Dimir's Informant

Next to Tranquil Cove Diron City sits next to Gontrella with Blackmell Mountains on eastern flank. Known mostly for its culinary arts, arcane, taxidermy, and winery. Going through these streets wasn't difficult as they were created wide enough for two coaches or carriages to move through abreast. As an informant they had to keep their ears open enough for eavesdropping, eyes peeled for anything suspicious while digging their nose into business. One thing they found was a Goblin nether boss starting trouble with loathsome troll as bodyguard. Apparently, a pillar field ox stew they made was dubbed or judged unworthy of a restaurant's menu. Whoever the judge was they were scared to be throttled by a hooded brawler, which is why this mess came to be in the first place. 

 

In response to this threat the Goblin had the loathsome troll bodyguard, or someone impale a hired poisoner with an ancestral cutlass through sadistic obsession. Gawping, nosiness, wannabe looters, onlooking were finished by the time the corpse hauler became involved after this grizzly scene. Witnessed by Griss the Aether theorist the murder was outlined with chalk, but the blood on the cobbled street did not help. No one moved the corpse leaving the authorities to do their jobs. Only thing missing was the murderer and the murder weapon itself. Whoever was found with the weapon would be either tossed in prison or be interrogated. Being called over to investigate was a civil duty; a well-respected, upstanding citizen could perform alongside authorities if they had at least five years of a good record. Alas an Arcane Investigator was brought over to help them. It was his second time to do this however an export was summoned over. They were involved in some form of divination when they received the summons. In the presence of an Arcane Investigator who used their powers to solve crimes and mysteries felt overwhelming. 

 

Right after they checked the corpse the Investigator asked the witness who saw it happen from their balcony window while sitting down in their favorite armchair. Griss the Aether did not want them to know what they were up to inside their apartment revealed to the Investigator of another witness who was chased away from the scene by one of the Goblin's goons. Gossimun verified them as Pepper Diablos, a practicing Conjurer Magician who works as a seamstress. Going to her apartment had to wait until the next day. Sitting down in a separate room to the foyer lobby to the apartment complex was Pepper Diablos, and her attorney Tiag Altrame. The attorney appeared big in terms of physique like an ogre with human like appearances in a suit. Forced to take a seat with the Arcane Investigator taking the lead, Civil Investigator Cageson studied Pepper a little in her seat. Dressed in a handmade shawl over a wool dress with braided decorations, Pepper Diablos apparently brought her orange tiger cat for comfort. Around her neck was a Gwynor made watch. He favored wooden or metal clocks since he did not have to keep up with them. In his own home he had one with a morion cabasset on it as decoration. Pepper gave her testimony to the investigators as Arcane Investigator Artemis Fowlson became a guiding voice for this hunted witness who was apparently with a Tower Worker around the same time. 

 

"Thank you for your time, Ms. Diablos. Who is this Tower Worker you spoke of?" Fowlson got up to leave the witness to attend to her own apartment. 

 

"Tad Wiad, he lives on the floor above mine. He should have more information on who is who." She replied to Fowlson's question. Getting up from her own seat she revealed more of her outfit that made her figure look cozy and warm underneath. 

 

Cageson noticed other things on Diablos, a bracelet of small skulls on the right wrist showing she was a bit of an awkward youth at one point. A coin purse with magical looking eye of foresight hung from her neck. In her left hand she held a weird voodoo doll made for stress relief when squeezed. She did not show the most graceful of movements when exiting the room. Fowlson poked a little at Cageson wondering what he thought. All he could think of where the real culprit was now. Noting it was only 10:00 am the day after the crime Fowlson led them to Tad Wiad's floor. Climbing two sets of stair did not bother them unless they count the sleeping half goblin sprawled on the floor with a bottle in hand. Tad Wiad's own apartment appeared decorated with small cogs, broken tools, iron nails forming the number 838 just under his apartment number, 930. Hoping to have a brief chat with Tad Wiad Cageson rapped on the door. Fowlson did not like that one bit. He squinted his eyes at him. The door swung open revealing a half human, half goblin in brown worker's overalls with pockets, tears, holes. His expression said he was not completely here mentally. Tad seemed a little intoxicated on something. Fowlson quickly shook hands introducing himself, yet he had to make the half goblin raise his hand just to make it seem like he was there. Their mission here was to get information not to arrest him for intoxication in his own home. 

 

"How stoned are you, Tad Wiad?" Fowlson asked him. He looked into his eyes a little closer. Cageson took one good look at him. Checking his eyes for himself Cageson recognized the enlarged pupils. Side effects of a certain drug called Homose Mortalise that gives the user or addict extra time awake. He recalled some four abusers or addicts who were wide awake for 52 hours. 

 

"Why can't they find a good replacement or just a replacement? Or shut down the whole store, another leak was found." Tad Wiad blurted out dropping to his knees in despair. 

 

"Tad we are investigators Fowlson, and Cageson. We are looking for a culprit or suspect in the murder of a culinary judge last night. Do you know anyone the judge may have misjudged or incited a conflict?" Fowlson asked the Half Goblin who seemed to be getting a little more cooperative. 

 

"Yeah, um Nether Boss Nexx, his ah troll bodyguard Fugir can be found near the taxidermist, or the Grand Holk transformed into an inn. Or you can check the archivist, Gendarmes Steone. Do you need any more help from me?" Tad Wiad answered blinking a few times. His head turned to their left down the hall. 

 

"Don't worry they found plenty of help." Fowlson replied to Tad's question as if he was someone else speaking to Tad. He lightly pushed the half goblin back into his own apartment. Closing the door the Arcane Investigator noted to himself to check on this Homose Mortalise drug. 

 

Cageson followed the Arcane Investigator to the archivist Steone to get some addresses and locations. At a Modern University they found Steone overwhelmed with new archives to organize blaming his work on prosperous pirates who have a Buccaneer's Bravado going on. Cageson wrote that down as something to investigate after the discovery of drugs. He wasn't sure if Diablos was mentally well seeing someone like Tad Wiad. Yet it was her choice so he could not say anything. Fowlson took up the conversation with the archivist to find out where the suspects hid. While they conversed Cageson poked around the small archive. Rummaging through a mound of papers, notes, envelopes Cageson discovered what looked like a torch gauntlet that was usually found in Vullan. Either Steone aimed to burn the library or someplace to the ground or he was secretly a member of Vullan's Religious Order. Returning his focus to the conversation, he heard some bits and pieces of what he wanted to hear. 

 

"I don't know where you can really find the Nether Boss unless you check the restored, renovated bailey keep down by the western edge of Diron. It is good you are here Investigator a lawless broker has some crimes to check on. They or she became a trail thrall to more crimes..." he rambled on about something less interesting. What caught Cageson's own attention was the Elf Path Warden of Tajuru Hold close to the western edges of Diron. Certain they would find Fugir near the taxidermist, Georgen Blackburn, they go see an Elf Path Warden of Tajuru Hold.  Just past the western edges they found the Elf at a refurbished homestead where the taxidermy of a croconura, coastline chimera, Bone Picker bird, frilled sandwalla, silver raven, frenzied Arynx Cat Beast, Molder Beast, Rugged Highlands Rootwalla, and Gore Swine sat in the den/lobby of the Home Stead turned lodge. 

 

Not giving himself a name the Elf Warden pointed out the very person they were hunting down. Cageson looked at this figure seated with a Sanctuary Cat Owner known as O'mick. Realizing it was one of the culprits the pair of them were hunting down Cageson nudged Fowlson. From one of the salon rooms an Archaeomancer exited in a bathrobe, he clearly came by to unwind. As for the Cat Hovel Owner who leads a band of 175 or so they needed to be cautious with. Fowlson pointed a finger at the Archaeomancer who froze in fear at the sight of the two investigators. Unawares of the two investigators, Fugir continued his conversation over a shrine to the five deities in the Bymere Country. According to the more knowledgeable Elf Path Warden two colleagues of his Gunnar and Gabrielle went over to see this shrine. Not sure if the Elf Warden was going to rat them out or not, they approached both of them. Fowlson raised a hand to cast create image. Cageson witnessed a very attractive looking exotic dancer appear before the Elf and Orc. Distracting the pair of them, Fowlson was able to catch the pair of them unawares. Ordering Cageson to arrest the Orc named Fugir Fowlson kept the image going until the Orc was completely cuffed. Fugir barely struggled as he looked more drugged than lovesick with his tongue hanging out. The elf was left mesmerized as Fowlson undid the spell to help Cageson move the Orc out of the area. When Fugir snapped out of the delusion he appeared defanged in a mental way. Going along with whatever was actually happening the Elf Warden, Dunn Raleigh got dressed. 

 

"Do they need to cancel sports to make them miserable?" Dunn questioned more to himself as they returned to Diron City. 

 

In downtown Diron City Fugir was brought to a keep turned prison house next to a siege works transformed into something else. Part of the siege works and keep were semi protected by a wall. Apparently more for decoration this wall was surrounded by modernized brick buildings, a complex, a mustering hall turned house or shop, and mason's guild. The keep itself was surrounded by a fence with barbed wires, or spikes at the top. Cageson saw a Tanachorpe Elite Skirmisher of a wandering Uxane group encrust a Seer's lantern on the Rampart Wall to a Diron Town Guard or Watchers in the Mist, someone called Bizarine. With Fugir locked up it was now time to go after that Goblin Nether Boss. For ten days they investigated some other crimes while hunting for the Nether Boss. Forced to check the outskirts, borders, outposts, border constables, Cageson and Fowlson gave up. At a Tavern Cageson liked to visit just outside Diron to escape he heard about some incident that occurred near the docks of Dimcabul City along the eastern borders of Diron. While seating with border guards and soldiers, a Hamlet Captain brings up devious cover up about Pheres Street Band Centaurs show clear path to outnumber Defiant Ogres of 282 near the Massive Harbor the two cities shared. Part of one City-state Diron and Dimcabul shared a Shipyard, Trading Port, Dockyard, Drydock, Steam Drydock, Naval Hospital, Commercial Docks, Basin, Global Trade Menarr, Major Fishery. Both cities did possess their own Trading Port, local fishery, Fishing Fleets, Drydocks. Whatever it was about he did not really care. Yet he heard about the street Chandler lighting candles for a woman of loveliness. Chandlers were meat for making or selling candles in cities or towns. Cageson overheard a Constable Mage did them in with arcane magic. The use of arcane grip tide cleansed the gangs out of the city near the coast.

 

Forced to give up the chase on the Goblin Nether Boss Cageson befuddled a defiant salvager who witnessed a keening banshee at funeral rites for both sides of a family feud. Whoever this defiant salvager was they dug up another relative's grave using a terrain illusion spell. Knowing it was already resolved Cageson could not help but wonder if there were any members of a certain family who would attack the other. Cageson did not recall the other incidents, but he did recall a family member from both sides were tossed in jail. A Hecketto, and an A'vingier were tossed into the prison system. However both were sentenced to the Black Coats, and the VUVR military where both apparently mention a handsome soldier of foreign yet clansmen origins. Another day passed before he found another case to deal with. Closer to the sewers chain room/driftwood traps, a soul summoner summons/lures the drifting shade, which results in a required urgent exorcist on weld fast wing smith they brought over. For this one he brought over a guard, a scout, a priest, and an extra constable. Forced to open the solid wooden door to the sewers they went through the tunnels to find a one-way door to the portcullis that was wide open. Along the way they found some sewer blockage that needed tending to. A whole hour went by before the shade was exorcised out with some extraction spells. 

 

Six days later Cageson kept track of the cases round Diron. What he noticed as that some were either Vullanese sympathizers, Vullanese, Vidothrans, or Vodwanians who immigrated here, yet only a couple of Muskallans. One case involved a firmament sage going missing, which causes a soldier to raise alarm on geist snatching. It was one way to get at least 700 personnel involved to search for the missing female sage who was found at a campsite with some Gontrellans holding them hostage. This revelation would spark outrage among the population. At a meeting with the governor, district mayors, constables, high officials it was agreeing to send someone to investigate. One Timberland Guide and Blade instructor are sent on stealth mission along the borders between Diron and Gontrella. Seven days later both return to report 250 Battle Brawler Orcs fighting a unit of battlefield Soul stinger butchers from Vodwania, hired by the rebel outcasts. Others attacked the unit of Orc Brawlers bringing in 674 Dironee rebels. Just 216 to 538 that force survives according to the 98 remaining Orc Brawlers they ran into. Right along the outskirts was not where Diron's Governing Body wanted a skirmish or battle. At a third meeting each one reported something about 578 bombards being captured and used in the north. It only spelled worse fears of war with Gontrella. Someone discovered vials of dragon-fire being smuggled in using a vessel of Nescency along the coast. 

 

Casualties were unclear, hostile movements barely noted, weapons from Gontrella being used, illegal weapons being brought only meant war was inevitable. Mustering their strength Diron City, Dimcabul, Domoron Mountain City of Dwarves, Haldiron Mountain (Elf), Vussaryan Dynastic, Prolux Kingdom managed to rally 5,425 men, 4,500 Knights and Squires, some 14,000 Infantry. Somehow a Prince who was adopted into a royal family brought over a force of 788 various warriors, adventurers, Muskallans, Orcs, Rangers, Rogues, Berserker Clansmen, Uxane Prowlers, Knights, Marksmen, Assassins, Battle Mages, Highwaymen, Corsairs, and Buccaneers. Mustering the strength under 25,000 Diron City-State and four others felt uneasy facing the Gontrellans in the field. As greedy, corrupt, power hungry, deceiving as the Gontrellans can be their own military can be a hit or miss. Within the span of a few weeks, they managed to rally 30, 975 Skirmishers, Clansmen Raiders, lured Vagabonds, Prowlers, bribed outlaws according to the spies. Gontrella's own transportation system consisted of plenty of railways running through their country. Ahead of time the city-states saw 22, 957 leave, 8,262 make a pact to form a militia, 7,140 decided to relax and wait it out. Among them 944 became prisoners after 1,084 pistols, rifles, revolvers, and lever action rifles were found. 

 

Their assault came on the 13th of the eighth month of the year resulting in minor casualties in terms of deaths. Numbers of wounded sprang up to ten thousand for the combatants. Something the Gontrellans can afford unless the VUVR enter on the hexagon alliance's behalf. Cageson was forced to move his own unit towards abandoned encampments. Here a form battle wise valor was encouraged. Diron witnessed one of their own allies uses electrify spell for victory. Inside the encampments they discovered coins depicting cosmic deities, 3,070 Duffel bags full of military gear, and equipment. One unit found a wounded Ilithid scrivener who lost some abilities due to artillery shrapnel tearing up its body. Among the encampments they discovered 2,074 sets of Ice Style Armor. Nothing enchanted about them just the way the armor was forged appeared like ice. Four artillery pieces from Vodwania fell into their hands along with the ammunition. 

 

Cageson was brought to a keep sturdy enough to use as a prison housing for this wounded Ilithid. Unsure if this monster's wounds would still allow it to control his mind Cageson summoned Fowlson who sent over a rookie Arcane Mind Control Repeller to help. Under the protection of an oval shaped shield Cageson interrogated/interviewed this wounded Ilithid. In broken speech due to coughing fits this humanoid revealed that 23,180 become slaves as tribute and bribery to ward off the Gontrellans. Close to 84 servants are also handed over as means to ward off the Gontrellans, but it did not work. Writing this down Cageson thought of all the cases he dealt with this year. Connecting the dots in his head he thought of the 155,230 known indentured servants within the eastern confines of eastern realms/blocks of Gontrella. Twenty-three days went by before they received a word about the front lines. South of their location in the world the Valde Conflict was going on according to reports. During those days of zero action those who chose or were forced to stay formed their militia of 3,865. Just a quarter of the wounded were ready for more combat. Around this time a Palatine, Dom, and Archduke of three mountain states sent 1,500 Forest Keeper Longswords, 2,458 Elf War Druids, 2,008 Ogres of Numioh Mountain to reinforce the Hexagonal Alliance. Cageson was able to speak to their leaders along with an idle Colonel. On the Forest keepers he noticed their blades were made from Meltix or Meltic, a liquid-like metal that can be hardened in the right temperature. One week later the VUVR sent a force of 30,000 soldiers to boost the defenders. 

 

Several nights later Cageson decided to head towards the southeastern part of the coastline. Days ago, the Nazdar attacked with 128 of their own Flying Wraiths, 26 of which were shot down, and 8 of those down pilots died. That air attack was followed by an invasion by 1,473 Aquattic creatures called Aquanne Hitto who attacked both sides. Their own outposts were harassed by 490 or more Muskallans. His watch shift was given to someone else more experienced than himself. By the warehouse he found a group of figures, a few Vestrisian Guards, and a female figure in a light blue dress with a fur scarf made from a Faux Snow Panther. On her head rested a night blue knitted beret. Stepping closer to her position he noticed her seated in a retractable portable chair she brought with her. In his investigator long coat over a new modern style uniform for military volunteers Cageson gave a slight bow and nod. Vestrisia required one to give a slight bow and nod to any females of high status, high ranks, or positions within society. Calling her Senator Dimir, Cageson gave his own loyalties away in the presence of the night, the coast, and the Vestrisian Guards she brought. Reaching out inside his left pocket Cageson made a move to hand her notes within an envelope on what he found. Just as his hand reached out with the envelope her own hand reached to grab it. From the west a voice from a loudspeaker filled the night. 

 

"Our time has come. For 300 hundred years we prepared. We grew stronger. While you rested in your cradle of power, believing your people were safe and protected."