At some point, this involves coming across Sislau outside the window, possibly hanging off the roof.

He seems politely interested in the progress they've made so far, if somewhat distracted by his position. ("Oh?" "Well, that sounds promising." "With a sword, you say?", etc )

----

OOC: So, questions: is it as simple as 'follow the trail of spicy footprints'? I'm going to have Sislau go up one floor, rather than down, to see if 1) there's any special information up there (ie, was someone trying to be clever and came down rather than up), and 2) see if the slightly higher view tells him anything useful.

He'll head down (via the outside) afterwards, if nothing shows itself. Plans change if it does. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:20, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

Cristina nods to Arya and then turns to smile at Jens. "Now, we know that you assisted someone the other day at the entrance. Could it be Jose's relative, the one that worked here until he was dismissed?"

She recognizes that Jens is a pretty good swordsman, and that he should be able to determine that she is much better than he is. She will try a few subtle maneuvers that might intimidate even him, but nothing too overt that other guardsmen might notice.

She smiles again, nods to Arya, then back at him. "We are only interested in getting the eagle back for Tchernivich, that which was stolen, not in punishing you or anyone. Well, we might give Tchernivich the name of the actual thief, but not mere accomplices. We are not guardsmen, after all.

Do you think the eagle may eventually be turned over to Jaroslaw Novak? That might change things around a bit." She gives him a devilish grin and laughs loudly!

One raise.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Thu 27 Apr 2023.

On the roof Sislau finds little of real interest - there's no sign of anything higher up indicating anyone had passed that way and beyond a slightly better view of things developing on the ground at the front gate it doesn't reveal any further information.

OOC: There's not quite enough of the spicy footprints to follow back to their source (that would be quite the spicy fellow to do that!) but for someone to be shedding this much cumin is unusual and the spice is rare enough that places where it is kept in such quantities locally could probably be counted on one hand. Asking around, via a Raise, would give you some leads in that vein.

***

At the gate Jens maintains an easy smirk as you speak to him until he hears mention of Jaroslaw Novak and that wipes the smirk straight off his face. Looking obviously rattled he moves forward and leans his head in conspiratorially, "Okay, okay...look, I think I can help you out but we can't just chat here." He throws a sideways glance at one of the other guards on duty.

Though just as he steps in close as if to speak quietly he lunges with a hand towards Cristina's chest. Fortunately Arya's hand lashes out and knocks aside the concealed dagger which the burly guardsmen had intended for the Vodacce and the weapon clatters across the cobblestones.

In a blink Jens has turned on his heel and fled; moving faster than you would have given him credit for. Across the road he skirts the outside of a wagon delivering produce to another home and lashes out, scattering fruits and pieces of wood into your path in a desperate attempt to delay any pursuit...

OOC: So the scene (for Cristina and Arya at least, though anybody who wishes can also join in and it can be assumed you were nearby at the time) has changed to a Chase Scene. I use alternative rules for this which I put up in the 'Game Information' thread a short while ago.

This is a basic footchase so you need to hit a Momentum of 4 within 3 rounds. There is also, this round, 1 obstacle in the form of the classic 'scattered goods in the road' (what can I say; I love a trope) which costs a raise (from anyone) to deal with.

Anyone involved in the chase will need a new Approach (Trait + Skill) to roll.

If you don't fancy the exercise feel free to speak to anyone else, investigate what you might or follow up any other leads back at the house or elsewhere.

Cristina shouts to Arya, "Thanks for that!"gives a quick look around, then takes off after Jens in a sprint. "I'll head him off by going to the left or right, not directly. Let's go!"

Scattered fruits and pieces of wood? Nah! Piece of cake! She will leap, dodge and weave, to avoid this bothersome trouble.

She yells ahead of Jens and points at him with her off-hand. "Stop that criminal! He's accused of stealing. There may be a reward if he can be stopped before he gets away!"

Cristina is quite experienced with these chases, and lets out a yell! "YAAYY"

One raise to counter the stuff in the path.

18:17, Today: Cristina rolled 47 using 8d10 with rolls of 8,5,4,5,9,8,5,3.  Chase, 4 Finesse + 3 Athletics + 1 Flair. 4 raises so far.
14:39, Today: Cristina rolled 5 using 1d10 with rolls of 5.  Flair.
Still 4 raises...

This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Fri 28 Apr 2023.

Arya prefers to avoid solving problems physically but when Jens takes off running there is little for it but to give chase.  While not as quick as Cristina, she is not far behind the lithe duelist as they come upon the scattered fruit and vegetables.  As Cristina clears a path, Arya manages to catch one of the errant apples and tosses it mid-stride with as much force as she can muster at the back of Jens's head.

Today: Arioushka Raskolnikov rolled 23 using 5d10 ((4,5,4,4,6)) - Finesse + Aim.  Two raises.

Use a raise to slow Jens's momentum.

Arya and Cristina hurtle after Jens with barely a moment's hesitation though the big man is definitely swift as he starts to increase the distance before Arya's hurled apple knocks him off balance and careering into a fence. He bounces off and is recovering when Cristina's shout  causes the owner of the produce wagon to bravely try and apprehend Jens, grabbing his arm and slowing him further.

Sadly the wagon owner proves to be no match for the bigger man who cuffs him roughly around the head and pushes him forcefully towards you where he stumbles into your path in a daze.

Jens uses the distraction caused by his would be assailant to dash down an alleyway between two of the larger properties over the road. You smile as you see that it ends in a 7ft wall but Jens hits it a dead run and hauls himself bodily over the top, dropping over the other side in an uncontrolled manner and hitting the ground with an ungainly grunt.

OOC: Momentum now 2 out of the 4 needed, 2 rounds of the chase left. So if you get four raises between you then you can end the chase now if you want to ignore the obstacles.

Two obstacles to deal with this time (both requiring a raise to overcome); the hapless wagon owner and the wall.

Time for new approaches and new rolls.

Sislau, taking the route down the building that seems to make the most sense, aims to land in the flowerbed. From there, he just takes another look around, to see what he can see.

OOC: Roll?

OOC: No need to roll or spend a raise on this one - Sislau can see some footprints in the flower bed which appear to support the idea that two or three people came through it to scale the wall. They came from the direction of some bushes on the far wall (which investigation or discussion with the others reveals is the location of the side gate).

Arya dodges the vendor and heads in pursuit of Jens down the alley.  Noting a trellis on the property bordering the right side of the alley, she grabs it, ripping it from its mooring, and uses it as a ladder to scale the wall.

Today: Arioushka Raskolnikov rolled 28 using 6d20 with rolls of 10,9,2,4,1,2.  Brawn+Athletics.  Two Raises.

Use one raise to remove Wall Obstacle and one to slow Jens's momentum, if possible.

Cristina tried to understand what was happening here. One idea after another rushed through her thoughts.

Jens had tried to use a knife on her even though he was not the eagle thief. Why? Did Jens' wounding or killing her fit her part in this? Was there another crime here? Did this other crime not involve Tchernivich at all? Did Jens believe his life to be in jeopardy from other crimes, or a life of crime?

She had begun her chase after a quick look around. She knew she was quick. How had Jens kept ahead of her? He must be very quick himself.

Or, had he realized that he would be caught shortly, and tried to use the fence as a new tactic? Or, had he plotted to use the fence to ambush them, the grunt was a ruse, and he was waiting to attack them in detail on the other side?

His other crimes did not matter. He was not the eagle thief. The danger was not worth the risk. "Stop Arya! This is too dangerous! Jena is not worth it! Let's think about this!" Cristina grabs at Arya to try to keep her on this side of the fence.

Use one raise to stop Arya on this side of the fence.

12:43, Today: Cristina rolled 41 using 6d10 with rolls of 2,10,8,5,8,8.  Brawn 2+Perform3+Flair1.  Cristina rolled 9 using 1d10 with rolls of 9.  Perform 3 reroll. Second Flair
13:23, Today: Cristina rolled 7 using 1d10 with rolls of 7.  Second Flair for first use of Perform. Four Raises
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Tue 02 May 2023.

Physical feats are not Arya's strong suit and it takes little more than a suggestion from Cristina to halt the young woman at the top of the wall, one foot still on the trellis, watching Jens retreat into the distance.  IN truth, she is not exactly sure what she would have done had she caught the guard.

She turns to look down at Cristina, cocking an eyebrow.

Cristina breathes a sigh of relief. She composes her thoughts and speaks, "This chase makes little sense to me now.

Jens tried to use a knife on me even though he is not the eagle thief. Why? Did Jens' wounding or killing me fit my part in this? Is there another crime here? Did this other crime not involve Tchernivich at all? Did Jens believe his life to be in jeopardy from other crimes, or a life of crime?

I thought he may have plotted to use the fence to ambush us, the grunt was a ruse, and he was waiting to attack us in detail on the other side? If I am wrong, so be it. I prefer not to be a thief-taker, even if the man is a thief elsewhere.

His other crimes do not matter. He is not the eagle thief. The danger is not worth the risk. We must try another lead. Or find and talk to Tchernivich, tell him what we have found, and let him direct us."

She tried to project sincerity via perform.

Arya shrugs, "maybe he is a little more involved than simply being bribed?  He could have been employed by Jaroslaw Nowak for all we know, maybe even suggested the theft?  He certainly reacted strongly to that name.  My main concern is that I don't know that we have much else in the way of leads and time is running," she replies.

Meanwhile, Griselda was still questioning José Gadeva.

"They couldn't be involved, not directly. But someone else may have had some control over them, and used them for their own ends. Who did you catch?"

Griselda could see a possible pattern emerging. She didn't expect the household had employed a thief, but that someone had bribed or otherwise persuaded a member of the household to take an impression of the key. It would have been the work of moments, and should have been safe; it was their bad luck for the butler to catch them anyway.

Cristina says to Arya, "Let's go back and put more pressure on the butler, Jose Gadeva.

We know the underbutler, Becker's predecessor, was a relative of his, and that man was dismissed for some kind of unauthorized use of the key. Let's get Alisia, his wife, and get more information from the two of them."

Cristina returns to Tchernivich's home with Arya, rounds up Alisia, and finds Griselda together with Gadeva. <Old Thean> "Well, well, well! Senor Gadeva! Or is it Herr Gadeva! Your accomplice Jens got away. So, we are back to get the information on the stolen eagle from you and your wife.

So, Senora Gadeva? Are you aware that a relative of your husband might be involved in the theft of the eagle? Or is the thief your relative? In either case, Herr Tchernivich is likely to involve the Guards for a visit with you. Certainly, you both may lose your employment, if not end up in prison!

Now, that would be a shame, right? Perhaps we could negotiate? If we can get the eagle back, from Herr Novak or someone, perhaps, we might put the blame on Novak and/or Herr Jens. Yes?"

She gives her performance with a little extra force (Brawn + Perform) by getting into his face and growling.

Two raises. One as an Opportunity for the Gadevas!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Fri 05 May 2023.

Sislau leans out the side gate, to see if anything presents itself.

Other than that, his next inclination is to go to the kitchens and see what he can find there.

Arya and Cristina end the pursuit of Jens at the wall he leaped over leaving him to escape into the backways of the High Quarter.

Returning into the home they pass Sislau heading down into the kitchen and the three of them then meet up with Griselda who is still speaking to the butler. From there you escort the butler down to the kitchens and Alisia meets you there.

As Cristina takes the lead in the questioning José is clearly confused, "Jens, who...oh, the guard? What's he got to do with this?"

The questioning over the relative brings a lot more fruit, however. The butler and his wife share a look before she nudges him and he opens up, looking down and sighing as he does so "It was my cousin, Javier. We had taken him on as the underbutler and he was with us for a while but his heart was never in it. Always had his head on his studies. Then he started sneaking around a bit, I found him in places he didn't need to be. And that came to a head when I found him in my chamber and I let him go the very next day. I don't see he can be involved in this though, he can only have had the key for mere moments."

"You have to believe me though, I had nothing to do with the loss of the eagle. I love my employer dearly and would never betray him!

OOC: It feels like we're coming to the end of the investigation within the home so I thought I would bring all the characters together for this last bit and then you can decide how you wish to proceed.

Arya does not have any current ideas on how to proceed, so she just watches.

Cristina is frustrated. Jens is gone for now. Gadeva's nephew is not here. There seem to be no other leads, and time is running out.

"Where can we find your cousin, Javier, Herr Gadeva? He might have takes the eagle from the safe. He could have given, or sold, a copy of the key to someone.

Where can we find him now?"

There seems to be only one other alternative, waylay Herr Novak on his way to the celebration at 3PM.

one raise

"I believe you," Griselda reassured José, "I suspect Javier of nothing more than curiosity and, perhaps, foolishness."

Either Javier himself, or a third party, had likely made him curious enough about the contents of the safe to take an impression of the key. As she'd suspected, he didn't sound the criminal type, but he could have given or sold the impression in a fit of anger, or it could have been stolen from him. But she didn't want to distress the butler by expounding her theory in front of him.

"I cannot believe that Javier took the eagle but, you are right madam, he may have got himself involved in something foolish.

He very quickly went to work for a Sarmation nobleman newly arrived in the city. I believe he holds a senior household position there. It's a Jaroslaw Nowak. Something of a sore point as my employer loathes him.

Nowak has a property here in the High Quarter, he" and with this the butler sniffs with what seems to be mild disgust "is renting it while he stays here."

Cristina tried not to grin, smile, or even blink an eye. Hadn't Nowak and his particulars been suspicious, and he their greatest suspect all along!? "That is what we suspected all along, Herr Gadeva! Thank you for confirming this for us. We shall inform Herr Tchernivich that you and your wife were most cooperative in our investigation." She smiled at the man's wife.

Turning to Arya and Griselda, she continued. "Shall we pay a quick visit to Jaroslaw Nowak's household? Things might become quite interesting there."

One raise to make a smooth getaway.

Cristina smiled and got the directions for Nowak's direction in the High Quarter.

Last raise.

She looked about to see if others were ready to pay the suspect a visit. When it seemed that there were none additional, she yelled, "Avanti! Let's Go!"

The distance couldn't be far.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Mon 15 May 2023.

Arya goes off in search of appropriate clothing before venturing back outside.  If everyone is still around after she procures some, then she will tag along.  Otherwise she will stay at the mansion and attempt to stall things as necessary.

Sislau, unobtrusively, tags along with Cristina.