EVENT #17: EPULUM - COORDINATION POST

[abraxasmods]

Event #17 - Coordination

OOC Plotting Post ⦁ IC Event Log ⦁ Nocwich

This post is for coordination while the event is ongoing, to prevent the IC Event Log from being overrun by OOC mod and player communications. The comments section will contain applicable comments and forms for you to reply to as needed.

Use this post to:

◎ Contact the mods
◎ Submit your suspected culprit
◎ Investigate the crime or track ongoing investigations
◎ Submit noticeable actions
◎ Write rapid IC exchanges

Available Forms

For details on each form, see the sections below.
Be sure to reply under the applicable category as required.

Mod Communications

If you have any questions about the limits or scope of what you can do before you formalize it in an investigation, you can go over the details with us here. You can also submit the suspect to Celeste under the appropriate heading. Submitting the name of the suspect is not required to complete the mystery, but doing so may contribute to whether the suspect is caught or escapes.

If you have questions about non-investigative aspects of the event, see the Questions thread on the OOC Plotting Post.

Contact Us

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Submission:</b> (Describe your question OR write the name of the Witness your character will accuse as the suspect)

Investigations

To leave opportunities for others, please limit the scope of your actions per submission. For example, if you'd like to test a key, you must specify a narrow set of locks in a particular section. Additionally, while there are no strict limits on how many investigations you can be involved in, we do ask that you try to stagger them a little to help us keep pace.

You can investigate something multiple times as long as it makes sense for your character to try again. This includes following up with witnesses if characters learn new information. To investigate, fill out the form, then comment under the item you're investigating.

Investigate a witness, scene, or evidence

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Other characters involved:</b> <b>Witness/Scene/Evidence:</b> (What is the witness, scene, or evidence your character is exploring?) <b>Action:</b> (Describe what your character is attempting to do and how. If multiple characters are taking action, include their actions.) <b>Thread:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (If applicable. Linking a thread is NOT required, but can help us tailor our responses) <b>Notes:</b> (Anything else)

IC Exchanges

Use this option if you have an interaction you'd like to play out, but setting up a standard IC thread would be impracticable. For example, if your character wants to speak to several people about a piece of evidence, you might want to do an IC exchange. IC exchanges can take place in the real world or the Horizon.

Treat this like an informal IC network thread done in person, where character reactions, snippets of dialogue, and other details can be quickly played out and concluded in-game without committing to a full log thread. Exchanges are game canon, and can count towards Activity Check under the category of a Network thread.

Start an IC exchange

Using the provided form is optional. Begin a thread freeform if you prefer.

<b>Where & when:</b> (Where and when is this exchange taking place?) <b>Purpose:</b> (What's the reason for this exchange?) <b>THREAD START</b> (Write the scenario, your character's actions, and any dialogue as usual)

Notable Actions

Submit any notable actions that are likely to gain attention from other players such as fights or disturbances.

Submit a notable action

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>When:</b> (Approximately when is this incident taking place?) <b>Where:</b> (Where is this incident taking place?) <b>What:</b> (Describe the incident) <b>Link:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (If applicable. Actions can be submitted without a thread if they're minor.)

Comments

WITNESSES

[abraxasmods]

BABIS

[abraxasmods]

[magicalarchaeologist]

Player Name: Dee & Terra
Character Name: Istredd
Other characters involved: Cassian Andor

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Babis

Action: After talking to Soraya and getting suspicious about the Nether, they will talk to the guards about any Draconae they may have seen showing an interest, and based on Babis' description in the log, end up looking for him.

Istredd will introduce himself as one of the Summoned alchemists who helped save the dragons and create the cure. If Babis has heard anything about that, he probably could recognize Istredd's name. He'll say he spoke with Anneth and intends to further help research potions for the dragons. He asks how she and the dragons have been doing since they left.

He asks him if he usually attends the Ikorr party and how he's enjoying the evening so far.

Cassian will mention he was not there during the dragon cure, but he is very glad to hear the Summoned could help. They are just starting this convo out carefully to see his reaction to the Summoned-Nether connection.

Thread: thread still in progress
Notes: Not as of right now.

[rarebenedictine]

Player Name: Kara and Ran
Character Name: Brother Cadfael
Other characters involved: Kelson Haldane

Witness: Babis
Action: Cadfael and Kelson will attempt to follow Babis to see what he is up to, where he goes, who he talks to etc. They are both in their carnival costumes and neither of them stands out or is someone important or recognizable.

If caught, Cadfael will introduce himself as a Summoned medic and Kelson as his patron, ask Babis politely how he's enjoying the Carnival, does he live in Ikorr, if not how long is he visiting, and what he thinks about city. He will comment how sad it is that current disturbance has soured everyone's time. He'd admit they actually were looking for him.

Since Kelson is from world with magic and Cadfael from one without, they could not agree on the solution for a puzzle. Babis has been referred to them as expert lock-picker. Would he be so kind and help them determine which of them is right.

The puzzle is a locked room puzzle with added magic and goes like this: There's a precious golden vase in a locked room. There are no windows to the room and might magical wards on the door that's guarded around the clock with guards on shifts. Kelson says it's impossible to get in with wards there, and Cadfael says there's always a way even with magic. Would Babis help them resolve their dispute and explain how he would approach this puzzle?

All the while Cadfael is talking, Kelson is observing, looking for anything suspicious.

Thread: Thread, just started.
Notes: Cadfael has no magical skills, Kelson can tell if someone is lying.

[gynvael]

Player Name: Noa
Character Name: Geralt
Other characters involved: Thancred Waters

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Babis
Action: Thancred is pretending to be intoxicated while Geralt is...quote unquote playing along. They're going to try to get Babis to talk about the wine that he stole, with Thancred playing up his (true) history as a bit of a thief and a scoundrel himself. Thancred will keep plying him with alcohol.
Thread: Thread
Notes: Geralt will not be as helpful with the playacting, but if Babis catches on or starts to disengage, Geralt will just straightforwardly tell him about the investigation and that he should help. Frankly, Geralt doesn't think this kid has anything to do with it, or if he does, he's not the mastermind behind it.

[northerndragon]

Player Name: Elizabeth
Character Name: Jon Snow
Other characters involved: Sansa Stark, Koby

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Babis
Action: After speaking to Soraya in a little more detail, the gang comes away with no particular reason to keep bothering her, and checked in on the IC info exchange board. Because Soraya mentioned that there may be people who know more about the artifact, and Istredd says Babis does and is a good person to talk to, they decide to try him next.

Jon tells Babis that he's heard that Babis knows as much about the artifact as anyone -- more than the Ikorrans, in fact. (Impressive!) What can he tell them about it? Why is it dangerous? He mentions that they've seen the condition of the last owner's body; he means beyond that, the bigger implications. What's Babis's own opinion?

Koby, who is himself a wide-eyed innocent, asks if Babis was at least having a good time on his birthday. Also, who does Babis think would want the Twin Latchkeys?

Sansa asks why Babis was in the gallery during the parade, instead of watching the parade.

Thread: n/a
Notes: Sansa watches Babis's demeanor as they talk. Is the "wide-eyed innocent" thing something of an act? Are there moments when it slips -- does he get feverish talking about the artifact? Etc.

Based on the IC info exchange, the basic idea they've developed here is that Babis might not really be there to celebrate his birthday -- they suspect his real purpose was to confirm the existence and appearance of the artifact for the Draconae. (And maybe steal it, of course, but maybe not.) Jon specifically wonders if they mean to keep it locked away... or somehow use it to do summonings themselves. (Jon was active in the Draconae event but mainly with helping collect ingredients and sometimes playing with the baby dragons, so it seems unlikely that Babis would recognize him. The other two arrived after that event.)

The subject of the stolen wine might come up later if the conversation turns that way.

[techmaturgy]

Player Name: Whit
Character Name: Viktor
Other characters involved: N/A

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Babis
Action: After hearing from Istredd about the myth behind the Twin Latchkeys, Viktor will seek out Babis himself. Hopefully he’ll find him drinking, but he won't be picky about where he finally tracks him down.

Viktor will introduce himself as an inventor from the Free Cities, and will lean on their shred interests as craftspeople--he'll say he heard that Babis is a smith (to justify his interest in seeking him out), and make a joke about how annoying it is to outsource blacksmithing for his own operation. He'll ask if there's anything interesting Babis has been working on.

His goals are twofold--first, to see if he can steer the conversation towards the Twin Latchkeys in order to discover more about the supposed nature of the item, and second, to snag one of the glasses Babis has been drinking from on the way out (for the spit).
Thread: Viktor is approaching Babis on his own, but here is his top level for his general activities at the festival.
Notes: N/A

[nomnoms]

Player Name: Jay
Character Name: Nanaue
Other characters involved: none

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Babis
Action: NANAUE JUST WANTS TO WISH HIM A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AND PRESENT HIM WITH A HAT

(this hat is one can can be found in the trunks in the tent, he does not actually own this hat)
Thread: N/A
Notes: N/A

RETHA ZELPHA (FIREWING)

[abraxasmods]

[thedreamer]

Player Name: Kris
Character Name: The Doctor
Other characters involved: Julia

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha Zelpha
Action: To begin with, the Doctor & Julia would take the position of just wanting to get to know Retha a bit, put her at ease. They would attempt to ingratiate themselves with Retha, to know her better, and would take the position of earnest, curious newcomers dazzled by the sights; their timing would be such that they'd catch the tail end of her performance and when there's a free moment, they would approach and ask if she had a little time to spare for new fans here in Ikorr for the first time. Depending on if she's willing to indulge, they would start by simply introducing themselves, both to her and to Firewing.

The Doctor would be curious:
-Had she done this routine most of her life?
-Had she ever done any other type of performances like juggling or sword swallowing, was she always called to this and only this? Given her talents (between the acrobatics and the ventriloquism), he would find it easy to imagine her being a dab hand at anything she cared to try.

While the Doctor speaks to Retha, Julia would attempt to charm Firewing through her gain (supernatural charm of animals). Julia would also attempt to flatter her and appeal to her ego, asking her for make-up tips.

Given the bustle around them and mindful not to inundate her with too much all at once, the Doctor will pause to ask her if there's anything he can possibly help with so she can settle (along the lines of, surely after a flurry of performances some cleaning up help would be appreciated, and he works fast!)
Thread: Thread
Notes: There will be follow-up questions if she's willing to accept either of their company for a bit, hoping she might give them "the time of day (night)," possibly back to her dressing room or at least back behind the stage, for a little extra chatter, so as not to make her feel put under a microscope.

[parce]

Player Name: trace
Character Name: nikolai lantsov
Other characters involved: none!

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Casually questioning/flirting with Retha Zelpha
Action: nikolai would, at first, see if he could catch any tidbits of conversation or otherwise while he lingers around because he's low level influence and probably not noticeable.

but he wouldn't want to just leave it at that and he would try and approach retha, using the charm and skill he's picked up from being a monarch to try and put her at ease. he would compliment her and firewing, tell her that her act was his favorite and generally try and make it so she thinks she's the one on control.

he would offer to buy her a drink as a way to unwind after the performance and say whatever she wanted was on him.
Thread: none though there is a general top level hereabout him talking to witnesses
Notes: if he can, he's going to try and connect with her when it comes to rivals and such being close to them since he himself was considered a spare and tossed away before he became king of ravka.

[familysucks]

Player Name: Nri
Character Name: Michael
Other characters involved: Kelson Haldane

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha Zelpha to see what information she might be willing or able to share about Cassia and the woman who took Cassia's place in the parade.
Action: Michael and Kelson will approach Retha with apparent interest in the parade and performances taking place during the Carnivale night. Word has it she knows everything about everyone with a talent for the performance arts around here, so she seems the right person to ask. The Summoned were invited to the Nether recently, and some of the youths there raved about a Miss Cassia's talents—but it appears she didn't perform this year and someone else took her place. Now they both seem to be absent. Are they both well?
Thread: None yet, but we're following up from this thread
Notes: N/A

[magicalarchaeologist]

Player Name: Dee & Terra
Character Name: Istredd
Other characters involved: Cassian

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Retha
Action: Istredd and Cassian introduce themselves to Retha as Summoned and that they really enjoyed the celebration tonight. Istredd mentions that they heard a woman named Cassia was supposed to perform tonight, and they'd been looking forward to seeing her. Cassian asks who she was replaced by and what happened to her, poor thing.
Thread: N/A for now
Notes: N/A for now!

[cointosser]

Player Name: Hannah
Character Name: Jaskier
Other characters involved: N/A (Ciri by proxy, but he's alone)

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha and Firewing
Action: Coming over from here, Jaskier will be happy to pull her aside and speak on the merits of performing (and birds!) He will offer Firewing many compliments on their plumage, and Asher, his white raven, will caw with appreciation.

He will provide plenty of compliments on her new costumes, and make a few small suggestions -- especially incorporating bird motifs, as that's his favourite as well.

After some time, he'll bring up that he overheard the Maiden was replaced with a performer named Umber, who he will ask after (after adding his regrets, having heard that Cassia was ill.) His intention was he was going to look into hiring her for one of his own performances, as he enjoyed her greatly, but he has seen no sign of her, and no one else appears to have, either.

Thread: Thread. Branching off from here!
Notes: Mostly, Jaskier's a vested interest in finding Umber as he's worried that a performer should go missing after being the replacement for another -- he fears she was mistaken for Cassia herself, or worse... as he's well aware of the dangers of jealousy among performers. Ultimately he is trying to get info from Retha while Ciri explores the dressing room to see if all the belongings in there are Cassia's, or if something of Umber's lingers as a clue.

[unwings]

Player Name: Jay
Character Name: Castiel
Other characters involved: Cadfael

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Retha, maybe Cassia if possible
Action: Cadfael and Cas are heading over to the dressing rooms to ask Retha if she'd be willing to introduce them to Cassia and see if she'd be willing to let them examine her to determine if she was poisoned, and/or what kind of poison was used. If she's available, or if there's something around here she might've had on her when she got sick. Cas has the ability to identify recently passed and current ailments in human bodies by smell, or identify people by pieces of their bones?? We're hoping he can get an idea of what, if any, poison was used on her, or what sickness she suffered from.
Thread: Thread
Notes: n/a

SORAYA MORAN

[abraxasmods]

[magicalarchaeologist]

Player Name: Dee and Terra
Character Name: Istredd
Other characters involved: Cassian

Witness/Scene/Evidence: They are questioning Soraya Moran
Action: After this interaction, Istredd and Cassian will be changing their approach to asking the Sentinel herself. They will introduce themselves. Istredd will say he's an archaeologist and historian from his world and has studied the past of Abraxas extensively since arriving. Cassian will say he's his assistant and also interested in learning more about the history of this place.

Istredd will ask her how dangerous this artifact and if it is connected to anything special in Ikorr's history. Specifically details she as an expert may know. He wants to know if it's always been in Ikorr's possession and if it has any magic of its own.

Cassian will ask if anyone has been asking about this artifact who is not from Ikorr or may have close leanings with anyone outside of Ikorr.

Thread: Thread- in progress
Notes: not for now!

[ushiri]

Player Name: Jay
Character Name: Kyle
Other characters involved: N/A

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Soraya
Action: Kyle will approach Soraya for more information about the corpse and the weapons, specifically if there's anything known about the identity of the headless corpse. If she seems suspicious about why he's asking, he'll explain that his own world has stories about similar weapons and genuinely seems disturbed to find something like these latchkeys. If she seems unwilling to indulge this topic or has no more information than he could get from the other guards, he won't push the conversation.

He'll also ask who set the original wards on the relic (if that wasn't answered elsewhere, sorry if I missed this!) He won't reveal anything about noticing the strange thing in the wards earlier.

Thread: None, but this will take place after Geralt and Kyle look over the vault.
Notes: None!

[cryptsleeper]

Player Name: Dia
Character Name: Alucard
Other characters involved: Viktor

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Soraya
Action: Viktor will introduce himself as an inventor from the Free Cities; Alucard will simply give his name and let his fangs show for a few moments before getting onto things.

Viktor's questions will be focused on the vault and the locks, with an eye towards physical mechanisms either working alone or in conjunction with magic, assuming there was some kind of security breach. Alucard will be returning to the vaults after his blood testing, so his questions will focus on blood. They will aim to politely address if specific vampire blood must be used to open specific vaults like this one as a means of security, as well as more general information about how old the vaults themselves are, when the first record of this artefact appearing in the vaults is, and how frequently the populace of Ikorr comes down here to access their own personal vaults.
Thread: Thread
Notes: (Anything else)

[londonbound]

Player Name: Lena
Character Name: Rhy Maresh
Other characters involved: Istredd, sort of, but Rhy is approaching alone

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Soraya Moran
Action: Rhy will politely approach Soraya and mention he's a friend of Istredd's, the historian mage she spoke with earlier, if she doesn't mind just a couple more questions. He asks:
1) Are there any specific wards or standing precautions against the Lunae, considering the historic tensions between them?
2) Has there ever been a vault break-in before?
3) Does she know of any artifacts that may be related to this one? For instance, are there others like it that the thieves could theoretically also be targeting?
Thread: after this thread with Istredd, who shared that a High Magic rune was found
Notes: Rhy is reminded of the fact Thorne really wanted a similarly ancient artifact from the Nether, though he wasn't able to get details on what the artifact even is. He's just... suspicious.

[northerndragon]

Player Name: Elizabeth
Character Name: Jon Snow
Other characters involved: Sansa Stark, Koby

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Soraya
Action:

After poking around the vault and guard area, the three speak a little further with Soraya, with the following specifics.

Jon says that he was an officer back where he came from and says, sympathetically, that it must have been hard for Soraya that this happened on her watch. (If her personal BS detector is good, it might help to know that he's sincere about that.) He asks two things: why did she take all these extra shifts herself -- did she have a bad feeling? If so, did anything give it to her? And why did the last person who used the artifact wind up in the shape that they're in -- anything over and above what everyone is already saying? It's dangerous, but does it always kill the user as part of them becoming a conduit for great power?

Koby chimes in earnestly to ask Soraya if there is anyone she personally suspects.

Sansa asks, insistently, whether or not Soraya is SURE she's never allowed anyone in the vault with her. (At this, Soraya will see Jon giving Sansa a mildly exasperated look, and then he will give Soraya an apologetic one.)

Thread: n/a
Notes: To be clear, we completely pored over all the evidence before submitting anything last night and we know what's commonly available to everyone! But Sansa in particular is not a trusting character, and will press witness statements much the same way that a player character might in an Ace Attorney game: not "I've never heard this before" but "are you SURE?" It's totally fair for an NPC to find this annoying. (Sansa is not really dressed for the festivities, so it's already clear that she's not as cooperative as some.)

Sansa suspects that Soraya and Marcellus planned this together or that Soraya was used somehow; she will watch for discomfort/tells. Koby is specifically interested in where Soraya deflects blame (if anywhere). Jon is looking for deeper lore or next steps but is aware there may not be any. (Is whoever stole this thing willing to die in the course of it doing whatever it does?)

[sonofacesius]

Player Name: Kara and Blue
Character Name: Will Solace
Other characters involved: Zagreus

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Questioning Soraya Moran after checking out the vaults
Action: Will and Zagreus would like to clear Soraya as a suspect, especially since she was kind enough to show them the area and answer some questions. They'd ask where she was during the break in, if she noticed anything different recently and if she knew how someone would be able to get their blood registered.

They'd love to clear her if she'd consent to give a sample of her blood.

Thread: Continuation of their Vaults Thread
Notes: not yet!

MARCELLUS VER

[abraxasmods]

[vixening]

Player Name: dai
Character Name: yennefer
Other characters involved: nadine cross

Witness/Scene/Evidence: marcellus ver
Action: yennefer and nadine are going to go ahead and try and chat up marcellus for a variety of reasons! they're

yennefer is going to go the route of flattery where his business and wine-making skills are concerned. she's heard rumors about his wine and as she has partaken in a bit of blood wine tasting herself and has found she also enjoys it, so of course she wanted to see about tasting some of his secret wine that he reserves only for the most important (she's got a hunch that there's a chance the secret ingredient is connected to the blood signature and she wants to look into it).

yennefer will lean on her previous interactions with ikorr (her meeting with celeste) as well as her and nadine's influence (both at level 6) to see if there's any charming of their own that can be done to get into his good graces. yennefer's well versed in leaning into men's egos to try and get information without raising any red flags (thanks aretuza). nadine is also going to be there to add in/back up any flattery and mild flirting.

if/when marcellus seems to be willing to talk, yennefer will very casually bring up the rumors going around about soraya spending a Lot Of Overtime down in the vaults, as well as his relationship with soraya being one that even they know about, to try and read his reaction. but she won't force the conversation if it's not going in that direction!
Thread: Thread (nadine and yennefer are going to make their way through the merchant stalls to find marcellus)
Notes: none atm!

[divinityfrompain]

Player Name: Dee & Andie
Character Name: Julia Wicker
Other characters involved: Wrench

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Marcellus Ver
Action: Julia and Wrench approach Marcellus since he seems to know the food and wine stalls well. They'll introduce themselves as being Summoned and Julia will mention that she talked to the botanist vendor and he said there were several plants known only to Ikorr. She wants to know if that's true of wine vines and if that's why there are some unique flavors specific to them. She'll ask more about wine production in Ikorr. She's friendly and cheerful and seems at ease.

She'll mention she's from a place that was famous for its food and wine, called New York City, so she's fascinated by the lands here. She will say that it's weird she's seen so many more guards in the past hour or so, she wonders if everything's okay.

While this conversation is happening, Wrench is keeping an eye out for anything that would set off his god powers again and if the glow shows up again in the food and wine stall area around Marcellus.

Thread: Thread
Notes: A continuation of here.