Rejoice for You are True, part 1 - Investigation

by DM B  

Timestamp: 5.305.997.M41

Location: Aquila Superior Spire, Upper Levels, Southern Quadrant, Metropolitan Area, Hive Sibellus, Scintilla, Golgenna Reach

Situation: Investigating the Joyous Choir

Body: The trip uptown was by auto-carriage. Quite educating. We got to see every type of urban terrain in just a few hours of travel, from the sad and abandoned regions around the templum and all they way up to the Wall - the Magistratum checkpoint that controlled all traffic in and out of the upper levels of the Aquila Superior Spire. They seemed competent enough; Sia's disappearance made even less sense after seeing it. She could not have come this way without being genescanned and put on file. Well, maybe someone had altered the records, but if so Venus would surely find out. But that would come later. For now we enjoyed the ride.

The Strophes home was located in a dome-like complex, not unlike the ones we had seen on Corax. Probably STC template structures the both of them. We headed up to the mansion's access-point - that gave us a clue as their importance and wealth, they had their very own ground-level access to the dome, and inward-facing viewing surfaces. One of perhaps a score such mansions. An educated guess would place them in the top ten percent of this dome's inhabitants. Not sure how that equated into the bigger picture, but clearly they were upper-upper class.

We were expected. A fiery red-headed girl in her late teens/early twenties opened the door. She was impossibly good-looking, very tall and very slender, yet fully curved. She wore some sort of dress made out of a semi-transparent crystalline weave. When she moved it billowed, but when she stood still it clung to her body in suggestive ways. The crystal was interwoven with light fibers that displayed a swirling starry sky. It was almost a work of art (and as we would learn, all the rage this year). Her eyes were playful, mischievous even, and she could perhaps have passed for a girl had she not spoken (the eyes nearly always give people away, it's damned hard to hide wisdom and cynicism - but this woman clearly had retain a wild streak and never calcified). But her voice was too smooth, too controlled for her to be a girl of 19 or so - no mere girl, no matter her pedigree, greets agents of the Inquisition so casually!

Her name was Julia. She was Laurent's only child by his late wife. She was 120 Terran years old. The wonders that the magi biologis can work - if the Thrones are right. Not even Xerza had skin that smooth (but perhaps that was intentional). Haxtes found himself thinking he'd never seen someone so silky white, except Venus. But she was hardly fully human - anything which could grow four metal arms out its spine could damn well have whatever skin it wanted. Julia flirted shamelessly in return. A chord was struck and it vibrated in resonance; Haxtes and Juila, unlike though they are, were made from the same mold. We chatted a bit with her. We got her version - Sia would never have run away, something must have happened to her. And the Joious Choir was at the heart of it. Then she showed us into her father's study and bade us wait.

Laurent was as tall as his daughter, though he lacked her luxurious hair and her soft skin. Actually there was nothing soft about him at all. Here was a man who had served the God-Emperor with distinction for more than two centuries. More than fifty of them as Master and Commander of the Victory-class battleship Agrippa Augustus, a ship that had served with distinction during no less than three major campaigns during his tenure. Now he was retired. Or maybe only semi-retired. We learned later that he had the ear of Lord Commander Sector Marius Hax, and that he in turn relied on Laurent for impartial advice on naval matters. No wonder the Holy Ordos were eager to help.

He was surprisingly likeable, however, even as he laid out his stroy in no nosense manner. He told us about Sia, how she had spent her life in the household, always somewhat lost. That she'd both moved out and found her faith - in the form of the Joyous Choir (for which Laurent has nothing but contempt, the Emperor demands obedience and sacrifice, not happiness). He was also damned sure she was dead, but felt obliged to continue to search. He'd first put pressure on the Magistratum. Then he'd hired men of his own. Before finally turning to his old friend Vaarak. He also gave you full access to his House systems and promised any aid.

---

Leaving Venus and Vern to snoop around the mansion Maxi and Haxtes went down-level to have a look at Sia's apartment. It was located further down the spire, but still above the Wall, in a layer that seemed mostly dedicated to the idle rich (most of them young and good-looking, although for many that youth and those looks were not natural, but paid for with old money). The investigation revealed very little. Except for a chat with Julianna, Sia's next-door neighbor. Haxtes made her out to be another 100-year old in a twenty-something's body. She invited him to drop by later...which Haxtes had every intention of taking her up on, time permitting.

She also provided something Sia had lent her - a harmony-meter. It was part of the Choir programme - Sia was always trying to recruit more people, with little success - and she'd handed it to Julianna to try to teach her how to be 'joyous'. Only Julianna was busy screwing and partying - in fact she was feeling quite joyous already. Oddly enough the meter spiked a little in the presence of Haxtes; hardly the most 'joyous' of persons.

Leaving Maxi to go over the apartment in detail Haxtes headed to the local Choir templum. It looked like an old mall turned into a conference center, only with a little extra in the way of religious panoply. The local leader was one Brother Jastilus. He told of how Sia had come to the temple and how she'd grown as a person, finding her faith and her joy. But it had been months since last he'd seen her; she was well on way to becoming 'True', so promising in fact that he'd sent her on to the main templum up-spire. Haxtes didn't like him much, but he was hardly a prime suspect. Still, his story would be cross-referenced by Vern and Venus. If there were holes, they would be found.

---

Although a little orgy with Julianna seemed attractive Haxtes put it to the side - she'd be there whenever he felt like it. So better concentrate on the task at hand. And rather than screwing about he decided to go right to the source; the Joyous Choir main templum. Way up in the spire it occupied a slice of a very posh level. The Choir was either very wealthy or had serious patronage. Or both. Getting in was by invitation only. Of course. But then again you make exceptions. Knock knock. Who's there? Imperial Inquisition. Oh, do come in! There was a harmony meter in the entrance hall as well...but it did not react in the same fashion to Haxtes as Sia's version had. Significant or fluke?

Caros Shoal was the self-made leader of the Joyous Choir. He turned out to be one of those people you can't really dislike. He had the sort of charisma that made you want to listen to him. Or buy used speeders from. When he explained it the Joyous Choir made a lot more sense. Haxtes could suddenly see how it could grow so big (it wasn't THAT big really, only a few million attendees, mostly is this one spire), become so wealthy, and attract such patronage. Of course Vern and Cenus would later find out that the man had a past - apparently he was also good at selling antiques to wealthy buyers as greatly inflated prices. Which had forced him into exile years ago - only he had returned to Sibellus half a decade ago with enough money to clear his name and start fresh. As a preacher this time. Try as he might Haxtes could not bring himself to believe this man was the culprit. Call it gut feeling.

Elman Voight had been Sia's mentor while she was at the templum. He was more pragmatic than his superior. As a former insurance agent he had the skills needed to push increasingly expensive self-awareness classes and stuff at his pupils. Sia had swallowed it hook, line, and sink. Good think she was ridiculously rich. But no, he was not behind her disappearance. In fact, he took it as a personal blow, for had he not been working on her to one day position himself for marriage to her? Quite a disgusting fellow. But his story rang true.

Malene Trun - Sia's Choir friend - had little further to add. other than that Sia had had few real friends in the Choir. Mostly Malene. And she hardly confided in her. No one did. Malaene was down-hive you see, while most of the others were rich up-hivers. They only took on some 'unfortunates' like her to show how good they were; but the main reason peopel got called to the main temple was because they needed speacial attention to mmilk them of their riches. Not that she said as much, she was a firm believer, but Haxtes read it between the lines. Oh, and Malene thinks Sia migth have gone underhive slumming or soemthing, to spread the faith...but Haxtes thinks Malene is a daft twat and her theory even more silly.

---

A couple of hours later you all met back at the house of Strophes to look at what you had learned so far:

Sia gone, without a single trace. She had left her appartment one day, made her way to the Choir templum, but never arrived. Venus and Vern had looked at the House Strophes and Magistratum systems and found nothing. Now she needed to look at the Choir. Maxi had found nothing at the appartment; except that he lacked any finds that would support a Sia-ran-away theory. From past experience he's say that she's the victim of a planned abduction and that she is no longer alive (he puts abduction at about 90% and dead at 95%).

---

OK, the stage is yours...

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Categories: Adventures, Chapter 1 - In the Service, Adventure 1.2 - Rejoice for You are True
 05/16/10 09:22:25 am,

23 comments

Comment from:
Try as he might Haxtes could not bring himself to believe this man was the culprit. Call it gut feeling.- that means hes prime suspect nr 1 :) Elman Voight had been Sia's mentor while she was at the templum. He was more pragmatic than his superior. As a former insurance agent he had the skills needed to push increasingly expensive self-awareness classes and stuff at his pupils. Sia had swallowed it hook, line, and sink. Good think she was ridiculously rich. But no, he was not behind her disappearance. In fact, he took it as a personal blow, for had he not been working on her to one day position himself for marriage to her? Quite a disgusting fellow. But his story rang true.- have him piked up by the abrites for interfering with the holy ordos, Haxtes thinks he knows more Sia gone, without a single trace. She had left her appartment one day, made her way to the Choir templum, but never arrived. Venus and Vern had looked at the House Strophes and Magistratum systems and found nothing. Now she needed to look at the Choir. Maxi had found nothing at the appartment; except that he lacked any finds that would support a Sia-ran-away theory. From past experience he's say that she's the victim of a planned abduction and that she is no longer alive (he puts abduction at about 90% and dead at 95%).- no mater vern. alive or dead we will find her and the ones behind the disaperence and make them scream and pray for a quick death, they wont get that in case someone wondered. Haxtes intends to talk to the instigators and if any the companion in charge of security in that part of the hive
05/12/10 @ 16:06
Comment from:
If those leads turn up could, Haxtes will go to Globus asking for a nice paper saying how sorry the big I is for messing with the nice temple. Haxtes will say that the big I is happy that the culprit has been taken in (Elman Voight) and that he will confess hes crimes before the throne in time. Then Haxtes will join the church, doing what a vaild hand does best infiltrate, and then un vail
05/13/10 @ 00:13
Comment from:
After your little meeting several things go down; Haxtes intends to go to bed for some much needed rack time, but ends up with amasec and cigars with Laurent. He then has to pony up and relate the story once more to Julia, still in the study, but this time with rather less clothes. Haxtes hadn't planned to keep the two of them informed of every little thing, but it turned to be difficult to say no. Oh well, the amasec was excellent and so was the other stuff. Maxi makes a call to the Arbites calling for the arrest of Elman Voight for 'obstruction of the Holy Ordos' (he can then be kept indefinitely in solitary confinement, pending transference to the Inquisition). He file states that there was considerable screaming when the black beetles came to take him away. He even tried running at one point. Disappointingly (but unsurprisingly) he turns out to be a dead end. He's just a greedy and immoral man, but not connected to Sia's disappearance. Vern takes a closer look at Caros Shoal's background, to see if he can dig up some dirt or some links to someone interesting. He draws up what seems a likely scenario; Caros' return to Scintilla required some serious money to pay off his enemies. It seems unlikely that he could have made such a fortune on his own - and if he had, why would he then set up as a religious leader? Where is the incentive for that? If he wanted to make money there are other venues - venues that do not require extensive Ministorum contacts (which Caros lacked). In conclusion; someone with great faith in Caros social skills paid off his debts and bade him set up shop. Venus starts work on leafing through the Choir's systems; she has no trouble getting access to them - Caros is no idiot, when he first saw the Rosette he knew that this had to happen. He's hoping to limit the fallout by cooperating - so far one he and the two guards in the reception has seen the =][= flashed. The Choir's logic systems are what cold have been expected; information on various members, prospective members, and their worth to the church among other things. Not what you're looking for at all. The only thing of interest is this; someone trained by the Adeptus Mechanicus has been through the system recently, using advance entropic algorithms to extract whatever data he was looking for and then covering up his traces. Only another Tech-Priest like Venus could have found him out - and even she has no clue what he was doing in the system. --- A new day begins. Haxtes has a mild headache. But nothing that a few pills and a large recaff the things you learn in the service - can take care of. Julia serves it along with a little tale of how recaff is originally made; from the dried and ground beans of some sort of Terran plant that Laurent grows in his little greenery - the things you learn in the service, Haxtes always figured you just added hot water to recaff powder...and voila! After finishing the recaff, which is quite a feat while entangled in long and limber limbs, Haxtes is pretty much ready to go see the Choir again. Julia has arrange for suitable garments - some of the same fabric that she was wearing, the semi-transparent crystalline stuff. Tailored as a loose-flowing robe, with symbols and faith and piety dancing across it's surface. You also learn that this particular robe has been made of a heavier crysweave - meaning it will provide you with the same protection as a suit of flak armour. The wonders that money can buy. Caros greets you...a bit apprehensive perhaps. How goes the investigation? Can he do anything more to help? He's got a big event coming up and he'd dearly like for this affair to be settled as quickly as possible.
05/16/10 @ 08:38
Comment from:
Meanwhile: --- Venus returns to the public security systems with a vengeance. She's frustrated;logic dictates that nothing could go down in the upper spire without something being registered. But of course it's not that simple. The Adeptus systems don't provide complete coverage; there are a myriad private security companies and household security detachments that jealously guard their clients' turfs. Clients who would not like to have the Magistratum looking over their should (except when things go completely FUBAR of course - by which time its always too late). The =][= could get access of course...but even mapping out WHO she'd need access from would be a major undertaking, requiring Haegum or even Tricorn aid. No, that's not an option. Instead she sends out her ghosts - semi-intelligent copies of her own mind - into the sire public systems, hunting with singular dedication for one thing; the pattern of no-patter left by entropic algorithms. She knows what traces they make or she would not have been able to track them. Still it will be difficult and time-consuming. But the Ominssiah willing she'll find it. And once she does she'll know where to look next. --- Vern - having found nothing on Caros that you can use - is having a closer look at the harmony meter. It's a fairly standard piece of equipment - a multispecturm passive auspex array - that's been adapted to look like something else. Namely something that could read the 'aura' of a person. Which the harmony meter actually can; the human body rives of minute amounts of radiation and also produces some low-key electromagnetic currents. Enough to ready with a harmony meter - which has been cleverly rigged so that it will display different 'aura readings' for different people. In short it's a sham. He then leaves it with Venus for her to have a second look at - it spikes in her presence, indicating she's close to 'True'. No wonder perhaps, since Venus' body contains all sorts of power systems and isotopes not found in a normal person! --- Maxi finds himself in an auto-carriage with Julia, heading for the lower spire. One of Laurent's hired agents has made contact, claiming to have have information pertaining to the Choir. The man you're meeting is Vorlin Orday, a bounty hunter and troubleshooter of some renown. He's quite good, but also completely paranoid. He'll not speak to Maxi, only someone he knows. And with Laurent called away to the Lucid Palace that very morning Julia is the only Strophes around. It's a two-hour ride down-hive to a place called the Barking Saint. A bar of sorts where a strict no-guns no-violence policy is enforced. Julia, quickly bored, starts getting intimate...and who can blame her, its been hours since last she had something!
05/16/10 @ 09:11
Comment from:
Haxtes tells Shoal that the investigation is over. The culprit has been caught. Elman Voight, Sia's mentor. An abduction gone wrong - he panicked when he realized she was requesting a new mentor. He'd had such plans...marriage...to live the life of the idle rich for the rest of his days. Case closed. Caros is very relieved. There are people leaving the Choir every day, even from the advanced classes, that is to be expected, but this is the first time something like this has happened. So this is goodbye then? Well, not quite...Haxtes would like to know more...once Caros Shoal understands that Haxtes intends to join is little church he becomes a man conflicted. To have a Throne agent among his flock...is that a good thing or a bad thing? Perhaps a little of both. But ever a pragmatic sort Shoal quickly recovers - if he can't do anything about it, why worry? --- Not long after Haxtes finds himself sitting by a great window looking out on Hive Sibellus below, while a mentor goes through the first Choir lectures - free of charge, courtesy of Mr. Shoal himself...
05/16/10 @ 09:36
Comment from:
noting like a free ride, They will find haxtes a quick learner after all he has a long history of consorting with cults :)
05/16/10 @ 15:34
Comment from:
The day passes without any major incidents; Haxtes plays the part of the good pupil, sucking up everything. What is fascinating is that the Choir is part sham, part social club, and part religion. It's quite a potent mix, and Mr. Shoal has made a good job picking people for his staff - they are superb salesmen all of them. Some are just merchants peddling their wares, while others seem genuinely to believe. For the upper class they pay handsomely and get aid in 'becoming true'; which is just a fancy name for a self-development programme. Nothing special about it, not even the quasi-religious package or the harmony meter trappings. If you searched just Hive Sibellus you'd find many like it. But where the Choir excels is setting the stage for important people to make connections with other important people. A sort of matchmaking, where Shoal and his closest advisers will put you in contact with people you didn't know existed or that you didn't realize would benefit you to know. For the lower classes the religious stuff and the self-advancement is played up, but here too making connections is important.
05/18/10 @ 11:49
Comment from:
Julia can be as intimate as she wish, as long as it doesn't involve an Operative agent of the holy INQ. We're all servants of the our Holy Emperor, only some are more His than others. Maxi flicks through his notes. (I will post a note for self thread if it's ok for you.)
05/19/10 @ 11:34
Comment from:
Poor Julia. Forced to remind idle for hours. Made infinitely more intolerable by handsome company. Poor, poor woman. And poor Maxi. What experiences he's missing out on! Does he think a woman of her class would give herself to just anyone (she would, but that's not the point). At any rate you finally leave the auto-carriage somewhere in the mid-spire. It's not a noble district, that's for sure, but it's far better than places like Coscarla! You find the Barking Saint easily enough. The 'bar' is located inside an abandoned temple. The formidable defenses the structure once sported seems to have been retained - perhaps improved upon. Servitor-manned gun turrets track the crowds as they move past. And whomever wants to go in is scanned thoroughly by what seems to be an adolescent body partially submerged within a roughmade egshaped cyber-scanner that hovers a half-meter above the entrance flagstones. "I am Silas. State your business and leave your guns with me." You're forced to leave all weapons but primitive melee ones. Inside are several thousand people. Some coming. Some going. Others drinking, watching the entertainment - body dancers and some pit fights mostly - and doing business. You get the feeling this is a lace for clients (or their agents) to look for 'special talent' - mercs, killers, scum and ex-enforcers seem overrepresented, as do those that would hire such men. Vogel, the proprietor, an obese yet muscled ogryn-like man (he looks a lot like the emaciated kid at the door, only ten times heavier) can be see walking the floor, keeping an eye on things. Several other ogryns are also patrolling the grounds; each armed with a bionic gun-limb and ripper claws. Any breach of the peace found to be in violation of the 'Code' will be me by lethal force. After being confronted by a joy-girl offering to do you both, you are directed to see Vorlin Orday. Maxi notices a small vox-link on the girl, masquerading as jewelry. His suspicion is confirmed when Vorlin is ready to greet them - the girl was reporting to him. Vorlin is an acid-scarred man in his fifties, with long greying hair. He a bulging graft muscle and visible low-grade cybernetics. He unarmed but for a long combat knife, but several empty holster indicate that he's usually packing. HE greets Julia amicably. Then uses a cheap genescanner to verify her identify. Then he starts talking. He's snooped around a bit. Initially he had little luck, but finally he had a break. Turns out that the Choir is pushing a rather exotic drug called 'farcosia'. It induces euphoria and doesn't appear to have any significant drawbacks, even with prolonged use. Except a high degree of addictiveness and a massive cost. Sia was definitely an addict. And so are a lot of those Choir attendees that hand around the Alabsater Court (the high temple where Caros Shoal presides), but NOT the regional or local templums. Probably because its so damned exotic and costly. He's snooped around Sia's local temple and he SUSPECTS that since she was rich one of the Choir's 'cleric' made sure she scored good on the harmony meters so that they could send her to the Alabaster Court. They majority of priests probably don't know anything about the standing order to send up the rich kids, only a few trusted agents of the Alabaster Court are trusted with this task - to convince them they they are on their way to becoming 'True' and therefore needs to go upstairs. He produces a harmony meter. He concludes that it's just a handheld multi-spectrum auspex. But one that can easily be manipulated by the operator - if he knows how - to provide whatever readings the operator wants. He gives you the meter. He's also tried to get hold of some farcosia, but that proved...difficult. It's only handed out at the Alabaster Court and transported there by special courier. Actually he did manage to waylay one of the couriers. Or so he thought. Turned out he wasn't carrying any drugs, only a dispatch dataslate. It's encrypted so Orday doesn't know what it contains, only it warranted a bonded courier that had...extensive self-defense skills. The slate is something extra however. He'll require some extra payment for it - 3000 Thrones.
05/19/10 @ 21:54
Comment from:
To the first part: Maxi will never get used to be around the "high born". Sod it, he can respect her father. At least he has paid his due to the Emperor by service. He probably got his commission because of is noble status more than his ability. But again you don't hang around half a century as a NAVY captain in multiple campaign by being incompetent. The "lady" beside him, what has SHE ever done for the Emperor but bought shoes and laid around with everyone. Out of soddery Maxi has no doubt that she is the sweetest peach Max could or will ever taste, but she is of THEM, a forbidden fruit. And MAXI knows forbidden fruits are corrupting fruits. (Just had to play the "little man" in Maxi. :p ) Maxi stands silently and listens to the conversation between Lady Julia and Vorlin Orday. He feels that the Throne sum is acceptable. If the lady looks to Maxi for acceptance or hint for the payment he will simply state: "Your not in employment of my order so I think it's convenient that this transaction stays between you. But yes, this slate could be something extra and therefore certainly worth the price."
05/19/10 @ 22:36
Comment from:
Maxi is such a trooper :-P It is arranged then. Orday seems a bit surprised that there is no haggling, but he certain doesn't object. He hasn't brought the slate with him, however. It's stashed somewhere safe. He'll make a call in a day or two through the usual channels to arrange for the delivery.
05/19/10 @ 22:44
Comment from:
Again if Lady Julia looks to Maxi for a hint Maxi will again state that this transaction is between his Lord employer and himself. And Maxi sees no reason that the request should be denied. "I will give witness of this transaction legitimise. You both will not want to break it."
05/19/10 @ 22:55
Comment from:
Julia hands Orday a bonded token of 1000 Thrones. The rest will be paid upon delivery. You then return the way you came; presumably with no frolicking on the way up...
05/20/10 @ 10:34
Comment from:
[Maimilian NOTES:] Inquisitor: Inquisitor Globus Vaarak, Ordo Hereticus. Agents: Agent Haxtes: - Status: Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Agent Maximilian - Status: N/A Agent Venus - Status: Working case perimeter. Agent Vern - Status: Working case perimeter. Missing girl: Sia Strophes - Status: Unknown, presumed dead, Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Known family: Laurent Strophes - Uncle - Navy, ret Captain - nobleman in good standing of the Maechenko clan. Julia Strophes - First cousin - lesser noblewoman of the Maechenko Clan. Status both: Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Trail: Sia's Apartment, Status: Cold. Known associates: Julianna, next-door neighbor - Motives: possible man-friend conflict. Status: Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Joyous Choir, local choir templum, Status: Cold. Known cultists: Brother Jestilus, local leader - Motives: Conspirator. Status: Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Joyous Choir, main choir templum, Status: Warm. Known cultists: Caros Shoal, cult leader - Motives: Conspirator. Elman Voight, Sia's mentor - Motive: Conspirator, possible man-friend conflict Malene Trun, Sia's Choir friend - Motives: Conspirator, possible man-friend conflict Status: Elman Voight in solitary confinement Adeptus Arbrites precinct, suspect pending confession absconding the fabric of Empire of Man. (Taken money from High Nobility.) Status other: Suspects on act of Heresy, TREASON, consorting with known/unknown heretic. Laurent informer, Vorlin Orday - bounty hunter. Status: Suspect, consorting with known/unknown heretic.
05/20/10 @ 11:24
Comment from:
That pretty much sums it up; they are all guilty by association - with unknown heretics...
05/20/10 @ 11:42
Comment from:
No, not all of them, Elam Voight is confessing for lesser crimes. And suspects are not the same as guilty. EVEN Maxi knows that. Other than that, yeah you got it right. :)
05/20/10 @ 12:18
Comment from:
all except old maxi, he is not guilty but my info says hes guilty of tech heresy- strange
05/20/10 @ 12:27
Comment from:
The day ends and two more days go by; you've spent four days in the House of Strophes thus far. Haxtes continues to worm his way into the Joyous Choir and finally manages to get invited to one of the late-evening social gatherings that the peers and that wannabees attend. It'll be a grand event. Vern looks into farcosia, but soon runs into a problem - the substance is so obscure that not even the Inquisition has it on file. Finally he finds a reference to it in the Justice Archives; meaning that the Arbites have something on it. Only the Justice can't be accessed from the outside. It has to be someone with inside access. Meanwhile Venus has gotten around to looking at the meters. There is some sort of discrepancy between the one Haxtes got of Julianna and the one Orday gave to you. Venus isn't sure exactly what it is, but the one Haxtes brought it contains some sort of subtle xenos 'circuitry' (not sure what that means, but it has to do with the machine spirit).
05/20/10 @ 20:27
Comment from:
Haxtes will keep infiltrating / fitting inn, make friends and connections with out moving too fast after all hes not there to SPY on them :)
05/20/10 @ 22:04
Comment from:
Maxi will eagerly visit "his own" at the Justice hall. But only as a door opener for Vern or Venus. He recognize their superior ability to filter through the files in the Library archives of the Courthouse. Maxi wants to be readily available for Vorlins slate drop. Maxi asks also Lord Strophes about the reliability of informant Vorlin Orday. Oh, before he forgets. Maxi updates his note and add "Posession of Xenofacts" to all suspects. (Maxi's notes are of personal use so it is not posted anywhere. We don't want the big clumpy feet of our brother order to come visit us unannounced. Don't we?)
05/21/10 @ 09:50
Comment from:
A creature like Venus would probably note be welcome at Justice Central. Vern, however, should do well enough. he's a scholar and well versed in librarium sub-systems, physical archives and datacrypt operation. As a former Arbites in Inquisition service you are able to effect his admittance. He'll go there first thing in the morning (of the fifth day) and stay until he has what he's after. That will leave Maxi free for other duties. Meanwhile Haxtes returns to the Alabaster Court. Venus has asked him to have a look at any meters he might come across, to verify if there really are two types. Her suspicion is that the 'real' harmony meters - those with the xenos bits - may have some ulterior function as yet to be fully divined, although she suspects they might actually be psych-meters, i.e. devices normally used by the Scholastia Psykana and the Inquisition to test for psychic potential. Orday also finally makes the call. He will meet with either Strophes tomorrow at noon, beneath the shield of the fallen guardsman down in the waterfront market. It's a very public place - there will be tens of thousands there during the day, coming and going and being about their affairs. Then Haxtes leaves for the party in his newest outfit.
05/21/10 @ 10:43
Comment from:
Laurent Strophes regards Orday as very competent and reliable, but he IS a low-born mercenary, so it's not like he TRUSTS him or anything. As for the actual information provided he has now way of knowing - only that a great change came over Sia after she joined the Choir, and especially after she went to the Alabaster Court. She became much more confident and seemed to enjoy life more.
05/21/10 @ 10:46
Comment from:
A Throne agent is always welcome in any Law holding. But Vern's bureaucracy sensibilities have more use there than Venus machine-spirit empathy. I'm not sure if it has been mentioned earlier. But I guess its safe to say that Sia's throne-fund-account has taken a little dip the last month or so to boost her confident. Maxi mention it anyway for Laurent.
05/21/10 @ 11:15


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