[EVENT] A STROKE OF SABOTAGE

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL
Date: April 16th-April 30th
Location: Keeliai, various
Situation: Just when you think things are working a little too well...
Warnings/Rating: To be added as needed.

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It starts small - a few greenhouses have seen their crops wither, and the kedan frantically scramble to find the cause. By the time they do, it’s too late. Three days later, the problem seems to occur in every single one of the major greenhouses and hydroponics stations; plants withered and dead, and several kedan sick and showing signs of Dust poisoning after contact with the water supply. While there were no deaths, all had to go to the Healers Guild and several had severe enough reactions that their stay was more than just a brief treatment and overnight observation.

The initial response from a few of the more superstitious kedan is that the run of bad luck has culminated in the ruin of their efforts. More level-headed kedan will be inclined to take a more scientific approach. Kyde and a number of chemists are called in to take samples.

As one might expect (or not, as the case may be), Dust had been somehow integrated into the water that feeds the hydroponics and greenhouses, which wound up killing the plants and sickening the kedan. While it hadn’t made it into the main water supply for the city, there was clearly enough of an organized effort that it affected the public greenhouses and hydroponics systems. Every piece of equipment that comes in contact with the water will have to be flushed to prevent another die-off. It's a big setback, and the process will take several weeks to complete, reigniting concerns about food shortages.

The culprits even left a calling card - painted on the walls or tarps is a message: MALICANT WILL RISE.

Tensions are high everywhere in the city, and morale is low as the culmination of the kedan and Foreigner’s hard work was ruined and, while they aren’t back to square one, there is an enormous amount of work ahead. Going forward, there is an urgent call for the development of better filtration systems to keep out toxins while still distributing essential nutrients, and better security. The kedan will be looking toward Foreigners for assistance in these matters.

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OOC: Various starters are included in the comments below for different facets of the plot, or you can make your own! Please direct any questions to the April Game Itinerary post. Thank you!

Comments

[of_deduction]

"I don't care." Sherlock says impatiently. "I don't care about who you trust or don't trust. What I do care about is the fact that someone has deliberately contaminated the water supply with a highly dangerous substance. Now it's a little too convenient that after you stopped guarding the water that this happened."

"Now I don't know nearly as much as I need to about the Dust but I do know this-when I tried to introduce it to smaller organisms they died. And now it's in the water that children drink." He points out-one specific child in mind. "Conan's already been exposed to it."

[redlightgreenlight]

"And you think I don't," Valdis replied sharply, "Do not make the mistake of thinking that I don't care about Conan. I do. I don't expect you to understand how I know that Kaliel isn't the culprit, but I am very good at knowing when people are lying to me. You need to focus on countering the Dust. I'm immune, take some blood at see what you can do with it."

[of_deduction]

He rolls his eyes, about tell her that he can't make an antidote without first understanding where it comes from and how it works but his thoughts slam to a halt.

"Immune?"

[redlightgreenlight]

"I seem to be," Valdis replies, "It have never affected me in the manner that it affects others. That's not to say a more potent form wouldn't, it just hasn't so far."

Not that her immunity necessarily existed in her blood, but it was possible and Sherlock might be able to get something useful out of it.

[of_deduction]

"Your immunity may only last so long-the recipe changes frequently from what I've seen. But I will admit it'd be a start." He concedes. Now to focus on the reason he'd come out here.

"I'll still need to conduct those interviews and review that paperwork. I understand that you trust certain people with your life but the only thing I'm willing to trust in this case is verifiable fact."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Then we'd better find an antidote quickly," she replies, "I can't afford to be affected by Dust." And the city would suffer if she was.

Valdis nods, still not entirely convinced, "I can give you the names and file."

[of_deduction]

"Quickly?" He looks a bit confused. "In order to even start on an antidote I'll need to know exactly what the dust is and how it works. Another thing to keep in mind is that if this is a parasite-which I highly suspect-any antidote would have to kill the parasite and runs the risk of killing the host with it."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Speak with Milyn," Valdis says, "She helped create the original formula, she might be able to help you."

There had to be some way to counter it quickly without killing the host, after all, the foreigners would come back, but the kedan could not.

[of_deduction]

"Yes, I've heard about Milyn from Penny. Since she is responsible for creating it and still supplying him with it, I think it's best I avoid a formal introduction until I know more." He's publicly come out as a consulting detective and he's not shy about letting others know where to find him.

"If you really want me to speed things up, I could taunt the cultists and have them come to me."

[redlightgreenlight]

"That's one option I suppose," Valdis smirked, a darker edge to it than normal, "Perhaps you will have better luck at it than I."

[of_deduction]

"I have something they want. It'd be as easy as a public announcement." He reminds her. It's obvious to him what they're trying to do with the dust and all he has to do claim that he can stabilize it. They'd be knocking on his door within the hour.

[redlightgreenlight]

"You said the compound was unstable," Valdis says slowly, thinking about how to go about this. "You want to lie to them about that, don't you?"

That was highly dangerous and a bit more risky than she liked, but it could possibly get the job done. Draw the cultists out. But it could also endanger more lives. She's have to put foreigner officers on guard duty as her kedan ones could die permanently.

[of_deduction]

"In a word, yes. Though it wouldn't be a complete lie-from what I've seen of it I do have a few ideas on how one would go about stabilising it. Hopefully no one working for them is as smart as I am." He explains.

"Though there is the matter of the danger this would most certainly put people in."

[redlightgreenlight]

"That's very risky, Sherlock," Valdis replies, "The cultists would kill for that information and I can't risk the lives of my officers. The Cultists have gotten past me before."

Recent events have proven that.

"And you have to remember that someone created Dust, they have intelligence on their side. Intelligence and extremism."

[of_deduction]

"There's no need for you to risk your officers." He rolls his eyes. "If I do decide to try and draw the cultists out, I'll have to decline your police detail. Any sign that this is a trap would ruin the whole operation."

And he's not even sure he wants to do that-he'd have to do something about Conan in order to keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately it seems that part is a full time job. Penny could fend for himself, he's sure.

"Yes, and I have science and intelligence on mine." Extreme just means they're quick to anger, quick to anger means they'll make a mistake.

[redlightgreenlight]

"If you make a public announcement about this," Valdis pointed out, "Then they would expect me to confront you about it, to at least try to place a detail. If I didn't, it would appear neglectful and I am not that."

Image did mean something and acting out of character would be just as much an indication of a trap.

"This is very risky."

[of_deduction]

"And I would decline the offer-it would be out of character for me to accept a police detail." He points out.

"But we're getting ahead of ourselves as I don't have any real plans to call them out-not until I know more."

[redlightgreenlight]

That wasn't her point, Sherlock. If the man didn't want a Detail, then he'd have to slip it, but she could ensure that would happen.

"Give me a heads up before you do anything foolish."

That includes lying to the cultists.

[of_deduction]

"Anything that I do is always carefully and well thought out with several back up plans should the first fail. I would hardly call that foolish."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis arches a brow, not believing him in the slightest.

"Fine. Give me a heads up before you do anything."

She knows she can't protect everyone by being bossy, but she's sure going to try.

[of_deduction]

If does decide to try and get their attention it will be quite some time as he still has several other things to research and gain a few more informants.

"Of course, should I make any plans you'll be the first to know."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Thank you."

She begins to move away, getting back into character, "It was nice meeting you, Sherlock Holmes."