Mei blinks. “Oh! Professor Lang was here too?” The oracle’s plum-colored brows pinch together as she rubs her chin. “Has anyone, um, *else* been here? Anyone you don’t usually see in this lab? Or… maybe someone that seemed to be looking through the vials?”
She peers past the two women to get a better look at what the samples are held in and if it’s locked—arcanely or mundanely.
As Meilooks past the two women, she sees most of the shelves contain liquids ever various kinds and colors. Her presumption is those seem to be things used for the analysis. There is a large cupboard that looks like it might contain the samples. It has a mundane lock on it, though you note that the key is in the lock and the door is very slightly ajar.
"Well, certainly. Professor Lang comes in now and then. It's not that odd," the half-elf woman says to Mei. The pair seem to think over her other question a bit. Finally, the gnome says, "All kinds of people come through here. There are different workers on different days. And folks bring in samples with requests all the time. I haven't seen anyone... unusual. Have you?" she asks the other. She replies, "No, not really. Just the usual laboratory folks."
Malvyn, Guardok, and Knapproceed back out of the office and down the hall they had followed earlier. Getting to where they entered, they turn left to head down that way.
(OOC - I'd figure one more post from Mei/Maeand the group will make it there.)
"I suppose anyone looking to steal a sample would try to blend in..." Mei muses. Realizing she's giving a bit too much away, she quickly corrects, "N-Not that that's what happened! I'm sure it was just misplaced!"
Mei gestures at the cupboard and asks, "Is that usually left open?" before walking over to inspect it more closely.
"What about someone with long silver hair? Do you have many people here like that? Seen someone around with it?" Mae put forward, although with perhaps a continual growing dislike for their interloping.
"The cupboard?" the half-elf says to Mei. "We of course close it up before we leave. I mean, we have to get out samples during the day so it's usually open then." The gnome then replies to Mae. "Silver hair? I can really think of anyone. Can you?" The half-eld shakes her head 'no'.
By this time Malvyn, Guardok, and Knaphave made it to the second door on the left and can see Mei and Mae speaking to a half-elf woman and gnome woman inside.
"Ah, good. Did you already inquire about the samples then?"The purple-skinned tiefling says as he enters the laboratory, looking between Mei and Mae. "So, just to catch up, the samples with the Material Identification 74069A, are they here or not?" He then turns and asks the gnome and the half-elf.
Mei nods at Malvyn's question, but as he turns to interrogate the others, steps in, "I-I think they're just here to work on their own samples, Mal. They said Professor Lang had been here herself looking for them and I'm sure she was thorough."
With a quiet sigh, she affixes a smile for the half-elf and gnome students. "Thank you both so much for your help! I'm sorry we interrupted you. We've given another sample to Professor Lang, so hopefully this one won't go missing!" After a little bow of thanks, she exits the room, saying quietly to the others as she goes, "You're welcome to look around, but... it feels a lot like another dead end."
((If the others want to inspect anything, Mei will use Guidance to help them out))
"Well yes, I wasn't expecting us to find the samples but perhaps someone had seen either a silvery-haired person or a bullywug here around the time they disappeared."The purple-skinned tiefling says with a polite smile, looking at the others, including the gnome and the half-elf.
"I am confused", Guardok says whilst in the lab. "The administrators said the sample was here, and that it hasn't been reported as lost or missing. Which is it then? And if it is missing, why has that not been reported?".
"They also said that given the identification number, a simple locate spell could find it. We just need to find someone who knows such a spell if it is lost".
Mei, out in the hall where she can still hear the discussion, points her finger towards Guardok and then Malvyn still in the room. Repeating herself for each of them, she Messages, "Do you think Professor Lang is worried it's someone here that took the sample? Maybe that's why she didn't report it? Though... the students in there said she talked to a supervisor..."
Her words trail off and she tries to soothe an incoming headache by rubbing circles into her temples.
Mae regards the fellow student a moment before frowning a bit. "I sincerely doubt it. I don't know when they would've had a chance. I think everyone is making a much bigger deal out of this than there needs to be right now. It is a little odd perhaps, but it could all also be coincidence." She put an arm around Mei and held her gently for a minute. "Perhaps we should go, Mei."
The half-elf and the gnome look at each other as yet more students file in and start asking each other, and evidently them, a number of questions. "You all know each other?" the gnome ask. The half-elf focuses in on Malvyn. "Oh, you have the identification number? 74069A?" she asks, repeating the number. She walks over to the cabinet and pulls the door open, though hesitating to get confirmation she has the number right.
The gnome turns to Mei. "We were just working on our own samples. But that's ok. We can help you take a look."
Interrupted as she waits for confirmation, the half-elf looks surprised at the mention again of the silvery-haired woman. "You guys must really be intent on finding this person. You think that she had something to do with these things? With the incidents?" Finally, shaking her head as Guardokasks all his questions, she says, "All right, all right! Let me just look. Just hold on!" Grumbling, she looks through the cabinet. She turns back around holding a small card. "Looks like it's missing! You are looking for the same sample as Professsor Lang. There's an incident number here reporting it missing. Date of disappearance unknown."
The gnome continues, "Standard procedure for missing samples. Though doesn't happen a lot. Paperwork will go to the office. Sometimes it takes a day or two to get the incident report matched up to the original material identification." She then pauses. "Hmm, you know... there is that silver-haired student at the Firejolt. Never seen her around here though."
Guardok scratches the back of his, not really knowing what to make of all this. He hears Mei whisper to him, but with the half-elf talking as well doesn't have time to respond. He looks up to Mal, wondering what his keen reporters instinct told him about the situation.
"Thank you", he says to the half-elf, realising from her reaction that they were all being a little overwhelming.
It still didn't make sense to him. How could a sample go missing if it could be located with a simple spell. He desperately wanted to know if someone had tried and it hadn't worked, but these two were not really going to know.
"I don't suppose you remember what college they were part of?", he asks hopefully, when the gnome mentions the silver haired student at the Firejolt.
"I think you mean Mina Lee. I suppose it could be her that they saw in the cooking area. We could go by the Firejolt cafe and ask her if it was her in the Bow's End kitchen and if she saw anything of interest."The purple-skinned tiefling suggests.
Easily placated by the gesture, Mei relaxes into her floormate and nods. "Sherl'orc Holmes makes detective work seem so easy in the books," she says with a breathy chuckle. In truth, investigating feels a lot more like bothering lots of different people just to come up empty-handed.
Mei peeks her head around the doorframe to say to her friends, "We're going to head back. Maybe a reading will help me make sense of everything." To the half-elf and gnome she adds, "Thank you again! That was really so kind of you to stop what you were doing to help. I hope you're still able to get your analysis done!" Giving the group a wave, she's ready to return to the dorms, her tarot cards already in hand to begin shuffling through.
Mae will nod at the others briefly, leaving them to their investigation and accompany Maei back to the dorm, staying close to her and humming softly now and then. "I think a great many thing sounds easier said than actually done." She prattled on a bit about the numerous "self help" books people gave her growing up.
With a look on his face like he can’t get his math mathing with all this new information, Knap stands shrug-shouldered beside Guardok and Mal. He can’t figure out how someone could be so sneaky in such a magically guarded place.
Maeand Meibid farewell to the others, slipping off to go back to the dorm.
The gnome who had mentioned a silver-haired student at Firejolt things about Guardok's question, then Malvyn'scomment. "I don't think she was wearing student robes working at the cafe. But yea, I do think her name was Mina."
As Knap ponders about how someone could work in such a magically guarded place, he does notice that this pair at least seems pretty unconcerned about security. The overall impression is that they probably generally don't worry about things being stolen. And, that appears to work as things aren't stolen much.
(OOC - Mae/Meican continue if they wish to do anything on their way back or in Dresar Hall. Malvyn/Guardok/Knapare still at the lab if they wish to do anything? Or head to Firejolt?)
Guardok waves to Mei and Mae, a frown creasing his forehead after they turn and leave. He thought the plan was to stick together, and now they keep ditching them.
He puts those thoughts aside and thinks for a moment, "I am not certain it would be Mina. After all most people have been to the Firejolt. I mean, if she had been at the tavern, Mal would remember, right Mal?".
"I think the best lead is the missing sample. The person at the office said it could be tracked with a simple locate spell. We are first years and don't know how yet. Perhaps one of you could try for us?", he asks, in his most persuasive tone.
Mei blinks. “Oh! Professor Lang was here too?” The oracle’s plum-colored brows pinch together as she rubs her chin. “Has anyone, um, *else* been here? Anyone you don’t usually see in this lab? Or… maybe someone that seemed to be looking through the vials?”
She peers past the two women to get a better look at what the samples are held in and if it’s locked—arcanely or mundanely.
As Mei looks past the two women, she sees most of the shelves contain liquids ever various kinds and colors. Her presumption is those seem to be things used for the analysis. There is a large cupboard that looks like it might contain the samples. It has a mundane lock on it, though you note that the key is in the lock and the door is very slightly ajar.
"Well, certainly. Professor Lang comes in now and then. It's not that odd," the half-elf woman says to Mei. The pair seem to think over her other question a bit. Finally, the gnome says, "All kinds of people come through here. There are different workers on different days. And folks bring in samples with requests all the time. I haven't seen anyone... unusual. Have you?" she asks the other. She replies, "No, not really. Just the usual laboratory folks."
Malvyn, Guardok, and Knap proceed back out of the office and down the hall they had followed earlier. Getting to where they entered, they turn left to head down that way.
(OOC - I'd figure one more post from Mei/Mae and the group will make it there.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"I suppose anyone looking to steal a sample would try to blend in..." Mei muses. Realizing she's giving a bit too much away, she quickly corrects, "N-Not that that's what happened! I'm sure it was just misplaced!"
Mei gestures at the cupboard and asks, "Is that usually left open?" before walking over to inspect it more closely.
((Happy for the others to jump in any time!))
"What about someone with long silver hair? Do you have many people here like that? Seen someone around with it?" Mae put forward, although with perhaps a continual growing dislike for their interloping.
"The cupboard?" the half-elf says to Mei. "We of course close it up before we leave. I mean, we have to get out samples during the day so it's usually open then." The gnome then replies to Mae. "Silver hair? I can really think of anyone. Can you?" The half-eld shakes her head 'no'.
By this time Malvyn, Guardok, and Knap have made it to the second door on the left and can see Mei and Mae speaking to a half-elf woman and gnome woman inside.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Ah, good. Did you already inquire about the samples then?" The purple-skinned tiefling says as he enters the laboratory, looking between Mei and Mae. "So, just to catch up, the samples with the Material Identification 74069A, are they here or not?" He then turns and asks the gnome and the half-elf.
Mae was about to answer Mal but was cutoff by the persistent questioning so she stepped back toward the doorway and into the hall.
Mei nods at Malvyn's question, but as he turns to interrogate the others, steps in, "I-I think they're just here to work on their own samples, Mal. They said Professor Lang had been here herself looking for them and I'm sure she was thorough."
With a quiet sigh, she affixes a smile for the half-elf and gnome students. "Thank you both so much for your help! I'm sorry we interrupted you. We've given another sample to Professor Lang, so hopefully this one won't go missing!" After a little bow of thanks, she exits the room, saying quietly to the others as she goes, "You're welcome to look around, but... it feels a lot like another dead end."
((If the others want to inspect anything, Mei will use Guidance to help them out))
"Well yes, I wasn't expecting us to find the samples but perhaps someone had seen either a silvery-haired person or a bullywug here around the time they disappeared." The purple-skinned tiefling says with a polite smile, looking at the others, including the gnome and the half-elf.
"I am confused", Guardok says whilst in the lab. "The administrators said the sample was here, and that it hasn't been reported as lost or missing. Which is it then? And if it is missing, why has that not been reported?".
"They also said that given the identification number, a simple locate spell could find it. We just need to find someone who knows such a spell if it is lost".
Mei, out in the hall where she can still hear the discussion, points her finger towards Guardok and then Malvyn still in the room. Repeating herself for each of them, she Messages, "Do you think Professor Lang is worried it's someone here that took the sample? Maybe that's why she didn't report it? Though... the students in there said she talked to a supervisor..."
Her words trail off and she tries to soothe an incoming headache by rubbing circles into her temples.
Mae regards the fellow student a moment before frowning a bit. "I sincerely doubt it. I don't know when they would've had a chance. I think everyone is making a much bigger deal out of this than there needs to be right now. It is a little odd perhaps, but it could all also be coincidence." She put an arm around Mei and held her gently for a minute. "Perhaps we should go, Mei."
The half-elf and the gnome look at each other as yet more students file in and start asking each other, and evidently them, a number of questions. "You all know each other?" the gnome ask. The half-elf focuses in on Malvyn. "Oh, you have the identification number? 74069A?" she asks, repeating the number. She walks over to the cabinet and pulls the door open, though hesitating to get confirmation she has the number right.
The gnome turns to Mei. "We were just working on our own samples. But that's ok. We can help you take a look."
Interrupted as she waits for confirmation, the half-elf looks surprised at the mention again of the silvery-haired woman. "You guys must really be intent on finding this person. You think that she had something to do with these things? With the incidents?" Finally, shaking her head as Guardok asks all his questions, she says, "All right, all right! Let me just look. Just hold on!" Grumbling, she looks through the cabinet. She turns back around holding a small card. "Looks like it's missing! You are looking for the same sample as Professsor Lang. There's an incident number here reporting it missing. Date of disappearance unknown."
The gnome continues, "Standard procedure for missing samples. Though doesn't happen a lot. Paperwork will go to the office. Sometimes it takes a day or two to get the incident report matched up to the original material identification." She then pauses. "Hmm, you know... there is that silver-haired student at the Firejolt. Never seen her around here though."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Guardok scratches the back of his, not really knowing what to make of all this. He hears Mei whisper to him, but with the half-elf talking as well doesn't have time to respond. He looks up to Mal, wondering what his keen reporters instinct told him about the situation.
"Thank you", he says to the half-elf, realising from her reaction that they were all being a little overwhelming.
It still didn't make sense to him. How could a sample go missing if it could be located with a simple spell. He desperately wanted to know if someone had tried and it hadn't worked, but these two were not really going to know.
"I don't suppose you remember what college they were part of?", he asks hopefully, when the gnome mentions the silver haired student at the Firejolt.
"I think you mean Mina Lee. I suppose it could be her that they saw in the cooking area. We could go by the Firejolt cafe and ask her if it was her in the Bow's End kitchen and if she saw anything of interest." The purple-skinned tiefling suggests.
Easily placated by the gesture, Mei relaxes into her floormate and nods. "Sherl'orc Holmes makes detective work seem so easy in the books," she says with a breathy chuckle. In truth, investigating feels a lot more like bothering lots of different people just to come up empty-handed.
Mei peeks her head around the doorframe to say to her friends, "We're going to head back. Maybe a reading will help me make sense of everything." To the half-elf and gnome she adds, "Thank you again! That was really so kind of you to stop what you were doing to help. I hope you're still able to get your analysis done!" Giving the group a wave, she's ready to return to the dorms, her tarot cards already in hand to begin shuffling through.
Mae will nod at the others briefly, leaving them to their investigation and accompany Maei back to the dorm, staying close to her and humming softly now and then. "I think a great many thing sounds easier said than actually done." She prattled on a bit about the numerous "self help" books people gave her growing up.
With a look on his face like he can’t get his math mathing with all this new information, Knap stands shrug-shouldered beside Guardok and Mal. He can’t figure out how someone could be so sneaky in such a magically guarded place.
Mae and Mei bid farewell to the others, slipping off to go back to the dorm.
The gnome who had mentioned a silver-haired student at Firejolt things about Guardok's question, then Malvyn's comment. "I don't think she was wearing student robes working at the cafe. But yea, I do think her name was Mina."
As Knap ponders about how someone could work in such a magically guarded place, he does notice that this pair at least seems pretty unconcerned about security. The overall impression is that they probably generally don't worry about things being stolen. And, that appears to work as things aren't stolen much.
(OOC - Mae/Mei can continue if they wish to do anything on their way back or in Dresar Hall. Malvyn/Guardok/Knap are still at the lab if they wish to do anything? Or head to Firejolt?)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Guardok waves to Mei and Mae, a frown creasing his forehead after they turn and leave. He thought the plan was to stick together, and now they keep ditching them.
He puts those thoughts aside and thinks for a moment, "I am not certain it would be Mina. After all most people have been to the Firejolt. I mean, if she had been at the tavern, Mal would remember, right Mal?".
"I think the best lead is the missing sample. The person at the office said it could be tracked with a simple locate spell. We are first years and don't know how yet. Perhaps one of you could try for us?", he asks, in his most persuasive tone.
Persuasion: 7+5=12