Esoteric Investigations

[thedudeguy]

A chill runs down your spine for a moment as you stretch.

You don't have much idea of who or where you are, but maybe you can find something, anything out.

There is a remote on the nightstand next to your bed, and you flip the tv on as you get up.

A Ricodan news team seems to be reporting

[It's going to be a hot one for Rishada today, so make sure to dress light!]

[Arbor Rails, has finally been able to repair the Tredje to Sekund line after the horrendous damage done to it. The two boughs will again be connected after three years]

[Further protests have been raised after Mijat player, Shoshsha Harshwing continues to break records. Carnegie Steelers manager, Brock Jackson, states that the league already allows Avian players and that barring Harshwing would violate the league's inclusivity measures.]

Well, that's a little bit learned... you look out the window and confirm that this must be Rishada. The red tile roofs and the sparkling Rivera match what was shown on the news. 

Narrow, winding streets branch around the city and you see that the streets are paved in cobblestone. A menagerie of humans, beastfolk, and ricodan seem to be walking the streets, the only vehicles being used are bikes and motorcycles.

You look up and your eyes widen, the blue sky is interrupted by a massive darkness, you squint your eyes and it looks to be an incomprehensibly large tree bough. complete with what seem to be leaves.

Following it southwards you then see that it connects to an even larger cliff. You need to get a better vantage point to see any more. 

Learned current location: Rishada

A hot breeze comes in from the window as you survey the city.

You pick out a floral button down shirt and a pair of denim shorts.

Clothing Acquired: Casual beachwear.

After getting dressed you search under the bed...

Well, it seems like a few things fell underneath here. You find a leather wallet, a pocket knife, and what seems to be a bottle of Cola and two Whiskey nips.

You don't see other opened bottles in the room...maybe you blacked out before you could have gotten to them.

Item Acquired: Leather Wallet
Item Acquired: Pocket Knife
Item Acquired: Cola Bottle
Item Acquired: Bourbon Nip x2

[hairtoday]

Check out the contents of the wallet. We gotta know what we're working with here.

[fuzzysocks]

Search through the wallet. Does it have much by way of money, or maybe an ID?

edit: I see someone has already suggested that, I'll try to add more.

Hey, we can still use the blanket as a cape. Just because we died in it in a different timeline doesn't mean it's a bad idea in itself. Just don't jump out of any windows. And go downstairs while we're at it. Are we staying with anyone?

[tronntronn]

>There's no better way to start the day than bourbon and cola. Mix yourself breakfast to go before you leave for beach. It's time to kick back and take it easy!

[Eversor]

Drink the Meth. Drink it!

[thedudeguy]

Suggested listening

You think about whipping up a good 'ol fashioned whiskey and cola, but both bottles are room temperature.

The thought of a warm cocktail almost elicits a dry heave, the fact that you don't even have a lemon wedge manages to bring it home though.

You make a mental note to find at least some ice...

You give another glance around the room as you, at the very least, sample the bourbon.

It seems like you're the only one here, but clearly you travel light. You don't even see as much as a suitcase, and by the looks of what you had in the bureau there was only about two or three days of clothing tops.

"Oh dear Marduk!"

You cry in pain as you take a sip from the small nip...

M.E. Thanol.

Well, that brought back some memories, drinking rotgut with college friends. This stuff was made to get you drunk.

It's basically grain alcohol with various flavorants. The Gin and Vodka at least aren't too bad, but this tastes like rubbing alcohol that someone let soak in a crème brûlée.

Still...a cocktail with two nips of this would be sure to ruin anyone's sobriety.

Reeling from the shot, you take a seat on the bed and examine the contents of the wallet.

-Two paper bills, they are marked with 10s and bear the face of an austere looking Ricodan Noble.
-An Identification with your face. It reads Clancy Placidlake: Field Operative  There is a logo that looks like an intertwined E and I, below it reads "Esoteric Investigators" It seems to have a badge number and is in a windowed slot. Ideal for flashing.
-A driver's license from the Ricodan Empire. It also reads Clancy Placidlake.
-A small metal card, upon closer inspection it's a crude emergency lockpick. Probably good for only one use, if you're lucky.

The other curious thing is the wallet itself. It is a trifold wallet that is labeled 'Crimsontek', on the left and right leaves there are two circles and the middle has a keypad...odd.

The most that the contents of the wallet were able to rouse from your memory is that you were here searching for something. 
Maybe you're a private detective?

Item Acquired: 20 Drakes
Item Acquired: EI Card
Item Acquired: Driver's License
Item Acquired: Emergency Lock Pick
Item Discovered: Odd Leather Wallet

Well, maybe the streets of Rishada might jog some memories. You steel yourself and grab the blanket, tying it around your neck like a cape.

"Might as well go full tilt with this, this entire situation is nuts from the get go..."

[hairtoday]

Hell yeah rad cape. Strike a pose!

And then think about the driver's license. If we're an investigator with cool spy tools and a drinking problem, we might be here undercover. Go by the name Clancy Placidlake for now. Find a bar and jog some more memories.

[tronntronn]

>Meet other people on the street wearing capes. Maybes there's a convention?

[Eversor]

>Is that a sewer vent? Who removed the manhole cover?

[thedudeguy]

Well, you suppose the best place to find ice or a lime would be a bar. You decide to investigate your surroundings to find out where you may find one.

You sashay your cape and triumphantly head out the door.

Rows of doors punctuate the hallway, it appears you're in some sort of hotel. That solves the bar problem there may be one downstairs.

After a bit of wandering you find an elevator, the pair of elevators have what seem to be brass shutters. You hit the button, wait, and ride the elevator down.

Riding the elevator to the ground floor, you hear the din of a crowd as it seems that the lobby and adjacent areas are full of extravagantly dressed people.

Humans, Ricodan, Beastfolk, Mijat. It's a veritable menagerie, and there seems to be no dress code. 

Some are dressed in fine suits, some in bowling shirts and Bermuda shots, but there is one constant. Capes.

Luckily your fashion choice seems to help you fit in.

Suggested listening: 

You mill about the crowd and realize another constant among the mob. They all have stunning blue eyes. Like a bottle of Blue Curaçao glittering off a backlit bar.

From what you can single out from their conversations; they seem to be jabbering about plans for the day, and heading to a convention center deeper in the city.

Great...con-goers.

You slink about the throng of eccentric tourists and make your way to the hotel bar. The scene here is no less oppressive.

The people here seem to have their eccentricity increased in the presence of social lubricant.

Your jaw almost drops as you see them performing acts that you can only describe as magic.

A canine beastfolk floating above his table while seeming lounging on his side.

A dark skinned human commanding a small army of animated napkins against a Ricodan who has animated a deck of playing cards.

A Ricodan who is changing the color of her scales while downing shots with her friends.

Who the hell are these people?

"The gifted sure are something huh?"

"Wha?"

"Oh, sorry, uh I didn't mean to insinuate anything"

An old human with a handlebar moustache manning the bar stands upright, a bit uneasy over his potential faux pas. 

"I'm sorry...I don't follow"

"Oh...well with your eyes and the cape, I thought you were with them."

You look at him quizzically.

"Uhhhhh...can I get you anything?

"Yeah, how bout an Old Fashioned."

"Sure, just let me see a drink voucher, we're a bit short on spirits this weekend so only people here for the con can have anything harder than a beer."

"That seems rather poor business for anyone else."

"Well, anyone else won't have the money than these wizards do."

"How bout some Ice."

"Ice Machine's broke."

"..."

"A. Single. Lime. Wedge"

"That Mijat there cleared me out."

He points to human sized beetle with a table full of citrus.

"Your bar's kinda shit."

"Look, if you can't handle us at our worst..."

Well...maybe there are some leads to be had here...

[hairtoday]

That canine fellow is alone. We could approach him most easily and get more info about the convention.

Also, we're magic. We should earn some drinks with our incredible power.

[Eversor]

>First step to power is to raise a napkin army. Be on the right side of war. Join them

[tronntronn]

>Slide in the company of color changing Ricodan and act like you're one of her group of friends, it's not like they're gonna remember everyone's faces.

[thedudeguy]

Stewing in anger as you remain sober and clueless, you suddenly remember.

Your special talent!

"Wait, I'm with the wizards!"

"Eh?"

"Check this out.!

You focus on stretching your consciousness elsewhere and then you find yourself floating above a Ricodan mannequin. 

Floating about you looks about the room and swing behind the bar, and into the backroom. You are able to peer into what seems to be a walk in fridge.

Two humans seems to be making out vigorously on a pallet of tater tot sacks.

You are caught off guard by the lascivious act and snap back to your body.

"Holy crap that was a rush."

"Neat trick, but I knew you were with the wizards from the get go.

"Wait...how?"

The bartender chuckles and then his demeanor shifts from humor to curiosity.

"You're serious?"

"Your eyes are a dead giveaway kid."

You just look back at him completely lost

"Look, are you sure you haven't hit the sauce yet?"

"Everyone knows that 「The Gift」 manifests as deep blue eyes. It's like something out of Dune."

Again still lost.

"Okay, that's my fault, Ancient 「human myth」, it's one of the stories that lead us to the stars."

"Nevertheless, you are gifted like all the people here, it means you have some powers that most of us can only hope for."

He gestures around the room.

"Some can levitate, prestidigitate, or even defenestrate. I've heard of some that can even bring people back from the dead."

"How do we get it."

"'Fraid that isn't my area of expertise, but last I heard people are just born with it."

"Maybe you could ask around, find a bit more about it."

Well that opens some possibilities, you have something in common with these people at the very least.

There are a few that stand out, the floating dog man, the two battling paper wizards, the amazing technicolor lizard wizard.

Or perhaps you could just tell the bartender of the employees mashing potatoes in the backroom. If he heads back, perhaps you could just steal a bottle.

[tronntronn]

>Slide in the company of color changing Ricodan and act like you're one of her group of friends, it's not like they're gonna remember everyone's faces.