Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

[Graybeard]

<"So. What's your take on the mood here so far?">

<"Nothing too scary yet,"> Sister Rose thought back. "<I wish we could put on some detection magic, but it wouldn't be a good idea now. At least there's nothing just jumping out at us. I suppose that's good.">

They continued to walk in silence behind the disagreeable Sister Bree, and Rose didn't need any detection magic to get a sense of barely-suppressed enmity from the woman. I wonder why? Any number of causes might be possible: disapproval of the "heterodox" Reformed Church (in which case Rose would be the target of her animus), a relative lost in the Mage/Priest Wars (in which case Argus would be), some connection to Avner Indianel or Rebekah Codoin (in which case Luminosita alone knew what her angle might be), or maybe just sheer, non-partisan cussedness. Clearly, this wasn't the time to probe the subject.

A few minutes later, they were entering a small, chapel-like room with two well-armed guards posted outside. Rose couldn't tell whether the guards were in the party that had caused the stink at the haberdashery yesterday; it seemed possible, but vanilla-flavored Veracian militia tended not to have strong distinguishing characteristics. Inside the chapel sat a man in ornate robes: the inexplicably youthful-looking Father Blaise. "Ah! Sister Rose, Doctor Cleiviein!" he said, rising from his chair, making the Sign of Luminosita at Rose (who replied in kind) and extending an outstretched hand to Argus to shake. "How good of you to come. Please have a seat, make yourselves comfortable, have some tea."

Rose complied with a smile ... noting that the scowl on Sister Bree's face hadn't changed. <"Beware of a good-cop, bad-cop routine here,"> she thought at Argus. <"And I don't know about you, but I'm not drinking any of that tea until they do ...">

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Brad continued to wander somewhat aimlessly toward the temple ... and the militiaman strode considerably more purposefully toward the inn, where he quickly drew a bead on Bryce.

[Jack Rothwell]

"Anyway, I was just thinking that... well, that maybe that would be a better idea than... well, another half-elf. You know... someday. When I want to start a family."

Eli shrugged, he'd always taken it as read that if he ever settled down and tried to save the species it would be another half-elf he'd do it with. Desiree's ideas were a path his mind had never really wandered, The priestess had more imagination than him, that was for certain. He tried to articulate an answer.

"It might be less risky." He said. "That business with the errant was a dark one, nothing a mother should ever have to go through." He had nothing else to say on that subject, certainly not in the early morning. He stretched and listened to his shoulders pop with satisfaction. He tried to move his mind to less serious matters.

"I was thinking of breakfast..." He began.

[Porcelain Fish]

Bryce gave the serving girl a tip and a wink as he took the plates from her, heading back towards the stairs with breakfast in either hand. He caught sight of the militiaman out of the corner of his eye, noticed his focused gaze, and waited, expression curious.

"Corporal Canyon." The militiaman snapped off a salute. "Sorry again about that misunderstanding yesterday, sir."

Bryce set down one of the plates and returned it. "It's all right soldier. You were doing your duty. What can I do for you?"

"I've been ordered to escort you and your Tsuirakuan companion to the Temple, sir. There's a stiff and his boot-licker out from Emerylon. They want a debrief on your last assignment. Apparently there's a question about him since he spent some time with them before they . . . passed."

"Let me take breakfast up to last night's entertainment, and then I'll let him know." Bryce jerked his chin toward an empty table. "Sit down and have some chow. It's on me."

"Thank you sir." The militiaman sat, obviously willing to take a load off when and where he could.

Maduin opened the door after Bryce had tapped loudly with his foot a couple of times, and smiled. "That looks good."

"There's a grunt downstairs. He has orders to take us over to the Temple for questioning."

Maduin's smile vanished, gaze turning cold as he turned away. "And yet they didn't invite us to accompany Sister Rose and Dr. Cleiviein. I find that . . . striking."

"Divide and conquer apparently." Bryce shrugged and set the plates down. "You gonna mindfuck him?"

"That's a very derogatory way of phrasing it." Maduin picked up a silver pendant that had been sitting in the sunlight on the windowsill and eyed it for a moment before undoing the clasp and putting it around his neck. "But no. I'm beginning to think we're playing a much deeper game here than I'd initially thought, and I suspect he hasn't got more than his orders, which is the absolute minimum necessary." He turned, but his smile held nothing of warmth in it, hazel eyes like chips of malachite. "It's actually refreshing." A beckoning gesture, and a mirror rose from the nightstand to float before him while he adjusted the fall of his curls. "There are two daggers in the carpet bag with the chrysanthemum print. Don't draw them unless you need them, and whatever you do, don't touch the blades."

[Graybeard]

[OOC: That wasn't exactly the way I'd expected things to play out with the militiaman, but we can work with it, so ... Sorry, this is going to be a bit long despite not having a huge amount of action, but there's something that needs to be done. /OOC:]

"Well, that was surprisingly painless," Sister Rose said to Argus as they left the temple complex. Somehow it didn't seem necessary to have this conversation mentally any more ... with one little exception.

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The interrogation had gone quite smoothly, actually. Rose was well aware that a Truth spell was in use, but how could it have been otherwise? In any event, none of the questions Father Blaise (who did almost all of the talking) had asked were in any way discomfiting, merely routine fact finding on the topic at hand. Quite courteously, Blaise had talked them through their initial encounters with Avner Indianel and Rebekah Codoin, sticking strictly to the interactions with the other pair ... despite all of the digressions that might have come up. Not a word was spoken of the Peaceful Dead, or the "three little maids from school" who had called on Arsoro Kurou's place of lodging, or the death of Porpington Bree, or the way Father Amalric had dealt with Suriah Chase (and almost had his head handed to him by Drusia), or anything about their traveling companions.

Well, almost anything about their traveling companions.

Sister Bree had sat silently through proceedings, taking notes on a pad that glowed with magic (an Encryption spell, Rose guessed), and saying almost nothing ... until the very end. And then, as Blaise was about to send Rose and Argus away, she cleared her throat. "One last question, if you don't mind," she said, her voice cordial enough, even as murder was chiseled into her features. Blaise looked like he'd been quite surprised by this interjection, but he smiled and gestured. "Please, if you'd be so kind."

A quick look passed between Rose and Argus, and Rose decided not to risk telepathic communication; the air was magic-rich to the point where something might be detected, even if the communication itself remained secure. "Of course," she smiled with a camaraderie she did not feel ... and Bree's mask came down.

"If you don't mind, Dr. Cleiviein," she said, her voice gradually becoming edgier and higher-pitched, "please tell me how your illustrious countryman, Mr. Lochlear, came to enjoy the company of that oversized, overstuffed bugger buddy of a soldier, BRYCE FUC--"

"That will do, Sister," Blaise said mildly, raising a hand ... and Rose caught the faintest glow of magic in his eyes. Bree deflated like a malice-filled balloon being popped as the man continued. "I must apologize for my colleague here," he said, his voice still mild and conciliatory. "Bree, please leave us for a moment." Might there have been another brief flare of magic? Either way, the woman stood up and left the room without another word.

"Again, I apologize," Blaise said genially, pouring (and drinking) another cup of tea. "I didn't realize that Sister Bree has a ... past with your friend, Corporal Canyon. If I'd known that, I would have requested someone else from the Inquisitor's office. We can't be having such ... frictions interfere with our holy duty, can we? I must admit, however, that I personally would be appreciative if I could have the briefest interview with Mr. Lochlear and Corporal Canyon. You have my word that it will be non-confrontational, and limited to the matter at hand, avoiding anything to do with their ... friendship. I will also ensure that Sister Bree is nowhere near the interview room when that conversation occurs." He smiled and bid them farewell.

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<"So do we try to get Maduin and Bryce to go see the guy?"> Rose thought at Argus as they walked back to the inn; this part of the conversation definitely did seem like something to transact in private.

[OOC: PF, we need to discuss some things off line ...]

[Drannin]

<"I don't see that we have much choice,"> Argus thought back, troubled. <"This... Blaise... is formidable. He's clearly quite powerful and he manages it well. That's a dangerous combination, and you don't want to cross those type of men. They generally have another side of them that isn't quite so courteous, and they have no trouble bringing it out if deemed necessary. Look at how well he managed Sister Bree.">

Indeed, Father Blaise gave every indication of a man completely in control of the situation. Given certain events which had transpired here in Umbertiel, that was... thought-provoking.

[Jack Rothwell]

OOC I should let you all know that on saturday I'm headed off to sunny Florida for a two week holiday and, unfortunately, won't be able to post til I get back. So feel free to drag my characters along as needed, put words in their mouths and maybe make them dance a jaunty jig if boredom sets in while I'm gone. I'll be thinking of you all while I'm sipping a cocktail and getting sunburned on a beach somewhere. /OOC

[Graybeard]

[OOC:

OOC I should let you all know that on saturday I'm headed off to sunny Florida for a two week holiday and, unfortunately, won't be able to post til I get back. So feel free to drag my characters along as needed, put words in their mouths and maybe make them dance a jaunty jig if boredom sets in while I'm gone. I'll be thinking of you all while I'm sipping a cocktail and getting sunburned on a beach somewhere. /OOC

Florida ... in boiling-hot August ... only a Brit. Anyway, have lots of fun! /OOC:]

"'Formidable' barely scratches the surface," Sister Rose agreed, verbally; they were out of earshot of possible snoopers now (except Brad, whom she could see eyeing the temple nervously some distance away -- the man needed to work on his skills at blending into the background), and she had an uneasy feeling that it might be best to conserve her magical ability in case it was needed later. "The man is downright scary, I don't care how polite he is. I don't get why he was using mind magic on his own partner, either. Sure, she was out of line, but was that the right way to deal with it? Not that I'm unhappy that he did, of course."

They reached the inn, finding Lillith and Brad absent as expected, and everyone else digging into breakfast ... with an unexpected guest. "Maduin, Bryce, we have some news for you that you're probably not going to like ... oh." It looked like the Veracian cop had already passed the message about the interview with Father Blaise (how?). Her face softened a notch. "Not to worry too much, our own session went just fine. You shouldn't have any problems." As long as he follows through on keeping Bree out of the picture, and somehow, I think he will -- although I'm not sure exactly why. She smiled ironically. "And Eli and Desiree, I don't think it'll disappoint you at all that they're not the slightest bit interested in you. Now, may we rejoin you for breakfast? We ate earlier with Lillith and Brad, but I confess, I was so nervous that I couldn't eat much then." She smiled again. "My stomach has calmed down now, and that should bode well for you two ... I hope."

[Sareth]

Outside, Lillith had settled herself into a hidden nook in a remote part of the garden. She was seated in the pose of meditation with which the group had become familiar, eyes closed, the only motion the rising and falling of her chest and stomach as she took long, deep breaths.

In her mind and heart she opened herself. She felt herself expand outward, into the wider world. She was a part of its whole, and yet a singular self separate from it. She merged with the world that others did not see but which was even more real, and yet retained her separation from all that made it up. She was with the spirits, part of them, and yet not them.

She drifted along with that which was, feeling it enfold her, getting to know its touch, the soft caresses of her soul. She felt the spirits observe her even as she observed them. There was no hostility to it, or even curiosity. Just a simple sense of awareness. The hidden world knew of her existence, acknowledged it, and included her.

After drifting for a bit she roused herself to something more active. She began actively pushing and prodding, gently and respectfully, but with intent. The spirits yielded at times, and at other times resisted. She found herself being inexorably drawn outward. She observed all the spirits she passed, taking in their nature even as she thanked them for allowing her passage.

"Something isn't right here. Something is... Off." Even in her meditations the girl's mind was active, worrying at that sense of disturbance. "What is it? All the spirits here are so alive, so gentle and warm, that it feels like this should be a paradise. And yet something is missing?"

Suddenly her detached self staggered and stumbled. She'd suddenly found herself faced with no resistance, and her efforts to push forward through the easiest passage threw her forward. Her spirit self sprawled, hitting the ground with just as much force as though it were her body and not her soul.

In the garden the girl's eyes shot open. Her skin was pale, and her body shook. She let out a sharp, rattling breath.

"Dear goddess..."

She quickly picked herself up and hurried into the inn.

[Drusia]

"It might be less risky." He said. "That business with the errant was a dark one, nothing a mother should ever have to go through." He had nothing else to say on that subject, certainly not in the early morning. He stretched and listened to his shoulders pop with satisfaction. He tried to move his mind to less serious matters.
"I was thinking of breakfast..." He began.

I bite my lip.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," I tell him. "It's... well, it's been on my mind lately." No need to go into it further.

I sigh. "You really want to get up? I like it here." To reinforce my point, I snuggle up against him. "Can we stay a little longer if I promise not to talk about that right now?" This town is full of people who don't like us. I'm not in any hurry to leave the comprative saftey of this room. Not when I've got such pleasant companionship.

OOC: Actually, I just got back from a trip myself. ^^;; Hence the somewhat late response.
Desiree isn't in any hurry to leave at the moment. If the party moves on, I'll be sure to bring Eli along with us. ^^

[Graybeard]

[OOC: Welcome back, and please do put up your choices of walk-up music for Desiree, Drusia, etc.! I already had Desiree and Eli downstairs, but just write that off as weird timing, so ...]

Something about the timing of events wasn't sitting quite right with Sister Rose. She and Argus had fielded Father Blaise's almost excessively casual "invitation" to Maduin and Bryce at the very end of their own interview ... and yet, by the time they got back to the inn, the militiaman was already chivvying the other two toward the temple. It was like an elaborately choreographed ballet where the timing had gone just very slightly wrong. If so, what was the rest of the "ballet" supposed to be like? Was that final exchange with Sister Bree also part of the choreography? Rose didn't think so. It looked like Blaise had trotted out some actual mind magic, maybe a Domination spell, and used that on his co-inquisitor. Surely that couldn't have been part of the plan too. Could it?

Well, I wanted to make sure they use the proverbial long spoon anyway, so ... "Go ahead," she addressed Maduin and Bryce. "Our interview --" she peeked at Argus to make sure he agreed -- "was surprisingly cordial, very much to the point, no nasty surprises and certainly no nasty magic." Not used on us, anyway. I wish I was more sure of what he did to Bree... "You shouldn't have any problems if things go according to form. I do think one point is worth making, though."

She turned to Maduin. "If I understand things correctly, you're under what amounts to diplomatic immunity here, as long as you don't do anything really dumb, which you haven't and won't. It's technically 'the Patriarch's protection,' but diplomatic immunity is what it amounts to."

Then she turned to Bryce. "You, however ... are probably not. You're a Veracian, after all, and so you're subject to the laws of the land just like I am."

She was starting to say something else when Lillith came bustling into the inn, looking decidedly disturbed about something. Uh, oh. "Lillith, what's wrong?"

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Meanwhile, Brad was continuing to watch the temple, unaware that he himself was being watched.