OOC: Did we see where the 'beam of unknown energy' came from? Was it from above, or somewhere in the crowd?

Being left in a small group with Halec, he's probably still furious at me, makes me uneasy, also the promise of a riot and looting shines with opportunity for me, I flee with the rest of them, it's all ripe for the pickings.

OOC: should I stay, You may have to send someone out to bring me back, but i have a feeling i should be there.

Halec stares as the ostentatiously dressed Yuan-ti, jaw hanging open. “Is... is this some kind of act? An illusion to change things up this year? Y... you stop this right now. You’re scaring people. Bring back the Ruby Snowflake!” He approaches the yuan ti. “Please, tell me this is a mummer’s farce. This cannot be.” 

Halec looks to the bleak sky and feels a fist clenched in his guts, as his insides twist anxiously, and knows it is real. 

“How? How can this be? What could have done this? What was that baleful light?”

Sleight of hand check to steal a expensive looking item from a young woman: 16

OOC: Is this a DC 10 or DC 15?

Someone taps Halec on the shoulder from behind. There stands a male Yuan-ti, humanoid, but with green and purple scales on his neck and wrists. He wears a thin brown coat with a yellow trim. On his side he carries a leather bag.
“i had some insight in the planning of this event and this is definetly not planed. Unless this improvised, its time for concerns.“

 Ooc: sorry for waiting so long. I didnt think that this would go off so quick amd fluid.

Chazrael draws his bow at the sound of the crash before seeing everyone run in panic. He notices the man in the outfit and listens to his words before approaching him. "Son, there are either ways to ask for people to help."

Quote from I_Love_Tarrasques >>

Sleight of hand check to steal a expensive looking item from a young woman: 11

OOC: Is this a DC 10 or DC 15?

 The woman notices and punches you in the face, knocking you out.

The yuan-ti looks up at Halec with sorrow "I'm the mayor, I'd never do something like this to my people" he turns to Chazrael "How about this: if someone can put the Ruby Snowflake back together, I will promise great riches upon them."

"Yes, I am a sailor," Rosemary answers the question as she watches the Snowflake shatter, hesitating on the last word. She takes a hold of Halec's arm and gently tries to pull him away. "And as a sailor, let me give you some advice: If you see an explosion, you walk the other way. See, this man gets it!" She points at the Yuan-ti man in the brown coat. "Concerns! The other way!"

Only at the mention of "great riches" does she stop and turn to the mayor.

Halec attempts to collect himself again, but seems to be losing this time. His composure is as shattered as the Ruby Snowflake.  To the male Yuan-ti in the brown coat, he says, "I understand that, now, it's just so hard to believe.  This was something I counted on, something we all counted on.  Do you have any idea what could have done this?"

To the halfling with the drawn bow, he blinks a few times, and says, "I saw you at the bar, earlier, I think.  You're right, it is an odd thing, for the mayor to just shout out into the crowd for help.  Maybe he's as shocked by all this as we are, and not thinking straight.  I don't suppose I can blame him." 

Halec brings the mayor into the conversation, along with the halfling with the bow, the yuan-ti in the brown coat, and Rosemary.  "What do any of us know about the Ruby Snowflake?  I had always assumed it was, I don't know, an artifact or something.  I didn't think those could be destroyed.  What could have done this?  What was that beam of light, and where did it come from?  The way it exploded wasn't natural.  I mean, there's nothing natural about any of this, but the way the pieces flew apart, that didn't seem like the natural pattern.  Did someone or something call the pieces?"

Halec wracks his own brain, although he is a layman to matters of arcane and religious significance, trying to recall any tidbits he has heard here or there.

17   - Arcana

8  - Religion

21 - Perception.  This one is more retroactive, but regarding the former question, where did Halec perceive the beam of light that struck the Ruby Snowflake as coming from?   From above, and if so, directly from the sky above, or at an angle?  From a lower angle, or an upward angle indicating someone in the crowd perhaps?  

As his head clears a little, Halec adds, directed at the mayor, "Doesn't Central City and Snakeskin Valley have its own military to call upon, or a local militia? I know there are town guards, although I have my doubts as to their competence.  They released a captured thief back onto the streets within the hour of his capture, I don't imagine they are ready to deal with something like this.  But is there no military you can call upon?  Is reaching out to Adventurers really your best option?"

He gestures towards the halfling with the bow, but continues addressing the mayor.  "He's right, just asking the first people you see does seem a bit odd.  I do happen to be an adventurer and craftsman, but I intended to retire from the former and settle down into the latter.  If you're really serious about contracting this to me, we can talk.   Are all of you people adventurers as well?  Rosemary?  The Yuan-Ti gentleman in the coat?  The halfling fellow with the rather admirable mustache," Halec twirls his own, "and the bow?" 

--Halec--

 --All--

"I would have our military deal with this problem, but they are dealing with a situation in the DragonSpade Kingdom"

Halec's eyelids flutter as he makes some hand gestures, tracing the path he recalls the beam of light coming from with a finger, and then pointing an alleyway to the east.  "That way! Yes, I'm sure of it, that beam came from this way! Come on!" He doesn't clarify who he is beckoning to follow, and doesn't wait.  He bolts off, Dashing in the direction of the alleyway.  

I sleep. and am trampled by the fleeing crowds, someone's going to have to wake me up. XD

Edit, after a long rest and the crowds clear, I awake naturally, my face rings with pain, i swear to never attempt to steal anything again... Putting up my hood, I Wander around town, I head to a pub, to listen to the gossip around town. I had thought the snowflake event was a hoax, and now I am quite disturbed.

The alleyway is completely empty, not a single person is there.

Halec frantically searches for tracks, any sign of someone hiding nearby, or any secret doors someone could have escaped through.

21 - Survival, for tracking

23 - Perception, to find any concealed individuals

3 - Investigation, for secret doors

11 Investigation check for information on the snowflake accident

To the mayor, and the other PCs still gathered, Halec calls out as he conducts his search of the alleyway, "The Ruby Snowflake, mayor, can you describe a bit more about what it actually does, err, did?  Something awful has clearly happened, I can feel the change.  How vital was its role in this community?  Do you have any wizards or clerics available who can divine where its pieces went to using magic?"

Anthony finds on information on the incident while Halec find a pair of footprints side-by-side in the dirt, they do not lead in any direction.

"The Ruby Snowflake is what keeps the kingdom's foundation stable and keeps our good will flowing. If we don't do something, all of Snakeskin Valley will collapse into a ravine. The pieces alone are still powerful, yet we need to find them all to restore its true power. I counted seven pieces in total, I don't know where they landed, but I'm sure there are others out there that would. Why don't you visit the Adventurer's Cheâtau, I'm sure the filers could have a piece or know where one is."

I rush to the adventurer's chateau, as quickly as my fat, little, dwarf legs can carry me, determined not to collapse in a ravine and die.