Brand's assessment of the lock is that it has not been tampered with and that it is a moderately adequate mechanism [[In game terms, it has a DC of around 15]] but that the security is limited to the physical size of the enclosure (i.e., it could be jemmied open relatively easily).

Having done his assessment, Brand sits back and enjoys his caf. When the magic on the chest becomes evident again by the sudden increase in the lustre of the bronze, he swallows the last of his drink and calls to be let out of the room.

The same employee comes to his call and asks if there is anything else Brand requires.

Brand smiles, "No, thank you, you have done all that I needed."

He watches his box being taken away, then follows the banker out, collects and stows his gear, leaving the normally concealed weapons in the sack in his satchell. After he exits the bank, he seeks a secluded location to transfer the silvered dagger back to his boot, and heads toward Smith and Sons. [[ If the streets are busy, and seclusion not possible, he just leaves it in the sack.]]

[[ Assuming no interruptions!! ]]

[[ Just checking: DC 15 and easy to Jimmy, suggests DC 25 and hard to Jimmy when magic active? ]]

[[ Does he know how, or see any signs of how, they know he is himself? The magic on the box...anything else? ]]

[[ Map looks good. IIRC, and if it helps, there was light industrial near the SoOS (glass making, among others, I think). ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand smiles, "No, thank you, you have done all that I needed."

He watches his box being taken away, then follows the banker out, collects and stows his gear, leaving the normally concealed weapons in the sack in his satchell. After he exits the bank, he seeks a secluded location to transfer the silvered dagger back to his boot, and heads toward Smith and Sons. [[ If the streets are busy, and seclusion not possible, he just leaves it in the sack.]]

[[Secluded location found and dagger secreted in boot.]]

[[ Assuming no interruptions!! ]]

[[ Just checking: DC 15 and easy to Jimmy, suggests DC 25 and hard to Jimmy when magic active? ]]

[[That's correct. The DC to either break or pick the lock will be 25 while the Arcane Lock is in operation.]]

[[ Does he know how, or see any signs of how, they know he is himself? The magic on the box...anything else? ]]

[[When the Arcane Lock was cast, Brand was present and identified as one of the people who could suppress the Arcane Lock by his presence. The assumption made by the bank employee (i.e., the bank's policy)  was that the lockbox would not be openable if he hadn't effectively been a component of the spell.]]

[[ Map looks good. IIRC, and if it helps, there was light industrial near the SoOS (glass making, among others, I think). ]]

[[The Scholar's Ward is part technology park rather than light industrial, the glassworks across from the SoOS is considered a high-tech company in this setting.]]

Brand makes his way back to Smith & Sons at the northern end of the Mercantile District.

When he reaches it, he finds only one person in serving, a person who is neither of the people he saw on his view of the stall today.

"Hello, Sir," says the young man when he realises that Brand is a possibly a customer. "Can I help you?"

"Ah, perhaps...has Master Smith left for the day? I was hoping to speak with him." [[ I hope that's true ]]

"Da's gone to do some business," says the young man, his eyes on Brand's armour.

He hesitates a bit and then says, "Would you mind if I took a closer look at your armour? And could you tell me where you got it?"

Brand nods, "Of course. And while you are doing that, perhaps you could tell me how long it might take -- and how much it might cost -- to get a suit of simple leather made for myself, as well as a set of studded leather?"

[[Although Brand has been to this shop before, he mostly dealt with the father and the other brother—who he remembers is a bit of a smart alec. This new member of the '& Sons' is unfamiliar to him.]]

The young man, who can be no older than Brand himself, walks slowly around Brand looking closely at his armour.

As he does so, he speaks—mostly to himself—saying, "Hmmm, that's an interesting way of doing it... That stitching is so fine, it must have taken many a tenday, and cost quite a lot... You've been in the water, I'd rub some neatsfoot oil into the stitching around your knees, it will drive the water out of the thread and stop it perishing. Oh, there's a broken thread... There I fixed it for you. That's the trouble with such fine thread, it gives suppleness but lacks strength." 

By this time he has come back round to Brand's front and now queries, "You bought this in New Nineveh? Recently?"

Then, before Brand can answer, he says, "Sorry. My name's Jim. And you asked me something, what was it again?" 

[[ And who gets to do monologues now!  8-p ]]

Brand stutters, a little bewildered, "Neatsfoot, you say?"

"Yes," Jim replies. "Made from the shin bones and feet of cattle. Smells terrible, but it really is the best thing and the stink doesn't last for long."

"So, New Nineveh. How long ago were you there? You did say you bought it from there, didn't you?"

"Indeed, about 3 months ago. Do you thunk you would be able to make something that afforded similar protection, but was a little less ... obtrusive ?"

Jim's brows crinkle and he looks thoughtful for a moment. "Less obtrusive... What do you mean?"

At this point a new voice is heard.

"Good day, Master," says the newcomer—the younger man Brand saw before. "Perhaps I could be of assistance; Wilson Smith at your service."

Wilson Smith gives Brand a broad smile and a shallow bow and then says, "Don't worry, Jim, I'll take care of the customer. You need to finish mending those bracers; the customer wants to pick them up later this afternoon."

"I'm waiting for the glue to set," says Jim, sounding a little petulant, but he turns away anyway and heads towards the table at the back of the stall.

"Did I hear you say you wanted something a little less obtrusive?" says Wilson to Brand after lowering his voice. "Something that won't make you stand out in the crowd, perhaps?"

Brand moves so that Jim can also hear him [[ If necessary ]], and briefly makes eye contact, if that is possible, then turns back to Wilson. "That is part of it, yes. Perhaps a little less obvious and bulky, but which affords the same protection."

[[ Wasn't sure if I posted these together before. Here's the set of 'established' covers he has. He will probably go to the Salts some time as "Al" ]]

Himself:

Local Constantine easy/quick disguise (Al Deacon??? need to think about the name): [[ scar, black hair, pulled back ]]

More substantial cover (Falco Varsil -- when he went to Last Chance): [[ Scar, orange hair, spiky, much less beard...takes a while to revert ]]

[[ Not sure if you missed the actual move buried by the images ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Not sure if you missed the actual move buried by the images ]]

[[No. I saw it, just a little busy with some client work.]]

While Brand moves his position and makes eye contact with Jim, Wilson puts a contemplative hand to his chin in thought.

Then he says, "Most people want their armour and weapons to be obvious: as a deterrent. For example: what you're wearing now. It would take someone very confident in their skill-at-arms to even consider taking you on with all those weapons about your person."

At this point, he lowers his voice. "So... I'm thinking you want people to think you aren't wearing any armour, so that you can get close to them without raising their suspicions? But you still want the protection of armour, if necessary. Is that a valid assumption?"

At this point, Jim has busied himself with his work and is no longer paying attention.

"For the most part you are right: I prefer to avoid conflict, rather than invite it. Hence..." he waves his arms at himself, and shrugs.

"But sometimes I am called upon to go to places and protect people where armour is frowned upon, so being discrete ... and safe ... is something I would value."

"Protect people?" Wilson echoes, as if that is something he hadn't considered. "So, you are a bodyguard? I had thought... never mind."

He then turns and calls out to his brother. "Jim, would you mind coming here please."

When the younger brother joins the two, Wilson says, "The customer wants his protection to be discreet. Remember those armour pieces we made for that courier? Perhaps we could do something similar for his gentleman."

He then turns back to Brand and says, "What I am thinking is individual pieces of armour that can be worn under normal clothes. They won't protect your joints, but unless someone were to touch you, then they should not be noticeable and should be strong enough to give you some protection against blade or bolt... Do you think your client would be interested in something similar?"

"Would there be any way of working in protection on joints as well? If I just looked well-muscled, or wore a heavy coat, for example?"

[[ Where is this in terms of game mechanics? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"Would there be any way of working in protection on joints as well? If I just looked well-muscled, or wore a heavy coat, for example?"

[[ Where is this in terms of game mechanics? ]]

[[The way I see it—and if they can do it—this would give the equivalent of leather armour (i.e., AC 11) but not appear as such (i.e., be unobtrusive).]]

At Brand's question, Jim pipes up and says, "That would be very restricting to movement and very hard to put on."

After glancing at Jim, Wilson says, "Jim is right. The problem is that normal leather from cattle and antelo (do a search on the World Site) in the thinness needed for suppleness, just isn't tough enough to provide proper protection."

"Lizardman leather?" says Jim.

Wilson turns and looks at Jim and then laughs. 

Brand looks between each of them, "Why is that funny? Does Lizardman leather have special properties?"