Mists over the Musarde: Chapter 9

[VAN]

"Yes and yes. The man killed this poor girl at the alley across this wall I got her and was heading back and he stabbed me at the back. I think I managed to hit him at his head, or neck, or maybe just get his dark cloak or coat. He has long black or brown hair and fair skin, couldn't see well because he blinded me with ashes cinder. He is very agile too."

[ewancummins]

Karim, in the narrow lane

"Yes and yes. The man killed this poor girl at the alley across this wall I got her and was heading back and he stabbed me at the back. I think I managed to hit him at his head, or neck, or maybe just get his dark cloak or coat. He has long black or brown hair and fair skin, couldn't see well because he blinded me with ashes cinder. He is very agile too."

The soldier replies-


''You should come with us. Our leech will look at your wounds, unt you can make a report to the Commander. Keep an eye out for your dwarf-slave. It is drunk and may get lost looking for you.''

[VAN]

"Sure thing. Just if you can, may you carry the girl's body? I'm wounded and don't know if I can carry her now."

[ewancummins]

"Sure thing. Just if you can, may you carry the girl's body? I'm wounded and don't know if I can carry her now."

''Ja, that is no problem."

[VAN]

Karim follows the 2 soldiers and when they arrive at the Headquarters says:

"Can you call your healer or my friends if are still here while I do my report?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

THE CLOCKMAKER'S SHOP-
The whole loft is one big room with a rather low ceiling. Dorgio can stand to his full height, but jumping might be a bad idea. There are two small windows facing the street, both shuttered. Looking about, Dorgio sees a little bed, a squat chest-of-drawers, a carpet-bag, and a stool. The room is decorated with dried flowers, pinned to the walls or hanging about the window-frames. A neatly folded lavender dress is laid on top of the bed-linen.

Dorgio instinctively makes the sign of the dawn. It feels voyeuristic, almost ghoulish to go through the belongings of the dead. He wonders what it would be like for someone to go through his belongings after his time comes. He shakes his head--as long as he's been gone, perhaps that had already happened. But soon he would be back in his adopted land. Back with Konstanz and Anja and even Szori the crayfish. He shook his head. There would be time for that. Time for that and a few dozen jugs of palinka to erase the worst of what he'd seen. But first, the grim business at hand.

He starts by opening the windows to let the light in her room. After that, he searches through the chest and bags, looking for any clue that might bring him closer to Van Diecks. And he keeps an eye out for any of the cloth the clockmaker had mentioned.

[ewancummins]

Dorgio, in Verona's loft above the clock-shop

Dorgio instinctively makes the sign of the dawn. It feels voyeuristic, almost ghoulish to go through the belongings of the dead. He wonders what it would be like for someone to go through his belongings after his time comes. He shakes his head--as long as he's been gone, perhaps that had already happened. But soon he would be back in his adopted land. Back with Konstanz and Anja and even Szori the crayfish. He shook his head. There would be time for that. Time for that and a few dozen jugs of palinka to erase the worst of what he'd seen. But first, the grim business at hand.

He starts by opening the windows to let the light in her room. After that, he searches through the chest and bags, looking for any clue that might bring him closer to Van Diecks. And he keeps an eye out for any of the cloth the clockmaker had mentioned.

The light outside is fading fast- the sun must be setting.
The air is cool and you can smell a hint of woodsmoke on the breeze, perhaps from someone's stove.

Going through the dead doxie's belongings, you find various articles of feminine clothing and personal effects: slightly worn silk stockings, clean and polished shoes, a muskrat stole, a tin mirror, a bone comb.
In the bottom drawer of the chest-of-drawers you discover four lengths of hemp rope, each about two feet long. A couple of ripped stockings are rolled up alongside the ropes.

[steveflam]

John ever so quietly moves away from everyone, and slips out of the room.
I won't get anything done sitting in there waiting for something to happen. He glances at his notes. This was a chirurgeon or healer or something like that. Unfortunately he had no memories of his own of this city so he was on his own. Alas, at least he would get out there. The Falkovnians hit a memory nerve and the area was somewhat familiar to him.

Shrugging, he exited the building. Looking at the drunken dwarf he frowned. No loss of my faculties to the drink for me, I can assure you. Snapping his fingers, he smiles slightly. Turning around he returns inside the building and searches for the vents on the first and second floor. The ones leading down to the basement. Thinking straight for once, he heads out to find a guard to help him. Perhaps the intruder, which is what he suspected was the cause of the cold air and the likely killer, used the vents to somehow get below. He had no idea who this killer could do it, but never leave for granted the impossible. It could come and bite you in the ass if you weren't careful.

Upon finding the first guard, he shows him his pass. "Might you be able to let me see the plans for the building please? It is important to my investigation sir. Or lead me to who can?"

In the back of his mind is the theft of the uniforms as always.

[ewancummins]

John, in the Commander's House and now seperated from fussy old Bennedict...


The guard, when asked about the vents, directs you to someplace called 'the control room.'

Following his directions, you soon come to a first floor door marked with a sign: Steuerungraum. It stands slightly ajar. From within, you hear clanking machinery. Some light , as of a lantern or a lamp, comes through the gap between the door and the jamb.

[steveflam]

"And who is on duty in the room this evening? Name and rank would be greatly appreciated, sir. Just doing my job, young sir."

Perhaps it happens but he didn't have to like this.

[ewancummins]

"And who is on duty in the room this evening? Name and rank would be greatly appreciated, sir. Just doing my job, young sir."

Perhaps it happens but he didn't have to like this.

The door to the control room swings open. A dull-faced blond man stares at you. His brow is marked with the falcon-sign. He wears the same sort of uniform as most of the common soliders around this place.


''Private Hans on duty, mein herr! You are for inspection? Inspection?''

[steveflam]

John merely shows his paper giving him full investigation rights. "Yes pal, I am here for inspection as you so casually call it." Nimrod Falkovnian. I am here to catch the killer, you idiot........ Geez Louise, I hope not all guards are as quick and intelligent as this moron, for heaven's sake. Then we'll get nothing done after all.

[ewancummins]

John, the Control Room

The blond man escorts you into the room. It's a big room illuminated by several oil lamps hanging from the ceiling. A half dozen pot-bellied stoves stand about the walls, with chimney-pipes running up into the ceiling. A large boxy machine of some kind sits squat in the middle of the chamber. Though dark glass panels, you can see something of its clockwork innards.

Funny....although you don't think you've seen a machine like this before, something about those turning gears is very familiar to you.

The room is furnished with a small bed, almost child sized, and a couple of chamber pots, some cabinets, etc, as well as a big chair and desk.


''Alles in ordnung, mein herr! Deiner machine ist working just fine, unt der gnome is gut, too. Gnome, make inspection!''

A small humanoid creature appears from behind a cabinet. It shuffles towards you, ankle chains clanking. The sad little man-thing has a long and bulbous nose, big eyes, and long-fingered hands. Its clothing is patched and drab. It cowers before you, looking about nervously as if contemplating escape.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain after following Dorgio up to the Girls room does a through search of the room for sign's of any clues that might be of interest too the case . Speaking to Dorgio "Well I hope we can find something of use to the case here ."

[ewancummins]

Verona's room

Alain after following Dorgio up to the Girls room does a through search of the room for sign's of any clues that might be of interest too the case . Speaking to Dorgio "Well I hope we can find something of use to the case here ."

The old clockmaker has gone downstairs to answer LT Guppio's questions and maybe have a little supper.


Alain's search turns up a clay jar with a slit in its wooden lid . The jar rattles when handled, as if small, hard objects were rolling about inside it.


Alain also finds an oversized book under the bed. The book has no words, just pictures- sketches of people in all sorts of clothing. The work is rendered in charcoal with some use of colors- maybe cosmetics applied to the stiff pasteboard pages. The drawings are amateur but well-made.

He also finds a sewing kit beneath the bed.