Malign Influences - RPLOG
Participants
Date
25/11/476
Log
A fine afternoon in Firmament, in front of the Academy. Beings mill up and down, about their way to and from their business. But what's important is a small group of beings moving in and out of one of the engineering buildings, gathering up old, dusty artifacts of creator steel and setting them down on the steps, clearly amassing them in preparation for being moved further out later.
Selena makes her own way through the crowds and bustle of Firmament - at least being familiar with the Academy district has its perks, the wolfess finding herself in front of the workshop and storage buildings in good time, for a few moments just watching the procession of beings with creator machinery going in and out of the building. "Who exactly is in charge of this?" She asks one of the the beings as they set some anachronistic contraption down. "And why are all of these being moved? I don't suppose I missed a memo..."
Falx is, of course, quite curious as to what is occurring with the Creator Artifacts in front of the academy. He is also somewhat desring more pay, as well as the ability to get a closer look at the creator artifacts. So he's there, in his normal brown robe, standing at the bottom of the steps, keeping his eyes on those transporting and on the artifacts. Can't be too careful.
Isidor just wandering around the city, taking in the sights, and what better sight there can be than some mysterious artifacts being moved? Never seeing anything like that before, the otter advances towards the workers.
Angus makes his way to the storage building, slipping through the crowd as he hopes he wasn't late considering he had to double back to grab his new staff. "Hello everyone." He greets, tipping his hat as he walks up to the group and starts looking around for the one in charge, trying to get some bearings on what to do.
Issi makes her way into the academy. This looks like a rather nice place for a budding mage, yet she rarely ever comes here. She looks at the rest of the group, but is distracted by the creator tech. Interesting, she hadn't seen it very closely before, especially not since the bit in the swamp started leaking acidic ooze. She would poke one, but is slightly worried that the swamp ooze is kind of a feature of Creator Tech.
Dio needed something to distract himself, and a bit of physical labor and sweat usually does the trick, at least for him. Without his typical gleaming smile and sans the coat, the somewhat forlorn looking lion strolls into the front of the academy, hands tucked within his pockets as he peers around for the job in question. Noticing the other familiar face, he simply nods his head at them and continues on to focus upon the group of beings transporting various creator objects. "I'm 'ere fer the 'eavy liftin'. Where we takin' all this?"
"Of course," the foreman of the workers, a heavy-clanned rhino, says to Selena. "There've been some requisitions from the church, and we're supposed to be moving them out to..." he blinks a moment and shakes his head, then looks relieved. "Right, I remember now. Mange Square. There'll be someone waiting out there for pickup. How could something that important have slipped my mind?"
He seems completely serious about it, too. "I take it the rest of you lot, the lion aside, are here to help with the moving? Creator steel sure is heavy."
Selena whistles quietly as the remainder of the beings congregate in the area. "Well, that explains enough. Could I trouble you to explain why we're taking all of this to mange square of all places? If the church is asking for them, wouldn't they be better left in Saint's square?" She question, before waving back to Angus and Dio, nodding in acknowledgement of the others present. "Dio, I haven't seen you in a very long time." She promts, as though expecting an answer from the lion.
Falx looks around to everyone, noting those he knows: Basically, everyone present to assist. He turns to Selena as she speaks and nods. "I second Selena's statement," Falx begins. "Saint's Square is a much safer location than Mange Square, and I am aware that many unsavory individuals reside in that area." He looks over the artifacts. "So thus I shall second Selena's question: What is the exact reason behind the decision to take the artifacts, which should no be allowed into the possession of those who could misuse them, to the Mange Square, of all places?"
Angus gives Dio a nod in greeting, same as everyone else before he focuses on the Foreman. He leans on his staff, but for once he keeps quiet. Content on letting everyone else pose the question as he slides up to Dio and gently taps the lion on his shin with the end of his staff. "Something wrong?"
Issi is a bit busy inspecting the creator tech, flicking her tounge to see if it smells anything like the swamp tech. The only thing she succeeds in doing ins getting a strong whif of dust, ugh. Though she does pay enough attention to hear 'Church' and 'Mange Sqare'. Odd, why would those two things go together? The Church isn't in Mange Square.
Always unfocused, Isidor sets his mind on the task ahead. "Fine, I can help. Not having anything better to do for now, anyway." Then, he drifts off again, looking over the architectural marvels of Saints' Square. Not knowing the city well enough, he suspects nothing.
Dio raises an eyebrow at the rhino's comedic slip-up, not sure what to make of the little blunder. "Surely ya got an order from someone o' somethin', unless yer gettin' some spring cleanin' in a bit too early o' another little expo." The lion unleashes his pocket bound hands and nods at Selena. "That it has, lass." Feelings a tap upon his shin, he turns around and meets eyes with Angus, expression unchanging. "Everything's just fine, lad. Just a little tired is all."
The foreman blinks at Selena's question. "I was told that there would be a pickup who would take it by a roundabout path, so as to avoid any potential harassment on the path that would be expected. It'd eventually get there, you see. No one would expect folk like us such things into..." a little hesitation, at everyone questioning it. "...is it so surprising? We're just doing what we were ordered to."
He fishes out a small scrap of parchment, and indeed, it has the seal of the Creator Church embossed on it, as well as written authorisation for moving the artifacts. However, there's absolutely nothing about moving any of the dangerous looking things - there are clearly some that quite closely resemble the garden-variety creator scorcher - into or about the environs of Mange Square. Quite the opposite, in fact - a direct delivery straight to Saints' Square is what is ordered. Yet the fellow doesn't seem to realise it, and none of his crew, either.
Selena taps the paper unamusedly right on the line that says 'to Saint's Square'. "Yes, it's that surprising. I'd expect you to read your orders before doing whatever you feel like." the wolfess states flatly. "For that matter, I've seen some things very much like some of those pieces of technology in use, and they aren't exactly harmless. There's no line about moving dangerous goods on your orders either. I suggest you explain yourselves a little better than that, any secondary courier or odd routes would be documented somewhere with goods like this beign moved." That said, she turns back to the rest of the group. "Well, Dio, it's nice to see you again either way. Found any leads on your coat, by the way?"
Falx looks over the artifacts. Despite his current focus, he is somewhat knowledgable with Creator Tech. However, at the moment, he is unable to really tell if any of it is or isn't actually dangerous. He curses himself for this, and vows to get a closer look. "This tech can easily be very dangerous. I recognize some pieces as being similar to the 'Scorcher' as in use by Machine Priests." That he would, as he did see a damaged one that was idenfitied by Mirana as one. "Nonetheless, I shall not assist the transportation of these artifacts until they are identified properly and orders are verified."
Angus looks Dio over, knowing it was something else as the lion has never been this quiet. "If you say so Dio." He answers before turning back to the conversation. "Excuse me, might I see that seal?" He asks as he takes a step forward and offers his hand to the Rhino. "I'm a little curious about a few things." He was trying to be blunt, wondering if the Rhino would notice a noble or not as he smiles.
Issi hasn't paid that much attention, but still knows that something isn't right. She decides to ask one of the others silently. (Why would the church send something like creator tech to Mange Square?) she signs.
Isidor,noting some more interesting things, goes up the square never minding the rest. Soon, he's out of sight, swimming in his own buisnesses.
Dio leans in to observe the orders, and then looks back at the rhino, and then the orders again. Naturally, he looks quite skeptical of the contradiction and lets out a short laugh. "While I was lookin' fer a bit o' work to distract me, I can't in all good faith transport somethin' this important without everyone's 'ead on straight." Hearing someone refer to his coat, he reaches down to tug at it subconsciously, saddened to find only air where it would be. "I decided to get it re-threaded. Took a bunch o' bullets, cuts an' stabs, an' it'd be a shame to leave it like that. A large bit o' work it is." With a nod to Angus, he turns and starts heading for the church. "Suppose I'll get a church lad to come down an' check this all out. With a bit o' luck, maybe I'll even find the person who signed it." And with a wave, Dio starts his quest!
"But I did!" the foreman protests, even as Angus steps forward and jabs a thick finger right down at the part Selena highlighted. "Look, it says right here that I...I was supposed to..." his voice falters a moment. "We were supposed to...move them there, it says here right on the orders...yes, why don't you go down to the church and sort this out. It's all very confusing - I distinctly remember that those were the orders given."
Selena watches as Dio makes his way off, then looks back to the foreman. "Yes, you were supposed to transport some creator artifacts to the church." She replies, rolling her eyes a little. "Well, have you spoken with anyone suspicious in the meantime? I'm aware of a certain old one whose supplicants can put suggestions into a being's head. I'd like to assume you aren't making a mistake like that in your profession without some kind of interfering circumstances."
"If the orders specifically state to be taken here," Falx states, "then why are they being requested to being taken to Mange Square?" He sighs and turns back to Angus. "Your sister is very knowledgable about creator technology, so would you be aware of any laws in regards to the transport and handling of creator artifacts that, perhaps, are not being followed at the moment?"
Angus stares a little at the seal, before he leans back and gives the foreman a smile. "I'm not as adept at knowledgable as my sister. But either way this is definitly not right." He turns to watch Dio go, giving Selena a slight nod as he wonders if she might be right. "I do hope it's not who you think it is Selena...if it comes to that you're probably going to have to do something...as I'm still knew to following a spirit and all..."
Issi hms, people who didn't understand left, and those who could aren't paying attention. Oh well. She turns her attention back to the tech, and to the foreman who has Angus and Selena questioning him. Why does she have the sneaking suspicion that something is going to go wrong, oh its because it usually does.
With one final nod to the group, Dio sets off for the church, searching for the individual who wrote the order or at least someone who could possibly assist with such a strange case.
"I...I don't remember." The foreman calls over a number of his subordinates. "I'm sure...no, I'm sure that I don't remember meeting with anyone in particular. I think, right."
"Boss, you were on leave yesterday. And the papers says we're to take this lot to the church directly. Are you sure you're feeling well? No wonder we thought you were acting funny, asking us to move all this gear out to Mange Square, but we thought you knew what you were doing."
Selena nods, tapping a foot on the ground for a moment as she watches the foreman closely. "He's under the influence of an Old One." She observes with a quiet sigh, leaning back a little. "The one problem is, I can't tell you who or where the influence is coming from. If you do remember anything, best to let us know now." The wolfess sighs. "I didn't this kind of activity planned for my evening..."
An Old One, of course. Falx sighs and shakes his head. "With this knowledge, I cannot, in good conscience, support such a transport," he states flatly. He notices Dio has left, though he isn't too sure where he went off to. "Nonetheless, I believe these artifacts should be returned to where they were removed from quickly. Leaving such valuable, and potentially dangerous, artifacts here isn't a good decision in the slightest."
Angus shakes his head and sighs, taking a step back away from the Foreman. "This isn't good, think it might have something to do with the Technologists?" Last time he encountered them was there, so it was only safe to assume they had something to do with it. Proping his staff up in the crook of his arm he reaches into his cloak and pulls out a few coins. "Think we could persuade them to postpone the trip for now?"
Issi has been hovering around the Creator Tech, so its not left completely unguarded. Though, she has a very strong compulsion to thwack the foreman with her staff, to see if that helps anything but she doesn't for now. Instead she keeps her attention flicking between the Foreman and the tech.
After a hefty amount of searching and conversing, Dio heads back to the academy district the same way he came, and certainly not empty-handed. On each of the lion's flanks are what are clearly church authorities, and they certainly don't look happy hearing that precious Creator tech could've made its way to Mange square despite their orders. Behind Dio, along with the rest of his entourage, is a rather tall appearing jaguar, who soon speeds ahead and takes the lead with a stance that absolutely screams authority. With a scowl upon his face, he stares right into the Rhino and holds out his hand. "Hand me that order," he commands while Dio and the others catch up. "What's this I hear about transporting Creator artifacts to Mange Square?"
Selena looks back and forwards between the church authorities and the poor, unfortunate soul in charge of the mess. "You heard it as it was told. Our friend here thought you were having a third party transport the goods from mange square to you to avoid been waylain between here and saint's square. There's an Old one involved in manipulating him, so don't even think about pinning the entire debacle on his head." She replies flatly, evidently having no respect for the authority or simply being blunt. "He doesn't claim to remember speaking with any odd beings, but his subordinates have said he was acting odd as well. And if you doubt that there's an old one involved, I can aways call Kendrac for the confirmation."
Falx looks on as Selena and the church authorities go over what's going on. She states an Old One is involved, and is thusly not his fault completely. He looks back to Angus. "I don't think coin is needed, given the current circumstances," he intones directly. Now to Issi, whom he joins in keeping a weathered eye on the technology to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to swipe any of the artifacts.
Angus tosses the coins to Falx as soon as the Church offical appears, hoping the wasps catches them as he steps up to get between him and the foreman. "Gentleman. Good afternoon, it seems that we have a slight dificulty in getting these artifacts to the Creator church. If you have any questions, please refur to Selena." He comments, standing tall as he smiles and points directly at Selena. Letting her take over from there.
Issi nods to Falx has he makes his way over. four eyes are better than two. She's taken to holding her staff now, not weilding it, but she still has it ready in her hand just in case something does happen. Keeping an eye on the tech, and listening in to the conversation keeps her occupied for now.
Now that Dio finally caught up with the group, he catches Selina's explanation and looks at the rhino. "'nother Ol' One, eh?" He comments, rubbing idly at his chin. "Poor lad, but I can't 'elp but wonder where he fell under such an influence. Should probably really lock some o' this stuff fer now 'til we find who's tryin' to snatch up all this Creator stuff."
The jaguar looks unconvinced at Selena's words, but gives her a nod and takes the piece of parchment from the rhino. "Yes, I penned this missive. I'll have to look into the whole matter later, then." With three, short, loud claps, he gets the workers' attention. "All right, I'm taking charge of this situation right now. Two of you, get your boss by the shoulders and come along - we've got a bed for him in the back of the church where we can observe him. The rest of you, these things still need moving, alas - get your gear and we're heading off to Saint's Square by the main avenue. In plain sight. Come on, all of you. Chop chop."
Relieved that all seems to have been put to rights and the workers double up on their efforts, hauling and pushing bits and pieces into trolleys and handcarts. The crisis seems to have been averted, for now, at the very least.
