In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 644):

Fuuuuuuuckkkkkk......

Titus hisses in response to Brennan, running his hand through his hair.

I thought we still had time.

He rubs his neck reflexively as he tells Brennan of what happened last night



I can show another demon, that keeps me within bounds of my contract.  Not sure what to do about this second item foisted upon me.  Perhaps we could show the demon killing the priest allowing him to work from the shadows... he'll be left alone if dead right?


... is it possible to outrun a demon?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 645):

"It's no harder to outrun a demon than it is to outrun the Haunts," Brennan shrugs. "Besides, Jack would have to abandon his enterprise here to chase you down. Doubt it's worth it to him."

"At this point the Masters and your friends aren't the problem for Jack. The Inquisition is, and he never said you couldn't sic THEM on the priest or the boys..."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Tue 05 June 2018.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 646):

Titus bites his lower lip in a sign that he is thinking.

Whats our timeline?  You find the body now?  Are we fully supplied?  Ready to go?

If we need supplies I can give you money, I had the gold broken down into smaller silver and pennies so we don't have to be flashing a lot of cash.

I'll need your help for the show.  I can only do one sense at a time, so sound AND visual is difficult.  That being said if there was a howling wind....

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 647):

"That can be arranged," Brennan nods. "We're mostly resupplied, but it wouldn't hurt to top off in the meantime."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 648):

Titus nods with grim determination.

I hate leaving this unresolved... but needs want when demons drive.

You go find your girl, I'll see if I can find our wayward priest and at least stick to some of the letter of the deal.  Protecting him from you, and the city watch. 

He crosses his arms

Stupid inquisiton ruins everything!  How do we time our demonic encounter?  I assume that we want to leave before it happens right? 

He puts his arm around Brennan's waist

Anything else?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 649):

"The timing isn't really an issue. It needs to be as soon as possible. I just need the people talking about it, describing it, being generally aware of it when the Inquisition shows up. I want them to have to interview the whole damn town."

He nods slightly.

"I'm going to go find and report the girl's body. Bryce, come with me. Cyril, if you wouldn't mind doing some shopping to top off our supplies? I'm good for the expenses, just keep note of what you buy. Deev, you and Titus keep doing whatever it is you're supposed to be doing. Keep up appearances. When Bryce and I get back from making our report, it will be showtime...and then road time."

Brennan waits to ensure everyone is in agreement before proceeding with Bryce toward the gate to try to find the body from before.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 650):

Deal.  We can meet at the gate.  How far are your powers able to effect change, can you whip up a storm from one of the hills out there into the city?  Or do you need to be closer?  So long as I can see it I can do it... at least according to my experience.


He smiles his lopsided genuine smile at Brennan with an intricate wave he darts off.
With that he goes to the inn to gather his and Deev's belongings including the Prince of Swords.  He then covers himself up so as not to be ostentatious and goes in hunt of the priest.  He will first look in the places that are obvious, churches, shelters, orphanages.

Ciryl sighs at the intentions of his party, but nods at Brennan's task.  He turns and walks off from the others, but rather than making rounds at the market, he heads for the governor's estate.

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 652):

Out and About

Brennan and Bryce move casually through town and out the rear gate, with nobody taking much notice.

It's easy enough to loiter at a small stand selling small beer by the side of the road until nobody is watching and then hike up into the hills.

As described, the body of a young woman is indeed buried just off a goat path.

By this time, however, you find one foot exposed and chewed completely off by something, and you have to scare off a number of crows.

Brennan takes a moment to examine the body.

"Well, fuck me..." Bryce exclaims.  "That's just... damned shame."

The Estate

Ciryl limps carefully away from his companions and then to the Governor's Estate.  He finds it once again guarded at the wall, but by making a nuisance of himself, is able to get the attention of his assistant, Pika, who bounds down like a squirrel.

"Ah ya!" she exclaims, thumping one guard on the chest, "Isn' jess Ciryl.  Ees working for the Govnor."

She frowns thoughtfully.  "And what do eu want then?" she asks.

The Small Tavern

Titus and Deev slip back to the tavern, which is now largely empty, and collect their belongings.

From there, they wander the town looking for this priest.  Having only a physical description, it takes some careful questioning.

Starting with the church, the current Priest seems to have no idea what you're talking about, and notes that Titus could likely do with some quiet contemplation which he would happily provide.

Rebuffing the offer politely, Titus questions on.  There is no orphanage per se, but, the priest is aware of a few work houses near the docks where young children often end up and are put to good service.

When Titus follows this lead, he is able to find those who mention an ex-priest who shows up regularly to bring food for the children, and who often spends time helping young boys in particular.  Talking with some of these boys, a task Deev shows talent doing, reveals that the priest can be found in the slums where he gives shelter to the sick.

"I'm curious how the governor took to the medicine I gave you.  If he doesn't get more permanent treatment it will get worse.  I also have a message for him from my compatriots, I'm afraid we will have to be leaving your town soon."  Ciryl hangs his head humbly as he speaks, making it all sound like an unfortunate necessity.

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 654):

"Yes," Brennan nods, carefully looking over the body then heaving a sigh. "Titus was blind or sloppy. Look, do you see those black marks here?"

He points at the nostrils, mouth, and other orifices.

"Poor girl was consumed by fire, or something approximating it. Fire from within."

Brennan shivers slightly, takes a swig from his cup, and replaces it at his side.


Brennan next produces a pair of blankets he brought along for his present purpose. Laying one blanket upon the ground, he moves the girl's body into it, then covers this with the second and ties the blankets together around the corpse beneath the feet and above the head as securely as possible.

"Help me carry her back to town," he says, hefting half of the body and hoping Bryce will grab the other half. "It's time to collect our payment and get the hell out of here."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 655):

Governor's Estate

"Ohhhhhh, that you would!" Pika exclaims excitedly, the gap in her front teeth whistling slightly.

"So I gave it to his lordship, but he didn't want no part of it!  I told him you were trusty, he said no.  I said I ken what's best, he said no.  Well, got it in him in the end, didn't I?  And jess like eu said, Govnor said last night were the best sleep he ever had!  I say eu ken better than the other doctors, I did!"

The Woods

Bryce grumbles under his breath, but not at Brennan as he helps load the body onto the conveniently brought blankets.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, and it's good to know I could settle his lordship's cough for a night at least.  The list I gave you, for a cure.  If there's any way he could procure the ingredients, I would like to see him have many more restful nights, but as I said I can't tarry here long, my companions are insistent that we go, and my time allotted by Lady Rayne is run out along with the bulk of my supplies, so I have little means to argue with them." Ciryl makes a pained expression to Pika before his expression falls back to  more neutral businesslike facade, "The other message I wanted to pass along to his lordship was regarding the disappearances, the case he entrusted us to the Master of Arms about.  My scholarly friend assumed some cult or other band of demonspeakers was responsible.  It seems he was mistaken, or at least underestimated the circumstances. It's not demonspeakers to blame, there is a demon in this town!  He says he sent word to the Inquisition, the matter far more than he could handle himself.  I just wanted to appraise the governor of the gravity of the situation."

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 657):

Brennan helps carry the body back into town with Bryce's help. As they near the gates, he steels himself for what may be a testy encounter...

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 658):

Governor's Estate

Pika listens carefully with eyes wide, her head bobbing enthusiastically.

"The list, I have asked the Guildmistress and she is reaching out to put these ingredients together, or else send someone to procure them further north, I ken it will take a while, longer than eu have it would seem.

The governor... I... WE are deep grateful to you, sir.  His health, the... the girls... I'll tell him at once what you say, but I jess wanted to thank eu again."

She gives Ciryl an awkward hug, then bounds back toward the door.

"Oh!" she pivots and calls to Ciryl, "Eu should take this news straight to the Master of Arms, if eu friend didn't already ken him!"

She vanishes into the estate.

The Northern Gate

As Brennan and Bryce rejoin the main road with the corpse in tow, a crowd immediately begins to form.

"What's all this?" one man wants to know.

"Is that...." a woman trails off.

"Tell the Master of Arms!" another shouts.

By the time Brennan and Bryce reach the gate, they are surrounded by people.

The guards at the gate stop them until the Master of Arms arrives, which he promptly does.

In reply to GM (msg # 659):

Deev, I want you to find a boy that knows this priest directly and have him relay a message to him.  He scribbles on a peice of paper for a moment.
He hands Deev 4 pennies

Find a boy who will get this message to the priest, pay him to run it for us.  Overpay if you must. 

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 660):

Deev nods and hurries off, melting into the crowd.

In reply to Deev (msg # 661):

Titus waits for Deev to return then will go meet Brennan.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 662):

Brennan beckons the Master of Arms over when the man arrives, but does not disturb the blankets in any way.

"My lord, when last we spoke you directed me to try to find the girls. That got me to thinking, and in following a hunch my colleague and I made a troubling discovery out in the woods. A young lady in a shallow grave. I fear the body's condition is best suited for a private viewing, where hopefully you can identify her."

He looks down at the blankets sadly.

"I am truly sorry. I had hoped to be able to recover your missing citizens alive."

Ciryl nods to Pika with a warm smile as she thanks him and then heads toward the market. He attempts to find Lady Rayne, in no extraordinary hurry despite Brennan's own.

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 664):

The Docks

Titus waits around, watching the fishermen work, for around a half an hour.

Deev is suddenly behind him, making Titus jump.

The Northern Gate

The Master of Arms furrows his brow.  Without responding, he crouches down and peers beneath the blanket, careful not to allow the crowd to get a good view.  Even so, a hush falls over them.

He studies the corpse intensely but only for a moment or so before setting the blanket gently back over the dead girl.

"I believe this is one of our missing.  The family will have to confirm."

He snaps his fingers and two aids rush over.

"You will convey the deceased to my offices.  You will also enlist a surgeon to meet me there.  You," he selects a guard casually with one finger, "Will come with me to the site where she was found."

He stands back up and peers down at Brennan.

"Tell me how to find the site.  I trust you did not further disturb it?"

OOC:  The body is heading to the office, the Master is headed to view the site with a guard.  You may go with either or neither group.

Town Square

Ciryl asks many for assistance in locating Lady Rayne, but is given the runaround by most people who would have any information, noting only that she is "busy".

However, after enough persistence and random wandering, Ciryl is able to locate her inspecting a stable by the South Gate.

"Lady Rayne," Ciryl calls out, slightly winded by his extended walk, "If I could borrow a moment of your time," he huffs even once he's closed the distance to her, and stands there breathing heavily, not making it clear if he's awaiting a response or just catching his breath for what turns out to be several moments. "It's about a list of ingredients the governor's assistant requested from you.  I'm just curious how long you expect the errand might take?"

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 666):

You found someone to take the message for us?

If the answer is affirmative he thanks him and they will sweep off to meet up with Brennan.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 667):

"The site is in the woods just beyond sight of the town's gates," Brennan says, describing a series of landmarks leading up to the location in perfect detail. "We left the area otherwise undisturbed."

He glances over at the aides.

"I would show you myself, but as the body may be have been corrupted by the cultists it may be more prudent for me to accompany it to the office. I may be able to help the surgeon with his observations."

Pending obstruction, he will beckon for Bryce to follow as he accompanies the body to the office.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 668):

"Yes I found a boy... took some cajoling but I got him to take the letter."