Graxx's heart sinks and he feels sick to his stomach as Aya confirms what he feared.
If the Library has a record then the suspects list is much larger than who knew the book was here as anyone such as Spernik before could have found these records and found where the books were.
Graxx then listens to Utar's words and thinks on the warding.
"Yes... It must be someone who knew of the warding."
Graxx can think of no more questions but he does ponder on the "Weave" this book is about. Does Graxx recall anything about a "Weave"?
(@Ori: Obsben's arcana check reveals the same information as delivered to @MB/@Utar above.)
To Utar: "I've had a few apprentices over the years, sure, but none presently. My only helper at the moment is the unseen servant scribbling in the background. I am sure you can hear the noises of pen on parchment. Apart from that, I guess a few other people aside from customers do come in here with some frequency. I receive periodical supply deliveries from other local shops, and I do indeed hire a shopkeeper or errand boy every now and then when I don't want to spend my magical or physical energy on dull tasks such as cleaning or posting a letter... doesn't everyone employ such mundane services?"
To Obsben: "Hmm.. Of course. I received no results from my magical search."
@Ori/@Obsben: You get a read on her. (See spoiler below.)
You discern she is hiding something from the group.
As for her personality, Aya has a bit of an ego. She seems well aware of the allure and mystery that her racial heritage evokes, and has no reservations against capitalizing on it. She has been trying to subtly use her charms in this very encounter with CRAP, but no fish has bitten just yet. You sense that she is quick with a coy smile and a twist of the hair if it gets her what she wants.
There's more out there but this is what you pick up for now.
@Grx/@Graxx: You have heard many wizard-types mentioning this "Weave" over the years, though you have never fully understood what they meant by it. You have pieced it together that it is some sort of ever-present mystical energy from which arcane magic-users source and manipulate magic. Adding a few spells to your own repertoire recently, you can't say whether your own divine gifts interact with this Weave. If anything, they come directly from Tempus, to your understanding. In other words, the Weave is the way those who have not been blessed by the magic of the gods to still engage in spellslinging, but maybe the Weave itself is the power of the gods. You don't know.
@Drache/@Neya: Something is indeed suspicious here. (See spoiler below.)
You discern she is hiding something from the group. This is based not only on the answer she just gave Obsben but also on the answer she provided to your question on whether the book was the only item stolen from the store.
You also gather that, although Aya seems to be quite brilliant, especially when the Weave is discussed, she might not be quite as prolific a spellcaster as she wants others to believe.
Utar nods as the realisation comes to him, "Ah, that explains the faint noise. Have you made use of any such persons for mundane tasks recently? Does anyone stand out as strange, or oddly interested in things not directly related to what they were employed to do?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"We may run into the culprit at some point in our investigation," Neya says. "Considering how the criminal element typically is, we may come to blows. Who knows, this person's activities may have started sometime before this incident and may have something dangerous. We may be working on behalf of the Lord Sage, but we are freelancers. I'm only asking more for our safety should we encounter whomever's responsible. Are you sure nothing else was taken?"
Obsben nods sagely in seeming agreement with points brought up by others. And yet her own soon to be spoken words might instill some doubt of being on the same tangent, if not making a leap. "It was a jilted lover, wasn't it? The thief, that is. C'mon~ No need to be coy. Why a woman with your charm and no doubt expansive knowledge has to have even consider making a spell just to keep the nearby hounddogs from getting too out of hand, no?" She asks. "Not that you'd need magic for that, but it does tend to make things easier doesn't it?" Obsben continues on an almost playful tone. And yet beneath the veneer, she continued to keep a close eye on Aya's reactions.
"I run a business," she puts a soft hand on Utar's forearm. "I am constantly receiving and sending parcels. Service providers and customers stop by quite often. And no, they gave me no reason to become suspicious of them."
Although Obsben's strange tangent may hit the other CRAPers by surprise, Aya maintains her poise. Her answer is dismissive, and her touching of the halfling's shoulder is a bit provocative: "Well, we good-looking girls can barely go around town without garnering a few looks, isn't that right?"
Aya's reaction to Neya's question changes the tone of the conversation a bit. The shopkeeper listens attentively and eventually answers in an apologetic manner: "I... I wouldn't want you to get hurt... You should be careful out there and perhaps prepare for a violent thief capable of casting detect magic, fireball, and hold person from reading a spell scroll... or three..." She deploys puppy eyes. "But you have to understand I only omitted that information because... you see... I had invested a significant amount of time warding my shop and apartment. I did so to appease the Lord Sage and earn their trust by ensuring that anything kept within my abode was to be safe. The Lord Sage will likely use this theft as an excuse to demand the immediate return all of the Library's books in my possession, even if the expensive one if recovered. Please, you have to let them know I did all in my ability to keep the book safe. It is not my fault it was stolen! Please argue on my behalf, yes? They'll listen to you."
Graxx loses himself in his own thoughts and begins to signal it might be time to pay a visit to the next victim in their list. Almost sheepishly, Aya then adds: "Oh, and I guess my horn of blasting is missing too... Sorry."
Utar rubs a hand across his chin. The plot thickens! He makes a note to enquire as to whether other items were also stolen at the other properties, it might be that the missing books attracted the interest of the Master Scribe, but the reason for the thefts might be something else entirely.
"Just to be sure, was any warding disturbed that protected the scrolls or the horn? And presumably no scrying or other means of magical searching has given you any indication of where those items might be?"
“Of course. There have been similar incidents around the city. So, a good word from us along with that consideration should keep you in his good graces.”
"Hmmmm... So the thief may not be a wizard but instead using scrolls to bypass the wards? This increases the list of those that could be responsible." Graxx says aloud.
Obsben checks grew faintly flushed at the contact even as her expression remained it's usual calm and collectedness. But with the mood shifted slightly with Neya's questoning, she turned a touch more attentive and looked dangerously close to grab out a pad and charcoal pencil to start taking notes.
"Not entirely true, Graxx, as most not practiced in the arcane would find such things difficult to translate, let alone utilize. But it doesn't hurt to be cautious all the same.... especially with their having a horn of blasting at that. Powerful little trinket, if a bit... unpredictable for what I vaguely recall of such things." She cants her head and taps her chin. "Hm... Out of curiosity, were you made aware of who the other victims or have have paid them in a visit in the past few days?"
To Utar: "No, no other wardings were disturbed, but nothing else was as protected or as valuable as that book." She looks away as if embarrassed before adding: "And I am not proficient with divination magic..."
To Obsben: "No, I only recently heard about there being other victims. Master Brandywine said she would hire investigators, so I simply waited here." She then gestures toward the party, indicating the obvious.
While Graxx and Obsben discuss the merits of scroll usage, Neya gives the answer Aya was waiting for. "Thank you, thank you. Let me show my gratitude as I can and clear the way. You'll want to speak to Master Curator Opanrael about my arrangement. No rush, of course." Aya then pens a quick note on a nearby scrap of paper and passes it to the monkey on her shoulder. The familiar then scampers out the window with the note clutched tightly in its hand. "He'll know to expect you, whenever you are ready. Be sure to ask for him specifically, and not Master Brandywine. She hates my monkey."
With that, an air of conclusion blankets the shop. A few glances are exchanged as everyone begins to agree they better keep moving. As if to confirm that silent conclusion, Aya asks: "Is there any other question I can answer for you?"
Utar moves as if to begin leaving the shop as if satisifed and ready to move onto the next crime scene. "One last thing, if you don't mind, Ma'am? Was anything discovered in either your apartment or shop that wasn't there before the theft took place? Or had something been moved from its usual place?"
"Hates the monkey? Such a shame that. But duly noted for sure."Obsben assured and gave a thumbsup. Although perhaps slightly marring any honesty is a once again dozing Salty Bottom on her shoulder, drooling more orange juice on her shoulder. With that said, she remained quiet if only to better hear the others last questions, before it came time to start making their way to the next closest destination if none are a mind to beeline it for the Curator.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"No," she replies to Utar. "Nothing seemed out of place or dropped... The book was simply not there one afternoon."
She then just shrugs as to agree with Obsben's claim that hating the monkey is a crazy notion.
Silence takes over the shop for another few seconds, spurring Graxx to end the sudden awkwardness with rushed goodbyes. The group steps outside and, noticing some dusk rays are still in the air, decide it is still early enough to pay a stranger a visit. Without sudden cries for a quick stop by the library again, Neya directs the group to the next victim in the list. None of these destinations are too far from each other, so the group might as well go down the list in the order given by Cassra. Soon, the CRAPers find themselves in the Nobles' Quarter, approaching the house whose address Neya had memorized. The house is large, though not as large as some other veritable estates surrounding it. A beige stucco wall encircles the house, leaving enough space for a generous front yard. You can hear the sounds of battle taking place on the other side of the wall.
Shouts and the clamor of steel on steel are clearly audible even before the stout doors open. Quick instructions are given to an unseen trainee: "Fix yar posture." "Strike accurately, not wildly!" "Don't take yar eye off the target." As you approach, a bell rings and the lecture inside is paused. A middle-aged dwarf props one of the double doors open with the stump of an arm that has been amputated just above the elbow. Inside, a wide practice yard is surrounded by covered walkways set with chairs and tables. A number of people in various stages of exhaustion rest by a fire. The dwarf frowns as he bids you enter, “Come ya 'ere for a lesson?" This dwarven male is of middling age with short black hair and a well-trimmed black beard, well streaked with gray.
"Mn. Tempting for me as well, but I think not for now. How do you feel about monkeys though?"Obsben asks the dwarf. Notably, Salty Bottom is absent from sight, having returned to her hat during the trek on over. She then looks to the stump before meeting his gaze with another questioning look. And yet before the dwarf can answer she asks instead, "You wouldn't happen to know a Martin Foss, by the way? Because truthfully, well... we were to help out with a bit of missing property business."At which point she'd offer the letter/note from Cassra, if not look to whoever in the party had it been offered to at the time.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"While it's not what we're here for, I can't say a lesson is a bad idea. No matter how familiar with a weapon someone is, there's always more to learn. Or, sometimes, relearn," Neya says with interest.
Graxx's heart sinks and he feels sick to his stomach as Aya confirms what he feared.
If the Library has a record then the suspects list is much larger than who knew the book was here as anyone such as Spernik before could have found these records and found where the books were.
Graxx then listens to Utar's words and thinks on the warding.
"Yes... It must be someone who knew of the warding."
Graxx can think of no more questions but he does ponder on the "Weave" this book is about. Does Graxx recall anything about a "Weave"?
History: 19
Aya’s abrupt demeanor and response piques Neya’s interest.
Insight: 19
Extended Signature
(@Ori: Obsben's arcana check reveals the same information as delivered to @MB/@Utar above.)
To Utar: "I've had a few apprentices over the years, sure, but none presently. My only helper at the moment is the unseen servant scribbling in the background. I am sure you can hear the noises of pen on parchment. Apart from that, I guess a few other people aside from customers do come in here with some frequency. I receive periodical supply deliveries from other local shops, and I do indeed hire a shopkeeper or errand boy every now and then when I don't want to spend my magical or physical energy on dull tasks such as cleaning or posting a letter... doesn't everyone employ such mundane services?"
To Obsben: "Hmm.. Of course. I received no results from my magical search."
@Ori/@Obsben: You get a read on her. (See spoiler below.)
You discern she is hiding something from the group.
As for her personality, Aya has a bit of an ego. She seems well aware of the allure and mystery that her racial heritage evokes, and has no reservations against capitalizing on it. She has been trying to subtly use her charms in this very encounter with CRAP, but no fish has bitten just yet. You sense that she is quick with a coy smile and a twist of the hair if it gets her what she wants.
There's more out there but this is what you pick up for now.
@Grx/@Graxx: You have heard many wizard-types mentioning this "Weave" over the years, though you have never fully understood what they meant by it. You have pieced it together that it is some sort of ever-present mystical energy from which arcane magic-users source and manipulate magic. Adding a few spells to your own repertoire recently, you can't say whether your own divine gifts interact with this Weave. If anything, they come directly from Tempus, to your understanding. In other words, the Weave is the way those who have not been blessed by the magic of the gods to still engage in spellslinging, but maybe the Weave itself is the power of the gods. You don't know.
@Drache/@Neya: Something is indeed suspicious here. (See spoiler below.)
You discern she is hiding something from the group. This is based not only on the answer she just gave Obsben but also on the answer she provided to your question on whether the book was the only item stolen from the store.
You also gather that, although Aya seems to be quite brilliant, especially when the Weave is discussed, she might not be quite as prolific a spellcaster as she wants others to believe.
Utar nods as the realisation comes to him, "Ah, that explains the faint noise. Have you made use of any such persons for mundane tasks recently? Does anyone stand out as strange, or oddly interested in things not directly related to what they were employed to do?"
"We may run into the culprit at some point in our investigation," Neya says. "Considering how the criminal element typically is, we may come to blows. Who knows, this person's activities may have started sometime before this incident and may have something dangerous. We may be working on behalf of the Lord Sage, but we are freelancers. I'm only asking more for our safety should we encounter whomever's responsible. Are you sure nothing else was taken?"
Persuasion: 1
Extended Signature
Graxx will now remain silent as he knows not any more questions to ask or actions to take at this residence.
Graxx wants to find a pattern to these thefts and needs to visit the other thefts to try to determine what this pattern maybe.
While he is silent he ponders on this Weave.
Could this magic source be related to the Cult in some way? Could it be another source of magic to try to control dragons?
Or is it completely unrelated and some other evil doer? Or since this book was worth some coin maybe a simple thief looking to make some coin?
Graxx does not know.
Obsben nods sagely in seeming agreement with points brought up by others. And yet her own soon to be spoken words might instill some doubt of being on the same tangent, if not making a leap. "It was a jilted lover, wasn't it? The thief, that is. C'mon~ No need to be coy. Why a woman with your charm and no doubt expansive knowledge has to have even consider making a spell just to keep the nearby hounddogs from getting too out of hand, no?" She asks. "Not that you'd need magic for that, but it does tend to make things easier doesn't it?" Obsben continues on an almost playful tone. And yet beneath the veneer, she continued to keep a close eye on Aya's reactions.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"I run a business," she puts a soft hand on Utar's forearm. "I am constantly receiving and sending parcels. Service providers and customers stop by quite often. And no, they gave me no reason to become suspicious of them."
Although Obsben's strange tangent may hit the other CRAPers by surprise, Aya maintains her poise. Her answer is dismissive, and her touching of the halfling's shoulder is a bit provocative: "Well, we good-looking girls can barely go around town without garnering a few looks, isn't that right?"
Aya's reaction to Neya's question changes the tone of the conversation a bit. The shopkeeper listens attentively and eventually answers in an apologetic manner: "I... I wouldn't want you to get hurt... You should be careful out there and perhaps prepare for a violent thief capable of casting detect magic, fireball, and hold person from reading a spell scroll... or three..." She deploys puppy eyes. "But you have to understand I only omitted that information because... you see... I had invested a significant amount of time warding my shop and apartment. I did so to appease the Lord Sage and earn their trust by ensuring that anything kept within my abode was to be safe. The Lord Sage will likely use this theft as an excuse to demand the immediate return all of the Library's books in my possession, even if the expensive one if recovered. Please, you have to let them know I did all in my ability to keep the book safe. It is not my fault it was stolen! Please argue on my behalf, yes? They'll listen to you."
Graxx loses himself in his own thoughts and begins to signal it might be time to pay a visit to the next victim in their list. Almost sheepishly, Aya then adds: "Oh, and I guess my horn of blasting is missing too... Sorry."
Utar rubs a hand across his chin. The plot thickens! He makes a note to enquire as to whether other items were also stolen at the other properties, it might be that the missing books attracted the interest of the Master Scribe, but the reason for the thefts might be something else entirely.
"Just to be sure, was any warding disturbed that protected the scrolls or the horn? And presumably no scrying or other means of magical searching has given you any indication of where those items might be?"
“Of course. There have been similar incidents around the city. So, a good word from us along with that consideration should keep you in his good graces.”
Extended Signature
Graxx puts his hand to his chin.
"Hmmmm... So the thief may not be a wizard but instead using scrolls to bypass the wards? This increases the list of those that could be responsible." Graxx says aloud.
Obsben checks grew faintly flushed at the contact even as her expression remained it's usual calm and collectedness. But with the mood shifted slightly with Neya's questoning, she turned a touch more attentive and looked dangerously close to grab out a pad and charcoal pencil to start taking notes.
"Not entirely true, Graxx, as most not practiced in the arcane would find such things difficult to translate, let alone utilize. But it doesn't hurt to be cautious all the same.... especially with their having a horn of blasting at that. Powerful little trinket, if a bit... unpredictable for what I vaguely recall of such things." She cants her head and taps her chin. "Hm... Out of curiosity, were you made aware of who the other victims or have have paid them in a visit in the past few days?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
To Utar: "No, no other wardings were disturbed, but nothing else was as protected or as valuable as that book." She looks away as if embarrassed before adding: "And I am not proficient with divination magic..."
To Obsben: "No, I only recently heard about there being other victims. Master Brandywine said she would hire investigators, so I simply waited here." She then gestures toward the party, indicating the obvious.
While Graxx and Obsben discuss the merits of scroll usage, Neya gives the answer Aya was waiting for. "Thank you, thank you. Let me show my gratitude as I can and clear the way. You'll want to speak to Master Curator Opanrael about my arrangement. No rush, of course." Aya then pens a quick note on a nearby scrap of paper and passes it to the monkey on her shoulder. The familiar then scampers out the window with the note clutched tightly in its hand. "He'll know to expect you, whenever you are ready. Be sure to ask for him specifically, and not Master Brandywine. She hates my monkey."
With that, an air of conclusion blankets the shop. A few glances are exchanged as everyone begins to agree they better keep moving. As if to confirm that silent conclusion, Aya asks: "Is there any other question I can answer for you?"
Utar moves as if to begin leaving the shop as if satisifed and ready to move onto the next crime scene. "One last thing, if you don't mind, Ma'am? Was anything discovered in either your apartment or shop that wasn't there before the theft took place? Or had something been moved from its usual place?"
"Hates the monkey? Such a shame that. But duly noted for sure." Obsben assured and gave a thumbsup. Although perhaps slightly marring any honesty is a once again dozing Salty Bottom on her shoulder, drooling more orange juice on her shoulder. With that said, she remained quiet if only to better hear the others last questions, before it came time to start making their way to the next closest destination if none are a mind to beeline it for the Curator.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx will remain quiet and allow the others to ask any remaining questions.
"No," she replies to Utar. "Nothing seemed out of place or dropped... The book was simply not there one afternoon."
She then just shrugs as to agree with Obsben's claim that hating the monkey is a crazy notion.
Silence takes over the shop for another few seconds, spurring Graxx to end the sudden awkwardness with rushed goodbyes. The group steps outside and, noticing some dusk rays are still in the air, decide it is still early enough to pay a stranger a visit. Without sudden cries for a quick stop by the library again, Neya directs the group to the next victim in the list. None of these destinations are too far from each other, so the group might as well go down the list in the order given by Cassra. Soon, the CRAPers find themselves in the Nobles' Quarter, approaching the house whose address Neya had memorized. The house is large, though not as large as some other veritable estates surrounding it. A beige stucco wall encircles the house, leaving enough space for a generous front yard. You can hear the sounds of battle taking place on the other side of the wall.
Shouts and the clamor of steel on steel are clearly audible even before the stout doors open. Quick instructions are given to an unseen trainee: "Fix yar posture." "Strike accurately, not wildly!" "Don't take yar eye off the target." As you approach, a bell rings and the lecture inside is paused. A middle-aged dwarf props one of the double doors open with the stump of an arm that has been amputated just above the elbow. Inside, a wide practice yard is surrounded by covered walkways set with chairs and tables. A number of people in various stages of exhaustion rest by a fire. The dwarf frowns as he bids you enter, “Come ya 'ere for a lesson?" This dwarven male is of middling age with short black hair and a well-trimmed black beard, well streaked with gray.
Utar shrugs, taken aback by the offer. "I could use a lesson. If you're offering, I'll take a bit of your wisdom."
"Mn. Tempting for me as well, but I think not for now. How do you feel about monkeys though?" Obsben asks the dwarf. Notably, Salty Bottom is absent from sight, having returned to her hat during the trek on over. She then looks to the stump before meeting his gaze with another questioning look. And yet before the dwarf can answer she asks instead, "You wouldn't happen to know a Martin Foss, by the way? Because truthfully, well... we were to help out with a bit of missing property business." At which point she'd offer the letter/note from Cassra, if not look to whoever in the party had it been offered to at the time.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"While it's not what we're here for, I can't say a lesson is a bad idea. No matter how familiar with a weapon someone is, there's always more to learn. Or, sometimes, relearn," Neya says with interest.
Extended Signature