The Shattered City: Chapter Two

[Kaitou Kage]

"It is the duty of all the Lawgiver's followers to see that order is maintained," Cyrus said firmly. He even managed not to sniff disdainfully. "We are harbingers of stability and we are in Port-a-Lucine to help with the Mytteri the city faces. You are seen as an icon of stability, so it is our duty to aid you. I am Dommer Cyrus Isfahani and this is my brother Darius."

The dommer smiled graciously and inclined his head respectfully to the Bastion. He didn't believe all of what he was saying. It was clear he'd rather the Lawgiver displace Ezra but it was also clear he knew his limits there. The Lawgiver's clergy simply didn't have enough presence to shove Ezra out of Port-a-Lucine yet.

"We have been informed of the situation so far," he said, "And we have been given several leads to investigate here. The libraries and the quarters, among others. Is there anything else to share that the Warden might not be aware of?"

The serpent lurked just behind his pleasant facade. Cyrus was a pragmatic man, but he was also on the lookout for any way his church could gain a foothold here.

Having Ezra indebted to him would be wonderful.

[Nathan of the FoS]

Darius gives the Bastion the same nod of respect his brother does as he is introduced. Like it or not, he's an authority figure and one of the great men of this place, even if he does remind Darius of something you'd find growing underneath a rotten log.

He even has a sense of humor...one like Darius's. The kind where you say stuff that isn't really funny in order to watch people's reactions to your non-jokes.

"We are eager to help, Bastion Pineau," he says. "Public safety and security are causes to which all right-minded persons are devoted. We were told by Captain Cedolin that there was only a small number of anchorites unaffected by the recent...mental and spiritual turbulence, and that the disappeared individuals were of this number. Have you moved to sequester or otherwise ensure the personal security of the others who were also unaffected?"

As he speaks he mentally reviews what he knows of the man...lowborn, natural bureaucrat, made his way to the top slowly and steadily. The sort who sits in the center of a spider's web of red tape and waits for his enemies to enmesh themselves.

Religion 27, History 21, Streetwise I ain't even gonna bother.

[lostboy]

"I'm Nicolas de Castaigne, a pleasure.." Nicolas says bowing from the neck and touching one hand to his forehead.

"Indeed Bastion, we would be most grateful for your recollection and perceptions of the events." He adds echoing Cyrus' words whilst at the same time looking at the Bastion carefully, trying to remember what he had heard and where about the man.

OOC: Streetwise : 27

[DocBeard]

Tomas is not exactly a man with his ear to the street. So he makes a mental note to bug the people with him who were sneaky 'know secrets about your mysterious double life' types; Nicolas or Agale, most likely, though the former might lie to him out of mistrust and the latter would likely think he is too incompetent to know anything sensitive. He's already starting to form the larger posse into groups for a more efficient initial investigation in his head, glad that, well, Celeste at least seems to be okay with deferring to his experience in these matters.

I'm 'experienced' in these matters, Tomas opines to himself, my mother would die of shame.

"We were told there was no formal map of the cathedral." Tomas offers, trying his best to keep in the formal mode of address he knows these swells care so much about. "Is there an, ah, informal one?" Tomas do not accuse the Bastion of having a hive of secret passageways to his face. "...like a rough draft visitors or initiates use before they get to know the place? Anything like that would be a big help." Tomas really wants to ask 'Is this place as ridiculously haunted as every other old building in this town?' but he has to set a good example, right?

[Nerit]

Nerit inclined her head to the Bastion, though she was convinced he was part halfling. So small, with such spindly fingers. The others might had never seen a halfling, or even thought of the possibility of crossbreeds. She smiled wryly to herself. Home was a long way away.

She watched the twins with suspicion, Tomas with approval. Perhaps people saw him as bumbling, but extraordinarily well-meaning, in a less abrasive way than, say, Celeste.

"I believe this Lamordian gentleman is enthusiastic in his sleuthing, Bastion," she said demurely, and she put a pious hand on Tomas' upper arm. "The Lady give us some insight into the matter."

Then the nun let her eyes skim across the room. Something had to be helpful here, if the most holy Bastion wasn't.

Diplomacy on the Bastion. Give us some help, darnit! 22
Perception for the Bastion or his office. Nothing of interest or help? 22 Yep, nothing.
Religion: 24

[Cronax]

It may be nothing but there is a chance this mystery may be linked to his work, I would in particular be most keen to see his copy of the Contemplations and the prayerbook."

Agale rubbed an index finger to his chin at Mr. de Castaigne's suggestion. "Was Warden Lecanu engaged in any unofficial projects or research related hobbies?

* * *

Inwardly, Agale smirked at Pineau's response to the Hazlani. Perhaps this small priest has more wit than it seems, he thought to himself. Agale had never been a particularly pious man. Back in Borca, he'd attend mass twice a tenday as a matter of custom and ritual, but rarely bothered to pay much attention to the sermons themselves, instead using the opportunity to socialize with business partners and rivals in similar situations. He was vaguely aware of some kind of doctrinal dispute between the Home Faith and the church here, but preferred to leave such quibbles to the clergy.

"As well informed as any other barring those responsible your eminence." Agale said respectfully. "As to the missing priests, Warden Giroud has been most helpful in recounting the particulars which have been established thus far. We shall take the utmost care in our investigation not to inconvenience yourself or your congregation."

religion 15 history 30 streetwise 31

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia just looks at the Bastion with crossed arms while she ponders her store of knowledge. 'I recall the previous Bastion of this sect of Ezra,' she thinks as she eyes the little man. 'She was old, doddering, and people were afraid she'd die before she could choose a successor. I wonder why it was you who made it to this office.'

(OOC: History check: 26. Religion check: 24.)

[NeoTiamat]

Ste. Mere des Larmes, Quartier Publique, Port-a-Lucine; Afternoon of March 24th, 770
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"We are harbingers of stability and we are in Port-a-Lucine to help with the Mytteri the city faces. You are seen as an icon of stability, so it is our duty to aid you. I am Dommer Cyrus Isfahani and this is my brother Darius."

"Very good." The Bastion said in his mild voice, nodding to Cyrus. "I am pleased to hear that the Lawgiver's clergy is so concerned with the stability of the Ezran church. It bodes well for relations between our two faiths."

"Have you moved to sequester or otherwise ensure the personal security of the others who were also unaffected?"

"Not formally as such, but I have been recalling the various unaffected clerics to the Cathedral for the immediate future." The Bastion continued. "I would have done so in any case, given that we have recently been rather understaffed, and the unaffected are the few clerics I can use to make up the shortfall."

"It appears that at least one of the side-effects of the recent troubles was that they have returned a level of zeal to the Church. Very commendable, certainly." Armand Pineau smiled, a faint quirk of the lips that betrayed only a tiny amount of humor. "But now that many of the affected of faith have opted to occupy St. Madeline's or even more obscure churches in their proselytizing, it leaves Ste. Mere des Larmes emptier than usual."

"Indeed Bastion, we would be most grateful for your recollection and perceptions of the events." He adds echoing Cyrus' words whilst at the same time looking at the Bastion carefully, trying to remember what he had heard and where about the man.

"I'm afraid I cannot help you any more than Warden Giroud already has." Bastion Pineau said, with a regretful shake of the head. The little man looked at you, the candle light reflecting off his glasses. "He is more informed as to the day-to-day affairs of the Cathedral."

"Was Warden Lecanu engaged in any unofficial projects or research related hobbies?

"Not to my particular knowledge." The Bastion said blandly. "Though many of the clergy who are researcher by profession also engage in their own little projects. A translation of old texts, philosophical discources on Ezra's divine nature, similar works. It's encouraged, as some of the most brilliant writings emerge from that kind of personal passion."

"We were told there was no formal map of the cathedral." Tomas offers, trying his best to keep in the formal mode of address he knows these swells care so much about. "Is there an, ah, informal one?" Tomas do not accuse the Bastion of having a hive of secret passageways to his face. "...like a rough draft visitors or initiates use before they get to know the place? Anything like that would be a big help." Tomas really wants to ask 'Is this place as ridiculously haunted as every other old building in this town?' but he has to set a good example, right?

"I'll have my amanuensis look through the old files. Perhaps we have something that can be helpful." Pineau said. He took off his glasses and cleaned them with a cloth. Something about the way his fingers moved reminded you of spiders spinning their silk. Very long fingers, on very plump hands. "I should warn you, however, that the Under-Church is extended and connects to the catacombs in certain unexpected ways. It is better if you have a guide with you. Perhaps Brother Blackwood can serve as a guide?"

Richard made a slight noise of surprise in the back of his throat, not expecting to be addressed. His grey eyes flickered left, then right, looking at the rest of the mob that came with him, before settling back on the Bastion. "Of, of course, your eminence."

"We used to visit Port-a-Lucine almost every other week," Alice explained, with a fond smile toward her brother. "You could hardly pull Richard away from the cathedral with a team of horses. It drove father crazy... still, I daresay he knows his way around as well as most the priests who live here."

"I, I don't think I'll be of, of much use if we have to, to venture into the catacombs," Richard said, with a sheepish grin. "I suppose, ah, Mr. Mauganson and, and Dommer Isfahani will have to see us through in, in that case... Lady grace us that, that we do not."

"Very good." Bastion Pineau said, taking a piece of paper and writing out a quick note. He then took a large stamp in his slender fingers, dipped it in ink, and stamped the paper. He passed it to Richard. "This warrant should see that you are not trouble in the course of your duties."

"Have you any more questions?"

[DocBeard]

"Very good." Bastion Pineau said, taking a piece of paper and writing out a quick note. He then took a large stamp in his slender fingers, dipped it in ink, and stamped the paper. He passed it to Richard. "This warrant should see that you are not trouble in the course of your duties."

"I think that should work fine, Herr Bastion. Thank you for your understanding." Tomas smiles, wonders if he should bow or something, and ultimately decides to turn around instead. "Alright, first of all, I'm sure you've all noticed that the common denominator in all three disappearances is that the Wardens in question were all taken to wandering out of doors late at night. Which means that I do not want anyone going anywhere alone." He pauses a second to get the 'what about the bathroom?' snickers out of everyone's system.

"We'll need to split up in order to get the information that the gendarme haven't had the time or staff to collect; I recommend four groups. I will go with Mauganson and Miss Viardot to Lecanu's room, Sister Doherty and the Isfahani brothers will investigate Greiner's room, Lia, you'll go with the Blackwoods to investigate Vaillant's room, and our Mister Agale and de Castaigne will start looking in the library. We'll spend the rest of the morning learning what we can from the library and building an idea of what these three priests's routines were right." And their friends, enemies, and so on. "And in a few hours we'll all meet up back at the library, compare notes, and see if we don't have a better idea of where the priests might have vanished and what might have done so."

"Unless anyone has a better idea?" Tomas adds after a minute, because, well, he's an amateur at best.

[lostboy]

A faint grimace crosses Nicolas' face at the proposed divsion of the party, and he casts a flickering glance at Agale. That the Borcan despised him was all too obvious to Nicolas and working together would surely be an insufferable bore. But the library was where he wanted to go, so it was time to bear the cross with as good humour as can be expected. Besides Nicolas was rather keen to get away from the spider sat behind the desk, especially as he fancied a realtively long and healthy life.

"I think as far as I can deduce you have nailed it Herr Eisenwald." Turning back to the Bastion he offers a quick nod of thanks and then moves towards Agale and the door. "Shall we Signore?" he asks tapping his cane against his boot distractedly.

[yalenusveler]

"I...just want to say that if we need to enter the catacombs, we need to be extremely careful." Kerrian spoke up, trying ever so much to supress a shudder before setting off with Tomas and Celeste. "I'm..pretty much certian they're probably not safe."

OOC:27 Religion, 5 history, 22 streetwise

[Cronax]

"I do not want anyone going anywhere alone."

"Sound advice Mr. Eisenwald" Mr. Agale agreed. "In any case, let us make haste so that our investigations do not inadvertently carry over into the night." Finding no substantive objection to Mister Eisenwald's plan of action, Agale said "After you, Mr. de Castigne" and followed the poet out of the room.

[The Whistler]

“Which means that I do not want anyone going anywhere alone." He pauses a second to get the 'what about the bathroom?' snickers out of everyone's system.

“A most prudent suggestion, M. Eisenwald! Though one wonders…ah, it is of no importance. Speak on!”

She couldn’t have actually been about to say it. For one thing, you were pretty sure that she’d dashed off to the powder room back at the Chateau.

Regardless, this was the first she had deigned to speak in the Bastion’s presence, following a rather effusive introduction at the beginning of the proceedings. It appeared that, when you got right down to it, Celeste really hadn’t the slightest idea how to investigate a missing persons case, which in retrospect was not very surprising. Now that a definitive plan was being put forth, however, she appeared much more ready to participate, even if that involved tagging along behind someone who knew what they were doing. Her happiness at being paired with Tomas and Kerrian was particularly apparent: she had already classed them both as Proper Adventurers, due to published record and conspicuous vision-quest, respectively, so she must have figured she couldn’t lose.

“Speaking only for myself, M. Eisenwald, I could not possibly advance a more satisfactory plan—oh, I find myself alight with investigative glee even at this very moment! Lead on, M. Eisenwald, M. Mauganson: that through our efforts we may illumine the pall of Mystery with the ameliorating light of Truth!”

[Nathan of the FoS]

Darius, at least, looks like the question that comes to his mind is "Who died and left you in charge of running the show?" Given that going about in pairs is a) something he already brought up and b) something the Isfahanis do all the time anyway, perhaps the other doesn't occur to him at all.

He's about to say that he would prefer the library, thanks very much, when it occurs to him that leaving his brother alone with the nun would probably result in--well, one can't quite predict what would happen, but all of the things that spring to mind are highly regrettable.

Oh well.

Nodding crisply in acknowledgement of the proposed division of labor, he turns on his heel and stalks out.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"That works for me," Lia says, nodding calmly. "Shall we go?" she suggests to the Blackwoods, sweeping her arm towards the door.

'Time enough to tell them about the docks when we are all out of here,' she thinks to herself.