Mei looks distraught. "I didn't..."  She looks over at the door that was just slammed shut, then lets out a sigh. "It seems this always happens. My dreams never seem to be a good omen."  She looks pleadingly at Guardok and Malvyn. "Perhaps we could... I mean, I could look into this more. I could try to dream about it again. Like we did before! I could go the place! Do you think you could help?" 

Guardok is more than a little confused by what is happening at the moment.

A professor testing Mae to see whether she can be given further illicit tasks. A book where you can rip out pages to create magic items. Mae being a little less than tactful after denying Mal the opportunity of looking in the book, and now showing off a new magic dress she got from the book as a reward. Putting his and Mal's names forward to this dodgy professor. Mei saying it was Piero waiting by the tree in her dream not Larine, and Mae now thinking Larine doesn't exist. And Mae then storming off claiming Larine as her only friend here.

"I'm a bit lost for words", is all he can say in reply to Mei, as he takes a few moments to process everything.

"I mean, we have all seen Piero and Larine together, right? Here in Dresar, at classes and exams and out and about at performances and things. Larine has a room upstairs after all", he says bewildered as to Mae's response.

He certainly doesn't feel he and Mae are close enough for him to go and check on her.

"I mean, if you want help, I can do", he says to Mei. "I think we should focus on the next exam first though, I wouldn't want you distracted and missing it again", he suggests.

Hearing his name mentioned several times, Piero walks over to see what's happening in the lounge, evidently just having returned to the floor. "What is going on? Did I hear something is wrong with Mae?"  

Also, everyone is quite certain that both Larine and Piero are in your Magical Physiologies class.  And both have been present in that class at the same time. And others as well.  

"Well, not sure if you can help us understand this, but a dream Mei had could be interpreted as you having somehow taken the guise of Larine last night. The implication has made Mae quite upset, even to the point that she questions whether Larine even exists, but perhaps together we can make some sense of it all." Malvyn says to Piero as he join them, seeing no point in not sharing what Piero probably already had heard anyway. "I assume if we ask Larine she would be able to say if she was there last night or if there was anyone else looking like her." He continues, studying Piero for any reaction.

Insight: 17 + Student dice: 2

Guardok just watches proceedings, and waits for Piero to respond. It all seems so absurd, and yet Mei's dreams were not to be taken lightly.

"It sounds odd, but you were out late last night, Piero. I assumed you were visiting with your lady friend, but...", he pitches in with a shrug.

(OOC - Not sure why Malvyn rolled Insight twice. I'm seeing a 23 for the first and will take that.) 

Piero does seem to react when you mention making sense of Mei's dreams and the previous night's events. He seems a hesitate a bit. "I was there last night. Curious about what you might be up to, I followed. Invisibly," he says. He then turns to Mei. "That is clearly why I was in your dream. But I can assure you all, Larine was there as well. I paused by the tree where she waited, just a short distance away."  

He is quiet a moment before adding, "I am sorry for intruding into your affairs. But your secret midnight activities did seem... unusual." 

Mei starts speaking quietly. "But if Larine was there, why would I not see her? Unless maybe something about her prevents me from seeing her."  She looks at the others. "Like when I was dreaming about what happened by the swamp." 

"Thanks for being honest about that Piero, I suppose curiosity could well have made me do the same thing." The purple-skinned tiefling says with a quick grin. "I assume you have overheard most already but the whole matter is a bit delicate. It seems Mae had been tasked by some professor to retrieve a book of his that was stored in the attic of the Dapplewing manor. As you might understand, for Mae's sake, it's something you don't want more people than absolutely necessary to know about. Now that you are privy to the facts I hope the details can stay with you." He continues with a unusually friendly smile to Piero.

"Anyway, perhaps we should collect Larine and make her explain to Mae that it was indeed she that stood watch last night, and if we´re lucky she might also explain why she wasn't present in Mei's dream." Malvyn continues after a moment, ready to do just that unless someone suggests otherwise.

Guardok is a little surprised Mal told Piero the whole story, but he was also relieved. I hadn't want to keep things from his room mate.

"Sorry I wouldn't tell you, Piero", is all he adds.

When talk turns to telling Mae and getting Larine, he nods. "I just hope that there is a good explanation. Mei, remind me about the dream by the swamp, I can't quite remember".

"Remember the colorful frogs that were found by the Firejolt Cafe?" Mei says, avoiding describing the scarier part where they started attacking.  "Then we tried to camp out by the swampy area near where they were found so I could dream about what happened? I think someone lit a fire and that little automated campus guide came to put out the fire and chased us!"

Realizing she's a bit off topic, she stops. "Well, you all were there.  Anyway, I did dream about what happened. But I couldn't see who was there. But I did see their footprints! So I knew there were people there! Something just blocked me from seeing them."

She thinks for a moment. "Two sets of prints looked kind of like students' uniform shoes. Larger prints that had a distinctive bent nail on the bottom. And a smaller set."

(OOC - Putting this because I would imagine the characters remember this, even if we as players do not!) 

"Not saying there is anything suspicious about Larine necessarily but she might share some trait with those who left these mysterious footprints that made them all unseen in Mei's dream. If we could find out what kept Larine out of Mei's dream we might find out something about those that we seek." The purple-skinned tiefling says with a thoughtful nod. "I'm going to see Larine, anyone coming?" He adds after a moment, then doing just that.

"Thanks, Mei. I thought it was something like that, but good to be sure", Guardok replies.

When Mal suggests going to see Larine, he isn't sure. "I like your thinking, Mal. She is quite shy, though. I think us all turning up on her doorstep asking questions would be quite a lot for her. Perhaps just a couple of us, maybe including Mae?".

"Um...okay..." The purple-skinned tiefling says a bit awkwardly, scratching his neck. "You better deal with that then, just remember Mae has in her head that Larine doesn't even exist so I thought it would be easier to get Larine to Mae rather than the other way around, but I'm sure you can handle it." He continues with a shrug. "I'll be in the study if I'm needed." He adds and leaves to prepare for the upcoming exam.

“No, you are right, Mal. Perhaps Mae needs to see Larine and Piero together first. You should go and get her”, Guardok replies, convinced by the Tiefling 

"Okay, I'll do my best to get her here, I'm sure she will come if I tell her Mae needs her." Malvyn says with a nod and leaves to hopefully collect Mae's green-haired friend.

Malvyn recalls that Larine lives upstairs, and though he knows which floor it is, he's not sure he recalls the exact room number.  But he goes up, figuring he can figure it out probably. 

(Malvyn, make a INT check and then either Perception or Investigation check. I forget the exact floor to be honest. Maybe 6th? But we'll assume you know that. But I don't think Malvyn had ever had a reason to go there. )

Piero looks confused at the conversation. "Mae thinks Larine doesn't exist? And she thinks I'm Larine?" He looks around at the group as Malvyn decides to go fetch Larine. "Shouldn't someone talk to Mae? I'll help if you want."

(Malvyn Int: 18 Investigation: 17 and then a persuaion check if needed when asking around for the right room: 7 )

"It's best if Larine comes with us to see Mae, but yes, if you are there as well that should remove any doubt", Guardok replies to Piero.

Not recalling exactly where Larine's room is, Malvyn walks around the floor, looking at the doors to the rooms. Fortunately, it seems someone has drawn cute little animals that are posted on each of the doors. One has a bright yellow cat along with a green fish.  You've no idea about the cat, but the green fish seems obviously a reference to Larine. 

Knocking on the door, it takes just a moment for Larine to come to the door. Her usual tied up green hair is loose as she greets you.  "Oh... umm... Malvyn? Hi." She seems a little confused by your presence. 

"Sorry for disturbing you Larine but I think Mae might need you." Malvyn says, feeling a bit awkward over how to explain the weird situation. "I think Mae might have been given the impression that you weren't actually with us last night by the manor. I'm sure it's a misunderstanding but it would probably help if you came and helped sorting things out." He continues, hoping that the green-haired girl would follow him back to Mae's room.