Theodore asks, "Sir, you're a Druid correct? Do you know who takes care of the grounds? I would love the opportunity to work for/with them." 

He tries to cause a distraction while still asking an honest question. He really would like to work with the plants.

Deception check 13

"I am not a grounds-keeper. If you want to be invested in that, talk to Old Richter." with that, Tulk goes back to tidying the kitchen, ignoring the rest of you.

Botting for Elsenia's Sleight of Hand check to keep things moving: 4

As Elsenia tries to grab some of the goop, Tulk whirls around, "Hey, kid, what are you doing? Get out of my kitchen, I have to clean up the mess you made!"

Sleight of Hand - 19

At the last moment, Elsenia manages to scrape some of the goo into a vial, and then she hurries out of the kitchen after the others.

Weaver is fuming. "There's something going on here, and my acid is not strong enough to put holes in institutional pots and pans. I. Don't. Like. It." 

As they leave the tavern, Theo nods in agreement. There is something really odd going on and it's potentially deadly. "Is this how it always is here?"

Forgetting his bad grades for a little bit, Ooboron agrees. "Something is going on, and it seems like all of the staff are in on it. Or at least trying to hide what's going on. Who can we trust?"

"Well, there was that little clockwork fellow that greeted us on the first day, he hasn't lied to us - yet."  Weaver offers, helpfully.

Or maybe he did. Who knows, he could be your only ally. then again, Weaver would realize that he is a robot, and ultimately, his loyalty would be to the school and faculty first. Wow, their really is no one in power you can trust.

As you all stand discussing, Grayson approaches, looking quite ticked off. He stalks up to you and gets in Elsenia's face "How did someone like you win? You must have cheated! Tell me how!"

"Someone like me?" Elsenia replies, shocked. "What do you mean by that anyway?"

The druid takes a discreet step backward just so that the rude boy isn't quite breathing in her face. She hopes he won't see that as some sort of concession or sign of weakness. "I won fairly," Elsenia points out, her voice firm. Knowing that she has her friends nearby has done wonders for her self-confidence these past weeks at Strixhaven. It would be silly to let Grayson get under her skin; she knows that now.

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

"I am not a grounds-keeper. If you want to be invested in that, talk to Old Richter."

When he has free time, Theodore will seek out this individual and start a conversation. Maybe they need a hand with the plants or something. Theodore could use extra learning and pocket money.

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

As you all stand discussing, Grayson approaches, looking quite ticked off. He stalks up to you and gets in Elsenia's face "How did someone like you win? You must have cheated! Tell me how!"

"I find it hilarious that you think YOU should have won. What, did you think you'd fart your way to victory?" Theodore makes fart noises and laughs. "It's an entirely different kind of gas my friend, even if it comes from your magical posterior!"

"You did not win fairly! People like you never win! You're all stupid and talentless!"

"And as for you, furball, the fact you even think about expelling gas from your bum as an insult shows exactly how immature and unprepared you are to attend Strixhaven. I thought they only admitted the best of the best here, but I guess any old idiot can get in."

"I bet all you can cast are a few cantrips and that's it. I bet you can't even conjure Dancing Lights" Just to show off, Grayson casts Dancing Lights looking at Theo with a triumphant sneer.

Theodore looks at Grayson wide eyed, "Oh my glory gods, Dancing Lights!", *gasp* "Wonderful wonderful! Absolutely amazong!" His voice begins to get louder until he is shouting gleefully "Everybody LOOK LOOK! Grayson can make Dancing Lights!!" Dancing about and pointing at the caster. "WOW WOW!"

Then he whispers to Grayson, "You loser, is that all you got?"

Students gather around at the sounds of Theo calling. One student speaks up "What's the big deal? It's just Dancing Lights? Anyone old child can do that" Grayson flushes

And then spits back in Theo's ear "You're the loser" his voice raises, and he steps back, pointing at the Party "You're all losers!" Then he stalks off

Elsenia shakes her head as Grayson stomps off. "I don't understand why he has it out for us," she says. "Something must have happened to him to make him this way."

Ooboron has reduced in size and stature in response to Grayson's theatrics, slowly moving away from the scene to avoid any blowback and then any attention from the gathering crowd. It isn't until after everyone disperses that the loxodon unwraps his ears, releases his trunk, and dares to approach the others again. "Are you okay, Elsenia? I don't think you should egg him on like that, Theo. With everything that's going on, we should be making friends, not enemies."

Theo glares at the retreating back of Grayson, "Nah, that's the kind of people you don't want to be friends with anyway." He pauses and looks at the ground, "I'll be honest with you guys, I don't know anything about magic. I can't cast any spells or anything...I think my family would want me to learn something flashy  while I'm here though." He looks a bit sheepishly at everybody. "I was only talking tough so that he might make a mistake or go away." 

Elsenia smiles at the loxodon. "I'm all right, Ooby, thank you," she says. "I feel better knowing I have such great friends to stick up for me."

The druid pulls out the two vials of mysterious ooze. "We should try to figure out what this stuff is," she says. "Maybe we can use one of the school labs? If we learn more about this substance, maybe we'll know what to do next."