Case 3.3: An Unavoidable Invitation

Tulgan told Jericho that his group’s escapade at the Salty Tear had cost one of his acquaintances a substantial amount of gold, and that he would like him to come to the Stronghold Casino in the Fiend District to discuss terms. He assured Jericho that Emma would be fine, so long as he came as soon as possible.

Jericho was floored by this; his daughter had been kidnapped by the Orc Mafia. Eddie piped up, suggesting that because he was in disguise the other night, he might infiltrate the casino while Jericho spoke to Tulgan. This idea was cut short when a text arrived with an invitation to the Casino containing all the officers’ full names. With no other option than to follow Tulgan’s instructions, they booked an Ünter and headed to the casino.

A long silent trip ended when they arrived at the Stronghold, an enormous monolith of steel and blackened glass, towering above the surrounding district.

One orc at the entrance welcomed the officers and introduced himself as Dregu. He had the officers check their weapons (and robots), and then he escorted them up to the penthouse to meet with Tulgan.

Dregu opened a pair of large double doors into an enormous and long office. Shelves full of trophies and spoils filled the walls, with orcs lining the edges, just waiting for someone to make a mistake. And at the end of the room, a desk, at which sat Marquess Tulgan.

The giant orc offered the officers a seat and a drink. Pulled out a pair of cigars, lit them both, and started smoking both.

He explained Shigloth had lost 12000 gold in the fight, and that was now the responsibility of the officers to pay back. Figuring 4 police officers probably didn’t have 12 grand spares, he offered an alternative. Become inside men for him in the police. Tulgan wouldn’t go into detail about what he would need them to do, only that he would call on them when police were getting in his way.

Seeing no other choice, the group accepted the offer. And Jericho demanded to see his daughter.

Tulgan sent Dregu off to fetch the girl, while he poured himself a few more drinks.

Not long after, Dregu rushed back into the room and whispered to Tulgan that both Emma and Brooke were missing.

Tulgan quickly began dispatching Orcs all around the building to find them, even pairing the officers with the female orc from last night (Brogan).

Inspecting the room Emma was being held in, they found no evidence of a struggle, just an empty pizza box, soda cans, and snack packets. Jericho tried to think of anywhere Emma would go in this situation. With no reasonable ideas coming up, he tried calling Brooke’s au pair, Gourbash, thinking he might know. Gourbash’s phone rang a few times, then cut off. Thinking something was up, Eddie called the Tech Division and requested a trace on the orc’s phone. It pinged back as being at the local hospital. Worried that Emma was hurt, everyone collected their items, jumped into Brogan’s car, and headed for the hospital.

On arrival, Jericho flashed his badge and asked if Gourbash was here. The nurse escorted him to a ward, where they found him in bed; unconscious, beaten, bruised, and bandaged.

A call to Tulgan revealed Shigloth had beaten Gourbash for information on Jericho, as he had initially refused to give any information to him.

Brogan then knew where Brooke may have taken Emma. Got everyone in the car and headed off.

She explained that there was a shelter for kids run by an orc. One who had a hand in raising a lot of the city’s orcs, a number who are now in Tulgan’s ranks, including Brogan herself.

They stopped outside a townhouse. Jericho jumped out of the car and started knocking and ringing the doorbell, while Brogan adjusted her jacket, brushed herself down, and checked her posture.

A very pale elf girl answered the door. Brogan asked if Mama Rageegee was home. The girl said she was, but she was currently in the kitchen looking after the new girl, turning to Jericho, pointing out that she looked a lot like him. Assuming it was Emma, Jericho bolted into the house and saw Emma standing on a stool at a counter making cookies. Jericho ran to hug his daughter but had to quickly dodge a rolling pic thrown at his head. He turned to see who had thrown it to find Mama Rageegee standing there, second pin in hand, ready to throw.

After Emma confirmed Jericho was her father, Rageegee allowed the pair to reunite. Emma told Jericho that she and Emma had slipped out of the building to come here, but Brooke had been abducted herself on the way. Emma had escaped and made her way to Mama’s, but was in such a state of everything that had happened, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Mama what had happened.

Emma said that some strange man jumped out at them while they were walking past a pet shop, she couldn’t say where it was though, Eddie tried searching the Arcananet for any information but turns out there is a surprising number of pet shops in the area. Mama had an idea as she checked on the map the route Brooke would most likely take to get to hers. She found one pet shop on that route and suggested the officers checked there.

Mama promised to take care of Emma while the officers headed back out to find Brooke.