The Elurian Herald

[Swish Swiftword]

The building, on the outside, looks like nothing more than a giant warehouse. Its previous owner had sold it at an incredibly cheap price, for reasons Swish had not delved into too deeply, and it now housed Eluria's first newspaper. Inside, it is divided into offices, and a large section is hollowed out for a huge, wood and metal device that hums with magical energy - the construct known as Press.

[Rumerin]

*One night, two shadows enter the building, hardly noticeable. They leave half an hour later, leaving no trace, except- a minor change in the press books, undetectable forgeries like changing 1s into 7s, and 6s into 8s. While the changes will not catch the eye, upon close inspection the books will now be found to be bad in such a way that the owner of the press and some of his top people would gain unfair tax advantages, and it seems money from unaccountable sources comes in, and goes out again on needless supplies. I.e.- laundering. The other change they make in the building is the deposit of some more money in the safe, but under other bags, or in with the other bags, making it not immediately noticeable.*

[Jingzu Lunaria]

*Guards are pounding on the doors the very next morning, demanding to be let in.*

[Swish Swiftword]

*Before the guards came, right after the shadows had left, Press, aware, as always, of everything in the warehouse, begain making a horrid screeching sound, one that woke up everyone, who rushed from there rooms above the warehouse, to where Press was, Swish looking rather bleary eyed.

"What in the hells? What's going on, Press."

*Sounds from inside press clack and clatter, and a note pops out.*

"Someone was in here. Evil. Looked at the books, then went into the safe."

*Swish rushes to the books, while Viky heads towards the vault. Swish opens them up, and reads though. At first they look allright...but Swish is good with numbers. He reads though again, his nose practally brushing the pages. This time, he notices it, and curses. Changing it back would be risky, and noticable. So, he runs back to Press, and tosses the papers inside a hatch, which Press begins to digest.*

Press, reprint them, but without the changes.

*Press begins to hum and clatter, and the books pop out, indistinguishable from the old...before they were altered. Viky comes back, shaking her head.*

If I didn't know better, I'd say we had more money...but that wouldn't make any sense. How could we have more money, after we were robbed?

*Swish groans.*

Someone changed the books. I'm betting we are going to be visted by the Guard. Tommorrow. Chet, take the extra money. Put it...hells, dump it in the negative energy plane, for all I care, or store it on the Astral. We need to get it so the Guard can't find it, not untill we can prove who did this. Everyone else, back to sleep. The first edition is coming out as scheduled. We won't let them intimidate us. I'm staying up, though.

*Chet mumbles, and goes to find his spellbook. He had been a wizard, once, a powerfull one, but he rarely cast spells anymore. Still, he finds the needed ones, and goes though the money, with the books, comparing the two, untill he has the right amount. A meticulous man, he finds every last extra copper. He gets it all in a pile, and casts a spell on it, binding it together, before a second spell shunts the mass into the Astral plane. His work done, he goes back into bed with the others, while Swish sits up...

...meaning a bleary eyed, tired looking halfling greets the guards when the start knocking.*

"Can I ....*yawn*.... help you, officers?"

[Jingzu Lunaria]

*The red-head guard at the front grins and holds up a document*

"We have a warrant to search the place from top to bottom. Stand aside."

[Swish Swiftword]

*Swish does stand aside, though he does look indignant.*

A warrant? What are you looking for? We have done nothing wrong.

[Jingzu Lunaria]

Swish said:

*Swish does stand aside, though he does look indignant.*

A warrant? What are you looking for? We have done nothing wrong.

*The guards come in and start searching every nook and cranny. The red-head smiles at Swish and watches the men.*

"That's what we're about to find out."

[Swish Swiftword]

*Swish fumes, truthfully. He had done nothing wrong, yet, and was infuriated these guards would think so, and also infuriated someone had tried to implicate him in some wrongdoing. The guards shouldn't find anything, since there is nothing to find.*

[Jingzu Lunaria]

*The guards report back and the red-head frowns.*

"Well, what do you know. We're going to keep our eyes on you."

*They rank up and file out, the red-head cursing quietly.

They may not have found anything, but they mad no effort to keep the place straight when they searched.*

[Swish Swiftword]

*Swish mutters curses as they go, but slumps back against a wall in fatigue once they had left. He hadn't slept all night, but could not let the guards see it. He stands back up and goes over to Press, yawning.*

If anyone comes back, tell them we'll talk with them. I'm getting some sleep.

*There is a clatter, and a peice of paper appears. Swish looks at it, confused, wondering why he couldn't read it...before realizing it was in elvish. He curses and kicks Press, which does nothing but hurt his foot and worsen his mood.*

No games, Press! I'm going to bed, I know you understood me.

*The construct clatters, and although no paper comes out, Swish gets the distinct impression Press is laughing at him. Grumbling, Swish heads to bed.*

[Mr Tiburon]

Mr Tiburon peers into the webbed-over windows of the warehouse. Hm. Looks deserted.