Work Text:
TO DO
- Get new curtains; these are still torn from Istvhan tripping on them.
- Assign Zale to investigate the charges against the goat guild.
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Find out what the full name of the goat guild is, start using it before you slip and call them the goat guild to their faces. Coalition of Capra Concerns -- CCC Check in with Mrs. Falian of the Scarlet Guild, see how her clerks are settling in.
Child care
New guild? talk to wetnurse union
Housing for new mothers
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Zale --
It's not that you aren't doing fantastic work on the fruit vendor complaint, it's that you consistently do good work on cases that should be extremely difficult. Yes, come see me as soon as possible. Yes, there will be livestock. Yes, I know you are an accountant.
BT
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Most Reverend Bishop:
Thank you for the loan of Istvhan. He did need to glower and place his hand on his sword in a meaningful way. The CCC spokesperson, Carden Worrist, insists that the actions of his guild members are nothing more than the resumption of their traditional grazing rights. Obviously, the city has changed and expanded in the last one hundred years. Worrist demands that he meet with the Archon himself before he will make any concessions. In the meantime, the goats are terrorizing a city guard house and a thriving cloth-dyeing business.
Goats do not respect drying racks. The loss of revenue is shockingly large.
When I asked what had prompted this vigorous pursuit of an obsolete agreement about the land in question, Worrist spat into the dirt at my feet and said "it's nothing more than what the Mother would expect her sons to do when denied our rights."
So, yes. It's more of that. Japhet Dyer is an acquaintance of mine who also uses they and them instead of he or she. The Mother's priests preach that we are abomination and Carden Worrist is a devoted follower of the Mother. Her priests insist that all her followers must force their views on everyone around them. It is my belief that the goat grazing is merely a pretext to drive Japhet out of business because they are, well, themself.
I will investigate the origins of the actual agreement and what legal standing we have against the CCC. But I suspect that this case will be solved by shenanigans, not law.
Respectfully,
Zale
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Mrs. Gille,
The plainwoven in blue will suit for my curtains. Thank you for the options.
BT
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Most Reverend Warden of the Dreaming God,
Phillip, I need your help. One of the Mother's devotees, Carden Worrist, is stirring up shit against a perfectly nice business whose owner happens to be neither a man nor a woman. You know how offended the Mother's priests get by people who do not conform to what they believe to be the Mother's rules. Can you send Acorn to check Worrist's goats for possession? Worrist is grazing large herds of goats inside the city, and it seems very clear that if one of the goats is possessed it would be a huge problem. Obviously worth keeping a close eye on.
If Acorn is up for annoying the crap out of a bigot, I'd be ever so grateful.
Thanks,
BT
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Dear Mrs. Gille:
I apologize for my earlier obvious failure to appreciate the dedication and hard work your fellow seamstresses put into my curtain choices. Yes, obviously, I meant to select the sea-foam-colored lace with a peach twill weave undercurtain.
Thank you for informing me of my error before I could give offense.
Respectfully Yours,
BIshop Beartongue
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Dear Mrs. Falian:
Please consider this letter your introduction to Mrs. Cordwain, master of the Wetnurses' Guild. Mrs. Cordwain, I recommend to your attention Mrs. Falian, head of the clerk's retirement branch of the Scarlet Guild. Mrs. Falian informs me that her workers are in need of a solution to a child-minding difficulty. I know that your guild members are seeking a location for same. I hope that you may find your needs suitable to solve each others problems.
Sincerely,
Bishop Beartongue, Temple of the White Rat
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Istvhan --
No hands laid on Zale's person in anger should remain connected to arms. If you get arrested, send for me. Personally.
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Beartongue --
Writing to you from a cell.
Istvhan
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Mrs. Gillie,
You are correct, as always. The curtains are lovely. Please extend my thanks to the lacemakers.
BT
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Most Reverend Bishop:
I regret to inform you that we have one of your adopted paladins, Istvhan, in holding. He is charged with the murder of Carden Worrist, goat-herder and leader of the CCC. Istvhan says he was defending the life and physical safety of one of your Solicitors-Sancrosanct, Zale. Zale agrees that Worrist was attacking before Istvhan drew his sword.
A priest of the Mother, Bruin, claims to have witnessed the event and says Istvhan went berserk. He wants your paladin to be executed for the public good.
You should get down here immediately.
Police-Gnole Earstripe, as written down by Nerissa, clerk of the Scarlet Guild
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To the Honored Court:
On this day, the Seventh of Midsun, I did examine the lifeless body of Carden Worrist. I found that despite the gross bodily damage, namely, both hands had been removed by sword, the cause of death was an inhaled poison. Worrist had a glass vial concealed in his mouth. It broke, leaving obvious lacerations on his tongue and gums. His throat was swollen shut and blood was oozing inside it. The amount of blood remaining in his body was incompatible with bleeding to death.
My professional and legal conclusion is that Worrist, either on purpose or accidentally, when his hands were cut off, bit the vial and inhaled the poison.
Respectfully,
Dr. Piper, Lich-Doctor of Archon's Glory
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Phillip --
Are you certain you found no demons? Because this Worrist fellow killed himself just to frame one of my paladins, and it would be lovely to blame demons.
If there are no demons, then the priesthood of the Mother is going to great lengths to cause my Temple harm.
BT
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Dear Mrs. Falian:
Please remind your clerks that when writing notes for a gnole, they should not take liberties with the words used. No, not even to "correct" the gnole's grammar. Gnoles are intensely intelligent with a richness of subtle vocabulary that we cannot even begin to comprehend. When taking dictation for a gnole please write exactly what they say and what ear and whisker positions are used. (The gnole-human facial language guides should be issued to each station, as discussed.)
Thank you for your understanding in this.
Bishop Beartongue
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Beartongue --
I've only seen one case of poisoning like this in the last few years. It was that young acolyte of the Mother that nearly framed Stephen in the Charlock business. I have the records locked safely away.
Piper
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Phillip --
Thank you again for standing with us before the Archon. The lich-doctor's evidence ought to have been enough, and it might have been, but having you and your Dreaming God paladins grimly gleaming was very helpful.
I owe you one.
I mean it. Call on the White Rat anytime.
BT
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TO DO
- Make sure Istvhan takes some time off.
- Talk to Mrs. Gille about sprucing up the rest of the Temple curtains.
- Ask Zale if they want a vacation.
- Introduce Mrs. Gille to Japhet Dyer.
- I don't know, deal with whatever bizarre event tomorrow brings.