Cap walks in, drawing his sword, as their cover is now blown and he has a heroic speech prepared where he needs to be pointing a sword at someone for several key points in the choreography.

"Aha! I... gimme a sec."

Cap rummages around in his pockets, then realizes he has none. He looks to Kinnik, who is currently wearing his hat. He runs over, and grabs it, turning it over and taking a small paper from it. He jams it back on the crow-man's head and re-points his rapier.

"A-hem-hem! I... nope. Holding it backwards. I... nope. Holding it upside down. I... nope. Wrong speech."

He grabs the hat again and fishes around inside it once more. He grabs another one and quickly re-points his rapier once more.

"I... that can't possibly be my handwriting. I can't possibly read this! Gah! Oh well, I guess I could just improv it. I... nah. It's really lost all the feeling.

Cap sighs and lowers his rapier, dejectedly walking back to the others and jamming the hat back on Kinnik's head. 

Kinnik has remained in the hallway with Vasha, staring at her sudden growth in sick fascination. He is against the wall and not immediately visible to anyone in the room.

Springing back to his feet, Copper will begin tearing through the office looking for anything that could be helpful, immediately stuffing anything remotely relevant in his pack.

Investigation: 14

The scholar smiles at Cap's attempt at a heroic entrance and smiles.

"You know, my fine metal friend, I can put you in touch with Kasper if you want, I'm sure he wouldn't mind writing up some cue cards for you."

As the scholar continues to rummage about, he gives Cap another friendly smile and a wink.

(Ru, can you tell us anything about the room? I keep thinking you're going to tell us that everyone barged in and started raiding the office while Daela is sitting right there)

Something isn't sitting right with Kinnik. What he knows about magical theory wouldn't fill the VERY fine hat currently resting on his head, but...

But they got in too easily. That sigil looked pretty serious; he's a little surprised that brute force (even magical brute force) did the trick. Bird brain or no, Kinnik is no fool. Something's amiss. He peers down the hallway, back and forth, and he examines the doorway for any telltale signs of lingering magic...

Investigation: 12 

 (Just out of curiosity: 7 1 19 12 2 1 10 19 19 1 11 12 8 20 4 18 4 17 8 17 2 15 11 5 9 13 14 6 13 13 18 5 10 13 3)

Damn. Average value is 10.66. Okay, DND Beyond, point to you.

When you bust in, indeed no one is in the office. As you enter, some candles seem to light themselves - spooky, but perhaps not too unexpected? (You may roll an Arcana to find out why the lights came on.)

This room reminds you of a library. There are bookshelves lining the walls with scrolls and trinkets occupying all available space. The floor is hardwood, though one of the bookcases appears to be atop a blue and gold carpet. When you look through the desk, you mostly see notes, maps, diagrams, but nothing points you in the direction of this schema. There seem to be no signs about it here in the office...

Shroud, however, you spot something that could be interesting. His business cards. Your allies are rifling through the room, but you see the business cards list two different addresses. One is for this location, and the other is for his home in Northedge. 

Kinnik, you spot a very shiny, silver picture frame! You must have it... (wis save 13 to resist stealing it) Inside the frame, you see a picture of a young human girl. Maybe no older than 20 or so. But really, aren't you here for the shinies?

Wis save: 12

The scholar looks over the business card in detail before commenting.

"If we don't find anything here, we might try the professors home."

Smiling, the scholar waves the business card in the air.

The scholar suddenly gets an idea and begins searching the room again.

Perception check to find any/all pictures that might portray the professor or people he knows and/or cares about: 13

if Shroud finds any pictures, Investigation check to attempt to find any names to go with the faces: 19

It seems to Shroud that the only photo in the room is one that the kenku is now jealously coveting...

(Ahhhh, so close)

Kinnik peeks around the doorframe, something is in there... something breautiful. The candlelight gleams at its edges. It casts wavering reflections about the room, and yet... and yet its irresistible attraction lies in the way it brings out the inner beauty of everything around it.

Oblivious to everyone around him, Kinnik considers for a fleeting moment that he has no way of getting this out of here unnoticed. But it's too late... he has to have it...

When no one is looing, Kinnik picks up a nearby paperweight and hucks it at a large book placed ponderously at the top of a bookshelf across the room. The moment it falls (hoping to have caused an acceptable distraction) he attempts to bring the frame off the wall and stow it under his robe behind his back.

Sleight of hand: 27

Not distracted by Kinniks antics, the scholar addresses Kinnik about the picture.

"Kinnik, I don't suppose I could take a look at your latest acquisition, for only a moment of course?"
 
The scholar approaches Kinnik slowly, trying not to spook him into running off with his new treasure.

"I don't even need to touch it, if you could just hold it up so I can examine it?"

Kinnik, awkwardly hiding the frame behind his back, opens his beak and begins repeat a nonchalant whistling tune. 

Deception (I'd apply double disadvantage if I could): 19

Looking around to make sure no one else has arrived, the scholar quickly turns into Olen.

"Kinnik, it's ok, I don't want the picture frame. I just want to examine it in case it has information I can use."

"There is no reason to try and hide it, I was looking at the picture when you took it, I know you have it. Please Kinnik, can I just see it for a little bit?"

Kinnik can sigh without repeating anyone, and he deflates under shroud's reasonable requests. For a moment, he looks wistfully to the door as though he'll make a break for it, but reason wins in the end. 

Kinnik passes the frame to shroud.

Shroud, based on your observations of the room, you really aren't sure who this girl is, but given it is the only picture in the room you assume she must be important. A family member, a favorite student, or some other close relationship of that sort. 

Cap grabs the picture.

"A traditional hiding place in times such as these is within a picture frame, or behind some sort of hanging painting! Let me see..."

Cap will attempt to open the picture frame, and check around for any sort of key or letter or something of the like. If he finds nothing, he will look behind every last painting in the room.

There are maps on the walls, sketches of Xendrik, a country map of Khorvaire, and a world map (with vague outlines of the lands outside this continent). 

Otherwise, you find no secret keys, doors, or safes. 

"Dam, no name. Well I could try winging it with this face, see what happens."

Olen studies the picture for a bit, before transforming into a young woman, somewhat like the one in the picture.

The unnamed woman half reaches for the picture, as Cap swipes it form her grasp. With a feminine voice the unnamed woman asks.

"Well, what do you think? Do I look like her?"

At Caps claim about hiding places for things, the unnamed woman watches him search.

"Find anything, my dashing metal dandy?"

The unnamed woman tilts her head up and flutters her eyes at Cap, before giving him a mischievous grin and a wink.

Pulling out the business card, the unnamed woman reads it.

"Well if we don't have anything else here, I suggest we pay a house visit to the good professor."

Turning to the broken doorway, the woman is confronted with Vasha's large form.

"Oh right, we have to do something about dear Vasha."

"Hmm, perhaps we could play your current condition off as a temporary accident during some spell casting class? Need to go home and sleep it off, as directed by your professor?"

"What do you think my dear? Have any other ideas?"

Anyone who rolled a 12 or better for Perception hears outside and down the hall...

"Is Professor Daela in right now? I thought he said he was going home for the day." - Gruff male Voice.

"Just makes the job easier, huh? Let'ss rough him up.." - A brash, harsh voice of indiscernible gender.

Only Cap knows the spoiler: