[X] I have some more questions Fields.
-[X] What can an "weak" immortal like Windowsill do to support the empire.
-[X] do you know any faction/indervidual who would whant to keep the city in the current state or have it being taken over compelty by the Void.
--[X] If my fellow enties don't suggest any additional questions then it's about time to enter the crime scene.
Alright. Thanks for the questions! Yeah, more context is always better, though I'll have to rephrase it a bit to avoid drawing suspicion.
[X] Fish here. Just...Fish, I don't think I'm some entity from beyond the stars or any of that other Lovecraftian nonsense. it's an assumed name.
-[X] Stuff for Fallow Fields:
--[X] It could possibly help if I knew his full name.
--[X] Had anyone made any threats against Windowsill? Can you think of anyone who would have wished him ill?
--[X] In case it hasn't already been done, please begin making discreet arrangements to interview the people in this facility, especially any who were in the area around the time Windowsill was murdered, if you have that authority. If not, then ask the hospital's administration for me, if you would.
---[X] John - do you mind if I call you John, if you don't have any other name that seems to be yours? Calling people whose names are unknown John or Jane Doe is pretty traditional in this profession as I understand it, though I think perhaps a different last name would be apropos for you in particular - John, be careful. Fallow Fields is presenting himself as a useful aide...but it could be a cover for his own indiscretions, if he pulled off whatever the fuck this is. Which we still don't know. Ugh, I'm not even an investigator, I just read too many detective books...
-[X] World questions:
--[X] Why does Fallow Fields have two...entities on its mask? Two masks? How on - oh, right, you're not on anything resembling the Earth I know - but still, how the heck does that work?
---[X] You can think of us as some people that are stuck on a different ball far distant from any you could know, if that helps.
Alright, Fish. Good policy to not give out your name, though. Names hold quite a bit of usefulness, after all, for good or for ill.
Alright, I'll ask. I've got no clue what sort of authority I have, but I'll see what I can bluff my way into.
As for name? I've got no clue what my name is, or what to even call myself other than 'me'. Jack isn't my name, true or false, but I mean, who else are you gonna be talking to? Feel free to use any kind of name you want. I'll keep what you say about Fallow Fields in mind.
As for your questions: Fallow Fields seems to just have it. Could be representative of anything, from crossroads, to change, to more simple things. They're the Farmer and the Scarecrow, two oft-associated concepts (not entities I know of, though I wouldn't doubt they've got something representing their concepts out there). The Farmer typically represents health, fertility, stability, and of course, prosperity. The Scarecrow on the other hand (or head, heh) represents more often than not, defense, fear, danger, and privacy. So, theoretically, it could be a message telling people to respect their privacy, while also serving as a prayer for health and prosperity? There are a million different potential meanings, especially when you mix in their whole Order thing, so it's just random speculation.
If you meant that in the more 'how does it work' rather than 'what does it mean', they just had the mask made or made the mask that way themselves, and properly prepared it. Their two-voice thing is probably some kind of power, blessing, or pact, but we've all seen them doing things far more impressive than just speaking with two different voices out of different sides of their face.
I guess that does help? There's a lot of metaphorical balls out there, and the city is a tiny marble mixed in with them. But I get the concept. You folks are in a Reality.
With that settled, back to the material realm...
I pause, tapping my foot briefly to get Fallow Fields's attention. They turn around, effortlessly swinging around with barely a flourish, not an iota of wasted motion. "Yes, Investigator?"
"Before we enter, just a few more questions, if you'll excuse them..."
The Scarecrow rumbles. "You are graciously excused, Investigator. Feel free to ask any questions you require."
"So, first off, can I know Windowsill's full name? It'll help me narrow down some things."
The Scarecrow, again. "Of course...Windowsill's full name is Perched on a Windowsill, Dreaming of Better Days."
"So, ah, what could someone who needed such care as him offer to Empire? I can't imagine he was that useful to them."
The Farmer cuts in, melodically rambling on. "Oh, Investigator, you must have misunderstood me! He was not that kind of supporter, but he rather delightfully droned on and on to anyone who would listen, and quite a few who wouldn't, about the virtues of Empire, and how when the City was Reanchored under their benevolent rule, life would be so much better. I wasn't opposed to it myself, foppish as he was, but some of our more...volatile patients took quite the disliking to it. Radical Nonsense in particular was not a fan, and I recall Lady Painting having a shouting match with him one time he refused to leave their room. Mister Flowers was a lot quieter about their opinions, but I got the impression they weren't the biggest fan of it, either. Doctor Lark tolerated it, of course, he never wants to pass up the chance for an immortal to examine, and one long-term was worth the cost in annoying conversations and flared emotions. Though, well...I suppose we all know how that turned out."
"Does the Empire have any enemies represented here we should be aware of? Or in the general vicinity. And did Windowsill have any enemies or threats known to him?
The Scarecrow's voice, more thoughtful, now. "Well, there's a few Unionist, Nationalist, and Republicans groups around of course, but the blockade should have prevented any of their sort from getting in, except as patients. However...with that in mind, Radical Nonsense, a particularly fervent Unionist, was granted time to stay here, following some roughhousing engaged in with some Empire folk. I'd look to him in that regard, they and Windowsill, as I mentioned, really got into it verbally quite often. Other then that, I can't think of anything particularly egregious..."
"Now, I'll need to interview various members of the staff and patients-"
The Farmer interrupts me, giggling. "Of course, Investigator, of course! We are at your disposal."
My questions satisfied, for now...I step into the room.
The first thing that hits me is the smell, or rather, the lack of it. I imagine a room with a corpse in it to smell of blood, or rot, but the room smells...flowery, at most. Unoffensive, mild, it is not the sort of thing one expects from a room that has had a murder performed within it.
I glance around the room, taking it in. It's clearly set up for a long-term stay, yet is devoid of most personal effects, appearing almost as more of a vacant apartment than a hospital room, though the medical equipment placed around does spoil that a bit. In one corner of the room, there is a bed, made neatly. A sink in another corner, a bathroom off to the side, and, clearly the centerpiece of the room, a giant stained-glass window, with a large sill, easily enough for someone to sit on and gaze out into the streets below or the Void above. Sadly, this work of art has been shattered outwards, the tableau of Emperor Callum benevolently looking down upon the Empire, rendered in painstaking detail, disrupted with two holes through what appears to be Emperor Callum's chest.
Speaking of which, the Corpse of Windowsill has fallen backward from the windowsill, those two same holes mirrored in his own chest. The entity seems almost strangely preserved, the bird mask on his face undisturbed despite his fall, his suit lacking any sort of blood seeping from the wounds in his chest. I cannot see his face, but it is a strange sort of peace that seems to envelop Windowsill's Corpse.
That peace is, of course, disturbed by the presence of two other people in the room standing over the body, both of whom glance over at the sight of me and Fallow Fields entering the room. Fallow Fields speaks first. One of them is a man in doctor's attire, his head aflame and smoking, a mask of fire and embers. The other is one I have seen before, Mister Flowers, his wolf mask still firmly secured, holding his chalkboard and chalk in hand easily, despite his rubbery attire.
"Doctor Lark, Nurse Flowers, I have retrieved the Investigator, as per your request."
The Doctor nods, and turns to me. "Well, Investigator...the scene is yours, for now. We will remain to answer any questions you may have. When you're done with the body, please inform us. It needs to be moved to the Morgue as fast as possible."
Well, here we go. What should I look at? What should I look for? What questions should I ask?
[X] [Connection...]
