daughter as soon as possible. If we find her, we find them. I'm pretty sure about that. As I told you in the beginning, we won't be pulling any punches here, and there is some more, I need to ask of you. First, how much do you know about magic? Was your daughter maybe interested in the occult?"

<< @Anna: Will that picture of her mother be a suitable item for this ritual mojo thing? >>

Anna listens to the man's story, and assenses him as he speaks. she shows symapthy when she feels it is helpful, and otherwise listens without speaking. When the man finishes, she asks.
When was the last time she made contact? Does she have any augmentations or other not obvious equipment that may be detectable on the matrix? It would also be very helpful if you provide us with an up to date picture and some of her hair. Anna says confidently.

Taurus felt badly for the ork, so he resisted going full glower. Instead, he stayed back as support to the women. He tried to imagine what his dad would do without Mom, he would probably just go out on his boat and never come back.

He was very surprised that the man responded at all to the rapid grilling of Nova. Since he little else to do he looked around the house as best he could without being intrusive.

<< "... and some of her hair"? Maybe we should explain that just a little... >>

"Well, yes. I was getting there... Mr. Ubruk, we would like to use ritual magic to find your daughter quickly. It is by far the fastest way to learn something about her location. And something to link us to her, like some hair, or even that photo you were talking about, would make this so much easier. Time is of the essence here. These people we are after could be very dangerous, and we would rather have your daughter away from them as soon as possible."

"Four days ago - then her commlink only went to messages. Just after school was out." Ubruk replied to Anna. "No, she wanted a datajack, but I put my foot down. A trodenet is perfecly fine for anyone.
Why her hair?"

As Nova explained, Ubruk sighed: "Alright. More witchcraft. Can't make it worse, I guess."
He left the shop to go up to the flat above and came back with a small framed photo of a pretty teenage girl and a brush, containing quite a bit of hair.
"Here. Tell me, as soon as you learn anything, alright?"

"We will. Thank you, Mr. Ubruk. If you give us your comlink number, we can inform you as soon as we learn anything about your daughter's whereabouts."

The man sent the number without another word - from his stare it was clear that all that was holding him together was by now anger and the thin hope that you weren't out to screw him over.

<< Should we talk to the other girl's family as well? Or do you think this will be enough? Hopefully, we can find them quickly. >>

>> Let's talk to them, perhaps she has a DNI or something, or perhaps they know more, bnc, can you send some drone to pick up the comb? Rituals take time, and it is a shame to wait.

Nemann's Cleaning Service was about a km away, but from the lack of response and a clearly empty parking spot, it was easy to deduct that both were away on business. Both of their commlink numbers were easy to obtain though.

As no one intervenes, bnc adapts her icon to fit the generic environment of the police host, then dives into it to find the dossiers about the lost girls, beginning with Uruk to provide them information they can use during their conversation.
If there is nothing to find here, she'll move on to Nemann - if it isn't the same case file anyway.

The case file turns out to be not particularly well filled:
The names and occupation of the families are noted and the two teenagers marked as "rebellious" and "likely ran away". A marker has been set should they use any form of digital currency or service to alert police - so far nothing has triggered.
Drone scans of the environment has not shown anything useful as too many tourists are about and all blood trails so far were the result of a dead animal.
All in all the police has invested minimal ressources into finding the girls. The officer tasked with the investigation is called Ferdinant Ehrhard.

"Let's just call them and see when they have time."

Nova used her secondary comlink to make the call to Nemann's Cleaning Service.

When she reaches someone, she will simply ask if they will be back in the office anytime soon, but not go into any detail.

You reach the wife and learn that they are currently out on their cleaning tour, but they are prepared to meet you during their break at 2200h at the local library.

"We have some time to kill so let's visit the ritual sites, perhaps the people that did the rituals left something behind."

<@all<yep the sooner the better ill follow u by drone>>

With two of the group in favor and the others silent, the proposal was accepted and the little monocycle gang moved on toward the first point marked on the map by Häberle.
Despite being a few days old, the traces were still quite visible - flies buzzed around the carcass of the deer, but no other scavengers seemed to have gone near. Anna being sensitive to the astral immediately noticed the changed background count - a slight shiver ran down her spine at contact.

Anna casts the enhanced intuition spell to augment her senses . She assense the ritual area, trying to find some impression of the auras of the participants, and she carefully scans the ritual site to see if they left anything behind, from footprints to items that may contain their fingerprints, to feces, or human blood signs. She reasons that the ritual may have taken several hours, and people need to shit, or pee, or they may be cut by the vegetation, or leave some marks on the environment around them.
She instructs the others
"Search for anything organic they left behind, footprints to guesstimate their race/type, small items, or organics to see if Mhume's rituals or bnc's science can teach us further about them. They hunted the deer somehow - so try to understand if they used a firearm- and if so, what type of weapon.



She also tries to figure out which direction the people that did it came from, though she has never done track before - her augmented senses and common sense give her some chances to figure it out.

"<@all<anna gr8! plz explain what u see while searching. ur eyes r keener than my drones>>

Nova whistles appreciatively. "Secondary career as a forensic specialist?"

She concentrates on looking for tracks and other traces of whoever did this.

"Perhaps as an actress." Anna comments matter-of-factly and honestly.

At once it is clear that here three people have worked at the ritual. Two of them wore Lova hiking boots, size 45 and 44. The third person, whose position Anna corelates to the leader of the ritual wore expensive leather shoes - a scuff mark in the dirt indicates snake or crocodile leather. Nearby vehicle tracks indicate they used an SUV with broad Continental smart tyres. A quick research by bnc reveals this to be either from A BMW X or a Rover Model 2072.
Depth and distance between the imprints indicate the subjects to be between 175 and 180 cm tall and around 80 kg heavy. The group leader is rather small with around 160 to 165 cm but still around 70kg.
The deer was disembowled with a sharp knive but also shows signs of a serrated edge, like a bowie or hunting knive. According to the astral signature it was an Athame and used blood magic.
The ritual itself is most definitely a divination, but the used amounts of reagents suggests that the ritualists weren't particularly good at it - they had to throw a lot of money at it to make it work - and it seems at that only because the pregnant deer gave the ritual a certain push to succeed.

A clump of fibres indicates that at least one of them wore a robe or a similar garment reaching to the ground made from black silk.

From the assensing, Anna is also pretty sure that she can identify at least the head of the ritual again should she get a chance to study his aura or spell signature.

Anna shares her findings with the rest and is a bit straggling to comprehend. Did they use Blood magic within Black magic? They learned a lot, perhaps the aura of the leader, that they are three riding a rover, one of them wearing some black robe.

She texts on the team channel
>> So we have a rough idea, 3 ritualists, capacity for Blood magic. Plenty of reagents, considerably more than I would have used. Perhaps indicating a poorly developed talent. Let's not get our hopes too high.

One wearing a black robe, two of them are about 1.80cm, 44 or 45 sized Lova hiking shows, about 80kg perhaps orcs or large humans. The leader is clearly smaller, and lighter wearing some hand-tailored leather shoes. bnc found that the tire marks are for some rover/SUV. Deer killed with some hunting knife or bowie, and then sacrificed with an Athame.

Since there is no fourth set of prints, I'd imagine one of the sorcerers is the hunter. It also seems that a pregnant deer helped the ritual somehow, something cultural probably. I do not fully understand how these things work.

Do we have time for the other sites?

<@team <u kidding? u sherlock holmes or what? how the frag can u tell that two of them are around 1.80? jeez either u r 1 brazen charlatan or u r fraggin amazin.
i think theres still time left 4 a 2nd site.

[ Spoiler ]

Correct me if that's wrong!

So we have psycho amateurs? good & bad but mostly good.
since we assume theyre foreigners, im gonna go rape some car rentals 2 check whether one o these cars has been rented lately. hopes thin tho theyll have brought their own. still worth checkin>>

[colo=orange]>>Magic, but technically I look at the depth of their footprints, the size of their shoes and extrapolate from there.[/color]

The second site was obviously older by a day or so - and again no scavengers besides flies and other insects had gone near the dead cat.
Someone had scrubbed the signature around the ritual site, but even so it was obvious that the ritual had failed. The same prints albeit in lesser quality were around here too.

bnc found herself stymied: There were quite a lot of rental car agencies and car sharing places around, but none of them rented out cars from the make and price range as the Rover or BMW-X. The next rental place for that was about 50 km away - and obviously there was no guarantee that the car had been booked there - or at any of the hundreds of other places all over the AGL and its European neighbors.

Anna casts the analyze device spell on the small piece of cloth trying to glimpse into the full garment.

drain: 15d6t5 5
analyze device (cloth) F6: 19d6t5 3

>> so the second site is likely the same people, but a failed ritual. No new prints.

In her mind's eye, the spell recreated the general shape and form of a kind of kimono, made of black silk and adorned with a series of occult symbols running down the spine, made from reagent gold paint. No real magical effect beyond the ability to expend the reagents in the fabric - but then, it was a ritual garment and therefore a symbol of power, not power itself.

>>bnc a bit more mojo Intel. At least one of them wore a black Kimono with gold symbols of Arcane power. The Symbols are reagents. Can you check if some of our suspects. would use such a garment? I'll identify it if you show me a picture.

<@team <wow. the depths of the footprints, huh? dude...>>

<<@team <uh what suspects? we have none. I can't just browse the world for lunies in kimonos.>>

>> bnc, there are two cults of black magic nearby, and we suspect the ritual leader to have a strong academic background as he is initiated into divination, lacks practical mastery, but has a deep understanding of arcana. The other stuff is bits and pieces that may click or not. Do you have some access to data on these cults? They are the local loonies, and we're likely looking very specific background.

<@team <on it>>
bnc searches what she can find about the cults online. If they have a host, bnc is going to intrude it. Otherwise, she'll be happy to collect images, newspaper reports, social media posts and miscallenia.