[[ Not much happening today because it was Jennifer's birthday. Night. ]]

[[ No problem. Wish her happy birthday for me. When you go quiet, I must admit I worry about fires more than anything else, but it looks like you've only had one or two. ]]

"I must be getting old, Alaric. I should have seen that coming, what with the calibre of the men Rawl brought into this house... It is probably for the best that none of them survived."

Brand laughs, "Not that old -- given that I will soon no longer be an only child!"

He pauses to drink, his expression once again serious, "Appeasing the bank should not be an issue, surely? Rawl robbed it, we ensured that the money was recovered -- based on their discussions, I am fairly sure that, while the guards won't recover it all, most will be. If not, I know at least one of them by name, and the others by sight. You warned the bank; don't you have an opportunity here to say 'I told you so', at least, perhaps even garner some favour?"

"But there is still the question of how the hole in the wall got there in the first place. I can't help but feel there is more going on here. Do you have any idea what Rawl was looking for?"

[[ Re NN vs Constantine, do the religions share the same level of power there, effectively able to boot citizens etc? Ie. Implement policy that affects civil order? ]]

 [[ For later, but feel free to add if the narrative fits ]]

"Oh...and I meant to mention...after  I left Last Chance, it fell. I thought the garrison was wiped out. Did you hear of many survivors of the garrison making it back here?"

"So...500 cons for Madame Damass. What do I get paid for this evenings work?", he asks with a smile. "I hope that's not coming out of my inheritance."

"He had something against her personally, I suspect," says Koric. "Knowing him, he probably made a romantic move on her. But that doesn't matter, other sources revealed she was somehow involved in the attempt to poison the cistern water, and she has certainly been overstepping the line with temple politics... I would love to know what Rawl thought he might find in that vault."

Then he adds, "Tomas's comment about the hole from the tunnel into the vault being done by magic is a new piece in this puzzle. Despite her god-given powers, I doubt that is something Rahni can do... One of the people she has been consorting with recently—an Ezra Serkin—is an alumnus of the School. Perhaps they are responsible for the hole."

"Surely she is not above the law! Poisoning the cistern would be a heinous crime. Why was she not challenged on this?"

"She was," replies Koric after taking another sip of his brandy. "By the Temple, in a closed tribunal, and she was vindicated of all charges... I don't know what went on in the tribunal, but the Temple—all except Rawl apparently—believe it was someone else who did the poisoning."

"And your other sources say she was involved. Do you have any details?"

"Few details from the other sources, I'm afraid," answer Koric. "Most of what I was told came from Rawl, and that must now be suspect."

After taking another sip, Koric says, "Rawl told me that he had been suspicious of Glory Rahni's motives for a while. Apparently, while on guard duty, he saw Glory Rahni and her entourage enter the cistern late one night and later that same night saw them leave again. Then, the very next day, people started getting sick."

"My other sources confirm that Rahni was called up by the high priest of the temple and that a closed tribunal of the temple elders was held, but that's about it... She was also seen helping the sick the next day and the day after that she led the Dawn Ceremony."

"I was tempted to pass off her involvement with the poisoning of the well as coincidence except for Rawl's insistence. He came to me asking for help with his own private investigation. Apparently he'd been told by the Temple to drop any formal investigation and he hinted at an even more widespread conspiracy, so I had to follow it up, especially considering the bank seemed to be involved."

Brand considers for a long time, sniffing and occasionally sipping the Brandy, then "It seems there are two possibilities, both of which lead to the same outcome for us. The Rhani is telling the truth, or not."

"If she is not, then she has fooled the temple (or, perhaps more likely, they have closed ranks, you know how much trust I place in the temple) -- in this case we will have a very difficult time getting anything from her, or the temple, and will be forced to go through her connections."

"If she is telling the truth, then we would once again be forced to investigate the people around her since she and the temple are now likely to close ranks, and the threat must have come from someone around her."

Brand again sniffs the brandy, closes his eyes for a moment, then smiles and puts it aside, focusing his attention on his father again. "Further, what we could have learned directly from Rawl is now lost. There seems little doubt he hated Rhani; and he may have done so for genuine good reason. This is another avenue we should consider -- Rawl's friends, if he had any, and his enemies."

"At least two of the guards on the river knew him: Eisdom, and the hand leader. The hand leader had a low opinion of him, and Eisdom as well I think. Eisdom has some sorcery and now has Rawl's magical dagger. I think it's fair he keeps it, but it -- and their deal to pocket a few coins each -- may be valuable leverage."

"So we have two avenues of investigation:"

"First, it would seem to me perfectly reasonable for you to question them all, individually, as part of your investigation into the robbery. As you have already said, the bank is your business after all. They may well know a great deal about Rawl, and his friends or his theories, which may lead us elsewhere. And they may be eager to divulge what they know, especially if you are willing to turn a blind eye and even offer them a further reward, or arrange commendations. They may also prove useful into the future. To me, they seemed like dedicated men, trying to do their job, and risking their lives to do it."

[[Edit]] "It may also be worth talking to other guards at the cistern, and Rawl's hand directly. They are arguably guilty by association, and should be questioned as part of the robbery investigation."

"Second, Rhani's connections. I could possibly ask at the school about this Ezra fellow, and Minton may have connections to Rhani...but I assume you also have contacts. I am unsure how you might think we should proceed with that."

"I am happy to help with either or both."

Brand smiles at his father and shakes his head, "Live long father, I never want your job."

Koric raises his own glass at Brand's toast and finishes his drink before saying, "My connections in the School of Occult Studies are virtually non-existent, unfortunately, and I can hardly walk up to the door and ask for information. Is that something you can do for me?"

He gets to his feet before continuing, "Meanwhile, I will make enquiries with the town guard. That is a place I do have some influence."

"Anyway, I'm going to see if Jon Lazlo has returned yet. Once I'm sure he's returned, I will be heading off to bed. I'm sure you must be tired too, it has been a long night."

"There is one other matter father...the mystery guest in my room..."

"Oh, I had almost forgotten about her," says Brand's father. "She was an asset of mine in the palace, but she's now on her way back to New Nineveh. Don't worry, you will get your room back soon."

Koric then heads for the door to go looking for Jon Lazlo.

[[ Perception check for the potential lie? I reckon it's tarrantines daughter!,]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Perception check for the potential lie? I reckon it's tarrantines daughter!,]]

[[That would be an Insight check, but go ahead.]]

Insight: 13

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Insight: 13

[[

[[As far as Brand can tell, Koric isn't lying. This is an uncertain roll, but it isn't a failed roll.]]

[[At Andrew's place for the afternoon, will reply more later.]]

[[ OK, Happy New Year, by the way. And say Hi to Pat and Andrew for me. Feel free to let him know that after 3 months I am celebrating my 16th hour in the game! ]]

[[ Looking forward to any other insight from the comments from Koric. My best bet is he is not lying and it's still the daughter (if he had one), and the daughter was a court contact. Never let a good conspiracy theory die! ]]

Brand smiles again, "Good night, father."

He remains in the room for a moment to find a piece of paper and charcoal/pencil/pen on the the desk if possible [[if he doesn't already have spare from before]], then follows Koric's likely route to the front of the house, to where he expects Jon would return.

[[ If I recall correctly, the kitchen was also visible from there ]]

If there is no sign of them, Brand heads to the kitchen to see if there is anything worth raiding. Cold stew and perhaps warm cha would be fine. He would sit at the table, relaxing and eating.

If there is no conversation of note, and no sign of Koric or Jon or Tomas, he will finish his food and go back to the attic and clean his bandolier, armour and weapons, then put the pen/whatever and paper beside the bed, the bandolier under the pillow, and retire for the night.

[[ If he has any of the previous dreams, which he fully expects to have, then he will try say "Who are you?" before he wakes, then draw/note as much detail as he can of the eyes and the surrounding face. ]]

[[Sorry. Didn't get your reply until after we'd been, but they, like us, had a fairly quiet New Years Eve... And Happy New Year right back at you and Kim. FYI, Andrew is currently on his fourth or fifth day and is possibly about to get into his first serious fight.]]

Brand collects paper and pencil and then follows his father downstairs to where he finds Tomas waiting next to the front door. Koric is nowhere to be seen at this point.

Hearing his father talking in the kitchen, Brand can either go and wait with Tomas or join Koric in the kitchen and maybe get some food.

Brand pauses next to Tomas, and looks out the door [[if open]], "Any news of him?"

[[ Wait for answer]]

"I'm going to try to find some food. Would you like anything?"

[[ Does Brand recognise who Koric is talking to?]]

[[ How long has it been since Brax died? Inn was estimated to be 15-20 min away, iirc]]

Perception, if necessary: 22

[[ I don't envy Andrew! Much too stressful! ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand pauses next to Tomas, and looks out the door [[if open]], "Any news of him?"

[[ Wait for answer]]

"I'm going to try to find some food. Would you like anything?"

[[ Does Brand recognise who Koric is talking to?]]

[[Brand can hear the deep voice of Bom coming from the kitchen.]]

[[ How long has it been since Brax died? Inn was estimated to be 15-20 min away, iirc]]

[[It's now about forty minutes since Brax died.]]

Perception, if necessary: 13

[[ I don't envy Andrew! Much too stressful! ]]

"No, thank you, Master Alaric," says Tomas, who Brand finds methodically using minor magic to clean his gear and clothing. "I'll wait and get something with Master Lazlo when he arrives."

Brand nods, and moves off, heading toward the kitchen in search of food.

Brand heads to the kitchen where he finds his father, Fazal Ahmet and Bom Das seated at a table. Food has been put on the table by the housemaster, Abrams, who is watching on from the side, and Bom is eating conscientiously while Koric and Fazal are talking quietly, hot drinks at hand. There is a bulging coin pouch on the table in front of Fazal.

"Master, Alaric," says Abrams approaching. "Can I get you anything?"