Quote from Guilliame >>

Have a look through trying to find some familiar spells first to get a handle on style.

OOC While doing this start some gentle stretches as Guilliame is running in the Cup later today.

 For Guilliame:

Looking through the pages, Guilliame believes he recognises some familiar spells: Alarm, Sleep, and Unseen Servant.

However, there are four spells recorded in the book that he doesn't recognise. Taking the time to examine the pages for these spell carefully, he tries to work out what they are based on his knowledge of what the School teaches to its students.

[OOC: Please make four Arcana checks at Disadvantage against a DC of 11 to try to work out what these spells might be.

Don't forget to do them behind a spoiler.]

While Guilliame is doing this, he is aware that Basilly leaves his side and takes up a position in the corner of the room furtherest from the entrance where he begins muttering to himself and performing the hand gestures of some sort of ritual.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Tambor leaves the room and returns shortly with Handleader Ahman, with whom he begins discussing what to do about the bodies.

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

14

For Dora:

Dora starts to move around the room searching, unsuccessfully, for anyone in hiding. When she gets to the bed, she places the oil lamp on the ground and pulls up the edge of the bed covers. As she does so, she hears a faint sound from the other side of the bed.

[OOC: Whatever made the sound is not visible when she looks up. What does she do?

Please remember to use spoilers.]

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

[OOC I had thought Dora could open cupboards at the same time as holding the lantern. I do it myself all the time opening doors while holding shopping bags.]

For Dora:

[OOC: Dora is not carrying a lantern. As detailed here, she is carrying an uncovered, lit, oil lamp (i.e., a spill-able container with an exposed naked flame) in one hand and her scimitar in the other. The lamp is something she would need to be careful carrying, particularly if she has her sword in her other hand.]

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

I pick up the oil lamp and step quickly to the foot of the bed to check the other side. Same posture lamp held in front and to the side and scimitar drawn ready primarily to defend. I say "I heard you, show yourself." 

 For Dora:

There is a sudden hissing sound and Dora sees the lambent eyes of a black cat in the light from her lamp.

[OOC: If you wish, you may make an Initiative roll at this point to determine who acts first: Dora or the cat. If not, the cat will act.

The cat's initiative: 10

]

Quote from Guilliame >>

 7

13

8

4

 For Guilliame:

Brassman's notational style is hard to get a grip on and Guilliame can't make head or tail of most of the unknown spells in the short time he has available. However, he is sure that one of them is the Detect Magic spell, a possibly superior version of Guilliame's own See the Arcane cantrip that can be cast as a Ritual and has the ability to work through walls rather than requiring line of sight.

[Three fails means three rolls for experience.

Roll #1: 12

Roll #2: 7

Roll #3: 6

That is two successes, so Guilliame gains two lots of experience, which I have added to his character sheet.

I just realised that Guilliame may be interrupted while doing this, so let's assume this applies as long as he is able to gain access to the book later if an interruption does occur.

]

For Guilliame:

Quote from Guilliame >>

11

For Guilliame:

[OOC: This book, in many ways, seems similar to Guilliame's own spellbook and is most likely the one Brassman used while at the School. Considering the casual way it has been left just lying around, and the value Guilliame places on his own spellbook, Guilliame suspect this might not be the only spellbook Saladin Brassman had.]

Quote from Guilliame >>

OOC Was the book full?

 For Guilliame:

[OOC: No. The book is only about one-tenth used.]

To the sheriff: "I don't think this is Brassman's only spellbook. Either there is another around somewhere here or maybe it has been stolen."

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

[OOC Assume INT is initiative on character sheet.]

[OOC is the cat important to the investigation?]

15

 For Dora:

[OOC: Dora's Initiative bonus is +2, it is shown just to the right of the top of the skills section on her character sheet.

The cat's Initiative roll is: 3

As to the cat's importance? That would be giving out more information than your character should know. However, the cat is indeed there in the room with Dora right now.

Note, that although we have rolled Initiative, this is not necessarily a combat. There is a skill called Animal Handling in which Dora has a +1 bonus. If you want her to interact with the cat in other ways than trying to attack it, that skill could be useful. The Initiative roll was just in case you wanted Dora to be able to do something before the cat did, and in case the cat decided to attack her.

]

Before Dora can react, the cat scoots back under the bed.

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

"Mmmhhh, may try to catch you later." Continue around room but this time check all windows for signs of entry forced or otherwise. Once I've checked this go to the desk and quickly assess all materials on the desk, shelves or drawers for magickal significance.

 For Dora:

 Leaving the cat hiding under the bed, Dora continues her investigation of the room and finds no one lurking.

Then, after checking and finding that the windows are all shuttered and secured, she approaches the desk. Because she doesn't have her letters, the books and papers neatly stacked on the top of the desk are all more or less meaningless to her, but it is clear that this Brassman was a scholar and meticulous in his tidiness. 

As Dora moves on to explore the drawers, she hears a sudden, warning yowl from under the bed and in the light from her lamp she can see the lambent eyes of the cat glaring at her from under the draped covers.

[OOC: If you choose to ignore the cat, please make an Arcana check at Disadvantage to try to identify anything of magical significance within the drawers.

Note: to investigate the drawers, Dora would need to put down her lamp on the table. If you do not want her to do this, please specify how you search the drawers.]

Quote from Guilliame >>

To the sheriff: "I don't think this is Brassman's only spellbook. Either there is another around somewhere here or maybe it has been stolen."

For Guilliame:

The sheriff finishes talking with Handleader Ahman and then walks over to Guilliame. 

"That is interesting," he says putting his hand out to take the book. "Is it normal for Wizards to have more than one spellbook?"