Murder at Midnight: Panic in the Pentagram

[DoctorGlock]

The church bell tolls mournfully through the cloying mists, undisturbed by the chilling rain falling from the iron grey skies. Twelve mournful tolls in the wan light of day. Nearby a mother rushes a child by, averting his eyes and two members of the Radiant Watch pull their greatcoats closer around themselves, shivering under their tricorn hats. Upon the door behind them is branded an eight pointed sun-disc, inverted and upside down. The mark of the heretic.

That would be enough to cause a stir. But there is more than a stir. It's a ruckus at least. Including your band of misfits there are more than a dozen of Waldhalt's regulars, brown uniforms weather stained and battered beneath the dull steel armor of the guard and keeping everyone at bay. A chill wind sets a sign above to creaking on rusty iron hinges.

Ah that. The last piece of the puzzle. The silver inlaid circle, mercury and sol, an alchemist's mark. Gustave Freinstein, one of Waldhalt's renowned scholars of the natural philosophies. His well known home and shop. Under a heretic's mark with a dozen guards and the Radiants. The sort of thing that might cause a ruckus. The front door opens with a damp creak as a man with deep shadows under his eyes and a few days worth of dark stubble steps out, striking a match to a an old bone pipe before his sharp eyes meet yours from under his Morion helm. A small silver shield with golden crown is welded to his breastplate, gleaming sullenly in the half light as he beckons you to step forward in a low and gravelly voice:

'You'd better see this.'

Of course they'd send commander Marth for a case like this. Terse, abrasive and entirely competent.

And he's turning to you.

The first thing you notice before you even cross the threshold is the stink of blood and offal. Thick and cloying like an abattoir, it mixes with the sharp and unpleasant scents of an alchemist's lab. The pungent reek of sulfur and sting of acids and the heavy musk of lead. The scent of fresh ink, and a stink of burnt meat. But Marth is ushering you forward, and the details blur together as the reek of blood intensifies. Back from the landing, down a flight of stairs into a darkened cellar, now lit by dim oil lamp and the sad and sullen daylight, directed via police mirrors into the room.

A laboratory. Containing one corpse, spread eagle. Marth throws an arm out to physically block you and you look down, having almost stepped into a line of congealed blood, the outer rim of a large pentagram. At each point is an organ. Heart, lungs at two points, stomach. Only one point is missing.

'It's Gustave,' Marth says curtly. 'What do you make of it?'

Everyone make perception checks!

[Nightraiderx]

-grey out of surroundings with smooth jazz background in own head- Dindar was helping sectioning off the populace of the crime scene, which was easy for Dindar's strong build. Dindar looked on with interest as they were called in. It was his first time on such a case and Dindar was eager to prove his services as a mercenary. Maybe Dindar will smash huge skeleton! Dindar's eyes lit up with excitement like a child seeing delicious candy. And then they reached the basement, the laboratory was too dark for Dindar to see, Dindar saw the blood and the entrails of some creature, but Dindar has seen such before so it didn't daze him. Dindar gazed at the symbol, Dindar was thinking deep thoughts, of what? Dindar not too sure...

[Blackhawk748]

Jack wasn't sure what this all meant. One evil cult ritual looked much the same as another to him. Though the cleanliness of the place was rather surprising.

Jack knelt down to examine the blood, trying to gauge when the man died.

[CozJa]

Observing how many people are present on the crime scene, Janus thinks that this time something really terrible might have happened. After all, commander Marth isn't usually seen around minor scenes, and the church and the guards rarely call for more than one or two... 'experts'; the doctor salutes his friend Sanger, observes briefly the others, then follows commander Marth into the house.
As the reek of dried blood mixes with the drops of rain falling on the cobblestones, dr. Loew enters the room guided by a sense of disgust and fascination (not sure which one more than the other)

Gustave Freinstein held to a lot of strange theories and was by no means his favorite researcher, but he'd never like to see somebody end like this, friend or enemy. Searching for the door, his attention is caught by the strange, curiously regular disposition of some bricks in the wall. But, before looking at it with more attention, he decides to help his newfound companions by searching with more attention in the room; after all, it takes a natural philosopher to find another one's secrets... probably.

"When I worked at the university, I modified my desk, putting a secret bottom in one of my drawers..." he touches around the desk until something *clicks*. "There it is!" He exclaims with excitement, that is quickly lost when he notice that the secret bottom is empty, the only thing noticeable are some unimportant scratches. "I think something was supposed to be hidden here..."

Raising his head, dr. Loew starts again to look at the bricks. He approaches one of them, the one nearer to the desk, trying to assess his dimension and to understand if there's another reason for the different state of consumption. He touches it, than observe if there's something different in how it is tied to the others, than he slowly walks back, trying to recognize a possible pattern created by the bricks, at the same time trying not to step on the various organs around the room.


Taking ten in search this time, for a total of 26, to calmly study the brick; also, do they create a specific immediately recognizable pattern?

[DoctorGlock]

The blood is mostly dried, but still tacky-- the deed was done many hours ago, but still relatively fresh. Of course vivisection takes time...

There is a pattern to them-- two per east and west wall, one per north and south, six total. if you were to draw a line between each it would form a six pointed star with the center of the room-- and the pentagram-- at the inner bounds of the hexagram. More importantly, each brick is loose, and your inspection shows that to be intentional. They are well worn, and the side placed into the wall inlaid with a silver seal. Goetic seals to be precise. And certainly not the work of a respectable alchemist.

[Kvard51]

Robbe Sänger stares at the corpse. We all knew you would come to an ugly end someday, Gustave. What, with the things you were interested in. But this is strange, even for you.

Looking up, he sees Dr Loew nod as he crosses the room. It has been too long since Janus and I have shared a drink and a game of Go. Bastard always wins, anyway... Sänger realizes his wool-gathering is because he doesn't want to think about what might have gone on in this room tonight. What could have gone on in this room tonight? He rifles through his inventory of knowledge, looking for an answer...

Knowledge (Religion) [roll0]
Knowledge (Arcana) [roll1]
Spellcraft [roll2] to see if he knows of a creature or spell that could have made such a perfect hole when excising the brain.

[Kvard51]

Squatting down beside the body, Sänger gets a good look at the hole in the back of the skull. Noticing what appears to be tool marks, he calls the Professor over to verify his suspicions. "Janus, I think you need to see this. Have you seen tool marks like this before?"

[CozJa]

Janus observes the pattern created by the bricks, and start thinking about what it may represent.
"That looks like a... magic circle of sort... does any of you have some knowledge on this kind of 'art'?"

As his friend Robbe Sänger calls for him, the doctor takes a look at the instruments.


not sure how to roll... I'll try those three:

Knowledge: (Religion) (in case dissecting people has something to do with undeath) [roll0]
Knowledge: (Nature) (in case dissecting people is more natural!) [roll1]
Craft: Alchemy (in case the instrument is something an alchemist would use [roll2]

[DontEvenAsk]

An elegantly dressed woman, trailing behind the others with quiet feet, suddenly speaks up. "Not formally, but I have a... passing familiarity with some forms of circle magic." She steps forward to examine the circle and the surrounding paraphernalia.

Search: [roll0]

[DoctorGlock]

Marth's booted footsteps reenter the room. 'Table set for two, burned food in the kitchen. Man expected company, but known to live alone. My read is the 'guest' killed our man here.'

He scowled as he sees the silver inlaid brick. 'Bloody hell, the whole damned thing reeks of Goetia. Unless one of you is an expert on this sort of circle magic I'll have to call a sanctifier. Loew, Sanger, you know the local circles,' and his tone of voice heavily implies that he wants to say 'absolute lunatics,' I want you to make a list of anyone who might have been engaged in Goetic research or was connected to the doctor. My gut says a fellow alchemist.' He gestures to the ransacked desk and bookshelves.

'The perp wanted something from Gustave. And I want to know just what... what the hell was in the man's head that the perp decided to remove it?'

[Blackhawk748]

Jack scratches his beard as he examines the two circles.

"The one drawn in blood is for focusing magical energy, not sure to what end, and the silver sigils are for making a protective ward. Don't have enough information to figure anything else out, so you may still wanna call one of the experts in.

[Nightraiderx]

Dindar watched in the background not sure what to make of it, apparently they were talking about drawing circles for different purposes. Dindar wondered if they succeeded in their ritual or not as he kept his eyes trained on the shadows waiting to see if anything would come from the depths of night.

[DoctorGlock]

Dindar recalls tribal tales of witchcraft-- tales that powerful practitioners of the witching way could steal the knowledge from a corpse's brain with strange brews and elixirs. You've never seen it yourself, and as far as you know they are just tales. Maybe there's something behind this?

[Nightraiderx]

"There was a tale in my Tribe, that witches would use strange medicine and potions to steal knowledge from brain. Dindar not sure if real but maybe it is clue?" Dindar walked over to see if he could find dead man's squishy brain bits.

[DoctorGlock]

Upon cursory inspection, Dindar notes the removal of the victim's brain. Very neatly done with a cleanly severed brainstem. No squishy pink bits anywhere.

[Kvard51]

"Ritual Magic, witches, and strange instruments. What ARE we dealing with here?" Robbe looks at the others, one at a time. "Has anyone searched Gustave's clothes? Gone through his pockets?"

Sänger begins a systemized search of the pockets, folds, creases, and seams of the corpses clothing.

Taking a 20, so [26] for Search.

[Nightraiderx]

"See? They take man's brain!" Dindar points excitedly to lack of brain. "... but does it mean tale is true? Dindar not sure, but what did he know? maybe they wanted to know as he knows?"

[DoctorGlock]

The mans pockets were already thoroughly turned inside out it seems, but you catch a faint whiff of formaldehyde on the clothes. And in his left boot you find a small silver key.

[Kvard51]

"Hmm, formaldehyde. What have you been playing at,
Gustave?"

Turning to the Dr, Robbe holds up the silver key. "Now what do you reckon this fits, Janus?"

[DoctorGlock]

It's a key, plain and silver. Small, fine-- can't fit anything with heavy tumblers. Perhaps a drawer or a locking book or small lockbox. Cartainly something precious to the man to keep it in his shoe.

'I need to make my report to the governor,' Marth says abruptly. 'I'll leave this in your capable and discreet hands, gentlemen.'

[Kvard51]

Sänger begins to search the room more closely, looking specifically for something the key might fit. "I'll search the desk, maybe the rest of you can check the bookshelf for locked books?"

Taking 20 = 26 Search

[CozJa]

"a good start may be the drawer forced open. At least we'll know for sure if the key is meant to be used for something else or not."

As Dindar recounts his tale, dr. Loew considers the idea. "Uhm, stealing brains to obtain knowledge? As wild as it may seem, I believe it is not completely out of the field of the more 'eccentric' studies I've heard about. Not that I'm comfortable with the idea of some colleague pursuing this field of... research."

[Blackhawk748]

Jack looks around the room, trying to help Sanger.


Taking a 10 on a Search check to Assist Sanger.

[DoctorGlock]

The time passes slowly as you search and the shadows seem to grow long, the air disquieting and oppressive. You combo over the whole house, noting every shred of evidence., but find nothing that the key can open. The missing things are a maddening puzzle piece. Clearly something was stolen, and just as clearly you have no idea what.

But someone went through a lot of trouble to do it.

There are too many missing pieces at the moment. No, you need more. Who might have been awake at the time of the murder? The watch? They would have no mystery had they seen anything. Sleepless beggars perhaps? Whores?

One things for sure, you need to know what was in that stolen research...

[Nightraiderx]

Dindar helps, but isn't even sure where to look, after a while Dindar speaks up. "Dindar think this isn't getting us anywhere, maybe we can try the taverns? Dindar good at interrogation..." He cracks his knuckles in anticipation of both good drinks and perhaps some fun rough housing.

[Blackhawk748]

"I think Dindar is right, there doesnt seem to be anything else here. Me and him can go to the nearest Tavern and see if anyone heard anything, the rest of you could go check out the neighbors."

[DontEvenAsk]

The woman reacts to her failure to unearth anything as if she's broken a pencil - a mildly sad expression; dignified silence. "And lady," she reminds Marth as he leaves, not expecting a response or even necessarily that he'll hear her.

She observes the search with interest - not her speciality, but worth watching - but she really perks up at the suggestion of something a little more social. "May I... tag along?" she asks Jack. "I'm afraid I'm not much for creeping about with a spyglass, but I do know how to play 'good cop,' if you'd like."

[Blackhawk748]

"Works for me." He says as he starts to walk towards the door.

[DontEvenAsk]

"Thank you. I mean that, it's so galling being useless. Now perhaps I can be of assistance." She follows Jack away from the scene of the crime.

[Kvard51]

"Janus, perhaps we would be best served by you applying yourself to your research to see if anything like this has been recorded before? I will ask around the closest houses to see if anyone saw someone coming or going here tonight." Sanger turns to Marth, "Commander, perhaps you could detail one of your men to escort me? I've found the presence of the Watch to be useful in this sort of investigation."

[DoctorGlock]

Marth gestures, and a guardsman takes to Sanger's side.


The Streets:

Sanger and the guardsman take to the slick streets and sodden air. Not many people are outside; onlookers have fled indoors as the heavy rain picks up its pace, becoming a chill and drenching torrent. Gustave's shop was located in upscaled commercial district, amidst more storefronts than houses. Still, there are a few near enough to have heard a bloodcurdling scream. You knock on the first door, the abode of a wealthier merchant. Your inquiries there are for naught, as he slept the whole night through. He claims to be a light sleeper, and says he would have woken at the sound of a scream.

The second door seems more promising. It's the baker's shop with his home above. He's a known insomniac, his wife a famous gossip known for peering through neighbors' windows. She says she saw two men pass the house in the evening, one large and hulking, walking with a pronounced limp. The other was small, but she didn't get a good look. He seemed dressed like a scholar of sorts. She says they seemed suspicious, but the baker says that she says that about everyone. He too says there were no screams or other odd sounds that he could hear, and he was awake well past midnight.

The Taverns:

Dindar knows a great drinking hole! It's the perfect place for a questing barbarian hero; that means full of violent drunks, thugs, criminals and whores. The one you have in mind is called the broken glass, and old gods know you've broken a few over the right heads. It was more satisfying when they switched to steel mugs. It's also not the most populated during midday. It spikes in the early evening and then fades as patrons go about their less than legitimate business after nightfall. It's one of a good dozen taverns in the city, but it's certainly the seediest.

At the moment, it's filled by a heavily scarred and bald barkeep, polishing one of the remaining glasses as he glowers from his one remaining eye. In a corner, tired and with sunken eyes is a young woman with hard eyes and less clothing than is entirely decent, enough to hint at what's on sale. Picking his fingernails with a knife is another unsavory type, small and ratlike, he looks alert, and as if he is waiting. Another two men sit across from each other as a small circular table, surrounded by empty mugs. One has a hand down, fingers splayed as the other hand deftly slams a knife between each one, just barely missing flesh each time, a loud tap as it hits the table. You watch them switch off, each time adding another tap to the count.

As good a place as any to start.

[Nightraiderx]

Dindar pushes the door open getting a good look at the room scanning it over before moving forward towards the barkeep.
"Dindar's going to need a stiff drink for this, preferable the steel mug. Also get Dindar's friends a drink as well." As Dindar gives
an almost innocent smile, the barkeep knows better than to refuse his request. He motions to an empty table alittle bit off to the side so the others can get a good view of the room while he keeps his back to them. His smile fades a bit, "hope you can see any possible suspects, Dindar would look but some know Dindar and it be awkward." He passes on the Ale to the other two. "Oh before I forget what's your names? Name is Dindar."

[Blackhawk748]

Jack pulls out a chair with his foot and sits so he can see the rest of the room, this place looks hopeful. "Im Jack."

[DontEvenAsk]

On the way to the Broken Glass, noticing that Dindar seems to be leading the way and inferring that they're therefore probably headed for something of a dive, Lal politely excuses herself for a moment, ducks into the nearest alleyway or crevice, and shifts her form and outfit into something more suitable for the occasion. In response to any reactions from her compatriots, she merely holds a finger to her lips, smiling, and says, "Just something I've picked up."

http://orig12.deviantart.net/a910/f/2011/276/6/b/innkeeper_female_by_delira-d4bpg6g.jpg
She hesitates before giving her name; "Call me Lil," she says. Close enough.

[Nightraiderx]

"So Dindar think, Lil entice men playing knives with drinks make friends, Dindar go stare down rat boy and Jack can talk with nudie lady, sound good?"
Dindar finishes off his ale, turning it upside down. "but before that Dindar get a new drink."

[DontEvenAsk]

Lil laughs. This Dindar fellow is entertaining. "A fine plan," she tells him. To the barkeep she adds, "Sweet cider, if you have it, rather than beer."

As soon as she's collected her drink, she sidles up to the men at the table. "Impressive," she says, taking care not to address the statement to either man more than the other, and not to oversell her esteem. "May I?"

Diplomacy: [roll0]
Not sure if I need a roll just yet, but better to be safe than sorry.

[Blackhawk748]

Jack knocks back the rest of his drink, then gets up and walks past the woman, making meaningful eye contact while flashing a bit of gold as he heads past her and up the stairs.

[DoctorGlock]

As Dindar approaches the bar the barkeep's perpetual scowl deepens. 'Dindar,' he say flatly. 'You still owe me three mugs,' he say by way of greeting.

Meanwhile, at the table, the two men laugh as the shorter, a dark haired lean fellow with some curious scar looks Lil up and down. You note that his clothing and boots are very finely made, and more interesting, each buckle on his belts and knife scabbard are padded, making each movement eerily silent.

'If you think you can keep up, feel free to join in. Rolaf is five mugs in and I myself am on my sixth. I reckon you're still seeing clear, old friend?' he mockingly says to the other man, a red haired and bearded giant. The man reaches out and takes another mug from the bar girl, who watching knew the right moment to offer, and quaffs the whole thing while staring unblinking into the smaller man's eyes. Rolaf's hand goes to the table again and the knife makes fifteen quick snaps into the wood.

'Better than you, little man.'

Barely noticed, the working girl follows jack up the stairs.

[Nightraiderx]

Dindar takes out a coin and flips it onto the table. "Dindar didn't know mugs were so fragile, Dindar will be more careful. Two more drinks, please!"
After taking the two mugs he walks over to the ratman putting the mug before him. "You seem lonely, Dindar will cheer you up, but Dindar is wondering if Dindar can ask ratman questions." He gives a blank smile.

Unintentional Intimidation Check
[roll0]

[Blackhawk748]

Jack sits down on the bed and motions for the working girl to take a seat elsewhere in the room. "I want information, and im happy to pay for it."