The Shattered City: Chapter Two

[Kaitou Kage]

"We are not employees of the state, however," Cyrus said pointedly, "Indeed, several of this group are employees of the University itself. And we have been investigating on your behalf unofficially all day. Perhaps we could continue our activities. Do you deem the investigation worthy enough for us to do this?"

He smiled at Alice. "My brother has never had such letters to hide," he said calmly, unable to resist the setup, "He is too scared to write them in the first place."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Indeed," Lia says in a soft tone of voice. "Perhaps we humble employees of the University may speak to the president of the University and do some more investigating at the Museum." 'Not to mention in other offices of the University,' she thinks to herself.

"Speaking of investigations," she says, "has anyone seen the librarian or librarians ...? Oh - and by the way, I have been told that Warden Lecanu was seen near the docks not too long ago. Perhaps that is something for the rest of us to look into?"

[Nathan of the FoS]

Darius flushes at Alice's comment and goes pale at Cyrus' joke, actually putting his hand to his sword hilt. After a pause of a few seconds, he grates out, "I defer...to your superior experience...in these matters, mademoiselle. Your point...is well taken, monsieur Blackwood. His vows might well have made such an illicit attachment worth keeping well-hidden."

[Nerit]

Nerit shrugged one shoulder and smiled at Alice. She nodded gravely toward Richard, as well.

"Indeed," she finally spoke. "It makes one wonder whether he prepared for enemies. Do you think he expected someone to find them in his dormitory if he did not hide them so carefully? This is why I find the letters relevant, M. Captain. He was a scheming brother, whether in love or not."

Her expression was, despite the words, completely flat.

[DocBeard]

Darius flushes at Alice's comment and goes pale at Cyrus' joke, actually putting his hand to his sword hilt.

Tomas does not make eye contact with Darius, but, swordsman to swordsman, the Hazlani can seen the slight tension in Tomas's shoulders and his sword hand easing to his waist.

When Darius drops it, Tomas leans back against the wall again, crossing his arms and resumes listening. "The love notes might be a cipher." Tomas notes, mildly. "Probably not enough time to figure out for certain, but they're explained easily enough that if you wanted to hide information, that's a good place to do it."

"We've got too many options and not enough people to address them all." Tomas concludes, rubbing his chin and frowning. "We're going to have to split up again, I am thinking."

[Cronax]

"The docks you say? That does somewhat correlate. The rather perturbed fellow who burned down the gallery supposedly did so at the behest of a stranger he encountered in a dockside drinking establishment. Although until we have something more specific to work with, we had best pursue other leads first." Mr. Agale adds.

The Borcan stands and makes a show of brushing dust off his suit. Gathering his attaché, he says "Indeed Mr. Eisenwald, though not so many viable courses as is first apparent. It seems our next steps are clear. Some of our group should return to the scene of the original crime at the museum. I would humbly suggest that Ms. Mournswraith lead that expedition as she is the only official academic present. For my part, I intend to pursue the good Warden's buying habits at these book stores. We can attempt to decipher the letters while in transit methinks.

The city is still in an uneasy state. If you gentlemen are amenable, Mr. Eisenwald, Dommer and Mr. Isfahani, would you split your attentions so neither party is without an armed escort?"

[Kaitou Kage]

When Darius drops it, Tomas leans back against the wall again, crossing his arms and resumes listening. "The love notes might be a cipher." Tomas notes, mildly. "Probably not enough time to figure out for certain, but they're explained easily enough that if you wanted to hide information, that's a good place to do it."

"My brother and I already reached that conclusion," Cyrus said evenly, "But we have no clear indication of what the Warden's so-called love is yet."

"If you gentlemen are amenable, Mr. Eisenwald, Dommer and Mr. Isfahani, would you split your attentions so neither party is without an armed escort?"

Cyrus gave Agale a rather flat, unimpressed look. "We are both dommer," he said in cool voice. Then he continued more amiably. "Very well. If Eisenwald goes to the docks, we will go to the University. I'm sure my brother would enjoy an opportunity to visit their libraries."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Darius relaxes visibly at this peace-offering from his brother. "It would be interesting to see the University museum," he allows. "For the cipher, it is nothing obvious. Not first letter of the line, not first letter of the sentence... Perhaps we should leave the letters with you, Captain Cedolin, if there are code-breakers among the gendarmerie?"

[DocBeard]

Tomas shrugs; some animal part of him protests the idea of leaving Lia in the hands of these psychotic Hazlani marauds, but the rest of him is certain that she would incinerate him if he phrased it anywhere in the charmingly quaint suburbs of that way.

"I've no objections." Tomas adds for his part, glad that Agale's willing to follow his lead with letting the 'leader' be simple good sense. "Just watch Madame Librarian, Isfahani. Unless she has passed on, she likely still has the meanest left hook in the city and a...unique view of the preservation of literature." Tomas touches his cheek, pointing out an old scar. Lia may remember that the old battle axe gave it to him when she went after Eisenwald with a hot poker for smudging the ink on a book he borrowed.

[The Whistler]

Celeste jumped slightly at Captain Cedolin's announcement about the university’s change in policy—not being one to pay close enough attention to current events to have heard about it in advance. “Heavens! One may admire such a stand upon political principle…and yet, to leave such priceless national heirlooms unguarded by our fair City’s constabulary…my dear Captain Cedolin, in this matter, I confess myself to be entirely upon the side of your noble organization. At what price may Art be valued, after all, if one is unwilling to see it duly protected?” She seemed quite sincere about the whole issue—though who knows how she might have felt if she had been talking to the de Casteeles.

The plan coalescing in front of her seemed to have her approval as well, prompting a series of progressively more enthusiastic nods. “It is settled, then! Though I admit, I find it most amusing that my lack of formal investigative expertise should, in this case, render me uniquely suited to the task of investigation!” She giggled briefly. “{i]Most[/i] whimsical. In any case, gentle companions, I should be more than delighted to accompany the party destined for the Museum: where noble gendarmerie may not proceed, so may the residents of the Chateau Malchance! Besides, the Guignol is hosting a simply rapturous display of Phirazian clerical accoutrements at present…”

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"M'selle Viardot will make for welcome company," Lia murmurs. "I wonder, however, M'selle ... If we should meet with the president of the University, might I prevail on you to curb your enthusiasm a little? He is undoubtedly upset at recent developments."

[Cronax]

The Tollere returns Cyrus's gaze with a puzzled look. His expression then softened somewhat with understanding. "Ah, I see. I offer my apologies then. Should matters not be as pressing as they are, I would be interested in hearing more of the Hazlani hierarchical system. As it is, we had best be off before daylight entirely runs out. After you Mr. Eisenwald and any others who would care to accompany us." He gestures graciously at the door with a sweep of his empty hand.

[yalenusveler]

"Who does it benefit..." Kerrian mused, having remained more or less quiet during the sharing of information, since Tomas and Celeste covered most everything they found.

"To divide the government against the university...it has to benefit the perpetrators somehow..." He shook his head, then looked to the others.

"I'm willing to go wherever, but I might know some people near the docks, the people I work with have to do a lot of cargo moving."

[NeoTiamat]

Main Library, Ste. Mere des Larmes, Quartier Publique, Port-a-Lucine; Afternoon of March 24th, 770
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"We are not employees of the state, however," Cyrus said pointedly, "Indeed, several of this group are employees of the University itself. And we have been investigating on your behalf unofficially all day. Perhaps we could continue our activities. Do you deem the investigation worthy enough for us to do this?"

"Worthy enough for you?" Captain Cedolin raised a brow at this particular turn of phrase. Still, after a moment's thought, he shrugged and let it pass. "I would certainly appreciate the help, and it's not something the gendarme is going to be able to do until this crisis calms down. So yes, if you and Prof. Mournswaithe and some others can investigate the Museum connection, you would have my gratitude."

"Perhaps we should leave the letters with you, Captain Cedolin, if there are code-breakers among the gendarmerie?"

Cedolin regarded the letters in the way a man might regard a six-inch slug in his shoes... after he had tried putting them on. "I could, but they're likely to just sit on my desk for the next five weeks. We have a number of code breakers, yes, but they're currently tied up on matters the state deems more crucial. And most of them are also heavily connected to the University, which is making things... difficult."

The city is still in an uneasy state. If you gentlemen are amenable, Mr. Eisenwald, Dommer and Mr. Isfahani, would you split your attentions so neither party is without an armed escort?"

"Are you traveling into the Quartier Marchand?" Alice asked Mr. Agale. "Upon recollection, there were some seedlings I had meant to go pick up this morning. Would you mind terribly if I came along with you? Richard is far better suited to the University than I am, and I believe there were a few professors in the Theology department he wanted to talk to."

Richard made a slight noise that served as acknowledgment. He vaguely inclined his head towards Professor Mourneswaithe, then oddly enough went over to stand by the twins.

"I'd, I'd ask you to take care of my sister but, but it would just make her upset, I think," Richard said aside to Tomas on the way, when he had gotten close enough to Eisenwald that Alice couldn't quite hear them. "Even, even so, please do."

"For my part, I intend to pursue the good Warden's buying habits at these book stores."

"Actually..." Cedolin examined the list of bookstores on the paper Tomas had. At length, he spoke again. "I think you and M. Eisenwald can combine your efforts. Some of Lecanu's books are purchased from a place on the Rue des Epices, just inside the city wall. It's near the dock-front, so you'll be in the right place to ask questions about whether anyone's seen Lecanu."

"I'll check out some of these other places, see if they've anything to contribute." Captain Cedolin smiled suddenly, looking younger despite his hoarse voice. "If there's one thing the gendarme can do well, it's legwork."

Alright, so we've got two main options here. PCs can go to the docks/bookstore, or they can go the University, in both cases to follow up on Cedolin's interests. At the moment, we have:

Docks & Bookstore: Agale, Tomas, Alice, Kerrian
University of Dementlieu: Lia, Darius, Cyrus, Celeste, Richard

If you haven't decided on a place to go, please do so by your next post (the Docks group is looking a bit sparse).

Ste. Mere des Larmes, Quartier Publique, Port-a-Lucine; Afternoon of March 24th, 770
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The Cathedral proper was a bustle of activity as you finally emerged into it, rising up out of the dark, grim tunnels below the building. Dr. Poincare's crew of assistants were in the process of bringing down the Icon of Ezra.

Thankfully, they didn't have to bring down the entire window all at once, a job that would have been almost impossible without heavy machinery. Instead, the two assistants on step ladders were carefully prying out each of the immaculate shards of colored glass from the ruined leaden frame, and then passing them down the ladder to other assistants. These two young women would place the glass shard onto a wooden panel and then wrap the glass and wood in thick cloth.

At this point, a third young woman was carefully putting the bundles onto a cart, while a fourth lady was numbering each piece carefully with a slender black brush. The numbers corresponded to those on a huge, life-size canvas sketch of the Icon, and stated exactly where each individual piece of glass fit.

Dr. Nicole Poincare hovered around this elaborate and exceedingly careful operation. She stepped daintily over the cloth-covered pillows that had been arrayed all below the Icon. They were there so that in a worst-case scenario, the glass wouldn't shatter against the stone of the Cathedral floor, though given that it had recently survived an anarchist acid-attack, one could be forgiven for thinking this excessive. Poincare directed the operation, first here, then there, helping wherever seemed necessary. This wasn't much, admittedly, as Poincare's staff was obviously well-trained and well-practiced, and worked together like a silent, orderly machine.

This meant that when Dr. Poincare spotted you emerging, she cast a friendly wave towards Lia.

[yalenusveler]

Kerrian barely managed to conceal an intake of breath as the Icon began to be lowered. Something about the restoration didn't sit well with him, and with the divisions between academics and government, was a split with faith that far off,never mind the university's record for keeping items of import in its possession was already rather poor.

"If it's ok, I'd like to come along with you all." He directed at Mr.Agale, Tomas and Alice. "Like I said...I may know some people there."