Difference between revisions of "Okubo's Murder Investigation"

Revision as of 11:59, 29 November 2012

Current Leads

Here are the active leads that the party is trying to investigate.

THE SERVANT'S PAVILION

Sorae's letter from Okubo lead into the Palace Gardens, where she found a place "off the beaten paths of Dynasts": a pavilion for the servants who labour within the Palace. On AW 14th Shinjo sneaks into an underground tunnel network hidden beneath the pavilion, locating a room where Okubo had left behind a pair of books (Examining And Transcending The Year Zero Void and Walking Among Irises). Cuts in the obsidian walls depict a map of the Imperial Palace, with High Realm numbers over several notable locales: #1 The Western Palace Wing, #2 The Silent Legion HQ #3 The Five Dragon Bridge Gatehouse and #4 The Imperial Manse. X's denote the Servant's Pavilion and the Blossoming Orchid Pavilion, with a sweeping cut marking a path from the latter to #4.

Tyros and Sorae visited the tunnel system on the night of the 15th to find the map missing. Tyros has confirmed that the location is likely a secret manse. A smashed bottle of Thagada wine and bloodstains from fists striking the wall are examined by Sorae. Tyros proves that the western tunnel was bricked up some time ago, though to what purpose we do not know. The location of the manse and the directions of the tunnels hint that they might cross the Imperial Palace walls; if true, the southern tunnel may lead into the water-way between the City and the Palace.

Sorae found the hearthstone chamber by diving into the overflowing pool in the blocked by a grate of black jade. There are tunnels in the northern wall and a panel with the Old Realm glyph PU on the southern wall. The floor is a lattice which allows water to flow upwards.

EAST NINTH WARD

Shinjo spoke to a drunken laborer in the Red Ruby teahouse who recognized faux-Okubo's face and chatted with him for a time.

The calligraphy in Okubo's rooms are suspected to have been done in the calligraphers shop in the East Ninth Ward.

Okubo had some sort of interest in the printing press in the East Ninth, but this lead may have been cut short by Zhoutai's murder of Ambrim Beg and the destruction of many supplies from the old printing business. We suspect he was trying to get a "true" version of his father's book, A Brief Summation, printed; hence why he had a copy of Yagu's version filled with notations and corrections hidden in his rented rooms.

OKUBO AND KORA

Sesus Nagat let slip that he had seen the two together at a gala in Resplendent Earth in a discussion with Septimus. Kimiasha remembers a likely party on 16th Resplendent Earth, a mixer where several notable Dynasts from Houses Sesus, Mnemon, Cynis and Peleps paraded their kids to try and arrange marriages. Attendees of note: Lady XXXX (Mnemon?) Taira, Sesus Nagat, Cynis Wisel, Sesus Indira... Sesus Kivo, Sesus Kimiasha... "a gaggle of Peleps"... Nellens Spulumbo & Nellens Cherelle

SESUS KETEK AND THE ARMY OF THE GODS

Teran woo related stories go here.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY

A red carved crystal Shinjo found in the East Ninth reveals a projection of Ketek and a boy (Okubo? Yagu?) when the Purposeful Lamp is used on it. An inscription, including a possible maker's mark of sorts, can be seen:
9.0.3
18
and firetongue words: ‘exacting’, ‘exciting’, or ‘excising’ followed by ‘vessel’, ‘damsel’, or ‘chisel’, with a third word below: ‘gum’, ‘gem, or ‘gam’.

The inside of Walking Among Irisis has this description:
E.18
T.762.DF.4
G.9.0.22
D.Text, training, Shogunate.
A.Deferred

Reading Year Zero Void, Tyros yields the following cryptic analysis: Numbers ‘9’, ‘10’, and ‘16’ appear to be the source of theories of some sort, and suggestion of discussion between those sources and ‘7’ at ‘GSC‘ is frequently suggested, as are discussions between ‘11’, ‘17’, and ‘19’ at ‘ECS’, sometimes adding ‘16’ at ‘GDO’. The subjects for discussion seem to be ’10.1’, from which appear to be drawn subjects ’10.0’ and ‘9.0’. Apparently the intended reader knows some information connected with ’18 CPF access on 10.0’.

The key expeditions called for seem to be a continuation of ’12 PAA on 10.1 10.0’, and ’15 18 9.0.2 and further following 10.0 9.0 developments’, the latter of which seems to depend on some sort of supply allocation via ’20 WBW’.

A letter from Sesus Roga and Nellens Taralla of the Historical Preservation Society to Sesus Ketek bears the symbols "GSC. FR 14" in the top right. Roga is listed as Venerated Chair and Taralla as Honored Treasurer.

As of this posting, our theories indicate that three-character acronyms are places, integers are people and decimal-designations are expeditions. Year Zero Void is likely a treatise to secure funding for a Threshold expedition 10.1. CPF is believed to stand for Citadel of Purifying Flame, which would imply that Shinjo's notes for his play might relate to '18 CPF access on 10.0'.

Lost Threads

Home to investigation threads with uncertain paths forward.

OKUBO'S INTERCEPTED INVITION TO SEPTIMUS

Septimus' letter was lost by a courier, who was found dead of opium overdose. The letter was damaged, including the bottom piece having been torn off; whatever last bit of wisdom Okubo meant to convey is gone. The Thousand Scales bureaucrat who approved the courier, Thesk Dark, was disenfranchised and followed home to his apartments in the East Districts where Sesus Kanya then killed him legally. Nothing of note was found in his rooms. Sesus Kanya received a promotion and a swift return to Eagle's Launch, which coincides suspiciously with these events {needs documentation}. Who promoted her?

OKUBO'S MISSING BODY

Septimus visited Toribeno after reports of vandals lurking about. The monks explained that they had been accosted by a blonde woman with several bulky bodyguards in tow in the middle of the night on the 8th AW. She seemed unsteady and cruel. Septimus checked Okubo's tomb only to find the body missing and a crumpled letter detailing Okubo's will and divestment of possessions. (note: add details of the contents here)

Old Leads

These are leads into Okubo's murder that we feel reasonably certain we understand.

THE MURDER SCENE

The murder happened on East Ninjo Street. The palanquin and the bodies are covered in long straight slashes, cuts are to the neck and legs. Blood seems to have sprayed outwards away from the more poorly lit western walls of the House of Mist. Okubo seems to have been struck first, with his bearers dying moments later as they attempted to flee. Okubo's weapon was undrawn. The palanquin's lanterns were unlit, so the killer would have needed excellent night vision to have seen its target from atop the House of Mist.

Mnemon Vesko and Mnemon Palima were first upon the scene, while Peleps Turina's palanquin had passed by just before.

SESUS KETEK'S CLUE URN

Tyros and Septimus found a wax-sealed flower pot in the Cathak family tombs of Toribeno by breaking open the clay cover of Sesus Ketek. This urn contained a key which opens Okubo's East 9th apartment, a broken artifact flashlight tool, an orchid ribbon, a journal detailing Ketek's adventures into deep into the Southern wyld, and Ketek's hat (with a Cathak Meata badge covering its original Sesus Magel mon). The ribbon likely serves as a reminder to look deeper into the Blossoming Orchid Pavilion, or the servants who serve there...

EAST NINTH WARD

Okubo had rented an apartment in Thesk Tarn's tenement 3 in RY766 DF 17th, using his servant Tallow Eater as a proxy. Inside we found a Chiroscuran dagger of green glass, a carved and faceted red gemstone (see HPS entry above), a pair of brass wheels, and a book shelf which confirm beyond doubt that this room was Okubo's. The shelf includes a book of hymns to Hesiesh inscribed in the front cover by Bright Virtue, nestor of the Fire Dragon Temple; a complete collection of Sesus Ketek's works, including Cathak Yagu's completion of A Brief Summation which shows significant editing by Okubo in the margins. (will add a section on Ketek's history books in HPS section later.

The Painted Log is a business that sells carved wooden figurines. Cathak Okubo was a customer at several times over the past several years, having commissioned figures for young Ledaal Primus' birthday the past three(?) years (we lost the notes on this, but the figures seem to symbolize our circle?). They sell figures of other heroes of the Realm, but are worried their art is too iconic and might bring the wrath of the Immaculate Order; Septimus is trying to arrange some sort of protection for them.

Chisel & Saw Quarry is another business, this one devoted to masonry and stonework. The former owner was sent to walk to the Palace Sublime as penance for iconic carving, no doubt caused by the work he did for Cathak Okubo

General Thoughts on Okubo's Plans and Motives

- Okubo learned the wrong lesson from the House of Bells. After his rebellious antics repeatedly saw his fangmates tortured for his indiscretions, he decided not to inform any of his friends of his activities for years. If this is true, that means he knew he was in danger since the beginning.

- Okubo invited the five party members to dinner to discuss the weakened bond of friendship between everyone (watered wine). The dim sum seems to hint at a message of strength through working together (grilled eel is a Fire/Air dish, topped mushrooms is a Wood/Earth dish) and something relating to House Sesus judging from the stuffed quail that the Pavillion had run out of.

Addendum: Possible the elemental themes of the food might be deeper and refer to how to combine the necessary clues from his invitation notes; specifically, combining Sorae and Shinjo's invitations nets us "go to a place where only servants go" and "leaping over walls at night", which may be a hint on where to investigate.

Stupid Longshot Ideas

- Speak with V'neef Thagada and tell her the story about getting the cask of wine over the walls of the Academy to see if Okubo had ever spoken with her about it.

- Pick up a Gateway set at Boards & More Boards incase of a date with Caiji, just to see if Okubo or faux-Okubo ever visited there.