This is a non-commercial fanfic based on the universes of The Witcher and Disco Elysium. All rights to the original works, characters, names, and elements of their respective worlds belong to their respective copyright holders. The author of this fanfic does not claim ownership of any of them. Age rating: rated R (18+). The text contains profanity, alcohol, fictional drugs, violence, and other themes intended for an adult audience.
“True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings.”
— William Shakespeare, Richard III
NARRATOR – A few minutes later, you arrive at the city barracks. From the outside, everything looks much the same as before: rain-darkened stone, a peeling sign, bored soldiers lingering in the yard. Jethro, once again standing guard, is sober today and consequently rather grim. The moment he spots Vernon, however, he snaps to attention, salutes, and swings the door open with a broad gesture. You enter the office.
VINCENT MEIS – Good afternoon, panowie. I was beginning to wonder when you’d finally show up. What can I do for you?
NARRATOR – The captain lounges behind his desk, sorting through a stack of papers.
DISCERNMENT [Easy: Success] – His manner of speaking has changed noticeably. Meis has dropped the old overfamiliar tone and no longer speaks through clenched teeth. Looks like after last night’s encounter, he’s decided to show at least some semblance of respect.
VERNON ROCHE – Greetings. We’re here as agreed.
NARRATOR – Vincent raises both hands in a placating gesture.
VINCENT MEIS – All right, all right… I’m a man of my word, and I’ll keep my promise. Besides, I don’t have much choice anymore… Please, sit down. This may take a while.
NARRATOR – You sit down. The chairs in the barracks, of course, can’t compare to the fotels in Leuvaarden’s house, but at least you don’t sink into them up to your neck.
FORTITUDE [Easy: Success] – Government furniture is more honest than a merchant’s. It tells you up front not to expect comfort.
VERNON ROCHE – In that case, let’s try to start at the beginning… So, what do you know about the circumstances of the murder?
VINCENT MEIS – To be honest, I have almost nothing to add to what I told you during your last visit. The city guard really didn’t conduct an investigation or officially question anyone…
VERNON ROCHE – Then what was this valuable information you were… growling about last night?
NARRATOR – A flash of irritation crosses the captain’s face, but he quickly gets himself under control.
VINCENT MEIS – Let me finish. You see, a few rumors did reach me. From fairly reliable informants.
DISCERNMENT [Medium: Success] – By “rumors,” he means information someone was paid for. Perhaps in orens. Perhaps with the privilege of spending the night somewhere other than a cell.
VERNON ROCHE – We’re listening.
NARRATOR – Vincent nods and settles more comfortably into his chair.
VINCENT MEIS – So, Chevalier Lavelle — I assume you already know the victim’s name — spent that evening enjoying the company of a local courtesan. As far as I know, the two of them retired to her room at seven o’clock. Evidently, Bastien wanted to relieve some tension before his unpleasant meeting with Grave.
WHISPER [Easy: Success] – For a man who has “almost nothing to add,” the captain seems remarkably well informed about the dead man’s affairs.
VERNON ROCHE – Where does this courtesan live? What’s her name?
VINCENT MEIS – She rents a room in a house by Fountain Square — directly across from the vacant lot. She introduces herself to clients as Karmen, though that’s almost certainly an alias. You’ll recognize her at once — beautiful, dark-haired, brightly dressed, and heavily made up.
REFLEX [Trivial: Success] – Isn’t she the one who tried to lure you into her web yesterday? There are far too many coincidences piling up here.
DIALECTIC [Medium: Success] – Come to think of it, isn’t it strange that a wealthy chevalier chose to hire a prostitute in a poor district?
YOU – Why wouldn’t Lavelle have gone to one of the expensive brothels in the Merchant Quarter?
VINCENT MEIS – A fair question, pan witcher. From what I’ve been told, our brave chevalier visited Mistress Karmen quite regularly.
DIALECTIC – Grave’s men mentioned that Lavelle had been seen in this quarter before. So far, it all fits.
VINCENT MEIS – Must be something about her that caught his fancy… People in the know say Karmen really is quite… skilled at her trade. That’s why she charges several times what the other local whores do.
NARRATOR – The captain clears his throat.
VICE [Impossible: Success] – He’s had the opportunity to appreciate Mistress Karmen’s considerable skill himself. At least twice.
VERNON ROCHE – Who is she, anyway? What do we know about her?
VINCENT MEIS – I admit, almost nothing. Karmen showed up here about a year ago, when the war with Redania was already in full swing. She claimed her home had been burned down and that she’d been forced to seek refuge here… It sounds plausible enough, though I can’t vouch for the truth of it. In any case, she’s never been caught doing anything illegal.
WHISPER [Easy: Success] – Fortunately, you don’t need to verify the details of her life story right now.
VINCENT MEIS – Like I said, she charges a lot. And she doesn’t accept just anyone — she turns away drunks and lowlifes even when they can afford her. She chooses her clients carefully, knows how to keep her mouth shut, and doesn’t let anyone boss her around. All in all, she’s quite a piece of work…
NARRATOR – Your companion gives a decisive nod.
VERNON ROCHE – Very well. In that case, we’ll question her today.
VINCENT MEIS – Be my guest! Though if you think Karmen is guilty… I’ll be frank, I find that unlikely. Still, I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your investigation. Just don’t be surprised if she manages to… get you talking instead.
VERNON ROCHE – Tell me, pan Meis, who do you personally suspect? Who killed Bastien Lavelle?
NARRATOR – The captain answers at once, as though he has been waiting for this question for a long time.
VINCENT MEIS – The Scoia’tael. Without a doubt. Either that madman Iorveth or one of his lackeys.
DISCERNMENT [Medium: Success] – He isn’t weighing different possibilities. The culprit was chosen long before this conversation ever began.
VINCENT MEIS – Like I said, in the last three weeks alone they’ve killed two of my men… And someone in the ghetto is sheltering the killers, passing them information, and helping them slip into the city unnoticed.
DIALECTIC [Medium: Success] – Still doubtful. Not impossible, but rather unlikely.
YOU – But… what would the motive be?
VINCENT MEIS – What motive did they have for killing two young men who were simply keeping watch while peaceful citizens slept?!
NARRATOR – For the first time, genuine anger breaks through in the captain’s voice.
VINCENT MEIS – They do it because they can. Because they’re desperate and no longer capable of telling war from senseless slaughter. There are few of them left. They’re starving, sick, hiding in the forests, and they know perfectly well that they’ve lost. Sooner or later, they’ll have to swallow their damned pride and ask for peace. Or they’ll die. There is no third option.
DIALECTIC [Medium: Success] – Well, that explains why Meis hates the Scoia’tael. It does nothing to explain why they would want Leuvaarden’s emissary dead.
VINCENT MEIS – That’s all I can tell you. Is there anything else I can help you with?
NARRATOR – Vincent is clearly hoping that will be the end of the conversation, but Vernon shows no sign of leaving.
VERNON ROCHE – We still have a few questions concerning Grave and the drug trade he is allegedly involved in.
NARRATOR – The captain goes pale, leans back in his chair, and folds his arms across his chest.
VINCENT MEIS – So that’s how it is? That’s exactly what I was afraid of. Well… I suppose I don’t have much choice this time either. Ask away.
VERNON ROCHE – Is it true that an underground drug network operates in the Temple Quarter?
NARRATOR – The captain answers quickly — a little too sharply.
VINCENT MEIS – Undoubtedly.
VERNON ROCHE – So you knew about it?
VINCENT MEIS – It would be rather strange if the captain of the guard knew nothing about what was happening in the district under his jurisdiction.
DIALECTIC [Easy: Success] – Stranger still if the captain of the guard knew all about it and did nothing.
DISCERNMENT [Medium: Success] – The captain already knows what the next question will be. And he’s afraid of it.
NARRATOR – Your companion thoughtfully scratches his chin, letting the silence stretch. Then he asks calmly:
VERNON ROCHE – And pan Grave personally runs this network, doesn’t he?
NARRATOR – Meis lets out a heavy sigh and lowers his head. For several moments, he studies his own interlaced fingers.
VINCENT MEIS – Before I answer, I’d like to ask one thing of you, if I may… Don’t tell Grave about this conversation.
NARRATOR – He looks up and tries to smile, but the expression comes out strained.
VINCENT MEIS – I’m certain you’re men of honor. So I’m placing my trust entirely in you.
VERNON ROCHE – Very well. We’ll do our best to keep this conversation confidential, as far as circumstances allow.
VINCENT MEIS – Thank you, pan Roche…
NARRATOR – The captain draws a breath and nervously begins smoothing the sheet of paper in front of him.
VINCENT MEIS – Yes, Grave really does run the local drug network. But the organization is far more powerful than you might imagine… I don’t know much, but he’s formed some kind of alliance with criminals from other cities, even other countries. Some supply the raw materials, others operate the laboratories, and still others smuggle the finished product across borders. Fisstech goes from here to Maribor, Oxenfurt, and Novigrad. Possibly even farther.
VERNON ROCHE – So this extends far beyond the capital…
VINCENT MEIS – Oh, yes. It’s much worse than you think. This isn’t some gang of street dealers you can break up with a single raid. It’s a vast, sprawling network. Neither you nor my guards could take down something that big. The local underground laboratories are only the tip of the iceberg.
VERNON ROCHE – Can you give us names? Who exactly is Grave working with?
VINCENT MEIS – Like I said, I don’t know much… There have been vague rumors about a few people, though. Carlo Varese, Cyprian Wiley, and Sigi Reuven. Those are the ones I’ve heard about personally.
NARRATOR – He says the last name a little more quietly than the others.
DISCERNMENT [Medium: Success] – He knows the names. Not the faces.
VINCENT MEIS – They say Reuven is the real mastermind behind the entire organization. But understand, I’m only the captain of the guard in the shittiest district in Vizima, not the head of Temerian intelligence.
VERNON ROCHE – And your men can’t handle it?
NARRATOR – Meis merely throws up his hands.
VINCENT MEIS – Of course not. There are too few of us. Besides, we’re no heroes… Many of my men are just trying to make it to their next payday. And the king is wary of sending troops in here. Especially with so many other problems on his hands already.
VERNON ROCHE – All right, then one last question. Does Grave pay you bribes so the guards will turn a blind eye to any… violations they uncover?
NARRATOR – A brief silence hangs in the room.
VINCENT MEIS – If you don’t mind… I’d rather not answer that question, pan Roche.
WHISPER [Easy: Success] – Because the answer is obvious enough already.
VERNON ROCHE – In that case, we’re done here. Thank you for your time.
NARRATOR – You get to your feet. Meis remains behind his desk, making no attempt to see you out. Just as you reach the door, Vernon stops and turns around as if suddenly remembering something.
VERNON ROCHE – One more thing, pan Meis.
NARRATOR – His voice is quiet, almost casual.
VERNON ROCHE – If bodies start turning up in this quarter with distinctive bite or claw marks… my partner and I will know exactly who to question first. Don’t forget that.
VINCENT MEIS – Believe me, I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.
NARRATOR – You leave the captain alone with his secrets, step out of the barracks, and walk slowly down the now-familiar street for a while, turning over everything you’ve just heard.