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Grimm, Rieper and Associates; Funeral Directors
Topic Started: Feb 13 2004, 09:23 AM (3,463 Views)
Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* In Josiah Grimm's office, the distinguished-seeming gentleman pulls a contract from his drawer, fills in some details using an elegant-looking pen, and slides it across the desk *

How does this sound then, Vientu?

Quote:
 
Contract of Employment
I, Vientu            , of care of Grimm, Rieper and Associates  do hereby agree to enter into this contract of employment with Grimm, Rieper and Associates ("The Company"). My duties will be digging graves, asssisting with the transportation of corpses, cleaning stables, assisting with private investigations   and such other tasks as I may be asked to undertake by The Company. In return for my services I agree to be paid at the rate of 18 silver pieces   per week plus board and lodging.

In witness whereof,

                                   [signature]

                                   [date]
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Vientu


*picks up the paper and reads it carefully, then picks up the pen and signs it*
sounds great, so what needs doing first?
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm stands *

I think the first thing is for you to settle in to your new quarters.

* Josiah leads Vientu out of his office and along the corridor. He stops next to a door bearing a polished brass plaque which reads "Vientu". *

Here is your section of the building. It contains everything you will need. I'll leave you to explore.

* Josiah smiles warmly and goes back to his office. Once there he takes out the key Fidei gave him and examines it closely. He walks over to the filing cabinet and pulls out some plans, which he places on the desk and studies intently. *
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LadyRebels
Unregistered

I need an urn, one of the smallest ones you have, I think that my faith should fit in that nicely........
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

It is late at night, and Fidei is tending to the shop. Brushing the horses, cleaning them out and sweeping the shop floor and Mortuary. She avoids the chapel, as always. Lying on a table nearby she notices an old map. It looks too old to be from any of the Sirs' records, but she isn't quite sure, those two have a lot of secrets. Still, it looks as though it doesn't belong, and it looks far, far older than any others she has seen. Fidei picks it up and examines it closely. The tiny, spidery writing is almost indecipherable. The plans look to be of the shop; they have the same layout it seems. However, the writing sites it as some kind of church...

Looking closely, she sees that it was of a variety she has never seen before. It is almost pagan. One room contains a spring-fed healing pool; another is called 'The Temple of the Passed.' She imagines a turreted room, containing burning incense sticks and ever-lit candles for every person who has passed on. Each of their names is written on the walls in great lists. They range from Great Warriors to Priestesses to the humblest of peasant. None are forgotten. This is how it should be.

Looking closer yet, she notices something strange. Another room. One she is sure she has not seen in the building before. Steps lead down to it, from what appears to be the chapel...
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Suddenly, she hears a noise behind her. A creak. Fidei spins around, only to see the door swing on it's hinges. The wind? No, she doesn't think so. Someone has been in the shop with her, with the map. Could it be the same person who was following Jammer? But she had reported break-ins... Fidei begins to feel decidedly nervous. Did this person leave the map for her, or were they interrupted, whilst looking for the very same room she had just noticed?

Quickly, Fidei steals over to the door and slides the bolt across. This just doesn't feel right. Walking back over to the table, she picks up the map once more and scrutinises every inch, for some clue of its origin. Yes! There in the top right corner is a tiny inscription; a maker's mark and date! QJ? Fidei is sure she has seen those initials before...

She is struck by a sudden thought. Checking that the door to the shop is still locked and gathering up the map and her skirts, Fidei sprints up the stairs, towards a room marked Library...
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Flicking a light switch, Fidei watches as the room is slowly illuminated by candlelight. She ponders for a second how the switch produces flame, but soon remembers the task in hand. She runs first to the tall window, which tapers at the top into a grand point. The surround has the skull and bones motif that Fidei has come to find familiar in this building. Now, however, she wonders about its origin. Looking down onto the street below, she sees nothing but a stray badger, running towards the hillside. The moon is full, casting grotesque shadows along the ground. In the distance, the light from the Dew Drop Inn can be seen, and revellers can faintly be heard. A movement catches her eye, but it is only a bat. The intruder must be long gone by now.

Sighing, she turns towards the tall, imposing bookshelves. They are stacked mainly with histories, from ancient holy texts to twentieth century achievements. However, Fidei does notice the entire Paddington Bear series secreted between the texts... Ignoring these (with some difficulty), she scans the shelves, and finds a huge edition, leather bound, with lettering picked out with gold leaf. An encyclopaedia. Flicking through to M, she finds the page she was looking for.

Quote:
 
Mapmakers:
The most famous of mapmakers in recent times is one Skyliner, whose skill can be compared to the infamous Miss Jammer, great great great grandmother to the Queen of Jamberry. A great traveller, who enjoyed longevity, Miss Jamberry was an accomplished cartographer and seamstress. She disappeared under strange circumstances, amid rumours of scandal, around the turn of the 17th century. Other cartographers of this era include...


Fidei slams the book shut in frustration and lifts it back onto the shelf. Despairing, she turns to leave. However, as the moon moves from behind a cloud, the light glints off another title on the top shelf, catching her eye. Reaching up, she pulls a slim, elegant book, bound in crimson silk, from the shelf. The gilded lettering on the spine reads simply Diary, but inside the front cover is something more revealing...

Quote:
 
To my darling Jammer;
We may not meet again for many days, perhaps months, but please remember, you will always be in my heart
...
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FideiDefensor
Member Avatar
curioser and curioser...

Fidei heads downstairs, grabbing a quill and paper as she goes. In the stable, she finds Philipe, scrawls a note and attaches it to his collar.

"You take this straight to Jammer, I think she's in the Dew Drop Inn. Come straight back when you've delivered it mind, no playing with those penguins."
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm straightens *

Aha!

* Josiah appears to sense something *

Oh dear....

* Josiah strides from his office and makes his way to the stables, where he finds Fidei and her pet badger *

Good evening, Fidei.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Evening Sir, nice to see you...upright.
May I help you with anything?
*looks anxious, distracted*
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

I was more thinking of whether I could be of assistance to you, Fidei. I sensed something, and thought perhaps this wasn't a good time for you to be on your own. I feel .....something.......a presence, if you will,..... stirring.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Indeed, I'm glad you came, there's definitely something, or someone, trying to... I don't know, I'm just glad you're here.

Did you find out anything about that key I gave you? I'm worried that this something, or someone... is after it, or what it unlocks at any rate.Also, I found this map *shows Mr Grimm the ancient plan* Have you ever seen this room? Or d'you know what it holds?
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Sighing, Mr Grimm beckons Fidei, and leads her into the chapel. An unpleasant shiver runs down her spine as the air becomes razor-sharp. The chapel never liked her...

Striding to the back, Mr Grimm and Fidei head down a steep flight of steps into the ceremony master's preparation room. Fidei looks around the room, confused as to what she should see. Mr Grimm impatiently lifts a trap door at his feet, and he and Fidei descend another long flight of steps, these however are made of a much older stone than the ones before, and have become very worn.

At the bottom of the chamber, they find a corridor-like room, floored with a strange stone, translucent, with swirling blues and greens, and lined with torches already lit.
"Did you light those torches..." Fidei asks in wonder
"No. I have never been down here."
"But..."
"This building holds secrets that it will not divulge, even unto me."

The doors leading from the corridor have strange signs on them.
"They were to protect the rooms from raiders. Only Crypt keepers and the family of the deceased could read the symbols, which acted as passwords. Anyone who tried to open the door without the password would...suffer the consequences, shall we say...."
"Crypt?"
"Yes, I believe this Key should unlock one of these doors." He examines a lock carefully. "Yes, it should be this one. This, Fidei, is the tomb of the Jammer who made your map, great great great grandmother to your dear friend"
"Do you know the password?"
"...Well, that could indeed be a problem..."
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Jammer enters the corridor, the torchlight glinting from her Tiara, lighting up her ethereal features...

"Glad you're here," says Fidei, "We could use a hand..."
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Warbird
Slightly amused

**She cautiously approaches the great door to the crypt and turns to face Fidei**

There must be some mistake. This cannot be the crypt of a queen of Jamberry.
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FideiDefensor
Member Avatar
curioser and curioser...

*Looks confused...*

But... what is it then? And where is the crypt?
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Warbird
Slightly amused

<sigh> That's just it, there should be no crypt. It's a long story and I can't think in all this torchlight. Can we go upstairs?

**as they head back up the corridor and up through the trap door, Jammer begins to put together some stray pieces of this mysterious chain of events that has swept both her country and now her family into a torrent of confusion and unrest**

Fidei, it is the central tradition of Jamberry to embrace the natural cycles of life, death, creation and destruction. Our bodies are a part of this sacred web of life, and so...we never treat and bury our dead. Are you familiar with scaffolds and open-air wakes?
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm replaces the trapdoor *

Naturally I am familiar with all forms of rituals of passing. But if that's not the crypt, why is someone trying to get us to think it is?
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Warbird
Slightly amused

Oh, I believe that is a family crypt, but I'm convinced that there are relics of a different kind that lie in rest behind that door.

I have found a ring and a diary that appear to be from one of Queen Jammer's lovers from this region. But I don't think he was just a lover. The inscription in the ring says, "Forever yours, QJ" **hands Mr. Grimm the ring**
I thought it was clearly a gift or token from my grand-dam to a man, given in love. I also found this.. *takes the swatch of cloth from the book* The crest you see is not the royal crest of Jamberry, but I believe it used to be. Probably at the time of Jammer I. The motto reads Quena Janeris and it took me a while to recognize it as Old Jamerian. It means "from the beginning" and it refers to a bond of servitude that each Jamberian pledges to all other Jamberians. In the ring, though, it must be a bond of oath. Like giving your sword in the service of royals.

Mr. Grimm, whatever is in that crypt must be handled very carefully and not taken at face value.
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm examines the ring *

Believe me, I am not one to take things at face value.

* Josiah Grimm examines the cloth *

Could it be that the crypt belongs to this lover, rather than the Queen herself?
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Darc Deimos
Watching Everyone HAIL MY AVATAR

Yes, the Royal house of Darc will be needing your services. We need a, somewhat discreet burial of a, well lets say friend of the Royal house who recently met an untimely, mysterious death. He, well, lets say made some decisions that we, did not agree with.

Like I said we need a somewhat discreet burial, respectable, but not too fancy. Money is no object but this man cannot be honored too much for certain reasons.

We look forward to your reply.

**No ataupsy needed!**
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* A distinguished-seeming gentleman appears as if from nowhere *

Good day, sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Isaac De'Ath, an associate of Messieurs Grimm and Rieper, who are unfortunately otherwise engaged at the moment. Perhaps if you would accompany me to my office, we can discuss the details.

* The distinguished-seeming gentleman leads the way upstairs and along a corridor to a door bearing a polished brass plaque with the legend "Isaac De'Ath". Entering the office, he motions to a wood and leather chair in front of a handsome wooden desk, and then sits on a wood and leather swivel chair behind the desk. *

Now, first let me assure you that discretion is our watchword. I take it you will not be wanting a service in our chapel - perhaps a small ceremony at the graveside would be more appropriate?
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Darc Deimos
Watching Everyone HAIL MY AVATAR

Yes, I believe that would be best for my, ah, friend. I must stress that there be no obituary for this person or public announcement of his death. I would be best if this be kept as discreet as possible. Many would wonder why this trait...er... i mean friend died so suddenly. Most people will not wonder at his seeming dissapearance, as hisdealings with our royal family were not entirely secret.

In any case, a small unadorned tombstone with the man's name would be sufficient, preferably in some discreet corner of your cemetary. As i said, money is no issue. And yes just a small ceremony at the site would be sufficient.

Are there any other details?
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Warbird
Slightly amused

Mearnskirk
May 4 2004, 04:55 PM
* Josiah Grimm examines the ring *

Believe me, I am not one to take things at face value.

* Josiah Grimm examines the cloth *

Could it be that the crypt belongs to this lover, rather than the Queen herself?

Perhaps...but the ring came in a small velvet box with the Jamberry Royal Crest - the current one. I think someone planted that ring and the key for me to find, and bring me here to open that door. The ring itself is very valuable - who would give up such a valuable thing for a mere corpse? So the question is...If this is the bait, then what is the catch? :huh: If you get my meaning.

*takes the ring and returns it to its box and wrapping**

You cannot open the door with just the key, right?

**Fidei and Mr. Grimm nod solemnly**

Don't think I understand how to do that yet. <frustrated sigh>

Well, I thank you for calling me. I would like to study the design on the door if I may, but I'll need some information first...

*her mind now sharply focused on her next move, she nods to the two and bids them goodnight and heads out the door*



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Vientu


*after several hours of looking aroud her office, Vientu decides to take a walk into the grounds, as she walks past the stable and saluts Phillipe she hears a starnge clicky sound. Ignoring this as paranoia she keeps walking down the path when a piece of wood smacks her over the head from nowhere. When Vientu finally regains consciousness, feeling veery sorry for herself and tetchy, she rushes inside to find Fidei and Mr Grimm, finding them puzzling over and old map and key and talking in hushed voices, she hesitates in entering the room. After a few minutes unnoticed decision making she barges in and tells the story, and asks whether or not this is just normal for a funeral directors or if she is just being melodramatic.*
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