If no one else has anything to ask Aleyd, then Hex would bid her good day before leading the group to Mantor's Library. Once there, she'd ask to see the Scribe Master, making sure to mention they're here to investigate the thefts on behalf of the Black Fist.
"I will remain at the Black Fist outpost in Podol Plaza throughout the evening if you need to report or check in," Aleyd says as you prepare to take your leave of the Cracked Crown.
The avenues and byways of Phlan are packed with townsfolk returning home from work or heading to taverns for the night. Most intersections have boards or poles with a variety of "wanted" postings, hard to make out clearly in the dim light of soft orange lamplight.
Sun-bleached colonnades frame the austere façade of Mantor's Library, just a few blocks away from the Cracked Crown. A solitary bench sits next to a tranquil pond at the fore of this property in the center of Scholar's Square. The grounds are well manicured and festooned with blooming flowers and other local flora.
The Library's staff is hard at work even this late into the evening, attending to their tasks with a seemingly inexhaustible reserve of energy. A scribe escorts you upstairs to the Scribe Master's office. A sign on the door reads:
Cassra Brandywine Scribe Master
Beneath that, a small piece of wood hangs on a nail with the word "IN" written on it in chalk.
As you knock on the door, a voice from an unseen source calls out "Just a moment!" There is the creaking of a wooden chair, a muttered curse and then a loud crashing noise as a few stacks of books are knocked to the floor. The door opens, revealing a young-looking halfling with short blonde hair; her hands and shirt stained with smudges of blue ink.
The Scribe Master's office is small and very cramped -- a problem made worse by the sheer number of books that are stacked haphazardly on every piece of furniture within.
Sylyra does not speak during the whole of the Black Fist's visit, though if anyone was watching him, they'd notice a small smile play upon his lips when she mentions "bribery, corruption, and complacency", but he quickly returns his face to the previous scowl in an attempt to hide his mirth. As Hex is leading Uragum and Briny out of the Crown, Sylyra pauses by the law woman and asks in a quiet tone of voice, "May I ask who this Glevith you mentioned might be?"
After receiving whatever answer Aleyd offers, the elf walks with purpose to catch up to the others, but is content to follow five feet behind while contemplating what the thefts might mean.
"Ah, hello. You must be Scribe Master Cassra? We're here on behalf of the Black Fist to investigate into the thefts of some books. We haven't been told much about the details and were told you were the one to talk to."
Briny walks a bit behind Hex, content to follow for now. She does a bit of looking around the library as they walk through, seeming slightly familiar with the place but still verging on gawking as she walks through. She waits patiently outside the door and lets Hex do the talking for now.
"Yes! Yes," the woman says, tempering her exclamation slightly. "Umm, th...that's me."
The Scribe Master is a female halfling with short, blonde hair that looks like she cuts it herself. Her hands are heavily stained with smudges and smears of bright blue ink.
Her clothes are well made, but are smudged in places with the same blue ink that stains her hands. She brushes herself off and introduces herself officially, then asks for each person's name. She closes her eyes and repeats each one in turn as if committing them to memory. She smiles as the referral from the Black Fist is mentioned and relates some information.
"Three exceptionally rare tomes have been stolen from people throughout Scholar's Square, each exactly two days apart.
The first book was stolen six days ago from the office of Aya Glenmiir, a wizard who maintains a small shop in the square. The book was a treatise on The Weave, titled: The Weave: A Collection of Impractical Observations.
The second book that was stolen belonged to Marten Foss, a retired adventurer and resident of Phlan who was keeping it in his private collection in his home in the Nobles' Quarter. It was a personal memoire of Ren, one of Phlan's most famous citizens; a ranger of repute that is long dead now.
The third and final theft occurred last night, and was that of a book titled: The Lords and Lineages of Phlan. It was in the possession of Agin Lamarck, a local noble who specializes in the history of Phlan, specifically genealogy and heraldry."
OOC: Sorry, I processed the answer to Sylyra but forgot to include it. She'll answer that in the next post. Sylyra doesn't recognize either of these nobles.
"Do you know the specifics of the books? Any ideas on how they might be related to each other or why someone might want to steal them other than money?"
Excuse me, hi. I just wanted to add, the locations might hold a clue if there's a pattern there. Perhaps they are moving from one area to the next, or from the most well-known collectors to the least?
"No, that's what you're here for," Cassra answers Hex. Realizing the bluntness of the answer, she quickly follows up, "I-I-I assume, anyway."
"As I mentioned the thefts all occurred here within Scholar's Square. Outside of academic circles, only Mr. Foss would be very well known, as uh...as far as I-I'm aware."
Hex raises a brow at the Scribe Master's bluntness, more amused than offended, but shrugs it off. "I see, I guess you're right. Could you tell us where we could find these people?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sylyra Insight: 8
For Sylyra:
You get the impression that Cassra spends much more time poring over books than conversing with other people. She seems clumsy and socially awkward, but you don't detect anything more unusual than that.
"Yes, of course. All are located within Scholar's Square, as I mentioned. Ms. Glenmiir resides in one of the buildings on the nicer side of Podol Plaza, and Mr. Foss runs a small practice yard nearby. Mr. Lamarck resides in the noble's quarter, but Lords and Lineages of Phlan was taken from his shop, which is located in the plaza as well," Cassra answers. She chews on her lip for a moment, then continues, "The Black Fist probably only cares about finding the thief, but that's not what matters to me. I, uh...I'd like to see these books returned. The Weave in particular is valuable property of the Library, and this has caused me no end of trouble. I can offer a reward of one hundred gold pieces if they are safely retrieved."
"Well, I don't see any reason to not accept, though I would like to alter the terms slightly. In case we are unable to retrieve all three of the books, would you be willing to pay... hm... 30 gold pieces for each book? So a maximum of 60 gold for two books.. or perhaps for three if we manage to retrieve all the books but just not safely."
Sylyra scowls at the scribe after her reward declaration, but when Hex starts haggling DOWN, the elf's jaw drops. "Hex," he says, speaking a little too loudly and with a forced chuckle. He steps forward and places a hand on the tiefling's shoulder, his easy smile warming his lovely face. "Of course we're going to find all three books." He looks pointedly at their small patron. "And perhaps we'll do such a good job that you might find a little more gold in your purse to reward us further."
"Well, p-perhaps we could discuss that if you are only able to recover one of the books. I am, well my hope is that you find all three in the same place. If different thieves have taken them then, um...that does not bode well for Phlan," Cassra mumbles.
Briny listens closely to the locations, looks skeptically at Hex when she decides to "negotiate," and is then relieved when Sylyra steps in. Turning back to Cassra she asks "Is there anything you might know that might help us in dealing with these three victims? Their temperaments, or the way they like to do business, anything like that?"
Sylyra blinks at Hex before turning back to the halfling. "As we are not members of the Black Fist, is there something you can give us to show the three victims so they will know we are working on your behalf?"
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If no one else has anything to ask Aleyd, then Hex would bid her good day before leading the group to Mantor's Library. Once there, she'd ask to see the Scribe Master, making sure to mention they're here to investigate the thefts on behalf of the Black Fist.
"I will remain at the Black Fist outpost in Podol Plaza throughout the evening if you need to report or check in," Aleyd says as you prepare to take your leave of the Cracked Crown.
The avenues and byways of Phlan are packed with townsfolk returning home from work or heading to taverns for the night. Most intersections have boards or poles with a variety of "wanted" postings, hard to make out clearly in the dim light of soft orange lamplight.
Sun-bleached colonnades frame the austere façade of Mantor's Library, just a few blocks away from the Cracked Crown. A solitary bench sits next to a tranquil pond at the fore of this property in the center of Scholar's Square. The grounds are well manicured and festooned with blooming flowers and other local flora.
The Library's staff is hard at work even this late into the evening, attending to their tasks with a seemingly inexhaustible reserve of energy. A scribe escorts you upstairs to the Scribe Master's office. A sign on the door reads:
Beneath that, a small piece of wood hangs on a nail with the word "IN" written on it in chalk.
As you knock on the door, a voice from an unseen source calls out "Just a moment!" There is the creaking of a wooden chair, a muttered curse and then a loud crashing noise as a few stacks of books are knocked to the floor. The door opens, revealing a young-looking halfling with short blonde hair; her hands and shirt stained with smudges of blue ink.
The Scribe Master's office is small and very cramped -- a problem made worse by the sheer number of books that are stacked haphazardly on every piece of furniture within.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Sylyra does not speak during the whole of the Black Fist's visit, though if anyone was watching him, they'd notice a small smile play upon his lips when she mentions "bribery, corruption, and complacency", but he quickly returns his face to the previous scowl in an attempt to hide his mirth. As Hex is leading Uragum and Briny out of the Crown, Sylyra pauses by the law woman and asks in a quiet tone of voice, "May I ask who this Glevith you mentioned might be?"
After receiving whatever answer Aleyd offers, the elf walks with purpose to catch up to the others, but is content to follow five feet behind while contemplating what the thefts might mean.
"Ah, hello. You must be Scribe Master Cassra? We're here on behalf of the Black Fist to investigate into the thefts of some books. We haven't been told much about the details and were told you were the one to talk to."
Briny walks a bit behind Hex, content to follow for now. She does a bit of looking around the library as they walk through, seeming slightly familiar with the place but still verging on gawking as she walks through. She waits patiently outside the door and lets Hex do the talking for now.
"Yes! Yes," the woman says, tempering her exclamation slightly. "Umm, th...that's me."
The Scribe Master is a female halfling with short, blonde hair that looks like she cuts it herself. Her hands are heavily stained with smudges and smears of bright blue ink.
Her clothes are well made, but are smudged in places with the same blue ink that stains her hands. She brushes herself off and introduces herself officially, then asks for each person's name. She closes her eyes and repeats each one in turn as if committing them to memory. She smiles as the referral from the Black Fist is mentioned and relates some information.
"Three exceptionally rare tomes have been stolen from people throughout Scholar's Square, each exactly two days apart.
The first book was stolen six days ago from the office of Aya Glenmiir, a wizard who maintains a small shop in the square. The book was a treatise on The Weave, titled: The Weave: A Collection of Impractical Observations.
The second book that was stolen belonged to Marten Foss, a retired adventurer and resident of Phlan who was keeping it in his private collection in his home in the Nobles' Quarter. It was a personal memoire of Ren, one of Phlan's most famous citizens; a ranger of repute that is long dead now.
The third and final theft occurred last night, and was that of a book titled: The Lords and Lineages of Phlan. It was in the possession of Agin Lamarck, a local noble who specializes in the history of Phlan, specifically genealogy and heraldry."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Does Sylyra know either of the nobles? Also, did Aleyd answer his question?
OOC: Sorry, I processed the answer to Sylyra but forgot to include it. She'll answer that in the next post. Sylyra doesn't recognize either of these nobles.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Do you know the specifics of the books? Any ideas on how they might be related to each other or why someone might want to steal them other than money?"
Excuse me, hi. I just wanted to add, the locations might hold a clue if there's a pattern there. Perhaps they are moving from one area to the next, or from the most well-known collectors to the least?
"No, that's what you're here for," Cassra answers Hex. Realizing the bluntness of the answer, she quickly follows up, "I-I-I assume, anyway."
"As I mentioned the thefts all occurred here within Scholar's Square. Outside of academic circles, only Mr. Foss would be very well known, as uh...as far as I-I'm aware."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Is Sylyra picking up on anything strange (insight) with the scribe?
Hex raises a brow at the Scribe Master's bluntness, more amused than offended, but shrugs it off. "I see, I guess you're right. Could you tell us where we could find these people?"
Sylyra Insight: 8
For Sylyra:
You get the impression that Cassra spends much more time poring over books than conversing with other people. She seems clumsy and socially awkward, but you don't detect anything more unusual than that.
"Yes, of course. All are located within Scholar's Square, as I mentioned. Ms. Glenmiir resides in one of the buildings on the nicer side of Podol Plaza, and Mr. Foss runs a small practice yard nearby. Mr. Lamarck resides in the noble's quarter, but Lords and Lineages of Phlan was taken from his shop, which is located in the plaza as well," Cassra answers. She chews on her lip for a moment, then continues, "The Black Fist probably only cares about finding the thief, but that's not what matters to me. I, uh...I'd like to see these books returned. The Weave in particular is valuable property of the Library, and this has caused me no end of trouble. I can offer a reward of one hundred gold pieces if they are safely retrieved."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Well, I don't see any reason to not accept, though I would like to alter the terms slightly. In case we are unable to retrieve all three of the books, would you be willing to pay... hm... 30 gold pieces for each book? So a maximum of 60 gold for two books.. or perhaps for three if we manage to retrieve all the books but just not safely."
Sylyra scowls at the scribe after her reward declaration, but when Hex starts haggling DOWN, the elf's jaw drops. "Hex," he says, speaking a little too loudly and with a forced chuckle. He steps forward and places a hand on the tiefling's shoulder, his easy smile warming his lovely face. "Of course we're going to find all three books." He looks pointedly at their small patron. "And perhaps we'll do such a good job that you might find a little more gold in your purse to reward us further."
"Well, p-perhaps we could discuss that if you are only able to recover one of the books. I am, well my hope is that you find all three in the same place. If different thieves have taken them then, um...that does not bode well for Phlan," Cassra mumbles.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Briny listens closely to the locations, looks skeptically at Hex when she decides to "negotiate," and is then relieved when Sylyra steps in. Turning back to Cassra she asks "Is there anything you might know that might help us in dealing with these three victims? Their temperaments, or the way they like to do business, anything like that?"
Hex shrugs at Sylyra. "I was trying to be nice."
Sylyra blinks at Hex before turning back to the halfling. "As we are not members of the Black Fist, is there something you can give us to show the three victims so they will know we are working on your behalf?"