Above & Below

Effort, go ahead and give me an investigation.

Kurama, give me a WIS save.

Kurama WIS Save: 10

investigation: 10 (8 +2 guidance)

Brask looks at the various goods on sale and says in a sarcastic voice;  Ah, material goods and the trappings of wealth.  What need have I of these things?  I am a noble warrior for good, and have cast off such base needs.  He mutters something more under his breath and spits on the ground.

Pip's eyes go wide and then slowly close into a frown as he realizes Brask's pronouncement is dripping with sarcasm. 

Kurama, once again a pain shoots through your mind. You take 5 psychic damage. As you clench your eyes closed, you drop your notebook onto the dirt. A gust of wind blows through at that moment, flipping the pages violently, but you're able to collect it before any damage is done.

Effort, there are a lot of stalls here, and nothing immediately screams out to you as a source of the arcane. There are plenty of people around, however, so you're hoping you'll be able to have someone point you in the right direction. As you look around, you notice Kurama's strange behavior again.

Effort squints.  Then bares her teeth.  Pointing her finger at Braska and Pip, she sends them both the same message.

Something is wrong with Kurama.  He keeps acting strangely, as if he is in some sort of pain, whenever he looks at that book of his.  I checked him earlier and could find nothing physically wrong with him.  He was also snappy that I noticed anything at all.  I do believe his book may be cursed.  I think we should distract him while Pip gets up to the business of stealing that notebook away from him.  Pip, if you manage to do that, don't touch it with your bare hands, and most definitely do not read it or attempt to write in it, please.

What?  Brask asks aloud before he remembers that he can whisper back; he then proceeds to whisper:  What?  Oh, more magic crap?  Figures.  

Where are we right now?  In the middle of the market, surrounded by people?  

You're at the edge of the market as it travels along. There are people nearby, including a few who slow down to stare at your group briefly, but you haven't inserted yourself into the market proper yet. From here you can see some of the obvious stalls as they travel by on horseback or in wagons - a big wagon serving ale, a few with root vegetables and grain, one with dried fish hanging down from poles. 

A middle-aged man with a perfectly round belly approaches you on horseback. A series of finely crafted daggers and spear points hang from a piece of leather draped over his horse. "Can I interest any of you in one of the most unique blades you'll find?" He spins a dagger between his fingers rather deftly. "You won't find craftsmanship like this even in the central market."

"I don't know. Are any of yours as unique as this one?" Effort asks, pulling out the cultist dagger and displaying it prominently for the man to see.

Odd... Kurama pondered to himself in discomfort as he collected his notebook.  This is more than a coincidence... he added as he looked down at the book.  Could this be something similar to whatever was afflicting Brask?  Would he also have to throw away one of the few scant connections to his home and his past - besides his memories and whatever creature, energy or force lurked inside him?  The thought caused him momentarily panic though he managed to calm himself a bit when an idea struck him.  An experiment!  If he felt a similar pain again when using a notebook, he'd know for sure that they were somehow the cause and would refrain from using them for the time being.  If he felt fine... well, that just meant that something else was wrong with him; but he would cross that bridge when he got to it.  Carefully replacing his current notebook with a different one - a relatively blank one at that used to note his musing on the inner thoughts of animals that caught his eye - Kurama took out his pen and began to write.

• He's going to write in his notebook again and see what happens

He squints down at it. "Interesting etching," he admits, but then shrugs. "Nothing like the craftsmanship here though." He reaches back and pulls out a larger knife with a strangely shaped, polished bone handle and an eight-inch blade. "That there is a wolf's jawbone. Won't find something like this anywhere else."

The merchant is interrupted by Kurama as the monk lets out a pained cry. His pen has only managed to produce a black dash across the page before another attack. Take 6 psychic damage. The wind picks up again, suddenly blowing through the market and temporarily swirling around Kurama. Eventually it dissipates, although it seems like even some of the caravan members noticed the strange nature of the winds. Two of the guard-like members on horseback go galloping by toward the front of the caravan. 

"Hm," the dagger dealer pauses to think on it too, but eventually goes back to his pitch. He draws another blade. This one has holes for two fingers, and a very broad two-inch blade. "Now this one is for more, ah, private work." He uppercuts with the small knife, mimicking an attack.

Shit... Kurama thought to himself as he recovered from yet another shock to his mind.  I do not believe I was quite as subtle this time around.  I will have to tell the others now... he added before noting the stares from the crowd and the two guards quickly approaching.  Unsure what was about to happen, he stuffed the notebook into his bag and waited to see how the guards responded.

• If the guards seem overtly hostile and try to attack, he'll take the dodge action if possible

Brask is standing behind Kurama, considering whether to hit the monk over the head with his maul, but so far has decided against it.  He gives the merchant a warning look as he brandishes his wares.

Effort smiles politely at the merchant and clears her throat.  "While that is indeed fascinating, it seems there is a small issue I must deal with before we continue our negotiations.  If you would just hold that thought..."

Turning to Kurama, the same pleasant smile on her face, her eyes narrow and lose their friendliness.  "What just happened, Kurama?  Quite an unusual breeze we're having here.  The air seems to like you.  Figure it out before you wear out our welcome with this caravan, please."  Her eyes meet with Brask's, as if telling him not to hesitate to do whatever he feels is necessary should Kurama try to even glance in the direction of his notebooks again.

Turning back to the merchant, her expression eases out of its unpleasant rictus and into a friendlier smile once more.  "Well.  I admit, I am not one who is very skilled in the use of the blade, though I can clearly see that you are a true master of the craft.  I suppose my concerns lie more with what might occur after such a blade has been applied to myself, or my friends.  Would you happen to know of or be able to recommend anyone here selling such restorative wares for the less skillful among us?"

His face sours. "Oh, everyone is always looking for the magic," he points toward the central tent, of which you can only see the top of at this point. "Hope you have something more useful than that substandard dagger to barter with!"

Kurama, to be clear, the two guards ride past you and toward the front of the caravan in a hurried fashion.

(Oh oops I misread that!)

Quote from Enkida >>

Turning to Kurama, the same pleasant smile on her face, her eyes narrow and lose their friendliness.  "What just happened, Kurama?  Quite an unusual breeze we're having here.  The air seems to like you.  Figure it out before you wear out our welcome with this caravan, please."  Her eyes meet with Brask's, as if telling him not to hesitate to do whatever he feels is necessary should Kurama try to even glance in the direction of his notebooks again.

"Well..." Kurama began a bit nervously, "...It would seem that there's something wrong with either myself or my notebooks.  That last little... outburst, was my confirmation after a bit of experimentation.  I'm not quite sure what is afflicting me or why, but until I'm able to ponder it a little further, I unfortunately think it might be best if I refrain from using these particular books for the time being."  Then quickly trying to change the subject, "Could you tell what the disturbance up ahead is related to?  For a moment I thought they were coming for me!" he commented before laughing quickly; it sounded awkward and forced coming from him.

If Kurama is talking about his notebooks while the merchant is still around, Brask will say loudly to the merchant:  Yeah, you're gonna want to bugger off for a bit now, mate.  Don't worry, we'll come find you later to do business.  But we got stuff to talk about.

To Kurama, he says:  Yeah, right.  Hand em over.  He takes off his backpack and holds it for Kurama to drop his notebooks in without Brask needing to touch them.  Nice and careful, like.  I don't want what you got.

"I don't think that's really necessary."  Kurama began.  "Like I said, as long as I don't use them, it should be fine if I hold on to them for the time being until I find some sort of 'cure'."  Kurama added before pausing for a moment.  "Also, they have some sentimental value to me so I'd rather keep them close."  Looking at the monk, it was clear to see that he would not give up the journals without some convincing.

Yeah, I think it is necessary, monk boy.  In the bag now, before these people start wondering what's so important.  Brask is attempting to intimidate/persuade Kurama (those are not really two different things in Brask's mind), but also distract him so Pip can make a grab for the books.

Pip slowly makes his way behind Kurama, and as Brask is talking, tries to sneak up and grab the notebooks. 

Sleight of hand check: 11

Kurama, give me an opposed perception check.