Uragum approaches the scribe slowly and calmly. Knowing he can be intimidating he slowly waves a hand while he's fare enough away to catch their attention. "Hello... I need your help. I'm on a job from the Great Sage and you might be of help." He waits a moment for the scribe to react and then continues. "I need to hear what you know about Spernik and Tibeem. I'm not talkin about the stuff Mr. Sage knows. I mean the gossip on the floor."
OOC: Sorry for the delay. I like the Olympics too much for my own good.
HEX:
Inside of the building, exposed framing buttresses the high ceiling. The walls are stacked with shipping crates, sundry equipage, and even a few milling clients. A middle-aged man with thinning gray hair beams a tired, but wide, smile. "Not a problem, miss. We're open as long as there are people to be open for. Welcome to Cockburn's Grocery."
"Well, I don't know the name, but most folks don't make a point of telling me when they buy from me," he says amidst chewing some tack. He hefts a bulky ledger from beneath the counter and flips through to more recent pages, studying the lines carefully. After a few moments, he exclaims, "There," as he slams a finger on the page with a thud.
"Here's a few orders that look like that list: Vellum, chalk dust, and a waterproof scrollcase," he explains, turning it so that you can see.
_____________________________
OLA:
The woman lets out a big sigh as her bodyguard remains at the ready. "You're the third person to ask me about them," she explains with a huff. She sets down a crate and turns to continue, "At least you're more polite than the Black Fist. I'll tell you the same thing I told them. I see a lot of people, and I don't keep a detailed ledger. It's possible that I've seen them, but if they were looking for vellum and chalk, then they wouldn't have stopped here."
_____________________________
SYLYRA:
OOC: Animals would not be welcome in the Laughing Goblin's main room, though they do have a small stable where horses are kept for the travelers that stay there. Both the thieves and the paper are new knowledge to you, you don't recall any of it from what you've seen at the Laughing Goblin.
_____________________________
URAGUM:
"Hello," the scribe answers professionally, though your height certainly makes her nervous. "I beg your pardon, it's the Lord Sage. Not that he's not great!" she corrects timidly. "I am authorized to assist with your investigation in any way that I can. I worked with them for months, but they were very private. I never engaged in much conversation with them."
"Where would they stop then?" Repeated Ola her question. "I am sorry, I am not used to buy such things. Where one would go to shop for vellum and chalk?"
Sylyra decides the direct approach would probably serve him better. He reverts back to his normal, elven form, and enters The Laughing Goblin. He intends to question both Imizael and Fat Mar concerning the paper and the two "scribes". It would be helpful if he could talk to them both at the same time.
Hex beams at the shopkeep as they point out the list. "Oh, this excellent. Thank you so much. Do you perhaps remember anything they may have told you while they were here?" As she asks her question, and if allowed, Hex skims through the ledger to see how many times they've bought the things on the list and if there are any specific details about the things bought that might help identify what other books may have been stolen.
Uragum took a step back. "Even if you had not... you must have heard about something or someone who had. I mean, I know how these things work. People talk. Even if you dont think its relevant."
Skimming through the ledger, you find an unfortunate lack of detail. Though items are listed in specific quantities, there are no names, and the items carry no details other than their names. The shopkeep seems to have a mind like a steel trap, however, as he answers, "Well, it was only one man, if I recall. Not multiple. He's been here a few times, doesn't say much but the orders are certainly unusual. I mean, chalk dust and vellum? And nothing else?"
He chews his lip for a moment, then suddenly points a hand upward in realization. "There is something that might help," he says, wandering toward a back shelf. When he returns, he drops a small notebook on the counter. "He left this here after his last visit. Would have been two days ago."
_________________________
OLA:
Another sigh accompanies the woman's response. "I'm sure someone in the marketplace has 'em, at least in a small quantity. Otherwise, I dunno...Cockburn's, maybe? Tad's got all sorts of odds and ends, despite the name."
_________________________
SYLYRA:
Imizael and Fat Mar are already near each other when you walk in; the rotund server sits with his head in his palm while Imizael wipes down the last of the day's dishes. The bartender chuckles at the mention of the missing scribes. "I seem to recall something about those two...for one, they forgot to pay their tab. Not surprised they got arrested." Fat Mar huffs, but doesn't interrupt Imizael.
_________________________
URAGUM:
Even with the extra distance, the scribe's voice shakes with anxiety as she answers, "No, I'm sorry sir. It wasn't just me, they rarely said much to any of us. The only time we saw them was while we were working in the Scribe's Hall, and it's usually very quiet while everyone is scribing. They didn't even eat with us. They took their meals at one of the inns in town."
Hex looks slightly disappointed at the lack of detail in the ledger but as the shopkeep brings out the notebook, she looks hopeful again. She opens it up and skims through, thanking the shopkeep once more.
"Thank you for help," politely answered Ola, trying to recall which shop woman means "Cockburn's will be that direction right? Thank you again, and have a good night". She walked to the Cockburn's if only to see whether or not the shop is closed. Should it be closed, Ola calls it a day and returns to the "Laughing Goblin".
"Good," Sylyra responds, "you remember them. I need to know everything you remember about them. Did they stay here or only stop in? Did you ever see them with anyone else? Do you know what else they might have been doing in Phlan? Places they went or people they saw?" He shows them the scrap of paper. "Do you recognize this or know what it means? Would the paper it is written on reveal anything that might be helpful?"
"At an inn, in town? Which one if you recall. I can ask my questions there," Uragum says. "Also, can you spread the word. If the information provided bares any fruitful details, I'd show my gratitude and also would let your superiors know the excellent help you were able to provide in the recovery of the tomes."
The notebook is almost entirely blank. You find that a couple pages have been ripped out, and the only writing is on the final page, where a crude map has been drawn.
The door opens, and another customer enters Cockburn's Grocery, but before the owner can attend to her, you see that it is Ola that has entered the store.
_______________________________
OLA:
The woman in the market confirms the direction of Cockburn's, and you find the building quickly, with a sign over the entrance that says simply--Grocery. Soft candelight emanates from inside, where exposed framing buttresses the high ceiling. The walls are stacked with shipping crates, sundry equipage, and only a couple milling clients, one of which you recognize.
Hex is here, ruffling through a notebook at the counter where a portly man stands ready to greet you.
_______________________________
SYLYRA:
Persuasion: 22
Fat Mar clears his throat and flattens the front of his shirt over his ample gut. "They weren't the most social pair but they ate here often. Generally kept to themselves..." he says. "They really didn't like other folks talking to them, myself included." He looks as if the idea is truly offensive to him.
"That's nothing terribly curious though, or out of the ordinary. Some folks prefer to keep their business to themselves, and all...I heard from another patron that they arrived here a little over four months ago in a caravan."
_______________________________
URAGUM:
"Umm...I'm sorry sir, I'm not certain which inn it was." The scribe shifts nervously, as if feeling more unhelpful than your generous speech, and stammers, "But I could take you to their rooms here! It was only their meals they took at the inn."
"Oh!" It seems she got lucky of both accounts - to find the shop opened and to see Hex there. "People in the market pointed at this shop as the most likely supplier. Did you find anything?" Her tone expressed mostly mild curiosity, Ola still did not understand how the sours of the ink and paper would help to find the guilty man.
Hex looks just as surprised as Ola enters the store. "Oh, hey! Yeah, I just found this book. It most likely belonged to Spernik. There's not much in it but it has a map drawn at the end." She glances at the ripped pages and then back up to Ola. "You wouldn't happen to still have that list on you, would you? The book has a few ripped pages. The paper the list is on might be from it. Just want to make sure."
"A map?!" Ola's indifference gave place to honest curiosity now - the investigation turned out to be fruitful after all. She studied the map intently, hoping to find anything familiar on it. "I am sorry, Sylyra took the paper with him. But we will see him in the inn, I hope." She looked at the shopkeeper. "We can keep that book, can we?"
The shopkeeper scratches the back of his head. "It was only two days ago he left it here. Now you seem like trustworthy folk and all, but I can't just go and assume that he's okay with you takin' it," he says.
___________________________
SYLYRA:
Fat Mar shrugs, "Some fellow that was here that same night from the same caravan, I assume. Never got his name. That was a busy night, and I like a good bit of gossip, but there's not enough room in here for that many names." He taps on his head to accentuate the statement.
___________________________
URAGUM:
"Thank you so much, sir. I'll fetch the Lord Sage. Nobody is supposed to enter the room without his accompaniment," the scribe says, taking the gold like a church patron might accept a blessing. The Lord Sage is surprisingly still awake in his office when the scribe knocks, and he gives you a respectful nod as he escorts you alone into the room where Tibeem and Spernik stayed.
The room is rather small, furnished only with a bunk bed, a narrow desk, and two small dressers. "This is where the pair slept while they worked here," the Lord Sage describes. "The two books that we found were located in a haversack on that desk."
OOC: Removed 1 gp. I'll use that Investigation roll, but now that the room has been described, give me a bit more flavor on where/how Uragum is searching it.
"You did not tell yet that man is a criminal and Black Guards are searching for him?" Ole glanced at Hez and looked back at the shopkeeper. With a more firm and formal tone she declared. "We are here on behalf of Lord Sage and Black Guards to retrieve any hints and evidence, pointing the wereabouts of a wanted criminal. You could see the wanted posts around the city. Holding on to this book would be an obstruction of justice. While handing it over would be considered full cooperation and help in a criminal investigation. Would not you prefer this over the other?"
It was not a threat, merely a statement of the facts. Ola was not going to take anything by force and should the shopkeeper refuse, could simply memorize the map or, better, draw it.
Uragum would carefully search for the desks and then the dressers. He'd examine top side and underside for any oddities and looks for false bottoms in all the drawers. He look under sheets and mattresses of the bunks, move it back from the wall incase anything was tucked between it. Lastly he would examine the walls and floor for anything loose or that could pried up.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Uragum approaches the scribe slowly and calmly. Knowing he can be intimidating he slowly waves a hand while he's fare enough away to catch their attention. "Hello... I need your help. I'm on a job from the Great Sage and you might be of help." He waits a moment for the scribe to react and then continues. "I need to hear what you know about Spernik and Tibeem. I'm not talkin about the stuff Mr. Sage knows. I mean the gossip on the floor."
OOC: Sorry for the delay. I like the Olympics too much for my own good.
HEX:
Inside of the building, exposed framing buttresses the high ceiling. The walls are stacked with shipping crates, sundry equipage, and even a few milling clients. A middle-aged man with thinning gray hair beams a tired, but wide, smile. "Not a problem, miss. We're open as long as there are people to be open for. Welcome to Cockburn's Grocery."
"Well, I don't know the name, but most folks don't make a point of telling me when they buy from me," he says amidst chewing some tack. He hefts a bulky ledger from beneath the counter and flips through to more recent pages, studying the lines carefully. After a few moments, he exclaims, "There," as he slams a finger on the page with a thud.
"Here's a few orders that look like that list: Vellum, chalk dust, and a waterproof scrollcase," he explains, turning it so that you can see.
_____________________________
OLA:
The woman lets out a big sigh as her bodyguard remains at the ready. "You're the third person to ask me about them," she explains with a huff. She sets down a crate and turns to continue, "At least you're more polite than the Black Fist. I'll tell you the same thing I told them. I see a lot of people, and I don't keep a detailed ledger. It's possible that I've seen them, but if they were looking for vellum and chalk, then they wouldn't have stopped here."
_____________________________
SYLYRA:
OOC: Animals would not be welcome in the Laughing Goblin's main room, though they do have a small stable where horses are kept for the travelers that stay there. Both the thieves and the paper are new knowledge to you, you don't recall any of it from what you've seen at the Laughing Goblin.
_____________________________
URAGUM:
"Hello," the scribe answers professionally, though your height certainly makes her nervous. "I beg your pardon, it's the Lord Sage. Not that he's not great!" she corrects timidly. "I am authorized to assist with your investigation in any way that I can. I worked with them for months, but they were very private. I never engaged in much conversation with them."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Where would they stop then?" Repeated Ola her question. "I am sorry, I am not used to buy such things. Where one would go to shop for vellum and chalk?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Sylyra decides the direct approach would probably serve him better. He reverts back to his normal, elven form, and enters The Laughing Goblin. He intends to question both Imizael and Fat Mar concerning the paper and the two "scribes". It would be helpful if he could talk to them both at the same time.
Hex beams at the shopkeep as they point out the list. "Oh, this excellent. Thank you so much. Do you perhaps remember anything they may have told you while they were here?" As she asks her question, and if allowed, Hex skims through the ledger to see how many times they've bought the things on the list and if there are any specific details about the things bought that might help identify what other books may have been stolen.
Uragum took a step back. "Even if you had not... you must have heard about something or someone who had. I mean, I know how these things work. People talk. Even if you dont think its relevant."
HEX:
Skimming through the ledger, you find an unfortunate lack of detail. Though items are listed in specific quantities, there are no names, and the items carry no details other than their names. The shopkeep seems to have a mind like a steel trap, however, as he answers, "Well, it was only one man, if I recall. Not multiple. He's been here a few times, doesn't say much but the orders are certainly unusual. I mean, chalk dust and vellum? And nothing else?"
He chews his lip for a moment, then suddenly points a hand upward in realization. "There is something that might help," he says, wandering toward a back shelf. When he returns, he drops a small notebook on the counter. "He left this here after his last visit. Would have been two days ago."
_________________________
OLA:
Another sigh accompanies the woman's response. "I'm sure someone in the marketplace has 'em, at least in a small quantity. Otherwise, I dunno...Cockburn's, maybe? Tad's got all sorts of odds and ends, despite the name."
_________________________
SYLYRA:
Imizael and Fat Mar are already near each other when you walk in; the rotund server sits with his head in his palm while Imizael wipes down the last of the day's dishes. The bartender chuckles at the mention of the missing scribes. "I seem to recall something about those two...for one, they forgot to pay their tab. Not surprised they got arrested." Fat Mar huffs, but doesn't interrupt Imizael.
_________________________
URAGUM:
Even with the extra distance, the scribe's voice shakes with anxiety as she answers, "No, I'm sorry sir. It wasn't just me, they rarely said much to any of us. The only time we saw them was while we were working in the Scribe's Hall, and it's usually very quiet while everyone is scribing. They didn't even eat with us. They took their meals at one of the inns in town."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Hex looks slightly disappointed at the lack of detail in the ledger but as the shopkeep brings out the notebook, she looks hopeful again. She opens it up and skims through, thanking the shopkeep once more.
"Thank you for help," politely answered Ola, trying to recall which shop woman means "Cockburn's will be that direction right? Thank you again, and have a good night". She walked to the Cockburn's if only to see whether or not the shop is closed. Should it be closed, Ola calls it a day and returns to the "Laughing Goblin".
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Good," Sylyra responds, "you remember them. I need to know everything you remember about them. Did they stay here or only stop in? Did you ever see them with anyone else? Do you know what else they might have been doing in Phlan? Places they went or people they saw?" He shows them the scrap of paper. "Do you recognize this or know what it means? Would the paper it is written on reveal anything that might be helpful?"
"At an inn, in town? Which one if you recall. I can ask my questions there," Uragum says. "Also, can you spread the word. If the information provided bares any fruitful details, I'd show my gratitude and also would let your superiors know the excellent help you were able to provide in the recovery of the tomes."
HEX:
The notebook is almost entirely blank. You find that a couple pages have been ripped out, and the only writing is on the final page, where a crude map has been drawn.
The door opens, and another customer enters Cockburn's Grocery, but before the owner can attend to her, you see that it is Ola that has entered the store.
_______________________________
OLA:
The woman in the market confirms the direction of Cockburn's, and you find the building quickly, with a sign over the entrance that says simply--Grocery. Soft candelight emanates from inside, where exposed framing buttresses the high ceiling. The walls are stacked with shipping crates, sundry equipage, and only a couple milling clients, one of which you recognize.
Hex is here, ruffling through a notebook at the counter where a portly man stands ready to greet you.
_______________________________
SYLYRA:
Persuasion: 22
Fat Mar clears his throat and flattens the front of his shirt over his ample gut. "They weren't the most social pair but they ate here often. Generally kept to themselves..." he says. "They really didn't like other folks talking to them, myself included." He looks as if the idea is truly offensive to him.
"That's nothing terribly curious though, or out of the ordinary. Some folks prefer to keep their business to themselves, and all...I heard from another patron that they arrived here a little over four months ago in a caravan."
_______________________________
URAGUM:
"Umm...I'm sorry sir, I'm not certain which inn it was." The scribe shifts nervously, as if feeling more unhelpful than your generous speech, and stammers, "But I could take you to their rooms here! It was only their meals they took at the inn."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Oh!" It seems she got lucky of both accounts - to find the shop opened and to see Hex there. "People in the market pointed at this shop as the most likely supplier. Did you find anything?" Her tone expressed mostly mild curiosity, Ola still did not understand how the sours of the ink and paper would help to find the guilty man.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"That will be most helpful miss. Please lead the way," Uragum says.
Assuming she does so, he will give her a gold for her trouble. He would then take his turn slowly and meticulously search the rooms.
Investigation 7
Hex looks just as surprised as Ola enters the store. "Oh, hey! Yeah, I just found this book. It most likely belonged to Spernik. There's not much in it but it has a map drawn at the end." She glances at the ripped pages and then back up to Ola. "You wouldn't happen to still have that list on you, would you? The book has a few ripped pages. The paper the list is on might be from it. Just want to make sure."
"A map?!" Ola's indifference gave place to honest curiosity now - the investigation turned out to be fruitful after all. She studied the map intently, hoping to find anything familiar on it. "I am sorry, Sylyra took the paper with him. But we will see him in the inn, I hope." She looked at the shopkeeper. "We can keep that book, can we?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"What other patron?" Sylyra asks.
HEX & OLA:
The shopkeeper scratches the back of his head. "It was only two days ago he left it here. Now you seem like trustworthy folk and all, but I can't just go and assume that he's okay with you takin' it," he says.
___________________________
SYLYRA:
Fat Mar shrugs, "Some fellow that was here that same night from the same caravan, I assume. Never got his name. That was a busy night, and I like a good bit of gossip, but there's not enough room in here for that many names." He taps on his head to accentuate the statement.
___________________________
URAGUM:
"Thank you so much, sir. I'll fetch the Lord Sage. Nobody is supposed to enter the room without his accompaniment," the scribe says, taking the gold like a church patron might accept a blessing. The Lord Sage is surprisingly still awake in his office when the scribe knocks, and he gives you a respectful nod as he escorts you alone into the room where Tibeem and Spernik stayed.
The room is rather small, furnished only with a bunk bed, a narrow desk, and two small dressers. "This is where the pair slept while they worked here," the Lord Sage describes. "The two books that we found were located in a haversack on that desk."
OOC: Removed 1 gp. I'll use that Investigation roll, but now that the room has been described, give me a bit more flavor on where/how Uragum is searching it.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"You did not tell yet that man is a criminal and Black Guards are searching for him?" Ole glanced at Hez and looked back at the shopkeeper. With a more firm and formal tone she declared. "We are here on behalf of Lord Sage and Black Guards to retrieve any hints and evidence, pointing the wereabouts of a wanted criminal. You could see the wanted posts around the city. Holding on to this book would be an obstruction of justice. While handing it over would be considered full cooperation and help in a criminal investigation. Would not you prefer this over the other?"
It was not a threat, merely a statement of the facts. Ola was not going to take anything by force and should the shopkeeper refuse, could simply memorize the map or, better, draw it.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Uragum would carefully search for the desks and then the dressers. He'd examine top side and underside for any oddities and looks for false bottoms in all the drawers. He look under sheets and mattresses of the bunks, move it back from the wall incase anything was tucked between it. Lastly he would examine the walls and floor for anything loose or that could pried up.