Citadel's Shadow II, Session 89

Citadel's Shadow II, Session 89 was a session of the Citadel's Shadow II campaign, played on 27 September 2020 (UTC) (26 September 2020 for some participants).
== Personnel ==
===Game Master===
*GM: played by Alden Loveshade
===Player Characters===
*Fern the Siegemaster: inventive fox-person student played by Rail Runner
=== Prominent Non-Player Characters ===
*Butlim Snapras: student of Vivimi Academy
*Eri Snow: fox-person entertainer
*Petro Songoro: human professor of Imperial University of Trynser City
*Terri "Smart" Brunt: professor at El ingenio de la Universidad de la luz de las estrellas
=== Special ===
*Juan de Fulmando: sword-wielding human alchemist usually played by Alden Loveshade
*Mojarósa: Mistress Magus of Milspar, Millisymph
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Damirin 9 (Restingday) (Festival of Damira) (continued): The Science Faire of the Festival of Damira held in University Ward Commons in Trynser City had been judged.
Butlim Snapras of Vivimi Academy, a secondary school located in the Uphill Ward of Trynser City, said,  "St. Bassard's can't win--they sabotaged our engine!"  Fern the Siegemaster of St. Bassard's School and Home for Disadvantaged Youth said she hadn't heard of any such thing,  Mugsey Dormp, also of St. Bassard's, said, "Hey, we didn't do anything to your lousy pile of junk!"  Professor Petro Songoro of Imperial University of Trynser City (a contest official), said, "Now, students, let's not argue."
Fern said, "I didn't study this type of engine, but I think the fire started with the black powder going in, probably a spark set it off. Sabotage is possible, though, but I have nothing to do with it; actually we had some trouble with that as well."  Fern told about how their own project had been sabotaged by a piston for their steam engine being stolen, but it had been caught in time and the piston was recovered.  It had been taken by "Mal," a male human, and "Fema," a female gnome (actually Macon Mani and Ginima Noma respectively).  Prof. Songoro had heard of the sabotage, but didn't know the details other than the involved school (which was United Lar Academy).
In response to Butlim's accusation, Professor Petro Songoro said, "That's a very serious charge.  How would you know students of St. Bassard's committed sabotage?"  Butlim said, "It's obvious!  It was sabotaged, and this Bassard fox girl runs right away to check on it when it goes wrong!"  Prof. Songoro looked at Fern and asked, "What do you say happened?"  Fern said, "I was running there to treat an injured person, actually."  Mirjam Jakin, a female Vivimi student, said, "She did first aid because she feels guilty!"  Fern said, "I'm not the person to reveal myself like that if I would be doing something I'm not supposed to be doing."
Prof. Songoro said they needed experts to check on any possible sabotage.
Professor Terri "Smart" Brunt, professor of engineering and mechanics at El ingenio de la Universidad de la luz de las estrellas, studied Vivimi's experimental internal combustion engine powered by demon dust.  He said he found no sign of sabotage on the engine, but couldn't speak for the demon dust.  Fern said the dust could have become unstable if not stored properly, or a spark could have set it off.  But the authorities needed a both qualified and object expert.  Juan Silvio-Vagle, who helped manufacture the dust, checked it.  He said it appeared to be normal.
During the examnations, another student said, "We think somebody messed with our music player."
Fern wondered if the dust could be been interferred with magically; they called in the Mistress Mage Mojarósa, who was one of the judges.  When she came in, Fern notied she was wearing a golden chain with little gold disks on it which are symbols of major gods.  Fern figured it was the same chain she had gotten in payment for items including weapons, a chain that had been suspected of having been stolen.  Fern said nothing about the chain, however.  Mojarósa found no sign of magical tampering.
Butlim then said, "Maybe they switched bags!"  He explained that they had two bags of demon dust, one as a backup.  The other bag had less dust; Mirjam apologized, and said she had handed over the wrong bag for the examination.  Juan agreed to test it chemically.
Butlim continued to blame St. Bassard's.  He said a couple people had come to their school claiming to be new students; Fern said a similar thing had happened at St. Bassard's.  Butlim said, : "It was a couple of human teenagers, one tall, one short. Tall one had dark skin, short one light."  That did not meet the description of the fake new students Fern had seen, and didn't match anyone Fern knew at St. Bassard's who would know enough to commit sabotage.
Juan said, "The demon dust was tampered with.  It's volatile and unstable--I disposed of it safely."  Fern said, "Did you figure out what exactly was wrong with it?"  Juan said Something had apparently been added to it.  Butlim said, "Then that means we should have won!"  
Prof. Songoro said, "I am very sorry about this, but the contest in annual, the judges have made their judgement, and it's been publicly recognized.  I cannot reverse the decision, even with sabotage.  I am very sorry."
Fern said, "Well, they probably had someone who either knows chemistry or knows how to work with explosive manterials."  Juan agreed.  Prof. Songoro again apologized but said the judges' decision would have to be final, and left to attend to other business.  Fern talked to Juan about the demon dust, while Mugsey and Butlim complained or argued.  Then Mojarósa took Juan to speak with him, apparently about a different matter.
Eri Snow arrived, and said she just come from rehearsals at Madame Maude Lynn's Theater of Thrills.  She asked Fern how things had gone, and Fern said they won first place in the science fair and also told about the sabotague.  She put her arm around Fern and said she was proud, but was sorry about the problems that had happened.
Eri said, "I have good news, though.  Our dancing cloggers finished their tour at Madame Maude Lynn's, so we're finally going to do a show about the Rat King!  You were a part of that! Jinxi can't stop talking about it."
Fern said, "Oh? Do I get to take part in it?"  Eri said, "Oh, well, no, not on stage. But you can see the show for free!"  Eri asked Fern to guess who would be playing her, and Fern correctly guess Eri would be--although Eri wasn't sure if she'd have to dye her white fur red to match Fern's.
Juan returned, and Eri told him the news about the Rat King show, and that someone would be playing him.  Juan said he learned that the gold chain that had been used in payment was stolen and was returned to its rightful owner.  Fern said she had seen the chain (which was worn by Mojarósa).  Mojarósa had offered a reward.
Eri, Fern, and Juan met in a room with Mojarósa.  The three of them had been involved in the situation that led to the weapons sale, for which Mojarósa's stolen chain had been partial payment, along with Audrea Daleos and Kyrie Kelevan who were not present at the meeting.
Mojarósa said, "I offered a 10 percent reward for the return of my chain.  I left half with the Trynser City Municipal Force, so I will give half to you.  That's based on the value they said Grictus' Pawn and Resale gave it. So half of the 10 percent, or 5 percent, is 25 dragons."  However, she offered them an alternative.  She said, :"If you see to it that those who stole it are brought into custody, I would offer the full value Grictus gave: 500 dragons."
Fern said, "Hmm. If only there'd be a way to find them now.  I don't know where to start from now."  Juan said, "Finding them might be difficult."  Eri said, "That was two weeks ago, and Fern's the only one who saw them."
Fern said, "Well, they're not necessarily those who stole it either; could have got it via trade."  Juan said, :"That's true. They would likely know where they got it, but aren't necessarily the thieves."
Fern asked how the chain was stolen, and Mojarósa said they'd need to check with the people who were in charge of it at the time.  She said that would be the personnel of Twelve Rose Inn in Uphill Ward.  Fern remembered having been arrested there, although things eventually worked out.  Mojarósa said, "I'll leave that up to you, then. You can take the 25 dragons now, or take time to think about it.  I will be in Trynser City for five more days."
Fern said, "So... if we think we have more than one in 20 chance of finding those thieves, I think this offer is good for us."  Eri, Fern, and Juan agreed to first check with Audrea and Kyrie, the others who had been involved.  Mojarósa said she would be staying at the Twelve Rose Inn in a day or two, and leave in five days from there.  The group learned the chain had been stolen a couple weeks or so earlier, not too long before Fern got the chain.  The meeting concluded.
Mugsey told Fern that Otto Mordh'Dhagai wanted to talk to them.  Fern had previously turned down a job offer from Otto as it would have meant leaving school.  Juan, who did not trust Otto, reminded Fern of that.  Fern still wanted to talk to Otto though, but agreed Juan could go too.  They both followed Mugsey.  (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 20200927)
====== Copyright by Alden Loveshade ======
Category:Citadel's Shadow IIb