Seeing the others have the conversation under control, Ysabell stayed off to the side and watched the shop owner closer to see how she responded.

• Insight (advantage due to racial trait: 17

"I'm lookin' fer a special book.  My friend there"...he slyly points to Eralynn..."loves books and I want ta surprise her with somethin' unique.  Can ya help me out?"
Eralynn, picking up on the subtle hint, nods her head in agreement.

"Help you find!" he reflects in the woman's' voice, pointing to his chest. "Unique book," he continues, stealing a word from Garmus's voice. Ecko hurriedly gestures for Eralynn to show her image of the scary creature the books turned into and piecemeals together a word in Yalerion's voice. "About ten days ago. Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions." He then pauses to adjust to Garmus's voice once more. "It turned into some warped, hell-hated bat creature." Ecko gives a sly glance in Eralynn's direction when he speaks in Yalerion's voice, wondering if it would have any effect. He clears his throat and continues. "Do you know anything about that?"

"Mazfroth's Mighty Digressions." the woman says, looking surprised. "Hm. It sounds familiar. Yes. Are you saying it turned into some sort of creature? How strange. I have no idea why it would do that. We are but simple booksellers."

11

Which, according to Ysabell's gut reaction, is partially true.

Raastin keeps to the periphery of the group, inspecting the stores wares while listening to the conversation. He looks the shop over for any signs of, well, evil crap, while he hopes the shopkeep reveals some new knowledge. "Alright, little book store...are you a little shop of horrors or something more pedestrian?"

Investigating stuff: 23

"I would say, more pedestrian." the woman answers. "I really don't know anything about man eating books. I don't keep track of what happens to the books we sell once they've been sold. Anything else I can do for you?" she says, wanting to end the conversation.

Eralynn's eyes narrowed. She slowly popped a small mini donut into her mouth and chewed suspiciously.

Raastin pauses in his perusing of her wares, glancing at the woman. "Well, you didn't write the book in question...so where'd you get it?" He offers an innocent smile. "Perhaps, our answers lie with that person." Having cued in on the evasive manner of her answers, he listens with an astute ear to hear if she offers any insight into this matter or her true knowledge.

Insight: 2

"By various methods and places." she answers, vaguely. "Tracking down each and every author would take you quite a long time."

17

She's hiding something. While it's true, the books in question and how they acquire them is a good inquiry, it's more about how or why they're becoming monsters.

Garmus rests one hand on his axe and the other on the edge of the stall wall.   He leans in toward the woman again.  "I'm thinkin' yer not tellin' us everything ya know.  I suggest ya be a little more forthcomin'."   He says to her in a low voice with a scowl on his face.

Intimidation check 17

10

Shit.

"Perhaps when we close, we can take you to speak to our leader. Perhaps she would provide the answers you seek. We don't need to make a scene here. For both of our sakes."

Eralynn sits down and immediately begins drawing the scene.

Raastin nods, "So be it. We'll wait and then you can, um, take us to your leader," he says while wiggling his eyebrows up and down. Then moving to whisper to Garmus, he says, "It's best we set up a watch. We may not be in friendly confines while we wait. I'd hate to get ambushed as soon as the shop closes." The half-elf pats Garmus' shoulder, nods to the others and then finds a nice dark corner to set up watch.

Stealthing in the book rows: 19
Keeping a lookout: 21

Eralynn finished up her sketch and looked at her work, cocking her head gently from side to side as she appraised and critiqued her work. She looked up to show everyone, but did a very obvious double take noticing where Raastin was standing.

Get out of there! she signaled, trying not to laugh. What are you doing!

"Right ya are lad."  He says, agreeing with Raastin.  As he sees him moving clumsily in the books he cocks his eyebrow at the boy. "What are ya doin' ya bonehead?"

Raastin stands perfectly still. "I've mastered the art of invisibility. You can't see me," he whispers.

Quote from CrispyDM >>

"Perhaps when we close, we can take you to speak to our leader. Perhaps she would provide the answers you seek. We don't need to make a scene here. For both of our sakes."

"I suppose if we must." Ysabell commented as she found a spot to sit and patiently waited for this leader to appear.  Every now and then, she'd inadvertently stare at the woman for an uncomfortably long time, trying to gauge when it was finally time.

Inadvertent Intimidation to speed up when the shop is closed: 10

Garmus snorts at Raastin..."right, and I don't scare little girls."  He counters.

Ecko, oblivious to accidentally missing the plan (OOC: sorry, must've somehow missed it),uses the opportunity the intimidated cashier provides to happily sit on a bench and flip through a selection of books until closing time. Ecko traces a wire across the door to ensure he keeps tabs on who enters and exits.

Ecko's casting the Alarm spell along the entryway and awaits closing hours.

As the sun full below the horizon, Amberdune Books began to pack up. Ecko's alarm indicated that they were leaving. 

"Come." the woman said. "We will take you to Blackgate."

The Amberdune Book employees live in the northern neighborhood of Blackgate, not far from the Wide. This district is part of the Outer City, a sprawl of settlements that stretch beyond the city’s actual walls. The Outer City is home to Baldur’s Gate’s poorer inhabitants, who live in ramshackle huts and flimsy tents—a stark contrast to the opulence of the Upper City. Merchants with wares too meager—or too illicit—to sell in the Wide make do with unregulated back alley markets here. The stench of stabled horses and other beasts of burden permeates the air. Eralynn wrinkled her nose.

You are led to a dilapidated hovel with wooden walls on a narrow street tucked away in a corner of the Blackgate district. There are a number of other dark haired and tan men and women living here as well. They eye you all suspiciously. 

"Please, wait for Korvala. I will summon her."

Garmus stares back at the men and women, eyeing them with matching wariness, a scowl on his face.  He rests his hand on is axe, on high alert in a place like this.  He continuously looks around, scanning the area for potential trouble.

Eralynn looked a little nervous. They were clearly outnumbered, and she had no idea what to expect from a city she wasn't familiar with. She returned the stares of the inhabitants and stepped an inch or two closer to Garmus.

Raastin offers an easy smile, masking the fear welling in the pit of his stomach. "Yes, please do so. We'll be right here." The half-elf offers a knowing look to his allies, urging them to stay vigilant in their guard.

A tall and imposing dark haired woman dressed in robes comes from downstairs. The inhabitants of the hovel part to let her pass. She stands in front of you all, sizing you up.

"I am Korvala." she declares. "I understand you are asking..questions..regarding the books we sell?"