Just went it looks like no-one else is going to speak up, a well dressed man in a purple robe and a silk shirt raises his voice. "And I, Victor Saint-Demain, Sasserine's mightiest sleuth will add his powers of deduction to rooting out the truth of this case."



There is a murmuring amongst the crowd as the man finishes his statement. Inquisitor Saint-Demain has achieved some impressive successes in solving tricky mysteries and hunting down some of Sasserine's most disturbing criminals. The man positively glows at the recognition and twirls the unusual cane that he caries in his hands.

"Yes. Yes. You can set your minds at ease. The truth will out tonight. Victor Saint-Demain guarantees it!" He pull his cap off his head and makes a deep bow to the assembled guests, then turns to the party.

"If the four of you would be so good, let us make haste to depart and return as soon as we can with the answers that are so desperately needed."

Kassius had been standing quietly in the background already uncomfortable in such fine clothes, but the screamed accusations make him even more nervous.

"Now, now, Soren, I'm sure everything will be sorted out," he assures his friend patting him on the shoulder uncertainly.

Soren nods his head. "Thank you old friend. With you and Mister Saint-Demain looking into this, I'm sure that the truth will be reported." He take a deep breath and sneers. "My family are going to retire to the manor house until you return. Please be swift, I want this matter resolved and this harlot out of here."

The grim barbarian then turns and marches back through the door he had used to enter, surrounded by his entourage. Amarilde collapses into a sobbing heap, her own family trying to support her.
This message was last updated by the player at 19:18, Mon 23 Mar 2015.

"Huh? Me? Ummm, OK, sure. Sure, anything to help," Kassius agrees in surprise.

Penny shakes her head sorrowfully. "What did you just volunteer yourself for, squirt? Well you'd better not expect any help from me, I have other plans..." Penny had been drinking heavily since they first arrived and even as Kassius watched, she downed a glass of strong Glantrian liqueur and wandered off to try and find a refill.

Angati looked at the group that had been formed... shifting her weight from one leg to the other, which made for a funny sight in her long and plain dress.

"So... Viktor, shouldn't we start by interrogating those ?" she said pointing in the direction of the two that had  testified as witnesses..

OOC: Sorry for my delay, really busy at work and with visits at home, they will be staying for next week also, and we will be out next weekend...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:43, Tue 24 Mar 2015.

Victor turns to regard Angati and smiles coyly. "Don't you worry my dear, I have a feeling that all of our questions will be answered at the 'Mermaid's Secret'. My inquisitor's experience tells me that we would only be wasting our time here - Amarilde will continue to deny being there and Soren's witnesses will not stop professing that they did see her. Let us get to Azure district and resolve this as quickly as possible."

OOC. Sorry Benigno, it might resemble a mystery/detective procedural, but it isn't. This is a dungeon crawl, abet with a little bit of fluff to kick it off.



No probs at all. I will be away on vacation from Friday also. Anyway, there are more important things to worry about in Tunisia at the moment anyway. :(

Logan nods.  "That's certainly one position to take.  We should see what the people at the Mermaid's Secret know of all these things."  Logan ponders a little longer.  "Of course, you're Soren's ally.  Maybe you're just trying to divert us from questioning the men, as you know their story will quickly fold."  The rogue shrugs.  "But if that's the case, it'll fold all the more quickly at the actual 'tavern' in question."  Logan smiles.  "To the Mermaid's Secret!"

With a nod, Celene agrees to the general wisdom of going to the scene of the 'crime'. In addition, she really has no clue how to conduct such an investigation, and is happy to follow along, and help how she may.

Kassius shakes his head in resignation as Soren storms off. "I guess I'm Soren's proxy in this matter, my name is Kassius by the way," he adds as introduction to the others.

Walking over the half-orc pats Amarilde awkwardly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll get things sorted out somehow, though for the life of me I can't understand what you see in him," he says in an attempt to be comforting.

Angati nodded at Viktor and shrugged, both at the same time somehow. "You are the expert here, I heard people I trust talking very highly of your work.... let us go then" .

As Kassius joined in, he whispered to him, "They are made one for the other, trust me on that...." Then, louder she said, to him and Viktor "My name is Angati by the way, pleased to meet you".

Joining in on the general greetings and introductions, Celene gives a short bow - sne never learned to curtsey properly and actually finds it a sign of inferiority. "I am Celene, and also pleased to make your acquaintance. I am with the temple of Wee Jas, but I am not here on official business, as we all" - here Celene indicates Angati, Logan and Alohan - "in fact are here on a late-notice invitation from the bride."

"Well hello my lady!" says the dapper man. He removes his hat again and bows deeply before her, apparently not seeing the old cleric or the half-elf, he even manages to somehow not notice the huge bulk that is Alohan. "Always a pleasure to assist a member of the clergy!"







OOC: That's the attitude! If D&D has taught me one thing, it is that every mystery can be solved if you can just find the right guy to point a sword at, or push a sword through.

Victor chuckles. "Oh, you can trust me. I serve the mistress of truth above all others."

The well-dressed man pauses and eyes Logan up and down carefully. "But is that the patois of Shadowshore I recognise in your voice young half-elf?" he says with vowels so rounded that they would roll down a hill. "You must be a... creative fellow to have the money to mix with these folks. I hope it is honest business that you are involved with... or perhaps one day I will be forced to use my phenomenal powers of logic and deduction to bring you to justice! Ha!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Wed 25 Mar 2015.

Amarilde sniffs back tears. "Thank you. You are a good man. And don't worry about Soren. He will see reason once you have shown I am innocent. I know it!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Wed 25 Mar 2015.

Without further ado the party heads to the gondola waystation in Cudgel district  - Champion district is the only district to not border the great lagoon which the other inhabitants of Sasserine claim is a telling sign of their attitude - and board a gondola to Azure district.

Victor insists upon paying for the ride and then balances his ornate cane over one arm while producing a gold piece from his pocket with a flourish. He gives it to the boatman and tell him he can keep the chance as long as they make it across the estuary will 'all possible haste'. He then positions himself at the front of the vessel and stands with his back to the water so he can lecture the party.

"Now remember!" says the inquisitor firmly. "This is the Azure district we are going into and it is after dark! Yes, the Azure district is a functioning part of the city - not a hopeless warren of corruption like Shadowshore," says Victor as he looks pointedly at Logan. "But it is filled with salty sailor types and barely reformed pirates so be on your guard and do as I do!" The man produces a silk handkerchief from his pocket and dabs at the perspiration on his face.

The night is warm and humid, and the confusion of boats heading all different ways across the great lagoon gives a feeling of claustrophobia. One boat cuts just in front of the party's gondola and their gondolier must swerve to one side to avoid hitting it - your man mutters a stream of curses and Victor has to grab onto the gunwale to avoid falling overboard.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Wed 25 Mar 2015.

The party makes it to Azure without any other problems and Victor guides them through the small streets to find the establishment known as the 'Mermaid's Secret' - he claims that he has spent a lot of time in Azure 'working for charity', although he is vague about exactly what that means.



The Mermaid's Secret is actually well cared for compared to the surrounding buildings and is a large two story construction. The location is confirmed by a polished brass plate on a door with the words 'THE MERMAID'S SECRET' carefully engraved into it. The door is shut.

Logan hovered somewhere between respect and fear for Victor.  The man undoubtedly could pick up small clues, not that Logan's background in Shadowshore was difficult to determine.  The last thing the rogue wasn't was a bored noble with a penchant for investigation digging into his past.  Logan had, after all broken (or at least bent) quite a few laws.  Unfortunately, judges in Sasserine seemed to take a harsh view to potential perpetrators from Shadowshore.  Logan tried to laugh alongside Victor, brushing off the man's inquiries.  "Oh, I wasn't invited because of any great wealth.  I just happened to be in the right place to help Celene with a favor for Ms. Vanderboren."

But once back in his element among the lower-class elements of the city, Logan felt more confident.  He strode forward at the head of the party and smiled at the carved brass plate as though it were an old friend.  "Well, here she is.  Try not to judge the entire district by what we're likely to find inside."  With that, Logan opened the door.

Logan finds that the door is locked. There is a brass knocker under the sign.

Flustered by the unexpected.  Logan shakes his head and uses the brass knocker.  Trying to hide his surprise, he mutters "Of course, I always forget.  Who keeps a pub closed?

A small slot above the sign opens and a grotesque man looks through it down at Logan. The man eyes him up, and then despite Logan wearing his best clothes, sneers. "This is a private club. Members only." The slot slides shut.

"Dis be a lon' night," Alohan said, groaning inwardly. It had been the first time he spoke since leaving the manor -the big man wasn't much for talking tonight. The business with Amarilde and her betrothed had bothered him. Moments like that were baffling to the Nuari and the customs of Sasserine were becoming increasingly complex and nonsensical. Why fret over the woman's dance moves?

Furthermore, Alohan wasn't quite fond of their new accomplice. Not the silent half-orc of impressive girth but the sniveling inquisitor that never ceased speaking. Victor didn't bother treating him without any particular respect -not that he demanded any. The man didn't even bother to look at him. Alohan had little time for people such as he.

"Ya be having ideas, paniolo?" he asked, leaning in an whispering to Logan.

Angati did not really know anything about this kind of places so it was a bit difficult for her to try to think of any way of going in. She tried however to check the list of people she knew to try to think if any of them would fit as customers for this place.

Celene looked around at the others. "I am willing to give it a shot, if you want me to try?"

OOC: If Angati wants to try something first go ahead, otherwise:

If no one objects, Celene, still wearing her dress from the wedding, steps up to the door, and knocks gently. As the slot slides open, she sends a coy smile and gets proper eye contact with the man. "Please excuse us, my man was just trying to pave the way for me. I know a membership fee is pending, which we can settle right away." She wiggles her fancy purse in front of the door man. She also just happens to correct a fold in her dress, moving her hand down her side.

OOC: OK, make a bluff check at DC17 please (he is apparently a very perceptive bouncer)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:08, Thu 26 Mar 2015.

OOC: yeah, not bad for a goon! :-)

Despite Celene best effort at distracting the doorman, he remains adamant that this is for members only.