SPQT -- Trial and Tribulation

October 18 - Uncle has been coming in and out all day, fit to burst with glee. A warrant is out for Quintus Valerius's arrest, on Sextus's testimony. He has, not surprisingly, fled. I scried him wading through the sewers in company with a half-orc bodyguard, and sent round a note to the Praetor's to that effect. When Gaius returns tonight to prove he's still alive, I'll ask his "expert" opinion on the matter. Decimus is buried in his lab for the foreseeable future, making magic and studying magic and getting that happy, fevered, preoccupied look at dinner which precludes any conversation with him that doesn't involve material components and spell parameters.

October 19 - Gaius reported that the sewer is a secret highway for those who don't wish to be seen wandering the streets, with secret doors to any number of astonishing places. (NB - check building plans for this villa and for any purchases in town, for possible access points) He offered to find us someone who understood the ins and outs of the system, "on condition" that he be allowed to come on any expeditions. I fear I spoil that boy, rather. After an hour or so, he returned with another boy who claimed to know of a south-end villa with secret exits outside the city, and got him to mark for us on a map four villas with such exits. One belongs to some friends of Uncle's, 1 to a family of dwarven craftsmen, 1 is reputed to be "haunted" and one is occupied by an equestrian with Valarian connections.

The "haunted " villa sounded too good to miss, so we quickly equipped ourselves and set off, with Gaius and his friend in the lead and Corvus keeping a sharp eye on them. The sewers are surprisingly commodious, with a raised sidewalk, for which I was grateful, but I'm afraid I've used up all my perfume and my handkerchief will be scented for several washings. We had only been down ten minutes when Corvus warned us that he heard footsteps, so we hid ourselves; but it was only a citizen with an assignation at a house with a sewer entrance.

We continued without torches, finding sufficient light to pick our way carefully through the tunnels. When our guide stopped, Corvus detected a secret door without much difficulty, despite the low light. We released our guide with his promised payment, which included a surcharge for not gossiping about our affairs, and, Corvus having determined that there were no traps, we proceeded up the rather musty stairs to a storage cellar and thence to a rather nice kitchen. The "haunted" villa proved to be of a good size and elegant appointment; too bad it's not in the country, because I really don't need a townhouse while I'm in Uncle's employ.

Anyway, Corvus hearing voices in the peristyle, we made our way cautiously and circuitously through the lower floor, Corvus located three people, dressed in black, in the tablidium, and approached them invisibly, discovering on closer inspection a total of nine people, including one with a heavy crossbow, one half-orc, and one well-dressed member of the Valarii. Since Quintus seemed to be preparing to read from a large scroll, I sent Gaius for the vigiles and we moved to apprehend the fugitive and his aids. Corvus approached close under cover of his invisibility ring and attempted to seize Quintus, Robyn shot, Alfredus charged, and I cast "hold person" and announced a citizen's arrest. Alas, my spell was ineffective, and Quintus had time to attempt to change Corvus into a worm, an attempt which, happily, failed. Quintus received grievous wounds from others of the party, however, and wisely returned to his invisible state and retreated. Alfredus and Robyn did great execution, and my Cloak of Righteousness blinded many of our foes, and I could hear the whistles of the vigiles approaching as Quintus grabbed his half-orc companion and teleported away.

The remaining wounded, blinded men surrendered when I pointed out that their leader had abandoned them, but this was poor compensation for losing the primary quarry. He had to abandon his luggage, for what that's worth. It was mostly clothes and papers of an unimportant sort, including some indecent material of which I had to relieve Gaius, but also including some spell scrolls. A search of the nearby rooms revealed that squatters had been here for some time. The men in black admitted that they undertook private commissions for the Valarii here, such as intimidating unsuitable suitors for the female members of the family, but they don't know where he went, and though I hurried to the nearest chapel with some of Quintus's clothing to aid me, I was unable to scry them.

We hear that the crossbowman disappeared without a trace from his jail cell. Dratted doppelgangers!