Cassra frowns and rubs her chin thoughtfully, leaving a blue smudge. "If the thief had access to this ink," she says quietly, "It doesn't just sound like we're dealing with a thief; it sounds like we're dealing with a rat."

"I think it would be best if you accompany me to pay a visit to my supervisor, Master Openrael. He's the Head Curator and he knows the Library inside and out. He is an exceptionally busy man, but perhaps this is a matter worthy of his time."

Hex cocks her head at Cassra's reaction, not expecting it. "A rat? I'm assuming this ink is special then?"

Insight check on Cassra to see if she might be lying or hiding information: 10

Sylyra, deciding to keep quiet, cocks an eyebrow at the unexpected response.

"If the ink is special then I should also like to know who has access to it."

"It is. As far as I know this ink is not used outside of Mantor's Library. Master Openrael will be able to tell you more, if you will accompany me," she answers.

For Hex:

Hex looks slightly embarassed at Cassra. Even though she didn't outright accuse the halfing to her face, her genuine earnestness makes Hex feel somewhat guilty. She nods to Cassra and dutifully follows behind her. "Thanks for your help, Cassra. We were planning on heading over to the library to see if we could find anymore information about the books anyway, seeing as two of them were previously part of collections held there... You wouldn't happen to know anyone who has a first or last name starting with B that works at the library, would you?"

"None come to mind," Cassra says as she leads you across the floor toward another office. "One would think, naturally, that the Scribe Master would know about all of the other scribes at the Library, but really it just means I get the most important and high profile work. Master Openrael, though, has been here for decades. His knowledge of the Library's cataloguing system and his employees is unsurpassed."

The smell of paper, glue, and ink fills your nose as the door to the Master Librarian's office opens. Before you stands a man that appears to be as dusty and worn as the books and scrolls that are stacked neatly around his office.

A human in the twilight of his life, Openrael has a surprisingly bright shock of red hair tied in a long braid. His teal-colored eyes have pale-cast, betraying hints of elvish blood somewhere in his family's history. He wears plain red robes, the style you have seen among the other librarians of Mantor's Library, with a single silver chain and insignia indicating his elevated status.

He turns as Cassra knocks and opens the door, raising a single eyebrow at the intrusion. He says nothing.

Hex waits for a moment, expecting Openrael to say something. When he doesn't, she clears her throat and introduces the party. "Ah, hello! Sorry to interrupt, we've been hired to investigate into the thefts of some books that were originally a part of the library's collection. We've found some evidence that whoever stole them might be someone who works here as well. We heard that you know pretty much everything there is to know about the library. Could we ask you some questions?"

Hex Persuasion: 14

"Well, you don't have an appointment," the Curator says, steepling his fingers, "But I may be able to spare a moment."

He motions for Cassra to close the door behind her, and she obliges.

"I know very little regarding the circumstances of the theft of the three books, but I am aware of their disappearance. What is it that you would like to know? I find the notion of your suspicion troublesome, considering the source of my preoccupation when I was interrupted."

While Hex has Openrael occupied, Sylyra takes inventory of the room.

Hex pulls out the note they found and shows it to Master Openrael. "We found this on the body of some attackers who claimed they were hired by a man with hands stained with blue ink. We went to Cassra since she also had stained hands and thought she might know more. You say our suspicion is troublesome... If I may ask, what exactly were you working on before we interrupted? Have you also found evidence of, in Cassra's words, a rat?"

Openrael's eyes scroll across the page as he reads the note, handing it back to Hex. "Yes, this ink is typically used by the scribes of the library."

When Hex asks about finding a rat, the Curator seems to ponder the question carefully. "No. A tenured scribe could theoretically be a thief, but none of my staff members would do such a thing. As for what I was working on..."

He begins to pace around as he continues, "Two of my staff members have gone missing - Garda Greenleaf and Ellison Berenger. Their absence has thrown the day's shifts into disarray. I have been trying to rearrange schedules to ensure that the Library can continue to run smoothly."

For Sylyra:

Still looking about, Sylyra asks, "Could you describe the missing?"

"The note is signed off by someone who goes by "B." No chance that might be Ellison Berenger?"

 Briny lets the others talk as she takes out her page of notes, ready to write carefully in small script to not waste any space on the page.

"Garda is a senior librarian with a flawless record of attendance. Ellison has been employed as a scribe for just four months, but has otherwise proven to be a reliable hire," Openrael describes. He shakes his head when Hex asks about the chances of Ellison being a thief. "Certainly not. His disappearance, however, may not be entirely coincidental. It could be that finding Ellison may be the key to finding out what precisely has happened."

The orderly man walks behind his desk, pulling a ledger out from a drawer and leafs through it for a moment. After a quick glance, he says, "Ellison was scheduled to be working in the Archives today. That may be a good place to start looking."

With a smirk, Cassra mentions, "The Archives is a vast place. I don't suppose any of you might know how we could narrow down that search?"

Briny speaks up after Cassra. "Yes, perhaps if we know what his task is we may be able to narrow down his location. But about these missing employees, do their disappearances seem connected? would they maybe have friends here that might know something about their habits, or where they could have gone to?"

"We could always light it on fire and see who comes running," Sylyra offers.

Hex stifles a laugh at Sylyra's comment before clearing her throat and regaining composure. "What exactly are the Archives? I would assume it's, well, a place where you archive things but is there anything else we might need go know about the place?"