Tellior gives Ember an odd glance before addressing Frendamus again. "Yes, what has actually happened?  Did someone take these slippers? Or was it something else?" 

“I don’t know that any explanation will satisfy Lady Daneliean. But when I came down into my shop this morning, the lock was melted and the store a mess and the slippers gone. I was already running a little late in making them, but I planned to deliver them today. Now they are gone forever and I am doomed.” He puts his face in his hands for a moment. Then he looks back up, points at all of you, and adds, “Before you even ask, I have no idea who may have stolen them. I confess to having a celebratory drink last night and that always causes me to sleep most soundly. All I know is that the slippers were here last night when I retired to my quarters above the shop. And this morning - disaster!”

24 investigation.  

Celesta says- “well- we will help you look for them.  There’s bound to be a clue here somewhere.  I once read about a investigator who was good at solving crimes by finding clues.  He said they always leave evidence-  if we can find the culprits-  maybe we can find the shoes !”   She seems excited for the new quest.  She starts searching the store for any clues the thieves might have left. 

Edit:  what the heck!   Natural 20.   I almost never  get those! 

Celesta’s enthusiasm seems to strike Frendamus speechless for a moment. Then he stammers, “W-well, y-you really think you could find them? I can tell you that only the Lady’s slippers are missing. The thief took nothing else. It’s rather strange, really…” Celesta also examines the lock and determines that it was probably melted with acid. She thinks a typical thief would use a lockpick, so the culprit probably isn’t someone in the habit of breaking and entering. She also notices a long strand of reddish-blonde hair caught on the door.

Frendamus watches her, entranced. With the first hint of hope in his voice, he says, “M-maybe one of the neighbors saw something last night. There’s Cindraxus, the barber, and Mary at the glassworks. I didn’t even think to ask them.”

"Damnit. Parolanta can you contact the lady? Celesta when you figure out who took it ill get it back.

"I can go talk to the neighbors Frendamus," Tellior says, giving the gnome a smile as he perks up some. "Looks like Celesta has the investigation well underway!"  He turns and starts to make his way back towards the entrance when he stops and looks again to the cobbler. "Can you think of anyone that might want you to not get those slippers to Lady Daneliean?  A rival?  Someone with a grudge? Or maybe anyone with a recent complaint against you?" 

"Ill help tellior. Dont want him ambushed."

Ember reached behind him dropping the javelin beside its fellows and his lance

Celesta says” good idea to talk with the neighbors- and ask about rivals!.  So we may be looking for someone who isn’t familiar with thieves tools with long reddish blonde hair- that matches this!.”..

she grabs the lock of hair  to use to identify suspects, and excited,   goes with the group to talk to the neighboring businesses..

Frendamus assures them that he knows of no one who would have a complaint or grudge against him. Nothing like this has ever happened to him. You have given him enough hope that he begins to straighten up the shop. Parolanta has been watching quietly as you all question Frendamus. She tells Ember that she doesn’t have any way of contacting Lady Daneliean until they are all ready to go back to report, hopefully with slippers in hand.

As you search nearby, the first shop you see is the barber. You enter and find a satyr with ruddy skin and black curly hair sitting on a stool and reading a book. He looks up and says, “Good morning! What can I do for you today? A trim? A shave?”

Kellen pats the top of his unruly hair self-consciously before replying “No, none for me today, thank you very much. We share a warning and seek information instead, and everyone knows the barber is the best place to go to discuss neighborhood going ons!”   He gives a wide smile and continues “There is mischief afoot.  Someone has broken into Tacktallows cobbler shop and made a mess of the place.  We were wondering if you heard or saw anything unusual last night?”

He deliberately leaves out any mention of the Lady’s missing slippers.  No use giving away too much information.  While he speaks, Kellen’s eyes dart around the shop, trying to take in if there are any interesting trinkets about.

Perception 13

The satyr’s smile falters a little. “Someone broke into Tacktallows?” He looks down and seems to hesitate. “Discretion is also important in my position as a trusted ear. But we cannot have robberies in the neighborhood! I did see an elven woman with fine leather armor and long rose gold hair that was really quite outstanding. She had half of it in this sort of messy bun on top of her head, but the rest hung loose. You could tell she really takes care of it. That’s the kind of hair you like to work with, I’ll tell you that. Beautiful, long, thick, smooth…” He sees the expressions on your faces and realizes that he has gotten off topic. He clears his throat and continues, “Anyway, I saw her pause by the door for a moment, look around, and then enter. I don’t think she saw me watching. Once she went in, I returned to straightening up my shop for the evening. I just assumed she was picking up an order. She didn't look like a thief. But I suppose appearances can deceive.”

Oh, I could really use a haircut, Triss thinks, looking around the barber shop and fidgeting with the end of their braid. But they keep it to themselves; they're on a mission here, after all. Time for that later. They listen intently to the barber's description - they can't believe their little group's luck that someone had actually seen something.

"Elven woman with leather armor and rose gold hair," they say, almost repeating it back to themself. Then they look up at their friends. "We might be able to go off that, but maybe we oughta check in with the other neighbor, too. Maybe they saw something else that could combine with this description and narrow down our field for us. And then I can try and track them, maybe?"

Celesta smiles and says” a good lead, thank you. “ to the Satyr.   To the group she says “yes- let’s go to the other neighbors- get all the information we can from here”

Tellior thanks the ruddy-skinned satyr, "Perhaps we'll be back for a trim when we have more time!"  And he then nods at Celesta's suggestion.  "Yes, let's see if the other neighbor has any more information."

Once the group heads outside he asks Triss, "Do you think you would be able to track someone here in this city? If we had some way that would be great!  I was thinking we'd need to find someone though that recognizes the description.  Or...  maybe figure out what sort of person might have acid at their disposal."  He grows quiet in thought as they continue walking. 

Triss hums in thought, falling into step beside Tellior. "Well, I'm not too good at tracking in cities - it's a lot easier in forests and such," they start off slowly. Their hands pluck at the cord of their bow almost anxiously, a tic they've picked up over the years, and they give him a little shrug. "But my dad focused on training me pretty hard on tracking fey. He was kinda vehement about it, really. Dunno if we elves count as fey, but it can't hurt any, I s'pose."

"Well if you do try Triss I'd be happy to grant you Milil's blessing to help." (OOC - Guidance) Tellior continues as he walks with the elf. "I guess we'll see what the next neighbor might have to say first though." 

Cindraxus bids you farewell saying, “Yes, come back any time.” Then after a little searching, you find the glassworks across the road from Tacktallows. Some chimes ring as you enter and you see a shop full of all kinds of glassware: drinking glasses and pitchers, decorative colored glass art pieces, small glass flowers and animals, and more. Another satyr sits on a stool with her chin in her hands. Seeing you enter, she sighs and greets them, “Hello, welcome to the Glassworks. I’m Mary. I don’t suppose you want to buy anything. No one usually does.” And she sighs again.

"Im sorry nobody wants to buy anything but at the moment we are looking for someone who broke into tacktallows shop"

“Hi Mary.  I am Celesta.  I  am sorry, we didn’t come here to shop, although you have lovely things!   We are looking for an elven woman with reddish blonde hair like this (holding up the strands of hair) who may have broken into the shoemaker’s shop.   Any chance you saw anything or have any idea that could help?”

"I dont have much use for art but i would be happy to reccomend you to the lady."