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

The Pancreator having revealed to her that Sir Kirill Decados was lying, Canon Alexis immediately accuses him of such. The knight protests and demands that the nobles in the party keep their “pet priest” under control. Tensions rise and the Troupe look to Lady Chastity to intervene, but she seems somewhat bemused by it all. Sir Zillah Thana turns their Subtle Eye on Sir Kirill, reading his aura while Alexis afflicts him with the “Sting of Conscience” which almost seems to make him more manic and driven. The Decados knight looks to goad one of the nobles (especially Zillah) into repeating the accusation or endorsing it, seemingly in a vain attempt to demand satisfaction and a restoration of his honour in a duel. However due to his status as a Dervish is loathe to become embroiled in anything that could but himself at odds with the Church.

With all parties effectively under the protection of the hospitality of their host, and facing and impasse (without recourse to violence), the Troupe withdraw to the Blessed Saint Horace, under armed Decados House Guard escort.  They learn that the rest of the flotilla are now in possession of the damaged Wagon of Paulus and have confirmed the initial assessment of the damage. The shuttlecraft is not named but they obtain its registration number and identify that it was a Charioteer vessel. They also learn that it appears to have been attacked on the way back to Ravenna after it’s flight plan took it to the orbit of Dro and Madro, the two large gas giants of the Ravenna system. The worlds are orbited by multiple small moons, any of which could contain a hiding place or outpost. The Troupe decide to fly back to Suryada to continue their enquiries.

The following day Zillah and Kibri pay a visit to the Charioteer Guild Hall at the Spaceport.  They meet with DeMarco, a Charioteer manager (or “Commander”), and tell him that they have recovered the damaged shuttle. The Guilder looks the vessel up on his Think Machine and immediately offers them each a bag of Firebirds “in thanks” for their information and offers reassurances that the Guild will investigate. Zillah and Kibri are left with the distinct impression that this is a bribe and that the manager is keen to get rid of them as soon as possible, but take the money and leave.

Meanwhile Alexis reviews the tales of Saint Diana, realising that a number of the Hawkwoods connected to Baron Tochiro are from the Windsor branch of the family (including Sir Bedevere Windsor Hawkwood).  She wonders whether the theft could be connected to the old minor house. During her investigations she also uses “Knowing the False Heart” on the coded letter from Bishop Richlieu and verifies it is above board and contains no intentional falsehood.

Sir Ulrich is also hard at work still looking to crack the Jakovian codes but takes some time out to review the Tiger of Tashrak’s sensor data (detailing the traffic around the time of the Wagon of Paulus’ exit).  With fresh context they have he identifies that within a day of the shuttle craft leaving Ravenna it was followed on the same flight path by a second Charioteer vessel that suddenly vanished from sensors after leaving orbit, implying the use of cloaking or ghost tech...