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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 5-1, What's In a Name?

Professor Blackburn left the Princess' manor with confidence; the meeting had gone well and he had the buy-in from his allies. The Bear had spent far too many years dealing with the University's politics and it was refreshing every time he was able to get a universal 'yes' from a group without having to deal with as many individual objections as there were people following him. Perhaps, he reasoned, that was why he enjoyed being a Shaman so much for the Valley Tribe; when he said something others listened.

Whether it was because his mood was infectious, or because the rest of the group was relieved to have added help with restoring Kesst, everyone seemed to be that much more upbeat after the positive meeting. In truth, Julius really hadn't known what to expect when they went to see the Princess, but the end result was one to which he would not object. The old Bear was far too worldly to expect that her aide would come without price but, as a fellow Mechanist, he was confident that their end-objectives coincided.

The Professor's thoughts were pulled back to the present when Nicholas spoke up to the group in general, "So... we'll get help, but first we have to find some Templar."

Theo clarified for the sailor, "We are looking for Kesst's builder."

The Human quickly pointed out a problem, "So first we were looking for a way to help Kesst, and we didn't know where to start looking for it. Now that we've found a way to help Kesst, we STILL don't know where to start looking for it."

Julius smiled, pulling a slip of paper out from his pocket; he had been provided it by the guardsmen who had led them out of the manor, and it had upon it the Princess' own handwriting, "According to the lead Princess Noriene provided us, there's a good chance that Crook is here in Newport."

Nicholas scowled, "aaaaaaaad we STILL don't know where to start looking."

Enarork finally weighed in on the conversation, "We did not know for certain that we would find help for Kesst in Newport. Now we know that we can... once we find the man Princess Noriene seeks."

The Human didn't relent, "Which kinda makes me wonder what she wants with him... I mean, it's pretty obvious she doesn't really like the Church." He followed up the comment with a very vocal hock-ptui onto a street light as they passed it.

Professor Blackburn reclaimed the discussion, "Princess Noriene has always had great interest in technology, science, and discovery. In all likelihood if she is looking for a Techlar she is willing to put aside her dislike of the Church in favor of speaking to him for the sake of his knowledge on a technical level. We just happen to be fortunate that she is looking for the same man we are seeking."

Sanmer, seated on Roaring-Flood's shoulder tsked, "Considering she seems to know a lot about a lot it makes me wonder why she hasn't been able to find him yet... especially when she obviously knew who gifted me my earrings."

Nicholas glanced up at the Fox, "Gifted, huh? Is THAT what they're calling it these days?"

The old Bear elected to bring the discussion back to something pertinent, "She DOES have several leads, actually... a number of places where the Dragon has been sighted around town." he looked back to the paper in his paw, "Entering town through the North Gate. He was seen in Salvatore Square--"

Sanmer patted Roaring-Flood on the head, "OH! Salvatore Square! I need to take you there at some point. One of the alchemist shops makes an oil that--"

Professor Blackburn continued, tuning the white-furred Vulpine out, "An apartment complex above the tannery in East Quarter... a manor on the west side... his motorized carriage was found in an alley in the--"

The Fox's voice increased in volume, "Wait. What? Did you say he was in apartment above a Tannery? Where?"

Julius sighed and looked at the list of locations, "An apartment above the tannery shop in East Quarter. Why? Do you know of it?"

Sanmer slid off of Roaring-Flood's back and trotted over, neatly snatching the list out of the surprised Professor's grip. Nicholas moved up beside the rogue, "Familiar with the place or something?"

The Fox nodded, "Yea... it's mine. Nobody even knows there's an apartment above the Tannery except people I've told." Sanmer shook his head with a sigh, "That makes no sense-- wait! Did you say he was a DRAGON?"

Theo glanced around Nicholas at the fox, "What?"

Sanmer looked back at the paper he'd taken from Professor Blackburn, "These notes says he's a Dragon and he has white scales. That's Wiesen!"

Roaring-Flood leaned over the Fox's shoulder, "No. We want man named Crook."

The Fox poked at the symbol written on the parchment at the bottom as he looked back at Roaring-Flood, "It's gotta be a nickname of some kind-- it's the same guy. Weisen has this EXACT symbol on the tool box he carries everywhere with him."

Profesor Blackburn took the opportunity to take the piece of paper back from Sanmer while he spoke with the big black Bear. He glanced down at the symbol, "This is a Templar Sigil... it's the Holy Symbol of the Mehnzilian Church with the bearer's individual crests within it."

Sanmer paused, rubbing at his chin, "Wow. And all this time I never knew he had anything to do with the Church... now I feel kinda foolish that I spent so much time talking to him about how people should be putting priests in their place."

Enarork spoke quietly in the Tribal tongue, "Metal-Eyes, if the Fox knows this man then it will be much easier finding him."

The Shaman nodded, replying in kind, "This is true, Gift-of-the-Earth, but we do not know their association."

The large jeweler nodded and looked back to the Fox, "How do you know him?"

Sanmer shrugged, "We've worked together on a few things in the past."

Nicholas shot the Fox an accusing glance, "Worked together as in....?"

The rogue shrugged again casually, "I always thought he was just some kind of tinkerer... I'd give him a few coins and he'd make something for me based on my needs. Relax, Poole-- it's not like we were killing people and eating their children or something. Besides, he never asked WHY I needed what I ordered, he just got me what I asked for."

Professor Blackburn was about to reign in the discussion again but, thankfully, Theo beat him to it, "So... if he was at Sanmer's apartment, and Sanmer knows him, maybe we should go there and see if he left any notes or anything about where he was going next."

The Fox shook his head, "Weisen's never been the kinda guy to talk about his plans, but if he's in town there's a good chance he'll be heading back, so it's worth a shot."

Nicholas spat again, "I'm not so sure I like the waiting game. It might be days before he goes back to that place. We're better off looking around town for him ourselves. I mean, a WHITE DRAGON? How hard could THAT be to find?"

Sanmer cleared his throat, "Ah... technically the PRINCESS hasn't been able to find where he is... only where he WAS."

The sailor scowled, "Still, we're better off looking for recent news of him. Some of the best gossip's always been down at taverns along the docks... I'm sure SOMEONE there'll have heard something about a white Dragon in Newport-- they'll part with everything they know for just a few coins."

Theo balked, "If he's a Techlar don't you think he'd be more likely to travel in one of the nicer areas?"

Nicholas took immediate offense, "What's that supposed to mean?"

The white furred Ermine tugged at the collar of his tunic, "It's just... the bars down by the docks are some dangerous places, and I'd think someone from the Church would probably opt for more upper class surroundings."

Sanmer rolled his eyes, "Not if he doesn't want to be found he wouldn't. Nicky's right-- he'd probably choose some seedy place where he could crash without drawing too much attention... like my apartment, for example."

Professor Blackburn stepped in to bring some order to the debate, "There's no reason we cannot check all of the locations, and we may even split up if necessary. For now, however, let us focus our attention on one option and go from there. We know for certain that he has been spotted at no less than a half dozen locations, and that for at least one of those locations we have a member of the group intimately familiar with it."

The Fox winked at Roaring-Flood, "INTIMATELY." The humor was lost to the Tribal Bear.

Julius cleared his throat to regain Sanmer's attention, "You believe that your apartment is the best place to start?"

"Sure-- best one we have for now."

The old Bear glanced to Nicholas, "And you have confidence that you could get any information available for us from the crowds at the docks?"

The sailor spat again, "Easiest way to find out what people know."

Julius looked at Theo next, "And you think it may be worthwhile to check out the nicer hotels for word of him?"

The Ermine shrugged, then glanced at Nicholas and Sanmer, "Well... maybe... I mean... if he was in town for business he might meet people there, but I guess he probably wouldn't be staying in one if he was trying to keep a low profile."

The Professor nodded, "Alright... then we have a few options and we need to plan our next course of action. The way I see it, our BEST option is to..."