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king's letter posted:

I hope you are well, Jack. Your friend King cannot say the same. My bloody leg is broken and I am in no condition to meet you in person. This latest hit might have done me in for good. It was all for naught as well, a complete botch. I am getting too old for this line of business. I could barely pay Bones, the old hack, who has me bedridden at his place on the eastern bank About a week ago I rented a place in the neighbourhood you are now in. Right now, there are Watch patrolling the house, waiting to pounce at the sight of me. How they found the hideout so soon after my failure I cannot fathom. Bless Birdie, the lad who gave you this letter, for he tipped me off just in time. had I attempted to return there in my current state I would be gutted on the spot. I need you to infiltrate the house and retrieve my stash. Birdie will have given you a map with the guard patrols marked if he did scout as I told him to. I trust the boy, but not enough for the job itself; tis why I had you summoned. I know there is no honour among thieves, Jack, but perhaps there is among friends. My stash contains a stone I've yet to fence due to its... notoriety. If only one bloody fence would take it, I tell you! No rushed break-ins, no broken bones, no nothing. Anyway, point is any common taffer I hire opens the bags and sees the piece - it's gone. I can only trust you to return it - looks to me it may be time to retire and that stone's gonna set me for life. Bones' brother knows some collectors, or so he says. I fence this diamond and I'm out. Nobody's heard of a limp thief anyway. The stash is on the ground floor in a safe, you won't miss it. The landlord lives upstairs, never liked him to begin with, but the old fart was the only one letting. Well, 'twas either that or squatting in one of Market Street's gangrenous, rat-infested tenements. Not too keen on contracting the plague if you can imagine. Look, feel free to fleece him if you wish, but before all else retrieve my items. Truly, I do not know if the hounds have already rummaged the place, yet Birdie tells me they've been keeping out, circling and sniffing the yard instead. It can only mean they're waiting for their master to arrive. How much are you willing to bet our old friend Leopold is on his way to personally confiscate my goods as "evidence"? It is why time is of the essence, and you mustn't dawdle lest you lose this window of opportunity. Consult the map Birdie's given you, the place must be locked up and the fence cannot be scaled, but I trust your ingenuity. You know where Bones' place is - once you have my stash come visit so I may see your ugly mug at last, it has been far too long.
Your partner in crime,
King.

king's note posted:

Skipper's tavern, Bottle St. Eastside. You'll find it. Arrive no later than tomorrow night. Keep your hands in your pockets 'till the meet is over. I know you well enough and the Watch will be abound. An informant shall relay you the rest. Bring your gear. Drinks are on me. Remember that you owe me.

-K.

Zachary Parkins diary posted:

Wed 24/01"
Wee procession from the church, blessing the tenements upstreet. Anniversary. Lord Builder forsook the tenements a long while ago. Seen them carrying out the dead, heard the screams at night. Remember when they built them ten years ago. Nothing but scoundrels and cut-throats, plague carriers and beggars. Waste of Builder's good brick and mortar. Did not ask me, did not ask any of the neighbours. Can't even remember what the view was before. Constant shadow. Pipe. Pipe even took Adam's life. Damned pipe.


Fri 02/02

Lit candles for Adam, Mary and Michael at the church. Troubled soul, Adam. Mary was a good woman also, despite her drunkard prick of a husband. Miss my Michael, a good for-nothing oaf he was, but still my blood. Oh, Michael... House feels so quiet sometimes. Old Pelagius passed as well, what a wretched winter this has been.

Told the servant to clean Michael's room - ground floor is now for rent. Just can't seem to move the goods in the warehouse. Got to make money somehow."

Tue 06/02

Man came knocking down my door this morning. Looks a scoundrel but can't be choosy. Flashed good coin. Paid the rent for the first month upfront. Have to be careful. May bear the cholera. Will sleep in the attic from today onward. Better view, farther from disease

Thu 08/02

Exiting the latrine, saw a flash from Michael's room. Daggers and lock-picks held in hands! Knew it! He did not see me, said he's off to business and I know what kind! For how long have the cut-throats circled the street and now a one in my home! Must write a letter and inform the Watch at once!"

Fri 09/02

Left letter at Watch yesterday myself. Today, guards. Very expedient. Suspicious. Taffer still not back, guards say they'll patrol and ambush per given orders. Just as well he stays clear. Very suspicious, however. Yes. Must be a big shot, not mere pick-pocket. Checked warehouse, nothing stolen. Perhaps he was full already...

Sat 10/02

Letter from the Watch commander today, made me laugh! What a buffoon. Traps and contraptions my arse!!! Entered the room while the guards weren't looking, nothing wrong. Had to confirm suspicions. Opened Michael's old safe, scoundrel had a stash in it! Tis why he did not steal - already a precious rock among his wicked tools. By the Builder tis expensive looking. Surely Lord Builder means that I, his impoverished servant, take it. The Watch commander needn't know about it...

Sun 11/02

Could not sleep last night. Commander must arrive at once! Guards constantly patrolling. Maid complained of rude advances, told her to shut it. What if he returns? How did he steal such a stone? With such skills surely he'll avoid the guards. Keep the attic room locked. Move his daggers off as well. What if he gets them? Will end up just like Mary, gutted on the street! Have to stay alert! When the commander arrives and cleans it up they'll catch and hang him! Then they'll all let me be, they'll let me be... I wish Michael were still here...

To citizen Zachary Parkins from watch commander L.Porceus posted:

Commendations upon thee for fulfilling thy civic duty and informing the City Watch of Bridgeport of the unpleasurable filth that hadst taken harbour in thy lawful residence. Indeed it is so; by thy description this villain matches our records and it truly was with the Lord Builder's blessing that thou spied this wretch's devilish instruments and reported it fore it could strike thee in thy sleep and make off with thy valuables. "

Tis even more fortunate, for this particular outlaw is of a high profile - a truly vile and ruthless murderer that hath thwarted the Watch's efforts
Commendations upon thee for fulfilling thy civic duty and informing the City Watch of Bridgeport of the unpleasurable filth that hadst taken harbour in thy lawful residence. Indeed it is so; by thy description this villain matches our records and it truly was with the Lord Builder's blessing that thou spied this wretch's devilish instruments and reported it fore it could strike thee in thy sleep and make off with thy valuables. "

Tis even more fortunate, for this particular outlaw is of a high profile - a truly vile and ruthless murderer that hath thwarted the Watch's efforts for years. I have dispatched a squad to patrol your estate so that you may rest easy; this cowardly viper shan't dare return to its nest, especially when faced with the Watch's best men protecting it. And know thee that it may well be his last escape, for thou hast caught this taffer unprepared!"

If what thou wrote proves true, that this villain's implements lay strewn across thy ground floor, then I assure thee: he shall hang at the gallows by next week! In his haste, the wretch hath left maps, names of accomplices, fence locations and all other manner of evidence that shall aid the Watch in capturing this vagabond at once! As this matter is of utmost importance, I shall arrive, no later than Monday,and confiscate this evidence personally. In the mean time remain vigilant and assist the Watch officers."

Under no circumstance should thou attempt to interact with the outlaw's equipment! Not only is evidence tampering punishable by the law, but criminals of this calibre possess discreet and deadly contraptions in their keep. If thou value thy life, thy wouldst be wise to avoid the rooms this rogue's occupied altogether, lest thou set off one such device and pay dearly for it."

May the Lord Builder bless and protect us all,"
Leopold Porceus,"
Captain of the City Watch, East District"

Thomas' writings posted:

Zachary threw more of his filth over our yard last night just to spite me. His son swaggers and runs his mouth about my Marissa. Disgusting pigs, the both of them! How could Lord Builder set me up with such neighbours. Twenty years, this torment. May He forgive me, but sometimes I wish they both dropped dead, the devils.
Unbelievable...
It... cannot be real. I... Bozarth found her on the street, bleeding out, he tried to stop it but alas...
Pelagius sends his condolances, I spit on him and his Church!
Marissa is in shock. She needs me more than ever right now. What gets me is that it happened right outside... the Parkins house.
First Mary and now Adam. I have had it. Zachary Parkins, I shall make sure that your estate lay in shambles and that your son, Michael, grow sickly of the cholera and die! Twice a murderer you are, Parkins, but I shall make you taste your own venom yet, you vile snake...
You don't deserve death, but far, far worse...
I have renounced the Builder's name, I vow myself to someone much greater now... He must help me yet again. I must find a way to have her back... Marissa mustn't enter the room above the kitchen. She mustn't know what I've become... She mustn't...

spellbook posted:

For this ritual, ye needs:"

- a bird's blood, fresh
- a dead man's flesh, rotting
- a manfools prized possess- ion, stolen
- cauldron half-full with melted snow, pure white

Puts ye dead mansflesh in the cauldron. Ignites the pyre not! Thinksies of yers greatest foe. Drops his trinket in and speaksies thus:

Forever forth your fatesie's sealed, your manfool's flamesies thus I kill!'

The woodsflesh underneathe the cauldron will hiss aflame with menace! Spits ye on the pyre and splashes it with blood to douse it quicklike. Bees ye careful not to touch the flamesies, or ye shall be cursed alike! Uses ye a thieve's arrow for this step.
If done right: close to the manfool and with full moon's permission, he surely dropsies deadlike in his tracks.

Maro's journal posted:

I heard loud banging noises from the door to the apartments. I must admit it gave me a scare! Must be some crazy on the other side. They should have walled the door in, I don't know why it still connects to the other building. Other than that, the nights are calm. Stokes hates the constant whistling, but I find it pleasant. I found a cauldron and have set it up outside, will make some stew next shift. Stokes will like it.

Stokes went and asked me where I found the cauldron. I lied and told him I brought it in myself. In truth, I found it in Bozarth's room upstairs. It's not my fault that the shifts are all so boring! So what if I took a peek, the old man's dead, he's not going to mind! Worst thing is, Stokes did not like the stew. What should I do, this place is so drab... Mayhaps bring one of my still lives from home?

There's a window looking out to the western yard. Weird how close they built the station to these people's houses. Saw a pretty girl living there and I watched her go about her business for a while. I don't think she ever saw me. Way better than looking at a dumb pipe! She's frail, but shapely! Lovely, short red hair. I wonder how I've never seen her around the marketplace. I could watch her all day...

Marco's stupid journal, addendum:
Two things, Marco. First, try not to leave your personal belongings out in the open where a mechanic on the other shift could easily read them, like, for example, on this bloody table! Second, stop being a creep. You're sounding as crazy as old man Bozarth himself. Foreman Baldwin is going to have your head if he finds out you've been taffing about in Bozarth's private quarters. Cut it out at once! As for that last entry, stop thinking with your prick and just tend to the pipe. Seems like I'm the one fixing all the leaks. Bloody hell.
-Stokes

Adam bozarths journal posted:

Our daughter, Mary! You should reprimand her! She slips out in the early hours of the night.
I watch each night. You motion, sometimes cry, sometimes Marissa comes to comfort you. She's grown so fast, I know. I watch each night.
You don't need to worry, my dear Mary, for I plan to propose to you soon. I have a ring - nay - many, many rings, and once they clasp around your fingers, Mary, you'll be sealed to me forever. I just need to bolt the rivets in.
What a wonderful time with Thomas at the tavern! He's an honest man, dear Mary, perhaps you should get to meet him.You don't need to worry, my dear Mary, for I plan to propose to you soon. I have a ring - nay - many, many rings, and once they clasp around your fingers, Mary, you'll be sealed to me forever. I just need to bolt the rivets in.

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