Comparing Notes

Log Info

• Title: Comparing Notes
• Emitter: Seldan
• Characters: Seldan, Ashes, Elyanna, Merek, Silmeria, Aya
• Place: A05: Adventurer's Council, Great Hall
• Time: Sunday, October 18, 2020, 3:57 PM
• Summary: There is a gathering to discuss the findings in regards to Delilah, and the case against hre. Seldan provides information he has determined on his own, while the others provide the results of the forensic investigation and their opinions of what they saw at the scene. A second Alibi for Delilah exists, and everyone is warned to keep secret, and not betray their suspicions of the guard. Knight Commander Norrington has attempted to frame Delilah before, thwarted by Seldan's intervention. A review of the evidence suggests that at best, it is circumstantial, and the Alexandrian guards have been more interested in facts that fit their preconceived conclusion, than evaluating the evidence they have. It is suggested that speaking with Donna, as well as examining the rooftops, may be useful. Some tests of Dragonspitters are suggested. The golem chef may not be a good eye witness, but would be a great ear-witness. Seldan directs everyone to be discrete when questioning Delilah.

-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A05: Adventurer's Council, Great Hall *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-

As the phoenix is Alexandria's national symbol, so too has its Explorer's Council, often called the Adventurer's Council, risen from the ashes of its destruction.

Guards and mercenaries fill the interior of this huge building, one of the largest in its immediate area. Strong, metal walls divide its interior, crafting halls, briefing rooms and offices. A large space near the front has been set aside for mingling and stocked with comfortable chairs to wait in.

This area is catered by one of the Society of Arcanists' more famous chefs, a small lucht with a predilection for otherworldly cuisine and tentacle soup. Security here is as tight as it is anywhere in Alexandria, even more so now after its recent destruction. Sharp eyed sentinels and guards are ever-watchful and all manner of security contraption is said to be residing within the walls of the building. The walls are pristine for now, though not for long, and artfully decorated with murals depicting heroic adventure by members of all communities and races of the region.

The windows to the Council Hall are now stained glass, artfully decorated to depict famous moments in Alexandrian history, ranging from the death of Altima at the hands of the Phalanx Falcis at the end of the Sorceress Wars, to the city triumphantly emerging from the Mists to a changed world. Many spaces have been set aside for new stories to be added, with numerous tale yet to be written.

No matter how many times the Hall has been rebuilt, the statue in the front remains the same: a lone warrior facing off against what is presumably thought to be 'Cuddles the Otyugh Queen', with the Council's motto, below: Anything for the right price.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Elyanna      5'11"    153 Lb     Half-Orc          Female    A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. 
Silmeria     5'8"     126 Lb     Human             Female    A sweet-looking blond human in a long black dress and breastplate.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

A small side room has been set aside in the Guild hall for this gathering, a table inset with glass at its center. Beneath the glass is a map of Alexandros and its surrounds, carefully preserved against markup. Chairs have been pulled in such that it is possible to sit around it, and at one end of the table sits Seldan. He is dressed down, in simple shirt and trousers with the open-front blue and silver robe over it. A simple silver headband tries to hold his hair in place, and fails miserably, leaving him to push an unruly lock of hair from his eyes. He watches the room, seeming to wait, and lets out a slow, deep breath.

Mourner Ashlee 'Ash' Ciaradh, a hobgoblin of warm grey tones dressed in cool grey clothing with a white skull marking on her face drifts in silently. She has a very straight posture and a slow gait that causes her to be treated more as an obstacle than a regular pedestrian. People in a hurry walk around her, and somehow are left with the impression that she's much older than she is. Her arms lie limp at her sides, except when she takes control of her satchel by its strap, or holds a door.

She's holding a door for a second Arvec Nar. One with smooth features, a red skin suggesting noble heritage, and matching height.

Behind the fulblood, comes the ruddy, Hob blooded Elyanna, who bows her head with a soft, "Thank you." to Ashlee. She steps aside with a certain refined cadence from the door and sweeps the chamber with her gaze before drifting toward the ring of seats, raising her hand with a soft, "Greetings."

Merek would be about to listen to the notes, while he takes the time to put on his dark attire. The man wears a belt about it, then pulling up the hood while he walks up into the place to see which people came. He finds a place to settle in, while he pours a little of the tea, then sips from it.

Behind the trickle of people entering the meeting room, a second Vardaman slips in; this one human, and dressed in a simple cassock and travel-beaten old boots. Bobbing her head in greeting, and passing Seldan a brief, beaming smile, she chooses an empty chair, seemingly at random, to occupy.

From a messenger's bag at her hip, Silmeria extracts a book, quill, and inkwell, arranging them before her and nodding to the rest of the room. "Good afternoon, everyone. I look forward to hearing what we've all managed to glean from our work."

Secret meetings are oft entertaining. While this one is not so much so, the topic of possibly murder and potentially mistaken accusations and/or incarceration is one rather close to Aya's heart. She enters the hall, and subsequently the room, in the the more mundane fashion that others use: namely, the doorways. Once within, she lingers near the wall rather than race for a seat. She might well learn something interesting, and information is always useful. If naught else, she could always stare quietly at Ash, to return past favors.

As others filter in, Seldan looks around the faces, all of whom he recognizes, and many of whom he has seen amid the inquiry into the murder that is now very much on his mind. He returns the smile from Silmeria with a boyish one of his own, looks around at the others, and raises eyebrows at Aya's presence, but does not object. "I thank you all for joining me. I, too, look forward to hearing what has been gleaned thus far, for I, too, have learned things, of which I have dared not speak in the presence of the Alexandrian Guard."

"Ere we begin, I would ask each of you to bear this in your minds. Should Mistress Valethor be convicted, she will most likely face execution. Leave no stone unturned, assume nothing, and share all that you learn among us, that together we might find the truth. I pray that ere we depart, you will understand my caution and my secrecy."

Ash notices Aya, nods once then carefully avoids looking at her. Slightly unusual behaviour which might be due to the last time they were together, where events took a somewhat unexpected and embarassing turn. Of course, Elyanna was present and doesn't seem to be receiving the same reaction. Perhaps neither of them fully remember, though the ashen Arvec has the suspicion that the Mul'niessa might.

She moves to a seat, slides into it. Her satchel, likewise, produces a notebook, a quill, and a centipede. The centipede runs back and forth on the table in front of her, as if establishing an invisible defensive wall.

Ash stares at Seldan, and says, "Nothing."

Elyanna settles into a seat that gives her a view of the exits, moving so to leave herself enshrouded within the black cloak. With Seldan's remarks, she nods and considers her fellows in this endravor, then gives a bow of the head to those familiar to her but she says nothing else as yet.

Merek nods a bit to Seldan in thought, while he thinks about it. "I understand," he notes, while he takes a drink as well.

"While I know very little of the specific incident," Aya offers, "I can only imagine that there are indications of corruption and bias amongst The Watch and other civil defense groups, perhaps leading back to influence and machinations by one or more noble houses..."

Silmeria's head tilts at the insinuation that there might be something to this investigation that the Guard ought not be informed of, and raises an eyebrow. But the stakes, at least, are simple to grasp; make a mistake, and an innocent dies with legal backing.

"Understood, Silver Guard," the Speaker says, flipping her book to a blank page.

Ash continues to stare at Seldan. "The chef at the pub saw a dead body in the alley. He saw his waitress see someone running away after hearing two bangs. So, he saw nothing. The waitress, did not see the murder, only someone fleeing. A person who could easily be only a witness, whose description fits most human women of age in Alexandria. So, she saw nothing. Zoey also has been avoiding me."

"No one in a building with a view of the alley saw anything. So, nothing. No one in the Nightclub would speak to me, so nothing."

"The physical evidence, entrance and exit wounds, as well as the method, don't make sense for what happened. So, nothing there also."

"Two, apparently very efficient guards, determined exactly who was responsible for this murder in an evening, exhausting all possible suspects and motivations and produced a document their Knight-Commander signed off on, based on this nothing." Ash continues in her monotone. "And felt their other activities on these avenues of investigation weren't worth telling us about. So, nothing."

She shrugs, "Delilah may be the murderer for all I know, I don't know her. I know what persecution looks like."

Seldan has not taken tea, or anything else, for himself, and returns Ashlee's stare, eye for eye, without anger, but also without fear. "That is hardly nothing, Mourner. In fact, it tells me a great deal. You have seen what you have not been told, and you do well to be suspicious." His steady gaze looks around the others. "I was able to persuade the proprietress of the nightclub to speak with me on the matter, but if I might -"

"It is in my mind that Mistress Valethor is not the killer. To determine the killer, one must establish the means by which it was done, the opportunity to do so, and the motive for doing so. I believe that some among us were present when Lady Alenthor and Knight-Commander Norrington approached Mistress Valethor with a summons to appear before the magistrate, on the matter of a gambling debt. An unusual occurrence, to be sure, but in speaking with Mistress Valethor, I have come to learn that the day of the murder was the day Mistress Valethor was to appear in court, and that there is a woman by the name of Ella who may be able to vouch for Mistress Valethor's whereabouts at the time Her Ladyship was slain."

He places both hands on the tabletop. "The words I speak next do not leave this room, to _anyone_," he goes on, clearly and firmly, looking from face to face. "There is one other, known to me, who has lost to Mistress Valethor at cards, and took it badly as Her Ladyship did. That person is Knight-Captain Norrington." He waits, looking from face to face, letting each person in turn digest that.

Furious scratching underlines the paladin's words, and Ashlee's before them, as Silmeria takes notes with the speed of long practice. Her writing slows when Seldan mentions the gambling losses, and the SPeaker adjusts her spectacles, looking up at Seldan with some worry. "...That rather puts a dark shade on a picture painted with just the gross forensic observations," she murmurs. "It sounds like you're telling me that Norrington was personally invested in seeing this girl be put away, and possibly executed? Over a game of cards?"

Sitting back in her chair, the blond stares down at her notebook for a long stretch of silence. "...That beggars belief, Silver Guard. Not to say I doubt it to be the *truth,* but... I have a hard time believing that a Knight Captain could truly be that... ..... ...*petty.*"

Elyanna folds her arms, probably, under the cloak, looking first to Ashes as she elaborates on what she's noted, acknowledging it with a nod before Sir Seldan speaks anew and her attention is his for the duration. She decides to chime in, then, "I was present when the victim confronted Delilah with members of the guard. She presented a marker the Lady offered as surety the debt would be paid, months prior, which the Sergeant declared was in order to his eyes. That was most of a year ago by now." She shakes her head, "I find little here of the Guard that maintains the illusion Alexandria is much better than Bludgun." There is a look to the Speaker, then she speaks anew, "When you have a chance to solve a grievance through the law, whether the evidence exists or not, you will find it if you are determined enough. Such is true by omission as well."

Merek seems to listen to all the presented facts, while he nods a bit in thought.

"Never doubt the pettiness of an embarassed man." Ash offers, in monotone. She makes a few notes on the pad in front of her. She also draws a picture of her centipede. "Norrington was very swift to remove Miss Valethor's weapons. He could fabricate forensics with them. Merek's Blood Biography spell indicated Bethany had no idea who killed her."

"If she was shot in the front, by spell and dragonspitter, one would expect her to have seen her killer."

The ashen Arvec continues, "Norrington has bad relations with the Valethors. Why kill Bethany? Delilah has little cause. Her documents are in order, the court case would have to come in her favour if any respect for the law should remain in Alexandria. She would want her day in court, not kill someone she's already legally acting against. So, why Bethany, if Norrington is behind this? Has Bethany wronged him?"

Ash looks over at Merek, "Mer-mer, do you have anything?"

"Even so, Speaker. This is not his first attempt at doing so." Seldan nods slowly, his expression set. "Once before in my presence has he attempted to have her convicted on false charges, charges I knew to be false, for I was witness to the incident in question. Once before have I spoken in her defense, and aided in securing her release. Never did I imagine that there would be another attempt. I, too, mislike thinking that one in such a position could be so petty ... and yet have I thus far learned a number of things that point in the same direction."

He raises a hand, and ticks points off on his fingers. "We would do well to speak to her sister Donna, for once did she tell me that Knight-Captain Norrington offered her a job, and said that it was the only way her sister would be safe."

"Second, I was able to persuade the club owner to speak to me. Those with memberships at such an establishment are men and women of considerable means. Although Knight-Captain Norrington does not frequent the place, there are other Knight-Captains who do. They must therefore be well-paid enough, and well-connected enough, to procure any weapon they may desire within reason."

"The nightclub owner, and the owner of the Black Fox where the gambling incident took place, also spoke of Lady Alenthor as a kind and friendly woman, or at least one that caused no trouble. Certainly nothing akin to the screeching harridan to whom I was witness in the Fernwood that day. The portrait of her does not match what my eyes saw, and that troubles me."

"I would hear of your picture of the murder that took place," he adds, looking at the others. "How was it accomplished, and where do you believe the killer to have stood?"

Merek looks up in thought while he seems to think about it, "I just know that Delilah did not do it. It would make sense if he did, although... I feel like there's an important thing to generally note in it all."

"Mourner, it is in my mind that he cared little for Lady Alenthor, one way or the other. It is in my mind that she was merely convenient, a means to an end, and that the killer's true target is Mistress Valenthor. I do not claim for certain that the killer is the Knight-Captain, though that may be so."

"I have witnessed Lady Alenthor's manner. To some defense, while short with most of those in the von Ironbrew pub, where the incident I witness occured, she was more polite with me. Either in deferrence to my bearing, or that I was not challenging a situation I had no awareness of, previous, I can not say." Elyanna explains, "While I can not dismiss Delilah taking final exception to the debt, I find the means and timing dubious, at my most forgiving. Which forces the question: If this Norrington is the killer, how would he be able to cast such a powerful version of the Magic Missile. I know little of such magics, but I imagine one of such strength would indicate the ability to cast a spell much more efficient in ending a single life."

"We might need to consider just because someone might be the one that planned it, doesn't mean they were the ones that did it, we need to consider hired people," Merek notes.

Ashlee listens carefully. She stretches out her left hand and her centipede crawls into her sleeve. He vanishes, and the occasional shifting wrinkle beneath her clothes hints at a location. Still staring at her notepad, it's as if she's speaking to it and not the others around her.

"So, wrong place, wrong time, convenient target."

A pause, "Merek, your conviction is good if you are to be a character witness, but that other guard indicated they have things sewn up nicely. Evidence that she did not do it, evidence that someone else did, or a plausible alternative that fits the details so there is reasonable doubt, is what we need."

There's some silence and consideration after Elyanna speaks, "A wand of Magic Missile? I'm unfamiliar with the spell. How tight is the grouping, generally? Does it vary by range?"

"Also, a person having wildly different personalities suggests some sort of mind control. I don't suspect Vampires, but, that was typical evidence of their interference in Blar." Ashlee finishes.

"That-- hm." Tapping her quill against another finger, Silmeria hurriedly sprinkles a pinch of fine sand over the paper to dry her notes, then flips back to relevant pages.

"A summary, Silver Guard; The body was found, face-up, in an alleyway next to the club Mourner Ashlee spoke of. Two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the head, along with five piercing wounds consistent with the casting of the spell known as Magic Missile, with a high degree of power. The bullets both traveled through the victim and embedded in the stonework, but the chest wound suggested an inexpert gunman; the angle of penetration corroborated that the gunman was standing over the victim, and the bullet wound entered the chest, but whether through an odd bounce or an unfortunate flinch, was not immediately fatal, and exited the body through the right shoulder blade, yet penetrated the stone. The guards retrieved this one. The shot through her eye went deep enough that the Guard lacked the means or motive to fish it out, and immediately collected the evidence when I extracted it myself."

Pausing to take a breath, she looks around the room, and continues. "There was no other blood present at the scene, save that which pooled around the body, which itself is suggestive of steps taken to remove traces; the spell in question tends to act as a sort of superficial stab wound, and bullets are.... significantly less clean than an arrow, in the force imparted upon the body. As we were constrained from performing a full forensic autopsy on the victim's body, we can only make do with gross observations."

"Evidence that she didn't," Ash states in monotone. "She said she didn't. Her sister provided an alibi. She has motive to, but it is weak. None of this is sufficient. Did you say you had a second Alibi? More would be best."

"Second," Ash draws a 2 on her notepad, "A woman was seen leaving. Who? Witness or murderess? Was she the disrespectful guard sent to the Temple to interfere with the evidence gathering? Someone hired, as Merek suggests."

"Is the Alley the murder scene, or was it staged? It was clean. If the body was brought there, how? She might have been unconscious, laid down, and shot." Ashlee speculates.

Seldan nods, and it is his turn to listen most intently to what the others have to say. "A woman was seen leaving? I think that of little consequence. Consider you." He removes from his hair the thin silver headband. Immediately upon removal, the headband transforms into a red velvet hat with arcane runes picked out in silver stitching along the brim. He himself changes only in one detail - the smooth, fair skin now has a tracery of celestial runes across every inch of it, face, hands, arms, and all, the black ink-like look patchy and mottled in places.

Without comment, he replaces the hat - and instantly takes on a very good likeness of Delilah Valenthor, certainly good enough to pass at range for one who did not know the woman well. He leaves the image there for a brief time, then removes the hat again. "Mistress Valenthor is a mage of some skill, but Magic Missile is not a difficult spell, and there are no few within these walls capable of such a feat. A scroll may also be penned to such a purpose, and the killer may have had a companion capable of reading it.

"I know of another who may be able to vouch for Mistress Valenthor's whereabouts at the time of the murder, yes." Unaccountably, Seldan goes pink around the patchy ink.

The demonstration about Seldan's headware prompts a nod, "I presented such a possibility. Which makes the use of such a loud weapon almost required to be part of the false flag." Elyanna remarks as she considers her fellows in the investigation.

"I agree," Aya now speaks up. "If one wanted the Lady dead, and had any sense of discretion, there are a great many options and a firearm would not be one of them."

Merek would listen while he watches the people, thinking about it.

Ashlee nods, as the demonstration makes the eye-witness evidence even more flimsy and suspect, and the oblique admission a lot more so. She nods again, Elyanna's insight regarding the dual method something she hadn't considered, and an obvious conundrum once it is called out. Aya's observation really hammers it home.

"The drama on the court steps seemed planned. Who convinced Bethany to file the suit against Delilah? How would Norrington know to time it?"

She looks up, stares at Seldan, "Your demonstration, could Norrington have been duplicating Bethany for an extended period, and that explain her shifting personality?"

"So witness testimony is only reliable if you assume they're telling the complete and unvarnished truth, and abetted by the fact that they *believe* they're telling the truth, the victim has been very close to two different people all this time, and the Knight-Captain and arresting officer has a personal vendetta against the sole suspect. .....Damnit. If only the physical evidence was as murky as the anecdotal," Silmeria says, lacing her hands under her chin and leaning on her elbows. "Because as far as I can see, very little of this will convince a magistrate of anything unless we provide incontrovertible proof. Master Merek, you've had very little to say, but what you suggest is well heeded. Have you any other thoughts you're willing to share?"

Merek looks up in thought, while he nods to Silmeria, "We won't be able to win in court without evidence, it is true. The only thing we can do really is find who actually did it, and bring forth either a confession or evidence that works with that. The fact that all the evidence was made to point to Delilah, means that we will need to handle it in a different manner." There's a look while he scratches along his thick stubble, "We could augry and scry, we could look into it through magical means, then come up with a way to from there. The Zone of Truth being used with the people we question would be the best. Divination even. There are a lot of ways to find what person actually did it, though we'll still need to learn what we can."

"Even so, Speaker. To clear Mistress Valethor, we must be able to prove the identity of the killer. Seer, your wisdom would be of great use here," Seldan adds, nodding to Silmeria, but frowning at Ashes. "Being the officer that served the court summons, the Knight-Captain would know its timing, and be able to ensure her absence at the chosen time." He pauses suddenly, and looks around at the others. "I would have us speak with her sister, and seek to learn whether the magistrate actually issued that summons, or nay."

"I know not if he duplicated her, but think it more likely merely an act. It may be that he promised to get her money back if she did as instructed." The paladin tilts his head. "A magic missile at full power would kill many, alone. A firearm would not be required, and yet does Mistress Valenthor possess one. Think you that the killer may have been above the victim when the shots were fired?"

"The one through the eye, out the back of her head, embedding itself vertically in the flagstone beneath, could only have been from directly over her, downwards. Bullets generally, do not turn ninety degrees in flight." Ashlee says, "The other shot, was horizontal, exited upwards, and ended up beneath her. Whether that was the first or the second, I can't say. I suspect first. It still requires her to be hanging upside-down for the exit wound to match up with the embedded bullet.

"Two methods of attack suggest to me two attackers, but it could have been one. Magic missile to disable her, set up the scene, dragonspitter to call attention. I didn't get on the roof to see if there was any evidence there."

She turns her head towards Merek, "Auguries are inaccurate enough to make difficult evidence. Scrying and divination are better."

"Has anyone witnessed Delilah use the gun in battle?" Elyanna wonders, "She is battle tested, and resolute, I have seen that. Also, to kill the lady on the eve of her debt being called into open court is beyond ludicrous. The dying turned the other way is more likely."

She cants her head just a little and adds, "Do all Dragonspitters sound alike?" Do we have access to someone competant with their use?" She turns her attention to Ashes, "We could test your theory with an ear witness. Perhaps the Golem."

"Well, all of them might not be admissable, although I'm more looking for information that might hint to that nature, the actual legwork will still need to be managed, because the Magistrate would probably like evidence that's presentable to everyone," Merek notes, nodding a bit.

Merek does note, "All artifice is a bit different usually, unless made by the same person."

"Indeed," Silmeria says. "Guns especially are handmade, and even using standardized designs, no two gunsmiths make identical weapons, and any enchantment tends to magnify those differences accordingly."

"That's a good idea." Ashlee looks at Elyanna, then around, "Golem testimoney about their senses would be reliable. The circumstances could be duplicated, at night, kitchen active. A line-up of dragonspitters tested, to see which reproduces the sound."

"Norrington has claimed his involvement was only to sign off on his two Lieutennant's reports. Should they be looked at as accomplices, or dupes? Evidence that points at someone is needed."

"But we don't have a murder weapon," Silmeria says, raising a finger. "We have a pair of bullets, but we have nothing to compare *to,* unless you want to collect every gun in Alexandria and shoot them all one after another. It's certainly something to keep in mind if we *get* access to the weapon, but..."

"Tomorrow, I am told that we shall be permitted to speak to the accused," Seldan cuts in, looking around the faces, but coming to rest on Merek, his gaze level. "We must work together, and not go haring off alone. I would have us compile the questions to be asked of Mistress Valethor, knowing that the guard on duty will hear all that is said. Naught should we say of our suspicions. These things would I know - was Mistress Valethor's dragonspitter in her possession at the time of the murder? And, is she a strong enough mage to be capable of five magic missiles? It is known to me that at least two within this room are so."

He frowns at Ashes, but nods. "That, too, may be a-purpose, that he not be seen to be linked, and yet may the lieutenants be under orders." Elyanna holds up her bare hand, parting her cloak in the doing, "There is another aspect of the test. How long between firings?" As she wonders, she pantomimes fumbling with some sort of contraption. A glance about the crowd, "More, were the shots from -this- direction?" pointing off to one side, "Or -this- one?" and her arm swings upward.

Her lips purse slightly, then part anew for her inquiry, "Leaving aside this Norrington, what do we know of the Magistrate? Does he hold to the presumption of innocence without due proof? Has his price been met? Has Delilah sullied this one's stew? This whoe endeavor would be futile if the final judge is fixed to seeing her dead."

"I suggest Norrington's, Greave's, three random ones from Goblintown, and Delilah's." The ashen Arvec responds, "The guards should surely agree that theirs should be above suspicion. If afterwards they argue the golem can't hear properly accurately, it undermines all their credibility. It's not impossible to duplicate dragonspitter shots with magical Ghost Sounds."

Ash nods, looking at Elyanna then back at Seldan and Simeria, "Is justice bought in Alexandria? Are accomplices are let go? If Norrington's guards are under orders, will they suffer if he's proven guilty? That answers if it's worth speaking to them at all."

She stands, pointing downwards effectively at her feet, "This is the only way I know for bullets to go _straight_ into the ground."

Seldan maintains a polite reserve, his lips set. "I cannot say to you with certainty that aught I would learn of Alexandria or her people would leave me without words." An uncharacteristically strong statement from the normally mild and polite paladin. "We know naught of the magistrate, but I would act with great caution in questioning his integrity. We have no reason to believe him bought. The lieutenants ... we must yet determine their role, whether they are willing or under duress. It is in my mind to seek out a servant of the Alenthor household, to learn whether Lady Alenthor and Knight-Captain Norrington were connected prior to the murder."

"...Then it seems we have a good few lines of inquiry to pursue," Silmeria muses. "The sister, the servant, the Guard... It could be worth talking to a few of the Guard on a different shift, and see how well he's regarded by those outside his direct reach...?"

The ashen Arvec nods again, "Knight Lieutennant Greaves dismissed questioning her family, emphasizing only their wishes."

"Family, their wishes, and the departed do not always align. Some family are content to trade away their offspring, others would interfere in their choice of soul-mates. Their wishes should be acknowledged, but only the deceased's are sacrosanct."

Ash looks directly a Seldan, "Hers wouldn't be the first family to rid themselves of a troublesome heir."

She turns her attention back to her notes, where she's drawn a few shadowy figures. "People don't like talking to me. I do better with ghosts."

"Even so. I wish also to investigate the roof of pub and club both, in the absence of the Guard." Seldan inclines his head to Silmeria. "I know little in truth of firearms, but I have the ability to fly. Are there others among us with that ability?" He looks around, but settles on Ashes. "We are hard pressed to countermand such a request, but it is in my mind that questioning the servants may yield more. Servants are little seen and know much, their presence oft ignored."

Elyanna meets the rebuke without a batted eye, "I do not know the men of power in this place." She looks then between the others, a thoughtful look in her eye as things proceed.

"I can't." Ash answers. "Do we know Bethany's course through the day. How she ended up in the alley?"

"I know things about firearms as well as flying," Merek notes.

"Perhaps," Silmeria says, tilting her head at Elyanna and smiling, "you could learn a good deal from the sister? It might be that she could use a friendly face to talk to, this can't have been easy on her? But I also know a good deal about firearms and gunsmithing... If there's aught to find on the roof of either place, I'd be glad to help uncover it."

"She was said to have been attending a party at the nightclub, and stepped outside for air. If you would have me learn what I may from the nightclub owners, I can do so." Seldan continues to look from face to face. "Yes, if you could speak to her sister," he nods to Elyanna. "I can make introductions. "Mourner, Speaker, Seer - would you seek the rooftops and learn what you may? I know little of such things, and I know not if my wings are healed yet or nay. I shall seek the servant of House Alenthor." He looks around to see who he might have missed, and what needs still to be done. "I would have some of us at the least speak to Delilah, but bear in mind that we will be overheard, and thus say naught of our suspicions."

Elyanna purses her lips again, "We have worked together. We.... know each other, but we have not been social." she explains with a shrug, "I will speak with her, but I do not know where she dwells."

"I can check the roof if I can get up on it." Ash says, having already failed to do so. She doesn't fly, and her ability to know things from random objects is somewhat limited. She's almost better off asking random questions to smoke. She draws a few boxes on her notepad. Some lines. A wheel. A green cat with red ink.

"I don't know Delilah or the sister. I don't like city guards who act like they have authority over churches. I shouldn't question her, I have no reason to ask anything except what funeral arrangements she would like."

Another box on her notepad, "You should ask what the guards want to hear you ask. Why did you kill her? What was your motivation? How did you do it? Where did you do it? When did you do it? Who told you where she would be? With a spell that compells her to speak the truth. If her answers are all 'I didn't' and 'I don't know', that should be evidence the guards will need to counter."

"Use a third party, so you can tell them they're the ones that need more than one night of investigation to convince a magistrate."

"I would also have someone seek out her alibi. The woman's name is Ella, and Donna may know her whereabouts. I advise against asking such of Delilah on the morrow, do we not wish to find the woman dead. "A fly potion may be possible, I can procure such readily enough, if the Seer does not possess the spell. It is not one that I have mastered. Perhaps another might fly up and lower a rope."

He lowers his eyes, looking pensive. "It is not my place to scold the guard, and it is in my mind that providing proof of the true killer may serve the same purpose. This would I caution you - does the killer find himself trapped when the accusation is laid, he or she may well lash out."

The Speaker nods slowly, and looks around the room. "It seems that as far as this investigation goes, we're all well convinced that the Guard has apprehended the wrong person. If anyone doubts this, I would very much appreciate if you spoke up, because I'd rather not entertain any false notions?"

"I don't know Delilah Valethor, the circumstantial evidence is concerning. She is an adventurer and capable of directly solving her problems." Ash states in flat monotone, "My belief in her innocence is based solely on her reaction to the news, the Knight-Commander's attitude and behaviour, the trap he set for her, and the bullying behaviour of the guards. It looks like persecution, and the Knight-Commander has means, motive, and has attempted to frame her in the past."

"That is sufficient enough for me to believe that if he isn't the killer, Delilah still might not be, as they haven't considered any other possibility."

The Keeper(retired) nods, "That is my thought, yes. What evidence is there relies on the desire for the outcome, not for the truth." Elyanna looks amongst her cohorts, then, "I will see what I can learn from Donna." She rolls her shoulders a little bit, then crosses her legs at the knee, "I am inclined to agree with the Mourner, if he is not the killer, he may still be an opportunist."

"Even so," Seldan nods his agreement as well. "To clear Mistress Valethor, we must establish means, motive, and opportunity, and show clearly that the investigation done by the guard is cursory at best. I mislike that the bullet pried from the ground was taken from you, Speaker. If you would," he nods to Elyanna, "Could you get the writ of summons that was provided to Mistress Valethor, if it can yet be had? I wish to examine it."

Merek nods a bit to everyone, seeming to be likely in thought.

Ashlee folds up her notebook and slides it into her satchel. She stands. Her gaze goes first to Elyanna; she seems to be waiting for her. Next Aya, her expression inscrutable, followed by a look at Seldan and Silmeria. Finally Merek gets a glance too, but not much of one. Ash can tell when he's lost in thought.

The meeting concludes quietly, with much shared and little decided, and the participants slip out into the Alexandrian night.