"Does sunlight dissolve them?" Raqisat asks of Leelan upon the group noticing the distinct lack of Choker bodies outside.  "You need us to drag a few corpses from inside to the yard here to check?"  Raqisat didn't much care about the "science" of it all but he respected that Leelan did and understood that his findings could be useful down the road.  Raqisat also does a cursory check for footprints, tracks or drag marks which would indicate a more mundane explanation for the lack of corpses.  "It could have just been the damn birds swooping down and grabbing free food," he proposes not entirely aware that he speaks it aloud.  

     As they head out and start their journey Raqisat drifts off to one side.  He stays at or near the lead but deliberately attempts to spread out so the group isn't a nice, easy target for whatever may come.  He's not too interested in the statue though does listen if anyone explains who it is.  He has some interest in the graffiti but more so about how old it seems to be rather than what it says.  He can't recall seeing other graffiti around (can he?) so that in itself may suggest it is a relatively recent leaving...  Once that type of thing pops up it tends to either be dealt with swiftly or invite more and more of the same to occur.  

     "A message from Deinochlorodon, perhaps?" Raqisat asks the others, struggling a bit with the same.  "Can we just call him Dino?"

Raqisat:

((Good to know... so not unique but not common. Thought above still holds...))

If Raqisat or anyone else wants to examine the graffiti for clues, please make an investigation check.

Intrigued by the disappearance of the Chockers' remains, Leelan ponders for a moment before answering Raqisat.

"I don't suspect sunlight sensitivity to be at play here. The bodies have been lying here since yesterday afternoon, when the sun was still high. Perhaps there is merit to your theory about the Vrocks coming to feast on the remains. Wouldn't put it past these wretches to be carrions. Yet, there may be some unknown magic phenomenon that we have yet to be aware of, though unsettling this may sound."

Later, when arriving at the University, the gnome takes interest in the graffiti written in a language he understands, a language of scholars, jurists and theologists. He's particularly curious about how the one responsible managed to write this at such an improbable angle.

Investigation: 13

"The corpses of the aberrations disappearing would likely be a testament to the night bringing out worse things than these to scour the ruins of Amnifortis and that they were simply devoured by other aberrations that now have returned to their dark dwellings." The young noble suggests as an explanation, but looks to Leelan to come with a more scholarly answer.

As the team reaches the graffiti, Aubrey does indeed examine it, among other things curious if this was recently made and with what?
Investigation: 17

He even calls Furvus briefly to his side to assist him with this.
Furvus Investigation: 12

"I wouldn't call him Dino to his face..." Aubrey says with a grin to Raqisat. "...but sure, as long as we all know who you're speaking about you can call him anything you want."

(Suggested marching order if needed: Raqisat, Grugga, Cosette, Aubrey and Leelan)

Aubrey and Leelan take a long look at the graffiti scrawled on the wall.  

There is no paint, ink, or other pigment used, nor is the wall burned or marked with charcoal.  Instead, it looks as though the material of the marble wall has been somehow changed into a different shade to create the letters.  It is still stone, but it chips and flakes away easily with a dagger in those places where letters were formed.  It is as if the wall material was somehow weakened or weathered in those spots.

Aubrey: 

     Raqisat doesn't examine the graffiti, trusting the others to do so better than he could, but he does break out a journal and copy it into it - how it is written, in translation and a rough drawing of where and how it appears on the building.  He'd of done this with the other graffiti as well - It is it's own type of art afterall.  Not as highbrow as marble statues or eloquent songs but it is often the art of the outsider and rebellious.  Graffiti often expresses the opinions of that portion of society that seldom find their way into the history books...  But it is his own journal, not the found journal filled with indecipherable hints and clues.  Can't be further marking up that one and muddying things up!

     After Raq had finished his note taking, and Leelan done with his investigation, Raq would ask the gnome to confirm the rough translation Raqisat had done as well as about what he had discovered. "So likely done magically then?" Raqisat asks.  "Would that mean the angle and scrawl of it was intentional?"

Satisfied with the mental notes he had made about the nature of what was written on the wall, Aubrey would stand ready to proceed when the others are.

Grugga cannot read Old Imperial save for a few words, but he is just as interested as the others as to how it was written at a strange angle and from so high up to so low down. Once his companions translate it, the meaning does tug at some threads of one of his ongoing mysteries - did the upper crust of Amnifortis leave the city before the Breach? This graffiti certainly could indicate as much...

He's voiced some of this mystery aloud before, so if his companions hear Grugga murmuring about it, they might realize he's seeing where to fit this puzzle piece into the greater mystery.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Grugga is also ready to move on.

While waiting for the others to finish up by the text on the wall, Aubrey walks up to the team's archaeologist. "I've been meaning to ask you about your thoughts on these ruins Ms. Cosette, being an expert on such things and all. I'm certain the emperor would value your observations, and while we have other scholars in the team sent out from Bardstown, none of us would have your eyes for details in these ruins. I admit though that I barely know what it would mean to be an archaeologist so perhaps we should start there if you would be so kind to indulge me while we move on. Not that I would want to keep you from your singing, that is a quite pleasant company too, I am simply a curious one I suppose who are interested to know more about you and your profession." The young noble says, trying but failing to not sound unnecessary formal.

Cosette was content with having others who understand Old Imperial to do the deep investigating, more than trusting them to share the information, especially that of extra importance. While they focused their eyes on the University Cos was gravitating towards the Magical College, House of Glass and Mirrors. That's what had caught her attention, and that's what she wanted to check out. I ain't paying fer ya teh read books. That's wut University is. All study, no hands on practical experience. If ya want education, yer goin' teh College. The sound of her father figure rings in her ears.

Aubrey breaks Cos out of her own thoughts. "Well, Sir Goldentide, my eyes are trained to correctly ascertain ruins original purposes an' determine its builders. In this case, we know it's purpose." Unless there was a hidden one that would stand out to her besides being a University and a College. And unless the construction was any different, the builders would be the same. "In truth, those who don't hire me fer my performance skills, pay me fer appraisal, knowin' what's valuable, how old it is, an' what it's worth on markets." She admits.

Historical Knowledge
When you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can correctly ascertain its original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a century old.

Cos juts her chin towards the College as she makes her way over to it, assuming he,(or maybe Raq since hhasn't rolled anything yet?), would follow her to assist her if no one's checked it out already. "Maybe there's somethin' interestin' in here." She always wanted to blow glass. It was like a dance of it's own. She wondered if any of it survived.

(Investigation w/ help?: 16 2nd roll if adv: 22 )

     Raq always tries to keep one eye on Cosette and is always willing to provide her whatever help may be needed.  And he has always encouraged her interest in blowing...  Raqisat had no interest in doing it himself but he certainly couldn't argue against the results a true artist can achieve.  It was fascinating to him how similarly advanced societies would vary in how important something like glass blowing was to them.  Some cultures would be totally utilitarian in their creations while another would focus their skills into masterpieces of art and fancy...

     "Old stuff," Raqisat comments, if he heard her chat with Aubrey.  "She knows or figures out a lot about it.  Buildings, items...  If it's got decades of dust she's got an opinion on it.  I'm more about people and cultures - how they lived, their customs and such.  Fascinating stuff, really... they way a society, large or small, is shaped by the environment, the other cultures nearby, the local legends even.  How it all interweaves to create an amazing tapestry..."

As the team moves closer to the college, Furvus alerts Aubrey to the presence of something lurking in an alleyway just off the promenade.  There are three creatures, one larger than the other two.  They are wormlike is appearance, but all more than 10' long with bird-like beaks and stony carapaces.  They seem to be attempting to blend into the rubble in the alleyway but Furvus' keen eyes picked them out.  

Making sure the other side of the street is clear, it is easy enough to pass them at great distance.  The creatures remain, unmoving, as you pass.  

It is not long before the party reaches the plaza housing the college and university.  Also, at this spot, the overflow silt from repeated river floodings ends.  There is a slight rise in the street level, not even enough to be called a hill, but enough to put this are above the highwater mark.  The silt, scraggly plant life and mushrooms come to an end, and it is just empty streets, debris and the litter of 100 years of neglect that covers the streets here.

The first campus on your left is the House of Glass and Mirrors.  The magical college is a single long, three-story building.  From the middle of the long building, two structure attach.  A Five story tower attaches to the south end of the building, and a larger, rounded dome attaches to the north end - this looks like it may be an auditorium or something similar.

Across a wide plaza full of benches, the campus of the Universitas Vitae takes up a much larger footprint.   There are at least six buildings clustered here, ranging from two to four stories.  Some are connected to one another by elevated sky walks.  All of the buildings share a common design that sets them apart from those nearby.  They appear to have had wood-shingled rooftops at one time, most of which have rotted away and no doubt left the interiors exposed and ruined.  Along the outside of all of the buildings, withered mats of thick ivy have petrified overtime, looking almost like spiderwebs.

Across the street from the two campuses, there is a large field with no buildings.  Spaced every 25' and spreading out in all directions in this field are the stumps of what once must have been vast rose bushes, now just dead husks.

[Anyone can make Perception checks here, if they are so inclined.  Please note if you are examining the exterior of the magical college, the university, or the field of stumps.  Aubrey, please make another roll for Furvus as well.]

"Well, if your archaeological expertise is even half of your entertainment skills I know you are quite good at what you do Ms. Cosette." The young noble says with a polite smile, not sure how to continue after that, instead glancing over at Raqisat as he explains his field of expertise. "I suppose your areas of knowledge complement each other nicely then?" He says with a polite smile. "So what have you surmised about the people and culture of Amnifortis then?"

"You might not know this but House of Glass and Mirrors is in fact a magical college that specialized in the schools of transmutation and illusion. Unfortunately it is likely plundered by now but once it held great treasures of magical knowledge." Aubrey explains, not without some pride in his tone. "Perhaps we should simply start there." He agrees and motions for Raqisat to take point after sending in the ethereal Furvus ahead first.

Aubrey perception: 8
Aubrey stealth: 13
Furvus perception: 14

(Hm, should specify that Aubrey and Furvus would start checking what is closest which should be the exterior of the House of Glass and Mirrors i think before heading inside, but he would primarily try to get the team to stay together. :-)

     "Truth be told, I have surmised little," Raqisat says in answer to Aubrey.  "I've not really been working, this trip.  My focus has always been those groups and tribes and such that live on the outside of what most consider civilization.  Those who prefer the wilds to the comfort of cities.  The savages, if you'll pardon the phrase.  I'm interested in those who little is known about...  And I believe much is known about those who built and lived in Amnifortis, at least up til it's fall, is it not?  They surely weren't the unknown wildlings I normally study..."

     "Still, that's not to say there is no interest here.  As a civilized people it is quite possible some here were also interested in the fringes and the people who prefer to live on them.  As such I am of course keeping an eye out for anything they may have collected or written on such subjects... And yes, Cosette and my own interested do often intersect so I am of course happy to assist her in her own efforts."

"No, to my knowledge there were very few unknown wildlings in Amifortis before the cataclysm." Aubrey chuckles in agreement with Raqisat. "If the help you already provided us with is you not working then I'm even more impressed." He adds with a friendly smile.

"If it is knowledge you seek I doubt you will leave these ruins empty handed. Much have likely been plundered already but the swarms of aberrations have likely kept much left for us to find, some of it likely pertaining to your fields of study." The young noble continues with an encouraging smile.

Grugga is simply fascinated by the skywalks of the university, and can't tear his eyes away from them. Perception: 0

"Hmm... I wonder what method they used to distribute the weight at the center..."

While everyone else takes a look around and is attentive to the matter at hand, Grugga realizes he has done nothing of value and reluctantly turns his attention from the skywalks for now. "This is the House of Glass and Mirrors?" He asks, just noticing the building for the first time. "I was expecting something a little more... grand. Perhaps that's part of the point for college of illusion and transmutation. If we explore it, just keep in mind that some of the magic might still be potent."

Grugga is ready to explore the House of Glass and Mirrors.