Casefile PS082610
Location: Church of the Builder, Babbage Canals, New Babbage
Synopsis: On 26 August the lifeless body of Mr. Pip Steamer was found face down in a holding cell in the basement of the Church of the Builder. The Church denies responsibility for the death but has agreed to cooperate fully. Town morale is greatly affected, threat of rioting is elevated.
Personal Notes:
Talk about poor timing. First the symbols in front of City Hall, then Pip’s rather conspicuous apprehension, now this… If New Babbage can hold itself together over the next few days I will be pleasantly surprised. This. Is. Not. Good.
While on patrol I made my way to the Canals where I heard quite a commotion coming from the direction of the Church of the Builder. After crossing a couple of bridges I walked into the Church, only to see Father Pizarrio, Brother Rudyard, Professor Lionheart and Doc Miggins examining a very still Pip who was sprawled out on a pew. Immediately it was clear that Pip had “passed on,” otherwise the coroner, Doc Miggins, would not have been there. I was invited to participate in the investigation, which I accepted and was therefore led through the rest of Doc Miggins’ examination as well as explanations from the others present.
The first piece of evidence that was found was the weapon that had laid beside the body in the cell, a Ordo Mucro shin dagger. While the Ordo Mucro is an ancient, more radical branch of the Church, others could also have access to such a weapon from the notes that have been left about the city in the past. In the words of Brother Lapis, with whom I spoke briefly that same evening, “Those are little more than letter openers” and I would venture to add that they are nearly as common. Therefore, the Church is not necessarily implicated in this matter, it could have been anyone.
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The second piece of evidence was three strands of red hair found on the knife. Once that was found, Doc Miggins asked if he could compare the hair’s color to that of my own. As I had nothing to hide I allowed the comparison, which failed based on differing shade. It was quickly noted that nearly half of Babbage’s populace has such fiery locks and therefore jumping to conclusions about whom the owner is proves rather useless.
The third and final piece of evidence was the dark fluid that was found in the cell near where the body had laid. It appeared to be dark, highly viscous oil. At first glance the presence of oil seemed non-sensical, yet after some time it has been brought to my attention that the collar that had been used on Pip, which included a reality enforcement device, could have easily spilt that amount of machine oil. That is something to consider.
Once Doc Miggins had completed the examination, his official verdict was as follows: “Wrongful Death by Persons Unknown.” After the others had left I had a short, private conversation with Brother Rudyard, during which he said, “It is very unfortunate, I know anyone you ask about it will say the same, but please be assured, Miss Netizen, no one in my church has had anything to do with this.” I had already thought as much…it was too obvious, too simple and the Church stood nothing to gain from such attention.
Before leaving, I also spoke with Brother Lapis who explained that they were now in cloister, “That’s church for protective confinement.” That is most likely for the best, as the attitude of many in town has severely turned against the Church as they have jumped to the conclusion that those within the walls of the Church committed the murder.
After taking leave from the Church I found Miss Grace Toussaint, a solicitor in town, standing nearby the City Hall. We were quickly joined by Lead Investigator Jed Dagger and Miss Gabriell Anatra. I quickly summed up the evidence I had been given and we discussed a few possible explanations as well as the general feeling of unrest in town against the Church. Shortly thereafter Lead Investigator Dagger and I left to take the samples of hair and oil from the scene into the lab for detailed analysis.
[img=640×480]http://cityofnewbabbage.online/reader/image/view/488/_original[/img]
We remain in discussion concerning the lab results and how exactly to proceed. Once we come to a conclusion as to the next step I will discuss implications of the situation with Miss Toussaint to get her a advice on the law. Word will also be sent to Doc Muggins that he may take the body for safe keeping and further examination.
A follow-up report will be filed. The investigation is ongoing.
Miss S. Netizen, Investigator
Terranova Investigative Services
Aether Salon, 2nd Floor
#24 Academy Downs
Babbage Palisades, New Babbage
((Excellent! Very well written!))
My question(s), Who would benefit from Pip’s death? or Who would benefit from the situation (in the city) Pip’s murder has created?
no!… :'(
*flaps arms helplessly*
oh, my!
oh, my!
*begins nibbling cookies nervously*
murder most foul!
*begins to dig emergency hiding place in coal pile*
Oh dear, this is not good! I always knew those spikies were a bad idea, and now look what has happened!
I am utterly shattered by this shocking news.
Shocking news, even though I did not know Pip personally, this type of news shakes the spirit.
How horrible! My condolences on the loss of your friend, Mr. Underby.
Thank you Mr Harvey.
Thank you for your work Miss Netizen. I am sure all of Babbage wishes to see true justice served.
Ordo? the chappies wot stick knives in doors?
…..uh oh.
ohhhh great….
If it helps at all, Ms Netizen, just that night I did see a short fellow with a rodentine profile sneaking about in that neighborhood and brandishing a knife.
Yes, I saw him as well, Professor. What a nice lad.
((Possible issue…do we have the ability to delete rather than edit a repeat post?))
*huggles Lo* Imma so sorry about your daaa—Mr. Pip, Lo.
…Pip had a shady past, what goes around, comes around…*looks at Mr Underby*
He who speaks ill of the dead gives much information to others about the depth of his character.
Indeed, it most certainly does . .
. . and in this case it says “I’m not a fool.”
*narrows his eyes at Miss Anatra*
I suppose YOUR past is spotless?
the Builders took Mr Pip fer their own reasons, and were keeping him captive, so how come he ends up dead in their custody? don’t matter if it were them or not, specially if they had something on him to stop him defending himself………
/Tepic makes sure he has a pocket full of round stones, just in case someone tries to kidnap him….
Ah think dem priests are shady. Who dey think dey is to jes’ take Mr. Pip laike dat? Dey not de garda! If dey can do dat to Mr. Pip den dey can do it to you too!
Let’s all jump to conclusions, and cause more trouble.
I’m not saying that there isn’t a degree of culpability on the church for letting this happen, but it would take a real simpleton to think that the church would kill someone in it’s care like this. It appears to me that the church’s critics are acting very much in the same manner that they are accusing the church of doing.
AT this point, an eye for an eye will make Babbage blind.
Ah didn’t say dey killed Mr. Pip. Ah said dey didn’t haff no right to take him to start wid. Dey not de garda, an’ dere no law against being different. If dere was dis whole town would be in jail.
Ah think dem priests Shady because of dem soup tables too. Dey put dere scraps out for people to eat laike dey stray cats and dogs instead of people. “Here haff some nasty watery soup, an’ make sure you be stayin’ inside because we too good to associate wid de laikes of you.” Dat what dey sayin’ wid dem soup tables.