"Now that was a stroke of luck", Drexon says as the blue vapor erupts from the cabinet. "Wouldn't have wanted that to be one of us".

He looks around at the assembled group and shakes his head.

"Burglars we are not", he says. "We aren't cut out for this, it is just a matter of time before we trigger something more deadly. Let's stick whilst we are ahead, see what we have and plan to return a bit more prepared?".

"That goes for the other stashes as well, we might want to invest in some tools or hire someone to help us out. We could visit the Verdant Masons tomorrow when it opens maybe".

Cob looks at the locked cabinet and strums a note on his fiddle. Crackling energy ripples along the string.

"Yeah, best I could do is just stand on the other side of the room and give this one a little nudge with some energy and see if it broke open," Cob says. Then he cocks his head to the side. "Might be worth a go just to see what happens."

"All of you are hopeless," a feminine sound says from the direction of the lodge door. You turn to see Mrs. Fallswind leaning on the door looking at your struggle with the padlock and the strongbox lock with amusement. "I was checking in to ask whether you would like to have dinner with us, but it seems like you are a bit busy. Need any help with that? I prefer you don't start blasting magic in this space. I don't really accept having a secret hideout under our house, but keeping mum is safer than the alternative. Scorch mark and destroyed furniture in the room is not keeping mum."

Drexon spins around, "Light on your feet aren't you. Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised", he says quickly putting on a smile.

"Would you prefer we try and talk our way out of this, or would you prefer honesty? If the latter, might you try and explain why we should trust you. The offer of dinner goes a long way of course, and the knowledge that you are not happy having this hideout below you".

As he asks the question, he probes into her surface thoughts, using his gift along with the recently acquired ring to make sure there is not a sign he is doing so.

Action: Cast Detect Thoughts using subtle metamagic - 1 sorcery point

"I can take a guess of why you're doing... whatever it is you're doing now," Mrs. Fallswind says. "Honestly, I don't really care whatever you do with the lodge. When that one guy came, I wanted to bury the damn place with dirt. It's a secret room underneath our house. For all I know, there could be a hidden back door in there that I don't know about."

Drexon, as you probe her mind, you can feel the irritation she felt paired with an image of a person's back who had bleached hair and wore a navy coat. For the most part, she is genuine in her concern and hopeful plan to bury the lodge. 

"Tell me one thing," she says. She moves her hand toward the notch you have been warned about by Sabe that will close and lock the lodge again. "Will this thing you're doing hurt the ranch? Be careful with your answer or you will have to find your own way out."

Drexon looks around to the others in the room before looking back to Mrs Fallswind and nodding.

"I totally understand your concern. I can say in complete sincerity that we in no way want to cause your family or your ranch any issues. We do not associate with those who use these safe houses, in fact quite the opposite. It may be that our presence here will bring unwanted attention though", he explains.

"The people who use these safe houses, and the man who came here before us, have motives of a dubious nature at best. I expect you are assuming our motives are no different though", he says with a sigh.

"I would like to assure you our motives for coming here and our goals in general are honourable, but we are no saints and would gladly take advantage of whatever we find here to further those goals. I will elaborate if you request me to, but I think you are smart enough to want to avoid too much detail".

"Having said all that, if you ask us to leave right now", he says and once again looks at the others before continuing, "we would. And if you choose to lock us in here, we will simply go out the back door and you wouldn't see us again". At the last statement he nods to the empty cabinet.

All through his speech, he is continuing to read her surface thoughts, until the minute is up and spell stops.

But there is also an opportunity to discuss further by a meal. There is not much to say except for very specific information but it could possibly be of our and your benefit adds Karm

Mrs. Fallswind is quiet for a long moment before she lets out an annoyed sigh. "That's the backdoor?" She asks, pointing toward the cabinet Drexon pointed out. "Where does it lead to? The sewer? You know what? Don't care. Don't wanna know. Plausible deniability. Just keep everything visible in its place. Do you still need help with that strongbox? You can either destroy it, which can damage the content, or you can crack it. I can crack it for you. I was a member of the Wisp when I was young. In exchange, you don't mention the ranch's knowledge in whatever you're doing. If you agree, I'll crack it and you can tell us what you can during dinner. We're having steak." 

Assuming Drexon spots no deceit in her thoughts, he will bite her hand off at the offer.

"That is a most fair offer, you would have our thanks were you to open it for us. Allow me to help, I have a way of helping people focus on the task at hand", he says, and slowly reaches out to touch her upper arm, only continuing if she allows, and helps her to focus.

He will also be interested in any and all thoughts she has regarding these Wisps.

Drexon, you sense that she holds nothing back when conversing with you. There is a sense of anticipation when she mentions the Wisp. You get a brief image of a younger Mrs. Fallswind staring across Mantagard from a high place with a couple of friends. You also get a brief image of an opulent festival where a couple of Mrs. Fallswind's companions can be seen snaking through the crowd, pickpocketing the rich, and generally disturbing the overly luxurious and unnecessary festival. 

Mrs. Fallswind nods at Drexon, moves in front of the strongbox, and begins removing a bundle from one of the pouches that hang on her belt. Unraveling the bundle, you can see a collection of well-used tools that can be mistaken for tinkering tools. She puts one of the tools on, the one that resembles a healer's stethoscope, and begins turning the dial. 

It takes no longer than 10 minutes before the strongbox clicks. The final combination reads 27-63-45. Mrs. Fallswind stops and stares at the number for a long while before tilting her head curiously. She shrugs and continues her work. She keeps the strongbox closed as she begins dealing with the strongbox's connection to the possible magical alarm. She begins carefully scratching the rune on the wall until it no longer glows and eventually fades. Repacking her tools, she swings the strongbox open. 

"27-63-45 is a very specific and peculiar set," Mrs. Fallswind says as she tidied her tools. "It's the day the last mayor of Mantagard was deposed, 27 Redmoon 345 ABM. He and his entire staff were corrupt. It was actually the year that the Wisp came together and later disbanded."

Inside the strongbox is a bundle of ledgers, letters, and reports. A brief scan tells you that these are the records for recent trades of illegal goods in the past few years by the Verdant Masons with several criminal organizations, one of which is the Residuum. The topmost letter, the most recent dating only a couple of weeks ago, contains a communique between an individual called Warhawk and the individuals called simply Keeper and Builder. There also seem reports concerning the movements of important people in the city, such as the mayor of Mantagard, the captain of the city guard, the first ranger of Mantagard's Rangers Conclave, and several others that you don't quite know the significance of. 

Cob looks up from the papers, chuckling as he does.

"Warhawk again," Cob says then sighs. 'I'm no ranger or city cop. This lot can steal as much as they like for all I care, it's a lead on where they're keeping these kids we need."

But he still grabs the Warhawk communique to see what it says.

"That is very impressive, we are grateful for your perhaps mis-spent youth", Drexon compliments Mrs Fallswind.

"Warhawk indeed, I guess we shouldn't be surprised. That date is oddly significant, when the old Mayor was deposed, was it perhaps in favour of a member of the Verdant Masons? Who did take over?", he asks.

He sifts through the papers, checking if they were in date order and seeing if they go back to that date.

"It's actually the opposite," Mrs. Fallswind says. "The corrupt one was under the backing of the Masons. That's why the Masons are quieter now. They used to have much more power in the city. Now, a member of the democrat party is the mayor and has been co-ruling the city with a council of all the prominent figures in the city, like the captain of the city guard, the first ranger, the chief of the merchant guild, and so on. Well, if you don't have anything else, let's discuss it over dinner if you want to know more."

Drexon, the oldest report goes back to around that year. The ledgers only cover the last 2 to 3 years. The letters only stretch back to last year. 

Cob, you read through the letter from Warhawk to Keeper and Builder and find that they were speaking about constructing a new tunnel under the city. They also talked about the Annex and how its collection needed to be updated. It seems mundane, but as you read, you get the feeling that this may not be all it seems. Something is going on with this letters, but you don't know what yet. 

Cob scoops up all the letters to take with them when they go for dinner.

"Maybe we can make some sense of these later," Cob says. "I think there might be a code in here."

"I could eat, but maybe we sort this place out first. How about we try and make it look like someone got in through the back door?", Drexon says and starts to tidy up after them, making it at least seem like the place hasn't been ransacked.

He then goes to the back door and tries to figure out a way to make it look like someone got in that way.

With a little fiddling, the cabinet that covers the passage to the sewer can be pulled aside. You can easily leave a dent that will appear as if someone had entered the lodge through the sewer forcefully.

"Better wreck the cabinet a bit from the back," Mrs. Fallswind adds. "One of you lay down and kick it from the back. It will make it appear as if someone had entered through the sewer. You also want to wreck that padlock. Scattering some of the contents of the shelves will make it as if you don't know what you're looking for. If you're taking everything with you, it's best if you also dent the strongbox a bit. Make it as if you cracked it open instead of picking it. Gives the scene a blatant clue that an amateur did it instead of someone experienced. It also gives it the feeling that the robbing is done by chance instead of deliberately. Also, make sure you have all of your equipment with you. Don't want to leave any clue that will lead whoever came in here next to your group."

”Got it.” Eremoz pulls out his crowbar and begins wrenching on the lock.

"A far better idea", Drexon says to Mrs Fallswind, and helps the others do as suggested,

He then stands ready ready to follow her back up to the ranch for the promised meal.

"A am no expert in cracking codes, but perhaps I can assist in trying later", he says to Cob.

After a while, the lodge look as if someone or a group had come in from the sewer passage and ransacked the place. Mrs. Fallswind pushes the notch when you have exited the room. The marble door rolls back and seems to slot in with a loud scraping sound. 

Following her back to the main house, you are greeted with the sight of Sabe Fallswind hurriedly waving his hand in the air. Drexon, Dvark, and Eremoz, you can see him pretending to wave in your direction while subtly pocketing a pipe. Eremoz, in particular, can hear Mrs. Fallswind's knowing annoyed growl at the sight. 

"Well, hello, friends!" Sabe greets. "Have you finished your business? We've prepared a place for you at our table if you want." He looks at his wife's approaching form and immediately faces Eremoz. "Hey, cat guy, maybe you and wifey can discuss that pendant you asked about while we have our meal. We're having steak."

"My grandmother's pendant?" Mrs. Fallswind asks, turning slightly toward Eremoz. "What's your interest in it?"

“Oh, umm yes. Well I was looking at your work and it is beautiful. I just began working with runes, myself… Anyways, the symbol on the pendant is familiar to me. It was on the wall of my childhood home. I thought it a mere decoration, but I saw it one other time, far away. What can you tell me about it?”