Heavy Rain - RPLOG
Participants
Date
1/5/477
Log
The shipyards are filled with a deathly silence, as the sounds of the variety of workers seems to have silenced along the usually busy area... Guards linning the length of the docks leading down to a small delapitated ship that seemed about five years over due from just being sunk into the waters or burned for safety. Thick ropes tying it to the docks are all that keep it afloat anymore, though it does seem to have become a popular fishing platform as of late, with a variety of ragged nets and thick ropes leading down to traps on the water's floor.
The guards seem to be missing the usual bear captain, his 'sunny' disposition absent... Instead, a rather worried looking Small Folk Mouse girl stands at the entrance to the docks, along with two large heavy folk guards as she awaits the call to be answered.
Rixo shuffles onto the scene, not seeming to mind or even notice, the rain landing against her plate. Her hammer propped on her shoulder and a hidden, sour look on her face under the helmet, she approaches the mouse. She lingers back for a moment, glancing around the scene for the two culprits they had established. Or any likely suspects. So far they had shown a liking to remaining near the scene to eavesdrop, so she might just spot them this time.
Asher patters quietly onto the scene, wearing a heavy cloak over his usual, well made working clothes to protect him from the rain. He has heard the rumors around town about some madmen going around and killing folks. In fact, it has caused a bit of trouble for his business, since the killers are supposed to be Small Folk. "H-hello?" he says tentatively, approaching the guards, "I-I'm from the guild?" The tiny dog looks uneasily from one guard to the next, hoping to see a familiar face.
Selena clicks her tongue, the wolfess pacing through the district with a sigh - aparrently having noticed the distinct lack of noise from her house in the Maritime district. "What exactly's been going on this time..?" She queries with a heavy sigh, looking over the myriad guards, then to Rixo and Asher - "And hello to you both as well - I don't suppose this is another killing?"
While she couldn't have been effected by the rumors flying around directly, it's still not too difficult to imagine why a being might be a bit concerned about a serial killer on the loose.
A hooded figure with a pink-nosed black and white snout protruding from the darkness of his hood arrives on the scene. The light rain hits the cloak drawn around him and fastened at his chest with a broach bearing the symbol of the Graceful Clan and a light chainmail shirt jangles underneath the dark rust colored cloak as Cedric makes his way towards the scene, having heard the bells ring out through the city.
With every step the badger makes, a rather heavy looking firearm sways holstered at his side, sticking out at the side of his cloak. The blunderbuss is painted with black and white along the handle to resemble the face of a badger.
Anyhow, he approaches behind the others, greeting the somewhat familiar, pudgy lil' corgi man with a friendly smile as he reaches up to pull down his hood. He offers a wave to Rixo as well, having worked with her a little on the previous murder case, as well as their trek through the kitsune temple. He just hopes she won't say anything about... 'that'. He nods politely to Selena. "Hello, Selena! Good to see you again!" he says to her before turning his attention on the large bear guard and... Lunaxia.... "And hello again, you two. What's happened this time?" he asks, tilting his head inquisitively.
Siyu is dressed more for work this time around. Leather and ring mail, tight and form fitting though. It only creaks a few time as he walks and follows along with the others. He thinks he recognizes the mouse folk from the first night. Giving her a nod as he listens to the situation. He does look armed, a pistol and a few other things at his belt. The rain doesn't appear to bother him so much. "I'm here to help as well" he nods to Asher's words, "Though I wasn't here for the last murder. I assume there's been another given the call." He sees Rixio looking around, and gives a glance to the crowed as well. Trying to get a good handful of faces into his mind since he doesn't forget much. Just looking over faces while he waits for the report. He looks around Selena and Cedric too. He bobs his head, "Well met friends" he offers to the pair.
The guards around the smaller woman tense up as the armed freeswords approach, though she's quick to silently wave them off and pull out her papers. Her right hand holding them tightly as her left holds up a parasoul. For a rather unusual reason, she seems a tad more sullen compared to the other times. "Good fortune to you all, and thank you for answering my call. I'm sad I had to suggest such in weather like this, but with captain Titanus absent and our investigation team--- Well... I suppose you'll see." She sighs and waves the two guards off whom them begin to travel down to the foot of the docks.
Rixo's alert gaze for the criminals isn't too successful, a myriad of sailors appearing to watch with alert eyes from the ships around them, as a crowd of onlookers line the shore. "For those I've not met before, my name is Assistant Investigator Luxania... And if you all follow with me, I'll take you to the scene, feel free to ask as many questions as you need to." The moussette turning on her heel as she begins to walk down the docks to the dillapitated boat at the end.
Rixo gives a polite, but wordless, nod to both Selena and Cedric before lingering back. "I will be right with you." The crowd was too thick for her to see what she was looking for... So the obvious solution was to try to disperse it a little. Reaching up to lift her helmet a little, she sets her helmet down and instead raises up some kind of huntsman's horn. Perhaps if she gives a startle, her target will be revealed. And so, she blows into the horn. Long and forlorn, that was really only the start of it, and if that didn't work, the phantasmal steed that quickly comes to her side might.
Asher is visibly relieved when some beings he recognizes from the guild arrive and take control. Thanks to his lessons with Fenris, he was much more confident in his abilities, but he still did not feel like he would be able to handle something like this on his own. "Hello, Cedric. Hello, Siyu" he says quietly as he starts to follow Luxania. He also bobs a little bow to Selena and the others, though he does not know them as well. The corgi looks just a little ill at the idea of what sort of scene they might be headed for. He remembers the murder investigation he witnessed in Shanty town all too well. The little dog puts on a brave face and trots along with the others, though he jumps at the sound of Rixo's horn.
Nodding politely to Cedric, the wolfess rubs the back of her head a little; "It's good to see you as well, Cedric. You've been well, I trust?" A slightly more terse greeting is given to the rodent - at least not ignoring them, "Siyu."
"Well. That's unfortunate..." She mutters, gesturing to the crowd, watching Rixo's actions with a slight bit of concern before turning back to Luxiana. "You don't say... I don't suppose we're going to be looking through the scene again, or is this going to turn into a look at the crowd? I'm guessing the weapon was much the same as the last time I was 'in attendance'."
Cedric nods to Selena's question, lifting a hand to slick forward his rainsoaked head fur and chuckles. "On the whole, I've been well. Some days more than others." he says, moving his hand to the side to scratch behind his own ear for a moment, then allows his arm to fall back to his side.
The badger nods to Siyu, giving him a friendly wave. "Nice to see you as well, Siyu!" he says to the rodent upon his arrival. "Well met, indeed!" he says, although his expression has gone a little grim at the thought of the scene that awaits the group. His ears stand at attention at the panda knight's horn blowing. That's not something he'd expected, although he'd have to admit it's an interesting tactic. He starts to glance around at the crowd and the area in general for anything that might be noteworthy before they begin their investigation.
Siyu mms, "Justice doesn't wait for sun I suppose." he offers hopefully adding a bit of levity to the mouse girl. Glancing up at the rain and taking his place in the parade of Freeswords. The blowing of the horn does cause his large ears to flatten down, the rodent rather sensitive to sounds and he keeps them flat till it's done. He nods to Asher, "Good day Asher..." he himself is concerned what's cause the guards to be so tight and the mouse girl so dour. It appears as if this is going to be somthing very unpleasent indeed. He looks over at Selena and Cedric, "You were here the last time? Was it the same as the first? Pistol shots?" he inquires as he follows along.
At the sound of Rixo's horn the crown seems to gawk fully on here, before the phantismal steed appears... Needless to say though, when that creature comes into being there's a myriad of shocked gasps and paniced fleeing from the common folk. Leaving behind only a handfull of individuals, most of whom are large folks with the exception of a group of five small folk all pressed together on the deck of a ship with pale faces. The horn and steed -does- draw the guards attention though, as a dozen or so loaded crossbows and spears are suddenly pointed in Rixo's direction. It did seem the guards -were- as paranoid as the regular civilians when it came to ghost steeds riding onto the docks.
"STAND DOWN! STAND DOWN!" Luxania screams out as she turns around and points a rather rage filled finger in the direction of Rixo. "What is wrong with you?! Get that -thing- out of here!" She lets out a sigh and reaches up to adjust her glasses with a grumble, before turning to Selena. "Look at the crowd? We're in a heavily trafficed area, not the back of an alley. No gunshots were reported, and the bodies were only discovered when a patrolling guard found them... And as Captain Titanus is absent, I'd -appreciate- it if you didn't all stir the crowd up into a paniced fear induced stampede." She turns back around before marching her way back to the boat, to stand at the entrance to the gangplank, with two tarped bodies layed out on the deck of the ship. "As it is raining and these bodies deserve respect, I'll uncover it when you are all ready."
Rixo squints around, not seeming to heed the weapons pointed at her at first. Probably not the first time she's been in a situation like that in her many years. "Do you want to catch them or not?" she mutters coldly, waving a hand to dismiss her steed as she shoulders her hammer again and lets her helmet down. "Many people are dying. Sometimes a little scare to disperse the crowd to make it easier to find a culprit... Is better than letting them get away yet again to kill more." She huffs and makes her own way over to the bodies. "If you're afraid to do what it takes to potentially find them, then more will die. No one was harmed by MY actions, however." Such is the life of a vigilante. No appreciation!
Asher's ears lay back flat against his head as he watches Rixo and her ghostly horse. "What was that?" he asks no one in particular. He is honestly a little sorry to see the phantasm go, because then his eyes are drawn inexorably to the covered bodies. He steels himself and prepares for what lies beneath the tarps.
Selena raises her eyebrow. "That sounds about average, Cedric." She notes, turning back to the others. "I wasn't here personally last time. I've heard a little from Rixo, though."
"Frankly I'm glad that some of the crowd's gone, but if the culprit's smart then fleeing with the rest of the crowd is just going to make it harder to catch them, wouldn't it?" She asks the panda a little pointedly before her attention turns back to Luxianna. "It's not a surprise, but it was a bit more of a crowd than Mange Square afforded as well. You'd be surprised how much traffic is there on a normal day. Anyway, I don't think we're here to argue, so... We should probably get on with things."
Cedric says nothing off the phantasmal steed, though he recognizes it. He'd stopped using those chakra nearly a year ago, for his own reasons. Though seeing the display sort of made him want to find them again. Shaking his head he looks back to the others. "It did clear out some of the gawkers, so we can get on with this. No need for hostilities." he says to the guards, raising his arms slightly in a sort of... 'let's all settle down' kind of gesture. He turns around to face the remaining crowd, trying to discern any suspicious activity from those who're left... particularly those small clanners...
Siyu wasn't expecting the spectral horse after the horn. Not to mention the reaction of the crowed. He stops his walking and gapes when the horse disperses the crowed. Wincing at the panic and the weapons, glancing left and right, keeping his ears flat. "Esh..." is the sound he makes, gritting his teeth. He turns back to the corpses, "Yes the matter at hand. Poor souls though they be. Or were I suppose. He squats down, while he waits for the others to gather, he looks around at the end of the dock for anything out of place. It's a dock, near the water. Somthing bright and shiney, out of place, somthing of that sort. He'll turn his attention to the bodies though when there uncovered.
Luxania narrows her eyes at Rixo while she crosses the gangplank, reaching down to grip the two tarps before yanking it away to reveal the victims. It does seem a tad stranger than before given that it consists of two male bloodhounds with adaptable folk seals on their clothing... And the clothing, is none other than the uniform of a guard, complete with an investigations badge on their shoulder. Though, the usually clean and well made guard uniforms are torn up along along the front of each of them, as if someone had been trying to dig into their chest with a knife. Any blood that'd normally be present for such a murder seems to have been washed through the decks with the rain, leaving just the rather sureal scene before them. "I am -well- aware that people are dying Rixo, but I am a -guard-. You were requested to aid in an investigation, -not- begin a panic mob and witch hunt." She sighs and turns back to the bodies. "That is Investigator Maxwell, and Investigator Timothy... They were the other two investigators under Titanus' command, and my superiors." Her voice having dropped to a rather quite tone as she moves out of the way for them to board the boat.
The guards -do- heed the call to stand down as Rixo's steed disperses, a plethora of the heavy clan giving scowls that they must have learned from the good Titanus personally... Those whom do remain of the civilian crowd as well, seem to be mainly making notes and writing any under barrier to the rain they could find, most likely jounralists or criers for the city. Though the group of five small folk remained just as bundled together, with the paranoia lingering over them.
Rixo gives a wicked grin, though it goes unseen under her helmet as she nods at Selena. "I understand your point, but... I don't think so. I believe they'd stand out that way. I apologize if I frightened anyone, but... I want the killers to know this. I want them to see it. To see how determined I am that they be caught, so that when I stand over them ready to drop the hammer, they know full well they brought it on themselves." She huffs again and rubs the back of her helmet, her jovial nature coming back. "Though I certainly hate to have to do that in public. There's a reason I tend to do all my 'business' out of city walls. As for what it was, my friend," she says, speaking to Asher, "Why, only a good companion of mine! Was any note left this time?"
Asher looks sadly down at the mangled bodies, doing his best to not be sick. After a cursory examination, the corgi turns away and leans against a rail, trying to regain his composure. "Your good companion wouldn't happen to have any answers to go with this, would they, Miss Panda?" the little dog asks, trying to seem much less shaken than he is. "Have all the victims been like this, Miss Luxania?" he asks, "Torn and cut like this, I mean."
Selena rubs her forehead for a moment as Luxianna unveils the scene. "That also assumes they're wearing something different to the rest of the beings here. I have an odd feeling that after their current string of crimes they're a bit smarter than that, especially if they're arrogant enough to leave a calling card." She replies to the
She places a hand on the woman's back for a moment noticing the change in volume. "My condolances, Luxiana." She says simply as she moves on to the boat after the mouse. The little corgi is responded to with little more than a shake of her head, "The first two were shot." she replies simply, turning back to the group. "After the last two, though, this is different enough. Attacking the investigations team could be a threat or have been done out of fear they were getting too close to the culprit... But that's conjecture. Did he leave a note here..?"
That's right, wasn't there a note and feathers at the last scene? He wasn't sure about the first scene as he wasn't there. Cedric nods in agreement with Selena. "Yes... there was a note and some feathers at the last scene. Do we have anything like that at this scene?" the badger asks of Lunaxia, before walking along the pier as he examines the grisly murder scene for clues. "Well... what we're asking, I s'pose, is... what d'you guys have that links this to the other crimes, exactly?"
Siyu tilts his head as he looks at the bodies, "That's troubling." is his first comment. He keeps squatting, looking at how the bodies were posed, trying to find somthing odd. He looks left and right, any signs of a struggle on deck. "I don't think this was done quietly. I know I'd be screaming my head off. Yet no one heard anything? Was only discovered by a patrol?" he glances at the wounds to the chest and winces, "Don't think they were killed here then. Water would have carried the sound all over the docks don't you think?" he asks the others. "And no sign of the captain, harmed or healthy. That doesn't bode well either..." he thinks aloud. Looking at the gang plank. "How many people crossed the place excluding us?" he checks it's connection to the ship, looking for any usual scuffs or caught detritus. After all a body is a HEAVY thing to drag around. "Heart was attacked in the first scene right? Shot through the heart. What about the second scene?" he asks, "And now this.."
Luxania looks to Asher as she clears her throat. "Three of the victims were shot. The other two were killed with knives, in a brutal manner similiar to this." She gently shakes off the reassurance as she paces around the deck of the small boat, the mousette clearly conflicted as she clears her throat. Each of the members were holding a single bloodied feather, which was removed from their grasp before we covered them." She turns to face siyu as she gives a small nod. "It's possible. The locals use this boat often to cast out nets, and lay traps along the floor for various critters... So it's not unusual to see folk bring large bags, boxes, or anything really here." She motions to the side of the boat that contained a large amount of ropes and lines hanging off of it into the water. "As for a note, no. That's what has me worried... Last time they pinned a note on their last victim, so if there are no notes here..." She grimaces slightly at the thought.
Though, the ship to siyu does appear as battered and damaged as one would expect from it's poor condition. Multiple gouges in the gangplank and deck from heavy items being dragged across it most likely help to prevent the path of the bodies being shown. Though, as far as a struggle would go it does seem relativly 'clean', with the boxes on it neatly stacked and such. Truly, with exception to a small porthole leading down into the narrow underbelly of the boat in the corner, there's nothing much standing out with exception to the lines and nets hanging from the side.
Rixo chuckles softly and shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't think they can help, no. But please, call me Rixo." She winks at Asher from behind the slits in her greathelm. "The feathers are a good sign... At least it means we don't have more than one group to worry about, presumably. But yes, the lack of letter is troubling." She was rather hoping they'd respond to her challenge from before in some way.
"Asher," the corgi introduces himself to Rixo, then pales a little at the Mouse's words. "You think there is another victim somewhere?" he asks, giving the ropes and dangling lines a worried look, "I don't suppose there might be a body down. . ." the little canine swallows hard, trying not to be sick. "I m-m-m-mean," he stammers, "Have these lines all been raised?" The small canine looks over the water, carefully averting his eyes from the mangled corpses of the investigators.
Selena rubs her nose a little, peering in at the bodies for a few more moments. "Well, since we're here I might as well see if there's anything unusual bout the bodies. After all, the knife wounds are fairly messy." She notes. "And with the wounds this messy... Well. I'd like to hope there isn't a copycat killer going around." The wolfess sighs, carefully moving in to inspect the corpses.
"...Rixo, If I could borrow an ear for a moment?" The wolfess asks, moving back to the armored woman for a moment and murmuring something discretely to her, then looking back to Asher. "If they were here, it's possible. If you give me a moment, I'll try to give a hand with the lines." She replies, moving back to the other body and carefully examining the wound - but either way, it's fairly bloody work.
Cedric moves over towards the ropes hanging off into the water, wondering about something... perhaps there might still be something waiting under the surface of the water, suspended by one of these ropes. Then again, if they wanted to hide a body, wouldn't they just toss it overboard? On the other hand... they did leave these ones behind, and the recent killer has been known for his... well, his flair for drama. He moves towards some of the net lines and attempts to pull it back aboard.
Siyu nods his head, "So this is an active place. No one saw or head anything. The deck isn't...in dissaray, these guards were not thrashing about in a fight they were brought here..." he gives a little bit of a sigh. "Damn..." he thinks some more ,"I assume you've checked below decks and above?" he looks to see if there is a crows nest. And finally over to the lines laid out. "Were the lines brought up to see...what was on the end of them?" He looks at Asher, "Yes that was my thought, somthing that ah...might be down there too" trying to find where clues might be left. Someplace that might not be disturbed. Lines and anchor chain around. He gives a nod to Selena, and then to Cedric "You got the lines? All right that'll be one question answered." he looks to Asher, "We're short, you want to look below decks?" he inquires
Luxania shakes her head before looking to the lines with a grimace. "No, we didn't bring up the lines. We did check below decks, and found nothing except for piles of rotting fish and supplies. If you wish to check below feel free, it seems the past owner was of the small clan before he died, so you and the other would probably be able to fit down there."
Selena's investigation would reveal that whatever they had used, probably closely resembled a dagger. No real trace of magic around the wounds, and the cuts were too clean for most other weapons. Though yet again, the lack of a struggle seems to stand out strangely givin the wounds...
Cedrics efforts are rather difficult, the net feeling like he was trying to dredge up a small portion of the ship... Though sadly enough, it -is- rewarding as he hauls out a large amount of fish that had the net almost to bursting it seemed... That is, until they'd see the large gauntleted hand hanging out a part of the net.
Rixo leans back, mulling over the words Selena had whispered at her helmet, nodding softly as she tilts to the side to reply in kind before speaking to the group at large. "Do you know if these investigators were... Particularly closing in on anything? If there's no note, then, perhaps like was mentioned earlier, perhaps this was a killing of a different sort. For getting to close." She then leans back to look towards the docks to see if those five small clan from earlier were still there, and if so, to look more closely at them.
Asher takes one look at the soggy arm protruding from the net before spinning and heaving over the side of the boat. He takes a moment, coughing and spluttering, then finally produces a small handkerchief to wipe his mouth before turning around, his eyes tightly closed. "I-I'm not much of a detective," he stutters, "But would someone confirm some things for me?" He points at himself and grimaces, "I don't feel up to looking again yet."
The little canine reaches into his vest and produces a heavy looking kris knife. "I understand that our culprits are supposed to be small folk, like myself, right?" he asks, "Now, look at this." The corgi goes through a quick katta, making a wide range of deft knife strokes, nothing striking any higher than the waist of the average being. "Our victims weren't standing up, I think, when they were attacked," he guesses, "No one of my or Siyu's height could manage a fatal blow with a knife on a taller being's chest." He opens his eyes again and turns so he does not need to see the bodies. "My guess is that they were drugged or asleep," he says, "And attacked wildly by many small attackers, with knives less suited to battle than this one." He carefully stows his Kriss somewhere inside his vest.
Selena shakes her head, withdrawing her hands from the corpses, moving over to the edge of the boat to rinse her hands with water magic. "The stab wounds aren't what killed them. That's what I think about it." She states, looking somewhat relieved at the panda's response. "That takes a little off of my mind."
When her hands are finally clean, though, she moves back to the deceased pair. "Luxianna, i don't mean to be rude, but... You are technically the senior investigator here and you haven't spoken up very much save to tell us that there hasn't been a note found - let alone done much." She comments, looking back at Asher - "If a being was stabbed where these beings were, there'd have been a struggle. If they were asleep, I doubt they'd have just slept through it either." She notes, rubbing her cheek. "And if they were lying down to begin with then your argument falls apart... Asher, are there any unique markings on that? We might be able to find out who owned it, kris are unusual weapons to be carrying around." The wolfess shakes her head. "Though it'd also discount sacred families like Dragon if we assume a smal clanner wasn't involved based on size alone..."
Back to the head investigator - "I was going to ask again about the officers here. I must've missed your last reply when I was looking at the wounds."
The badger puts his back into the effort of pulling in the net, and is rewarded with a lifetime supply of fish! Oh, and what appears to a third body, perhaps. He struggles to drag the net full of fish and body away from the other two corpses so that he can open it up to get a better look without disturbing the rest of the crime scene, calling out to the guards and the other gifted present. "Hey... I think I've found a third body here, everyone. You might want to come take a look at this!" he says, trying to keep his shouting down out of some respect for the dead. Though, that might be kind of out of the window at this point, as Cedric is now attempting to clear away a mountain of fish with both hands. He makes sure to keep an eye out for any note or feathers as he clears the seafood out of the way.
Siyu nods his head, "The owner was a small clan? Hm..." he considers that for a moment until of course...well there's an arm. "Ah damn..." is his words, "I was afraid of that..." he looks over at Asher. Still wincing, "he does have a point. I'd have to reach my hand up pretty far to get at any chest..." he thinks, "Likewise, that first victim...she was shot...on the bed right. I mean, the bullet was under the bed, through the bed, how would a small clan be tall enough to shoot down through the bed." he considers that. He is speaking though he goes to help Cedric, grunting a little as he tries to help him up and see if it's the heavy clan lead.
Luxania looks to Selena quickly with a slight glare as she clears her throat. "Pardon, I must've missed a question about their history thank you, but I have been answering all the questions posed about the past scenes and what the guards did here as well ma'am, please do not try to account me as doing nothing while this is going on." She gives a little chitter and moves to jog over to the net, drawing a knife from her side she quickly works to cut the body free... Letting a large amount of fish fall free before another arm flops out and what one could assume was the remains of Captain Titanus are left laying out on the boat, his throat slit almost completely through with no other marking on him. Seeming yet again he had went without a fight like the investigators.
Luxania is left just stammering gently as she looks him over, the mousette reaching out slowly to close his eyes as she lowers her head in what seems like prayer. Closer to Cedric's feet, a wooden box falls through the fish, a small bit of fishing line attaching it to the captains arm.
Rixo stares towards the mice off to the side for a moment longer before heaving a sigh and looking towards the body and shaking her head. "That is... A shame. I rather liked him. Good man, terrible end." She steps forward, kneeling down with the soft rattle of her plate as she reaches out for the box, trying to open it to see what it might contain.
Asher swallows hard before turning back to look at the bodies again, looking steadfastly away from the swollen corpse of Titanus and focusing directly on the wounds of the bloodhounds. "Looking at these wounds," he spits out quickly, "They were killed with some kind of parrying blade. It's shorter and curved to deflect attacks. Not usually used for killing." He turns away again, looking toward the railing. "None of these beings put up a fight when they were attacked," he affirms, "They were already dead or deeply drugged when these wounds were inflicted." The corgi takes deep breaths, but the fishy air of the wharf really isn't helping to settle his churning gut.
Selena sighs quietly and rubs her forehead. "Then pardon me. It's been a very long week, and the last thing that I was wanting to do was find out there was another murder." She replies to the captain, moving over to the box. "Again, though, would you like to answer the question then? It's a little relevant given all the crime scenes have been investigated by freeswords, yet none of us have been targetted."
The wolfess looks back to the body, nodding in agreement somberly. "...TO be honest, until that question's answered the only connection the two really have to the case - as far as I'm aware - Titanius." Then back to Asher - "I did suggest that they were dead before the stabbing or otherwise incapacitated when I took a look at the wounds. Though a parrying blade? I'm not going to pretend I'm particularly well versed in small weapons, but I suppose that makes sense too. So then... The box."
Cedric, himself, looks shocked as the identity of the third corpse is revealed to be none other than Captain Titanus! This struck the badger quite hard, he'd recalled the bear from Saint's Square during the last murder, and had... sort of, maybe thought he was a bit... cute. In a 'grumpy bear' sort of way... Well, anyway, he kneels down with a sullen expression as he tries to comfort Lunaxia with an awkward pat on the back, "I'm sorry, miss. He seemed like a good guy. I can't even begin to know how this must feel." he says to her, frowning quite grimly. "We'll find the bastards who did this, I swear."
Seeing as Rixo has taken the box, he decides to spare the small rodent investigator lady the grief of having to examine her colleague's body, and begins to investigate the body of Titanus himself, looking thoroughly for any helpful clues. Purple and green question marks start to appear in his fur, but most of them are hidden under his cloak and chainmail shirt for the moment. The purple curve of one such mark does peek out at the nape of his neck from underneath the cloak. "Don't give them any ideas, Selena..." he says with a nervous chuckle, recalling the fact that the culprit or culprits had apparently been watching and listening in at the Twin Pillows. He resumes his search of Titanus' lifeless body.
Siyu lets out a soft little breath and runs a hand through his long hair trying to think. "So these three...they didn't put up a fight. They were stabbbed multiple times. In the chest. The captain has his throat slit. They didn't do anything to stop it. Didn't bring their hands up. No marks of chains or ropes. No cuts on their hands or arms they just...were killed." he shakes his head. "I don't know anything about magic, prehaps...prehaps some sleeping magic or..." he looks around some, exploring a bit before he tries to circumspectly switch out his soul gem. Prehaps a drug or medicine, but he wouldn't know it with this soul...anyway he doesn't want to announce he's soul less to people, so he just sort of tries to fiddle off to the side.
Lunaxia seems to finally blink back into focus as she clears her throat and speaks up for the group. "They were our two investigators, and every clue you all gave me or suggestion was forwarded to them. They weren't the first at any scene, and said they still needed more evidence so I... I don't know why..." She nods to Cedric and takes a step back to allow him to look over the body.
The body in question is a indeed a tad bloated, giving the clue it had been in the water for a good while indeed. the only mark on him being the killing wound around his neck, which appeared to be from the same weapon... Making it curious indeed how they managed to bring a large bear down to kill him.
Though, the mystery is soon revealed to Siyu, as soon the rodent would notice the faint tracings of sleeping powder caught in the wrinkles of the bloodhounds. Giving the revelation that -anywhere- these men could have been brought down with just a flick of the wrist.
Rixo would find the box opened with relative ease, leaving a curled up letter for her to read which read:
"Congratulations on getting this far! Honestly began to think you lot were rather poor at appreciating our work yes... We knew the good Captain disliked it, and wanted to just shun our works from being shown to the public, and we just couldn't have that, now could we? It -was- fun trying to get them, honestly took us longer than getting those Blackbacks... Which, reminding us of them, how about we give the city another reminder we don't work for them? Can't wait to show you are new work~!"
Rixo scowls and leans over the letter to shelter it from the weather as she reads it aloud to the group. "And they're still damned cowards." Rising from her kneeling position, she huffs. "I'd love for them to take me up on my challenge. It still stands. But until then... Well... They're obviously prideful. I have an idea..." She turns to the others and grins under her helmet. "What if... What if we had someone take all the credit from them?" she asks in a lowered voice. "Maybe lure them into a trap?"
Asher closes his eyes and tries to think while he listens to Rixo read the letter aloud. These were amateurs! Rixo was right! The letter made it clear that they thought of themselves as avengers and as artists. They would want to see the reaction to "Their Work." Asher makes a show of leaning over the railing again, and then raising his head as if trying to get some fresh air, carefully scanning the ship and waterfront. Where could someone his size hide and still see what was happening on deck? They would certainly want to see the reaction to the poor bear in the net, and hear the recitation of their letter. . . He glances over the opposite railing and spots it. The corgi staggers over to lean on Cedric, as if he was swooning again. "Under the dock," he whispers, "It's the best vantage point I can see."
Selena raises an eyebrow at Rixo's suggestion, the wolfess watching Asher for a few moments as they move over to Cedric, Rixo and the others. She shakes her head, "That barely sounds like the same being that wrote the first letter, but I wouldn't be surprised at this point. Taking their credit from the sounds like a good plan to flush them out after hearing that letter, though." Then lowering her voice a little and giving asher a pat on the back she continues, "But I'd rather try and find them now. I'm not very fast on foot, but if you want I could try directing a wave there if you want. Fire is possible too, but a lot trickier given where we are."
Cedric finishes his examination of the waterlogged body of the bear, frowning as he hears the contents of the note within the box, nodding slowly. "Their 'work'..." the badger scoffs, trying to contain the anger welling up in his chest. He shares his own findings with the others afterward, standing back up to his full height once again and trying to wipe the fishy smell from his hands off onto his cloak. "Captain Titanus appears to have been murdered with a blade similar to what was used on the other two."
His ear perks at Asher's whisper, and he nods once more, and gives a look between the two corpses and Titanus' own body, and lifts his hand to his mouth with a faked gulp. "Excuse me..." he says aloud to the others. While attempting to contort his expression willfully into one of sickness, he says, "I think I'm going to be sick." and heads off the ship to the dock pointed out by Asher, and peeks from the opposite side.
What he sees are the vague shapes of two smaller forms in the water, making their way towards the sewer entrance just underneath the dock. "Shit!" he calls out, growling a little. "There's two of them under here! They're making a break for the sewers!" he shouts, and pushes himself up to try sprinting after them along the dock. Though he's very unsure as to his ability to catch up, or fit inside that pipe... it looked quite small from this distance.
Siyu pulls out a small little knife, one he uses for delicate scribing work. He leans down near one of the hounds, "There we are, there's the culprit..." he'll gently scrape some of it off onto the blade. "Sleeping powder, a flash into the face and..." he motions with his fingers. "Trick used by assassins and those with blades I imagine. Useful when you're not epecting a threat." he holds the knife out for anyone that wants to inspect the expired poweder. "I imagine a medicated mask can help...ahem, neutralize the affects." trying to recall if such a thing exists and the hard counter to the sleeping powder. "At any rate, they were incapacitated. Rather quickly and then..." he motions, "Fortuently they were not awake." he thinks, "Still to produce this much powder...that and these small folk would have to actually APPROACH these, who were expecting tricks and small folk...and would have been on guard." He glances at Asher and he blinks, "You think..." he pulls out a pistol from his brace suddenly. He waits to move though. After all this could be a one and only chance type of thing, he doesn't want to give away the game accidently. And then of course the game is afoot! With Cedric shouting there's no secret now. "Keep your powder dry!" He shouts out and begins to run following Cedric's instruction for the Sewer enterance.
Asher wastes no time after hearing Cedric's cry. Quickly wrapping a pit of air magic around himself in a mini vortex, the corgi flings himself over the railing of the boat, somersaulting through the air before landing on the dock in a flat out sprint! Who would have imagined the chubby little guy could move like this!? Upon reaching the limit of the dock, the corgi rolls, grabbing the edge of the wooden boards and flinging himself UNDER the boardwalk with the full force of his sprint and a small whirlwind behind him! What has Fenris been teaching Asher? The little canine's feet never hit the water. With all that force and air magic, he has built up enough momentum to launch himself into speedy flight beneath the dock! Hopefully he can make up the gap between himself and the murderers!
As soon as she's alerted to the murderer's attempt at escape, Selena abandons any pretense of subtlety, beginning to work in her proverbial element and begins to freeze the water around the pair in the water with her own, small floes and a chilling wind in the are resulting from the magic at first - then Asher launches himself, prompting a brief moment of visible surprise from the wolfess, shaking her concentration for a a split second - aparrently not as shocked with the flying corgi as one might expect.
Luxania is quick to bolt down the dock when Cedric calls out, yelling to the guard present as she begins to motion... Causing a mass of crossbows to be fired at the docks, thankfully missing Asher as they weren't sure -what- their target was. The ice is quick to pose a problem to the two escapists, whom seem to come to a stand still for a moment as the first works up a spell of his own to crack at the ice. The second however turns, a quick motioning of his hands is all that preludes a large water elemental to come bursting forth from the water, almost crashing into Asher on it's way, it pushes through the wooden docks floor boards, and blocks sight of the two escapees as a thick flowing current of mist emmits from it. The elemental quick to turn and deliver an attack in the form of a shard of ice at Selena, though it sticks into the wood at her feet causing it to splinter!
Rixo turns silently to the docks as Cedric cries out, rushing down the planks as Asher and Selena work their own assault. Her hammer goes onto her back, a spear and shield finding their way into her hands instead. "You will NOT get away." She doesn't let the fact that she can't see them stop her, nor the fact that there's a GIANT WATER ELEMENTAL. Leveling her spear towards their last seen location and their predicted trajectory, she lashes out with a bit of dark math, hoping to make contact. Given the draining nature of such a thing, she figures she'll know if she hits them.
Asher roars as he turns on the speed, drawing both of his knives and going into a spin as he POUNDS into the water elemental! Admittedly, the roar was not very impressive, but he manages to plow straight through the elemental and out the other side! Also, less than impressive was the corgi's failure to account for the wall behind the summoned beast. He slams into the wall, but the buffer of air surrounding him and his own quick reflexes turn the bone shattering impact into a few minor bumps and bruises. Asher quickly jumps to his feet and tries to reorient himself. He can't let them get away!
Selena frowns as the ice is used by the criminals creatively, though some part of her smiles inwardly at the knowledge they weren't quite as stupid as they made out to be. The ice at her foot snaps her back to reality as asher pierces through the elemental, the wolfess cojuring her own firey doppelganger near the hole left by Asher, the odd looking creature melting the hole a little larger for her. And then she flies through quickly to avoid retribution - ultimately suffering a similar fate as Asher and hitting the wall squarely - though not quite as severely. "Asher, the tunnel!" She calls, sending the fire elemental in as soon as she's recovered before moving to follow as well.
Cedric stops in his tracks as he gives chase on the docks, seeing the massive water elemental form under the docks. Just then, a shard of ice shoots past him, and he turns his head to see that it's intended target was Selena, though it fortunately missed. It only provokes the already angry badger even further until he jumps to his side and just barely catches the edge of the dock with his right hand, fingers slipping a few inches on the rain-soaked wood, swinging in place very precariously as his shaky left hand reaches for the large, black and white striped blunderbuss holstered at his left, pulling it from his sheath and trying to take aim as best he can with one hand.
It proves incredibly difficult to aim at the elemental, even taking its large size into account, he's not sure he'll be able to hit it in any meaningful way, but perhaps the sound of the single shot will be enough to distract it, and get its attention on him while the others figure out how to diffuse the situation.
With a few muttered words , he raises the blunderbuss and squeezes the trigger, aiming right for the elemental in his sights.
Siyu comes to a sliding stop as he suddenly sees the water elemental! Wrong soul to handle this, backing up quickly he'll try to provide support, pulling out a few medicines for what's going to be a tough fight...or so he thinks at least. Not sure exactly what's going to happen next.
Luxania is still running down the docks while calling out to the guards, the entirety unable now to fire without hitting Asher or Selena. The water elemental had taken a bit of a beating from the fire elemental passing through it, causing it to shrink in size before it turned it's attention to the first tresspasser... An icy lance shooting forth at the corgi to pierce through his armor and cut at his side rather effectivly. The mass of the elemental still depleting as it seems Selena was safe from it's wrath as it worked to charge up another ice attack!
Rixo's attack does seem to strike pay dirt, giving her a very full sensation as she's given confirmation of a hit. The fire elementals path however, isn't as lucky for recieving it's commands. The sewer hole far enough under that although it made it down, it was extinguished by the unending amount of water surrounding it.
Rixo starts to give chase, but that damnable water elemental was still in the way. "Get out of my way!" She snarls a little flipping her spear around in her hand to slam the point into the dock, sending out fire lines of that kirin-given flame, hoping to hit the water elemental, at the least, but hopefully the escaping criminals again, as well. She was very determined, it seems!
"YIPE!" Asher yelps as the elemental's spear of ice slashes into his side. He had gotten careless. "Keep going!" he calls out, slumping by the edge of the tunnel, "Don't let them get away!" He presses a little paw against his bleeding side, looking around for a safer place to tend to his wound.
Selena looks back to the out-of-of comission corgi, then to the water, ro the boat, thrn back at the water for a few moments, shivering more than a little before she swallows. "Here goes..." She mutters to herself before she dives in, trying to find the sewer entrance...
"Ugh... this isn't helping at all..." Cedric sighs, more from the strain of hanging onto the dock by one hand, as he replaces his firearm securely back in its holster before letting go to try swimming towards the sewer entrance after Selena, though unaided by water magics.
Siyu sees Asher go down! Poor little guy, he sucks in a breath, damnit he has to help! Trying to gather his courrage his chkra gives a glow, taking his sword, he'll lunge and try to pierce right through the elemental. Hoping to get to Asher.
Kalt The elemental hisses with steam as Rixo's attack smacks into it, finally dispersing into a pop to soak those around it, including the charging Siyu who's swing passes through air, leaving him a free route to the wounded Asher. At the same time, Cedric finds the waves to be a tad tough to swim in, as he tries to push forward to where Selena had gone under...
As for Selena, she's greeted with a hole that's far too small for anyone above small folk size, and a clogging of ice a few feet within it, further degrading tresspassing. Seems the duo liked Selena's idea after all.
As the combat appears over, Luxania and a group of four other guards come jogging over, the mouse pointing down the docks as she yells. "I WANT SOMEONE AT EVERY EXIT! GET GOING NOW DAMN IT!"
Rixo shoots a look towards Siyu and Asher, nodding. "Take care of him, please." She has no healing ability to help with, so she thunders off down the docks, plate thumping as she goes to see if she can somehow help the guard cover the sewer exits. Too bad she can't go down and smash that ice, but she's not about to jump into that water with her gear.
"Hello, Siyu," Asher smiles, breathing heavily and pressing his paws hard against his side. "I was pretty heroic, huh?" The corgi is obviously in shock. "Didja," he winces as he shifts a little, sitting down in the shallow water at the sewer entrance, "Didja see me?" He looks down at the wound and frowns, "I think my vest is ruined," he says blearily.
Through some small miracle, the badger manages not to drown as he reaches the small sewer entrance a minute or two after Selena, finding the waves far too difficult to safely swim in this weather. The visibility due to the rain and his slightly heavy chain armor doesn't help matters much. Once he reaches the entrance, Cedric sets his feet atop the sewer opening's ledge to get something to boost himself out of the water so he doesn't have to keep swimming with all this weight.
Cedric glances towards Selena, not saying much but letting out a dejected sigh. "Damn it. I thought it looked small from the other end of the dock... Are you injured?" he asks the wolfess, between ragged breaths, having worn himself out with his failed attempts at heroics. As tired as he is, he's able to at least summon up a look of concern for Selena.
It doesn't last long, however, fading away into an angry outburst as he pounds a fist against the wall. "Ugh! We were so close, too!" he exclaims, scraping up his fist on the rock. After he takes a moment to calm himself down, he reaches beneath his cloak for the cords tying his chainmail together like a robe and slips out of out of the shirt, letting the piece of armor sink down to the bottom of the water, hopefully making the inevitable swim back to dry land a little less difficult.
Siyu grunts as he leans back in the water, floating so that he can roll Asher onto his stomach, "Quite heroic. You should have someone comission a portrait of it." he fingers his poultice and rips the vest open, "Quite ruined, you know what seawater does to velvet you silly thing..." stuffing the herbs into the would cavity, he begins to seal it. Just doing some basic first aid before the pair can be fished out.
The guards are quick to depart the area at Luxania's command, though not before a pair of them work to hoist everyone out of the water with a nice thick line. The mouse girl looking rather stone faced as she looks back to them all. "... I am sorry we missed them. Next time, they won't be so lucky. Your wounded friend should be taken to the church for healing and the rest of you can stop by the guard houses to be paid what remains of what we'd give... Most of it will have to go to fixing the dock I'm sorry to say." She sighs and rubs the bridge of her nose before making her way back to the boat. "May fortune reside with you all."
Rixo heaves a heavy sigh, slipping her shield onto her back once more and twirling her spear once over in the air. "Damn." She says simply, knocking the butt end of the weapon on the ground. "So close. I hope they'll be feeling that hit I gave them, though." She pauses to glance over to make sure no one was in dire need of her help before she shuffles off with the rattle of her plate. "How unfortunate..."
Asher groans as he is loaded onto a stretcher. "Wait!" the little corgi calls in a moment of lucidity. "Miss Luxania!" he coughs, "Th-They are canine. Two of them. My size, maybe a little bigger or smaller, I couldn't tell." His message delivered, the tiny canine lays back in the stretcher and allows himself to be carried off the the Church.
Cedric, satisfied that Selena is unharmed as far as he can tell, quietly makes his way, swimming towards an embankment to crawl up and regroup with Lunaxia and her guards. He expects he'll need to try giving a description of the small beings he saw before, though it was far too vague to get anything really helpful. He trudges over towards the guards looking quite thoroughly disheartened.
Siyu takes care of Asher as best he can tending his wounds and then letting him get loaded up. He grunts a little bit and he finally nods "Two canines...all right. We have some leads at least." he looks around, and with one last look he'll check under the docks. They were hiding there watching afte rall, seeing if they left antyhing behind...
Luxania nods to Asher as they are all led away, the guards taking control of the docks once more... Leaving the mouse woman to stand with her fallen comrades, while dock workers try to argue their way past for repairs. One has to wonder though, if the killers plan to keep the promise from the note still...
