"Why the magical security if the book is not important?" the elf asks.

"The Lamarck family has long been considered to be well-respected scholars in the field of documenting familial lineages. It's important to me, hence the security," Agin clarifies.

Each of you get the impression that Agin seems to be hiding something, despite his nonchalant demeanor.

"I can think of half a dozen plans right off the top of my head with a book detailing the noble lines for several hundred years.  None of them...legitimate or legal,"  Uragum Saya.

He turns to look at the man.  "You wouldn't by chance be caught up in all of this and attempting to throw off suspicion by moving the book yourself and claiming that you are a victim as well, would you?"

Sylyra likes Uragum's line of thinking and watches the smarmy man closely as he responds.

OOC: Going to attempt a single roll, then add text after and see if the manipulation issues will stop plaguing me yet.

Uragum Intimidation: 21

"Sir," Agin remarks, flustered at the implication. "The Lamarck legacy is everything to me. Our legacy is tied up in...well, legacy. Without these records our place as experts in the field of documenting familial lineages is called into question. My entire business could fold from this! I assure you I am not involved in the theft of this book in any way. Even were I to make quick coins the long-term ramifications would be..."

He simply shakes his head at the end of the thought.

Hex taps her chin with an inquisitive look on her face. "Hmm... you wouldn't mind if we inspected where the book was taken from ourselves would you?"

Sylyra frowns. "Who stands to benefit if your business folds?"

Unsure if he believes the fellow, the information was at least useful.  The failure of a business might be enough, but if the short term gain was to power or position elsewhere... who knows.  He would wait to pass judgment.

"Of course, it was in this desk drawer right here," Agin answers, showing Hex to a rather ordinary looking desk along the far wall of the office. He opens a drawer in the center of the desk, near the surface.

He answers Sylyra, "I cannot even hazard a guess. I have little in the way of competition in this field."

Hex would investigate the desk and the area around it to see if she can find any thing of interest/

Investigation: 16

OOC: Applying Hex's roll with a Perception bonus.

The desk itself is rather ordinary and unremarkable. Upon close inspection of the drawers, Hex notices the remnants of a laughably simple trap that did nothing more than ring a tiny bell concealed inside of the desk. The desk does not appear to be in use often, but is well cleaned and taken care of.

(Hahaha thanks Barty.) 

Hex stands up after taking a closer look at the drawer and looks at Agin with a raised brow. "Really? Powerful spellcraft? Agin, this is literally just a tiny bell. I'm surprised you even let me look at this."

Agin scratches his head in irritation. "Okay, yes...mayhaps the book was not as secured as it should have been. I never expected it to have value outside of my own family. Who else would want to take it? We have no competitors, and no enemies that I am aware of," he says.

Bored almost to dozing on his feet, Sylyra sighs loudly and looks around at the banners and anything else that catches his eye with the hope of spying something of interest.

There's no one else in the shop, right?

Briny looks surprised at the discovery of the security on the drawer and closes her eyes while she takes a deep, tired breath in and out through her nose. Then she opens her eyes and asks "Is this a book that you or your family might reference in conversations? Something that might be common knowledge that it is in your possession?

OOC: Correct, there is nobody else in the shop with you at the moment.

Sylyra Perception: 25

Nothing else catches Sylyra's eye as he looks around the shop again. The heraldic banners and family trees certainly fit Lamarck's description of his work, as well as the numerous reference books available around the study.

Agin taps his foot impatiently, responding to Briny, "Of course, as I mentioned this book is crucial to my family's line of work. Without it as a reference we are simply dead in the water. There is simply no other material that covers the lineage of Phlan's nobility so comprehensively. It is a massive book, a full foot thick, two feet wide and just as long, bound in the tanned hide of a manticore; it makes one wonder how the thief was able to carry it around without raising suspicion, no?

If you are thinking it was stolen by someone in the family, think again. My parents handed this business off to me many years ago, and I have no siblings or descendants to vie for this position through surreptitiously."

Overhearing the scribe's description of the book, Sylyra's head snaps. His brow narrows in disbelief as he eyes the man. "Indeed," he comments. He turns his body toward Agin once again. "It would be hard to travel with such a load inconspicuously. Perhaps you know of someone in the area who might have witnessed the thief leaving with the burden? Businesses? Guards? Neighbors?"

Agin shakes his head, kicking his foot aimlessly across the floorboards. "No sir. All I know is that it was definitely taken during the night, two nights ago. I used the book during business hours the day before, and it was not in the desk yesterday when I arrived at the office," he answers.

Is the desk drawer that Hex inspected big enough to hold a tome that large?

OOC: Yes, the drawer is large enough to hold the tome described by Agin.