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I am usually good at finding thins says Karm while he bends down on one knee and begins to look for the Smokebomb in what he assumes to be a corner of the room.
“We are fine. Let’s take a left hand search of the room. Everyone on hands and knees, keep contact with the outside foot of the man in front of you. It’ll let us cover the most area without missing spots.” Eremoz drops down and makes sure everyone gets in place before sweeping the floor.
You are on your hands and knees, slowly making your way across the room to find the source of this smoke. With Cob's spell, you can see faint outlines of objects around you, further helping your already obscured field of view.
All of you start to notice that some objects with faint outlines are not simple objects. Some of them are people. You help them as best as you can, moving them to the side to lean on the wall, and you count 6 of them, all unconscious. You also notice that there are objects that should not be here -- objects that are not intended for someone that has already passed their adolescent years. You see toys and children's clothing. There is even a pacifier and an owlbear doll on one of the tables. In one corner, there are a couple of small mattresses, fit for several children to sleep in.
After a few moments, you manage to help Hotis find the smoke device. He makes a noncommital hum as he fiddles with it. With a few taps and slides, the device shuts down with a sharp zing.
"Very nice construction," Hotis comments. "Whoever created this is a very skilled artificer."
It is very gradual, but it is noticeable that the smoke is magical from the way it slowly disperses by itself. The room begins to clear, and you can see more clearly the 6 unconscious people that you have helped. You also see that at one corner of the room is an impromptu bed for children. On one of the walls, you can see a corkboard. Whatever was hanging there had been taken forcefully.
Drexon, you recognize one of the unconscious people as a part of the group of apprentices that you saw when you read the Mason's chamberlain's mind.
Drexon stands up, leans against the wall to steady himself and surveys the scene, taking note of the apprentice he recognises.
"Ok, this is more than a little creepy", he says looking to Julian. "Care to explain why you have all these child's belongings tucked away in a secret room?".
He points to the corkboard, "And what was on this?".
Turning to Hotis, "And what about you? That is one of your apprentices isn't it?".
"None of your business," Julian says with gritted teeth. He reaches down to his pocket and draws 20 copper. He seems annoyed and just about to froth at the mouth in anger. "You want payment? Take it and leave. It's more than a day's wage here for five people. I don't need your service here anymore. Leave!"
"That is correct," Hotis says with a disappointed look on his face. Cob, to you he doesn't seem to cover that he knows his apprentice is not supposed to be here. He gives off a calm demeanour and doesn't seem too bothered about the accusation. Instead, he seems more curious about the smoke device in his hand. "I will deal with him later. This device, though, confirms my suspicion that this is a deliberate and planned attack. Someone has stolen something from this room using this device as a cover. Clever."
"Wolf pendant?" Julian asks. "Wolf Pendant?! That good-for-nothing thief dared steal from me!" He looks toward Hotis and motions toward the group as a whole. "Deal with this. I have a thief to find and kill."
Without waiting for an answer, Julian rummages around a shelf and pulls out a mean-looking sleek hand crossbow. He rushes upstairs, shouting for his guards.
"A futile endeavour, if I may say so myself," Hotis comments as Julian leaves. "There is only one thief in the entirety of the Verdant Trammel, perhaps even the continent of Vorgeris, with the calling card of a silver wolf." He turns the device and deliberately shows the group one of the faces of the device. You can see the image of a silver wolf maw etched faintly on the surface. "Her pseudonym is Lupa and she has never been caught since the beginning of her career around 20 years ago."
"Now, as Julian has given me the responsibility to escort you out," Hotis motions toward the staircase, "please, gentlemen, if you will. Behind his calm exterior, Julian is a very paranoid and angry person. If you remain here any longer, I fear you may be implicated with the theft and he will turn your anger to you. After all, you are the only break in his routine on the day Lupa managed to enter this basement."
Drexon watches Julian storm out on hearing about the wolf pendant, then turns his attention to Hotis as the Grand Mason explains the significance of the wolf motif and asks them to leave.
"Oh, I think we have a little time before he calms down and turns his thoughts back here", he says. "We may as well take a quick look for any clues that might be found as to how this Lupa managed to break in".
With that, he starts to walk around the periphery of the room. "A secret room below ground might perhaps have another exit. As a mason, I am sure you are perfectly attuned to such intricacies", he adds to Hotis.
Hotis looks at Drexon shrewdly and shakes his head.
"This is the only one you will find," he says, holding the smoke device up. "Lupa is... a master thief, you could say. She stole the White Point Star a decade ago. It's an extremely valuable diamond held in the deepest and most heavily guarded vault of the Bank of Yvraithe in Timaril. It was a very hushed and secretive matter, but my predecessor was called as an expert to investigate the case. He found nothing that could possibly allow Lupa to traverse the traps and enchantments of the vault and steal the diamond unless she managed to discover the secret of teleportation. A year later, she bypassed the defences again to return the diamond. Both times, the only identifier that it was the same person was a painting of a wolf maw on the pedestal where the diamond resided."
"If Lupa is interested in whatever Julian is keeping here," he continues, "then he either unknowingly pissed her off, or he is dabbling in something that warrants something to be stolen from him. As far as I know, Lupa never steals without any reason. She cannot be said to be altruistic, but she often steals from rich people who publicly brag about their wealth. Julian must have done something to warrant this. Or, we have a copycat, which I doubt very much given the quality of this device."
He looks at each of you when you insist on staying and looking around. Slowly, he seems to come to an understanding. "Ah, I remember you," he says with a nod. "You are that group from this morning. The curious ones who Raymond said are interested in the history of the Verdant Mason and Mantagard. That is correct, as a mason I know where an exit is. However, as a sign of my friendship with Julian, I will withhold such information but inform you that she will not spend so much money on this device if she can just go through the backdoor. It's not in her nature. That is why she never steals from the Verdant Mason. Our hidden passageway is more or less common knowledge. It's not as interesting or challenging for her."
You try to look, but as Hotis said, you find nary a mark. There are no scuff mark or footprints on the floor. The walls of the room are unblemished.
You look at the stair hall and find the same thing. Apart from some scuff marks on the lip of the staircase from people coming and going, the place is clean. If there was a thief passing through here, it's a very good and careful thief.
However, as you return back to your friends, you feel something in your suit's pocket. It feels like a wad of papers.
“Forget for a moment the thief and what was stolen, do you not find it concerning that Julian has obviously been keeping children here?”, Drexon says to Hotis, motioning at the children’s toys and child sized mattresses.
“You are obviously good friends with Julian, protecting his interests. Are you going to brush this under the rug?”.
"I do not cast judgement for what he did or does," Hotis says. "As far as I know, some of his employees could be bringing their children here when they work. The toys for the children to play and the mattresses for the children to take a nap in. I do, however, will take your accusation into account. I will not brush this matter off, but I will also not allow baseless accusations to destroy our working relationship. I promise I will investigate the matter. This is a security risk, as we already experience. Bringing children here is a danger in case the place is attacked like this again."
Drexon gives Hotis an are you kidding me sort of look, before turning his back on the Grand Mason.
He looks at the unconscious people, and asks of Eremoz, “Were all these involved in the private game? Any idea who they are? I mean, this apprentice surely wasn’t part of it? Am I right to assume this secret room was not open during the game?”.
“I can’t speak about anything inside the room. Some kind of enchantment they placed on me as I entered the room.” Eremoz keeps his hand on the papers in his pocket. “We should leave. We have a job tomorrow and I don’t feel like having Julian suspicious of us.”
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Drexon makes his way downstairs, listening to the conversation that is going on.
”You ok Eremoz?”, he asks as he almost bumps into the Leonin. Whilst he is next to Eremoz he will make telepathic contact.
”What happened? Did you learn anything?”.
He then goes about searching for whatever it is that is producing the smoke.
Perception: 16+5=21
Cob's Perception: 16
I am usually good at finding thins says Karm while he bends down on one knee and begins to look for the Smokebomb in what he assumes to be a corner of the room.
Investigation: 21
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
“We are fine. Let’s take a left hand search of the room. Everyone on hands and knees, keep contact with the outside foot of the man in front of you. It’ll let us cover the most area without missing spots.” Eremoz drops down and makes sure everyone gets in place before sweeping the floor.
Perception 16
You are on your hands and knees, slowly making your way across the room to find the source of this smoke. With Cob's spell, you can see faint outlines of objects around you, further helping your already obscured field of view.
All of you start to notice that some objects with faint outlines are not simple objects. Some of them are people. You help them as best as you can, moving them to the side to lean on the wall, and you count 6 of them, all unconscious. You also notice that there are objects that should not be here -- objects that are not intended for someone that has already passed their adolescent years. You see toys and children's clothing. There is even a pacifier and an owlbear doll on one of the tables. In one corner, there are a couple of small mattresses, fit for several children to sleep in.
After a few moments, you manage to help Hotis find the smoke device. He makes a noncommital hum as he fiddles with it. With a few taps and slides, the device shuts down with a sharp zing.
"Very nice construction," Hotis comments. "Whoever created this is a very skilled artificer."
It is very gradual, but it is noticeable that the smoke is magical from the way it slowly disperses by itself. The room begins to clear, and you can see more clearly the 6 unconscious people that you have helped. You also see that at one corner of the room is an impromptu bed for children. On one of the walls, you can see a corkboard. Whatever was hanging there had been taken forcefully.
Drexon, you recognize one of the unconscious people as a part of the group of apprentices that you saw when you read the Mason's chamberlain's mind.
Drexon stands up, leans against the wall to steady himself and surveys the scene, taking note of the apprentice he recognises.
"Ok, this is more than a little creepy", he says looking to Julian. "Care to explain why you have all these child's belongings tucked away in a secret room?".
He points to the corkboard, "And what was on this?".
Turning to Hotis, "And what about you? That is one of your apprentices isn't it?".
Quite the curious situation indeed. Is that something we talk about behind closed doors?
Karm stands close to Drexon with crossed arms and tries to get a read of the people.
Insight: 10
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
"None of your business," Julian says with gritted teeth. He reaches down to his pocket and draws 20 copper. He seems annoyed and just about to froth at the mouth in anger. "You want payment? Take it and leave. It's more than a day's wage here for five people. I don't need your service here anymore. Leave!"
"That is correct," Hotis says with a disappointed look on his face. Cob, to you he doesn't seem to cover that he knows his apprentice is not supposed to be here. He gives off a calm demeanour and doesn't seem too bothered about the accusation. Instead, he seems more curious about the smoke device in his hand. "I will deal with him later. This device, though, confirms my suspicion that this is a deliberate and planned attack. Someone has stolen something from this room using this device as a cover. Clever."
Cob steps to the crib and children's belongings, lifting them up and looking closely at them, a deepening frown on his face.
"Who's missing?" Cob asks as he looks at the items. "Someone ran past once we had opened the door and started coming down the stairs."
He feels the pendant in his pocket but he doesn't pull it out.
"They were wearing a silver wolf head pendant."
"Wolf pendant?" Julian asks. "Wolf Pendant?! That good-for-nothing thief dared steal from me!" He looks toward Hotis and motions toward the group as a whole. "Deal with this. I have a thief to find and kill."
Without waiting for an answer, Julian rummages around a shelf and pulls out a mean-looking sleek hand crossbow. He rushes upstairs, shouting for his guards.
"A futile endeavour, if I may say so myself," Hotis comments as Julian leaves. "There is only one thief in the entirety of the Verdant Trammel, perhaps even the continent of Vorgeris, with the calling card of a silver wolf." He turns the device and deliberately shows the group one of the faces of the device. You can see the image of a silver wolf maw etched faintly on the surface. "Her pseudonym is Lupa and she has never been caught since the beginning of her career around 20 years ago."
"Now, as Julian has given me the responsibility to escort you out," Hotis motions toward the staircase, "please, gentlemen, if you will. Behind his calm exterior, Julian is a very paranoid and angry person. If you remain here any longer, I fear you may be implicated with the theft and he will turn your anger to you. After all, you are the only break in his routine on the day Lupa managed to enter this basement."
Drexon watches Julian storm out on hearing about the wolf pendant, then turns his attention to Hotis as the Grand Mason explains the significance of the wolf motif and asks them to leave.
"Oh, I think we have a little time before he calms down and turns his thoughts back here", he says. "We may as well take a quick look for any clues that might be found as to how this Lupa managed to break in".
With that, he starts to walk around the periphery of the room. "A secret room below ground might perhaps have another exit. As a mason, I am sure you are perfectly attuned to such intricacies", he adds to Hotis.
Hotis looks at Drexon shrewdly and shakes his head.
"This is the only one you will find," he says, holding the smoke device up. "Lupa is... a master thief, you could say. She stole the White Point Star a decade ago. It's an extremely valuable diamond held in the deepest and most heavily guarded vault of the Bank of Yvraithe in Timaril. It was a very hushed and secretive matter, but my predecessor was called as an expert to investigate the case. He found nothing that could possibly allow Lupa to traverse the traps and enchantments of the vault and steal the diamond unless she managed to discover the secret of teleportation. A year later, she bypassed the defences again to return the diamond. Both times, the only identifier that it was the same person was a painting of a wolf maw on the pedestal where the diamond resided."
"If Lupa is interested in whatever Julian is keeping here," he continues, "then he either unknowingly pissed her off, or he is dabbling in something that warrants something to be stolen from him. As far as I know, Lupa never steals without any reason. She cannot be said to be altruistic, but she often steals from rich people who publicly brag about their wealth. Julian must have done something to warrant this. Or, we have a copycat, which I doubt very much given the quality of this device."
He looks at each of you when you insist on staying and looking around. Slowly, he seems to come to an understanding. "Ah, I remember you," he says with a nod. "You are that group from this morning. The curious ones who Raymond said are interested in the history of the Verdant Mason and Mantagard. That is correct, as a mason I know where an exit is. However, as a sign of my friendship with Julian, I will withhold such information but inform you that she will not spend so much money on this device if she can just go through the backdoor. It's not in her nature. That is why she never steals from the Verdant Mason. Our hidden passageway is more or less common knowledge. It's not as interesting or challenging for her."
Eremoz begins quietly examining the floor, looking for footprints or odd markings. “We might as well make some use of the night.”
Perception 15
You try to look, but as Hotis said, you find nary a mark. There are no scuff mark or footprints on the floor. The walls of the room are unblemished.
You look at the stair hall and find the same thing. Apart from some scuff marks on the lip of the staircase from people coming and going, the place is clean. If there was a thief passing through here, it's a very good and careful thief.
However, as you return back to your friends, you feel something in your suit's pocket. It feels like a wad of papers.
“Forget for a moment the thief and what was stolen, do you not find it concerning that Julian has obviously been keeping children here?”, Drexon says to Hotis, motioning at the children’s toys and child sized mattresses.
“You are obviously good friends with Julian, protecting his interests. Are you going to brush this under the rug?”.
"I do not cast judgement for what he did or does," Hotis says. "As far as I know, some of his employees could be bringing their children here when they work. The toys for the children to play and the mattresses for the children to take a nap in. I do, however, will take your accusation into account. I will not brush this matter off, but I will also not allow baseless accusations to destroy our working relationship. I promise I will investigate the matter. This is a security risk, as we already experience. Bringing children here is a danger in case the place is attacked like this again."
Drexon gives Hotis an are you kidding me sort of look, before turning his back on the Grand Mason.
He looks at the unconscious people, and asks of Eremoz, “Were all these involved in the private game? Any idea who they are? I mean, this apprentice surely wasn’t part of it? Am I right to assume this secret room was not open during the game?”.
Cob gestures at the board on the wall.
"If there was a thief, what did they take?" Cob ask, as he then gathers up some of the toys.
“I can’t speak about anything inside the room. Some kind of enchantment they placed on me as I entered the room.” Eremoz keeps his hand on the papers in his pocket. “We should leave. We have a job tomorrow and I don’t feel like having Julian suspicious of us.”