Merchant Of Death?

[*Serena]

Scene: The Lady's Ward to the Hall of Records

The Factotum falls in step with Rhistel, she seems to have no probably deferring to The Factor despite his being male, and a half blood at that suggesting she is probably a Sigil born Drow or one who has adapted to life outside of the Underdark of whatever prime she was from very well. She replies in undercommon.

"Actually it is good news.  As you know that merchant was killed over some I forget his name something Xerf? Anyway his daughter is here about the inheritance she gets everything.  I have done all of the paperwork and got everything ready but since we'll be taking just under two million jink in inheritance tax from this i need a Factor to sign of on it.  She is at the Hall."

At the Drow words Rhistel turns to look at her, an unmistakable puzzled look on his face as he was indeed ready to receive any kind of bad news rather than be confronted with a simple bureaucratic matter.

"Dorland Xef's daughter?" He asked, as if needing a confirmation, finally taking his gloved hand off her shoulder as he kept walking across the smoggy atmosphere of the Lower Ward.

That would mean this woman was also the legal owner of the statue itself? Most probably, yes.

"Talk me about the matter as we go, would you, Factotum? Was everything in order?"

He needed to go to the Hall anyway, for that favour Dace ~didn't~ ask him. That Erinyes, Hex'Ares.
Now he wondered if this other woman, Xef's daughter, was just one of the next possible victims or someone involved in other ways...

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

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Scene: The Siren's song.

The Efreet sits down. As far as Dace can tell she has brought no invisible guests with her whether knowingly or not.

"Thank you again."

She answers the questions with a remarkable amount of stoic composure.

"Please don't misunderstand me. I loved Shamarch he was always very good to me, but he could be ruthless, and a lot of people where I am from are angry that the statue is being sold here. He could have arranged that merchants murder. He has the means and the will. He didn't, but for anyone who did not know that he'd seem like the probable candidate."

************************************************************

Dace comes back as the Efreet pleads her late husbands innocence.

"You're saying you think he was murdered as a suspect for the assassination of buyer?"

Just before he takes his seat, a loud knock, followed by the familiar prattling of a certain Kobold is heard on the other side of the door. Muttering about timing, Dace opens the door and lets Raka in, once more checking for uninvited guests. Soon as the hyper lizard is in, he shuts the door and continues. "Was there anyone at the auction who you think would have cared enough to go after him on such a suspicion?"

[*Knolden]

Raka greeted his friend Dace with a wave. he then turned to the Lady in the room.

"Hello me Raka goods to meets you." The kobold then sat down on a stool adjusting his armor and putting his massive sword and scabbard on the table for now as he smiled goofily at Dace and the efreet.

[*Er_Nano_Infame]

blinking slowly jall headed into the building, taking in the place and its details, giving a look at the tipped cart just briefly. noticing jade she would wave her over

[*Iggwilv]

Scene: The Temple of the Abyss

The prelate smiles at Mauric. It is not a pleasant smile

"If you would like to help with that I do not know where Gruul stands on this, but I know Mabius servant of Demogorgon is heavily involved in the matter that a said Dogai might be involved in. Perhaps you and your friend here...

By which he probably means Corny

"would like to see him?"

Odette follows the sounds of the screams and the smell of blood creeping through the temple she passes wandering planeswalkers and demons alike. She gets to an iron door that she can easily enough push open the noise getting louder. Inside the small dark dirty room that she finds herself in there is a man not strapped but nailed to a wooden table. He is the source of the noise. Over him stands a tall vaguely female bare breasted fiend with cloven hooves and a pair of long tentacles pretruding from her back. A Lilitu should she know enough about fiends. The demon runs what appears to be a knife used for scultping clay over the mans trapped hand slowly peeling the skin of his finger. The sickly sweet girlish giggle she emits blending in with the screams.

"Shhh shhhh we know she is back in the Cage. Just tell me where and all this can end."

The demon leans closer and licks her forked tongue down the mans cheek in a moacking parody of a kiss. Neither of them seem aware of Odette.

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Scene: The Lady's Ward to the Hall of Records

The Factotum falls in step with Rhistel, she seems to have no probably deferring to The Factor despite his being male, and a half blood at that suggesting she is probably a Sigil born Drow or one who has adapted to life outside of the Underdark of whatever prime she was from very well. She replies in undercommon.

"Actually it is good news. As you know that merchant was killed over some I forget his name something Xerf? Anyway his daughter is here about the inheritance she gets everything. I have done all of the paperwork and got everything ready but since we'll be taking just under two million jink in inheritance tax from this i need a Factor to sign of on it. She is at the Hall."

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The Guild Ward

Jade would spot Jall sanding outside the Sarch merchant house. And Jall of course would not find the Umberhulk difficult to see either

[*Nimiane]

Scene: The Temple of the Abyss

Odette follows the sounds of the screams and the smell of blood creeping through the temple she passes wandering planeswalkers and demons alike.  She gets to an iron door that she can easily enough push open the noise getting louder.  Inside the small dark dirty room that she finds herself in there is a man not strapped but nailed to a wooden table.  He is the source of the noise.  Over him stands a tall vaguely female bare breasted fiend with cloven hooves and a pair of long tentacles pretruding  from her back. A Lilitu should she know enough about fiends.  The demon runs what appears to be a knife used for scultping clay over the mans trapped hand slowly peeling the skin of his finger.  The sickly sweet girlish giggle she emits  blending in with the screams.

"Shhh shhhh we know she is back in the Cage.  Just tell me where and all this can end."

The demon leans closer and licks her forked tongue down the mans cheek in a moacking parody of a kiss.  Neither of them seem aware of Odette.

"...donnae do anythin' barmy unless ya can find somethin' tha' proves me theory true."
[align=center]"... have had a chance to figure things out with Aliya and ensured her saftey."[/align][align=right]"... donnae do anythin' barmy..."[/align]

Both Corny's and Dace's previous words rung in her mind as she crept further into the room, attempting to find some kind of visual obstruction she might hide behind; be it a cupboard or table of torturer's equipment. Odette had neither seen or heard of the fiend that was the Lilitu, but that, along with the mere imagery, was enough to tell her she would likely be slaughtered instantly in a one-one-one confrontation. Yet, the bardess was almost certain they talked of the same woman, of this "Aliya" - it was too much of a coincidence, otherwise. Thus, she decided to do something barmy.

Flattening herself to the wall behind whatever object she could, Odette reaches for a particular pouch upon her extra-dimensional bag; hoping whatever miniscule sound she might make would be drowned out by the bells and the man's screams. Silently she weighed her options; a distraction would draw attention and not necessarily the attention she would want. Odie knew she was not overly strong, nor agile, and the wards she had in place would do little here. Slowly she began to formulate a plan.

Listening intently to the fiend's questioning as she made her preparations, the bardess kept an ear for anything that might halt her actions in her tracks prior to the action she has mentally lined up to take should the scene continue to play out uninterrupted.

[*Leona]

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Scene: The Mortuary

As the Mercykillers slowly come to a decision they are reminded of the rows of tomes on shelves at The Morturay's entrance should they check them they would find records of dead dating back three years stored alphabetically. There are seventeen volumes for X. Rooting through them is a lengthy process. Eventually they come to Xef. His entry is there. Admitted with a singular stab wound piercing the right lung. Everything else noted confirms what they have learned so far. It is noted that the man was made ready for his funeral by an Initiate IV listed simply as Dorsan and then stored in The Deep Crypts. As they are concluding their search the doors open and a winged half fiend wearing the Faction's Robes enters. He carries a large urn. Typically of one of The Dead he pays them no heed.

Meanwhile down in the crypts a conversation takes place. ((Which will be done in game at the request of the player. I'll PM you to arrange a time.))

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Leona having spent her time looking through archives would know enough to likely find the more recent entries without to much trouble, but it does take time. As they would have the answer that the books weren't going to tell them much she would decide to check out the lower crypts looking at her group.

"I guess all that is left to do at this point is check out the corpse ourselves. Brynn would you mind guarding the exit to the crypts until we've found our man... I don't like the fact that we weren't greeted."

[*LadyLightning]

"Ov course. You know 'ow to contac' me if you need 'elp down 'ere." replies Brynn with a crisp nod, motioning briefly towards a passing rat or other small animal. She would take up a position against the wall from which she could see both the entryway, and the door to the Deep Crypts. "Per'aps tha' Dustman 'oo jus' came in can answah a few quessions? 'E dozn't seem upse' tha' th'place's empty. Maybe i's expected?"

[*Er_Nano_Infame]

Jall enters the building , giving some casual look around as she seek for the manager of the place

[*Serena]

Scene The Hall of Records

As they walk to the hall the Factotum fills him in.

"She is the sole heir to his quite substantial estate.  There is no one else to dispute it so we won't need to consult The Guvners  on this it is all in order it just needs your signature.  She  did mention the statue but if we as a Faction are to help is more of a decision for you than me.  Her first name is Cassandra.  She is in the office there."

The Drow opens an office door and Rhistel sees a blonde human woman with blue eyes flawless skin sitting in front of a desk.  She wears a smart black gown. There is no accounting for taste but by conventional standards she is a stunningly beautiful woman.  She stands as he enters and as he gets closer he can see she is ashen face as if she had recently being crying.

"Factor Aidain?"

Rhistel listens at the Factotum explanation quietly as they walk, nodding from time to time and turning to stare at her only at the mention of the Statue, almost as if he just caught her reading his thoughts.

"As far as I can see, we have no business with lost properties, even if they are part of a legitimate inheritance, but I will listen what she has to say.... Still, Factotum, let's not forget this statue has been in the middle of quite a lot of... disorders, since it has been brought in the Cage. I don't want this disorders to follow in the Hall of Records as well. Make sure the guards are in alert when this woman is around, we will not host the set of a third murder, all right?"

His words are spoken with his usual calm tone despite the subject, and as the Drow finally opens the door of the office for him, he bows slightly at her.
He then turns to walk toward their guest, studying her as he gets closer and offering a small bow in her direction as well.

"Miss Xef... Please do stay" he says with a small gesture toward the chair as to invite her to sit again. He doesn't approach the woman despite keeping eye contact, but simply walks around the desk to reach the chair on the other side, looking to examine any document that may be present on the table before taking a seat as well.

"I am confident you'd like this matter to be solved as soon as possible," he finally adds, raising his gaze on her again, "especially considering all the troubles."