001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

On/Under the streets of Yuggoth
Wyvern
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Wyvern »

One: Even if information on her whereabouts is limited to times when she was on the clock, that's still information about her whereabouts over the past week or two that we don't currently have.

Two: Extracting details that someone experienced but didn't consciously recall as important is absolutely in the realm of the alienism skill - though Kin is not going so far as to suggest putting Lord Williamson into a hypnotic trance; there are better options, like asking if we can talk to his majordomo or chief of security or the like.

Three: This is also why I phrased that as an opening question with unspecified follow-ups, and attendant investigation check; I'm drawing a blank on other questions that are worth asking him, so I'm falling back on in-character expertise to see if that can turn up anything useful.
bcarbone
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by bcarbone »

"Milord,
Did you have Ms ryan's address and is it possible that she left you an emergency contact should you need to reach her quickly?"
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Joshua
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Joshua »

Lord Williamson will eventually refer you to his majordomo*, but you won't be able to contact them until the morning. The Lord doesn't keep track of all that. He'll mention a few night's he's been out with her recently, but his memory is a little bit of a goldfish, as he's not sure if it was her or other guards. He really doesn't look at his help more than he has to**. The majordomo would know where she lives. If it's that important, and you're willing to escort him home, he can wake the guy up tonight.

Williamson was intended as a social bump for the scene, and you've negated that part of his threat.
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*: It's a good way to get to Ms. Ryan's place, which should contain more clues. Probably will timeskip a bit if you do that. It's also a good way to figure out what needed funeral arrangements are to be made.
**: Although, that means she could have been swapped out with an undisguised serpent person and he might not have noticed.
***: That gives three leads****, depending on how good your tracking ability is. And a complication of how you are getting rid of the body, although Williamson can sweep that under the rug, more than likely. It's in his best interest.
****: The Graveyard. Ms. Ryan's place / Majordomo. Tracking villain (Not easy to do, maybe commander a bloodhound?...)
kitsunenotsume
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by kitsunenotsume »

"We greatly appreciate your cooperation and assistance in this trying time, my friend - if I may call you that, as fragile as it may be." He offers a brief but respectable bow to the other lord, a gesture of courtesy and consolation rather than inferiority. "I shall see to it to personally oversee the investigation and that the perpetrator of this crime most foul be brought to justice*, on your behalf if you so wish as the despicable act was brought against your very household. If that seems agreeable, you have my word that you shall be kept as informed as situation and practicality allow."

Bertie clasps his hands together, canting his head and listening or thinking on ... something momentarily, before returning his attention to Bryce. "In the mean time, we may need to find you an alternate security. It remains readily possible that you were the target of infiltration or worse. I am certain that Madame Kin and Mister Woo could settle you lodgings until dawn, or if you desire to proceed home at once I could make my Valet Hertzfeld and myself available for an evening stroll to the Estates."

With most of the etiquette out of the way, after Bryce gets an opportunity to provide his opinion Augustus will return to his tea, content to leverage the relative vulnerability of the other lord as an opportunity to provide generous assistance and permission to snoop legitimately**. He is also semi-intentionally providing a buffer for the others from the potential politics - freeing them to do the actual work while Augustus stands 'helpfully' off to the side, 'supervising' the autopsy and other investigations while still privy to the details.

*: Stated with somber conviction, this isn't intentionally a threat - though it might be taken as one if Bryce were involved.
**: Learn political secrets and possibly earn a debt from a rival? It would almost be a crime not to be excessively charitable.
Wyvern
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Wyvern »

"Thank you, Lord Williamson, in the morning will be fine; if you choose to stay here I'll have Mr. Saunders prepare a place for you to stay for the night."*
* This is likely to be the tea ceremony room; the Feng-Huang's Feathers is not an inn... but this is also probably not the first time a noble has decided they're not leaving until the morning.

If anyone else has questions for Lord Williamson, now is the time; if not, Kin is done talking to him.

And, once he's left the room, "Alright - if we want to do more investigation now, I think our best lead is that mention of an undertaker at Third Gate Cemetery. I wouldn't expect that to be particularly time sensitive, and I would like to get some rest myself, but..." She trails off and shrugs.

OOC aside: I'd actually prefer it if someone overruled Kin, here, or suggest acquiring a bloodhound or something. IC, though, she's still recovering from a rather nasty wasting disease, and isn't going to champion the notion of heading out tonight.
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Joshua
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Joshua »

Two minor points... I am expecting PCs to split up at some point... smaller threads flow faster. And if you want, Bryce does return to gambling. I mean, he's staying the night, so, he's not going to retire early*.
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*: Bryce isn't a sociopath, he just doesn't connect with his help. It's definitely callous, but well within the realm of human. In the same way a factory worker isn't that upset about injuries his employees have, especially if they're not even acquired on the job.
bcarbone
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by bcarbone »

"I normally stay up nights and should have the time to acquire some type of bloodhound. Why don't I go explore the cemetary gate?
Kin would you be comfortable getting rid of the body?
Sir Farthingsworth would you be kind enough to speak with the major Domo in the morning? We can all go to Ms Ryan's place together tomorrow evening and see what clues we can find then?"
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Veyska »

"Potential culprits and connections aside," Beth will comment, breaking her silence* and nodding her head in the direction of the now-cold cup of tea, "I find myself concerned as to the timing of the poisoning. I am disinclined to suspect anyone working here poisoned it but barring a more definitive culprit that can't be ruled out, but it could potentially have been another patron. Other possibilities are that she poisoned it herself or someone tricked her into poisoning her own tea, possibly in the guise of some sort of herbal supplement." Beth's voice as she says this last bit is sour, almost as if she's had to deal with the side effects of such unscrupulous sorts' efforts before. "In the case of the former, why? In the case of the latter we're once again back to the question of who, and looking only to that undertaker could well be a mistake." A pause, and then, "To be fair, the question of who gave her the poison if it was self-administered is one worth seeking an answer to, but one I am marginally less concerned about."

(* "Oh, I have an idea for a post!" *checks forum* "Dammit, someone stole my idea. Again." Oops... :-P )
Wyvern
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by Wyvern »

"Worthwhile options to consider and look into," Kin nods at Beth, "and tomorrow I will definitely put aside some time to double-check the premises for any other trace of such... unusual a toxin. In the short term, I think we should conduct a more thorough investigation of the body - with less attention paid to the unusual nature of the subject, and more to what might be in her pockets; if she was carrying the poison herself, there should still be traces of its container."

To Kim, she says, "I think we should probably hold off on disposing of the corpse until we've spoken with Lord Williams' majordomo - she may have some specific funerary requests, or... it is possible that we will need to present the body as evidence if an outside investigator somehow manages to get involved. And... stay safe out there, Kim. ...Should I get dressed for an excursion* once I am done here, or will you be fine on your own?"

* What she means is, put on a concealing cloak and a fox mask and shift to her golden beast form, then follow along. Given her current health (or lack thereof), I expect Kim will tell her to get some rest... which she may grumble about, but will probably do.
kitsunenotsume
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Re: 001: An Evening at the Feng-Huang's Feathers

Post by kitsunenotsume »

Augustus politely listens and sips on his tea until Bryce is out the door and well out of earshot before speaking up again with a tone of polite and mild admonishment. "What an utterly dreadful bloke."

He straightens his jacket and looks over the assemblage, his eyebrow wiggling suggestively at ... Beth's testing equipment, but only for a briefly. "Right then: Body, Butler, Blackguard; seems simple enough. Madame Kin, considering the, aah, particular entitlement of the individuals on premises, perhaps we aught to consider not advocating that both proprietors depart at once. You and Miss Spurling could focus on the proximate investigation, and I would take a look at the cemetery and keep a discrete eye on Mister Woo*. If I could borrow a cushioned seat and a refreshment of my tea, I should be set in a jiffy. Oh, I do quite look forwards to watching Mister McKinnon work; he ends up in such wonderful predicaments.**"


*: The cemetery is "around six to seven miles", and ESP difficulty to project within 10 miles is at -6. Bertie has 10 dice for his ESP roll, which gives him 4 dice to perceive things there.
**: This clearly not being the first time Augustus has watched Live-Action CSI:Lastfell. What better way to indulge one's Curiosity than participate vicariously?
Last edited by kitsunenotsume on Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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