"Yeah, that was not the kind of information I was talking about. I doubt we'd get anywhere close to that. Oh well, was just an idea, so other than that, the city seems normal." Zelpuz leans back staring at his beer in his hand.

"Normal?", Vanyra scoffs out of nowhere.  "I wouldn't exactly call this normal," she adds before looking around the room again.

Yuu frowns. "So basically, we're left wondering the connection between the Blood Runners and the military element they acquired the chlornetherium from... whether given, or stolen. Do you think there's an outside force trying to mess with our Capital? Or does this feel more internal? I'm going to have to do some more research on the history of our politics. I usually fell asleep in Mr. Groomer's class, but some of those lessons may give better context what's going on." The tone suggests the young mage doesn't really relish the idea much, like taking medicine.

"Well from a military perspective the [Dalloni] Baronies would like to see us taken down a notch or two, but they're just as likely to work against each other as us. Lu'Zan definitely has the might to make trouble for us, but the buffer zone between us is pretty large and if they wanted to start something I can't see them going about it through criminal elements. I'm guessing this is internal politics gone edgy... that's not to say some external actors aren't involved in some capacity though. The clornetherium is the key, if you can find where that came from it would reveal quite a bit." Saya surmises, assessing each of the major state-players in the region.

"Agreed." Yuu takes another sip from his mug. "It felt more internal, but thought to put the idea out there. Is there a way to find out which outside suppliers provide chlornetherium to our nation?"

"Certainly, depending on who is buying. I already mentioned the military quartermaster; they have records on all shipments and suppliers that they use. For everyone else I would guess the Customs office has records on that, or you could approach one of the trading companies and inquire. But if it was a truly clandestine shipment it may be from an unofficial supplier." Saya explains.

Zelpuz finishes his beer and puts his mug on the table. "OK, so what do you say, let's try to figure out who is behind this and we'll meet back here in 2 days? You check the military records, and we try some harbor pubs to see if someone doesn't remember a strangely heavily guarded unofficial shipment coming in."

"Me? I hate to break it to you, but I'm an officer in the Ossylian military and have duties to perform. If you guys want to break into the secured office of the Quartermaster be my guest, just don't tell me about it." Saya interjects.

"Sorry, I thought your train of thought was suggesting that you could go check out those military records, I don't particularly feel like breaking into military buildings, especially secured ones." He looks around the table. "Well, was just an idea, I'll let you two catch up more." He grabs a drink menu and carefully studies the available options.

The remainder of the conversation switches to generally more pleasant topics while beverages are finished. As Saya is leaving she mentions that she'll try to probe some of the customs officials while she's on duty at the docks, they would know of any large shipments had arrived lately, and if no official shipments have come in to replace the warehouse fiasco that would also be quite telling.

On the way back to Vanyra's pad the trio discuss the plan for tomorrow and the visit to Arkham's Abode in the off-chance that Lasrane is still here and shows up.

The trio decides to turn in early upon returning to Vanyra's abode to get a jump start on the following day's potential meeting at Arkham's Abode. First thing in the morning they decide to pick up some nether-communicators from a reputable engineer Yuu knows through the academy, he was a few years ahead of Yuu and now operates his own shop. Through some fancy talking and dropping the possibility of securing a preferred vendor status with the Order of Ashes they manage to secure 3 communicators at a very reasonable price.

With comms sorted out the trio move to do a quick external reconnaissance of the surrounding area while the streets are empty and the establishment is closed. They area is laid out much like any typical street near the harbor district, with streets just a shade too narrow to be comfortable, but large enough to permit the flow of goods and maintain a flow of foot traffic during the high hours. A couple of decent vantage points are ascertained as well as a couple of possible escape routes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:28, Sun 25 Feb 2018.

The group meanders around the area for a short while, waiting until the traffic picks up and they can determine the usual flow of people. After getting a sense of the types of people moving through the area and possible crowd choke points they retire back to Vanyra's neighbourhood to plan their stake-out tactics.

Near the appointed time Zelpuz, Vanyra and Yuu head back to Arkham's Abode, with Zelpuz sauntering in and grabbing a corner table with a view of the door. Yuu continues on down the street to a small cafe and grabs a seat just outside and a double espresso macchiato. The sun is waning, but there's still plenty of dull late afternoon sun along the lane. The activity has died down of the regular hustle of the day's business, with people seeking evening refreshments and meals. Arkham's itself has four tables of patrons when Zelpuz enters; a young couple enjoying a cocktail, a table of four seemingly old friends swapping stories of a few pitchers of ale, two men in business attire discussing over a bottle of wine, and a single man in a corner opposite Zelpuz have a whiskey or rum perhaps. So far no other Mespah and certainly no Lasrane.

Yuu sits back against the chair, hot chocolate steaming on the table in front, and kicking himself onto the back legs. He pulls out a notebook, pen and the radio they'd purchased earlier from various folds and pockets of his clothing. He begins jotting down some nether ideas, inspirations and concepts that might be fun to explore, his pencil dancing about from one scribble to the next. Every few moments, the young mage looks up, around the streets, and back into his book... appearing like any other busy student while processing his glances for anything odd approaching or... depproaching? hm.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

Vanyra prowls around the side streets and alleyways behind the Arkham's Abode, being sure to stay in the shadows. There is minimal activity there, save for the odd cat and mouse and occasionally a staff member of some establishment smoking or throwing out something. Any extraction route out the back looks clear.

Inside Zelpuz waits at his table, savoring his beverage. The savoring turns into nursing at the appointed time comes and no one meeting Lasrane's appearance enters. The young couple have left, while the others have continued their revelry, and a trio non-local merchants had entered 15 minutes earlier and grabbed a table near Zelpuz.

Zelpuz sits at the table looking around and waiting, no Lasrane and nobody seems to be rushing out to inform of his presence. Zelpuz slowly eats his snacks and drinks his pint while thinking about the city, the Order and how everything here developed over the past days since Myyria's and his arrival. Waiting.

As the time passes by a few people enter and leave the pub, but none of them are Lasrane, not even one other Mespah in fact. As the sun continues it's slow dive into the horizon the street crowds are thinning, but it seems the bar is beginning to see it's night life begin.

From his vantage point at the cafe Yuu has a complete view of the street traffic which thins out as the evening drags on. After an hour he is also informed that the cafe is closing for the day, and he relocates to a nearby skewer shop, peddling all sorts of grilled skewers to the hungry passersby. While the number of people has died down those that are out seem to have particular destinations in mind, as they walk with more purpose than the day crowd. The people that have entered Arkham's abode tend to fit the general stereotype of those that went in earlier, though in a bit more of a boisterous mood.

"Um," Yuu starts over the radio, burping through his third skewer, licking his lips of the sweet grilling sauce with a grin. "Anything from your side? All clear out here, including my plate... for now" . Yep, definitely time to double down on the next order.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:00, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

"I think we could have a problem," Vanyra whispers into the comms. "Zelpuz, make sure you aren't showing your Order insignia. Look out for anyone eyeing you suspiciously, especially if they have a palm-sized device.  They might be Midians.  I think the bar is under observation.  I will come to look around too."

"Under observation by whom?"

"Anyone, but possibly Midians.  We need to see if you're being watched."

Vanyra moves to look for anyone watching the entrance and then subtly enter the bar.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

"Roger." Zelpuz returns to the bar and sits down. After a short time, he gets up again and walks towards the door, exits briefly and then enters again right after, walks back over to the bar to order another drink and goes to his seat and sits down.

Vanyra slips into Arkham's Abode, and casually perches herself at the bar to order a mead. Then she does a quick survey of the inhabitants, as if looking for someone, before finding a tall table off to the opposite side from Zelpuz. During this she notices a few glances and double takes from the largely male patrons, but no lingering gazes.

Lounging on her stool as if waiting for a someone she does a more casual scan of the other tables. The crowd is largely Midian, or at least Midian-looking, but none of the ones here match those she saw earlier. After a double-check scan she's sure that 'they' are not here, which is disappointing, but not unexpected. There's three of them here, so if someone else has been staking-out this place every day it makes sense that they have a crew of people to move through without drawing suspicion.

If someone is here for surveillance there may be a way to get them to tip their hand.

Zelpuz, still slightly puzzled by what brought Vanrya to the bar continues his slow drinking of the mead and snacking on the chips he bought, but reaches out mentally to her: "What's going on?"

Vanyra thinks over to Zelpuz about a vision she had of a Mespah providing instructions to people about observing this specific bar at this specific time for any Mespah of the Order of Ashes, possibly displaying its emblem.  They were to activate a small device if such a thing came to pass.
"I don't recognize anyone specific in here," she indicates mentally, "but that doesn't mean they aren't here.
"We can force their hand if you want, it could be a good or bad.  How do you want to handle it?"

Yuu is now sitting up, trying to observe the streets even more, while trying to appear not to be observing them. Things like this are complicated! His left finger twirls a pencil anxiously above his empty skewer plate. He'd thought to go for a fourth serving, but after a little negotiation, his stomach agreed to wait.