Odyssey Investigations: AEAEA - Chapter 1 - The Case of the Spirit-Painted Exhibition

[GBA]

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So if I'm getting all of this straight... The leader of the Fallen Lotus, someone who can infiltrate the Astral Plane, is speculated by Detective Sholmes to be somewhere in this resort... Moh over here was attempting to contact that leader by means of somatic ritual, but couldn't... And then Mr. CYMK tried connecting with a spirit, came face-to-face with something sinister, and drew the insignia of the Fallen Lotus on the painting before us?

If all of this is true... There is but one thing to say.

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MOH DHURVAKT, you INSOLENT FOOL!!

You frightened a rookie somaticist and left him utterly vulnerable to influence! Then, you attempted to HAVE CONVERSATION with a CULT LEADER who likely possessed the poor dino?! Of course he couldn't talk to you, he was too busy infiltrating this kid's mind!!

What the HELL do you have to say for yourself?! You better have a good explanation for all of your somatic shit, PRONTO, because from where I'm standing, it looks like you practically set him up!

- [Moh] - ...Starchild ENA. Yes, the Noktmathi delegation informed me you may be present as an independent, and intimidating, investigator. Presuming you've entered a contract yourself, you are well aware of the things I can, and cannot, disclose, subject to individual terms.

However. "Set him up"? My words may have been stern, but necessary. It is truly a shame he came to face consequences sooner than you or I could have ever anticipated, or been able to protect him.

But, I have great admiration for Mulak. I was planning on speaking to him, alone, after our originally intended exhibition viewing. It appears he's been unaware of that which he wields for so long, yet still produced wondrous art for us all the same.

I detect nothing in his actions or voice which indicates he is malicious. This impressive deinos before us is blessed with the talent of us distant dreamers.

We must all begin that journey, whatever form it takes for us. All make a few mistakes. Regrettably... I did, myself.

As you have mentioned, the nature of this symbols appearance is made apparent. The threat still lingers, but its urgency is now, thankfully, lessened. Like you, it also confirmed some of my suspicions regarding my target, but as it stands, we must press onwards with finding a culprit for the remainder of this incident.

It would calm the clouds shrouding our young dreamer's mind as we speak. Starchild Marenghi's wisdom is but one comfort.

 

[Theobald Leonhart]

The one who scribbled over the dragon man's picture and made him cry was...the dragon man himself?!

It's...a little more complicated than that, Efi. Cyrus here is the "culprit", but he's not the "bad guy". Someone else made him do it - someone who sounds like bad news.

Still, glad that's settled. Our artist friend here was clearly in a bad way with all this. You shouldn't lie if you're not used to it, yunno? Lies gnaw away at your very sense of self...then it gets too much to handle, and completely overtakes you. Well, it's true that...some of us, were saying some pretty frightening things about bringing the culprit to justice n' whatnot...so I get why you felt the need to lie.

But you feel better now, yeah? And Mr. Bushroot over there's right; this wasn't your fault - no one in their right mind would blame you. I think taking him up on his rather generous offer's in your best interest here. I'm not as familiar with this "evil spirit" as the rest of you seem to be, but I can surmise it's not something we can fight if we're keeping secrets. That goes for...all of us.

(Leo's eyes dart around the room, briefly settling on Aldrich in particular, before returning their gaze toward the gallery.)

But that's only one mystery solved, isn't it? I think it's all but confirmed at this point that there are two people responsible for this mess, and we've only got one confession. On that note...

Ms Knotweed, are you certain that you don't know where your fuzzy friend got off to after it stole Mr. Tarlow's sticker? The mess in the Exhibition Room seems reasonably consistent with a larger fuzzy hopping wildly around, perhaps even with someone chasing it. Accidents happen...but if they do, we need to know.

 

[GBA]

The one who scribbled over the dragon man's picture and made him cry was...the dragon man himself?!

It's...a little more complicated than that, Efi. Cyrus here is the "culprit", but he's not the "bad guy". Someone else made him do it - someone who sounds like bad news.

Still, glad that's settled. Our artist friend here was clearly in a bad way with all this. You shouldn't lie if you're not used to it, yunno? Lies gnaw away at your very sense of self...then it gets too much to handle, and completely overtakes you. Well, it's true that...some of us, were saying some pretty frightening things about bringing the culprit to justice n' whatnot...so I get why you felt the need to lie.

But you feel better now, yeah? And Mr. Bushroot over there's right; this wasn't your fault - no one in their right mind would blame you. I think taking him up on his rather generous offer's in your best interest here. I'm not as familiar with this "evil spirit" as the rest of you seem to be, but I can surmise it's not something we can fight if we're keeping secrets. That goes for...all of us.

(Leo's eyes dart around the room, briefly settling on Aldrich in particular, before returning their gaze toward the gallery.)

But that's only one mystery solved, isn't it? I think it's all but confirmed at this point that there are two people responsible for this mess, and we've only got one confession. On that note...

Ms Knotweed, are you certain that you don't know where your fuzzy friend got off to after it stole Mr. Tarlow's sticker? The mess in the Exhibition Room seems reasonably consistent with a larger fuzzy hopping wildly around, perhaps even with someone chasing it. Accidents happen...but if they do, we need to know.

Surprised as ever by anything, you ask Valerie about her involvement, and your genuine concern catches her off guard amidst the tension.

- [Valerie] - I absolutely don't know. My animal communication allows me to impart thoughts on untrained fuzzies, and in addition to exposure to their draining powers, its how I get them to be so passive. This one was caught recently, and I've tried to pacify it, but its a bit feisty.

Uh... they can't swim very well. Most of them broke isolation on Findelo by attaching themselves to ancient travellers or giant birds.

So......it has to be around still. I didn't do it, and I dunno about the rest of you, but I care for these lil guys. After the display that two-faced spirithead pulled earlier, I can't be unconvinced someone didn't intentionally agitate it!

If we find it, I'm sure this mess can be cleaned up. Figuratively and literally. I can still try to track it.

 

[Roserade]

...Pardon the ridiculous thought, but these things enjoy camouflaging, do they not? Surely, it's not just... hidden on the black edge of a painting, is it?

 

[GBA]

...Pardon the ridiculous thought, but these things enjoy camouflaging, do they not? Surely, it's not just... hidden on the black edge of a painting, is it?

You look for a painting with a high amount of black around its edges, and look for fuzzy things on it.

Spoiler: Painting 4

Something fuzzy's going on here for sure. Fine art is truly... a mystery.

 

[Theobald Leonhart]

(As he hears Valerie's reply, Leo glances at his diminutive sidekick, as if expecting a response - but she merely shakes her head.)

I see, thanks for your cooperation. Hopefully, once we find our answer, we'll find your little friend as well.

(He turns his attention to everyone's favorite cake-cramming concierge.)

Sorry to put you on the spot again, Aldrich - I do appreciate your cooperation thus far - but there's something else that's been bothering me, and I'd hate to lose my chance to ask. You're awfully touchy about people putting their mitts on your masks - wary of contaminants, I take it? I couldn't help but notice some letters on the mask that two-toned girl picked up in the garden, though. Might be a coincidence, but they match the initials of a guest who left a comment in your guestbook. 'KL' ring any bells? I don't suppose you're carving letters into bone for fun, but I can't imagine why they might be there.

 

[GBA]

Investigations are now locked. The (improvised) Final Accusation phase is now active.

Players may now post their deductions for the culprit using thread clues they've gathered. No new investigations or rolepowers may be submitted.

After a brief interlude, a story sequence will be posted, tailored to the majority's deduction of the case.

---

The Accusation phase will end Later today at 9:00 PM .

 

[Lin Beifong]

A formal accusation... Hm.
I'm here merely in a supplementary role, but let me share my thoughts.

I've never much been a believer in magicks. I'm a botanist and my purview is science.
It never sat right with me how many use the term "magic" to observe natural phenomena and then ascribe some metaphysical mumbo jumbo to them as an excuse to not further think about them.

But during my time on that maesonic island, I've had opportunity to study these metaphysics and come to experience their effects myself.

Itin... Optus Telos... Herasia... Phobos Therros... I've seen many ways people can be coerced to do things they normally wouldn't. From simple suggestion, to blocking out memories, implanting phobias, or even overt threat to ones own existence. Magic is a very, very messy domain, and doubly so is demanding accountability when forceful mind-alteration is involved.

The person who defaced the painting with that symbol was Lorenzo Moretti.

He preyed upon the mind of a young, impressionable artist at their most vulnerable. In the guise of a sympathetic savior, Lorenzo lead this boy astray. A most despicable habit he shares with his twin brother, who tried something very similar once with a young ward in our care on the island.

Through our efforts, that one failed back then. And through our efforts, his brother will fail now.

Let the record show the two brothers are exactly the same.
And let the name Moretti be forever synonymous with "impotent failure".

As for the general disarray in the gallery, I believe... Ms. Lonicera is most likely responsible.

Walking around the west-side botanical gardens while carrying a highly reflective tray, I am inclined to believe her when she says she was just collecting herbs. My theory is that the reflective tray caused her to be targeted by the rogue fuzzy, just like Ms. Baskerfudge before her. Then, already frustrated at having her display passed over in favor of an art gallery, this incident pushed her beyond the boiling point and ignited her jealousy.

She restrained the creature with vines and then hatched a delightfully devilish scheme: Release a wild animal inside the gallery to get back at the company that passed her over, and at the cake-gobbling hobgoblin who kept hobbling over to the restaurant to slobbily steal her confectionary. Deeply trobbling... I mean... whatever.

The soil marks in the botanical garden... perhaps they were made by her as she was being chased around by the shiny-hunting creature, eventually ensnaring the thing and setting it loose inside. Then after the deed was done, she carried the dirt caked in her shoes from trying to stomp the irritant bugger and left it behind in the doormat in front of the restaurant.

I can sympathize with her to an extent. As someone with an affinity for plants myself, I relate to the feeling of being compared unfavorably to other, more flashy subjects like electricity, or deranged toy making. It cannot be easy to deal with cranky customers and thieving concierges, I understand the frustration. But I wish she could have picked a wiser outlet for these feelings, instead of ruining the display of an artist who did nothing to her. I hope she will realize this, and reach out and apologize.

But let me also say this, to you, Mr. Ethos.

I hope you realize that a lot of today's chaos originated from your covert meddling.
Had you simply approached Mr. Tarlow and calmly asked him to take his belongings into storage upfront instead of acting like some thief in the night and rummaging through his laundry behind his back, you wouldn't have had to send Ms. Basketforge as a seccet courier, and none of this would have happened.

I mean, the man is pregnant for heaven's sake! Have some respect!

I really feel like it is my responsibility to bring your theft up with your superior once she arrives here. But I would be willing to reconsider if you would be so kind as to drop charges against Mr. Mulak, not bring this case into the public eye, and let him stay at the resort. I believe we all benefit from this arrangement.

Also, please send an apology gift fruit basket to Mr. Sholmes' room. Thank you very much.

I would have some words for Ms. Knotweed too, and her leaving a caged wild animal unattended in a public space, but...
I think that woman has probably been through enough today.​