Episode 9 – A Gruesome Discovery
| The Assassins |
Craven - Fighter / Rogue 1st/1st LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 1st level NE (PC) |
| Locale | At the Angel's Junction. Craven has spent the night in the expert care of a young prostitute called Kazza. He is just awakening. |
| Date | 26th Fireseek 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Early Morning. |
The day dawned crisp and clear, the sound of activity in the nearby street drifted lazily into Craven's subconscious. He woke, finally, and turned to look at the woman who slept contentedly in the bed beside him. He smiled, remembering the recent pleasures they had shared and stepped lightly out of the bed. He dressed quickly, left the money on the bedside table and stepped out onto the already busy street - back into the awareness of what last night had been. By now, Argos will have received the black scroll and he was now either dead - through suicide - or on the run, hoping to somehow escape his inevitable fate.
The misery which Craven had felt only a few hours earlier seemed a distant memory, his faith in The Family had been restored without any intervention and he was glad that he felt no remorse in that realisation. He walked directly to The Silver Gauntlet carefully avoiding the area of The Warhorse and up to Keldirk's room. Today marked the first real day of duty and he intended to live up to the high standards he had set himself.
| Craven | (knocking on the door) Are you awake Val? |
| Keldirk | (rising from the bed and disarming the crossbow trap) Keep your pants on, I'll open the door in a minute. I wasn't expecting to see you until midday. |
| Craven | I was careful not to drink too much. |
| Keldirk | (opens the door and looks out into the corridor) |
| Craven | I'm alone. Let me in. |
| Keldirk | (glares momentarily at Craven and opens the door wide enough for Craven to enter before locking it again behind him) |
| Craven | Did you drop off the scroll and organise everything? |
| Keldirk | Yes, while some of us were out having a good time I was working. I told Slick I would check in with him this morning, you can come with me and see for yourself. Wait while I get dressed. |
Keldirk dressed and the two assassins left the tavern to meet Slick. As they approached The Warhorse, Craven noticed several members of the city watch enter the building. He almost suggested that they stop and wait when Keldirk spotted Slick and began moving towards him.
| Slick | (looking at the pair accusingly) Did you guys know something was going to happen here last night? |
| Keldirk | What do you mean? |
| Slick | (pauses looking at the sky and tapping his foot idly) |
| Keldirk | I paid you more than enough last night! This report is part of the deal. |
| Slick | (looks pained) Fair enough. I watched the place like you asked, or I had someone watch the place if I was away. Everything was quiet for most of the night; I was actually getting bored. The only notable thing that happened was a rape in the alley beside the tavern. She wasn't one of mine so I didn't care but I had to make myself scarce while it was happening in case the watch came by. I was only gone for a short while and when I came back everything was quiet. This morning, however, the inn keeper came sprinting out of the tavern calling for the watch. Since then there have been about a dozen or so different watchmen go in and out of the building. |
| Craven | So you didn't see anyone leave the building? |
| Slick | I told you nothing happened all night. (looks at the two assassins) Now it's getting late and I need my beauty sleep so if there's nothing else I am gone. |
| Craven | (waiting until they were alone) Do you think we should go in? |
| Keldirk | Why not? You still have a room so there is no reason for them throw us out. |
Craven and Keldirk entered The Warhorse and proceeded to a table. Before they had even sat down the innkeeper was pointing them out to one of the watchmen.
| Innkeeper | (pointing towards Craven) That's him. He's the one. |
| Watch man | (approaching Craven carefully, his hand resting upon the hilt of his sword) Excuse me sir, do you have a room here? |
| Craven | (cautiously) Yes, I have been staying here for almost a week now. |
| Watch man | Can I ask what number that room might be. |
| Craven | (thinks for a second) Number eight. |
| Watch man | I see. I'd like you to come with me if you wouldn't mind. |
| Keldirk | What's this all about? |
| Watch man | Are you also staying in that room? |
| Keldirk | No, but the occupants are associates of mine. |
| Watch man | Then I would appreciate it if you would not leave the tavern. I would like to ask you a few questions but first I must speak with... ? (turns to Craven questioningly) |
| Craven | Craven |
| Watch man | ... Craven. I'll come back down and talk to you soon. (signals to two other watch men) Stay with this one and make sure he doesn't leave. |
| Keldirk | Am I under arrest? |
| Watch man | Why? Have you committed any crimes? |
| Keldirk | Not since I got up today. |
| Watch man | (smiles) Then you shouldn't have any reason to worry. |
The city guard led Craven up the stairs and down the corridor to the room he shared with Argos. As they neared the room Craven could see several other members of the City Watch outside the door, and heard the sounds of more people in the room.
| Craven | Argos obviously killed himself, at least I don't have to hunt him down |
| Watch man | Sergeant, this is the victim's room-mate, he was at a table downstairs. He says his name is Craven |
| Sergeant | Good. (turning to Craven) Well Craven, I hope you can help me out. It seems that your friend here has suffered some kind of an accident and, frankly, I am at a loss to explain it. Could you start by telling me where you were last night? |
| Craven | May I at least see my friend before we start this? |
| Sergeant | No, I want to know where you were last night before I let you in there, I don't want you to be distracted by what you might see. |
| Craven | (looking confused) I spent last night at the Angel's Junction - a brothel in the River Quarter. Argos (my friend) and I had a night on the town last night. He wanted to go home and get some sleep, I didn't. That's all there is to tell. What is going on?!? |
| Sergeant | You are telling me that you were out all of last night and you are only now coming back to your room? |
| Craven | I didn't realise that they let people who are hard of hearing work for the city watch. Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. Now let me see my friend. |
The Sergeant stepped aside and indicated to the Watch man guarding the door to let Craven into the room. What he saw once he was inside was nothing short of incredible. Argos' body lay in the centre of the room - a gaping hole in his stomach and a trail of slime leading from his body up out of the open window. His crossbow, lay by the window with several bolts spilled next to it and the black scroll sat opened on his sleeping pallet. Craven was speechless. He had half expected to see Argos lying in a pool of his own blood, but this was something he had been totally unprepared for. With the exception of the trail of slime, no bodily fluids could be seen. Craven knelt down to examine the body a little closer and he saw that where the internal organs should have been there was only a grey, clay-like substance.
| Craven | Is this how he was found? |
| Sergeant | No-one has moved anything since the innkeeper found the body. I have never seen anything like it. We are waiting for the undertaker's assistant to arrive and take the body. Perhaps after the undertaker has taken a look he might be able to tell us more but for now what you see is all that we know. |
| Craven | This is... unbelievable. I would like to let my companion take a look at this before the body is removed. |
| Sergeant | You are taking this extremely well for someone who just lost his friend in very bizarre circumstances. |
| Craven | (stands and faces the Sergeant) I have no idea what happened here last night, but I'll tell you this: I am not taking this at all well. Now, can my companion come up here and see this or not? |
| Sergeant | After one of my men has had a chance to question him on his whereabouts last night, I don't see any reason to keep him away. After all, you never know what people will give away when confronted by the unknown. |
After the guard had lead Craven up the stairs Keldirk became a little apprehensive.
| Keldirk | What if I was seen placing the black scroll in the room? What if someone witnessed me loitering about outside last night? It was fine for Craven, he has a solid alibi but I have no such luxury. I just have to have faith in my abilities and hope that my faith is justified. |
It was not long before Keldirk was required to put his faith to the test. The guard who had led Craven up the stairs returned and sat at the table opposite Keldirk.
| Watch man | Your friend is up talking to the Sergeant and it's my job to question you. You are not a resident of this tavern are you? |
| Keldirk | No |
| Watch man | Where are you staying? |
| Keldirk | The Silver Gauntlet. |
| Watch man | What is your relationship with... (waving his hand while remembering)... Craven? |
| Keldirk | We worked together as guards on a merchant caravan that arrived from Chathold. |
| Watch man | I see. You're obviously not from Almor, where do you come from? |
| Keldirk | (swirling his ale) Lots of different places. |
| Watch man | Are you a faggot? |
| Keldirk | Why, are you cruising for a piece of ass? |
| Watch man | (smiles) Where were you last night? |
| Keldirk | here goes I spent the night in my room at the Silver Gauntlet. |
| Watch man | Alone? |
| Keldirk | You said so yourself; I am not from around here. I'm new in town and the only two people I know went out last night without me. Who else would I spend the night with? |
| Watch man | The innkeeper says that he saw you here last night. How do you explain that? |
| Keldirk | (shrugs) I came here to try and find Craven and Argos to see if they wanted to do anything. When I got up to their room they weren't there so I waited down here for a while but they never showed. After a while I got bored and went back to my room. |
| Watch man | Why did you decide to stay at another tavern? It seems strange that you would get accommodation somewhere else when the only two people you know are staying here. |
| Keldirk | I don't see what my choice of accommodation has to do with anything. I chose to stay where I chose to stay. There is nothing strange or more sinister about that than trying to explain why that guy (points to one of the other guards) has a bigger dick than you. So if you're done asking stupid questions I'd like to be left alone now. |
It was not long before, the sergeant came down and approached Keldirk. As he neared, the guard who had been questioning Keldirk rose and took the sergeant aside. They spoke quietly for a short while and, try as he might, Keldirk was unable to hear what they were saying. Eventually the Sergeant nodded, motioned for the other guards to leave and approached Keldirk's table.
| Sergeant | You can come up now. I have decided that you will not be charged with anything just yet. My only requirement is that you do not leave Del Mord in the next few days. |
| Keldirk | I wasn't planning any trips. What's up stairs? |
| Sergeant | (smiles) You'll see soon enough. |
Keldirk followed the watchman all the way to Craven's room. The sergeant indicated that Keldirk should enter and he complied, eager to see what had caused such a stir.
| Keldirk | This is clearly more than a simple suicide. |
Keldirk was not disappointed. Craven stood off to one side and waited for him to survey the room before speaking.
| Keldirk | (looks at Craven questioningly) |
| Craven | I have no idea. |
| Keldirk | (turns to the sergeant) I've seen enough. Can I leave? |
| Sergeant | You may both go. (grabbing Craven's shoulder as he walks by, spinning him around) Don't leave town - either of you. |
As they walked down stairs, they were passed by a bald, pale-skinned man, wearing grey robes. He never lifted his gaze above his feet as he walked past them and toward the crime scene. Keldirk left the tavern immediately, noting the black cart which was parked by the door. It was marked with the crest of the Embalmers and Gravediggers Guild and was clearly here to transport the body.
| Keldirk | (shaking his head in amazement) I have never seen anything like it. Did you notice the trail of slime leading out the window? |
| Craven | (nods) Yes. I think we need to find Slick and see if there was anything he left out of his report. |
| Keldirk | I don't think so. He wouldn't have left anything like that out, it only hurts his reputation and a guy like him relies on the strength of his reputation. If he saw anything, he would have told us. What we need to do is find the woman who was raped; if anyone saw anything - she did. |
| Craven | You're probably right. Slick should have had a good look at her before he left, but we'll have to wait until tonight to find out. That cart out the front will be taking the body to the undertaker and we still need to get Argos' face. |
| Keldirk | We can leave that until he has been buried. I would like to get my hands on some of that grey stuff, though. If we can get it looked at by a alchemist we might get some clue as to what happened. |
| Craven | Okay. Let's wait until the body is taken then go pay the undertaker a visit. We'll see if we can get a sample of the grey stuff. Right now we should report to Vesper. |
After returning to the Silver Gauntlet to drop off their weapons, the two assassins made the trip into the Artisan's Quarter to the home of their Vesper. They knocked insistently on the door and waited for Caruthers to open it. Once inside they gave their report.
| Craven | I've never seen anything like it, no organs, no blood - just this grey ooze. |
| Saradock | You said there was a trail of slime leading out the window? |
| Keldirk | And out into the alleyway. It seems the reports were correct, Argos was definitely more than he appeared to be. |
| Saradock | That makes it vitally important for you to retrieve the face. What have you got planned? |
| Craven | We thought we might wait until the body is buried and then get the face. |
| Keldirk | There will probably be an investigation so we won't be able to do much now, but once the body is buried we should have no trouble. In the meantime we are planning on getting some of the grey matter we saw in the body. |
| Saradock | Very good. You seem on top of things. If there's nothing else I have pressing business at the Del Mord college. |
The two assassins left the Artisans Quarter and, after a quick meal, made their way to the Undertaker's Funeral Home. The building was constructed entirely of stone and located deep in the heart of the River Quarter. Several steps led up to bronze double doors which served as the front entrance to the ugly building. An alley lead down one side that contained a smaller door, probably access to the Undertaker's private rooms the assassins mused. This was the door they decided to try. Keldirk, knocked several times and they waited until the door was opened by the pale-skinned man.
| Man | (stands in the doorway looking at them) |
| Keldirk | (after an uncomfortable silence) Um... we would like to view the body of the man found in the Warhorse this morning. |
| Man | (shakes his head and begins to close the door) |
| Keldirk | (shoves his foot in the door) Did you understand me? |
| Man | (nods and continues closing the door) |
| Craven | Is it money you want? |
| Man | (stops closing the door and waits... looking expectantly at Craven) |
| Craven | (hands over two silver coins) |
| Man | (looks furtively behind, then ushers them quickly inside) |
He led them down several narrow corridors to a heavy iron bound door. He fumbled with some keys, unlocked the door and motioned for them to enter. The smell of death and decay washed over them like a wave. It was all they could do to avoid retching. All around were jars and bottles containing liquids and various preserved body parts. The two assassins recognised a few of the organs from their anatomy classes, but most remained a mystery. It was a large room, thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, their breath steamed in the super-chilled air. Two of the walls housed approximately twenty drawers, each large enough to hold a good sized humanoid. On a stone slab in the centre of the room was Argos' corpse, beside which lay a tray containing knives, forceps and other miscellaneous dissecting instruments. A red burial shroud was folded neatly at the body's feet.
| Man | (gesticulates wildly, urging the two men to hurry) |
| Keldirk | What was the cause of death? |
| Man | (points to his chin and flaps his mouth soundlessly) |
| Craven | Are you mute? |
| Man | (nods and again urges them to hurry) |
| Craven | Well, what are you waiting for? Get a sample. |
| Keldirk | Me? He was your friend - you get it. |
| Craven | This was your idea. |
Keldirk produced a small vial he bought that morning and approached the corpse. Just as he was about to plunge the vial into the body cavity, the door to the room opened and a very orcish Half-Orc swept into the room. The mute cowered in fear and ran to the far wall, crouching in the corner. If the room smelled bad before it was doubly so now. The Half-Orc reeked of embalming fluids, he was dressed in a dark-red, voluminous robe. His clawed hands were folded neatly across his chest as he surveyed the room.
| Half-Orc | (in a guttural drawl) Ungar, leave the room. |
| Mute | (hurries out of the room, staying low to the floor) |
| Half-Orc | (shuts the door as his man-servant leaves) Most of my guests are usually dead. May I ask who you are and what you are doing in my laboratory? |
| Craven | Your man-servant, Ungar, let us in. We are here to procure a sample of the grey matter which permeates this corpse. Is there any problem? |
| Half-Orc | May I have the pleasure of your names? |
| Craven | My name is Craven and this is my associate, Valrorn. Who are you? |
| Half-Orc | I am the master of this fine establishment, head of the Embalmers and Gravediggers Guild, Selczek Gobayuik. If you have what you came for - leave. I am a busy man and haven't got time to waste with the likes of you. (opens the door) |
| Keldirk | (raising his hand) Wait. I have a few questions. (hurrying on) Do you have any idea what the grey- |
| Selczek | (cutting Keldirk short) I don't have any answers. Now leave before I lose my patience! |
| Craven | (seeing Keldirk's ire grow, grasps him by the elbow and ushers him toward the door) Let's go Valrorn, this man is busy and he's already done more than enough. (addressing Selczek) When and where is the funeral service going to be held? |
| Selczek | (laughs belittlingly) There will be no funeral service unless you arrange for one. Services cost money and this man has none. |
| Craven | (pausing at the door) So what will happen? |
| Selczek | It will be buried alongside the other nameless dead in the paupers graveyard. Now get out. |
Craven and Keldirk hurried down the narrow corridor to the door they entered. As the departed Selczek grabbed Keldirk's cloak roughly, almost pulling him off his feet.
| Selczek | This is my private entrance. Do not come here again. I conduct my business from the chapel. (Selczek pushes Keldirk into the alley and slams the door) |
| Craven | What a charming fellow. Must have gone to the same finishing school as you, Val. |
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |