Inquisitive worked patiently with the images until Tare was satisfied with the likeness of Togs and Teeon. The tiefling found it a bit curious that they both had some resemblances to animals which were likely no coincidence. "Thank you Mrs. Onshaneo-Shadowdancer, just one more question." Inquisitive said and commited the image of Teeon to mind before letting it disappear. "Did anything special happen at the Carnival apart from you meeting Tods and Teeon?"

Group 1: Zanibi, Marvin

Zanibi, you find Josias a few bookshelves down from the small Psychology section, organizing books under the fiction section and making good use of the floating hand that is helping him. "Hmm. I'd have to look in the back for that, but I'm sure we may have one or two books available on magic. Not sure if it'll be what you're looking for, though. Follow me." He leads you to a large filing cabinet at the back wall of the library, and begins sifting through files. A small 'aha' escapes his mouth as he pulls out two cards and hands them to you. "These are the only books we have registered on magic and the arcane. Neither of them look like they've been checked out in a while, so they'll both be on the shelves." You look at the cards, unsure of what the numbers are, but the harengon explains that both books can be found in the Non-Fiction section. One is titled 'Codex Arcanum' and another simply 'Spellbinder.' When you move to said section and look for the two books, you're only able to find one, the Codex Arcanum, collecting dust on a low-level shelf.

Inquisitive:

"Well, there was the carnival itself. It was incredible, but the night show was the best part. If you haven't gotten a chance to see it yet, you really should. The performers were flipping all over the place, the sets were huge, the costumes were immaculate..." Tare trails off, and a melancholy shadow falls over her face. "But that was all. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Zanibi thanks Josias for all his help.  She will then begin with the one book that is present.  She cracks open 'Codex Arcanum' and starts to skim through it. (Investigation: 27)

"Thank you Mrs. Onshaneo-Shadowdancer, that was all." Inquisitive said and got up from his chair. "If you'll come think of anything please contact me. Just leave a message in the bar and I will come to see you again." The tiefling said with a polite smile and a nod before turning to leave, closing the door gently behind him, pondering Tare's words for a moment in the corridor before heading back to Nyral's suite.

Finding the suite empty Inquistive continued downstairs where he found Nyral and Truador at a table by themselves. "Zanibi and Marvin still at the library then?" Inquistive said as he found a seat at their table. "So, Truador, did you find anything out on your way back from Calda's place?" He said, trying to get the barmaids attention.

"Yes, she said something similar.  Personally I think it's my magic.  it's mechanical in nature.  I don't fully understand it but it does allow me to make up for my missing arm."  As if in demonstration Nyral summons the magically created mechanical hand and almost as if with much practice it takes a place similar to where one would expect the hand to be if there was two arms.  he picks up his cup with it with deft and practiced ease.  It seems to act like he has two hands despite the whirring and clicking of mechanical clockwork pieces in the hand quickly moving to accommodate the dexterous requirements Nyral forces on it.  After spinning the cup around a metal pointer finger he grabs the cup careful with the hand and places it back down only to banish the clockwork hand back to whatever magical realm he summoned it from.

It is around this time that Inquisitive shows up at the table in the tavern that Nyral and Truador were sitting at.  The drow smiles at them as they greet them and Nyral replies "No, they are not here yet.  To be expected though.  I imagine they will be busy with that most of the day reading various books and such."

(Cast Mage Hand)

FOR DM:

Truador, who had been memorized by Nyral's spectral, clockwork hand, blinks before looking over to Inquisitive. "Nothing that we didn't already know." He replies after thinking for a moment. "Was your investigation enlightening?" He puts his pendant back into his shirt as he says this. He doesn't do this hurriedly, the motion looks more like a habit than anything else.

Group 1: Zanibi, Marvin

Zanibi:

Group 2: Truador, Nyral, Inquisitive:

Nyral:

Zanibi smiles as she thumbs through 'Codex Arcanum', but after a few moments she replaces it back on the shelf.  She slowly makes her way back over to Josias. "My pardon, but it seems one of the books on your list is missing. I'm afraid I can't find 'Spellbinder'.  Any suggestions on where to look for it?" 

Inquisitive gave Truador's pendant a curious glance, making another wave for the barmaid. "Admittedly not much but Tare mentioned being at the carnival with Thaymoor four days before he died and that they met another couple there." the tiefling said, making a gesture with his hand making two faces appear in front of Truador and Nyral. "This is Togs and Teeon, they told Thaymoor and Tare they were visiting from Pisor and that they were staying at a friend's house here but didn't say who. They had similar experiences and mentioned being from a city not too far fom where Thaymoor and Tare lived as children." He explained, then turning to the drow. "Considering the excellent service this establishment seem to provide you with perhaps someone in the staff could tell you if Togs and Teeon has been seen around? I wouldn't say it's a top priority but I would like to speak to them at some point. When Zanibi and Marvin get back from the library I suggest we all go to the carnival, unless you've come up with other venues of inquiry."

(Descriptions of Togs and Teeon in post # 539 :-)

Nyral nods and examines the image of the human and half-elf couple that Inquisitive produces.  "Togs and Teeon huh?  I'll keep an eye out for them.  I'll ask a few people I know too.  I don't have anything to add other then snooping around.  So it sounds like we got some time to relax until Marvin and Zanibi get back.  Maybe I'll make use of the hot-tub for a bit."  Nyral gets up and nods to Truador, "It's been a delight getting this chance to chat." he then look to Inquisitive "You should really take a break as well.  I'm going to my room for a bit, I won't be too long then if you both want why don't we make our way to the library if they still are not back and make plans to gather information in the town in general while they finish their studies?"  Nyral will wait for a reply before heading towards his room to get cleaned.

DM

"I'll take a beak when th case breaks." Inquisitive muttered to himself. "I will head over to the library then. Are you coming with me?" The tiefling turned and asked the dragonborn beside him, getting up from his chair to leave.

After studying the paper from post #538 Marvin searches the library for Zanibi. "Is there anything else we need to search for? I haven't found anything else of interest or helpfulness yet."

Truador studies the two faces Inquisitive conjures up in front of him. "I will keep an eye out for them as well. I also agree that we should go to the carnival once the others return."

Truador looks at Nyral, listening to what he says before smiling and replying, "Yes, I look forward to doing so again."

The dragonborn stands up, then pushes his chair back under the table. "I don't see why not." He replies to Inquisitive before following the Tiefling to the library.

Zanibi nods to Marvin as he comes over. "Just asking Josias here about a book that is missing. Or at least, the records show it hasn't been checked out, but isn't on the shelves. I haven't found much either. A basic book on the arcane that brought back some memories, but nothing pertinent to the case."

In the company of Truador, Inquistive made his way to the town library, asking for directions when needed. "So, any thoughts on the case so far? Do you think we will find anything of interest at that carnival?" He asked the dragonborn as the walked together.

"Hmmm, I do think we will. I have guessed that this whole thing is tied to the carnival in some way. This is one of the most interesting cases I've been on. I've never dealt with this type of curse before not to mention I usually had some kind of lead on who the killer was from the start." The dragonborn replies in his gravely voice. "How about you? You and Zanibi have been on many such investigations yes? What are your thoughts?"

Group 1: Zanibi, Marvin

Josias considers this for a moment, placing the stack of books in his arms on the empty cart next to him. "I was wondering which one it was," he mutters, mostly to himself. "I don't know why, but every time I put it on a shelf it moves somewhere else within the day by itself. It tends to roam around the library like cattle. I think the book itself is magic, though I've never bothered to check." He says all this nonchalantly, as if a book growing legs and wandering around the library by itself was a regular occurrence. "If it's not hiding behind the books in the Non-Fiction area, then it's most likely under the front desk or wedged between the newspaper archive booklets. They're over there," He points to another section of the library, all the way on one side. "I can look at the front desk, and around the library in case it's somewhere else."

Nyral: