To:
Major Hubbard, OBG
Byronton Guard
RP Box 9
Report of Initial Investigation
Guardsman: Sgt P. Rively
Details:
I was summoned from the foreign quarter guardhouse by Andrea Woodscombe (Mrs.), proprietress of a boarding house at 178 Little Whist La. Mrs Woodscombe’s complaint involved one of her tenants, a Molly Perkins, who had not returned to her room for two evenings in a row. Mrs. Woodscombe described Miss Perkins thus:
“A good lass, and never even out late. Never makes a ruckus, and helps me clean. She’s a good girl, I’ve said before and again. Works at the Tattered Sail, that’s a pub where she serves, but she’s never out late. You’ll not find the best gents at the Tattered Sail, but she steers clear of ’em she does. She’s a good girl. Keeps to herself and in her room she does. No particular friends among the other girls, and good on her for it; those other lasses aren’t all the good girl types. But Molly is, I’ve said it before and again. But something’s happened, I know it in my old bones, and you have to do something; she’s not come back these two days and I fear the worst. You have to do something.”
Accordingly I accompanied Mrs. Woodscombe to 178 Little Whist La. and examined Miss Perkins’ room. It was unremarkable save for the great quantity of books, paper, and writing materials within. Books were unremarkable save for the predominance of titles concerning natural philosophy and ancient history. Walls were unremarkable save for the many maps pinned up. Maps were unremarkable save for the marking of locations and routes, both land and sea, which were done by hand and to my mind, by the hand of Miss Perkins herself. Room had not been disturbed that I was able to discern; it was in the main neat and orderly. No notes had been left visible.
Accordingly I proceeded to the Tattered Sail after assuring Mrs. Woodscombe of the Guard’s intention to locate Miss Perkins. The pub was unremarkable save for its location immediate to the docks. Its denizens were primarily sailors, which I attribute to its location immediate to the docks. The proprietor was on the premises, a Mr. Bandley. Upon questioning by me, Mr. Bandley agreed that Miss Perkins was a server, that she worked breakfast to the midst of the afternoons, and that she had not arrived to fulfill her duties that day. His estimation of Miss Perkins was in agreement with that of Mrs. Woodscombe, that Miss Perkins was a good lass, and quiet, and kept mostly to herself. His account of Miss Perkins was unremarkable save for the detail that the last time Miss Perkins had been at the Tattered Sail, that is to say the previous day, there was a Merivingian in attendance who received an unusual degree of attention from Miss Perkins. Mr. Bandley stated that Miss Perkins spoke several times to the Merivingian. His description of the Merivingian was unremarkable save for the man’s attire; he was perhaps a mate or captain, not a common sailor. Begging the Major’s pardon, the Merivingians do not “sail” in the same sense, but I do not know the word for what the Merivingian vessels do, exactly, nor what the activities of the crew of such a vessel might be termed. Mr. Bandley’s estimation of this Merivingian was that the man held himself as a person of authority, and his attire was richer and more refined than a common sea laborer would own.
The Merivingian, then, is the last person that can be said to have been seen conversing with Miss Perkins.
Accordingly I proceeded to the docks to search for a Merivingian vessel. After what may be termed a tiresome search I located a vessel that was unremarkable save for being a Merivingian ship. A current bender, I believe they are termed. Begging the Major’s pardon, I am unenlightened as to why these vessels are thusly labeled, nor am I sure why they carry no masts or other apparent means of locomotion. They lie mysterious low in the water such that they are a hard task to located among the many docks and wharves of the foreign sector. The Major will recall that I have served in the foreign quarter for only a fortnight; with longer tenure I am sure I shall gain in knowledge of these things. Or if the Major wishes, I would be eager enough to return to my previous posting in Guardhouse 2, thus making room for a Guardsman with greater knowledge of the foreign quarter, the details of shipping, and the nature of the people inhabiting this sector of Byronton.
The Merivingian vessel I located was manned, and the master of that ship was aboard. He was not the Merivingian from the Tattered Sail; this I was assured by Mr. Bandley, who had accompanied me willingly enough when I pressed the issue. Accordingly my search of the vessel, which was agreed to amiably enough by the ship’s master, was brief but thorough, and during said search I discovered nothing remarkable save for the surprising volume of the ship lying below the level of the water. And the lack of both masts and any semblance of Dr. Hastings’ naval locomotors, which a few Byronton vessels have now mounted. And if I may add, it was impossible to discern how the vessel had been constructed; the walls or “hull” (I was informed by Mr. Bandley that the walls of a ship are correctly termed the “hull”) are not built of timbers, but are a dark material much resembling wood but without any telltale seams — or else so cunningly fitted together that what seams exist are entirely invisible.
Nevertheless Miss Perkins was not aboard the Merivingian vessel. That ship’s master informed me that there were other such vessels coming and going from the Byronton docks regularly, and he believed one had embarked on a voyage the day before. And that this very vessel was embarking immediately upon my exit. Accordingly I returned to the dock and watched the Merivingian vessel, once unlashed from its wharf, make its way steadily and silently to sea. No mast was mounted, nor was there any chimney or stovepipe for venting the smoke produced by the boilers for Dr. Hastings’ naval locomotors. Thus I remain in the state of ignorance occupied by most or all in Byronton; the Merivingian vessels move slowly, but steadily, by some impetus unknown to us.
Accordingly my theories are two. One: that Miss Perkins may be a passenger, willingly or otherwise, on the previously-departed Merivingian vessel. In this case I shall need the Major’s permission to take passage on a Byronton vessel to attempt to locate the Merivingian. Mr. Bandley assures me that our good Byronton ships, even those having only masts and sails and lacking naval locomotors, are able to advance more rapidly than the Merivingian crafts in all cases except when the wind fails, as the Merivingians continue their steady, slow progress even then. Two: that Miss Perkins may remain in Byronton, perhaps the victim of some accidental or purposeful misfortune.
If the Major would please advise as to my next steps, I shall endeavor to proceed per instructions.
