[ CLOSED ] The Buck Stops Here

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa, Bastien, Byerly, Colin, Deimos, Flint, Raas, Thranduil, Yseult
WHAT: Revenge for past trauma reveals a sinister plot
WHEN: The Month of Guardian (aka now)
WHERE: The Gallows and Hightown, Kirkwall in general
NOTES: CW: This plot deals with sexual assault, revenge, and murder. Mostly the aftermath of the assault, no graphic descriptions that I can foresee, but be cautious. Opting out and hand-waving is fine.

By and large, the beginning of the month of Guardian in Kirkwall is unremarkable. Business as usual, even with the ever increasing cost of sugar, coffee, and tea. But for the inhabitants of Lowtown, it comes with signs that their waking nightmares persist.

For the past few months of winter, Lowtown locals have been whispering about a rash of murders and disappearances among the Alienages. Deaths previously attributed to exposure to the harsh winter weather are rumored to be far more insidious; some have claimed that they noticed wounds on the bodies as they were being disposed of, but any attempts to bring this information to the City Guard have been met with indifference or empty platitudes.

Less widely noted, and harder to attach to a pattern, are the instances of working girls being hired to entertain at private functions and coming back...different. Or not at all. To the average person, it’s barely even news, but to anyone who spends time in the brothels and listens to the chatter within, it’s clear that these are not isolated incidents, nor are they without concern.

While the alleged murders in Lowtown have no clear culprit and thus are blamed on anyone from random strangers to demons and Crows, the goings-on at the brothels go hand-in-hand with mention of one name in particular: Devigny.

Comments

[sulahnan]

I'm much better at rushing in without one, so if you'd rather we take that course...

[ Heavy-handed, over-acted, but the point stands even as she takes one purposeful step towards the door. ]

[bouchonne]

You're a damned poor liar.

[ But the threat is understood. By lets out a breath and rubs his lips. Somehow, there's nothing more terrifying than being told he's brilliant. Has that word ever been used to refer to him before? He would be quite content if he never heard it again. ]

We need intelligence. From professionals. I need to reach out to Yseult.

[keenly]

[Byerly hates it when he compliments him, hates it when he insults him, hates it when he apologizes for insulting him...]

There's no time. Could we go in, let the girl out, and capture Devigny when he comes back?

[sulahnan]

Is this even Riftwatch's jurisdiction?

[ She is the worst liar, yes. Unfortunately her bard training only just started, and they started with other skills. ]

[bouchonne]

Are we worried about jurisdiction now?

[ Then, speaking into the crystal, he calls Yseult's name. The question of no time - it sends terror through him once more. But he cannot let terror rule him. ]

[keenly]

[Colin opens his mouth to protest again that there is no time, but once it's decided for them, he reaches out to take Athessa's hand to keep her from bolting off.]

[sulahnan]

[ Normally Athessa wouldn't give a damn about jurisdiction, but she was very firmly told not to bother Yseult with any antics and a breach in jurisdiction kind of seems like it'd qualify, regardless of whether or not it was the right thing to do.

When Colin takes her hand, she gives what she hopes is a reassuring nod and pats his arm with her other hand before she takes up a position by the window. ]

crystal

[hassaran]

[ Yseult answers promptly but sounds distracted, the faint scratch of a pen maybe audible in the background. ]

What is it?

[bouchonne]

[ Its a rare day: Byerly doesn't waste any time with simpering or flattery or pretense. He simply says, bluntly: ]

There is a man in Hightown who is abusing women in truly abominable ways. Athessa has witnessed exactly what this entails. It is my judgment that we need to infiltrate and stop him at once, as he currently holds a woman captive.

I am requesting your support.

[hassaran]

[ The pen stops, there is a shift of paper, and then it begins again. But she speaks over it, more brisk, more focused. ]

First, who he is, and where are you?

[bouchonne]

[ Briskly, in order: ] A man named Devigny. You may have heard the name from some of your agents - he's been the talk of the town for a few weeks now.

Currently in my office. With Colin and Athessa.

[hassaran]

Oh. [ She had imagined him standing in the street somewhere about to scale a fence or climb in a window or something. ] A moment.

[ She knocks once as she lets herself in, pulling the cuffs of her sweater back down so she can cross her arms. (Not skeptical, just cold, and settling in.) ]

I've heard the name Devigny lately but little of relevance. Nothing about holding women captive. Where is your information from?

[bouchonne]

Them.

[ By gives a grim little smile, and gestures to the two ragamuffins in his office. And, to those ragamuffins: ]

A quick recap, please. Just the current situation.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa pipes up from her place near the window, her posture an echo of Yseult's but not through any conscious effort. ]

Colin and I have been staking out Devigny's estate for the past week, taking note of a number of guards on rotation and who's visiting, what kind of shit--uh-- [ Clearly she's thinking about censoring that but ultimately just moves on in the interest of expediency. ] --he's been up to. Tonight after he left, the house went dark and Madame Lette from the Crimson Cat delivered an unconscious girl into the hands of Devigny's footman.

[ A glance towards Colin, then Byerly, gauging whether to expand on the recap, or to wait for prompt. Maybe just one thing: ]

Devigny has history with the Madame, spanning back about thirteen years.

[keenly]

[Colin gives a little nod and a smile to Athessa. She has managed to pull together her composure, at least.]

We would have come to someone about her suspicions earlier, [he adds,] but we wanted proof first. That's all flown out the window now there's a victim.

[hassaran]

[ There is a tilt of Yseult's head that suggests the question of why they were staking out Devigny's estate for the past week is still one that will be revisited later, but she leaves it be for the moment. ]

And what makes you think that was a kidnapping? She could be a maid who drank too much, or the footman's sister, Devigny's mistress, any number of things.

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly very, very much does not look at Athessa when he answers: ]

I have intelligence that this is not an isolated event. Devigny has taken advantage of incapacitated women before.

[ Then, firmly: ]

You are best positioned to confirm the true situation, Scoutmaster. Do I have your support?

[hassaran]

[ Yseult's gaze narrows slightly, but remains on Byerly. ]

In what respect?

[bouchonne]

You have access to people in town, yes? Who could get into the house and out again without being seen?

[sulahnan]

[ Well this is uncomfortable. Tense. Neither of them are looking at her but Athessa has an uneasy feeling that they're having some silent conversation in between the words they do say.

She started with we've been staking out Devigny's place for a week but Yseult chose instead to ask how they could know that what they saw wasn't a benign occurrence. No question after why the owner of a prominent cathouse would be the one to deliver the girl if she were a sister, maid, or mistress, either. The feeling of failing a test she doesn't know she's taking creeps hand-in-hand with a fear that her experience with Devigny wouldn't hold up as intelligence under scrutiny.

So she's left stewing by the window, trying not to fidget, but only able to suppress so much. She doesn't jitter her leg, but she does chew on her thumbnail. Baby steps. ]

[hassaran]

Riftwatch's resources do not afford us some vast network of skilled professionals, and the agents I do employ are already occupied on pressing business. I will assist if I can, but not on such limited explanation.

[keenly]

[Colin scours his brain to scrape up the remaining information and give it to Yseult in as succinct and efficient a manner as possible.]

I'm sorry, that's what we know.

[And if that isn't enough, he might just take Athessa by the wrist and run off right now, plan or no plan.]

[hassaran]

[ Yseult lifts a brow at Colin. ] No, it isn't. It's quite plain that there is a deal more to this story. Or did you watch this man's house for a week on a whim?

[bouchonne]

As I said, Scoutmaster.

[ His voice becomes a little firmer. ]

I have spoken with a woman who was assaulted by this man. These two are also familiar with someone who was hurt by him. I hope you are not so untrusting of your comrades - [ A tilt of his head takes in the three of them - ] That you will demand that we break the trust that has been given to us and hand over names.

[hassaran]

[ Yseult looks from Byerly to Colin and Athessa. ]

I need a word in private with the Ambassador. Please excuse us for a moment.