"Very well, very well..." Uril says, defeated. His heart racing, Uril tries to minimize the chances of the event turning into a full scene by simply walking away. He returns to his companions' side and reports on the latest developments through whispers, assuming he is not being followed by the guard in question.

"Anything happened while I was away?" Uril asks of Lorsan and Early upon rejoining them in the egg room.

Time was slowly but surely passing, and the evening drew to a close. The bell did not strike eight yet but the feeling was in the air. It was a good presentation, the Duke had spared no expense to ensure that the Gala was an event that would leave a lasting impression on all who attended. But now the time came for the guests to depart.

Duke Varkenbluff raised his glass one last time and offered a toast to the guests, thanking them for their attendance. The signal was loud and clear - the guests began to say their goodbyes and started to depart, buzzing with excitement and recounting the events of the evening. The Duke was waiting smiling and nodding to the most important guests, the Captain of the guard and the curator - both standing now at the top of the stairs leading to the main hall - added their words. 

It does not seem as if anyone is counting the guests. But the Duke and the guards are watching the flow of guests departing.

A sudden realization struck Uril. He has to control his impetus. He does so and manages to keep his voice low: "Wait, are we making it look like we are leaving? Are we hiding? What do we do?" He sincerely hoped the experienced thieves had something up their sleeve. He looked at Early and Lorsan for directives, as he still didn't know where Robin was.

Early looks to Uril, then to Lorsan, "Oh...I thought....the letter plan we were on was to do nothing, but, I can hide, for sure. I guess I'll wait there until I hear...the go code...." 

He scratches his head seeming unsure, but then shrugs and makes his way slowly towards the main staircase.  On the way, he sees if he can step lively and make his way to the washrooms without a guard noticing. 

It is unlikely someone will stop a guest who decided to get into the bathroom, even if the Gala is over. Checking afterwards could be another matter but for now Early can be confident he will not raise any questions.

Please, roll Stealth just to see how confident is he.

Prompted to follow suit, Uril waits a few seconds and than gestures as if actually going to the washroom this time. He found comfort in the idea that, should the guard from earlier be looking at him now, he would see the scribe/scholar actually going into the stall. This lent credibility to Uril's recent bout of deception.

Shall we assume Uril gets the bag from Lorsan?

-> Uril's stealth check: 24  

-> If allowed, he'd quickly think of his encouragement poem, adding 2 to that ability check. 

Lorsan nods to Uril and slips him the bag, then whispers: Good luck, sir scribe. I'll meet up with you all as soon as possible.

The elven professor Thor McTurjey then strolls confidently down the staircase, chatting meaninglessly with the departing guests, shaking hands with Evergreen and any other new acquaintances, as they enter the foyer. Lorsan feigns 'controlled impatience' as he waits by the cloak room for 'his bag' to be returned, then transitions gradually to 'restrained outrage' when it becomes apparent that his bag is not there. The longer the incident progresses, the more Lorsan kicks up a fuss, demanding to see the curator, the captain, the lord of the house himself, to see each guard and identify the one responsible, and so on and so forth.

[Tooltip Not Found] (if required): 11   If I haven't used my inspiration yet, then I'll use it here: 12.

That's supposed to be Performance 

OOC: The intent is to draw as much attention as possible in the short term to aid any of his companions' activities, as well as to hopefully rattle the staff somewhat for the rest of the night.

Uril slipped into the next bathroom not attracting anyone's attention, even the guard at the attic stairs seemed to look the other way (at least he did not remark about Uril's and Early's urgent needs).

Maybe the scandal that Lorsan started downstairs helped too. And that was a grandiose scandal! With expected results: all present nobles looked at "Prof McTurjey" with horrified disgust, scholars - with curiosity and caution. Lorsan suddenly found himself in the empty circle, people preferred to keep their distance and hurried outside. The servant of the temporary coatroom, which so far demonstrated remarkable memory not once mixing anyone's items, looked insulted and offered to walk for the captain and the curator. Outside guard, though, stepped in to take the burden on himself. While he was gone, the only sympathetic face in the quickly thinning crowd - ever-present Professor Evergreen - tried to defuse the situation. "I should not have offered that wine to you, my friend, it affects some people unpredictably. Please, friend, calm yourself. I am sure your bag will be found and sent to you later. Why, that could be your friend who took it, could not he? I do not see him around. Surely, he just went ahead of you. We shall ask the guards to search the museum, of course, very thoroughly but this is the most logical explanation."

The guard meanwhile began to descend to the origin of the scandal with the captain and curator following him. 

Early stealth : 14

Early is pretty sure no one was looking at him specifically. 

You are too kind, Professor, Lorsan replies to Evergreen, pretending to calm down somewhat. But you are quite correct, of course. Perhaps my good colleague did indeed depart with the bag. However, despite his apparent calmness, Thor McTurjey clearly hasn't abandoned the issue. He turns to the coatroom servant, and in a voice loud enough to be heard by the approaching captain and curator, demands: Tell me, sir, did you or did you not hand my bag to my gentleman colleague? It looks like thus. Lorsan conjures a Minor illusion that exactly replicates the look of the bag of holding, before continuing: If so, I'm sure he is waiting just outside, and upon confirmation I will give my utmost apology. If not, then I might suggest that it has been mistakenly placed in one of these other rooms... and Lorsan waves vaguely at the other two office doors.

Both the captain and the curator came closer while the servant - with the same cold and insulted look on his face - answered the heated inquiry. "I do remember your bag, Sir." (The expression of insult deepened, the man obviously was very proud of his memory and doubts about it hurt him) "However, neither you nor your friend had picked it up." The servant looked straight at the curator and declared. "Recently you, Dr. Van Lictor, came here, spent some time in the room and returned with the bag in question. Then you proceeded to the guard over there." The servant made a gesture full of underlined dignity toward the lone guard by the stairs.

Van Lictor's cold and suspicious eyes shifted to Lorsan, then back to the servant. "Did I now... Interesting. I can assure you, Percival, that once I and the good captain joined the guests upstairs I did not leave the second floor." His gaze returned to Lorsan. "Who are you, Sir? I don't believe we were introduced." He glanced at Professor Evergreen. "Is this a friend of your's Professor? Someone, you granted tickets, perhaps?"

Josephus Evergreen clearly realized the trap laid out for him and did his best to avoid it. "I would not go so far... This is Professor McTurjey from Baldur's Gates who came to visit with his colleague Dr. Literat. I was not the one inviting them, no. We met here. But surely someone did. Who was it, dear fr... Professor?"

Meanwhile, the captain interrogated Percival about the whereabouts of Dr. Literat. Once it was clear he did not leave the museum as yet and was not among the remaining guests (who were doing their best to leave fast and quiet) the free guard get the order to find the Dr. and marched upstairs. The guard near the stairs was summoned to confirm the story about curator and the bag and now was trying to reproduce the scary experience.

Dr. Van Lictor was waiting for Lorsan's answers.

When you've dug yourself into a lie, it's best to just keep digging until you strike gold - that's Lorsan's philosophy. In any case, the elf is unperturbed by the interrogation, and puts on an air of someone who is finally satisfied to by speaking to the man in charge. Extending a hand he says: Dr. Van Lictor? A pleasure, sir. Thor McTurjey, art history, Briel's School of the Arcane.

Dodging the question about the origin of the tickets for now, Lorsan tries to steer the conversation away from credentials.

A liar among your staff, or an imposter among your guests, I don't know which would be worse. I sincerely hope neither is the case. However it would be a shame to spoil such a fine evening with baseless accusations. Forgive my outburst. I'm sure the truth will out. Meanwhile, perhaps we can discuss things further in private...?

The curator did accept Lorsan's hand ("Professor McTurjey" had a feeling it was a test of his merits) but the ice in Van Lictor's eyes did not melt. If anything, they were oozing the cold. "I can assure you, Professor, the truth will come out. It is not the first time we have had to deal with intruders of all sorts. While the guards are searching for your friend - Dr. Literat, you said? - you will tell me more about the way you obtained the tickets and your participation in the mysterious events of the evening. I suggest you begin to talk right away."

"Now, now, dear Aldo," the resonant voice coming from behind belonged to the Duke himself, "if the word about my collection reached so far the guests are willing to die for the chance to see the exhibition, who are we to deny them the opportunity? Curiosity is a natural thing of a true scientific mind, is not it, Josephus?" Evergreen, who clearly wanted to be anywhere but here, nodded nervously. The curator began to talk about additional circumstances but was cut off. "Professor McTurjey? I am glad you visited us today. Kindly share the information about where the guards can find your friend and we will say our goodbyes. Rest assured, should your property emerge later, it will be delivered to you."

Robin had nothing else to do but listen and think. Admittedly, she was also getting antsy. It was difficult not to hear at least some of the commotion, even from her position in the vent. A part of her couldn't help but think that at this point it was time to go with the 'Flo'. There was a potential distraction afoot and perhaps the smell opportunity in the air. That, or it was just her. 

Maybe Robin was spending too much time around the careful smarty pantses, but she had her own string of plans. She needed to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Secure her route. Secure the loot. Git the hells oot. The moment the coast seemed clear in the Gemstone wing, Robin wanted to make a move. 

Can we say Uril has been donning his armor in the bathroom all this while? Otherwise, he was just relying on his fantastic hiding action from earlier. 

The curator's tone has clearly turned threatening, and Lorsan again avoids answering by giving 'dear Aldo' a mild look of uppity contempt. Seeing as the Duke has intervened and has a more civil approach (for now), Thor McTurjey turns his attention to the head honcho. Trying to drag things out as long as possible, Lorsan lays on the niceties before answering the query in the vaguest way possible...

Your Grace! I regret I did not find occasion to greet you earlier this evening, and that our introductions should be made under such unauspicious circumstances. But let me take the opportunity now to thank you for your generosity in opening your esteemed collection to your humble guests. The fame of it has indeed reached Baldur's Gate, and there are many among the faculty that coveted, indeed envied, the invitation to attend this event.

As I commented earlier to your esteemed guest and colleague, Professor Evergreen, your selection of works is most eclectic. My erudite associate, Dr Literat was particularly enamored with your compilation of archaeological works, and I verily had to drag him away in order to attend the main display of the vaunted Murkmire Stone. It would not surprise me in the least to learn that he has returned to the Archaeology Wing for one more viewing, and if he in fact has not already departed the premises, then no doubt that is his most likely current location. I'm certain that even in such a short time he will have seen more than enough to regale me with his observations for the entire return trip. Haha!

OOC: Uril did indeed spend some time in the Archaeology Wing, so the facts can be corroborated. It's also the most remote location, so should take the longest to search and hopefully draw the most people away for the greatest amount of time.

(Uril can absolutely don his armour but there are no hiding spots in a bathroom. Should anyone look inside, the person will be seen.)

Robin

 Time for Lorsan to roll Performance

Performance: 7