Char Li's Angels: The Skull of Saint Diana - Part XII

We rejoin the troupe towards the end of the day of the relic ceremony, with them having returned to the Blessed Saint Horace to rest. They update Bas on all that has happened that day, and that Kibri appears to be missing. 

The following day the group convene in the captain’s office and discuss what to do next. They figure that to find out where the Wagon of Paulus (that escaped with the relic) went they will need the aid of the Charioteers. Belvoir believes he may be able to learn something from underworld elements in the city, while Alexi(u)s has a private plan they want to follow, but remain cryptic over what it is. Finally Ulrich thinks it is worth trying to identify the weapons and gear thet the attackers used in case that provides them with any leads. However they all decide that before they take any overt action they ought to get permission from the Lord Admiral, especially after Lady Ahgera was punished for not following orders.

They prepare to head into the city via the local brute drawn trollybus. Before doing so Ulrich interviews the others on what they recall of the attackers equipment and, consulting with Bas, identifies their weapons as Lank Stinger submachine guns. Ulrich is aware that Lank's biggest customer is the Scraver Guild.

Upon heading into the city Bas, Ulrich and Belvoir go to visit Lord Admiral Baron Chan at the hotel where he is staying, while Alexi(u)s splits off to visit St Regeo's Cathedral.

The Lord Admiral is nursing numerous minor injuries from the attack and seems pleased that they are looking to take action. He takes tea with them and says that while he only knows their lord, Count Rem Dei Kun Char Li Halan, by reputation from what he knows he trusts that they are capable of dealing with the situation and recovering the artefact.  He grants them permission to conduct their enquiries.
Meanwhile Alexi(u)s uses their Chartophylax credentials to gain access to the Cathedral records and successfully locates a book concerning relics of the church. During their research they are interrupted by a novitiate clergyman of the red priesthood who delivers a hand written letter for the Avestite's attention. The young man offers to read it to Alexi(u)s, imagining that an Avestite must be illiterate. Alexi(u)s reassures him that they are more than capable of reading (why else would they be in a crypt full of written records?) and takes the note.

Having finished their audience with the Lord Admiral, Belvoir heads off alone and, a few drinks and cautious words later, easily locates seedy underbelly of Suryada. He ingratiates himself by fencing the valuables he stole from the congregation the day before, and then begins to subtly question those around him. He learns that;

• Hugh Janus, the pirate captain he encountered in Criticorum space is not known locally.
• Charlie Crocker is a significant local Scraver boss.
• The church is being very reactive to something that happened in the city yesterday. The people that Belvoir is talking to don’t know the cause but he realises it relates to the attack on Saint Symeon’s Basilica. Various clergy (and church inquisitors) have been inciting mobs of zealous peasants to patrol the streets rounding up or just assaulting anyone who looks different (aliens, cyborgs etc) or those who don't have obvious factional membership or status (i.e. yeomen and travelling serfs). Belvoir realises that as an independent yeoman and cyborg it could be very dangerous for him to be found out on the streets.

While Alexi(u)s and Belvoir are still busy in the city, Bas and Ulrich return to the spaceport and visit the Charioteer Guildhall. They are initially given a polite brush off as the Guild does not recognise any authority on their part.  However they do not give up but continue to push their enquiry, eventually managing to speak with a more senior Guilder, one Ralph (“raif”) Grant. The delay gives Ulrich time sit in the reception area and recall various historic precedents (including “Starbuck vs Costar”) which he and Bas then use as leverage to secure aid from the Guild. Mr Grant (who seems to know a lot about them already, including details of their ship) says that he will investigate the possible flight path of the Wagon of Paulus and will send details to the Blessed Saint Horace, but it may take a day to do so.