"Nothing," Truador answers, "Everything here seems clean." He thinks for a moment, "You said there was no magic on the pillow or anywhere else? That, and the fact that this place hasn't been tampered with...visibly at least, makes me wonder if there was more than one party involved in the murder of the last victim."

He moves on to the next room. He searches for anything that looks similar to the last crime scene.

Perception: 3 (Critical fail)

Investigation: 17

Zanibi takes a brief look through the books sitting on the shelves, trying to get an idea of what sort of books they are.  She then goes over and tries to open the closed closet door. (Investigation, if needed: 16)

"Yes, I agree, we should keep an open mind about that Truador." Inquisitive said and nodded to the dragonborn before continuing to the parlor.

The amount of dust seemed to be consistent with the time local law enforcement realized this might be a murder and closed off the site. Not being particularly knowledgable about horticulture Inquisitive simply assumed the water in the vase probably would need changing. He instead turned his attention to Amy, coming up behind her as she sat in the leather couch, leaning over her shoulder slightly to take a closer look at the book she was holding. "Yes, some stories seems to have interested Thaymoor, or his wife, more than others. Can you say if they all were on a specific subject?" He asked Amy as he pondered her question.

(Int check to know anything about Liang: 2 ) (Nevermind :-P )

The only Liang Inquisitive could recall having ever heard of was a rather gruff and grumpy priest he encountered during an investigation together with Zanibi some years ago. The man had been very rigidly religious and did not at all approve of the technological advancements made in society. It seemed unlikely that the man had been moonlighting as a writer of science fiction, but who knew. "And no, I don't think I know of this authour Amy." The tiefling said calmly.

Interesting. With that, Marvin will turn and just sort of travel through the house, observing everyone as he passes by them all while continuing to think about how he may have taken Nyral's arm in a fight and the drow refuses to tell him.

Perception if I can observe folks while moving through the house: 18

After wandering into the room where the tiefling is, he will look to ask a question when Inquisitive and Amy have finished speaking "So, what did ya'lls find in here compared to Elibyn's?"

"Less than I had hoped for to be quite honest." Inquisitive turned and said to Marvin. "We've found no signs of anyone searching the house as we did in Elibyn's bedroom, but more importantly we've found no traces of magic on Thaymoor's pillow, or anywhere else in the bedroom for that matter, but the pillow was quite torn so possibly the magic have dispersed due to that. Zanibi found a letter though, from Thaymoor's therapist. He seems to be in Pisor and I think we should try to get in touch with him as soon as possible about what Thaymoor was seeing him for."

As Nyral was expecting a reply or further inquiry but instead got nothing at the man walked away.  Nyral was left stunned for a moment as they were expecting more but then they just think to themselves that it was foolish.  Marvin is exactly who they think they are.  Writing off the bumbling fool the drow catches up with the rest of the group.  It seems no one is finding much this time beyond scraps of information.  The place seems extremely clean beyond the shredded bedroom.  Nyral hasn't found anything concrete that they were seeking but he was also interrupted by someone who he thinks just likes wasting other's time.

As Truador begins to weave a tale of conspiracies Nyral says "A group?  That sounds more like a wild leap without something to back it up.  The more actors in the plot the more opportunities for them to mess up.  Did you find something beyond the place is just clean?  Anyway, I haven't found anything.  The place seems to have been cleaned up of most of the wife's stuff.  Have we checked all the rooms yet?  Is there like a basement or attic?"  Nyral looks around trying to get a sense of other areas to check.  If there is a basement or attic he will check there next.  Also keeping an eye out for things of magic while inside.  Their drow eyes keen to pick up magical items.  Nyral completely ignores Marvin, thinking they had their chance to clear it up.

Perception: 9

Investigation: 9

magical Guidance for Perception - 1 Sorc point

perception: 21

Amy thumbs through the book, looking for correlation between the dog eared stories. She also searches for any notes penned in by Thaymoor or someone else.

Intelligence: 12

The dragonborn looks down at the drow, "Maybe not a group, but perhaps two different parties. I am simply suggesting that perhaps Elibyn had more than one person making her life miserable. Since we have not found any magical presents in this house, I'm wondering if the party that decided to curse Elibyn's pillow, is not the same as whoever is actually responsible for her death.

As you move to the parlor, Truador, it seems to be most of the same---everything looks clean and tidy, albeit a little dusty. No journals in sight, no letters, no stains on the carpet.

You peruse the shelves, Zanibi, looking closely at the titles of the books perched there. They mostly look like fiction books and books on agriculture, however there are one or two books on PTSD, and a few in a language that is not Common. Opening the closet door reveals a few pairs of shoes, dresses, overalls... mostly clothes. Up on a shelf in the closet lies a thick photo album.

Marvin, you take your time meandering around the house. Zanibi's in the bedroom, investigating in the closet, Nyral is looking around the house for something, and Inquisitive, Amy, and Truador are all in the parlor.

A single set of stairs leading up to the second floor is the only thing giving any indication of an attic or basement, Nyral.

The dog-eared pages are mostly cautionary tales, exploring topics like free will, time travel, greed, and consciousness. Amy, you see that a few annotations have been made, the occasional question mark next to a word or phrase. Below or next to each question mark is a brief explanation or definition correlating to the words, in flowery cursive writing. Nothing really stands out.

(ooc: By the way, guys, if you're into science fiction (or literature that makes you think) I highly recommend "Exhalation" by Ted Chiang, which is the inspiration for the book that Amy is investigating. Hands down one of my favorites!)

Zanibi looks up at the shelf in the closet and reaching for the book she sees up there she realizes there is no way she is going to get to it.  'Dowack Anexap' she chants. creating a spectral hand to appear next to the photo album.  The hand grasps it and delivers to Zanibi. She quickly flips through it.

"If there is no objection I'm going to head upstairs to look around.  I think most of down here has been searched."

With that Nyral heads upstairs to looking around and see what there is.  Step by step going up the flight until reaching the top of whatever there is up there.  The drow keeping an eye out for anything that catches their attention or any magical or normal traps.

Perception: 11

Finding nothing downstairs, Truador follows Nyral upstairs.

Perception: 17

Marvin responds to Inquisitive "Well, in the morning we could head to the center of town and give the therapist a call. I'm sure you'll be able to get a hold of him."

"Yes, thank you for being our guide here in Esperal, I'm sure we will have much use of that." Inquisitive answered Marvin, still curious of what Amy found in that book before turning his attention elsewhere in the house. "Anything yet?" He called out to the others in the house.

Zanibi:

The stairs Nyral and Truador are walking on give way to a dusty old attic. There are some boxes piled in a corner of the room, filled with a mix of books and used camera film. There's a single window on one wall, and butted up against the windowsill stands a drawered writing desk and a leather chair. On the desk, there are a few dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauruses. There is a single quill pen and a bottle of ink. There isn't much else.

The dust makes things easier for Nyral as he knows that anything even remotely recent will have the layer of dust removed.  An old trick he picked up.  An observation he learned to make with experience.  He would head for the desk first keeping his ability to detect magic activated as he approached the writing desk.  He checks for signs of use like a lack of dust or moved items as well as inside the various drawers.  If nothing of interest is found he looks for more signs of recent movement up here trying to find dust tracks on the floor of moved boxes as well as recently opened boxes that lack the layer of dust they would have if left undisturbed.  As they do so they ask Truador "What do you think Truador?  Do you think it unreasonable for me to hold information to protect another?"  The drow asks very nonchalantly as they continue their search.

Perception: 18

Investigation: 11

Zanibi takes the book, closing it up and tucking it away safely in her pack.  "Well now, wonder where everyone is at?" she asks herself, looking about.  Wandering back into the parlor she sees Amy, reading a book.  She wanders over, "My pardon, but what are you reading there? Something interesting?" 

"If you want the short answer, No. I do not think it's unreasonable. The long answer...well that depends on the circumstances. There is a time withhold information and a time to share it. I trust you know when do do so. I would like to say that I'm glad to be working with someone who holds to their word, even when pressured. Loyalty is not something to take for granted." Truador answers the drow as he continues to investigate.

Investigation: 10