The group Rukhnis contacted comes together outside of one of any number of identical run down apartment buildings in the lowers. It's easy to tell which apartment buildings are cared for by someone who gives a damn, probably someone who lives near the building if not actually in it, as opposed to the ones that are owned by someone who takes the rent and tries not to think about them beyond that. This is one of those. A rambling mess that looks like a stiff wind could knock it down. The sort of building that eventually collapses in on itself and people who live in the upper wards tsk and talk about how tragic it is and then go back to spending a hundred thousand silver on coronets or something. There's the buildings that are old enough that they actually have sparklegas lanterns inside. Then the ones that have oil lanterns. And then there's this. Which has two windows a floor.

The man who sent the message to Rukhnis lives on the third floor, and it's a creaky walk up, but before long the group is in the long, dreary hall. The walls are bare, the doors are poorly fitting, but at least the place smells great. The smell of families doing their best with what they can afford. And, to some, the more alien smells of (somewhat improvised) Eurusi food, with spices that may tickle the Arvani nose. There's sounds beyond the thin walls, and while the place looks like the sounds should mostly be murders, most of them are of children, muffled laughter, the clinkety clank of dinner time. The place is a hole, but when you're used to worse unpainted walls and grimy windows can be a paradise.

There's a tightness to Rukhnis's mouth as the small party enters the building and ascends the rickety stairs to the rickety third floor of the rickety structure that seems liable to fall over with all of them in it at any moment. When combined with the muted look of compassion in her eyes, this expression seems to have less to do with the potential perils of the building itself, or any discomfort with the surroundings, as it does with the idea that people -- any people, but perhaps particularly people from her own homeland -- are stuck living in such miserable conditions.

Nevertheless, her dislike of the situation is placed on the back burner for now, as there are more pressing matters at hand. Since she was the one who's received a letter from one of the inhabitants, she's also the one who steps up to the door and gives a firm, matter-of-fact series of raps upon its splintery surface.

Ras pushes his hood back as he trails Rukhnis upstairs. Although he seems familiar enough with these sorts of living situations, there's a vague air of alertness around him that he probably usually has in parts like this, too. He smells the air frequently, and the fragrance of the foods and the sounds of children and laughter make the hint of a smile twitch across his face. When the Eurusi woman knocks on the door, he stands to one side and buries both hands in his jacket pockets.

Korka stands near the back, glancing around with a bit of distaste, although who knows of what. She's brought a small brown bag which she takes out now, rustling through it before crunching down on some of the contents. Nuts roasted and spiced with things more familiar to Arvum.

Swift makes mental notes as they climb the rickety stairs, tallying figures in her head and reminding herself to speak with a few people after the fact. She's not surprised by the state of it, she's seen worse. Thralldom isn't a great way to grow up. There's not always physical chains, but there's still chains. She has a satchel with her that likely bears medicines, herbs, and remedies that are here in case they need it. There might also be some silver that can be passed around to help the families.

The thin door opens just enough for an inch wide slice of person to appear, including an eye which gives the group the once over but widens slightly when it recognizes Rukhnis. The door swings the rest of the way open and there stands a man. He has the look of Eurus, black hair and a sparse beard both going salt and pepper though he doesn't look nearly old enough to go gray. Behind him a pair of children sit on a rug on the floor, playing a game that involves stacking differently shaped blocks and maintaining an increasingly uncertain balance. "Oh, good, you came," says the man in only slightly accented Arvani. "I'm sorry. This is probably nothing but-" One of the children, a girl of about six years, pokes her head around her father and stares wide-eyed at all the people. She shouts something in Eurusi back to her brother, then gives Korka and Swift each a broad smile, leaning forward. She is restrained by her father who pushes her back, looking both annoyed and more than a little amused by whatever she said. "Ah, I apologize. I'm," he says a fairly complicated Eurusi name, then says, "but people here call me Raj." To Rukhnis he says, "I wrote to you about Soraya, the woman you met at the, uh, welcome event?"

Rukhnis's gaze briefly shifts past the man opening the door to the interior of the room, taking in the humble yet rather homey scene of the children playing in the usual way, heedless of the more wretched aspects of their surroundings. She begins to bow to the man who's come to the door, though the motion pauses a moment at whatever the little girl was shouting, and when she straghtens back up again there's a faint look of amusement in her dark eyes. Nevertheless, she greets the man in her usual serious tone, first telling him something brief in Eurusi, and then continuing on in Arvani.

"Sayyid Raj, I greet you. I am Rukhnis al-Katibi, who spoke with Soraya at the event. It honours me to now make your acquaintance. You may recall some of these others also being there--" she inclines her head towards Korka and Swift "--and I have also brought a friend of mine who is very skilled at looking into and solving all manner of problems." The next nod of her head indicates Ras. "And please, do not feel bad for asking that we come. If there is anything that troubles you, we wish to help."

Even though the little girl is held back by her father, Korka leans forward a bit offering the bag forward in case she wants to indulge. She's otherwise quiet though, letting Ruknis take the lead here with what are presumably her people.

Swift looks utterly delighted at the little girl and her shout. She glances towards Raj and smiles, showing off a pair of teeth crafted from star iron, and responds to him in his own tongue before sweeping into a brief bow. Upon straightening, she looks to the little girl and responds to her as well before falling silent and looking to Rukhnis.

Ras keeps both hands pocketed, studying the man who opens the door. Afterwards, he shifts attention to Rukhnis and remains relatively close, if still lurking to one side and staying out of the immediate way. His gaze takes in the movement of the children, and he glances to Swift and Korka, then refocuses on the exchange in time to nod a silent greeting towards the Eurusi man when he's indicated. His expression is solemn.

The girl peers out between her father's legs at Korka's offer, then squirms out to she can take a handful before sniffing deeply in her direction, giving a disappointed look and running back to her game. She shares her nuts with her brother. The man gives a nod to Rukhnis, looking just a bit distraught when she offers a formal greeting that he didn't start with one. He replies quickly, then says, "I am worried about her. I have not seen her in many days. She has not had an easy time in the time since coming to this city. Since her husband was killed we have been bringing her food but she has not answered our knock for almost a week."

As Raj gets that faint unhappy look on his face, Rukhnis hastens to make a very small dismissive motion with one hand that seems to tell the man he shouldn't trouble himself over his lack of formalities, and as he offers an explanation for why they were summoned, the physician's brow furrows slightly.

"You are right to be concerned," she tells Raj, "and right as well to ask someone to help you look into it, though it may indeed be nothing out of the ordinary that has caused her to be out of touch." If Rukhnis has other worries herself, she doesn't show it at this point -- both her tone and her gaze are calm, even if the latter is touched with an obscurely troubled look. "So far as you know she was not troubled with any complaints of illness, or had anything preying upon her mind? Nothing amiss in her relations with her neighbours, no plans to go elsewhere in the city?"

Ras knits his brow in a frown and shifts his weight to one boot, listening more intently now. He doesn't venture any questioning, but looks up and down the hall warily once, as if he's thinking about something for a brief instant's pause in his close attention on Rukhnis and Raj.

"No one has seen her come or go?" Korka finally speaks up, keeping her attention on their surroundings rather than the man after he gets just a quick once over. She continues to eat her nuts as if this is just a social house call. In the worst part of town.

Raj shakes his head at Korka, looking concerned and guilty. "I should have just opened the door, but ... there are things-" He gives a deep frown, then says, "I have children." His tone is miserably helpless. To Rukhnis he says, "Not so far as I know. She was a strong woman. She comforted people on the long voyage here. Though only a week after we arrived in the city her husband was killed in a robbery." He has the doubtful look of one who knows it is easier for the local authorities to assume a robbery when it comes to the poor. "She was broken, then. That is when we began to help her. She helped keep my family together when my wife and mother could not join us," he pauses to say something quickly in Eurusi, "so I felt we owed it to her. She was well liked by everyone here, but we all keep to ourselves."

"A robbery," Rukhnis echoes dubiously -- perhaps wondering just what a Eurusi refugee fresh off the boat could possibly have worth stealing. She gives Raj a small nod, acknowledging his own unspoken skepticism regarding this explanation. Letting out a quiet sigh, she says regretfully, "I am very sorry that your first experiences here in Arvum should have been such sad ones. Soraya sounds like a remarkable woman -- and was a brave and observant one as well, from what I saw -- and she deserves better than to have been met with such sorrow upon her arrival. She lives here in this building, then?" She glances back at the others of her group. "We can go visit the place ourselves, and see what we can discover." Then she's quiet, perhaps to allow the others to voice any additional questions of their own.

Raj nods at Ruhknis's question and leans out to point three doors down and on the other side. "She lives there."

Ras nods at Rukhnis upon her conclusion, and glances to Raj. Lowering his voice for some reason, he says, "Ain't your fault." Unpocketing a hand, he fishes a small colorful charm from his belt and flips it over to the man. It could make a fun toy, or something that could be sold for a quick spot of coin. "Take care of em kids, aight?" That has the tone less of an order and more of a vaguely gruff compliment.

Ras gets charm of Mangata from two belts.

Swift steps forward and presses a small pouch of silver into Raj's hand and murmurs, "If you find yourself needing help, ask for the Grayhopes. Mayir, Magpie.. let them know Swift sent you for help. They can get you a good job, help with housing. You could get into a better place." She smiles faintly, and steps aside, looking to the others to lead the way.

Korka gives a very large, dramatic roll of her eyes when Swift mentions the Grayhopes, then starts heading down towards the doorway that was indicated. She doesn't actually knock, apparently leaving that to someone else, just inspects the doorway and the area around it for a moment. While crunching on nuts.

Korka checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 34 higher.

Rukhnis checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 48 higher. Rukhnis rolled a critical!

Swift checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 138 higher. Swift rolled a critical!

"Someone is in there," Korka tells the group quietly, looking at a gap between the doorway and the floor, "I can see them moving."

While Korka checks out the obvious door, Swift starts poking around for the less obvious. Looking for the highways and byways used by the less than upstanding folks, eyes tracking along the hallway, measuring steps, checking for any drafts that shouldn't be. Most people wouldn't think a place like this would have secret doors or hidden passages. Most haven't been on the other side of the shady.

Rukhnis presses her lips together briefly, also seemingly in response to the offer of Grayhope aid, but then she gives a small nod of her head. "You may also come by the Commons Clinic here in the Lowers," she offers, "not just if one of you becomes sick, but to receive any further things you might need -- blankets, root vegetables and preserves from the garden, herbal teas." She then offers another bow, this one evidently of farewell. "Be well, Sayyid Raj. We will look into the matter, and do whatever we can for Soraya." And with that she turns and follows Korka to the hall to also peer rather critically at the third door down on the opposite side.

"Mn," the Eurusi woman says, possibly in response to the inquisitor's information. "And the door has been opened recently as well, so it is not the case that nobody has gone in or out." She gestures at the floor that is clearly dust-free where the door would swing open.

"Reckon it's locked?" Ras asks Korka as he follows at a skulk down the hall. He glances back at Rukhnis, then steps in stealthily to lean his head in to listen against the door, and very surreptitiously touches the handle to see if it'll budge - just testing without opening it. Standing sideways, he keeps one arm angled downward behind him, strangely poised with his elbow crooked stiffly.

It does have a lock, one of the few luxuries afforded those who live here, and the lock is both set and unbroken.

Rukhnis checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Ras checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 39 higher.

Korka checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Ras whispers something under his breath, and releases the door handle, that hand moving for something in a pouch on his belt.

Rukhnis whispers something just as softly back to the others, and then fixes her gaze on Ras while simultaneously keeping her ear cocked towards the door in an intently listening attitude.

Korka listens to something Rukhnis and Ras say to her in low tones then shrugs, "You're both from the Lowers, right? I'm sure you know what to do." Then she turns and perhaps inexplicably? Walks away down the stairs.

Ras gets a set of crude lockpicks from two belts.

Ras pulls out something that's less master-thief material and more grubby urchin. He glances around the hall, knitting his brow as both Swift and Korka depart in the course of their investigations, but time is of the essence - he mumbles something quietly to Rukhnis and crouches down to set about picking the lock as quickly as he can.

Ras checked dexterity + legerdemain at difficulty 15, rolling 54 higher.

The lock slides open. It's not a good lock and it's not well-maintained, but Ras knows what he's doing and it opens as silent as if it were dripping in oil.

Rukhnis, not actually being from the Lowers, still knows exactly what to do: let Ras handle this. She seems to feel supreme confidence in him, despite the faintly skeptical look she slants towards him for whatever he's just mumbled to her. She says something back to him, still very quietly, just before the lock comes masterfully open.

Ras puts a set of crude lockpicks in two belts.

Ras stands up when the handle unlocks, and there goes the faint crook of his back arm again. He smiles at Rukhnis briefly, then the expression fades as he gives a subtle nod of warning - and abruptly pushes the door open.

Rukhnis gives a small nod back to Ras as she settles herself lightly on the balls of her feet, prepared -- well, in theory anyway -- for whatever happens as the door comes open.

The door swings open to a darkened room, the only window only letting in so much light. Like Raj's apartment, it is one room with a tiny area people could use for cooking food and a place off to the side of that for a cot. Unlike Raj's apartment this one is decorated not with a rug or smiling children, but with a Eurusi woman, well into her middle years, a woman Rukhnis immediately recognizes, pinned to the wall with a long black blade through her chest. Black ichor stains her simple shirt, dribbles down her chin and spills out of the corners of her eyes.

There is someone else in the room, a tall man who was already moving to the window when they entered. He has on a jacket with deep pockets that rattle as he moves. Without looking back at them he throws a stool through the window and jumps out.

Standing down below there's not a whole lot going out for Korka. At least not until the smash followed by glass falling down from the sky. When she looks up she sees a man jump out, twist in the air and grab ahold of the ledge of the window a floor down.

Sitting on a crate in the back alley, Korka has strategically arranged some stray stuff in front of the back door in case someone decided to make a break for it. Of course, then there's a shower of glass from above and she steps out of the way of the shards, glancing up with a squint, "Inquisition!" She calls out, probably panicking the whole neighborhood, "You can keep trying to run, but then I just tell the archers to fire."

Ras takes one look at the pinned woman and doesn't bother to hide his cringe - but when he sees the tall man move to the window, he rushes that way and quickly leans over to look out. Probably by then, the only thing he sees is Korka down on the street. "Where'd he go?!" he calls down to the inquisitor.

Rukhnis's eyes dart swiftly around the room, taking in the rather appalling scene of dark and dreary apartment, severely limited furnishings, and murdered woman pinned to a wall with murderer leaping out the window. It's the sight of that woman whom she so clearly recognizes that makes the physician let out a grunt as if she'd been slugged in the stomach, and though there's clearly nothing at all she can do for the impaled Soraya, still she darts swiftly across the room towards her.

Korka checked command + manipulation at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Rukhnis checked perception + medicine at difficulty 25, rolling 34 higher.

The man looks down at Korka, expression manic, then back up at Ras and instead of looking for these mystery archers he pushes himself back on the wall, then smashes through the second floor window, disappearing back into the building. There is a cry of surprise from inside the apartment, which pairs nicely with the sheer number of faces that peer nervously out of every other window.

It's hard to tell how long Soraya has been there, but she is stuck fast into the wall. On the floor under her there is a bucket into which her blackened blood flows, though that flow has slowed to a drip at this point. When Rukhnis gets closer she can discern something that might be as horrifying as the scene itself. Despite the blade penetrating her heart, Soraya is alive.

"Second floor! Run!" Korka calls out to Ras, kicking another crate over towards the back door to create a fire hazard as she runs over to the corner to enable her to watch at least two exits. Not counting windows.

Ras leaps out the window recklessly, attempting to pull the same maneuver as Soraya's assassin - twisting in midair to grab hold of the lower floor's window ledge, and then catapult himself through after the fellow.

"Spirits' breath.." The words leave Rukhnis's lips in an appalled whisper, her eyes filling with anguish as she realizes Soraya is still alive. She reaches out to touch her right hand gently to the other woman's face, careful only to avoid the blackened ichor leaking from her eyes, her palm still warm through the bandages wrapping it. Whatever she says afterwards is in Eurusi. It's not much, and is filled with just as much anguish as her gaze. The extremity of her emotion and her attention on the dying woman is enough that she hardly even notices Ras's acrobatic exit.

Ras checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 26 higher.

When Ras gets into the second floor apartment he finds a very disrupted dinner, where a man and a woman are standing on either side of the room, aghast that someone just smashed in their window and ran through their living room/bedroom/the only room and now here comes another one. The front door is swinging open and the assailant is already running down the hall.

When Korka gets back in she can tell immediately that if the man's plan was to use the back stairs they're in luck because there are no back stairs. THAT would be a safety measure. Instead there's just the one set and as she starts running up she hears the door above slam open.

Soraya's eyes flicker open and she looks at Rukhnis. She is weak and fading fast, but she still gives the physician a twitch of a sad smile. In Eurusi she whispers, voice little more than a rustle of dry leaves, "I... will see him... soon..."

"I MEANT TAKE THE STAIRS!" Korka shouts, open mouthed and horrified as Ras jumps out the window! But then he doesn't die horribly, something that clearly shocks her, and then she's running up the stairs herself because in the Uppers parkour doesn't exist yet.

Ras is hot on the fellow's heels, without any apology rendered to the poor inhabitants of the apartment with a broken window in the middle of winter. He dashes out into the hall and runs after the tall man, with the obvious intent to tackle if he can get close enough -- otherwise no doubt the assassin will be caught between him and Korka.

All practical concerns for the apprehending of the one who did this appalling deed are left up to the others. Rukhnis simply stays close by the dying Eurusi, a quiet and comforting presence to ensure that the other woman doesn't have to pass on alone.

She nods softly to Soraya as the woman speaks, her thumb moving in a gentle, soothing pressure against her pale cheek. "You will," she says softly, still in Eurusi, her already normally rough voice more husky still. "Your soul will pass on to a kinder world, and you will find him again and walk in peaceful green gardens together, talking and laughing and remembering your life here like an odd dream you had."

Ras checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 39 higher.

It's opening the doors to the stairs that seals the man's fate. The stair doors are considerably heavier than the apartment doors so there's no crashing right through them. So while he does manage to get through, Ras tackles right into him and the pair end up a tangle that together roll down the stairs. Korka sees the tumbling mess of people stop at the first landing, where the man tries to disentangle himself from the brawler. He speaks loudly in Eurusi and Korka doesn't need any points of Linguistics to pick up the profanity that that certainly is.

Soraya takes one last rattling breath, there one moment and gone with the slow exhale. As she passes her eyes turn black and there is one final trail of tears that drip off of her cheeks and into the bucket below before her entire body begins to sag.

While the man is trying to disentangle himself, Ras is trying to wrestle him down and drive a punch across his face. It'd be great to knock him out, but Ras' expression makes it clear that breaking the fellow's nose would be its own reward. If he can even be kept down...

Korka pulls out her badge and wraps the chain around her hand to hold it out, "Inquisition," she states again, with more authority since she'd actually got the sigil right there, "Do you speak Arvani or should I just let this fellow here knock you around until you think you might?"

Ras checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 15, rolling 32 higher.

Rukhnis lets out a long breath in a more quiet echo of Soraya's dying one. Her hand stays on the woman's cheek for a few moments longer before she finally drops her arm heavily back to her side and turns away, eyes closing briefly. When they open again they're no longer just sad, but kindled with a deeply smouldering anger hotter than bonfires. She doesn't make any attempt to ease the dead Eurusi's body off the wall -- not only does she appear not remotely inclined to touch that hideous knife, but the weight of the other woman likely wouldn't be easy for her to handle -- but instead turns to make a meticulous inspection of the room and the accoutrements of the horrible murder.

Hamish GM Roll checked 4(4) at difficulty 47, rolling 5 lower.

That's a solid punch! Not only is there the telltale sound (and feel, Ras almost certainly knows that feel) of splintering bone as he crushes the man's nose. He snaps his head back, cracking it into the stair under him and while not knocked completely unconscious, leaves him dazed, staring at the ceiling, counting the stars he no doubt suddenly sees. His jacket falls open as he sprawls out and something inside breaks, something glass. His jacket blackens with the stain of whatever was in there opening up.

When Rukhnis starts investigating the room, she finds a couple of things that are immediately obvious. On a nearby table there are some empty jars, lids off. There is also a tin funnel. Additionally, there is some of the black blood on the table, as if it spilled.

Ras might be about to pound the tall man in the face again, but Korka's authoritative call stops his fist short in midair. He lowers that arm to a side, still pinning the sprawled assassin, and his gaze darts down to the black mess inside the open jacket. Eyes widening, he darts a quick look towards the inquisitor as if he thinks she might have more of an idea about the situation.

"Don't touch it, Ras," Korka instructs, taking a few steps closer but carefully keeping a bit of distance, "That looks like the poison that they tried to use on the Legate," she takes a bundle of sturdy twine and tosses it his way, "Restrain him. Where's Rukhnis?" she seems to notice the other woman is not there, "Was there anyone else in the apartment?"

Rukhnis's mouth curls in an expression of commingled unease and disgust as she inspects the assortment of items on the table, along with the unnatural black blood pooled on its surface. Still careful not to actually touch anything, she simply seems to be making a mental note of all this. With nothing else apparently to be found in the room that might shed further light on the sinister proceedings here, she casts another unhappy look over at Soraya still fixed to the wall, then moves quietly to the door and peers back out into the hall, possibly listening for signs of whatever might have happened with the others.

Rukhnis checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher.

The man puts up only minimal resistance when trussed up, looking, if anything, confused. It's too late when he realizes what's happening and his struggles against the bindings are for nought. When he looks over and sees the black dripping down the stairs he cries out in horror and tries in vain to roll in that direction, reaching out with his hands toward it, though he cannot reach. There is the dark glint of a black dagger in his belt, but it's as as useful to him there as if it were in Lenosia.

"Soraya, dead," replies Ras, catching the twine. Clearly he doesn't know anything about what happened. He shoves the dazed man over, twisting both arms unkindly behind his back and binding wrists together with Korka's provided restraints. Half-leaning back, he calls up the rickety staircase, "Stormbird?! You up there? We got the guy!"

Korka crouches down next to where Ras has tied up the man, looking for an indications that the poison has spread to the woodwork or anything that might be bad for the people that live here, "But no one else?" She asks, apparently not that brokenup to hear Soraya was dead, "This is clearly bigger than just the attack on the Legate."

At the call from Ras, Rukhnis lets out a quiet sigh of what might be relief. Pulling the door softly shut behind her -- no point in sending the neighbours into more of a panic than the commotion alone has probably done -- she slips softly down the hall and over to the head of the stairs, peering briefly down them before descending.

When she reaches the place where the other two members of her group have managed to bring down the murderer and get him safely tied up, she looks still more relieved. And also angry. Very, very angry. Her dark eyes stare at the trussed man on the stairs with an intense spark of glittering fury in her gaze.

"Soraya was bleedin black," mutters Ras. "But I've only ever seen black blood come outta um." His voice lowers, but remains audible. "Some kinda demon, before. Only I don't reckon she was one." He sounds perplexed, and there's a very slight shake of his head. Looking at Korka cautiously, he rises back from the trussed man to give her any space she needs -- and that's when he sees Rukhnis descending, with that fury in her eyes. The confusion in his eyes fades into something darker, more somber.

The man gives them all a baleful glare and spits something out in Eurusi, then lifts his head forward, spits at Ras, then brings his head back against the edge of the stairs with a loud crack. And again. And again. He's not dead, but he's certainly trying.

When the man starts trying to kill himself Korka lets out an irritable breath and reaches out to grab a handful of his hair, keeping him from continuing to bang against the stairs, "Let's get him up and to the House of Questions," she tells Ras and then Rukhnis when she appears, "Could have been the poison that caused it. That said I don't know much about them, but we can probably find someone who does."

"I do not know just what this.. this /filth/.. has done--" Rukhnis looks just about angry enough to spit on him, but manages to restrain herself "--but he took enough blood from her to fill a great many jars such as were left on the table upstairs. And the knife he used was some abomination like the one the assassin tried to use on the Legate." She grimaces in contempt. "Yes, let us get him out of here."

Ras nods at Rukhnis' conclusion, and takes a step forward to help Korka wrestle the trussed man up. A frown settles onto his features, intermingling concern (for the refugees, not for the captive) and bewilderment with an underlying sort of angered frustration that goes unspoken and unexplained.