Martin and Reller (Stik and Kafen) private thread

[Breila]

"Are you implying I am neglecting my duties?" Geraldine asks sharply.

[Kafen]

Reller is tactfully silent as he lets Drake reply.

[Stik]

Martin looks over his shoulder, as if trying to see who else Geraldine might be speaking to. Then he looks back at her, his face the very picture of innocence. "Neglecting your duties? Not at all, Constable, not at all. Nor would sit idly by to hear your worst enemy say such of you.
"I would just feel better knowing what our fuzzy friends were doing. Right now they're vagrants, with no money, no employment, no leader and a limited set of skills, most of which run into the 'menacing,' 'destroying,' and 'killing' catefories. Better to have such individuals on the payroll than to have them out and about, looking for freelance opportunities, if you get my drift. I thought we might try taking a page from the mageling's book and actually treat them like people. We could offer them employment. What would be more progressive than hiring a monster in the Constabulary?
"And for future reference: if something I say offends you, it was probably unintentional. Unless it happens to be true, in which case it's kind of my job to point out uncomfortable truths, and tradition demands clemency in such cases."

[Breila]

Although Geraldine tries to keep a stern face, she cannot help smiling when Martin mentions "progressive" and "hiring monsters". When he has finishes, she gives a mock sigh. "Well, I appreciate your telling the truth, it helps me make my thoughts sharper. But you sure will notice when I take offence.

As for the gnolls, my plan is to ask them to help us getting rid of the smugglers, since they bear a grudge against them. Then I would reward them and bring them to a place further away from here, perhaps somewhere in the wilderness further south, where they can make a living as they please. But as I said before, I would like to talk to them not before tomorrow. We have to keep them happy here for two weeks, and the less manpower I need to look after them, the better. I had planned on meeting them tomorrow at sunset, with Evgeny who speaks Gnoll. He was the one Amon practiced with. You can't learn to speak a language just out of books."

Then Geraldine turns to Reller. "Have you been out in the countryside recently? There had been reports of goblin raids in the hills to the south, have you heard about it, too?"

[Kafen]

"Nothing specific regarding the goblins, I know that there are reports of lights in the old manion near the bay on moonless nights which might be related to such raids." Reller muses thoughtfully. "That's the strangest news I know."

[Kafen]

Leaning back, Reller stretches his arms and calmly looks around the room.

[Breila]

"Lights..." Geraldine muses. "They could be part of a signaling system. What do you think?" she asks the men."They could be part of a signaling system. What do you think?"

[Stik]

"We were bandying about just that very thing in the pub yesterday morning. Or was it the day before? The intrepid abecedarian expeditionists managed to filch a number of documents, one of which included what looked to me to be a set of signals. Although what would occasion use of each was not immediately apparent."

[Breila]

"That sounds good. Do you have any idea where these documents might be now?" Geraldine leans forward.

[Kafen]

"Indeed, it is a good question. We have the time, location, and place. If we had the signal code, it would leave us in a good place to discover who is involved." Reller suggests in response.

[Stik]

"I expect Junior took them with him on his boat trip. Unless he left them in his parents' basement. I could sketch them from memory, but I don't know if they would be completely accurate. You could always ask Senior if he's seen them.
"Although if they are indeed signals, I suppose we'd need to know when to use them, neh?"

[Breila]

Geraldine turns to Reller. "Did the reports of lights mention any particular time when that happens? Could you ask the people about it if you don't know?"

[Kafen]

"The moonless nights as I said before." Reller repeats what he knows to the group with a grin on his face.

[Breila]

Taken aback for a moment at Reller's comment, Geraldine pauses, then says: "I'm sorry. Apparently filtering out the information form the stream of words coming from his mouth" - she points to Drake - "makes me forget some words others said as well.

Right, when it is the moonless nights that the signals are seen, we have almost two weeks left. Time to wait for the return of the help party from Dunreese, I guess. Nevertheless, it might be a good idea for you, Drake, to wrtite down what you remember while the memory is still fresh, just in case.

Now, I have work to do. As I mentioned before, I will go talk to the gnolls with Evgeny tomorrow at sunset. You are welcome to come along, but now, I must ask you to leave my office with me." She gets up.

[Kafen]

Reller suggests. "No harm done, I wonder if the moonless nights indicate a vast distance for the intended viewers. Such a small light would be nearly invisible at a distance on a normal night."

Giving Geraldine a polite bow after standing up straight, he says. "I meant no offense, Geraldine. It is a pleasure to see you as always." He steps towards the door and waits for Drake to step out with him.