"Now we have something to talk about with our future friend - Zodor," commented Ella (providing, Maphira shared the information).

Maphira waves the ledger in the air, whispering to the others, "got what we came for I think, unless there's more you want to check out in here I think we should go now."

Madik remains outside with Ivello, and stands directly across the street from him, looking up and down the road and glancing at the buildings and windows...

Perception: 17 + guidance: 2

As Ivello and Madik stand guard outside, they are fortunate to encounter no denizens on the streets. Madik is able to occasionally pick up movement inside some of the other buildings through the windows, but these are recognizable as residences and the occupants don't seem to concern themselves with the street outside at this moment.

If the party is done inside, they quietly exit the brokerage office, locking the door behind them as they go out.



((What would you like to do next?))

Ella glanced along the streets. "We need some quiet place to look through the book. Funny thing, though - if the arrow reveals the truth, I'd assume any thief - including Zodor - would strive to get rid of it as fast as possible. We can go back to the tavern and ask if there were some cases of unexpected honesty around the town."

Malik looks relieved, as Ella and the others emerge. “Sounds sensible,” she’s says, to Ella. “We can head back to the tavern to ask around, and then if we need complete privacy we can slip away, up to our rooms”.

"It could be useful. Interrogations, and the like. We can head back to the tavern."

"I've no objection to heading back since we've got what we came for. Less certain if we should go prodding people around the tavern though, it might raise suspicion."

Madik thinks, “Hmm, true... maybe we should check out the journal first, in one of our rooms. Maybe what’s inside will be enough as it is, to press the owner for information on the arrow, in the morning... ...Either way, let’s head to the tavern and get off the street”.

((We head back to the tavern and check out the journal in the privacy of one of the hired rooms))

You head back to the tavern, which seems louder than when you left it despite there being fewer occupants now. You congregate in one of the rooms, a small space that barely manages to fit you all comfortably. It consists of a small open wardrobe, a partially rotted desk, and a single bed.

Leafing through the ledger, you can see that while the vast majority of transactions are with Brelish nobility, there are some notably large ones with names you don't readily recognize as belonging to any of Breland's noble families. One name in particular, Raliac is repeated often, paying amounts that double any other purchaser in the book. There are also members of House Cannith present in the book, dwarven clans of Mror Holds, and members of other dragonmarked houses.

"If we're lucky, Zodor won't notice his little ledger missing tonight. We should try to confront him first thing in the morning to catch him by surprise, before he has time to weasel a way out." Ivello takes note of the name 'Raliac' thought it's unfamiliar to him, and in all likelihood a pseudonym. 

"Although it isn't directly related to our task...I would like to find out more about this person in particular. Someone purchasing such a large amount of relics from the Mournland is odd. If you all don't mind sating my curiosity, I'd like to press him on that after we get what we need from him."

Skrípi tries to recall whether he's ever heard the name before. A big spender like this might be known among salvagers such as him.

History: 11

Skrípi
The name doesn't really ring any bells with you, which doesn't come as too much of a surprise. Salvagers deal with the brokers, who then deal with interested buyers. For the most part this is Brelish nobility, only legitimately moving onto others if they all refuse the salvage. It's rare for the brokers to openly speak of their buyers, especially one that's going under the table like this.

"Wait, when was the last purchase? We know the relic was stolen yesterday, tight? Is there a record?" Ella also looked in the book.

"Also, do not think people like Zodor sleep too much - not with his line of work. Clients can - and should - come to him at any time. We can be that clients and visit him at home, what do you think?"

Maddie beams and nods vigorously at Ella, “Yes! Genius! The last entries: Dates; Names. You’re right! That will either tell that us he still has the arrow, or who it’s been moved on to!!... Flick forward, back a bit, there... what’s that say?...”...

 Most of the items in the ledger are in descending order by date, a few are out of place, but the general trend is easy to follow. The latest was well over a week ago. If he's moved the Arrow of Truth, it wasn't something he recorded.

Madik frowns... “Hmmm, so either he still has it, or he’s moved it off the books... even off this book! Either way, we need to speak to this guy. And now at least we have something over him. Do we go pay him a visit in the morning before he realises this has gone?“.

Ella just slightly blushed at the compliment and then just nodded to Madik's words: "We probably can barge into his house today as well - who knows when he is going to sell the thing. Will be a pity to miss it by a few hours. But ... do we know where he lives? If not, someone downstairs should know. I can try to talk to a patron or two."

Skrípi lets out a low, inhuman growl, as he looks over the ledger.

"Useless. Now he'll know something's up."

“Someone in the bar might know. That may be worth a try” says Maddie to Ella, “If not, perhaps the Reverend Mother knows where he lives? They both live and work in the same town... Yep, we could ask around. It might draw unwanted attention though too. Either way, if we don’t have any luck, we could just stake out his office early, and catch him on the way in”.

And to Skripi: “Hmmm yes, we could always put it straight back now we’ve seen it. He wouldn’t be any the wiser. Though it is proof...”.

((OOC: Do we have any kind of feeling about what time it is right now?))