"JB is your name?", Normont tries to clarify. He assumes it must be Ms Trickfoot's initials.
"I am Normont", he says by way of introduction to himself.
He mulls over the information she has provided regarding the ownership of the house.
(OOC: DM - Does the timeline make sense? The gentleman he saw wore old fashioned clothes, do they fit with the fashion of 30 or so years ago after the restoration (although that would be the liberation, the restoration might have taken longer)? Or would the table perhaps already have been there? Obviously the old house burned down, which would have destroyed the table as it should be a regular table not magic having been polymoprhed, right?)
@1973 - good to have you back. Hope all is ok.
" It is. Until perhaps we know each other better.....", she said taking in Normont with a critical appraising eye.
( The fashion the gentleman wore does seem to line up slightly with the manner of dress the parents of Lord DeRolo are wearing in some of the later portraits you passed on the way here. Normont is aware that a building may still have areas within it either untouched by or lightly damaged after a fire and still be considered uninhabitable....it is quite possible furnishings were salvaged from there afterwards....or perhaps the table was in the former shop all along....)
Lokilia tries to follow Ms. Tricklefoots descriptions. At the mention of De Rollo Restoration, she quietly says, "Ah, that's Trinket and Charlie that we saw in the picture." After the librarian finishes, she asks. "Is Lady Hyacinth Merren the present owner? And are you saying that her previous home was destroyed in the liberation and that's why she bought this one? Or was this house we're talking about get burnt down?" She looks at Normont. "It didn't seem to be recent construction, did it?" Though, she wasn't sure she'd really know.
@1973 - Also just want to say very glad to have you back!
" She is the current owner of the former shop, yes. The former shop is quite old, dating back at least a hundred years perhaps more."
" It was the familial residence she shared with Lord Merren that was badly damaged by fire. It has since been restored by the Royal Family and given as a residence to Kynan Leore, Captain of the Whitestone Rifle Corp."
" According to the records Lady Merren did not contest the transfer or make any legal claims."
Norman shakes his head in response to Lokilia asking about any recent construction, and shrugs a little. It was dark and not that easy to tell.
And he is far too invested in the detail of what JB is explaining to notice his fellow gnome appraising him.
"Interesting. Do you have any volumes with any details about Lady Merren, and even better, Lord Merren? I would be particularly interested in any illustrations there might be from prior to the time of the Briarwoods. And anything there might be regarding the history of the shop, and its previous owners", he asks, getting quite invested in the research of the mysterious table.
He is not unhappy when Kynan Leore is mentioned as owning the previous residence of the Merrens. Even though he is not directly tied to the Rifle Corps, hopefully his status as a Grey Hunter and previously as a Pale Guard would get them a tour if such was needed. Perhaps some of the original portraits still hang. Kynan Leore likely wasn't bothered by the art on his walls and might have left them if so. Or another visit to the shop.
As he waits, he wonders about the original table, and of the Briarwoods. Could the original table have burned in the fire and the polymorph be a way of disposing of Lord Merren without suspicion? That might point the finger at Lady Merren. Or could the Briarwoods have turned him into the table? They were certainly powerful, but his understanding was it was more about necromancy, but that didn't preclude the suggestion. It is possible the table was not owned by the Merrens at all, but why would it be in the shop in that case? Perhaps the previous owner was a nefarious magic user and the person polymorphed a customer who refused to pay his bill. The magically concealed back door suggests the previous function of the shop might have not been fully legitimate. Or it could have been a hideout for rebels during the Briarwood occupation, perhaps.
One thing is for certain, he needed to identify the man first and foremost. And for that he needed illustrations.
And all of that was besides their original task of finding out about Nameless Ones and Illithids!
Lokilia puzzles through the information. "Lady Merren was forced out of her old house, bought the old shop place, didn't try to reclaim the other after it was restored." She looks at Normont, "Does all the odd furniture stuffed into a room mean she salvaged what she could from the other? But the table was kind of off in that odd room by itself." At least that's what she recalled. In the room they first entered. "You suppose she was upstairs sleeping or something?"
She glances at JB. "Oh! Are the Merren's associated with foxes?"
Norman shakes his head in response to Lokilia asking about any recent construction, and shrugs a little. It was dark and not that easy to tell.
And he is far too invested in the detail of what JB is explaining to notice his fellow gnome appraising him.
"Interesting. Do you have any volumes with any details about Lady Merren, and even better, Lord Merren? I would be particularly interested in any illustrations there might be from prior to the time of the Briarwoods. And anything there might be regarding the history of the shop, and its previous owners", he asks, getting quite invested in the research of the mysterious table.
He is not unhappy when Kynan Leore is mentioned as owning the previous residence of the Merrens. Even though he is not directly tied to the Rifle Corps, hopefully his status as a Grey Hunter and previously as a Pale Guard would get them a tour if such was needed. Perhaps some of the original portraits still hang. Kynan Leore likely wasn't bothered by the art on his walls and might have left them if so. Or another visit to the shop.
As he waits, he wonders about the original table, and of the Briarwoods. Could the original table have burned in the fire and the polymorph be a way of disposing of Lord Merren without suspicion? That might point the finger at Lady Merren. Or could the Briarwoods have turned him into the table? They were certainly powerful, but his understanding was it was more about necromancy, but that didn't preclude the suggestion. It is possible the table was not owned by the Merrens at all, but why would it be in the shop in that case? Perhaps the previous owner was a nefarious magic user and the person polymorphed a customer who refused to pay his bill. The magically concealed back door suggests the previous function of the shop might have not been fully legitimate. Or it could have been a hideout for rebels during the Briarwood occupation, perhaps.
One thing is for certain, he needed to identify the man first and foremost. And for that he needed illustrations.
And all of that was besides their original task of finding out about Nameless Ones and Illithids!
He waits hopeful that JB can help.
JB sighed, " Hmmmm, those sort of things won't be in here.....we'll need to access the census and writs of nobility in the next antechamber. Come Along."
" Wait. The shop.....here......originally a haberdashery..deed was signed by a Latimer Vandring...then Mr Vandrings family retained ownership and rented the property as an esoteric book and curio shop to someone only identified in the records as Z.Z.Z.........the shop was shuttered for some years then rented again to a Bronwyn Hathery as a cafe until it closed due to the Briarwood...difficulties.....and then the Lady bought it outright from the soul remaining member of the Vandring family."
They were led into the next antechamber and JB began pulling files out of boxes and scrolls out of wall recesses, " Hmmmm, not a lot here.....they were married as teenagers......no issue recorded......he passed ......there are no sketches on file but there should be a painting somewhere in the castle...."
Lokilia puzzles through the information. "Lady Merren was forced out of her old house, bought the old shop place, didn't try to reclaim the other after it was restored." She looks at Normont, "Does all the odd furniture stuffed into a room mean she salvaged what she could from the other? But the table was kind of off in that odd room by itself." At least that's what she recalled. In the room they first entered. "You suppose she was upstairs sleeping or something?"
She glances at JB. "Oh! Are the Merren's associated with foxes?"
" Sorry? Foxes? Yes, the Merren family crest is three foxes; red, gray and white against a cornflower field."
" You are more than welcome to stay and peruse these yourselves but they cannot be removed from the castle........was there anything else?"
When Lokilia mentions the old lady being upstairs sleeping, Normont nods firmly. They had seen an old lady asleep, in fact. He doesn't reply verbally, not wanting to have explain things to Ms Trickfoot, but is on the same page as Lokilia.
He listens to Ms Trickfoot detail the ownership chain of the shop, and then the details of Lord and Lady Merren. His ears perk up at the mentions of a painting in the castle.
"Oh, there should be a painting in the castle? That would be perfect. Do you think we would be allowed to look around to try and find it? Once we have finished here", he asks Ms Trickfoot.
He will want remain a little while, to do a little more research. He is still not convinced the table came to the house with Lord and Lady Merren, and the idea of a curio shop peeks his interest. Especially where the proprietor is known only as Z. Z. Z. There can't be many people in Whitestone's history with those initials, if they are initials of course.
If Ms Trickfoot does leave them to it, he will speak more openly with the others.
"So the old lady must be Lady Merren, what with the fox connection you picked up on, Lokilia. But I cannot see why they would have a secret back entrance, which means the table might predate their arrival too. Quite a conundrum. I would like to figure out who this Z. Z. Z. might be, and also to check the paintings to find Lord Merren and see if I recognise him".
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" It is. Until perhaps we know each other better.....", she said taking in Normont with a critical appraising eye.
( The fashion the gentleman wore does seem to line up slightly with the manner of dress the parents of Lord DeRolo are wearing in some of the later portraits you passed on the way here. Normont is aware that a building may still have areas within it either untouched by or lightly damaged after a fire and still be considered uninhabitable....it is quite possible furnishings were salvaged from there afterwards....or perhaps the table was in the former shop all along....)
" She is the current owner of the former shop, yes. The former shop is quite old, dating back at least a hundred years perhaps more."
" It was the familial residence she shared with Lord Merren that was badly damaged by fire. It has since been restored by the Royal Family and given as a residence to Kynan Leore, Captain of the Whitestone Rifle Corp."
" According to the records Lady Merren did not contest the transfer or make any legal claims."
Norman shakes his head in response to Lokilia asking about any recent construction, and shrugs a little. It was dark and not that easy to tell.
And he is far too invested in the detail of what JB is explaining to notice his fellow gnome appraising him.
"Interesting. Do you have any volumes with any details about Lady Merren, and even better, Lord Merren? I would be particularly interested in any illustrations there might be from prior to the time of the Briarwoods. And anything there might be regarding the history of the shop, and its previous owners", he asks, getting quite invested in the research of the mysterious table.
He is not unhappy when Kynan Leore is mentioned as owning the previous residence of the Merrens. Even though he is not directly tied to the Rifle Corps, hopefully his status as a Grey Hunter and previously as a Pale Guard would get them a tour if such was needed. Perhaps some of the original portraits still hang. Kynan Leore likely wasn't bothered by the art on his walls and might have left them if so. Or another visit to the shop.
As he waits, he wonders about the original table, and of the Briarwoods. Could the original table have burned in the fire and the polymorph be a way of disposing of Lord Merren without suspicion? That might point the finger at Lady Merren. Or could the Briarwoods have turned him into the table? They were certainly powerful, but his understanding was it was more about necromancy, but that didn't preclude the suggestion. It is possible the table was not owned by the Merrens at all, but why would it be in the shop in that case? Perhaps the previous owner was a nefarious magic user and the person polymorphed a customer who refused to pay his bill. The magically concealed back door suggests the previous function of the shop might have not been fully legitimate. Or it could have been a hideout for rebels during the Briarwood occupation, perhaps.
One thing is for certain, he needed to identify the man first and foremost. And for that he needed illustrations.
And all of that was besides their original task of finding out about Nameless Ones and Illithids!
He waits hopeful that JB can help.
Lokilia puzzles through the information. "Lady Merren was forced out of her old house, bought the old shop place, didn't try to reclaim the other after it was restored." She looks at Normont, "Does all the odd furniture stuffed into a room mean she salvaged what she could from the other? But the table was kind of off in that odd room by itself." At least that's what she recalled. In the room they first entered. "You suppose she was upstairs sleeping or something?"
She glances at JB. "Oh! Are the Merren's associated with foxes?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
JB sighed, " Hmmmm, those sort of things won't be in here.....we'll need to access the census and writs of nobility in the next antechamber. Come Along."
" Wait. The shop.....here......originally a haberdashery..deed was signed by a Latimer Vandring...then Mr Vandrings family retained ownership and rented the property as an esoteric book and curio shop to someone only identified in the records as Z.Z.Z.........the shop was shuttered for some years then rented again to a Bronwyn Hathery as a cafe until it closed due to the Briarwood...difficulties.....and then the Lady bought it outright from the soul remaining member of the Vandring family."
They were led into the next antechamber and JB began pulling files out of boxes and scrolls out of wall recesses, " Hmmmm, not a lot here.....they were married as teenagers......no issue recorded......he passed ......there are no sketches on file but there should be a painting somewhere in the castle...."
After some time sorting through
" Sorry? Foxes? Yes, the Merren family crest is three foxes; red, gray and white against a cornflower field."
" You are more than welcome to stay and peruse these yourselves but they cannot be removed from the castle........was there anything else?"
When Lokilia mentions the old lady being upstairs sleeping, Normont nods firmly. They had seen an old lady asleep, in fact. He doesn't reply verbally, not wanting to have explain things to Ms Trickfoot, but is on the same page as Lokilia.
He listens to Ms Trickfoot detail the ownership chain of the shop, and then the details of Lord and Lady Merren. His ears perk up at the mentions of a painting in the castle.
"Oh, there should be a painting in the castle? That would be perfect. Do you think we would be allowed to look around to try and find it? Once we have finished here", he asks Ms Trickfoot.
He will want remain a little while, to do a little more research. He is still not convinced the table came to the house with Lord and Lady Merren, and the idea of a curio shop peeks his interest. Especially where the proprietor is known only as Z. Z. Z. There can't be many people in Whitestone's history with those initials, if they are initials of course.
If Ms Trickfoot does leave them to it, he will speak more openly with the others.
"So the old lady must be Lady Merren, what with the fox connection you picked up on, Lokilia. But I cannot see why they would have a secret back entrance, which means the table might predate their arrival too. Quite a conundrum. I would like to figure out who this Z. Z. Z. might be, and also to check the paintings to find Lord Merren and see if I recognise him".