Revision as of 03:02, 4 May 2014

Participants

• Asher
• Brutus
• Cedric
• Kalt
• Rixo
• Siyu

Date

3/5/477

Log

The scene itself is blocked from view currently by the heavy folk, with the small captain pacing infront of them as she glances to the windows and passerbyes... Finding nobody staying present, or deviating their eyes too long as they pass by, it seems the scene will be sufficiently empty this time around.

Asher trots gingerly onto the scene. He seems to be recovering well from his run in with the murder suspects and their murder elemental earlier in the week, though he has traded his normal well tailored clothes for a sturdy leather vest and some loose street clothes all covered by a sturdy cloak. "H-hello Captain," he says approaching the small mouse woman, "It isn't another one already, is it?"

Rixo makes her way onto the scene, rather quiet today and in no particular hurry. She pays little heed to the rain that tinks softly against her armour as she approaches the guards, her hammer absent today, though she does still have her spear. Pulling up to stand before the captain for a moment, she clears her throat. "You would think they would allow the city to rest. This has gone on long enough, I think."

Those bells again, would there be no end to them or the rain, as of late? Though the murders were a terrible thing, the puzzle involved would at least serve as a distraction to the badger's personal troubles. At least he'd been able to get some rest and treatment after yesterday's brawl, and managed to revert from his phoenix form that evening. Though Cedric was still feeling somewhat sluggish from exertion, and wasn't sleeping very much most nights.

He'd taken a little more time to prepare this evening, following the events of Mange Square, making his way among the city in a dark, rust orange cloak with mathemagical runes embroidered on the inner lining, a flintlock pistol with a black and white design visible each time the winds billow back his cloak, as well as a matching blunderbuss in an opposite holster. Before setting out from the Freesword's Guild, he'd been sure to prepare some water magic to deflect the rainfall from himself in advance, the droplets bouncing away from him in a very obvious way.

With each footfall towards the scene, the mustelid male's boots splash at puddles of accumulated rainwater until finally he arrives at the scene behind Asher and Rixo. A serious salute given to Captain Lunaxia and Asher as he greets the pair, "Glad to see you looking well this evening, Captain. Considering..." he frowns, looking to the small corgi. "Hello again to you, Asher. Are you sure you're feeling up to this, today?" he questions the canine, trying to keep his tone more one of concern than disapproval. To the panda, he gives a curt nod. "Rixo." he greets the woman tersely, not having very much to say to her today, save for "Yes, yes it has. It needs to end."

With his greetings out of the way, Cedric places a hand over his eyebrows as he scans the scene for a moment, looking back to the rodent guard captain, "So... what happened this time?"

A scarred, wary-eyed Igauna pushes her way through the crowds, an impatient glance behind her every so often. A time or two, she pauses in the crowd...it seems her wish for discretion is the only thing that keeps her from shouting obscenities. The cause for delay is made obvious as a pair of large bodies waddle and weave about. A large, young buck dressed in the livery of House Blackback, appears to be labouring under the burden of the great arm of a tall, rotund skunk, who appears to be leaning on him and shoving him away at the same time, bellowing lamentations, curses, and complaints about how he was fine and he didn't need this and who was in charge and he hoped they'd draw and quarter all these useless guards as well. The buck--some may recognize him as Hartford, looked genuinely apologetic, alternately talking to the crowd and the great big skunk he was supporting: "Oh, you don't mean that, sir--he doesn't mean that, he's just--sir, please!" to his ward--one Brutus Blackback, who looked quite disheveled and tipsy, and uncharacteristically unconcerned with his conduct as he loudly slurred about how he was a better soldier than all the Solaciouses put together.

The Iguana finally cleared the front lines with a shake of her head, drawing near Asher, Cedric, and the others. "I'm in the employ of one Brutus Blackback--" a snide nod back towards the knot of Deer and Skunk staggering through the crowd. "What seems to be the trouble?"

Captain Lunaxia slowly ceases her pacing as the freeswords approach, turning slowly as she adjusts the large repeating crossbow strapped to her back. Her lips purse slowly as she takes in the freeswords individually before speaking softly to asher as the rain pouring from her helmet helps to obscure her features. "I'm afraid it is..." A quick glance given to Rixo as she sighs. "They're mad, they don't know respect or compassion... I'm more surprised they waited this long. But we -will- end it, as I won't allow a repeat of yesterday again... I -refuse- to let us delve to that level of fear again." The captain raises a brow however as Brutus and his company make their way over, scowling as he makes his comments about the guards before looking to the Iguana. "Why don't I just show you all?" She motions gently to the guards whom part to allow access into the smaller side street...

Beyond them lay sit two Skunks with their backs pressed against the wall, easily distinguishable as Blackbacks by the wealthy appearance to them, one male and one female. The male dressed in a rather rich pair of purple pants, a large frilly white shirt, and a plethora of jewelry ranging from jeweled knecklaces to large gaudy rings. The female dressed in a rich green silk dress with gold trim, and a set of jewelry on her person that only the male dwarfed. Behind each of their ears were a simple bloody feather, and a small wooden box placed between them against the wall.

It's easy to see what killed them however, as they seem to have been shot twice each... Both rounds piercing into the chest, and judging from the amount of blood pooled around them on the ground it didn't take them too long to bleed out. However, as they were propped up next to each other, it seems they had used the last vestige of their strength to clasp each other's hands before passing.

"Four gunshots were reported by those near here when it went down, without any word on where the killers ran off to... By the time anyone got here they were already dead. I don't know why they were out this far, as most of the Blackbacks -should- be traveling with escorts..."

"Nothing to worry about, Cedric," Asher says, with a strained smile, "But I don't expect that I will be up for any chases tonight." The corgi straightens his new leather vest, "Besides, I can't imagine anywhere safer for me to be tonight than with Captain Luxania. Right?" It is apparent that the tiny canine can most certainly think of safer places to be. His brave face falls a little when he sees Brutus staggering up on Hartford's arm. "What are you doing bringing Brutus out here?" he asks the two bodyguards, his eyes scanning for places the murderers might be hiding but finding no likely spots. Not seeing anything he can do about Brutus's presence, he turns to examine the poor, lifeless bodies on the street. Well, RICH, lifeless bodies, anyway. "They didn't touch any of the jewels?" he asks.

Rixo gives a curt nod to Cedric in return. "Hello, Cedric." Her voice is rather clear of any negative emotions as she moves along the street to look at the bodies. "Another box." She snorts and approaches forward, reaching out with the tip of her pole arm to try to open the box from a distance. Though out of caution or because she's just too lazy to kneel over in that plate is difficult to distinguish. "Four shots?"

Cedric follows along, examining the grim scene with a shake of his head, noticing the gunshot wounds first, feathers second, and then the box. Which he assumes must be another note from the culprits. After Rixo pushes it open he kneels down, unhindered by armor to take charge of its contents, while idly noting aloud, "Were these victims drugged with the same sleeping powders as the others? They may not have been embracing." he says, narrowing his eyes, shuddering visibly at the thought. "It's likely they might've been posed that way after the fact..."

The Iguana takes in the sight--undisturbed with the blood and unmoved by the clasping of hands, but her brows raised nonetheless. She knew them --in passing only, but she had watched Brutus try to butter them up, only to meet with polite temporizing. Close family then? Hartford continues to play apologist, trying to at least get the Skunk on his own two feet. "Brutus insisted it on it, Asher, and--well, you try standing in his way. If he wasn't gonna listen, we at least had to keep watch--" As the crowd parts, Hartford sees the fallen bodies and the blood drains from his face--though one could only tell by seeing his ears go greyish-white. Justus and Penelope. Oh gods. Oh creators. He couldn't let Brutus see this. He tried to move in front of him, guide him to the fringes of the crowd. If Brutus saw them, he would know them. It was--

"Mother? Father?" Brutus bellows, shoving the unsuspecting Deer aside with a shove--he might have been fat, but he was also a towering slab of a Being, and when the drunken disregard for himself and others kicks in...he flings himself through the crowd, smaller Beings tumbling out of the way. "No--no--by the spirits, the creators, the old ones, it--it can't--" he stammers, trying to push hysterically through a knot of guards attempting to rein in the disorder--or, at least Brutus's disorder in particular.

Siyu comes up a little later, he was working to try and get here, however being a small clan it took some effort. The rodent in his leather and mail again, giving a faint little huff as he'll smooth out whatever kinks he put into the mail and step up to the rest of the group. "Sorry I'm late..." he looks over the scene, two bulleted blackbacks and he tisks. How the hell do they move around anyway? After all, with people looking to string up any small clan with an attitude it's really rather hard to duck in and out. He looks around for a sewer grate or a storm drain, somthing close that could be used to duck in and out. "Again in the heart. If they got so close a shot to the head is a much more efficient and guarnteed kill. You can still live if the ball bounces off a rib or the sternum. Especially with a heavy clan." he really can't figure that out. The feathers and the heart, somthing's not connecting yet. He blinks a little bit, Oh...shit...well that's not...that's not good is it. He is broken out of his thoughts as he looks over to Brutus. Damn damn damn. The small rodent walks over towards the Blackback and rests a hand on his shoulder.

Lunaxia waves off the three guards that were debating trying to block Brutus, the trio grudglingly letting him pass to approach his parents as she lowers her head with a sigh. The small mouse girl walking slowly to stand at the entrance to the side street. "Not a gem, not a crown, not even an inch of silk was taken from them. They never take anything... And as far as we can tell, no. Sleeping powder doesn't seem to have been used for this scene." The crowd of folks traveling through the square slowling as they turn to watch brutus, before continuing on their way to try and get out of the rain. "... I'm sorry."

The box was opened rather easily, indeed producing a note tucked away inside that's soon to be affected by droplets of rain, reading out:

"We told you we'd do it. We -told- this family we'd remind the city we weren't employed by them... Did they feel safe after the handfull of small folk were killed last night? Who knows! Does say something about how they felt about each other though... So, -so- happy to send them off to what lies beyond together, don't you agree? Yes, no greater kindness! Well... Save for the kindness showed unto us by the valient efforts of both guards and freeswords yesterday. So many answered the call to save small folk, I wonder if any of them are here right now?"

Asher's ears flatten against his skull when he hears Brutus cry out. Brutus's PARENTS!? The corgi limps quickly out of the way, to let the shouting, probably drunk, skunk through. He has seen as much as he can take of the bodies as he can. "They saw their killers," he says, "The shooter had to be close enough to ensure a kill with a pistol, and they were definitely shot by someone at street level." The tiny dog turns away from the scene as the letter is read, addressing Hartford of all people. "Hartford," he asks, "Do you know of any small folk canines that used to work for the Blackbacks?" He continues, "Or someone that these two would know and trust?" It was possible that the killer had simply run up and made the shot, but what would two affluent Blackbacks be doing unattended in a back alley? "I think they may have even spent some time talking to whoever shot them," he says, keeping his voice down, in case the killers were listening in.

Rixo hangs her head as much as her greathelm will allow upon hearing Brutus. "I am sorry." She hefts her spear and takes a few steps back, glancing around the area for anywhere that the two might be, or might have gone. She was growing tired of them getting away.

The badger is suprised to learn that these happen to be the large nobleskunk's own parents. The knowledge gives him a terrible awkward feeling, not really knowing how to respond or what to say to that. So he chooses to remain silent, and step off to the side. Covering his face with a hand and massaging his tired eyes Cedric nods, as the note is read. The inflammatory comments of the letter elicit a barely audible growl from the badger, his breathing temporarily deepning until he relaxes. "There's no proof they were actually there, yesterday. They must be trying to toy with us." he says quietly to Lunaxia, Asher, Rixo and Siyu in particular. He wanders off down towards the rest of the alley, his eyes darting everywhere for something, some sort of clue they're missing, question marks in purple and green spotting his fur all over.

Brutus finally makes it to the scene, and...does not hesitate in tampering with it. His fine hose rip and stain almost instantly as he collapses to his knees, wrapping arms around them, trying to hold them close, to protect him, to make up for not being able to in the first place...but they're wet, and cold, and stiff, unresponsive deadweight in his arms. Rage and terror, hatred, anger, and cheap rotgut churn around inside him, and he doubles over, coughing up what little he'd consumed lately, with a rather disgusting wet splat, though it's tough to tell if it's followed by dry heaving or the most pained of sobs. "None that I'm aware of--and you'd figure they'd stand out." A sad, weak wide-eyed shake of the head--as a bit of a greenhorn, this was the first time he'd really seen blood and death, and he was obviously shaken. "Though...you'd think they would've brought a guard with them...they made me go with Brutus when he went out, to keep an eye on him--" and at that, he's interrupted by Brutus's retching, a guilty flinch.

Siyu isn't sure exactly what to say or what to do, for now he's just going to stand next to Brutus. Looking akward and really unable to say anything. For all of the rodent's sucess he's still just some 18 year old kid. Half a man still, so it's rather hard for him to know what to say. Just to be there for now.

Luxania walks slowly through the side street and reaches out to gently pat Brutus on the back, while side stepping from his addition to the scene as she looks around. "I know they're fucking with us... They wouldn't entrust themselves to be caught by the mobs, if they are as crafty as they seem to want to prove." The larger guards slowly shuffling about at the entrance, keeping a pace around the entrance while the crowds pass by.

Brutus would feel a slight poke at the scruff of his kneck, from one of the pockets along his father's shirt. Nothing sharp or dangerous, but seemingly out of place.

Asher doesn't know where to go from here. He had really hoped that the Blackback guardsman would have had something for him to try to puzzle out. And the little dog didn't think he had it in him to try to examine the victims any more either. And he was scared and his side hurt and he was wet from the rain. The corgi slumps against a wall and slowly sits on the wet ground. He scans the alleyway for anything that the guards might have missed, but he is not hopeful. Right now, it felt like it might be a long time before he would be able to reopen his little tailor's shop. "It's okay Hartford," he says to the big deer standing over him, "It isn't your fault."

Rixo gives her spear a little twirl in her plated hand, eyes roaming around still as something clicks in her mind. Ruling out any typical escapes, she narrows her eyes and begins looking for anything out of the ordinary that would provide a rather fanciful escape. Stacked boxes leading onto a roof, lamp poses, whatever it might be.

The badger had just about had enough of all this, breaking away from the rest of the group to look for answers, the marks of puzzlement of his spiritual pact increasing as his mind races, searching for answers. After wandering off down the alley on his own, Cedric comes across an assortment of rain barrels, just about large enough for a smaller being to hide behind, as well as a variety of doors leading into various shop backrooms, most of which would probably be locked at this hour he wagers.

He rubs at his undermuzzle thoughtfully as he processes that information, drawing his flintlock pistol 'Badgerer', and a parrying dagger from beneath his cloak before moving to take a look behind the barrels, making sure the pistol is loaded and ready just in case. Better to be safe than sorry! He holds the pistol in his left hand, keeping his dagger-wielding hand steady on top of his left arm as he approaches. If he were to find nothing of importance there, he'd move on to examine the slew of doors for anything that might strike him as suspicious.

Hartford looks at Asher, eyes wide. "Well, maybe if I would've stopped him from drinking that...or if I'd been home, I could've escorted them." He shakes his antlered head again. "But, you know, house guard isn't that fancy. Mostly for show and to keep the rabble out. I know Mange Square and Shantytown are frightful, but you never expect this kinda thing around the Academy." Between gags and choked sobs, Brutus picks his head up, reaching for the offending item. It was a letter, family seal across the flap. He hastily rips the letter open, tearing off a fair portion of the bottom, and reading, in his father's handwriting:

Brutus--

Glad to hear about your progress in that company. We would like to speak with you over a meal next week--how about something a bit nicer than Inn fare? Keep up the good work, Son.

--Justus

At this, the great skunk drop the letter, roars wordlessly and slams his meaty fists into the wall, one after the other, not really accomplishing anything besides scratching up his jewelry and bloodying his knuckles pretty badly.

Siyu takes a step back at the sudden violence, his ears will flatten hard, tight to his skull. He doesn't of course have any response. Not knowing how to respond to the violence. Really he can't figure out anything...he swallows and just steps back, looking around again, lost. He swallows and he snaps his fingers to two guards. Motioning to his eyes. "Cedric..." he says as he notes the man has a pistol and he draws his own. He'll wait till the guards with the crossbows and Cedric at least are focused on him and he again, points to his eyes and to a storm drain cover in the alley. He moves quietly and cocks the hammer quietly back upon his pistol. Squatting on the hinge side of the cover and waits for the others to take up posistion.

Lunaxia motions to one of the guards, a large heavy clan Rhino whom moves behind Brutus to try and pull him back. "Sir... I'm sorry, but you need to step back now." The man says lowly, while meanwhile Lunaxia raises an eyebrow at Siyu, unstrapping her large repeatin crossbow as she begins to make her way over. The remaining two guards moving to stand vigilantly so as to block sight of the bodies for their own dignity.

Cedric's search would afford him nothing, but the thought they could have hidden there sadly... And as Rixo begins to look around for ways they could have climbed up, an errant shirt is blown through the wind to wrap around her helmet and temporarily blind her before flying off. Seems someone forgot to remove their laundry!

Asher looks despondently over the rainy scene, with little hope of seeing anything helpful, then his eyes widen as he finds himself fixated on a sewer grate poking out from beneath a small crate. "The sewers," he says under his breath. Of course! The beings they had chased from the shipyards had fled into the sewers! The tiny dog grunts and rises from his seat against the alley wall, even as Siyu calls the guards' attention to the grate. There was even of tuft of fur trapped in the old grate! They had left in a hurry, but they might still be down there listening to Brutus's howls! The little dog prepares a harsh blast of air magic to fling down the sewer entrance. It would be the only contribution he could make to combat this time. He nods to both Siyu and Lunaxia, ready for when the grate was dragged open. "Just give the word," he mouths to the Captain. He was almost shaking from the tension. Or the wet maybe. Or his pained side. Probably all of the above.

Rixo growls softly as the shirt comes and goes. Who the heck leaves their laundry out in the rain? Criminals, that's who! As is, she makes her own way over towards the sewer, seeing as it was a better lead than anything she had to go on. She spins her spear again and drops into a read position, point down, the butt end behind her back as she awaits and kind of signal.

Cedric can't seem to find any clues that really stand out down at this end of the alleyway, aside from what he imagines to be the hiding spot from which the murderer or murderers likely ambushed the victims from. He lowers his weapons for safety but does not yet return them to their holster and sheath, turning on his heel to wander back to the main group to share the information about the hiding spot with Captain Lunaxia and the others.

Before he has a chance to speak, however, he notices the signal, and he moves to join Siyu and see what he's discovered. As the pudgy corgi opens the sewer grate, however, he can put two and two together, and nods silently to the others, "Understood." he whispers low, raising his weapons once more, prepared to venture into the sewer system. Makes sense, as they saw them flee into said sewer system before!

Brutus resists, but he's no match for two athletic Heavies, pulling him up in away. His tears are hidden in the rain, but his choked sobs are obvious, and he alternately coughs, sobs, and shouts...first nothing in particular, but it finally coalesces into words, as he barks angry invective at all around him. "YOU! What the hells are you doing?" he cries, fruitlessly attempting to elbow the guards. "They...they...they KILLED my parents, and you molest me? Have you even been trying catch them?" An angry finger pointed at the tiny rodent captain--or perhaps Asher--"And you! Should you really be on the case? Where do your loyalties really lie?" he spits through a choked sob. "Do you know how it feels?--Do you know what it means--" he coughs, he laughs, he cries, he simply breaks down and slumps in the grasp of the heavies, who toss him into the arms of Hartford, where he remains, sobbing into his shoulder. The Iguana, for her part, doesn't seem to know how to handle it. Normally, the job ends with dead bodies, a body part cut off as evidence, and that's it. Not a crime scene and a sobbing ward. She approaches the Skunk, a clawed, scaly hand resting on his back. "I...am sorry, Brutus...I...well, if I hear of another sellsword bragging of it, I will let the authorities know," she adds, awkwardly, ignoring Hartford's withering glare.

Siyu takes a breath and he waits till everyone is ready, and he pulls the grate open, and waits to see if there's any reaction. Looking down after the intial opening he'll aim his pistol down and sniff, "Since they ran into the sewers the last time. Have you done any investigation in the pipes and the sewer system? How old are the drains here..." he mummers. "How big is this...system under Sweetwater." he stares down at the black hole. He looks back over at Brutus, and uncocks his pistol, holstering it, and setting his jaw. "Get me a lamp and plenty of oil..." he mummers.

Lunaxia seems to merely ignore the grief stricken Brutus, as blows upon the guardsmen just hit armor and soon he's complete with three heavy clan trying to supdue him off to the side. Lunaxia's crossbow ready to fire as she keeps her gaze steady. "A basic sweep was ordered... But the full extent of the system makes it easier to hide from guards inside of it, and with the alchemical things down there it's dangerous to stay too long before you're over ran by them."

As the grate's lifted, it reveals a rather deep hole, too small for most large beings and is even a tight fit for small folk! An iron spike drivin into the side of the hole, with a long rope painted black leading all the way down... But how far is the question? It's certainly too far to see right now, and as Lunaxia goes to throw a simple fire spell down it to light the way, it's easily revealed to be a good deal of a ways down before it seems to open up above refuse and water. "You're not going in alone... Nobody, is going in alone. No, I'm going to get damn near every guard and freesword I can, and in the morning we'll flush them out completely. No more safeties, no more stops... We'll be going into their home it seems."

Asher relaxes, glad that no fighting will be needed today. He just hurts too much and the wet isn't helping. His hackles rise a little at Brutus's drunken accusation, but he really can't hold it against the poor skunk. "Hartford," he asks the big Deer holding the sobbing Blackback, "May I walk back to the Noble district with you? I will still be staying with the Solaciouses until these monsters are caught." The corgi shudders a little, he had heard about the vicious lynching of the night before and was glad to have somewhere safe to stay. The little dog snatches up the tuft of fur he had seen caught in the sewer grate and passes it to Lunaxia. "A new calling card from our friends, I think," he says, "Maybe it will help." The weary little canine thinks about the long limp across town, praying that this will be over soon and that he can go back to making ladies' dresses instead of mucking about in the rain. Heroics should only be needed on nice days. Looking at the sobbing Brutus and his bewildered guards, Asher limps over and sits on the wet paving stones.

Rixo props her spears on her shoulder and frowns under her helm. "Tomorrow, then. I will be there. It's time to finally put an end to this." She nods to the others and turns to leave, her usually magnificently flowing cape now quite drenched and hanging limply on her back as it drips from the rain. Not at all heroic looking

The badger watches as the grate is open, his expression growing even more sour as he realizes he's unable to follow. So close! So damn close! If there were any lingering doubt that these crimes had been perpetrated by small clanners, they were long gone by now. At Brutus' outburst, he's quite incensed by the outburst at the innocent Asher, but keeps it to himself. After all, the skunk had just not only lost his parents but had seen their corpses. He remains quiet, just bowing his head respectfully to the others, and to the fallen blackbacks. He walks off down the other side of the alley with his cloak billowing behind him, still reflecting the rainfall as make his way back home. He's got a long night ahead of him, filled with the scribing of various new spells for tomorrow. Or perhaps he'd tinker with his guns a little more. It was difficult to decide.

Brutus has now taken to shouting obscenities at the sky. "Where were you, Kendrac? Where's your protection of family?! Shaila! Where's their life? Where's Beingss' love for one another?! Adrestia? Adrestia, you bitch, I WANT MY REVENGE!" he bellows, before a harsh slap from Hartford shuts him up. "I'm sorry, Mister Brutus. I know it hurts, and you're angry, but this ain't the time and place for it, and cussin' out Spirits won't fix it." He kneels down to Asher's level. "I'm sorry he said those nasty things about you. I know it ain't much of an apology or a walk, but...want a ride home?" Pudgy or not, he couldn't weigh half as much as one of Brutus's arms, and he was able to handle that alright. "Alright. Up ya go. You can use the antlers for balance, but don't go yankin' on 'em, alright?" The little Corgi in tow, Hartford wraps an arm around the sodden lump of Blackback. "C'mon sir. We gotta get you home and safe." He sighed heavily, knowing he would be the bearer of bad news at the Manor tonight.