March 4: Gangs of Vornheim

[Mister-Kent]

Wherein the subtle hostilities that simmer beyond mundane notice threaten to engulf the city.

[Inferno]

Thanks, Mr. Kent!

[Mister-Kent]

Color-manip of a Piranesi piece

Zaent Darkhand
As you gaze out across Vornheim, you see that the rain has ceased for the moment. A cool spring breeze splashes against the Night Clan's gray tower. Sable makes no motion, dull to your words of comfort, and sits in silence. It will be a while before she is prepared to speak.

The doctor's dead-eyed mask, gently fuming with aromatic narcotics, gazes dispassionately on the deceased form of Godric. It is as if no one has the energy to mourn. All emotion--grief, anger, relief--has left the world, leaving only the tall gray tower of the Night Clan, and you within it.

If you press into the hall, you'll find no throng of thieves, no fellow clan-mates. At the moment of the Godric's death, the thieves vacated the top of the tower to gather in the kitchen below and raise a toast to their fallen master.

The only person you see is the old man--your informant. You catch sight of the back of him as he begins to descend the staircase.

[Inferno]

Zaent Darkhand, elven criminal:

"You there! Old man," called Zaent coldly from Godric's doorway. "Come here."

Mr. Kent, what is the Night Clan's punishment for an informant in their ranks?

[Mister-Kent]

Squealing on the "family" is always taken seriously. Under Godric, the harshest punishment for any crime against the Clan was banishment. The offending party is barred from all guild participation but keeps their life, however their fate is not as merciful as it seems. Out in the cold of Vornheim without the protection of their guild, those banished are often targeted by the Royal Guard, enemy gangs, and even former clan-mates with a grudge.

However, that was under Godric. Sable has always pushed for showy punishments, making examples of the offenders to keep the Clan in line.

***

The old man turns slowly, revealing his eyes red from tears. "I don't know why I didn't recognize you in the Cock-and-Dragon. Perhaps it's because you've been gone so long. Gods above--Godric's own son, returned at last. Come to take what's yours then?" He sniffles, and bows humbly. "You have my support, I think it goes without saying..."

[Inferno]

Zaent Darkhand, elven criminal:

Zaent's mouth made a loud, derisive snort. It might have been a laugh.
His eyes wild and his voice savage, he snarled: "You mean I'll have your loyalty for the right price, don't you?"

The vengeful gangster made sure his voice was loud enough to shake Sable from her silent reverie.

[Mister-Kent]

The old man pauses, mouth agape to feign shock, then smiles. You hear Sable begin to stir within the next room, and the old informant lowers his voice accordingly. "Of course for a price. It's how you know I'm trustworthy," he explains confidentially.

His smile drops from his face as Sable emerges in the doorway, and he bows his head. Sable Greathouse speaks with distraction, pressing her cheek lightly against the door's frame. "Doctor Schnabel is preparing father for the crypt."

"Zaent...why are you still here?" she asks. Sable folds her arms, as if expecting a specific answer.

The old man remains silent at your side, staring at you. He seems almost as curious as Sable. Looking back in the room, you see Dr. Schnabel in his smoking mask, draping a cloth over Godric. Looking past them to the window view of the bay, you see that in the aftermath of the torrential downpour a great fog has risen over the harbor.

[Inferno]

Zaent Darkhand, elven criminal:

“Get lost,” Zaent said to the old man, deciding he was more use alive.

Once the old rat was gone, Zaent turned to Sable. “I’m sorry, Sable. I really am. And I’m sorry for this too: You need to get past your grief and now. There will be time to mourn Godric later. There's nothing you can do for him now. Let the doctor work."

"You have pressing matters that need your attention." Zaent nodded his head at the newly empty hallway.
"Cat's out of the bag. Word of Godric's death is all over Vornheim by now.
If I’m the Vapors, I strike right now. And hard.
What’s your plan to handle that?”

[Mister-Kent]

The old man silently turns on his heels and descends the staircase. Sable closes the door to her father's room behind her. "I'm not afraid of them, or any other gang. The Vapors live up to their name--smoke, immaterial. They are not as powerful as they present themselves."

After ten minutes, Dr. Schnabel emerges from the room sans mask. "You'll be needing a priest. For the funeral, I mean. May Vorn welcome him into his Iron Heaven with outstretched arms." The physician nods to you cordially.

Shortly after he departs, there is the smell of smoke from Godric's room.

[Inferno]

Hey, I'm back.
To clarify: Sable is in the room with Godric's body, where the smell of smoke is coming from, with the door closed?

[Mister-Kent]

She's in the hall now, having closed the door behind her while the Doc did some work. After the Doc has left the smoke is noticeable...

[Inferno]

Zaent Darkhand, elven criminal:

Zaent suddenly put his hand on the door. It it wasn't hot, he'd open it.

[Mister-Kent]

The door is not hot, but wisplets of gray mist seep beneath the bottom of the door and into the hall. Sable also places her hand on the door, preparing to enter...

[Inferno]

Yikes. Before I jump to conclusions, last question: Is there any burial/cremation/embalming process in Vornheim that generates lots of... vapors?
Thanks.

[Mister-Kent]

There are similar cremation rituals, but none you've ever heard of performed indoors…

[Inferno]

Zaent Darkhand, elven criminal:

"Careful, Sable. What the hell are those vapors coming through the door?!" Zaent snarled.

If Zaent ran to a window, could he see the exit that the "doctor" would have to take to leave this building?

[Mister-Kent]

"It smells like incense!" Sable coughs. She flings the door open wide, only to be greeted by a thick gray curtain of mist filling the room. She steps back, and draws her sleek black dagger. "Where'd the doctor go? He must've left a candle burning..."

Out the hall's window, you peer out from the gray tower onto the overlapping bridges below. You see the lithe form of Dr. Schnabel marching briskly east towards the 15th Ward.

You also hear something slide against the stone floor within the bedroom.

[Inferno]

Does Zaent know Dr. Schnabel?
Does the smoke smell like incense or anything Zaent can place?
It's near dawn. Are the seedy streets of the Night Clan ward busy? (how's that for a leading question?)
Thanks.

[Mister-Kent]

You never met Schnabel before today--he must've taken up with the clan after you left. The smoke in the room does smell very faintly of the drug the good doctor was inhaling. The doctor could've used the front door or the bridge exit halfway down the tower.

The sleepy ward is just now beginning to awaken. It's getting later in the morning, and folks who work market stalls dockside are getting set up for the day. The barge-men rise early, and have been up for hours loading goods to take north through Vishtushal Pass into the Throat of the Sea.

Also, please roll initiative!

[Inferno]

Initiative [1d6] = 3