switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

[silverguardian]

WHO || Nyna, Cara, Felicity, Stiles
WHAT || The Knights are sent to hear about a prospective job from an art collector
WHERE || Bern, Switzerland
WHEN || April 13th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

The streets of Bern swell with the myriad sights and scents of its industry: the wood and polish of carpenters' shops, tantalizing aromas wafting from dozens of bakeries, and the heavy oil scent of artists.  Meanwhile, hundreds of rich colors give the district an appearance of a holiday festival.  The townhouse of Asheron Coyl comes into view, perched on a small rise that overlooks the street.  A low fence covered in vines abuts the street.  A gate opens onto a flagstone path that wends past frozen flower beds, fountains, and sculpted shrubs to the front doors.  A bell hangs next to the gate, reading "Please ring bell" in several languages.  With an 11 disguise check, Nyna didn't really bother to dress all fancy, opting instead for her paladin armor, sorry guys.   She can be the sexy bodyguard.  

Comments

[allmydreams]

Aside from "paint octopus"? I have no idea.

[Probably (arcane lore 9)? She studies the body carefully for a moment before gently patting him down to see if there's anything there that might indicate some kind of clue - including why they may have called the Knights in the first place (search 10).]

[killingtodeath]

[As the butler appears, rattling off things in a language Stiles doesn't know, he also puts his hands up to show that the aren't dangerous.]

Whoa, hey! No habla. Uh... Mr. Coyl? We're here to see him?

[He's trying to just... look nonthreatening. Not sure if there's a roll for that... Diplomacy maybe? If so, 33]

[mordsith]

[Cara just stands there watching as Stiles seems to be trying the "noble" approach. She studies the man, trying to sort out if he's lying to them or not. (Sense motive 10 will not really help, though.)]

[silverguardian]

[ felicity comes up empty, unfortunately.

meanwhile, the servant lowers his hands, switching to accented english. he seems genuinely unsettled as far as cara can tell.

"He's-- oh God. Our poor Master Coyl." he wrings his hands. "Those things - are they gone?" ]

[allmydreams]

[Alas. But with that she'll get to her feet and glance around, before hearing the ruckus coming from the kitchen area (listen 20 total).]

Sounds like they found something.

[And she will head to catch up with the rest of the party.]

[mordsith]

They seem to have been eliminated. [Cara doesn't sound like she's trying to comfort the guy, just relay the facts.]

Where is your master?

[silverguardian]

[ he wrings his hands together uncertainly.

"He... he received an unexpected gift about an hour ago from a fellow art enthusiast. He was too well dressed and well spoken to be a courier. In fact, he had a shabbily dressed laborer with him carrying other wrapped paintings. I-- I asked him about the others, but he remarked that they were to be delivered to other individuals in the neighborhood. The moment Master Coyl removed the covering, those... those monsters appeared."

nyna and felicity walk in just in time to hear this, and she glances at the other woman with a frown. ]

[allmydreams]

[Well shit.

Felicity takes a deep breath, because she's willing to bet that those were loaded paintings as well. She wants to know more about the courier, but first things first, they need to find out where those other paintings went.]

Do you know which people those paintings were going to? Did he tell you their names?

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles snaps is fingers at Felicity like yes thank you good question.]

Is he, uh- still around?

[Did he die???]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity's hand finds Stiles's arm and glances to him before shaking his head. If Mr. Coyl was the guy they found in the paint monsters wake, then he's very, very dead.]

[silverguardian]

[ the man looks down, saddened by the confirmation.

"No, I wasn't told any more than that. But they seemed to be traveling on foot through the city... I can give you a description of what he was wearing." ] Maybe if we hurry, we can find someone who noticed which way he was going.

[allmydreams]

[Felicity nods, before turning back to the man with a small smile.]

Thank you. That would be very helpful.

[If anything, it's at least a place to start.]

Mr. Coyl asked us to have dinner with him tonight to discuss artwork from ruins that he had acquired. Are those the same pieces he received today?

[silverguardian]

[ "I'm afraid I do not know, Miss. I did not think he expected any shipments today." ]

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles squints at the guy (sense motive 14).]

We should probably try to hurry up and catch up with that guy if we can. How long ago do you think he left?

[silverguardian]

[ "It could not have been more than ... an hour?" ]

[allmydreams]

Good. That means there's probably still a trail for us to follow. You said you got a good look at him?

[mordsith]

[Cara is listening to the conversation, wondering what sort of trail they might be following.]

[silverguardian]

[ he nods, providing a description of the man, as a young looking fellonde hair tied back in a pony tail, walking with a polished ivory walking stick and wearing a rapier at his belt. he had on a charcoal and ream noble's outfit and black cloak. ]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity nods, making note of all of this, before glancing back towards the door.]

Do you know which way he headed when he left?

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles shifts nervously, because while these are good questions? He just wants to get out of here and hunt this guy down before shit starts getting really real.]

[silverguardian]

[ he shakes his head nervously, and nyna sighs. ] Thank you for your help. We're... sorry about your master. [ she looks to the others, nodding towards the door. ] The sooner we start asking around, the better chance we can find this man. [ and to expedite matters, everyone can roll gather info checks ]

[killingtodeath]

[gather info 23]

[allmydreams]

[Gather info 8 action point says 16.]

[silverguardian]

[ armed with their description, it's no problem following the directions of vendors, street urchins, and other pedestrians to a place a couple streets over: a residence on Pfau Strasse. stiles gets someone to identify the home as belonging to yet another wealthy art critic in the ivy district - an aristocrat named Belfor Vittanis. the home is marked number 20, and it appears that its occupants are in the middle of some kind of high society party. numerous vehicles lines the circular drive leading up to the colonnaded entrance. some fo the drivers and their help stand together, sharing mugs and gossiping, while within the grand home music and laughter drifts out towards the streets on a soft breeze. a group of drivers and other servants are gathered near the vehicles out front, currently debating Lady Tillanda's taste in men. ]

[killingtodeath]

[Good thing they're still dressed to party, hun? Stiles will just sliiiiide right up to those drivers and try to calmly slip into the conversation.]

Oh, totally. She can do so much better-- [??? He's just gonna fake it until he makes it.] So hey. You seen a guy with a pony tail with a fancy ivory walking stick around here?

[Gather info 26.]