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Grimm, Rieper and Associates; Funeral Directors
Topic Started: Feb 13 2004, 09:23 AM (3,461 Views)
FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

I think we should buy stronger biscuits.

Agreed. Christie's still asleep anyway.
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

Indeed - actually we have stronger biscuits already. Vientu, next time take them from the other jar, the one marked "Dunking Biscuits". ;)

* Josiah Grimm finishes his cup of tea and stands *

Right, off to the library then.

* Strides off to the library, where he browses amongst the shelves of old books. Eventually selects one with the title "Cryptology for Beginners" and starts to read. *
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Christie
Enchantress

Unknown to Mr. Grimm, Christie has again walked to the Library, arriving before him. Dazedly, she wandered up and down the stacks of books, murmering to herself quietly. Finally, near the rear of the room, she pulled out several old books and dropped them onto the floor. Behind these books was another manual, very old, with a red leather cover. This book was faded and cracked, and held shut by a silk ribbon. She gently removed the book from its hiding place and crawled under the nearest table, sleeping with her head on it as if it were a pillow.
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Vientu


Oops i wasn't paying enough attention and these ones just looked yummy.
*follows Mr Grimm to the library and walks along the shelves trying to find a useful book*
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Darc Deimos
Watching Everyone HAIL MY AVATAR

Mearnskirk
May 8 2004, 01:58 PM
* In Isaac De'Ath's office, the distinguished-seeming gentleman pushes a leather-bound album across his desk *

If you'd like to pick out the design of casket or headstone, you'll find some designs in there, or we could select for you if you'd prefer. Do you have someone in mind to conduct the ceremony? Are there any religious requirements?

No religious requirements necessary. I like this plane black headstone. It is most fitting. I just need a small quiet ceremony. As for the stone i just need the words "Densimo 'Turn Coat' Grax"

Thank you
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

*Back in the library, and unaware of Christie, sleeping under the table, Fidei scans the shelves for something, anything that could be of help*

*Finding nothing, Fidei pulls a note from her pocket that she recieved earlier from Jammer. Pacing nervously, she waits for her arrival, and for more news...*

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Warbird
Slightly amused

*suddenly, from the alley way...*

YOU?!?! HOW COULD YOU?!?!?! WHY, I'LL....!

*a sharp cracking noise is heard and then silence...*
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* In Isaac De'Ath's office *

Very well, where can we collect the deceased, and when would you like the ceremony?
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* In the library, Josiah Grimm hears the noise and, putting down his book, stands and moves towards the window. In doing so his foot brushes against Christie's foot which protrudes slightly from the edge of the table. Looking underneath he sees the sleeping figure and notices the book underneath her head. *

We may have another clue Fidei, but first, did you hear that noise? I think we should investigate.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

*With only the hint of a delayed reaction, Fidei jumps at the noise.*

I may have a little light to shed on Christie's sleepwalking antics too, but that can wait. Please, lead on...
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm leads Fidei out of the library and down a set of stairs. At the bottom he goes to a small wooden cupboard and retrieves a dark red velvet bag. Opening the drawstrings of the bag he removes a black unmarked cylindrical object about 20cm long and 5cm in diameter, with a vaguely metallic sheen. Suddenly a dazzling beam of light shines from the end of the cylinder, but Josiah carefully avoids blinding himself or Fidei. *

Right, come on, Fidei.

* Josiah unlocks the door and cautiously steps out into the alleyway, sweeping the beam of light around.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

The cobbles underfoot are wet, and reflect dazzlingly the light from the torch beam.
Following Mr. Grimm, careful not to slip, Fidei edges her way along the alleyway.
Suddenly, her foot strikes something and she sqeaks. Mr Grimm turns and points the beam at it...
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* The beam illuminates what appears to be a pile of dark velvet. Fidei gasps and clutches Josiah Grimm's arm as she notices a hand protruding from underneath. Josiah Grimm flips back the velvet to reveal the motionless body of Jammer. They now recognise that the velvet is her cloak. Anxiously Josiah Grimm examines the seemingly lifeless body. Blood has congealed around a nasty wound on her forehead which is also beginning to bruise. *

She is very close to death, but she lives yet. We must take her inside immediately.

* Beside the body is a silver-tipped wooden walking cane *
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Gently lifting the unconscious Jammer, Mr Grimm and Fidei carry her inside. A door straight ahead of them leads into a huge room with a blazing fire, a deep, soft, velvet bed and an extensive range of medical paraphernalia.
As Mr Grimm begins to tend to Jammer, Fidei, laying the blood-soaked cloak on a near-by chair, heads back outside. She grasps the cane, suprisingly heavy, and looks around for any other clues.
Seeing nothing in the gloom, Fidei examines the cane in her hands. It bears what looks like the Jamberry Royal Crest...
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm gently cleans the wound and wipes the blood from Jammer's face and hair. He carefully examines the rest of the body for further injury and finds none except some grazing to her hand and knee where she fell. He tends to those, and then steps back from the bed. Jammer is now lying peacefully under the crisp white linen. Somehow she is now wearing white silk pjyamas. Her face is pale, but the signs of injury have disappeared. He moves to the door. *

Fidei, come back in, please. It's not safe.

* Fidei re-enters and Josiah closes the door firmly and locks it. *

Did you find anything?
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Just this cane.
I think this is the Jamberry Royal Crest, but I can't be sure. It looks like what knocked Jammer out though, it's pretty heavy, could easily cause some damage...
Will she be ok?

*Glances nervously at Jammer. She still looks very sick*
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

Well, I believe she will live, but even with all I could do I believe that she will at best have an extremely painful headache when she comes round. * frowns * I'm afraid the blow caused some internal damage, but it's hard to tell how extensive it was. It could be anything from, say, the equivalent of a hard night's drinking, to.....well, let's just hope it doesn't come to that.

* Josiah Grimm looks pensively at the unconscious Jammer, then turns to Fidei, and notices her anxious demeanour *

We've done all we can: it's up to her now. I fear she will not regain consciousness for some time, but let's get Vientu to watch her just in case and go and continue out investigations in the library.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

*Vientu enters with a large mug of tea, settles herself in a chair by the bedside and begins to read a leather-bound copy of The Wizard Of Oz*

*With a final worried look towards Jammer, Fidei follows Mr Grimm back up the staircase to the library. Christie lies, still fast asleep under the table, and stirs gently as Mr Grimm removes the large book from beneath her head. Fidei watches as he examines the cover and carefully opens it..."
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

The book is like a scrap book - in it are carefully pasted a series of what appear to be handwritten letters. The first says:

Quote:
 
Hsffujoht, nz mpwf. J bn tp ibqqz xf dbo tqfbl bu mbtu xjuipvu pvs tfdsfu cfjoh ejtdpwfsfe. J mpwf zpv boe j mpoh up cf xjui zpv. QJ
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

*Looks at the encrypted letter and makes a quick translation...*

Quote:
 
"Greetings, my love, I am so happy we can speak at last without our secret being discovered. I love you and I long to be with you"

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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

It seems these are from the Queen of Jamberry to someone close to her. Hopefully there will be something in here which will give us a clue about the crypt.

* Josiah Grimm turns the pages and reads snippets aloud *

...our plans have been set in motion...

...do not trust anyone...

...it was good to see you last night but we cannot risk doing that too often...

...my best maidservant has got pregnant and I've had to let her go...

* he stops suddenly *

She's changed the code:

Quote:
 
iu hkra - pda oanrwjp sdk xawno pdeo odkqhz dwea pkhz ukq sdu e dwz pk ydwjca pda ykze - kqn ajaieao cnks opnkjcan wjz e bawn bkn pda mqaajzki - ukq iqop skng mqeyghu QJ
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

Quote:
 
My love- the servant who bears this should have told you why I had to change the code- our enemies grow stronger and I fear for the Queendom- you must work quickly 


This is all so confusing... Do you know much about the history of Jamberry? Who were these enemies?
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

* Josiah Grimm puts down the scrap book and goes to a nearby shelf. He picks out a slim blue leather-bound volume with The Royal House of Jamberry picked out in gold leaf. He opens it up and flicks until he finds the entry he's searching for. *

Quote:
 
Queen Jammer I 1573 - 1604 (born 1558)

Queen Jammer I was a strong and popular ruler, especially in her early years. An accomplished cartographer, she travelled widely within her kingdom on her map-making expeditions in the early part of her reign. She was an equally accomplished seamstress, and in the latter part of her reign she devoted much of her energy to dress-making. She is generally regarded as the designer who brought haute couture to Jamberry, and many of her designs still look astonishingly daring and modern today. She had one younger brother, Tarquin, born in 1559.

She came to the throne when still only 14, and at first relied heavily on her Chancellor, Lord Varyn, who reinforced his family connection to the throne by installing his grandson Von as consort. However Von was fiercely loyal to the Queen and assisted her in asserting her own authority when she began to rule personally from around the middle of 1577.

The Queen became engaged to Archduke Cardraw, ruler of Floom, in 1580, and a grand wedding was planned for the summer of 1582, but in the spring of that year, a somewhat mysterious event took place. For the first time in seven years, Von left the Queen's side, to accompany Prince Tarquin on a diplomatic mission to Marland, a country neighbouring Floom. The reasons for this are not clear, and the purpose of the journey is also somewhat obscure. However, on the journey, Prince Tarquin contracted a serious illness and died. Reputedly feeling guilt at having failed to bring back the prince intact, Von never returned to Jamberry. The Queen was said to be heartbroken at the loss of her brother, and cancelled the wedding.

Although officially retired, Lord Varyn again intervened to install Von's younger brother Walius as consort, and also encouraged the Queen to pass a law making the position hereditary. Varyn also arranged the hand of the Queen in marriage to Prince Franz of Herzelonia. This time the wedding proceeded to plan, and a national holiday was declared in celebration on August 20 1585. In 1587 the royal couple announced the birth of a daughter.........


It goes on, but I have a feeling that we must be looking at the period before this second engagement.
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FideiDefensor
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curioser and curioser...

*A sudden thought strikes Fidei*
The diary...
*She runs downstairs to where Jammer lies, still unconscious. Vientu looks up as Fidei grabs the beautiful cloak and searches for an inside pocket. When she finds it, it is empty.*
*Heading back to the library, she finds Mr Grimm looking a little confused.*
I've only just remembered, I found a diary in here some time ago, I gave it to Jammer, I think she found something in it that could be of help. She sent me this, just before she was attacked...
Quote:
 
Dearest Fidei,
I have it! It will take two people, the key and one other thing to open that vault. I am so sorry for all the confusion these past weeks, but my head being cleared by the trauma of the fire, I see very clearly what must be done. Meet me in at GRA when you can.
Yours,
Jammer

But she doesn't have the diary now. It must have been taken by whoever attacked her...
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Mearnskirk
Retired Undertaker

Damn. Still, let's see how far we can get with what we have.

* Josiah Grimm continues to leaf through the book reading aloud *

.... You must be wrong - T can't be involved surely? .....

..... I don't know what to do - if I go ahead with the wedding he may strike immediately, yet how can I get out of it without causing a diplomatic incident?.....

.... Well you know you are the one person I trust, so although you can't tell me about your plan I'm sure it must be for the best ....

* he pauses *

Another code change!

Quote:
 
ky vslibst nsffal – o pwbs pwt di upwjqs dps uits wqwoj – o dpojm d ecehsude wjt jia o dpojm ps oe hlwjjojq di qi wjt ess u ij poe boeod di kwflwjt – yic kced fsdcfj QJ
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