<Storyteller> The two woman sit watching you converse with each other
<Storyteller> having told you their stories, you begin to wonder
<Daniel> "If only we knew the identity of the faceless one..."
* William looks around at the group. "Let's wait for Brianna to get back with the
visitor-logs and then see if things don't add up."
<Daniel> "Of course."
* Brianna returns soon after
* Brianna closes a large book and looks at you.
<Brianna> "Well, only three anacerons visited him that day. Ambrose, Hopper, &
Sanders."
* Daniel looks at Brianna
<Daniel> "Anyone else visit him?"
<Angelo> "Hmm."
<Brianna> "They visited at two hour intervals.."
<William> "That's kind of a regular pattern, isn't it...hmmm..."
<Brianna> "These are the only visitors written on the log."
<Brianna> "any other visits would have been unofficial, or unscheduled."
<William> "Oh, so an unofficial or unplanned visit would not be in this book?"
<Angelo> "That doesn't help much."
* Angelo frowns.
<Brianna> "I believe this is is just a scheduling book.."
* William looks at the group
* Hans stands off to the side, thinking.
<Brianna> "however..." :
* Brianna looks down at the book in her hands
* William watches Brianna
* Brianna speaks in a voice that sounds distant, "The Ambassador from the Jadian
Empire Visited, as did the Ambassador for Swar..."
* Brianna pauses
* Daniel frowns slightly
<Hans> "I just had an idea, perhaps if we followed the Puritan, we might get some
answers on this whole thing."
<Brianna> "The man we're looking for was not there."
* Brianna blinks and looks up
<Daniel> "So...someone's lying to us."
<William> "Wow...thank you Brianna..."
* Daniel looks back at the two women
* Brianna frowns
<Brianna> "I thought we were told that Usher visited..."
* Brianna pales
* Hans nods. "As I thought.."
* Angelo looks thoughtful.
<Brianna> "Oh dear...."
* Daniel chuckles darkly
* Brianna looks at the rest of you with wide eyes
* William looks confused, and wonders why this little cohort is being taunted
<Brianna> "So now it comes down to this. Which wears the mask..."
<Angelo> "But how to even find out?"
<William> "Oh no...who are these embassadors? Let's go ask the anacerons..."
<Daniel> "Wait."
<Brianna> "No."
<Brianna> "It could be one of the Anacerons."
<William> "I *know* it's not Ambrose. Let's ask her."
<Daniel> "At this point, it seems safe to think that three of the Anacerons, and
two ambassadors are spies."
<Brianna> "It could have been any of those who visited.."
<Daniel> "We don't know anything yet, William."
* William looks at Daniel
<William> "I know."
* Hans looks at one of the two women and starts concentrating.
<Daniel> "Our foe is a cunning one. If he...or she...can decieve the other
Anacerons..."
<Angelo> "Didn't you guys meet the ambassadors at the beginning of the war? You think
either of them can be trusted?"
<William> "How to root out the traitor..."
<Hans> "Daniel, I think I may have part of this riddle solved."
<Daniel> "How so?"
* William listens intently
* Hans looks to the rest of the group. "There is no faceless man."
<Hans> "The memories have been falsified."
* William nods in agreement
<Angelo> "Hrm. Completely?"
<Daniel> "I suspected as much...but I had thought the faceless man was the one at
fault."
<Hans> "Yes. I scanned one of the woman's minds and the memory is fake."
<William> "That would make sense...but by whom?"
<Hans> "More likely Usher."
* Brianna frowns
<Daniel> "He IS the only other constant."
<Hans> "Or the Puritan, he seemed very anxious to get us away from the governor."
<William> "So what to do next? Try to meet with one anaceron? Try to visit these
embassadors?"
<Daniel> "A question remains, however. Where is Usher?"
<Brianna> "Yes, where is he..."
<Hans> "Who do we know that would not have been a part of this whole debacle?"
* Brianna looks ready to do murder.
<William> "I trust Ambrose." William says looking at the group. "Or Paul."
* Brianna looks at William.
<Hans> "Ahuru? Would she be able to help?"
<Brianna> "Often those most trusted are those who least deserve it."
<Angelo> "I trust Paul..."
* William nods at Angelo
* Daniel frowns
<William> "That's true, Brianna, but, well, maybe I'm just a fool, but I trust them."
<Daniel> "I hate to say it, but I am slow to trust any of them at this point."
<Storyteller> A Legionnaire walks in to the cell
<Brianna> "I agree with you Daniel."
<Storyteller> "Centurion," he says at attention, "Anaceron Sanders wishes to speak to
you.."
<William> "Then what can we do?"
* Daniel turns and salutes
<Daniel> "Take me to him."
<Storyteller> The Legionnaire turns on his heel and walks out
* Brianna clears her throat and follow
* William looks at Daniel. "We're all coming, right?"
* Daniel walks out
<Daniel> "You may...at least until we approach his chambers."
<Hans> "Yes."
* William mumbles something about splitting the group up and follows
<Storyteller> You follow the Legionnaire out to the hall and see Sanders waiting for
you
<Sanders> "Let's talk in private."
* Daniel walks up to him and salutes
<Daniel> "As you wish, m'lord."
* Sanders walks into a smaller room off of the main hall
* Daniel turns back to the others
<Daniel> "I shall not be long."
* Daniel follows Sanders into the room
<William> "Are you sure you want to split up like this? What good can come of it?"
<Sanders> "Wel what have you found?"
<Brianna> "IT's not our choice, William."
* William shuffles around impatiently
<Daniel> "Precious little...save that the memories have most likely been
manufactured."
<Sanders> "Really?"
* Angelo folds his hands behind his back and looks around, humming tunelessly.
<William> "We just discussed not trusting anyone, and he's in there talking to
Sanders alone..."
<Sanders> "The Mnemoi have been banned from Stygia a long time."
* Brianna nods worridly
<Daniel> "It appears one...or more...are thumbing their noses at the exile."
<Sanders> "Good job, Centurion. You and your Cohort are dismissed. You may go back to
your ship."
<Daniel> "What about the rest of the investigation?"
<Daniel> "With all due respect, my lord, there is much yet to prove."
<Sanders> "We'll cal you when the trial begins. Your testimony should make an
aquittal easily."
* William walks over to Angelo
<Daniel> "Do you really believe that, sir?"
<William> "Are you still game on talking to Paul?"
<Sanders> "Yes, I do. Good work."
* Daniel bows
<Angelo> "Paul? Sure, he's good people..."
<Daniel> "Thank you, my lord. I shall see you at the hearing."
<Angelo> "We'd wait for Daniel, right?"
* William nods to Angelo. "Yes, we'll wait for him."
<Storyteller> "Good bye Daniel."
* Daniel bows. "Farewell, m'lord."
* Daniel turns and walks out, frowning
<Angelo> "What happened in there?"
* William sees Daniel walk through the door frowning
<William> "What did you say?"
* Daniel keeps walking, motioning for the others to follow
* William follows him quickly and silently
* Hans follows.
<Daniel> "We're being ordered to return to our ship until the hearing."
<Daniel> "The Anaceron, in his wisdom, seems to believe that he has all the
evidence he needs."
<Angelo> "Oh, come on."
* Brianna says suspiciously, "I'm sure.."
* William grabs Daniel's arm. "Very interesting...let's get out of listening range."
<Angelo> "Maybe we're looking at this from the wrong direction."
* Daniel looks back as they walk away from the building
<Angelo> "We know Deter was framed, but why? Who benefits most if he's out of the
picture?"
<Daniel> "The next in line to take his place, of course."
<Brianna> "Whomever they choose to replace him."
* Brianna smiles slightly at Daniel
<Angelo> "Maybe we should see what the buzz is."
<Daniel> "Might I remind you we HAVE been ordered back to the ship?"
* Daniel chuckles slightly
<Angelo> "Deter's been in custody long enough for people to start talking, and
thinking. Someone who was ready for something like this could do well in the crap
that comes after Deter gets removed..."
* Angelo grins.
<Angelo> "Well, it's a long walk. Who's to say our path might not be kind of twisty?"
<Daniel> "Of course, a leader can misinterpret directions to his destination..."
<Daniel> "And if, in our meanderings, we come across other useful information..."
<Angelo> "I like the way you think, m'boy."
* Brianna smirks
* William grins at Daniel
* Daniel smiles
<William> "So...who is going to be in our path first?"
<Daniel> "Of course, I can't force you to do this."
<William> "What happens if something were to happen to the ship...some kind of fire,
maybe?"
<Daniel> "If anyone wants to go straight back to the ship, they are free to go,
with no obligations."
<Angelo> "We're not sinking the ship..."
<Brianna> "We can't burn the ship!"
<Daniel> "That would be...too obvious."
<William> "I think Sanders' actions would be of great interest to some of the other
anacerons...ones who are trustworthy.."
* Brianna looks at William in shock
<Angelo> "Hey, this is the first solid lead we've had since we started this case. Do
we disobey one Anaceron or all the rest of them?"
<Brianna> "What about all the people who make their living there!"
* William grins at Brianna. "I'm not getting on that ship. Sorry, I guess I
overreacted there.."
* Daniel 's eyes light up
<Daniel> "Perhaps, I could offer a formal complaint with our orders to return to
the ship..."
<Daniel> "It would, I'm sure, entail talking to the other Anacerons..."
<William> "Daniel, my boy, that's exactly what I was thinking!"
<Angelo> "Or at least ask for confirmation of those orders..."
<Brianna> "The only thing I'm worried about is if Sanders isn't working alone."
<Angelo> "If they want to play the politics game, so can we. Let's move."
<William> "We need to be careful...Sanders might be having us followed."
<Hans> "If Sander's isn't working alone, we'll be able to get some more pieces to the
puzzle."
<Daniel> "He probably is. But we are entitled to our appeal."
* William nods to Angelo and starts back to the anacerons
* William looks back to see if the others are going to start following him
<Storyteller> You walk towards the Hall of Order when suddenly you hear a noise from
one of the alleys
* Hans looks around.
* William draws his sword quickly
* Brianna turns towards the noise
* Daniel turns, placing his hand on Nocturne's hilt
* Cloak motions for you to come into the alley
* Hans turns to the noise, his hand to his pistol.
* Daniel enters the alley
<William> "I'm stading guard at the top of the alley."
* Brianna s eyes narrow slightly and she follows carefully
<Cloak> "So they took you off the case did they?"
<William> "How did you know that? How do you always know what's going on??"
<Daniel> "Perhaps."
<Cloak> "I know much of what happens in this city."
<William> "Who are you, and who are you working for?"
<Cloak> "Your'e close, and they can smell the blood in the water. Dig deeper."
* Brianna folds her arms
<Daniel> "We intend to."
<Daniel> "How do we know where YOUR loyalties lie, though?"
<Brianna> "What is it you want us to uncover? What is your stake in this?"
* William nods at Daniel
<Cloak> "It doesn't matter who I am, does it?"
<Hans> "We could always find out what your trying to hide."
<Brianna> "Actually, yes it does."
<William> "Call it curiosity."
<Cloak> "My help is all you have right now."
<Angelo> "Then give us something we can use."
<Hans> "What do you know of this plot with the governor?"
* Hans concentrates on the question.
<Cloak> "You're on the right track, but thw wrong train."
<William> "Oh that cleared everything up!" William says sarcastically.
<Hans> "You know more than your telling. That is for sure."
<Cloak> "Yes, but it's for you to discover."
* William keeps his eyes out while listening
* Cloak is gone
<Brianna> "My my.."
<Hans> "Bastard," Hans hisses through his teeth.
<William> "He reminds me of the Ahurus...."
<Brianna> "I was thinking the same."
* William nods to Brianna
<Hans> "Next time, we nail his feet to the floor."
<Brianna> "Only he is using it to taunt us."
<Daniel> "I wouldn't be surprised if there is some connection to the Ahurus..."
<William> "How is he disappearing...what if next time we try to grab him?"
<Angelo> "Talk while we walk. The clock's ticking."
* William nods and waits for the others to file out of the alley
* Brianna looks sharply at Daniel
<Brianna> "What do you mean?"
<William> "Wait...do you think this has anything to do with those pages that melded
into our chests??"
<Daniel> "That perhaps this person has close ties to our new friend."
<Storyteller> As you speak you hear a crowd begining to rush past you
<William> "Maybe this person is a guide sent to us by the old Ahuru..."
<William> "Atepa..."
<Brianna> "No, this is not Atepa's way. It is not him."
* William looks at the crowd
<William> "OK, what's all this..."
* William runs out and grabs a running wraith
<William> "What's going on??"
<Storyteller> The wraith turns
<Storyteller> "The Governor, we've heard he's innocent!"
* William mouth drops open in surprise and shock, and he releases the wraith
distractedly
<Storyteller> The wraith wretles herself from your grasp and joins the rest
<Hans> "That didn't take long."
* Daniel blinks
* William looks at the group, trying to speak
<Brianna> "Let's follow.."
<Daniel> "Who's responsible...?"
<Storyteller> Two patrols stop near the mouth of the alley, not seeing you the marshal
barks his orders..
* Daniel nods to Brianna. "Indeed, lets."
<William> "OK, let's get back to the governor quickly and find out what's going on!"
<Storyteller> "Send the troops, this mob must be stopped."
* William runs up to the marshall
<Brianna> "Oh no..he used our information as fuel for a mob."
<William> "Marshall, retract that order. This is not a mob!"
<Storyteller> "Who the hell are you?"
* Daniel frowns and runs up to the Marshall
<Daniel> "My apologies, sir."
* William turns to Daniel for help
* Daniel bows
<Daniel> "Centurion Daniel Connelly. This is one of my men."
* William bows stiffly
<Daniel> "What's this talk of a mob?"
<Storyteller> "Yeah, well you keep your men in line and I'll keep mine in too."
* William glares stonily at the marshall
<Storyteller> "There is no help for it now, the Governor will be called guilty..."
* Daniel tilts his head slightly. "Are you implying something, sir?"
<Storyteller> "And when that happens we'll keep the peace."
<William> "What?? We were told by one of these people that the governor was being
found innocent!"
<Storyteller> Somewhere in New York
<Storyteller> The two men make their way up the stairs leading to Tom's apartment.
Reaching the door they go for their guns when the door busrsts open and two shots
are fire, hiting one ot the men in the chest.
<Storyteller> Amon walks and grabs the other man.
<Storyteller> He struggles and kicks wildly hitting Emily and knocking her down.
<Storyteller> Amon quickly grabs the man's neck and squeezes the life from his body
<Storyteller> Tom nods, "That was close, Emily?" he says looking over the couch
<Storyteller> Emily loooks down at where she is siting and then back up and Tom
<Storyteller> "Noo! Tom, so much blood soo much..."
<Storyteller> He looks down to see her pants begin to turn dark red
<Storyteller> "My baby! Tom!"
<Storyteller> To be concluded
