Continuing to look through the items lying around, Samir sees a lot of esoteric writings and ingredients for herbal remedies that he knows have no scientific merit. But he does find 3 vials that contain what is certainly a potent batch of healing potion (3 potions of healing), along with a small, sweet-smelling bottle of what must be a philter of love, and also a potion of giant strength that sits near a bowl of toenail clippings that bear the distinct coloration of a hill giant.
As for the statue, he knows it resembles the iconography typically used in depictions of Drun, a goddess of healing and small plants, but he never bothered to learn the details about her. There are too many gods and goddesses, beliefs, superstitions, and pantheons, for Samir to have taken too much time away from his more practical studies.
Gathering up the potions, the group heads out. Once again, they wind through crowded streets that grow nicer and nicer as they continue toward the council hall. Minutes later, they find themselves before the archives, the time for the guard rotation drawing near. Fenear, the old elf, is sitting behind his desk once more, the keys resting on the desk right beside his hand. "Oh happy days to see you back here. And with more friends. How can I help you today?"
As the group near the council hall, vilus adopts the guise of a regular human, as his face and features as common and disinteresting as possible, having cast aside his idea of attempting to force his way in as a new member of the Council staff.
As those who are already aquatinted with the old elf interact with him vilus keeps quiet and let's other take lead.
Ashley's face breaks into a wide grin as she sees Fenear again. She moves to face him to get his gaze away from the keys as much as possible as she engages him in conversation.
"Well, my friends and I have found this sculpture of Drun and would like to know more about her. You, being the scholar you are, I thought maybe you'd know something or at least know where to go to find it? And..." she looks like the cat that ate the canary, "my friend here and I will show you a few magic tricks for it!" and she pulls Mal close to her, hoping to obscure his vision from the others and give them a chance to grab the keys.
Joren attempts to follow Ashley's gambit and thinks he gets it. But if he is the best hope at filching keys from the old elf's table, then it will be a long night.
Still, he suspects such theft is not exactly Samir or Marion's strong suit either, and if Malachi is "busy" next to Ashley...
He nudges Vilus, in case the goliath, or rather currently the nondescript human, has any magic to nab the keys at a distance.
Fenear taps his chin. "Hmm, Drun you say? Wait I've got something on that..." He hops up out of his chair and starts to march out from behind his desk, checking a near bookshelf. Not seeing what he is looking for, he heads around the back, just out of sight. The sound of muttering and shuffling paper fills the air.
Vilus, at Joren's nudge, takes the opportunity, with Fenear walking around back, the Goliath in human guise summons a mage hand which clutches around all of the keys at once, attempting to squash them together to avoid any jingling as he moves the off the table and hovering along the floor until they disappear into Vilus' illusory robes.
(Sleight of hand 5 or if granted adv from the groups assistance, 19)
Malachi gives the old man a wide smile as Ashley pulls him to the counter. “Oh, you like magic? Splendid!”Malachi flips his copper coin along his fingers, but thankfully before he can think of a suitable trick the librarian has already lost interest and was searching for information on Drun. As the old elf disappears behind a shelf and Vilus makes a move toward the keys, Malachi turns to Ashley with a surprised look and whispers “magic tricks? What were we going to show him?”
Ashley shrugs with the smile still on her face, she can't help it, she likes the old man. "Well, maybe not magic tricks, per se.. he just loves magic. I showed him my mage hand earlier and he was so fascinated. Thought we could dazzle him with a few cantrips, that's all."
She looks over to make sure that Vilus has the keys, then whispering to the rest, "Samir and Marion know where the door is that leads to the document we need. Malachi and I will keep the man occupied, quick get going while we have our window. If you can get back before he finds whatever it is he's looking for, this would be a lot easier on us!"
Joren summons his echo, tucking it just out of sight behind a corner for now.
He stands ready to follow Samir and Marion (presumably with Vilus), assuming everyone moves forward with Ashley's suggestion.
Anytime he is out of sight, Joren will echo-swap rather than walk, to avoid the noisy clanking from his chain mail giving the group away.
If I were putting the over/under to wager on the number of timelines in which I am involving myself in the theft of documents from a civic library, I would be putting it at less than one. Yet here my echo and I are, doing just that, so that is at least two timelines!
Samir hangs back behind the others as they interact with the attendent, not because he would object to speaking with the man, but rather to hopefully avoid being noted as being present at this moment. When Vilus gets the keys, he gives a last glance in the direction that Fenear went, making sure that the man wasn't returning already. When he sees that the coast is clear, he slips away towards the vaulted door, keeping an eye out for any further impediments.
Vilus can hardly help but wince as he starts to move and the keys jingle inside their hiding place. Fenear, however, does not appear to take note, still busy doddering away behind the bookshelf. As some of the group rounds the bookshelves leading to the door in the back, the seated guard comes into view. With nearly perfect timing, a distant bell sounds from the clocktower.
The guard stands up and tucks an orb away into his pouch before looking around for his replacement. No replacement comes. (Anyone with eyes on him can give me an insight check.)
The guard hasn't noticed them yet, it would seem. Joren knows from the man's body language that he is anxious to be gone. The impatient shifting of his feet, the frustration in his brow, this man does not want to be here. Hunger, fatigue, or maybe... Yep, the man clearly has to use the washroom. It will not take much, by Joren's estimation, for the man to decide to relieve himself. Of his post.
"The man is wanting to leave desperately, and needing a latrine pit more than most," Joren whispers. "Having been in his shoes myself."
He turns to Samir with a boyish grin. "Are you having any way to subtly encourage him to give in to his bodily needs and depart? Perhaps the gentle sound of running water to draw his mind towards his bladder?"
As the elf continues to search for documents among the bookcases, Malachi waves the others on to follow Samir.
Before Vilus leaves his sight, Malachi reaches out and establishes a mental connection with him. Hurry, use this link to let me know when you are returning and we will continue to distract our friend. Let us know if you run into any trouble.
Samir looks into Joren's mischevious expression, shocked for a moment before his own grin emerges to match the others. Reminded of a few pranks conducted on dorm monitors and the like back in his first days at the academy, the half-orc reaches one hand into the pouch at his waste and emerges with a simple pinch of what look like wool fibers. He narrows his eyes for a second in concentration before bringing the material to his lips. With a faint smirk, he purses his lips and blows, the fibers fluttering off of his palm and fizzling away into nothingness. A moment later, the faintest whisper of sound begins playing somewhere above the guard's head without evident source. As quiet as it is, the trickle of running water is surely recognizable on an almost subconscious level.
Samir casts Minor Illusion to create the very faint sound of running water near the guard, hopefully urging his bladder forward in its demands to be released.
The guard looks about once more for his replacement. Seeing that the archives are rather quiet at the moment, he makes up his mind and quickly shuffles off for the nearest washroom, grumbling about his tardy replacement.
With the path cleared for the moment, Samir and the others head toward the door. With a quick turn of the key, Vilus unlocks the first door, revealing the dark records room behind it. Samir remembers the simple layout well, along with the location of the next door at the back of the room.
At around the same time, Fenear emerges from behind his bookshelf with a leather-bound tome in hand. "Here we are," he says, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, not yet noticing the absentees. He plops back down in his chair and opens up the book to somewhere in the middle. "Drun. Divine Aspect of herbs and and healing." He turns the book around to reveal an image that resembles the statue. A woman emerging from the trunk of a tree, reaching up with one dainty hand. "Or the Goddess of such, depending on which cosmology you subscribe to." He points to a footnote at the bottom of the page. "Texts regarding her worship even date back to the days when people believed in the Holy Triumverate." The footnote reads "Daughter of Aldrumin the Bold"
"She doesn't boast a large following, but certainly an enduring one." He turns the book back around to read some more of the text on the page. "Over the centuries, there have continued to be small handfuls of individuals devoted to the healing crafts who invoke her name and subscribe to her ethos." Fenear looks up. "Wait, weren't there more of you?"
Once inside and with the first door closed comfortably between them and the outer room, Samir conjures a faint light that begins to emanate from the buckle on his shoulder strap. Guided by his earlier memories and that dim illumination, he makes his way to the next door and examines it to ensure safety before acting to open it.
Malachi leans over the counter to look at the book with interest. “Oh, the others? Don’t worry, they just stepped out for a moment. Some people just don’t appreciate the true magic one can find in books.” Malachi summons his own mage hand and flips over one of the pages “I was surprised to find a small chapel to Drun in the city even today. Now, what can you tell us of this Daughter of Aldrumin footnote?”Malachi continues to pepper hism with questions and listens to his answers with practiced interest.
Ashley nods along with Malachi's words. "Yes, we were the ones interested, they were just along for the ride and said they'd be back."
She looks over Mal's shoulders, "The Holy Triumverate? Wow, sounds important. Enduring? I love that. We could all use more of that in our lives."
"Now, your turn...I promised a little magic." And with a big grin on her face a small ball of fire appears in her left hand. "Now wait..."and she winks at the man, then holding out her other hand she has it jump to that hand and back again.
Continuing to look through the items lying around, Samir sees a lot of esoteric writings and ingredients for herbal remedies that he knows have no scientific merit. But he does find 3 vials that contain what is certainly a potent batch of healing potion (3 potions of healing), along with a small, sweet-smelling bottle of what must be a philter of love, and also a potion of giant strength that sits near a bowl of toenail clippings that bear the distinct coloration of a hill giant.
As for the statue, he knows it resembles the iconography typically used in depictions of Drun, a goddess of healing and small plants, but he never bothered to learn the details about her. There are too many gods and goddesses, beliefs, superstitions, and pantheons, for Samir to have taken too much time away from his more practical studies.
Gathering up the potions, the group heads out. Once again, they wind through crowded streets that grow nicer and nicer as they continue toward the council hall. Minutes later, they find themselves before the archives, the time for the guard rotation drawing near. Fenear, the old elf, is sitting behind his desk once more, the keys resting on the desk right beside his hand. "Oh happy days to see you back here. And with more friends. How can I help you today?"
As the group near the council hall, vilus adopts the guise of a regular human, as his face and features as common and disinteresting as possible, having cast aside his idea of attempting to force his way in as a new member of the Council staff.
As those who are already aquatinted with the old elf interact with him vilus keeps quiet and let's other take lead.
Ashley's face breaks into a wide grin as she sees Fenear again. She moves to face him to get his gaze away from the keys as much as possible as she engages him in conversation.
"Well, my friends and I have found this sculpture of Drun and would like to know more about her. You, being the scholar you are, I thought maybe you'd know something or at least know where to go to find it? And..." she looks like the cat that ate the canary, "my friend here and I will show you a few magic tricks for it!" and she pulls Mal close to her, hoping to obscure his vision from the others and give them a chance to grab the keys.
Joren attempts to follow Ashley's gambit and thinks he gets it. But if he is the best hope at filching keys from the old elf's table, then it will be a long night.
Still, he suspects such theft is not exactly Samir or Marion's strong suit either, and if Malachi is "busy" next to Ashley...
He nudges Vilus, in case the goliath, or rather currently the nondescript human, has any magic to nab the keys at a distance.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Fenear taps his chin. "Hmm, Drun you say? Wait I've got something on that..." He hops up out of his chair and starts to march out from behind his desk, checking a near bookshelf. Not seeing what he is looking for, he heads around the back, just out of sight. The sound of muttering and shuffling paper fills the air.
Vilus, at Joren's nudge, takes the opportunity, with Fenear walking around back, the Goliath in human guise summons a mage hand which clutches around all of the keys at once, attempting to squash them together to avoid any jingling as he moves the off the table and hovering along the floor until they disappear into Vilus' illusory robes.
(Sleight of hand 5 or if granted adv from the groups assistance, 19)
Malachi gives the old man a wide smile as Ashley pulls him to the counter. “Oh, you like magic? Splendid!” Malachi flips his copper coin along his fingers, but thankfully before he can think of a suitable trick the librarian has already lost interest and was searching for information on Drun. As the old elf disappears behind a shelf and Vilus makes a move toward the keys, Malachi turns to Ashley with a surprised look and whispers “magic tricks? What were we going to show him?”
Ashley shrugs with the smile still on her face, she can't help it, she likes the old man. "Well, maybe not magic tricks, per se.. he just loves magic. I showed him my mage hand earlier and he was so fascinated. Thought we could dazzle him with a few cantrips, that's all."
She looks over to make sure that Vilus has the keys, then whispering to the rest, "Samir and Marion know where the door is that leads to the document we need. Malachi and I will keep the man occupied, quick get going while we have our window. If you can get back before he finds whatever it is he's looking for, this would be a lot easier on us!"
Joren summons his echo, tucking it just out of sight behind a corner for now.
He stands ready to follow Samir and Marion (presumably with Vilus), assuming everyone moves forward with Ashley's suggestion.
Anytime he is out of sight, Joren will echo-swap rather than walk, to avoid the noisy clanking from his chain mail giving the group away.
If I were putting the over/under to wager on the number of timelines in which I am involving myself in the theft of documents from a civic library, I would be putting it at less than one. Yet here my echo and I are, doing just that, so that is at least two timelines!
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Samir hangs back behind the others as they interact with the attendent, not because he would object to speaking with the man, but rather to hopefully avoid being noted as being present at this moment. When Vilus gets the keys, he gives a last glance in the direction that Fenear went, making sure that the man wasn't returning already. When he sees that the coast is clear, he slips away towards the vaulted door, keeping an eye out for any further impediments.
Vilus can hardly help but wince as he starts to move and the keys jingle inside their hiding place. Fenear, however, does not appear to take note, still busy doddering away behind the bookshelf. As some of the group rounds the bookshelves leading to the door in the back, the seated guard comes into view. With nearly perfect timing, a distant bell sounds from the clocktower.
The guard stands up and tucks an orb away into his pouch before looking around for his replacement. No replacement comes. (Anyone with eyes on him can give me an insight check.)
Keeping his echo nearby but out of view, Joren takes a peek, having pulled guard duty many a time himself.
Insight: 21
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
The guard hasn't noticed them yet, it would seem. Joren knows from the man's body language that he is anxious to be gone. The impatient shifting of his feet, the frustration in his brow, this man does not want to be here. Hunger, fatigue, or maybe... Yep, the man clearly has to use the washroom. It will not take much, by Joren's estimation, for the man to decide to relieve himself. Of his post.
"The man is wanting to leave desperately, and needing a latrine pit more than most," Joren whispers. "Having been in his shoes myself."
He turns to Samir with a boyish grin. "Are you having any way to subtly encourage him to give in to his bodily needs and depart? Perhaps the gentle sound of running water to draw his mind towards his bladder?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
As the elf continues to search for documents among the bookcases, Malachi waves the others on to follow Samir.
Before Vilus leaves his sight, Malachi reaches out and establishes a mental connection with him. Hurry, use this link to let me know when you are returning and we will continue to distract our friend. Let us know if you run into any trouble.
Samir looks into Joren's mischevious expression, shocked for a moment before his own grin emerges to match the others. Reminded of a few pranks conducted on dorm monitors and the like back in his first days at the academy, the half-orc reaches one hand into the pouch at his waste and emerges with a simple pinch of what look like wool fibers. He narrows his eyes for a second in concentration before bringing the material to his lips. With a faint smirk, he purses his lips and blows, the fibers fluttering off of his palm and fizzling away into nothingness. A moment later, the faintest whisper of sound begins playing somewhere above the guard's head without evident source. As quiet as it is, the trickle of running water is surely recognizable on an almost subconscious level.
Samir casts Minor Illusion to create the very faint sound of running water near the guard, hopefully urging his bladder forward in its demands to be released.
The guard looks about once more for his replacement. Seeing that the archives are rather quiet at the moment, he makes up his mind and quickly shuffles off for the nearest washroom, grumbling about his tardy replacement.
With the path cleared for the moment, Samir and the others head toward the door. With a quick turn of the key, Vilus unlocks the first door, revealing the dark records room behind it. Samir remembers the simple layout well, along with the location of the next door at the back of the room.
At around the same time, Fenear emerges from behind his bookshelf with a leather-bound tome in hand. "Here we are," he says, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, not yet noticing the absentees. He plops back down in his chair and opens up the book to somewhere in the middle. "Drun. Divine Aspect of herbs and and healing." He turns the book around to reveal an image that resembles the statue. A woman emerging from the trunk of a tree, reaching up with one dainty hand. "Or the Goddess of such, depending on which cosmology you subscribe to." He points to a footnote at the bottom of the page. "Texts regarding her worship even date back to the days when people believed in the Holy Triumverate." The footnote reads "Daughter of Aldrumin the Bold"
"She doesn't boast a large following, but certainly an enduring one." He turns the book back around to read some more of the text on the page. "Over the centuries, there have continued to be small handfuls of individuals devoted to the healing crafts who invoke her name and subscribe to her ethos." Fenear looks up. "Wait, weren't there more of you?"
Once inside and with the first door closed comfortably between them and the outer room, Samir conjures a faint light that begins to emanate from the buckle on his shoulder strap. Guided by his earlier memories and that dim illumination, he makes his way to the next door and examines it to ensure safety before acting to open it.
Malachi leans over the counter to look at the book with interest. “Oh, the others? Don’t worry, they just stepped out for a moment. Some people just don’t appreciate the true magic one can find in books.” Malachi summons his own mage hand and flips over one of the pages “I was surprised to find a small chapel to Drun in the city even today. Now, what can you tell us of this Daughter of Aldrumin footnote?” Malachi continues to pepper hism with questions and listens to his answers with practiced interest.
Ashley nods along with Malachi's words. "Yes, we were the ones interested, they were just along for the ride and said they'd be back."
She looks over Mal's shoulders, "The Holy Triumverate? Wow, sounds important. Enduring? I love that. We could all use more of that in our lives."
"Now, your turn...I promised a little magic." And with a big grin on her face a small ball of fire appears in her left hand. "Now wait..." and she winks at the man, then holding out her other hand she has it jump to that hand and back again.