(@MB: I loved the blue cheese bit!)

Brother Tyree says his goodbyes and politely refuses any invitation to stay for lunch. He is needed at the temple.

Utar and Graxx coincidently reach Neya's and Doozey's table simultaneously, so the information sharing only has to happen once. Fat Mar is there for the talk too, refilling his stock of gossip material and making sure he is really slow to note down lunch orders and respond to any questions thrown at him. "Well, the Black Fist has an outpost right here in the docks, so I just went there. The officer there, Guard Sergeant Hurn, no... the old dwarf was promoted not too long ago... Lieutenant Hurn simply pointed at the two closest guards and told them to follow me. I haven't seen them before, and certainly don't care to again. I'm afraid I don't know their names either." 

Utar clarifies what item was stolen, Neya explains why they left, Graxx comes to terms with their collective failure despite his own arm-wrestling victory, and Doozey ponders on just the exact monetary value of the thieves' prize. The stoutling and the half-orc discuss the possibility of bringing up the theft with Captain Aleyd, but keep their expectations in check. 

The conversation shifts toward possibly reaching out to Lord Witchthorn, and maybe to Seranolla or another of that team's members. The issue regarding Caah and the matter surrounding Yalek also pop up. Utar recalls that he meant to reach out to Moneus and Litta, which prompts the other to revisit their to-do lists as well. All the talk is eventually interrupted by Fat Mar, who arrives again and deliver lunch to all: "Today's fresh dish is the fish pottage. Do enjoy your generous servings!" He laughs joyously and charges each CRAPer another 1gp per serving of food.

(OOC: By the time lunch is over, CRAP has another 4-ish hours to do whatever they'd like, before it is time to go visit the Tea Kettle again, that is.) 

Deciding to use a lull in the conversation as CRAP tuck into a particularly good soup to contact Litta and Moneus.

Casting sending, he carefully prepared his message for Litta.

"Once we're done here and I settle up with Mar, we could look into visiting the armourer. Anyone else have any errands? Do we want to meet our exotic arms dealer, her place is near here, right?"

"If we can do both, then most certainly. Would like to add to my downpayment. Or perhaps we might even find something new in stock worth considering." Doozey mentions, and then with a sly smile that looked more sinister with the fangs adds, "Or maybe Big Mama Yondalla looks out for ya, and give you a chance to catch those duo in the act of selling your scroll. Wouldn't that be somethin'?" 

(Gold Piece Deducted)

(OOC:  Gold Piece Deducted!)

Graxx takes a few bites of the fish pottage.

"This is mighty fine.  Thank you Fat Mar."

Graxx turns to Utar.

"I don't have any errands but wherever you go.  I go."

Graxx catches himself and looks up at Fat Mar.

"In case... Your wound reopens of course.  I want to be there."

Graxx looks to Doozey.

"I would like to catch those two... Thieves dishonoring their duty..."

"What we have in the bag may help a long way. I also recall a certain cloak she had in stock. Perhaps we could take a little time to see which may be more than meets the eye?" Neya suggests, holding up the bag of holding for a moment.

"I thought you might say as much." Doozey commented in response to Graxx. "But oi. If that's to be the plan, let's take this back to the rooms then for studying. Though, I only imagine that there won't be many among the odds and ends we got. And even then, namely that which we got from the would be boss of those gobs would have anything to tweak interest." Doozey hops out of his seat on that note, and following a whistle, Taters stop making a mess polishing off Doozey's fish pottage to hop onto a shoulder and be carried off with the stoutling.

(@Lerus: Unless the others wish to, only plan to spend the next hour studying what we got for magic and try to identify it. Hoping Utar has Detect Magic to maybe speed up the process a little)

"If I recall, the warlord had plate armor, a longsword, a shield and six javelins." Neya inventories the hobgoblin warlord's possessions. "Of these, I doubt the javelins are any more than what they seem."

Litta responds through Utar's spell. (@Utar:)

Fat Mar accepts the compliments on the pottage and sticks around for a couple of minutes. He gives Graxx a curious look when the barbarian mentions opening wounds again, but doesn't say anything. The group discusses the benefits of paying a visit to the Black Fist armorer and/or the pawn shop at the docks. They come to the conclusion that it might be worth going over their loot in case any of it is enchanted. This could improve their bargaining power at the pawn shop. They finish their food, pay Fat Mar, and go back upstairs. 

Agglomerated around Neya's bed, the group pours over the veritable arsenal that they have amassed within the Bag of Holding. There are several longbows, longswords, chain shirts, shields, javelins, and map cases. There is also the orb Ixas used as an arcane focus. A quick study of all of these items is enough for CRAP to realize none of them have powerful enchantments associated with them, though most of these items could easily be pawned for some coin. 

Next, the group focuses on the different armor pieces that form Garbul's plate armor. To their collective disappointment, and although the set in impeccably crafted and decorated, it emanates no magical essence. 

Neya reaches into the Bag of Holding once more, just to be sure they haven't overlooked anything. Among a large pile of coins, she touches something that catches her interest. She pulls one of the broken green dragon mask pieces from the bag and the group collectively gasps as they are reminded that those fragments have kept their magical essence, at least partially. There are four of them:

• Maw: this piece would cover the wearer's nose, mouth, and chin.
• Left eye: this piece would cover the wearer's left eye, cheek, and ear.
• Right eye: this piece would cover the wearer's right eye, cheek, and ear.
• Crest: this piece would cover the wearer's forehead and part of the scalp.

(OOC: I would like to know who is analyzing which piece of the mask.) 

Graxx will pick up the "Maw" of the mask and rotate it in his hands.

"How... Curious..."

Graxx remains looking at the Maw but speaks to the others while doing so.

"So... How are we going to handle our Birdman situation.  He's a trusted advisor.  If I just go in and take his head it would probably cause a bit of a fuss.  Do we need to find proof that he was involved?  We're going to need something big.  It would be like someone coming to me and saying one of you was plotting to kill me.  I would not take kindly to such accusations."

Doozey will pick up the the "Crest" and mirrors much the same motion as Graxx. Though, the stoutling looked more for runes or etchings that might allude to how the mask yet retained its magic. Perhaps it's breaking apart was natural thing meant to ease containment? Or something else altogether...

"No, I don't imagine so. One of us could try to speak with his so called "boss" alone on the matter. Or Utar here can even request magically such a private audience." He suggests without ever really looking up from his piece. "But either which way, we do need to handle this with some delicacy. Now that we've painted a bit of a target with an Ancient Green on our backs, this alliance is all the more important towards having it removed. Fore while I don't exactly expect to have any progeny soon, I rather not have my troubles passed on to them, if they are to ever to come to be." 

After settling up with Fat Mar, Utar selects the left eye piece. Holding it up he squints through the eye hole.

"Kid gloves with Senetir. But I do wonder about what we know about the others? Burral, I trust. Same for Dornal and Harper, though I base that more on instinct. Chaab, I think we have the measure of. Besides he's someone we can put some pressure on of we need answers. He's already terrified of Graxx."

Changing tactics, Utar puts his ear to the remnant of the mask.

"Think I can hear the sea..."

Neya inspects the remaining portion of the mask.

"Nevertheless, we will have to keep any eye on reactions when we get there, however subtle they may be." Neya notes. 

Now by themselves and having a chance to openly talk, the group ponders how exactly to approach their counterparts at the upcoming dinner meeting, and how to communicate their suspicions around Senetir and/or Chaab. Regardless of the plan, they all realize some tact will be needed.

While they converse, they each examine a piece of the magical mask. It takes the better part of an hour for the group to pinpoint exactly what the four fragments do. (OOC: Feel free to take a Short Rest.)

@Graxx:

@Doozey:

@Utar:

@Neya:

(OOC: You do not have to stick with the fragment you examined. Feel free to bargain/trade/optimize your selections.) 

The group shares what they have unveiled regarding the mask fragments and engage in some friendly exchange.

(OOC: Two points: First, I added a mask fragment to each of your inventories based on the most recent discussion in our OOC Chat. Let me know if you'd like to change anything. Second, would you like to spend another hour in the room in order to attune to your new mask fragments? Keep in mind you'd be showing up to the dinner meeting with them on your faces.)

Graxx places the Maw on his face and lets out a little growl.

"This... Mask is powerful!  I feel... I feel like this mask will make me quicker and harder to hit!"

Graxx removes the Maw from his face.

"But this would make it quite hard to eat at dinner tonight.  What do you all think of your pieces?"

"Very intriguing, I certainly felt a surge of vitality." Neya says as  "But, yes we should wait for later tonight to get acquainted with them. I recall Utar omitting these from the debrief after the battle. Appearing with them will raise more than a few questions."

"You didn't... You didn't tell them?" Doozey asks, looking a little wide-eyed at Utar. "I mean, I suppose in hindsight it was a good thing you didn't. A-and I know we had some trust issues as well, and that was before the you know what. But still..." He looked away to the fragment in hand on that note with far more trepidation. "The coin and armor was one thing, but this feels-..." He trailed off from there for a moment or two, then shook his head, tightening the grip on the fragment ever so slightly.

"But, what's done is done. Hopefully we manage to uproot any conspirators sooner than later. But for now, you make a good point, Ms. Neya." He gets up at that point, and slips his into the folds of an inner pocket on his outercoat. "Anyways, enough of all this. Mr. Utar. I assume you'll want to swap out that armor before we leave, so I'll I head downstairs first. First we see our pawnbroker, then to keep to trade in some of these extra arms and armor, and then to the Tea Kettle!" Doozey half-smile quickly erodes away into a sideways glance at nothing. "They're... not expecting us to dress fancy again are they?"

"I thought were could share that information tonight, but that was before everything last night. We might want to keep this to ourselves given recent events, especially if certain parties are keen to locate the mask for themselves."

Utar packs his mask fragment away in his pack.

"Best not give the game away from the off by wearing them either. I don't know about the rest of you, but I think given the circumstances I'd prefer to go in armoured."

(OOC: Some of this is based on the OOC Chat.)

The group decides to bathe in the power of the fragments after dinner, and agree that fancy dress will give way to more practical considerations this time around. Doozey suggests a few errands so they can use their next two or so hours efficiently and off CRAP goes.

The walk to the dockside pawn shop is a short one. The sign hanging on top of the entryway is still just as old and dirty as it was last time. The party enters Dockside Treasures and is immediately greeted silently by the large hairless male goliath who is employed as security. He barely moves. The inside of the shop is covered floor-to-ceiling in shelves, boxes, crates, and other storage paraphernalia. For a moment, seeing the approaching shopkeep brings back memories of Claugiyliamatar: the ageing female green dragonborn wearing way to many pieces of jewelry cracks a smile upon seeing and immediately recognizing you.

"Oh, you are back! My favorite sailors!" She opens her arms as if walking on a stage and introducing herself to a crowd. She turns to Doozey first: "He he he! Are you back here so you can make another contribution toward your reserved item?" She quickly switches to Graxx: "And how is that belt serving you, strong boy?" Neya is next: "Ready for that cloak?" And finally Utar: "Time to replace that old shield, don't you think? Someone almost bought it the other day, you know."

Doozey responds first, asking for a secure lead box. For a fraction of a second, she looks disappointed that the group is not showing immediate interest in her more expensive wares, but she puts on a smile soon after: "Ah, lead! Strong blocking metal against certain magics! You have something interesting on you, boy! Any interest in selling it?" When Doozey refuses, she leads him to a shelve with a few lead lockboxes on it. The smallest is the size of a tinderbox. The largest has about the same dimensions of a fruit crate. The prices range from 8gp to 25gp, with two medium-sized boxes being priced at 14gp and 18gp. She looks at Doozey greedily, knowing that the halfling can tell that the items are overpriced.

Once this transaction is over, she asks: "What else can I do for you, my dear, rich sailors?" This question is aimed at the whole group.

(@Ori: You gather the 14gp one is enough to house your mask fragment, and perhaps a couple other items. The 18gp box can house all fragments and a few other items.) 

Letting Doozey hassle over his box, Utar decides to conduct a bit of business of his own.

"So I would like to see that shield again if you don't mind, but I wonder if I might put in a request?"

Utar pauses for a moment to draw the interest of the shop-keeper.

"I imagine that a number of wondrous items might be brought to your attention as a purveyor of such things. I am looking for a mace. A very particular magical weapon."

Gesticulating the measurements of Lightbringer and it's distinctive design to the shop-keeper, Utar lays out his offer.

"Should anyone come to you with such a weapon, I would be very interested in purchasing it from you. I would be prepared to reimburse you for the purchase cost and offer a mark up for your trouble too. I would also be particularly interested to know who you bought it from. It is dear to me and to my order. I would like to see it returned to its rightful place and find the one who took it."

After setting out his bargain, Use waits to see if it is accepted.

Insight - 13 minus 3(?)