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

Note: it's been confirmed that Alexi(u)s is in fact a female preist by the name of Alexis and that Bas should be more correctly known as Bass.  Future blog entries will reflect this.

The troupe meet after breakfast in the Captain’s office aboard the Blessed Saint Horace. They discuss Colonel Fa Zhou’s suspect list and the identity of the possible traitor.  Drawn to the fact that Bass’ name is underlined, the troupe question the captain on his obscure background, Ulrich noting that he has researched Bass' history but there is little information on him prior to his induction into the Muster. Bass dismisses the questioning and the rest of the troupe remain concerned, but Alexis stands up for the captain, vouching for his character but providing no more detail as they will not break the seal of the confessional. Zillah still decides to read Bass’ aura, seeing that he is an occultist of some sort.

Other than themselves, they decide that they have three possible suspects: Lieutenant Bamei Huang Li Halan, Mistress Venus D. Kilometeo, and Baronet Chi-Fu Li Halan.

Using the ritual of Knowing the False Heart and repeating a single statement, Alexis proves to herself, and confirms to the others, that all the troupe, other than herself and Belvoir (who refuses to be drawn into a test), are not the traitor. 

They contact the Tiger of Tashrak, after having to wait for Baronet Chi-Fu to finish privately using the bridge comms station, to check on the status of Lieutenant Bamei. They are told that, although treated at the time by Alexis, and then by Father Cadog, the Lieutenant died of the injuries sustained in the attack on the basilica. They also learn that the two Li Halan Raiders, Flavius’ Reign and Rain of Vengeance are on their way back to the Tiger, the wreckage of the suspect Wagon of Paulus in tow.

Zillah and Kibri join the dots and realise that the Colonel’s reference to a Martyr in his dying words, and the code that Ulrich cracked, points to the Li Halan secret police; the Hidden Martyrs. The troupe searches the Colonel’s belongings in the cargo hold, discovering the signature cloak and mask used by active Martyr agents to hide their identity and spread fear in their enemies. Kibri privately suggests to Belvoir that he might benefit from taking the items and he surreptitiously purloins them.

The troupe’s further debates are interrupted by the arrival aboard ship of Mistress Venus. She has come to demand an explanation of what is happening with the pilgrimage now that the Skull has been stolen, and what the Li Halan plan to do. The troupe notify the Baronet of her arrival but he dismisses them, saying that he is too busy with his work to be interrupted.  Instead they meet with her, and Bishop Arcellius, in the ship’s chapel. 

Venus demands to know what is going on; she has a ship full of pilgrims (both those of her original passengers and those of the now deceased Master Foy Ho’s who survived the Basilica Massacre) and is rapidly accruing docking fees with no imminent respite, no relic to process after and no update from the organisers of this pilgrimage.  Her passengers are Li Halan subjects and so, in her mind, they are their ultimate responsibility, while she is rapidly losing money and suffering reduced margins. Venus’ disrespectful attitude towards Bishop Arcellius angers Alexis and she strikes the merchant with the “Sting of Conscience”, scorning her “Mammonist” attitude and sinful priorities. It is rapidly apparent that the Charioteer merchant has much to feel guilty about (her poor treatment of her passengers for one) and she falls prostate before the Bishop, begging forgiveness. 

They verify that, as corrupt as she may be, she isn’t the traitor they are looking for. Bass immediately asks Kibri to keep tabs of where the Baronet is and report back.

After the Ukar has confirmed that the Baronet has not left his cabin, the group congregates at Chi-Fu’s passenger cell to confront him. He refuses to open the door and tries to send them away but they get the distinct impression that he is under the influence of something.  At Bass’ request, Ulrich uses an override code to open the door.

Inside they find that the Baronet is high on something and begin to try to question him. Alexis finds that his drug addled brain is surpringly resistant to her interrogations but she persists and he eventually lets slip about his “Jakovian Masters”. To the troupe’s surprise Ulrich draws his sword and threatens the Baronet, placing the blade in his mouth. Things escalate further when, after the sword is removed the Li Halan leaps at Ulrich and begins to throttle him. In response the troupe desperately try to subdue him, eventually leading to Zillah drawing their screamer pistol, and shooting the Baronet…