"is your name Chernok or Brimtoe?" Abraxas asks the woman from the shadows. "Jove mentioned why we're here. Do you work with the Captain?" He doesn't want to ask too many questions, but Abraxas is curious. "If not by accident, why would Asmodeus contact the Cassalanter girl?'

Harmony watched as Abraxas started to recreate the circle before Jove said that they probably shouldn't be doing this in the house if something does happen. She took the hair barrettes as he said that they should check on the children, nodding back in agreement. "That sounds like a good idea." she said as the captain told them that he can take them back to the children before hearing a woman say that it's unlikely Asmodeus contacted the children by accident, surprised. For what purpose would he want with children? Harmony curtsied as Jove introduced her and everyone questioned the woman. "Yes, why would Asmodeus contact children such as her on purpose?" Harmony also questioned as well. 

"Esvele Rosznar," the woman introduces herself. Captain Staget's hands immediately go to his weapon. "The Black Viper!" he says, clearly caught off guard.

"Relax, Captain. If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't have met me," she says, though Staget's hands do not leave his spear. "Why indeed?" she answers Abraxas and Harmony. "When it comes to devils and deities, the answer should be obvious. They want to be summoned to this plane, and preferably by someone easily manipulated. I can't imagine they would be thrilled to emerge from a circle expecting a young child, only to face a group of prepared adventurers."

Has Jove heard anything about the Black Viper? History: 21

"So Ms. Rosznar, you are of the belief we should summon and slay these abominations? What is your role in this madcap business?"

Jove might recognize "Black Viper" as a famous figure, but doesn't know any more detail than that.

"That is correct. The events of the evening have shown that a summoning has already happened, and devils aren't known for their desire to close the door after themselves," Esvele responds. "Just think of me as a helping hand," she answers with a wink toward Captain Staget, whose hand still seems attached to his spear, a grimace etched on his face.

Jove says, "I think we can all agree that we need to be prepared if we want to take on what comes out of some summoning portal. Let's go back to the children and make sure we are well versed in everything going on. I buy that a fiend might target a child due to their naivety, but they had to start contact through some being on this plane first. A child doesn't just stumble onto a secret passage with a summoning circle on the back."

"Jove makes a good point," Abraxas says. "A fiend probably wants a combination of naivety and power. If we are going to try and close an open portal, I'd like to rest for a moment or two, not more than half an hour, and review a spell or two." He steps farther down the hall toward the last place they saw the children.

Harmony had heard the woman introduce herself, confused when the Captain said Black Viper, guessing that they must not be good. Then she explained that the reason why is that devils and deities want to be summoned to this plane and preferably by someone easily manipulated. Halsen asked if they should summon and slay them, wondering what her role is. Esvele soon said that they should since a summoning has already happened and they aren't known to close the door after themselves, wanting to be a helping hand. Harmony listened to Jove as she agreed about needing to prepare and making sure that they know everything that is going on. "Yes, that would be a good idea." she said back to him before hearing Abraxas. "While you're doing that, we can find out about everything we need to then." she had said as she follows everyone to where the children should hopefully be at.

The Black Viper bows to Captain Staget's continuing glare, taking her leave. The party returns downstairs to the ballroom, where the crowd still sits in waiting. The sense of unease and panic has lessened and grown to a nervous chatter. The Cassalanters are no longer on the stage, now sitting with a group of noble men and women and talking.

"Who would you like to speak with first? I will pull them aside for you," Staget asks.

Jove: "I would like to speak with the celebrity two children, Terenzio and Ammalia. I think we can learn from their unfiltered minds."

"Ammalia is the mother of the children. Do you mean Elzerina, or did you wish to speak with Ammalia?" Staget asks.

"Sorry. I meant Elzerina and Terenzio." (I had my notes wrong lol.)

While Staget is ushering the kids towards me, I would like to cast silent image to create a deputy sheriff badge, modeled after the ones the Watch, and probably Staget, has.

Captain Staget motions for the party to stay behind for a moment while he approaches the Cassalanter family and Jove creates an image of the symbol of the City Watch on his clothing. The captain waits for a moment while Ammalia finishes her conversation. She looks animated and unhappy with Captain Staget, but he shortly returns to the party with the two young Cassalanter children, Elzerina and Terenzio, in tow.

"You're not in trouble," he tells the sheepish children. "My friends here just have some questions about what we found in your room."

Terenzio looks shy, but somewhat excited by the activity. Elzerina wears a clear look of guilt on her face when Staget finishes the sentence.

Jove kneels down to eye level with the two children. "Elzerina, Terenzio, nice to see you again. I happen to have a very special and very important assignment. I know it is a bit scary and confusing right now, but that is okay."

He takes off the deputy badge and pins it to Elzerina first. "Now, this badge is very special. You cannot touch it, or it will teleport back to my pocket. But, it will give you some magic powers to help me with this investigation. But, I only have one, so we will have to share."

He stands up and salutes. "Deputy Investigator Elzerina. I require your assistance on an important mission. We need to know the circumstances of which you came into contact with the two characters, Brimtoe and Chernok."

OOC: This whole magical badge fiasco is two accomplish two things. Make it known to the kids that they are important and have information that we needs AND treat them respectfully like adults. I am hoping this will make them less bashful and perhaps coax more information from them. I don't think they have a real grasp of death or summoning demons, so I am hoping that treating them like adults and doing the "Deputy Investigator Game" will help. (And also perhaps give me some bonus or advantage? lol) My investigation and persuasion are both +5, DM. So feel free to roll whatever you see fit!

Jove Persuasion: 18

The childrens' eyes go wide, and Elzerina hops up and down excitedly. Terenzio tries to keep his cool, but can't help but let out, "I want one..."

Elzerina answers excitedly, "Well when I read the story with my name in it I wanted to pretend it was real so I started to do what it said in the story, and then Chernok appeared and I thought he was real nice but when Brimtoe appeared they started breaking stuff and Brimtoe was stinky and he kicked my marbles across the floor and ruined it and I got scared."

Terenzio says, "I heard you talking to someone that I didn't recognize the other night, I thought it might be Osvaldo returning from school but now I don't think it was. Who is Brimtoe and Chernok?"

Jove smiles with how well they are playing. He makes sure Abraxas is taking good notes on everything.

"Tenenzio, you will get to be the corporal investigator in just a second. Let's let Elzerina tell us everything she knows, so we can have all the clues and solve the mystery!

I knew someone like Brimtoe when I was little; he ended up working as a garbage man! So gross! I promise we will make sure nobody gets in trouble. We just want to know why they were breaking toys. Maybe they don't have any toys back home, so we can buy them some toys to play with. Then everyone will be happy! Now Elzerina, how exactly did Brimtoe and Chernok appear in front of you?"

After she answers that. "Good. Do you know how to contact them, so that we can get them some toys to play with so you won't get your broken anymore?"

"Well, they just kind of...appeared. There was a poof and some smoke appeared, and there was Chernok! And then it happened again with Brimtoe," Elzerina answers. "If you go up the stairs to my room you can talk to Chernok. He stays there with me."

Jove says, "Maybe you could help us with talking to him later. He may be a bit scared of a bunch of adults with badges. We don't want him to think he is in trouble. Thank you very much, deputy investigator. I will now speak with our corporal investigator."

Jove removes the badge. Stands up and salutes Elzerina. Then attaches the badge to Tenenzio and salutes again.

"Corporal investigator, we require your assistance in a devoloping mystery. What can you tell us?"

"I don't know, I don't know anything else," Terenzio stammers, seemingly frustrated that he has nothing to add. "Elzerina never told me she made friends appear," he says, crossing his arms.

OOC: What's next for the party? Is there anybody else in the ballroom that Jove or any other party members want to speak with? Where to next?