Still feeling quite uneasy over at least indirectly almost having killed his friend, the purple-skinned tiefling slowly stands up, and as Cadoras comes over to take care of Mei he feels Aurora's pat on his shoulder. Her comment stung more like he would want to admit. Taking cover had been his instinct and a part of him was still more surprised how the others didn't seem to have much self-preservation at all. As it turned out they must all see him as a coward now, especially compared to the very brave oracle. "Thanks..." He says, turning to face the raven-haired performer. "...what about you, any bugbites?" He says with a forced smile. In the corner of his eye he notices Mae leaving. He hoped she was okay too but he supposed Larine would take good care of her. "I'm sorry, I should check the kitchen for any clues to what happened here." He continues after a brief awkward pause and turns to go through the cooking area in search for any traces of the steamy creatures, particularly any signs of the black goo.

Investigation: 16

Cadoras demures, "Ah, you folks did all the hard work. We were just herding those little beasts." 

Safira smiles, seeming to finally relax a little bit as Mei comes to speak with her. "Well, it started over by the cauldrons I think. I was working over here and didn't see it all real clearly I don't think."  

Guardok manages to get a response from Curtie. "It was the pots! The steam - you see it? It was spicy. Attacking!" Tulk just shakes his head, "Curtie is always experimenting, she probably put something in there that just reacted poorly."  The dwarf responds sharply. "No! No mistake! It was not my ingredients that... that... boiled out!" 

Aurora gives Malvyn a nod as he heads off. "Don't get hurt," she says. "We can help get the injured student cooks out of here."  She and Rubina join Javenesh in getting those students out of the kitchen.  The tiefling then walks over, looking at the cauldrons first as he overhears the discussion.  He is able to note a bit of oily black substance on one of the cauldrons, much like what you've seen before.  In fact, as he looks closer, he finds it on all the cauldrons.  (OOC - It calls for a Perception check, so I turned your roll into a 14 for Perception. It is successful either way.)

Feeling more than a little exciement over what he found, the purple-skinned tiefling quickly finds a glass and a simple knife to collect the black goo he found. He then steps over to Guardok and Mei interviewing the staff. "I think I've found something." He says quietly, then turning to the kitchen staff. "Have you seen anyone you didn't recognize around here recently, particularly anyone having access to those cauldrons since last you used them?" He asks as calmly as possible.

Persuasion if needed: 21

The persuasion doesn't seem to be needed. Curtie responds first. "That is not supposed to be there!" she exclaims. "How can it be? It is not possible! We clean every pot before we leave each night. And check them again every evening when we come in!"  Tulk takes a look at it as well, spending a bit more time examining it before answering. "Hmm, I wonder if this could be one of the many magic unguents used on campus."  Curtie looks at it again briefly, shaking her head. "No. Things like that would not do...  do this!" She waves her arms about, indicating the chaotic mess that the kitchen is in.  

"Now Curtie, perhaps if somehow the ungent got corrupted?" Tulk suggests. "It might lead to something like this."  Curtie finally seems to pause to reflect a moment. "Ok. But how does it get on to my cauldrons? Hmm?"  Curtie then responds to the question both Guardok and Malvyn had raised earlier. "It is so hard to tell if someone different were in the kitchen. There are so many coming in and out! I certainly don't recall." 

"That's okay--that's already so helpful, thank you!" Mei reassures Safira. She wishes the halfling a good rest as Javenesh, Rubina, and Aurora help her and the other students out of the kitchen. 

When the conversation turns to talk of the possible saboteur, Mei can't help but glance at Piero. Malvyn's words echo in her mind alongside the memory of running into him right outside the kitchen door. The thought sends a pang of guilt through her chest and she shakes her head, proposing instead, "Should we talk to the student cooks once they've recovered? Maybe they noticed someone?"

Tulk nods to Mei. "Sure, sure. I'll ask for them all to come by tomorrow afternoon.  Later in the afternoon? I think they'll all probably want a day or two off after all this. But it would be good to hear what they can tell us sooner than later." 

Still feeling a bit woozy and odd, Knap listens quietly, he picks up the occasional broken mug placing the pieces on a bench.  

“How did it get in the cauldrons, yes. And who? is a good question. But why…?” He mumbles to himself, confused by other’s inclinations toward corruption. 

"We'd be grateful if we can have a chance to ask your student cooks some questions when they feel up to it. We'll come by tomorrow afternoon and hope for the best." Malvyn says calmly with a gentle smile, although he is quite eager to get on with the investigation. 

"I doubt we will really know the why until we catch whoever is doing this. It could be about stirring up trouble, or possibly field testing this before using it on a more grand scale." The purple-skinned tiefling says grimly to his room mate. "It is hard to see how the different incidents were directed at anyone or anything in particular, just that they all happened on campus."

As Malvyn mentions field testing, Mei's eyes become glassy and her voice strange in tone, "The shape of an owlbear. All in black." The Dreamer blinks and looks grimly at her floormates. "That was next." 

Finally getting a good view of Knap, Mei steps up to the satyr, gazing worriedly up at him. "Knap, are you okay? Do you... need healing?"

“I’m fine, just a little scalding.” He lifts his arm eye-level to show off a blistered bicep. “I’ll leave it to heal with time and a bit of elbow grease.” Then, after a muffled belly gurgle, he burps and a tiny wisp of blackened smoke escapes his mouth. “Ahhh, excuse me, that was weird.” knap fans the air in front of his face. 

“Anyway, you’re too brave Mei.” He says somewhat accusatorially before turning for the exit. “I should gey back to Dresar and give Mae her flower.” He leaves. 

“N-No, Knap, I don’t mean the burns, I mean—“ her eyes widen at the wisp smoke, “th-that.” But she has little chance to say anything else as he leaves, leaving her staring after him and twisting the hem of her uniform with worry. 

"An owlbear? What are you saying Mei? Did you have another dream?" The purple-skinned tiefling says with a slightly unsettling mix of worry and excitement. His fiery-red eyes follow the behatted satyr as he leaves. "Do you think Knap is okay? Should we go with him and check on Mae?" He says, looking between Mei and Guardok.

Mei shakes her head. “It was all the same Dream. After the kitchen I saw… the shape of an owlbear, but it was all in black.”

When Malvyn asks about checking on their two floormates, she looks back over the chaos of the kitchen, but nods.

The purple-skinned tiefling nods and walks over to the raven-haired performer. "I would have wanted to spend more time with you tonight but unfortunately..." He says with a sad tone, motioning to chaos in the kitchen. "...I think perhaps I should go and check on Mae and Knap making sure they are really okay. Mae left before I even had the chance to talk with her." He says, a finger moving a strand of the pierced dhampir's dark hair behind her pointed ear. "Can you make it back together with Rubina tonight, I promise I will make it up to you. And don't forget to put the flowers in water once you get back home." He finishes with a quick grin, giving Aurora a quick kiss on the cheek. "Knap gave me some pretty clear instructions on how you should treat your loved ones, your Black Dahlias I mean." He adds with another quick grin, then  walking back over to Mei and Guardok. "Shall we go?" He says plainly, ready to head back to Dresar Hall to check on Knap and Mae and talk about the investigation.

"Oh, just instructions for the Black Dahlias? I'll do my best with them Mal. Thank you for them."  Aurora gives Malvyn a quick hug, sneaking in a peck on the cheek, then looks to Rubina. "Yes, we can make it back.  I seem to have lost track of my fellow performer! You will all make sure Mae is doing ok? I do truly hope she enjoyed the show tonight."  

Cadoras gives Mei a grin as it seems the group of floormates is readying to go.  "I will of course escort you to your fine hall," the elf says. 

Guardok, Knap, Malvyn, Piero and Mei all start back towards Dresar Hall, while their other friends head off their own ways. 

Malvyn confirms with a nod and a small smile that he will make sure Mae is okay.

Not sure exactly how much he wants to talk in front of others than what he considers the close circle, the purple-skinned tiefling hesitates to discuss what he thinks about the investigation quite yet. "So, any theories on who and why?" He asks, glancing over at Cadoras and Piero in particular.

Insight: 14

Guardok is a little disappointed that they weren't allowed to question the cooks further right away, but didn't argue, following his friends back to Dresar Hall.

"I have to agree Mei, you are certainly brave. Perhaps whilst we are practising your fencing, we can practise dodging too. We both got a little steamed up by those elementals back there", he suggests. "And if it is true, and we are to come across an Owlbear, that might just be most important part", he says with a nervous chuckle.

As to Malvyn's question, he merely shrugs. "I only know you lot, and I don't think any of you are behind this. Besides, it seems to be a bit advanced for first years, doesn't it?".

"O-Oh, no! You all were too! You and your rapier a-and even talking with them! And Malvyn was like a sharpshooter with his magic," Mei says as she falls into step next to Cadoras. "None of you hesitated to run into danger! And it was my fault, really, for putting Safira back into danger in the first place." The small mage stares unseeing at the ground. A weariness settles upon her until the back of her hand brushes against the elf's, shaking her free. 

"But I won't say no to more practice! Who'll get to play the Owlbear first?" Mei grins as she makes clawing motions with her hands. Then looks to their floormate with a teasing purse of her lips. "I bet Piero could do a great grumpy bear impression." 

As the conversation moves to Malvyn's question, she quiets her laughter, also quite interested in any theories they might have. 

Cardoras replies softly to Mei. "Don't be hard on yourself. You made sure Safira was alright. And you protected her after. I'm sure you have nothing to regret about your actions."  He grasps her hand, giving it a light squeeze. He glances at Malvyn as they walk. "It seems like a prank. Well, a prank gone wrong. But they just keep going wrong...  so maybe that's not it."  

Piero also responds to the tiefling. "Perhaps someone is behind these tragic events. But they have thus far been rather ineffective."  He tilts his head towards Cadoras. "The results are more like a prank gone too far.  I'm not even sure this is much worth bothering about." 

"Yes, you are probably right, a prank gone wrong." The purple-skinned tiefling says and nods. He was fairly convinced that this was something more sinster though but he wasn't prepared to discuss that with Cadoras and Piero, it would be better if they would think he had lost interest in this now. "The performance was quite nice though don't you think, I hope Mae didn't feel like her evening was spoiled by the...um...prank."

(Did Malvyn get any read on Cadoras and Piero about what he asked through that insight roll? :-)