“Oh, are the animals causing a lot of trouble, I’m sure there might be a way to deal with them”

"I'd like them returned.  They can be dangerous, so I'd suggest using traps if you go after them."  Rosetta says.  "I don't want them harmed, if possible."

”sure, I think I may have a few friends that can help”

As they return to the towre, Nathan tells Dar what happened, and he asks his advice. He shows him the books that he has, and tells him that Shalech has another encrypted one. He also asks him if he has any tasks for him that he shold perform as his apprentice.

"John's quite a sneaky fellow, there is more to him than the townfolk would imagin I reckon. Shalech, you off to Dar's?"

Croak extends his hand to Klander, "Nice to meet you, take care. You can handle this jewel mystery, Shalech and I have some business to tend to. Maybe I'll see you at the tavern."

Croak gestures goodbye to Kendrick on his way out as he follows Shalech. 

With the shop to their backs, Croak and Shalech head back towards Dar's tower.  Croak, you feel something dangling from your ear.  When you check, you find a thin silver chain that must have came with you when you left.

"I'm glad to hear that." Rosetta says.  "I've got traps and information for you when you're ready." Normand searches John, finding several different kinds of tools, and blades.  He removes John's hooded coat, incase anything was hidden inside, and then leaves the cage.

Looking upon John, Urselles sees now how he was able to move as he did.  His body, though likely forty years old, is lean and tough.  This is the body of someone that works hard every day.  His face looks both younger and older than you expected.  Though aged by work and time, wrinkles and tough skin evident, his face generally has the features of someone a dozen years his younger.  He gives you a look along the lines of; "This is not over." but doesn't say a word.

"We can properly begin your apprenticeship tomorrow, tonight we protect Isa; and enjoy her cookies." The old man smiles.  "As for the book; I'm aware that Shalech has a similar book; my brother and I are the ones that gave it to him.  These two books may be our key to solving this ghost issue." Theodore overcomes his initial reaction and advances towards Isa and her cookies.

"As for Surrisk and Kyristan; sounds like they are held up in some place in the mountains to the northwest of town, by the sounds of that note." Dar adds.  "We should also have someone watching Isa's house in two nights.  Incase this ghost makes it's way there." After finishing, Dar moves over to the cookies as well.

Answering Croak, Shalech says, "Yes, back to Dar's.  I'm curious about the boots and mostly I hope this second encrypted journal will make it possible to unlock the script for both."

It isn't long before Croak and Shalech reaches the tower; the sun beginning to dip towards the horizon.  The smell of cookies reach each of you as you enter.

Urselles looks down for a second, almost sad, John seemed like a decent fellow from what she had heard, she didn't know what he'd been throught, and in truth it just sounded like he was ready to be done with it, even if he had done some bad things and hurt people, it wasn't her place to judge, she turned back to the halfing "I'll probably be going now, I might look around a bit, it was nice talking to you"

Croak could see the tower approaching when he noticed something brushing his neck. With a swat he notices a small chain had gotten snagged on his ear. The chain's weight weight made it almost imperceptible to him. For a moment he thought about running back to the shop to return it, under fear of theft accusation. Croak distrusts the wizards anyway. Just before he made his decision to run back to Kendrick's he gets a waft of fresh baked cookies. Famished from the day, he pockets the silver chain and continues with Shalech.

"We must make sure the defenses are lowered before entering the premises."

"And surely I must remember to return this chain first thing in the morning" he thinks to himself.

When Shalech finds Dar, and Dar has the time, he will pull out both Surrisk and Kyristan's journals and ask, "If you have two of these encrypted journals, can you use one as a cypher for the other?"

Theodore waves Shalech and Croak in, half eaten, half melted cookie in hand.  You soon reach the third floor, you see Nathan and Dar talking over plates of cookies and Isa pulling out a second tray.

"Of course." Rosetta replies.  "Ask me if you have any questions." Urselles begins looking into the cages.  The first one is a massive bird with a round head and huge eyes.  It sits on a large branch and stares at you.

Dar looks at the two books, puts down his plate and grabs them both; moving over to his research table with them.  Nathan and Shalech follow him as he opens the books.  (Dar's Arcane Check 22 )

He pries over it for a long time, flipping back and forth between different pages.  When he is ready he begins a ritual spell; drawing forth power from a metal encased object chained to his pocket.  Upon completion, he peers down towards the books; and slumps in disappointment.  He then closes the books, shaking his head.

Disappointed, Shalech asks, "Well Master Dar, if you can think of another way to decipher those journals, let me know.  I don't know where to go from here."

Urselles begins to look around the zoo, taking in the sights 

"The only place that sounds potentially helpful is to follow that note to Kyristan and Surrisk's location in the mountains; but that is also likely dangerous.  Be careful." Dar says to Shalech.

Moving on to another cage, Urselles finds a really big frog.  Its tongue snaps towards you but hits some kind of glass before coming in contact with you.

Speaking to Dar, Croak and the others, Shalech says, "My powers are new to me.  I tried to use it against John, in retaliation for attacking me, but it went awry.  I need to practice and get a handle on these new skills before I face a master wizard and his apprentice.  Looks like I need some adventuring type of work, to gain some experience."

Dar speaks up; "We need someone to check on Isa's home in a few days; not sure if it'll be adventurous, but the ghost may visit there again.  Who knows."  Shaking his head in a moment of doubt.  "Maybe it'll try coming here instead."

"A few days... I don't look forward to sitting around aimlessly until then.  This has been a bust of a day.  Can I have a cookie?"

Urselles headed back with Normand to the church, wondering if there was anything else she would need to do that day