Basking in all the attention, Shrek stands proudly outside Vallivoe's shop, guarding the door.  A half dozen or more kids continually climb up and down his legs like he's a jungle gym, causing Shrek to bellow laughter with delight.  He stretches his arms out perpendicular to his body, and the kids begin to hang on his arms like he's a piece of playground equipment, causing him to giggle even further.

Perception check to see if he's paying attention to what's going on around him (aka guarding the team inside shopping), versus being distracted by the kiddos: 13

Looking through the shop, Randall eventually places some items on the counter: a lantern, hooded, 5 oil (flask) and a net.  He also produces a polished black gem.  "Endrith, any interest in this?  I'd like to trade for these items but I suspect the stone is worth a good deal more.  What coin will you give me in trade?"

Vallivoe licks his lipswhen he sees the gem. "Oh, quite nice, quite nice. I could give you those items and 14 gp in trade for it.  I'm being overly generous mind you, but I do have a soft spot for you Randall."

Switching his focus back to Melchor he tightens up a bit. "Yes, you may look, but please be careful! As for the pearl, I do happen to have one,  but it is not cheap! By the looks of your attire, you do not seem like a man who could afford such an item; Do you have 100 gp? Or something to trade? Perhaps,..." licking his lips again, "you have more of those pretty black gems?"

"Thinking again, you seem like a man of wisdom? Maybe you could help me with the mystery of this book here?". He motions to the beautifully embossed, thick book in front of him, the script on the front written in a language you do not understand

Quote from o_Merlin_o >>

Basking in all the attention, Shrek stands proudly outside Vallivoe's shop, guarding the door.  A half dozen or more kids continually climb up and down his legs like he's a jungle gym, causing Shrek to bellow laughter with delight.  He stretches his arms out perpendicular to his body, and the kids begin to hang on his arms like he's a piece of playground equipment, causing him to giggle even further.

Perception check to see if he's paying attention to what's going on around him (aka guarding the team inside shopping), versus being distracted by the kiddos: 13

 

The children, who love playing with Shrek when he's in town, are pretty distracting but you manage to stay fairly alert. For the moment, everything seems perfectly normal

Melchor raises an eyebrow at the merchant. 'You might do better paying for the items in coin, Randall...' he says, spotting a sharp merchant at work, before bending over to examine the book more carefully... 'I'm happy to take a look...'

Investigation: 19

Quote from JorvikDave >>

Melchor raises an eyebrow at the merchant. 'You might do better paying for the items in coin, Randall...' he says, spotting a sharp merchant at work, before bending over to examine the book more carefully... 'I'm happy to take a look...'

Investigation: 24

You can't read it but you recognize the script as Dwarven. You recognize a map of Mirabar, and, although you can't read it, it seems to be some sort of genealogical record

 'Does anyone read Dwarven?' asks Melchor 'I recognise the runes, but my understanding stops there...'

“Yeah, I learned it as a kid.  All the quarry tools and measurements use dwarven standards.  What have you got there?”

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

“Yeah, I learned it as a kid.  All the quarry tools and measurements use dwarven standards.  What have you got there?”

 You look through the manuscript and can tell it's a genealogical record of Dwarves who occupied Mirabar and the greater Dessarin Valley (see post #2). It spans way, way back and mentions a stronghold named Tyar-Besil, which is not present on any map of the valley you have ever seen. 

As you describe what the book is, Vallivoe's eyes light up and he mumbles, almost to himself: "Mirabar? I smell so ething unsavory here. I got far too good deal on this book, and Mirabar is where the missing delegation everyone is talking about was from. Randall, I bought this 2 days from a merchant from Wormford who hinted he had more. If you and your friends could obtain the rest of these books for me, I could part with my pearl and offer a reward beside. I ask that you keep this quiet however. It is a delicate business. "

Melchor nods in agreement. ‘We can be discreet.’ He looks around to gauge the views of the rest of the party. ‘We have an outstanding commitment this evening, but as soon as that is handled we can be away to Womford. What do you know of this missing delegation?’ he thinks for a moment ‘As a sign of good faith, will you lend me the pearl for an hour, to perform a ritual? I’ll do it here, and give it back to you afterwards.’

"You have not heard of the delegation? There was a large delegation of diplomats from Mirabar headed this this on their way to Waterdeep. They were supposed to arrive here a tenday ago. They were last seen in Beliard on their way to Summit Hall; Apparently they were carrying the body of a knight of the Order of the Gauntlet to lay it to rest there. They never arrived. Yes, yes I believe I can do that but don't be stealing it!"

He hands the pearl over to Melchor, clearly nervous to do so

Olaerys perks up at the mention of this.  "Last in Beliard, on their way to Summit Hall?  We need to have a look.  That sounds worrisome.."  Olaerys looks over at Fr'reona and nods, checks to see if she heard this as well.

(OOC: Actually it’s 11min ritual, not an hour! Getting my spell times mixed up!)

Melchor finds a chair, or a chest, to sit on to cast the ritual. ‘No-one disturb me.’ he says sharply.

Bringing out the Necromancer’s wand from his pack he holds it as he starts speaking softly in ancient words, his other hand making passes over the wand as he moves the pearl in precise arcs through the air. This continues for over 10 minutes, the pearl starting to leave phosphorescent trails through the air as the ritual proceeds, building up a shimmering 3-D structure that, as the ritual concludes, collapses into a cage around the wand for a moment before dissipating…

(Melchor has cast Identify as a ritual)

Quote from JorvikDave >>

(OOC: Actually it’s 11min ritual, not an hour! Getting my spell times mixed up!)

Melchor finds a chair, or a chest, to sit on to cast the ritual. ‘No-one disturb me.’ he says sharply.

Bringing out the Necromancer’s wand from his pack he holds it as he starts speaking softly in ancient words, his other hand making passes over the wand as he moves the pearl in precise arcs through the air. This continues for over 10 minutes, the pearl starting to leave phosphorescent trails through the air as the ritual proceeds, building up a shimmering 3-D structure that, as the ritual concludes, collapses into a cage around the wand for a moment before dissipating…

(Melchor has cast Identify as a ritual)

Ritual finished, Melchor tucks the wand into one of his robe’s pockets with a smile. ‘This will serve us well.’ he says, before handing the pearl back to Vallivoe, with a nod ‘Thank you for your trust. Before I leave, do you have any incense?’ he looks around the group ‘I suggest we go to rest now, before our nocturnal responsibilities…?’

"I had a similar looking fellow in here last month asking for it. I'm guessing you need about 10 gp worth" he says, bring out a decent sized block. "Would you like more so you don't need to come back? I can offer you 3 bricks this size for 20 go"

OOC: Each brick is enough for one find familiar spell

‘Thank you, that would be excellent…’ Melchor nods in appreciation, handing over 20gp and putting the incense into his pack. He looks around, and picks up a bright red scarf. ‘How much for this?’

Randall completes his transaction and is ready to return, grab a quick sleep and then head out for some midnight quarry investigations.

Shrek pantomimed that he was standing guard the entire time the rest of the group was inside the store, but really he was playing with the kids who were in awe of his gigantism. He privately enjoyed the attention, as he spent most of his childhood being ostracized for being the mountain sized kid in a neighborhood filled with ‘normal’ sized humanoids.

When the group returns to Kaylessa’s inn for their night’s rest, Shrek has no qualms about sleeping in the alley around back. He’s a sloth, used to being treated like gutter trash, and is used to sleeping on the cold hard ground. Being a social outcast has certain benefits!

Olaerys says "They're going to have to make a bed bigger for you, Shrek!  If we handle a few more problems for them, perhaps they will!  Hell, they may give you the key to the town!"  Olaerys hides a yawn behind his hand, smiles and laughs with his new large friend, but he is exhausted.  He wants to go lie down in a claw free bed.