Greyshore

[The Forgotten God]

A collection of nondescript government buildings along the northwest coast of the city. There’s only two reasons to come here, either work or because you’ve upset someone in a very high place...

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Geoffrey Ravenhurst had worn his gray ulster over his dark waistcoat and ruffled shirt. It was the sort of outfit one could wear to any function on short notice. In short, Geoffrey's ensemble was bland and unremarkable. In his unremarkable breast pocket however was a letter directing him to a certain room in a certain building. This letter also had a certain seal that made it rather difficult to simply ignore...

[The Forgotten God]

He entered one of the buildings and the doorman ignored him as he passed. His face was known well enough in these parts and the guards here were paid to be as silent as possible. His footsteps echoed in the hall as he entered his handler’s office. She was a marked upgrade at least; young and fire-haired and rather against the picture one would have in their heads of a career spy. Presumably that’s the way she preferred it. She took her reading glasses off as he approached and nodded courteously. She had introduced herself, once, as Misty. That seemed an unlikely real name.

“Geoffrey,” she said with a faint smile. “How many of those ulsters do you own? You’re like a rainy day owned a clothing store.” She turned her palm upward to the ceiling so he could place the document in her hand. “Someone’s being naughty in our fair city. Jupiter wanted you to handle it personally.”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Don't knock the rain, love. It's what's kept Innuria alive all these years. It's the really sunny chaps that should make one nervous..."

He removed the document from his breastpocket and handed it to her.

"Hmmm... either Jupiter thinks fondly of me or this will be a truly shite assignment."

Geoffrey took a seat nearby and removed his pipe. He didn't light it yet, merely placed it between his lips so he had something to do with his hands and mouth. It was a well-practiced tic, one that replaced any actual display of emotion.

[The Forgotten God]

She set the document on the desk without opening it. “Probably a bit of both columns, were I in the guessing business,” she drawled, “but I’m not. I assume you’ve heard of House Lockhart?” She said. “Run that shady asylum that keeps getting shut down and reopened and shut down? Well,” she puffed a greenish cloud into the air above her head, “someone’s taken a distinct dislike for them. A strong dislike. Enough to drop three bodies in less than six months.” She tapped the desk with one well-manicured finger.

“Opinions on the quality of their family aside, Jupiter wants to figure out what’s going on. Nobles get skittish when their own start being the ones found in gutters. And some of these crime scenes I’ve heard are..” she twirled a finger and waited for the proper word, “almost artistically grotesque.” She held up her stamp. “He says two hundred gold pieces for the identity of the killer. Do you accept this contract, Geoffrey Ravenhurst?”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Have no fear, Captain... he'll end up in Lockhart Asylum and this whole affair will have been as a bad dream..

Those were the words spoken when Geoffrey Ravenhurst had sold his honor for the public good. He had believed them at the time but now...

He considered the possible suspects and motives before declaring, "I can find your killer. But I can't promise it will be the only terror I stumble upon. The Lockharts weren't the only high family sojourning in that asylum..."

[The Forgotten God]

Misty yawned. “How ominous. For now Jupiter has only stated concern with the Lockhart murders. I’m sure everyone has skeletons they don’t want coming out.” She stamped the document and handed it back to him. “But when you find them, he’s leaving it to your discretion. Good luck, Geoffrey,” she said. “Try not to rock too many boats at once.”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Why do you think that I wear the ulster?"

Geoffrey accepted the document, gave it a hard look, and then left to return to the real world. He was positively starving...