This is an Adventures in Vue game thread for the Black Brigade. For more information about Adventures in Vue, visit our blog or the main thread on GOG. To sign up for the next game, please visit the recruitment thread. Thank you.

I'll keep the thread open until all the BB is ready to play, or at least 2 of you and maybe a new character if needed.
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Black Brigade:

1. Lewendor, level 3 Assassin
2. Xirdneh, level 3 Berserker
3. Jack the Knife, level 3 Spy

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Usually, being summoned by the Ringmaster is an enjoyable experience. As long as you've done nothing in particular to anger him, chances are it's good news: a new job has come up, party in the mess hall, brand new bottle of wine to share and so on.

The mood was a little more solemn today. The Ringmaster sat at his desk, scratching his chin and mumbling to himself. The Knight Roe stood at his side, eyes facing the ground.

Jack, Xir and Lewendor stood silent. Finally, the Ringmaster spoke.

"You know what I don't understand. This Miken guy. Who was he? Who is he?"

Lewendor began, "Sir, I don't..."

"First he's a traitor, then..."

"He is sir. Is a traitor." Lewendor interjected.

"As I was saying, first he's a traitor. Actually, no, first he's an upstanding member of our Brigade. Then he's a traitor. Next, what comes after that? He's dead. Then what?"

"Uh, he was alive, Ringmaster." replied Jack the Knife.

"Right, alive. So he's dead, then he's alive. Then he's our prisoner. Then what?"

"Ummm... he's a butterfly?" asked Jack, facetiously.

"You're not too far off Jack. He's gone."

"Gone, sir?" asked Xir.

"Yes, gone. As in, flew away. Gone."

"We had him in custody, didn't we?" asked Lewendor.

"We certainly did." said Roe.

"So let's go through this one more time. High ranking member of the team, then traitor, then dead, then alive, then prisoner, then missing." The Ringmaster sighed, dropped his head towards his desk and ran both hands through his hair. "There's something not right about Miken. He's a Lich, an undead sorcerer. It's the only explanation."

"I hope that wasn't your first," returned Jack, "your first guess, that is. Seems like a stretch."

"How else would you explain it?" asked Roe.

Lewendor was deep in thought. "To be honest, I have no idea. What do you mean when you say he's gone though, how did that happen?"

Roe scowled. "We went to check on him, a couple days after putting him in custody. He was nowhere to be found. He should have been in his cell, there were no signs of tampering, and we had guards on duty around the clock. Unless we've been outsmarted by some alien force then he simply vanished!"

"You can't out-rogue a bunch of rogues! Impossible!" exclaimed Jack.

"Right!" shouted the Ringmaster emphatically, slamming his fists on his desk. "You're damned right, Jack! Look fellas, you're young, you're some of the greenest men we have out in the field. Truth is, though, you haven't failed me yet and you were all over Miken's betrayal in the first place. The Brigade needs men it can trust right now, perhaps more than ever. Because, if he's a Lich, we have a serious problem on our hands. But then, if he's not, we may have an even bigger problem: someone on guard might have helped him escape."

"Sir!" objected Roe.

"You know it's true, lass, that's the only other possibility that occurs to me here. If that's the case, we need to expose the traitors and do it fast. We can't have this thing getting out of control. We have no leads, none at all. I need you boys to track down Miken. Find him, bring him in alive if possible. If he has any conspirators, I'll leave it up to your discretion as to how to deal with them."

"For the guild!" Xir shouted enthusiastically.

"For the Brigade!" everyone returned.

"Listen," added the Ringmaster, "we've got a shipment of goods coming in, probably the day after tomorrow. A whole bunch of useful items. Obviously, I can't have you wait that long, but you do this job correctly, you will have first pick from the stock. So what do you say, are you up to it or what?"

Roe added, "Oh, hey Xir, you get a minute, come and speak with me."

Lewendor runs his tongue over his top right canine tooth in almost a snarl before chuckling.

"I think we can get to the bottom of this situation, but I'll need something from you Ringmaster. I need unfettered access to all the guards and anyone else that may come up in this investigation. If we have to check with you every time we need to question someone Miken will most certainly get away. Additionally I'll need Miken's file... yes 'that' file, along with the other two, there may be a link."

Ringmaster: "The guards are a good place to start, Lew, much as the dame here would like to think otherwise."

<Roe elbows the Ringmaster in the stomach>

RIngmaster: "The files can be arranged. You understand that this all will be held in the strictest confidence? You breathe a word to anyone about what's in their files, we're gonna have to tussle.

Other than that, here's a list of places to investigate:

<Ringmaster hands you a piece of paper with a few places listed on it>

1. The tavern
2. Talk to the street children in the area
3. Miken's former hideout
4. Speak to your contact within the Cobras
5. Visit the gobblers, they're not the smartest buggers but they know a thing or two about Liches.

Ringmaster: "I'll get you the files within the hour. You have unfettered access to the guards and all of the Brigade, though if you suspect someone of being a double agent, please speak to me first about it. We've got to be cautious.

Anything else?"

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Roe, the charming but stubborn female Knight approached Xir.

"Hey there, handsome." she whispered. "I know this is a little forward, but I have a gift for you." she said, handing him a music box. "It plays a nice little song, you know, think of me on those long, cold nights." Attached to the box is a love letter.

Xir was taken aback. "I, uh.. never thought of you this way, uh... thanks."

"You better start then, Warrior." she batted her eyes at him.

"Oh please, get a room, you two!" Jack the Knife shouted.

OOC: that's fine. They're welcome to jump in any time they like. This is just the introduction, not going anywhere with it beyond that until everyone is set. :)

OOC: Kind of an unexpected development.

I've been trying to roll with your characters in the way that you play them, I hope that my portrayals are roughly accurate.

Lewendor seems to be the most inquisitive of the bunch, diplomatic and polite, but devioous and cunning. Jack seems to be a bit of a joker, happy go lucky and painfully blunt. Sounds like the kind of friend you have that's always playing pranks on you but also the kind of guy you would like to hang out with over a few beers and just kid around. So far with Xir, I get the sense that he is rather even-keeled (despite being a Berserker), loyal and trustworthy, the middle man in the comedy routine between the always serious Lewendor and the rarely serious Jack.

Is this a fair assessment?

When at all possible, I will step back and let you RP the characters for yourselves, but on certain occasions, it's good to be able to do it myself just to move the story along. Unless it's a crucial decision, of course...

OOC: I'd say that's a fairly accurate summary of Lewendor's personality.

IC:

Jack turns to Lewendor.

"Listen, whilst the warriors are busy knocking helms and breastplates why don't I go and pay a visit to the Gobblers? I recently picked up some of their gwara when I had some time off from the Brigade. Perhaps you can poke around a bit in Miken's hideout and talk to the street brats while on the way?"

OOC: gwara is Polish for "dialect, way of speaking," I figured it would add to the flavour of the story. Also, I have an idea for presenting languages spoken by the Gobblers and others as being presented in rot13 (www.rot13.com) and then PM'ed to me. That should add semblance to one character not being able to make heads or tails of the language being spoken in front of him, while the other character gets full knowledge. What do you think?

Sounds like I plan. I'll see if there's anything we missed in Miken's bunker. Ringmaster, I'd like to requisition a "Skeleton Key" from the stores for use in this mission. After that I think I should start questioning the guards.

IC:

Before leaving, Jack whispers to Lewendor: "Make that 2 Skeleton Keys. I would ask for one myself but I haven't been on the Ringmaster's good side since this one slip up during last Saturday's poker game. and by slip up I mean that cursed ace of spades falling out of my sleeve at the most inopportune time."

OOC: no need to explain the Subway Series :D Lived in the States for 22 years before moving :P

I like that idea a lot! My only concern is that it seems rot13 can reverse the codes as well - thus giving anyone the ability to read it. But the idea overall sounds very good. With your team it's not a problem since you could translate it for them, but if you were fighting another team then I wouldn't want them to reap the same benefit from your skill. Not that I suspect anyone would cheat in this way but just to be sure.

OOC: I think we're pretty much set to begin for real now. With the 2 skeleton keys added to your inventories, and I'll go ahead and set the story for Jack heading to visit the gobblers today.

For Lew and Xir, you can interview anyone you want, whenever. If that's how you would like to star then I would probably begin with the people on guard duty that night (see the roster in PM) but it's up to you.

IC:
Ringmaster: "Skeleton keys? You guys don't have skeleton keys? Wow, you must be in need of that gear even more than I thought. Alright, here's 2. One for you, Lew, and one for Xir. Jack... tough luck maybe next time. Hah!"

Xir already has his skeleton key, I think he calls it a mace. ;)

And on that note, I shall head out and take a closer look at Miken's bunker, and also the homes and safe houses of the other two. I'll report back in and meet up with the rest of you once I've finished that and start the interviews.