Between the Darkness/Session 06

~Clavis_Morden: did you look at the log of last session, Indistinguishable? Something rather big happened ;)

Mercution_Hastus: Yeah, we met the boss.

~Clavis_Morden: And she's awesome, if very scary :)

Atella: awesome is good

tylorva: Just don't ever let her drive you any place. ;)

tylorva: *giggles*

tylorva: She's trying to break the Imperium record for the number of speeding tickets collected on different worlds across the galaxy.

Mercution_Hastus: Driving School of the Saint Jurgen?

Mercution_Hastus: (Back to the Cathedral. We were there just for a couple of hours, but it was enough of a bad impression.)

tylorva: Well, technically you haven't left it yet. Vika left you on the steps. :)

Atella: strides in and looks for the Hierophant

tylorva: You make your way back up the stairs, past the significantly cleaner part of the stairs where you had been doing penance, and you re-enter the cathedral through the main door. There is still an aura of panic across the normal calm interior and several novices stare at you nervously.

Clavis_Morden: After taking a moment to concentrate on her psi-focus and encourage the bloody marks of the whip on her back to mend Clavis turns to Mercution, her expression uncertain. "Before we go in ... do you want me to do something about the wound from the whipping?"

Atella: grabs the nearest novice and asks "Where did he go?"

Mercution_Hastus: ((How bad it is, remind me?))

tylorva: (( Yeah it's painful and drew some blood, but is a RP effect rather than a mechanical one. ))

Mercution_Hastus: "Thanks, I think I'll manage" he replies, as he ascends up the stairs. Inside, Mercution calls for one of the novices. "It seems we have some unfinished bussiness with Hierophant. Care to tell us where he is?"

tylorva: The novice cowers away. "The Hierophant is in the Chapel of St Drusus, miss!"

Atella: "Good, show me the way"

Clavis_Morden: nods, having already expected the answer and follows Mercution into the cathedral

Atella: keeps hold of the collar

Atella: (hi-yo novice, away!)

Clavis_Morden: "Umm." Clavis looks very uncomfortable seeing Atella manhandle the novice so but doesn't say anything more than that.

tylorva: The chapel is a grand and glorious affair taking up the entire western-most wing of the cathedral. Hierophant Kasobel is bent on his knees in front of the altar, an opened bottle of amasec beside him.

Atella: "Oh, there you are, hierophant! We just have a few more questions for you!"

Atella: ponders

Atella: "oh right"

Clavis_Morden: "Uh. Revered Lord Hierophant, we do not wish to disturb your prayers ..." The rest of the sentence is overridden by Atella.

Atella: releases the novice

tylorva: The novice scarpers quickly. Kasobel nearly jumps a mile out of his skin and spins round to face everyone, looking worridly for something behind them. "Yes.. my children..." he says, continuing to search.

Clavis_Morden: curtsies. "Thank you, Lord Bishop Hierophant. The Inquisitor directed us to speak to you. To ask you about a man named Janus Sand."

Mercution_Hastus: "Usually, I'd say it's a bad idea to interrupt the prayer... But it seems Atella already decided. He was talking to the spirits in the bottle, not with the saints, anyway." Mercution murmured silently.

tylorva: "Is... she... here?"

Atella: "Oh, she's nearby, don't worry"

Atella: "So, about Janus Sand"

tylorva: "She's some woman..." says Kasobel who still seems to have Vika Shaeye on the mind. He picks up the bottle and takes another swig.

Atella: steps closer

Clavis_Morden: nods in involuntary agreement. Oh yes, she is.

Atella: "Yes we know. now tell us about Janus Sand"

tylorva: "The inquisitor?"

Atella: "So you've met him?"

Mercution_Hastus: "It is with her prompting that we ask, you understand..." he wanted to add something like "your Eminence" or another type of formal address, but then decided not to bother. He didn't know the right one anyway.

tylorva: "Inquisitor Sand was here a couple of days ago," he says. "Although he wasn't as... impressive as the lady."

Atella: "what did he want?"

Clavis_Morden: begins to open her mouth but Atella is faster

tylorva: "He said I shouldn't speak of it."

Atella: leans closer

Atella: "Do you *really* want to disappoint our boss?"

tylorva: "NO!"

Mercution_Hastus: "And Misstress said, that you should. Now, who are you going to listen to?"

tylorva: He tries to salvage some of his pride. "The Ecclesiarchy should ne be subject to the whims of the Inquisition in this fashion!" he says, puffing his chest out.

Atella: smiles and pats his shoulder

Atella: "Look, just tell us, then we'll leave you alone with your bottle. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful offer?"

tylorva: "I will not be drawn into a feud between inquisitors!"

Mercution_Hastus: "After all, the Mistress may have her own ideas about ways to interact with imperial subjects. We really are the best option."

Atella: looks at Clavis_Morden

Atella: raises an eyebrow

Clavis_Morden: "You may be assured that no such thing will happen," Clavis states. "Although I can see how it may look that way to you, revered Lord Bishop Hierophant, the actual situation is quite different. We are forbidden from saying more than that, though."

Clavis_Morden: Once on safer ground such as logic and stating facts her voice is firmer. tylorva: The Hierophant glances between each person and then sighs. "What do you want to know?"

Atella: "What did he want?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Yes, let's begin with this. What did he came to you with?"

Clavis_Morden: "And when was that?" Clavis adds.

tylorva: Kasobel perches down on a kneeling stool and picks up the bottle again. "He was here... maybe two days ago," he says. "I didn't record exactly when, alas. Indeed he was quite adamant that there should be no record of his presence. He came in and showed his seal, saying he was an inquisitor. Apart from the seal, he didn't much look like one though, his clothing was cheap and dirty and I remember there were traces of blood

tylorva: I guessed he had been in a fight recently."

Clavis_Morden: nods, making notes on her data-slate

Atella: "and what did he do after he showed you the seal?"

tylorva: "He wanted information."

Atella: "about?"

tylorva: "He said... he was looking for someone. A heretic."

Atella: "Who?"

Clavis_Morden: "And we will also need the information he was given," Clavis adds.

tylorva: Kasobel rubs at his face worridly. "I really shouldn't speak of this..."

Fatespinner: Atella rolled a 54 on a d100.

Atella: (intimidation roll)

Atella: (failed miserably)

Mercution_Hastus: "You have already begun. Now, why wouldn't you speak to the servants of the Inquisition about heretics?"

Atella: "Why don't you just tell us? The sooner you tell us, the sooner we're out of your hair" Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 42 on a d100 for 0 degrees of success.

tylorva: A little bit more cajouling and Kasobel seems to be ready to talk. But he peers at Atella. "I'll tell the other two. Not you."

Atella: "... what's wrong with me?"

Clavis_Morden: "That will be fine," Clavis says quickly, giving Atella a pleading look.

Atella: grumbles

Atella: "fine, fine"

Atella: leaves the chapel and wanders off, looking for a novice to bother or something

Mercution_Hastus: gives Atella a confuzed and apologizing look, but seems ready to listen to the cleric.

tylorva: Once Atella has gone, the Hierophant looks at the two of you anxiously, wringing his fingers together. "God-Emperor forgive me for having to speak against the wishes of one of your holy inquisitors," he says, before looking up. "He was looking for an arbitrator."

Mercution_Hastus: "Implying, that arbitrator was a heretic?"

@Clavis_Morden: remains silent, taking notes and waiting for the Hierophant to continue.

tylorva: He nods at Mercution. "Not just any arbitrator. A high-ranking one. A Marshal."

Mercution_Hastus: frowns. "And the Marshal's name is?"

tylorva: "Marcus Ummidia," he says.

tylorva: "I hope you can understand why I did not wish to speak of it in front of the junior Ummidia."

Clavis_Morden: "Ah," Clavis says without meaning to. "What information did you give him? And was that all he wanted?"

Mercution_Hastus: 's brows slowly started climbing up the forehead, but he pinned them down. "Yes, I can understand... What was he accused of? Or were there any accusations at all - or he just asked the questions?"

tylorva: "There wasn't much I could tell him! I could only suggest he tried to find someway to get into the Arbites." He glances up. "In all honesty, he didn't really seem to know what he was doing. Although I shouldn't speak out against a holy inquisitor of course!"

tylorva: He glances at Mercution. "He didn't speak specifically of what the Marshal was accused of, and to be frank I didn't want to know so I didn't ask."

Clavis_Morden: "You are not speaking out against a holy inquisitor, you are being truthful in answering the Inquisition's questions," Clavis tries to reassure the Hierophant.

Clavis_Morden: "Now, was that the sum total of your interaction with and knowledge of Janus Sand?"

tylorva: "I did suggest to him that he cleaned himself up, and offered use of the facilities here."

Clavis_Morden: waits, expectantly

tylorva: "That's it! The Emperor knows I speak the truth."

Clavis_Morden: ((success with 0 degrees on a challenging Scrutiny test))

tylorva: (( yeah, he seems to be speaking truthfully. ))

Mercution_Hastus: "He was probably still in the middle of investigation." Mercution added, if only to confuze Hierophant further. "So, you could not give him anything specific about the Marshal... Do you have any idea, why he came to you for that information?"

tylorva: "No. Like I said, he seemed to not really know what he was doing at all. Not what I would have expected from an inquisitor. It seemed like he was just passing and brandished the badge hoping that I could tell him everything he wanted to know."

Clavis_Morden: nods slowly. "I have no more questions. Unless my colleague has any ... Thank you for your cooperation, your Eminence."

Clavis_Morden: She curtsies, like she was told to do for officers back at home.

tylorva: He gives a nod. "May I return to my prayer now?"

Mercution_Hastus: spares a meaningful glance towards the amasec bottle, but doesn't comment. He departs with less formal bow - mostly, again, because he has no idea what the right one would look like. "Yes, thank you for cooperation."

tylorva: The novice that Atella had accosted earlier sees her coming and tries to run for it.

Atella: grabs... her? him?

tylorva: It's hard to tell under the robes. "What do you want?"

Atella: puts an arm around... it

Atella: "so... were you around when the other inquisitor came 2 days ago?"

tylorva: "Yes ma'am!"

Atella: smiles. It's a slightly wolfish smell

Atella: (... smell? wtf brain)

Atella: "Good! Tell me everything you saw and heard."

tylorva: "Heard? Nothing miss! But that guy stank! I could smell him a mile off!"

Atella: "Smell? What kind of smell?"

tylorva: "Like he needed a bath."

Atella: "oh... so nothing special?"

tylorva: "I wouldn't know, miss!"

Atella: sighs

Atella: "So what do you novices do all day anyway?"

tylorva: "Pray mainly. And clean things. But mostly pray."

Atella: "Sounds boring. What do you do for fun?"

tylorva: "Fun?"

Atella: "You know, fun. When you're not praying or cleaning."

tylorva: "You mean... sin?"

Atella: "uh... maybe? What do you mean, exactly, when you say sin?"

tylorva: "Not praying, cleaning or devoting time to the worship of the God-Emperor and all of His saints."

Clavis_Morden: "This is getting stranger and stranger," Clavis sighs on the way back to the main nave. "I'm not even sure that was any help at all."

Atella: "So... no drinking? Sports? Dancing?"

Mercution_Hastus: "It was, I think. Just not sure yet, where to place it." Hastus replies.

tylorva: "No ma'am!" As the others return, he hurries away.

Clavis_Morden: "A puzzle piece ... yes, perhaps," Clavis agrees.

Atella: "So... what didn't he want me to hear?"

Atella: turns to the others

Mercution_Hastus: "Walking around, intimidating people? How "Adeptus Arbites" of you." Mercution joked absent-mindedly.

Clavis_Morden: smiles at the joke.

Atella: "Hey, I was bored! And I got kicked out of the clubhouse, so I had to do *something*. Besides, I didn't intimidate him... her... whatever, we just talked"

Clavis_Morden: "Sand was here waving the seal about," she then reports in a lowered voice. "But the Hierophant couldn't help him, except by making the facilities available."

Atella: whispers back "what facilities?"

Clavis_Morden: She thinks for a moment. "He did suggest the 'inquisitor' try asking the Arbites, though. Maybe that's why he came to you, Atella."

Clavis_Morden: "The hygiene-room," Clavis explains.

Atella: scratches her head

Atella: "He didn't ask me anything... that I remember anyway"

Mercution_Hastus: "He wanted to infiltrate the Judges' ranks. Or at least, it looked like that - he made clear his interest in one particular Arbitrator."

Atella: frowns

Atella: "Who?"

Mercution_Hastus: glances at Clavis, then back to Atella. "Marcus Ummidia".

Clavis_Morden: Clavis gives the slightes hint of a shrug at Mercution's glance. Can't avoid saying it now.

Atella: "Wait, my uncle?"

Clavis_Morden: "In any case it probably doesn't help us to find him. Not immediately anyway." She looks around making sure nobody is eavesdropping on them. "I think we should continue as planned with the ... victim's body and effects."

Atella: nods

Atella: "and I need to contact my uncle"

Atella: starts moving to the steps

Clavis_Morden: "And disclose particulars of an Inquisition investigation?" Clavis looks at Atella in surprise. "You really would?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Hm? Right. No sooner, than we contact the Interrogator - or Inquisitor or who else will answer. And that we do, after we have something else meaningful to report. So, let's get moving."

Atella: "He's my *uncle*"

Atella: "he at least needs to know to be careful"

Clavis_Morden: "He's a Marshal of the Adeptus Arbites, isn't he? Wouldn't he know that already?"

Atella: "Look, I don't have a lot of family left, okay?"

Atella: "Anyway, how are we getting to the morgue?"

Clavis_Morden: It's not really a protest, though. Clavis does understand ... it's just that the idea of defying the inquisition is unthinkable to her.

Clavis_Morden: "Tell you what," she finally proposes. "After the morgue we can all visit him. Call it an investigation if anyone asks."

Atella: ponders

Atella: "Sure, that works."

Clavis_Morden: "I mean, maybe he knows why this Sand would be interested in him."

Atella: yeah

Clavis_Morden: "He might be someone he's arrested or something."

Clavis_Morden: From the top of the stairs of the cathedral Clavis looks out into the hive. "I guess it's the anbaric train again."

Atella: "The train? Again?"

Atella: "We really need to pass by my uncle's after the morgue, if only to get decent transport"

Mercution_Hastus: "You can try catching the car - but it may be hard to find someone going in the same direction."

Atella: moves towards the train station

Mercution_Hastus: "Except for all those "going to morgue" jokes that no doubt got old, when He walked as Man." Mercution murmured under his breath.

Clavis_Morden: follows. As long as she doesn't have to advertise what she is there's nothing wrong with the train.

Mercution_Hastus: Train beats crawling through the grimy, polluted, mutant-infested pitch-black tunnels - so you won't hear any complains from Hastus.

Clavis_Morden: "Get conscripted by powers beyond your understanding, see the world," Clavis notes dryly.

Clavis_Morden: "Or at least Hive Sibellus."

Atella: "... by train. and on foot."

Atella: "I hope we get better toys once we're officially adopted"

Atella: "and a snazzy ride"

Clavis_Morden: "In the past 24 hours I've been to, well, you know, *that* place, an Arbites Commandant's stronghold, and the high cathedral. I'd call that seeing the world."

Mercution_Hastus: "Imagining yourself in that shiny armour?"

Atella: "hey, my armor is pretty shiny"

Clavis_Morden: shrugs. "Thank the Emperor, I can walk. So why not use what capability He has given me?"

Clavis_Morden: "Less gold and purity seals, though," Clavis laughs.

Atella: "Ah, but why walk when you can be sitting in a Rhino. Feel that big beast vibrate and roar under you, obeying your every command?"

tylorva: The train station looks much as any anywhere else in the hive. Absolute crowds of people trying to cram onto the trains. There's barely space to breathe - business as normal for hivers.

Clavis_Morden: tilts her head slightly. "I've never done that before. It might really be a nice change."

Atella: shoves her way through the throng

Clavis_Morden: Not used to such crowds - usually she's had two dour guardsmen to clear the way for her - Clavis keeps close behind the others, trusting in them to know where exactly to go.

Atella: grabs Clavis_Morden's hand and breaks the crowd for her

Mercution_Hastus: follows through pretty much freely, used to weaving his way through the crowds. Though, he is as usual carefully watches his personal belongings.

Clavis_Morden: Clavis is dragged forward, but at least she is getting somewhere! "Oh, sorry," she mouthes as the staff in her other hand hits a man in the face.

Clavis_Morden: By accident!

tylorva: A crowded train journey later, and a short walk along the gantries and flyovers of the hive, you all find yourself standing outside the morgue. It's a grim grey building attached to an Arbites precinct.

Atella: walks in and goes to the receptionist

tylorva: "Help you?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Now, I hope we are cleared to go through and there won't be any... as usual."

Atella: "We're here to look at the body and effects of one Alcoth?"

Clavis_Morden: "Reinhardt *said* he had arranged for us to have access." Clavis' tone is just a little doubtful.

tylorva: "Ah yes. Got identification?"

Atella: shows her her arbites ident

Mercution_Hastus: supressed the impulse to clap at his pockets.

Clavis_Morden: produces the wallet with her Adeptus Astra Telepathica identification. It isn't such a nice shiny badge as Atella's id, but on the upside it sports a bewildering array of security holograms, metallic strips, and other arcane technosorcerous wards.

tylorva: The woman seems satisfied although handles the AAT one somewhat gingerly. "That should be acceptable, please go on through." After getting lost in the twisty passages, you all eventually find yourself in the right room. A mediae-pathologae is here, a man dressed in long black robes and a hood. He turns to stare at you wordlessly then

tylorva: opens up a cold store and wheels out Alcoth's body on a trolley.

Atella: inspects the body

Clavis_Morden: takes a deep breath to try and control her suddenly racing heart. She'd almost managed to forget the terrible scene in Caster's office, the bodies veritably disintegrated in a hail of gunfire. But now Alcoth's body brings back the memory all fresh and terrifying. Sweat breaks out on her brow.

Clavis_Morden: "Umm," she avoids looking at the body for now. "What can you tell us, sir medicae?"

Mercution_Hastus: "I assume, it conforms with our observations from the place?" he is more proficient in the making of corpses, not studying them, but he takes a look.

Clavis_Morden: is a little pale

tylorva: After a moment the medicae-pathologae starts intoning, speaking without emotion or tone. "The subject was killed by a las blast to the chest from behind. Judging by the power and blast wound, the lasgun in question had been heavily modified. Once the las blast touched the subject's flesh, a burning of the human form occurred..." He starts rambling on going into every gory detail of exactly how a last shot kills a human.

Clavis_Morden: As the details start to pile up Clavis' face takes on a slightly greenish cast. Stumbling around she manages to find a waste bin (or something that looks like one) just in time before her stomach empties itself in protest at the indecency of it all.

tylorva: "Would you like to see the body?" asks the medicae to Clavis.

Clavis_Morden: "Argh. Grr. Mmbl."

Mercution_Hastus: "Well, we pretty much figured out who and how..." Mercution speaks, looking at the corpse rather dispassionately. "This just confirms it. His things may prove to be of more interest."

Atella: "can we see his personal effects?"

Clavis_Morden: After a minute or two Clavis manages to catch herself - or rather there is nothing more to throw up. "Umm. A moment, please." She raises a hand to stop the medicae from putting the body away again. After steeling herself she turns around. "Yes, I'll need to see it," she says bravely.

tylorva: The medicae sweeps over to a locker and removes a small box which he places on the table. Inside the box are Alcoth's personal effects - clothing, key cards, loose change, idents - everything a hive dweller would normally have. the only item that sticks out is a small dataslate.

Atella: (who has tech use?)

Mercution_Hastus: (Can treat as Basic. That's pretty much it.)

tylorva: The medicae pulls away the cloth to reveal the naked autopsied corpse of Interrogator Alcoth. There is a gaping scorched wound in his chest where he had been hit by the las blast. (Will need a medicae roll to discover anything else )

tylorva: Upon activatation, the dataslate presents and Inquisition sigil and asks for a password.

Clavis_Morden: Fighting past the horribly sight and the worse memories Clavis looks at the body, but with the eyes of her own profession not that of a medicae. Warp residue, invisible ritual marks, psy-active materials. Knowing that no warpcraft was involved in the shooting it's just due diligence - but that diligence pays off sometimes.

Clavis_Morden: After that she turns her inner eye on Alcoth's personal effects as well.

tylorva: (( Psyniscience doesn't reveal anything. Nothing psychic happens. ))

Clavis_Morden: "Thank you sir, I'm done now," she says carefully enunciating each word once she can look away from Alcoth's body.

Atella: (can I use security to hack the password?)

tylorva: (( You can try. ))

Fatespinner: Atella rolled a 68 on a d100 for 3 degrees of failure.

Atella: (guess not)

Clavis_Morden: ((does the small badge Clavis was given has a data port or something that would allow it to interface with a data-slate?))

tylorva: (( You;d need to get it out and examine it closely to find out. :) ))

Mercution_Hastus: "Can't believe they haven't retrieved it yet." he mentioned at the sight of the password-protected data-slate.

Clavis_Morden: "We will need a moment of privacy now, sir," she politely addresses the medicae.

tylorva: The medicae bows and steps out of the room.

Mercution_Hastus: "Driving a man out of his own working place..." shakes Hastus his head, not particularly serious.

Clavis_Morden: brings out the small Inquisition badge and tries to figure out whether it might carry any codes to convince the spirit of the data-slate of their worth.

Clavis_Morden: "This isn't his business," Clavis points out. "I would be well within my rights even without Her authority backing us."

tylorva: (( Tech-use +20 ))

Clavis_Morden: ((Ah. Right. Maybe Mercution wants to try :p ))

Atella: (not me, certainly ;)

Clavis_Morden: After trying to show the badge to the slate and commanding it to open in a stern voice without effect for a while Clavis gives up.

Atella: giggles

Atella: "I don't think they work that way, Clavis"

Clavis_Morden: "We'll have to ask Reinhardt ..." Clavis brings out the next weapon in her strangely large arsenal, the vox-caster linking them to the Interrogator.

Mercution_Hastus: "Hrmph. A proper tech-adept may do some nasty things to me, should he learn I dabbled with it..." Hastus gently takes both the data-slate and the Inquisitorial key-thing from Clavis. "But may as well try."

Clavis_Morden: shrugs at Atella's teasing. "Well, I'm not initiated into the techno-mysteries. It was worth a try, I thought."

Atella: "sure. Might I suggest calling Reinhardt?"

Clavis_Morden: "Sir, Interrogator, sir. Clavis Morden here," Clavis uses the vox-caster. "Reporting! Hierarch Kasobel was visited by Janus Sand about two days ago - he does not know the exact time - with the seal. He asked for information on Marshal Marcus Ummidia, but the Hierarch could not help him."

Clavis_Morden: "He directed Sand to the Arbites then, believing him to be an Inquisitor as he pretended to be."

tylorva: Reinhardt sounds incredibly grumpy. "I see. Is that it?"

Clavis_Morden: "We are currently looking at Alcoth's personal effects. There is a data-slate here, closed to us without the right codes. Are we authorized to see its contents? If so we would need a way of opening it ..."

tylorva: "The mistress has given you a pin, has she not?"

Clavis_Morden: "A small signum of authority, yes. But we can't figure out how to show it to the slate in the proper way."

Clavis_Morden: Her voice takes on an apologetic tone at the last part. "I'm terribly sorry to bother you with this, sir. We are just trying to do our duty."

Mercution_Hastus: "So we are just outright incompetent enough to properly use the given tool." Mercution whispers, his voice with a mock grief.

tylorva: "This is what happens when untrained personnel are used!" rants Reinhardt. "Hold the back of the pin to the small receiver on the front of the dataslate next to the power button."

Clavis_Morden: does as she is told

Atella: makes "bla bla bla" moves with her hand while Reinhardt is talking

tylorva: The display changes to say 'Access Granted' and a list of files appears. Two stick out as possibly interesting. Alcoth's diary and a file that just says case notes.

Atella: opens the case notes file

Clavis_Morden: "Thank you, sir."

Clavis_Morden: puts the pin away again

tylorva: "Try not to bother me again," says Reinhardt before hanging up.

Clavis_Morden: "Yes, sir," Clavis says quietly after Reinhardt hangs up, looking at the vox-caster in her hand apologetically. Mercution_Hastus: "I wonder, had he got the wind of his Mistress admission about who was the best Interrogator?" Mercution quietly asks no-one in particular.

Clavis_Morden: tries to hold it back, but after the tension that had just filled the room a liberating laugh won't be denied.

Clavis_Morden: "Hah. Heheh. Yes, perhaps. Heh."

Clavis_Morden: She gives Mercution a thankful look, then turns to the data-slate with the open 'case notes' file. "Now, let's see what we have here ..."

Mercution_Hastus: coughs, perhaps, suppressing his own chuckle. "Khm. So, what's in there?"

tylorva: The case notes seem to be mainly about the Brotherhood of Slyth - the cold traders whom Alcoth had been investigating. His notes don't really reveal anything more. He suspected that Dorian Caster was acting as a go-between, and he knew about the St Rathgor Bridge drop-off point. He seemed to be about to go and check it out but was interrupted by something.

Mercution_Hastus: As Mercution reads, a frown forms on his face. He exhales, it looks as if he is irritated by something.

Clavis_Morden: "What is it, Mercution? Have you found something?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Hm? No. Well, _we_ found, that Interrogator already done all the work with Brotherhood and Caster. Inquisition would've got it in any case. Feels kinda... degrading." He shrugs and makes a dismissive gesture. "Bah, doesn't matter."

Clavis_Morden: frowns, but then lightens up. "But hey, we did it all in less than a day *and* we even got a confession!"

Atella: "yeah, they should just replace their people with us"

Atella: winks at Clavis_Morden

Atella: checks the diary

tylorva: The case notes don't reveal much else of interest. There's lists of probable heretical artifacts being supplied. Most of them are things you have never heard of, but you gather that as well as trading in stuff like wraithbone, there's also some kind of trade in xenos creatures to something called a Beast House...

Atella: "hm... beast house... sounds interesting"

Clavis_Morden: laughs, though she becomes serious again quickly. "Even so we can hardly be even remotely as good as *real* Inquisition agents."

Clavis_Morden: "I mean, we didn't even manage to open this thing!"

tylorva: One name does stick out as being connected. Lord-Captain Valerius Reddigaust, a rogue trader whom Alcoth had suspected of supplying goods to the Slyth. Alcoth hadn;t had a chance to follow up on the lead though.

Mercution_Hastus: It seems today is the day for Mercution to acquire a couple of new wrinkles. He frowns again - the name certanly rings a bell...

Clavis_Morden: ((a Rogue Trader, oh joy. That will be sooo easy to investigate.))

Mercution_Hastus: "Rogue Traders... Now that is the name you hear in legends and whispered rumours. Alongside Inquisition and Astartes... And now, the "Beast House".

Atella: "Anyway... do we have anything else here?"

tylorva: (( Mercution: Give me a common lore (underworld) roll. :) ))

Clavis_Morden: nods, dumbfounded. "Join the Inquisition, you meet the most interesting - and scary! - people ..."

tylorva: The diary is only of interest for the day when Alcoth died. It seems he was expecting the visit from Caster. After that he was expecting a visit from Janus Sands. There is a note that says 'This man has been harassing me for days now to look into M. M. U for suspected heresy. I cannot dismiss him any longer. Perhaps after hearing him out, he will leave me alone.'.

tylorva: The time of the appointment is for slightly after the time of his death at the hands of the assassin.

tylorva: (( @Clavis yup, everything seems to match up. ))

tylorva: @ Mercution. You have heard of beast houses in the lower hives, but you have never seen one yourself. All you really know is that people gamble on the outcomes of fights between vicious creatures.

Clavis_Morden: takes notes on her own data-slate. "This all fits with our established time line," she notes. "And that's two leads now indicating Sand's obsession with Marshal Ummidia."

tylorva: (( @Clavis The timeline seems to be: 1) Caster's things visit and beat Alcoth up for not paying rent. 2) Alcoth is assassinated. 3) Janus Sands turns up wanting to talk to Alcoth about the Marshal, but presumably finds Alcoth's corpse instead. ))

Atella: "Let's go talk to my uncle, yes?"

tylorva: (( Alcoth was really having a bad day. ;) ))

Clavis_Morden: ((so it seems))

Atella: (yeah well, he sounds like kind of a dick ;)

Clavis_Morden: "Yes, let's," Clavis agrees, shutting off the data-slate again and putting it back into the box.

Atella: (I know, I know, he was probably a kind man that gave candy to kids and rescued puppies and bunny rabbits)

tylorva: (( More of a dick than Reinhardt? ;) ))

Mercution_Hastus: "How do you think he'll react to all of this?" Mercution inquires, without particular expression to his voice.

Atella: (hey, everyone in the inquisition we've met has been a dick, except for the boss lady)

Clavis_Morden: ((And even she was ok with almost executing us for negligible matters))

Mercution_Hastus: ((Hey, what did you expect exactly? They are _the_ Inquisition. :))

Atella: (doesn't matter, she rocks)

Clavis_Morden: "There is certainly no need to mention Sand's accusation of heresy. He is a witch, obviously his sanity has started to suffer."

tylorva: (( More timeline: After taking Alcoth's rosette, Sands went to see Hierophant Kasobel, and then later that night he attended the Arbites party from which he was removed for drunken and disorderly behaviour, eventually turning up in front of Clavis for psy-checking. ))

Atella: "I... have no idea. I just hope nothing's happened to him"

Clavis_Morden: "If Sand is so fascinated with the Marshal, maybe we'll find him in the vicinity," Clavis points out. "Then we could solve that matter."

Mercution_Hastus: "Well, we need to justify our presence somehow. "A heretic has expressed his interest in you, we are here to ask you some questions?" I'm not laughing here - but maybe for a change we better think this through."

Clavis_Morden: "And Atella, if he's a Marshal he'll be safe in an Arbites precinct, surrounded by lots of good Adeptus personel."

Clavis_Morden: "I'm sure he'll be alright."

Atella: "Sand has an inquisitorial seal... and he... can influence minds. I mean, he made me sleep with him, after all, even tho I couldn't remember it afterwards."

Atella: "And Mercution, I don't need an excuse to see my uncle!"

Clavis_Morden: "Arbites will know to verify the seal, right? I mean even I knew that, even if I screwed up after that. The telepathy ..." Clavis suddenly seems more certain of herself. "Well, that's what I'm here for. I'll be able to see the signs, maybe even sniff him out if he's close."

Atella: "He's pretty strong."

Clavis_Morden: "I don't have to beat him. I'm no good at telepathy anyway. I just have to block him out long enough to administer the cure for witchery." Clavis seems almost transformed, quoting someone else along with the certainty in the original speaker's words.

Clavis_Morden: "But most likely it won't come to that." She shrugs. "Let's just go and visit your uncle."