Fuzzybootz

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

Sorry, that took way longer than I wanted it to. Technically, I am still not finished, but I wanted to get something out.

@Red Wizard Feel free to let me know privately what Olivia would find in the cemetery, and I'll add it to my next post, or you can go ahead and write something up.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

Olivia knew the best place to start her investigation into the Worthington crypt vandalism was at the graveyard itself. As an experienced cop, she understood the value of examining a crime scene firsthand before the trail went cold. She had heard many an experienced detective scuff at a poorly written Crime scene report. The reports could still be useful, but nothing could substitute for being on location to pick up clues with her own eyes.

The cemetery was sure to offer insights and information not contained in the constables' statements. The mood and lighting of the environment, the precise method of forced entry, footprints in the soil, disturbances in the crypt - these details could crack open new avenues of inquiry.

More importantly, Olivia sensed this case went beyond a simple act of desecration. Why force entry yet take nothing? The aura of wrongness she felt demanded investigating right at the source, where residues of dark intent might still linger. Cemeteries and graveyards held stories not just in gravestones but in the very air.

Olivia needed to immerse herself in the scene, letting her intuition pick up on what might elude logical analysis. To walk where the perpetrator walked, see what they saw, perhaps glimpse the malevolent glimpse that drove them. Some haunting mystery dwelled in this place, beckoning to her.

And if she was lucky, examining the crypt herself might even provide the chance of encountering clues the criminal left behind. Stray hairs, muddy footprints, a dropped matchstick - Olivia's trained eye could spot the tiniest detail out of place. But she had to start at the heart, at the gravesite itself, if she hoped to unravel this shadowy plot.

*******
"Ah yes, nasty bit of business, that was," the tired older desk sergeant with a large mustache huffed. "Not sure what you think you'll find, but here is the scene report. Hobbs and Willis were on duty that night"

The Desk Sergeant, Walter Fraser, had regarded her skeptically at first. But when Olivia explained Inspector Brown's Illness and her current assignment, his manner became more accommodating. He handed over the file without too much trouble.

Hobbs and Willis, she knew. She had been out on Patrol with one or the other of them on many different occasions. These days, the pair seemed always to be joined at the hip. She knew exactly where to find the pair.

*******

Olivia was greeted by their familiar faces when she entered the break room at the constabulary. Constables Hobbs and Willis sat immersed in a game of cards, as was their usual method of passing the time. A haze of pipe smoke hung thick in the air as she entered.

"Olivia! By Jove, it's good to see you again," Hobbs exclaimed, rising to shake her hand heartily. "It's been, what, six months since we’ve had a shift together?"

Willis grinned around his pipe stem. "Heard you be filling in for Inspector Brown? Nasty Illness?”

Olivia smiled wryly as she pulled up a chair. "My word travels fast, though I can't complain about some official investigation work coming my way.”

"So you're looking into that nasty crypt business over in Highgate, eh? It was the oddest thing," Hobbs said, scratching his head as he recalled the scene. "Me and Willis were the first on site after the groundskeeper reported the break-in. The iron crypt door had clearly been smashed open, and the lock busted right off. But looking inside, nothing seemed disturbed. No bones out of place, no valuables stolen that we could see."

He shook his head, perplexed. "Gave me the chills being in there, I'll tell you. All those generations of Worthington buried together, their stone coffins sealed up tight. Why force your way in just to leave everything untouched?"

Willis nodded along as he puffed on his pipe. "Those Worthingtons have been buried there for ages. Never liked the bunch myself, all high and mighty since they built their fortune in the textile trade. But desecrating graves is bound to bring bad fortune."

"The weird part was, the door was the only thing damaged," he continued. "It's like someone wanted to get in and have a look around, then thought better of it and scarpered. But what could they have been looking for?"

Hobbs shrugged as he laid down a card. "Doesn't make a lick of sense why someone would break into that musty old crypt. But I reckon you're smart enough to figure it out, Miss Detective. Let us know if you need any other insights."

The constables wished Olivia luck before returning to their card game, the peculiar cemetery case already fading from their minds.

*******
The carriage clattered to a halt on the crowded cobblestone street, the horse’s shoes striking sparks against the stone. Olivia grasped the side handle and stepped down, smoothing her skirt. All around her, the city bustled with activity.

New age motorized carriages puttered by, sharing the road with horse-drawn hansom cabs and carts loaded with goods. Chimney stacks belched plumes of inky smoke that mingled with the low-hanging fog. Vendors cried out from cluttered storefronts lined with hand-painted signs, selling everything from fresh bread to polished shoes.

Newsboys waving papers jostled and wove through the throngs of passersby. Street musicians added a lively soundtrack of accordion melodies and tambourine beats. Clusters of smartly dressed gentlemen stood conversing while nannies in crisp uniforms pushed elaborate prams.
Olivia set off on foot, merging into the steady stream of bustling traffic coursing along the sidewalks. Vendors called out from crowded stalls, selling flowers, newspapers, and hot chestnuts. Around her rose tall townhouses, their wrought iron balconies and window boxes overflowing with crimson flowers.

At the end of the lane, the road opened up into a major thoroughfare. Olivia paused, waiting for a break in traffic before crossing. Reaching the other side, she continued down a less crowded street, passing by tidy shops and a small park where children played hoops and flew kites.

The farther she walked, the more the cityscape shifted. Buildings became more scattered, smoke-belching factories lurking behind high stone walls. The housing grew shabbier, and laundry lines strung between apartments. Fewer people jostled along the narrow sidewalk. Up ahead, the Gothic spire of the old church rose above the rooftops.
Turning down a nearly deserted side lane, the cemetery gates finally came into view, wrought iron worn with rust and age. Olivia felt an air of melancholy descend as she approached the threshold to this island of the dead amidst the living, pulsating city.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

Im still here. I'm working on a post. I will likely be a post once every week to week and half. I tend to write longer posts so it takes a little longer, plus 2 kids and I'm working on my graduate degree.

As far as steam goes I feel there hasn't really been a build up of steam yet. For experienced players, in my opinion, it takes longer to get off the ground. Not because we aren't enthusiastic, but because a good foundation sets the precedence for the rest of the story.

I'm still very enthusiastic about playing. 😀

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

@Red Wizard honestly I hadn't really picked one. I am leaning towards the vandalized graveyard.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

@Red Wizard@CollectorOfMyst

A rhythmic clack-clack-clack echoed through the misty night air. Tonight Constable Olivia Jones was on Patrol. The sharp clacking of Olivia's standard-issued leather boots on cobblestones amplified the clarity and volume of each footfall. The syncopated clacks wove together into a persevering cadence, and Olivia couldn't help but smirk to herself. She knew the clacking lent an air of intimidation, announcing her presence and authority to any potential lurkers in the shadows.

She stood tall, her broad shoulders back and head held high underneath her rounded custodian helmet. A few stray wisps of her fiery red hair peeked out from under the helmet's brim. Her pale green eyes constantly roamed, missing nothing. Over her long-sleeved white blouse, she wore a black waistcoat decorated with shining silver buttons. Her long wool coat swirled around her calves, emphasizing her height. Around her shoulders was a black cape, making her outline even more formidable. A truncheon and set of handcuffs hung from her thick leather belt, well-worn from her six years of service.

Tonight the air eddied and swirled with even more mystical energies than usual. Olivia felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle as she walked through pockets of magic scattered throughout the streets. The atmosphere seemed saturated with unnatural thrumming power, like the gathering static before a thunderstorm. Olivia determined that this concentration of sorcery was due to the recent increase in bizarre and macabre crimes that had been plaguing the city as of late.

Headquarters was baffled by the gruesome violence and inexplicable thefts seemingly committed by otherworldly culprits. Even though Olivia had not been present during any of the calls to the recent crimes, she felt as though something sinister was stirring in Caldeon's underbelly. In contrast, butterflies fluttered in her stomach with excitement. She could only hope to play even the smallest part in unraveling these mysteries.

Olivia desperately wanted that shiny silver badge that marked her as a detective. Unfortunately, those appointments were limited as not many gave up those prestigious titles. Why did she want to join those ranks in that stuffy office so badly? To the skeptics, she supposed it looked like foolish ambition or vanity. But to Olivia, it was about purpose. She wanted to use her keen mind and unique gifts not just to patrol the streets but to uncover mysteries and seek justice. Being a detective meant having the authority to chase clues wherever they led rather than just responding to a scene. She dreamed of being the one to connect the dots, reveal the perpetrators, and help right wrongs. Not for the sake of prestige but to make the city safer. One day she would prove herself. She had to. The gleaming badge was more than just a rank to her - it was a key to unlocking her full potential and purpose.

Olivia tipped her hat politely to Mr. Abernathy as he swept the steps of his bakery. She often crossed paths with the kindly shopkeeper at this late hour. Seeing the constable on her rounds gave him a sense of comfort before bedding down for the night.

As she turned down a narrow alley, a drunken Orcish man stumbled out of a pub into her path. She wrinkled her nose at the overpowering ale stench.

"Evenin' Constable!" the man slurred. "Lovely night for a stroll, ain't it?"

"Move along, sir," Olivia directed, refusing to break her stride.

The man wavered for a moment before lurching back inside the pub doors. Olivia sighed - she'd have to keep an eye on that establishment.
Rounding a corner, Olivia heard a faint whimper. She followed the sound to a young girl crouched behind a stack of boxes, tears streaming down her dirt-smudged cheeks.

Olivia knelt so they were at eye level. "Why hello there, miss. Are you lost?" she asked gently.

The girl nodded, rubbing her runny nose with a grimy hand. Olivia offered her handkerchief. After a few soothing words, she was able to coax out the girl's address and personally escorted her safely home, a tiny hand clinging to two of Olivia's sturdy fingers.

It wasn't glamorous work, but moments like these reminded Olivia how much she loved serving the people of this city, even in a small way.

****

The first hints of dawn appeared as Olivia returned to the stone headquarters of the Caldeon constabulary. She nodded to the desk sergeant as she hung up her cape and truncheon. The echoing voices and clacking footsteps on the tile floors made it clear that the day shift officers were already mustering for their assignments.

Olivia's patrol boots clicked purposefully as she climbed the creaking wooden stairs to the detectives' offices on the second floor. Keeping her head high, she ignored the curious glances and hushed murmurs that followed her. A female constable was rare enough, but Olivia striding confidently through the detectives' domain was an anomaly.

She came to a halt outside a frosted glass door bearing the name: Inspector C. Halifax. She longed to be on the other side of that door, welcomed as a fellow investigator rather than eyed with unease in the hallway. Clearing her throat, she knocked firmly. A gruff voice bid her enter.

Inspector Halifax was poring over some documents at his desk. His gray mustache twitched with irritation at the interruption. "Yes, Constable Jones? I'm very busy."

Olivia stood at attention. "My evening report, sir," she said, handing over the detailed notes from her patrol. The inspector gave it a cursory glance before adding it to his mountain of paperwork. Dismissed by his silence, Olivia turned to exit. Jaw clenched with frustration. As she grasped the knob, Halifax spoke up.

"One moment, Jones."

Olivia paused, hand frozen on the knob. She took a slow breath before turning back around. "Yes, sir?"

Halifax leaned forward, steepling his fingers on his desk. "As it happens, Detective Brown has fallen ill and will be out for some time. I need someone to cover his caseload."

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. Halifax continued, "Your patrol reports show you have sharp investigative skills. I'm offering you the chance to take the lead on Brown's cases temporarily as an acting detective."

Olivia's heart leaped, but she kept her tone professional. "It would be an honor, sir. I accept."

Halifax nodded. "Report here first thing tomorrow, then. The paperwork on Brown's open cases will need review." He dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"Thank you, Inspector Halifax." Olivia walked out, pulse racing. It wasn't an official detective appointment, but it was the opportunity she had been waiting years for. A chance to prove herself. She hurried home, eager to begin pouring over the case files.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

Sorry... so I wrote up my post during a break at work and then forgot to send myself the file. Of course now I'm off for the next days. I'll post as soon as I can.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

I'm also being a little slow. I'll have a bit of time tonight and tomorrow to get thongs going for Olivia.

TRES WELCOME!

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

@Golem honestly I would prefer a smaller group. I'm up for it if Myst is.
Im ready to dive in when you guys are.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

I totally forgot I could add to an album on my profile! Thanks Myst! That worked. Should be able to see it now.

The Shadow over Old Caledon - Open for Applications

@Golem@CollectorOfMyst the original is not from a hosting site. I tried adding it to Flickr but the link still doesn't work.