"Gentlemen, I can and will vouch for Cico. He is a member of the guild of Innkeepers and Brewers in good standing, and has been a close friend of mine for quite a while. These accusations of criminal wrongdoing are inaccurate, as Cico was with us as we were conversing in the Trollskull, and he, despite his sometimes quaint and odd mannerisms, means best for the world."

Aldrik looks at Blastwind. "My good sir, did you have a chance to converse with Lady Hornraven? She had witnessed a man, perhaps one not of his own mind, perform the dastardly deed outside. According to her, this man seemed a puppet, and had stood where Cico attempted to help investigate. We all know that the Griffonguard are hard pressed with tracking every wrongdoer in this city, and the more on the side of good, the better for all Waterdhavians, no?"

Persuasion: 10

Edvord continues to peruse the wares of the store, listening carefully. The man crouches over and whispers a message into his hands towards Aimee. "We may want some eyes outside on the crime scene, could you distract this pair?"

Would it be hard to try to leave the store while the watch is focused in on Cico?

 Aimee replies in Eddy's mind,

<Yep! But I have already got some eyes out there, and ears too! But I got am idea anyhow, get ready!>

She mind messages Lyss,

<Eddy wants am even BIGGER distraction! I'm going to faint and you can start screaming?>

If Lyss doesn't offer a counter suggestion Aimee starts taking rapid,  shallow breaths then gasps and drops like a rock towards the watch members.

Performance: 18

(Nobody's stopping you from leaving except Cico as they search him they're just asking a few questions. So it will be easy to leave if a little rude.)

As Cico produces the cloth, and following a further frisking Blastwind nods with a frustrated grumble. "Well, that seems to check out, though I am near certain that something more lies beneath this. The watch will be keeping a close eye on you Mister.... Cico." He glares at Aldrik. "Though I'm sure your father would beg to differ, your family does not run this city Mr Reinholdt. Therefore you have no business telling me how to do my job. I am aware of the witness testimony, the Nimblewright on the roof included. I implore you not to intercede in our investigations, you will merely be adding further variables into an already confounding equation."

Meanwhile Cromley tries to calm the dissent, blocking Lyss from Blastwinds legs. "Look now, you are letting your imaginations get the better of you. It's better we investigate someone might be a wrongun' than just take their word right? We're doing everything we can to protect you." (Even you would admit that the way Cico presented himself was extremely suspicious, even for his standards.) 

As Aimee faints, the suspicion in the room that had only just abated increases. Blastwinds eyes narrow at Cico " I don't sense any magical effects, but whatever godawful neurolinguistic programming you've inflicted on these poor people.....I'm on to you. If you lift a finger, I will know."

The pair nod at each other and Cromley heads towards the door, addressing the whole group. " The bodies have been removed from your property and you are free to go. Though we will be keeping watch for any suspicious activities. If you come across any information that could help us, please report it to your local Watch station."

Edvord will attempt to non chalantly head towards the door when Aimee or Lyss makes their move.

As the mage heads towards the door, he overhears the conversation from the watch. Edvord thinks to himself, <Rats... Too slow!>

As she clings to Cromley's leg, wailing, Lyss's fingers take a wander, not to take anything, just to see if there's anything worth taking...

Sleight of Hand: 10

Aimee asks, face into the ground, mind talk to Lyss,

<They gone?>

While uncomfortable with the physical search by Cromley and Blastwind, Cico doesn't object and stands rigid while they do so. 

Once the pair are gone, Cico reaches a hand down to help Aimee up.

"I do not know if that helped or made it worse," Cico says, "but the force you hit the ground with was impressive."

Cico continues (only if Cromley and Blastwind have gone), counting on his fingers after each statement, "The gnome came through the sewers. The gnome was likely being followed by Zhentarim. The gnome approached the Trollskull door. An unknown suspect targeted the gnome from the roof. The unknown suspect is not likely Zhentarim. The unknown suspect knew the gnome was coming here."

He then looks over at Aldrik.

"There was a witness of the attacker," Cico adds. "We need more details on what they looked like."

He then looks down at Aimee.

"And we should visit Hlam."

And find a way to release the unicorn, he thinks to himsel.

 A dejected Edvord takes a brief look outside before coming back in. "The watch are too efficient... Any straightforward leads around the crime scene have likely been sterilized. The talk concerning the sewers was of interest... I believe one of us may have had a pair of eyes outside the building. Is there anything you would like to share Aimee?"

Blastwind shoots one last glare at Lyss. As they leave he reminds everyone, "You will be watched, any illegal activity will see you arrested. If you care to come forward with any information, the watch will be grateful to spare their resources."

Left alone, Rishaal busies himself tidying up. (From Edvords perusal - you noticed a great deal of books but most interestingly there were arcane tomes and a scribing set by Rishaal's counter). The streets outside are chaos as the people of the Alley try to get their lives back together. The community come together to help board up any smashed in windows, clear away the ash and comfort each other. A golden haired, copper skinned, elven woman is crowded by distraught residents, You recognise this woman from the casino as Remalia Haventree. Though she's not nearly dressed as extravagantly as that night, her simple summer dress projects a subtle elegance. She listens intently to the residents, seemingly empathetic.

Your manor is a state. All of the hard work Lif put in is shattered over the floor. At least the bodies aren't there any more though. The upper rooms are fairly unscathed, but it will take a lot of work until the tavern is customer ready and you've just been set back a good way.

(Not forcing you to leave the book shop, you could probably determine most of this from looking out of the window) 

"Rishaal! I can do magic! I've been studying my book, and watching Aimee and practicing, and I can do magic now!"

Lyss sticks out her tongue and screws up her face, and a book gently lifts itself off the floor and places itself on a neat stack to be shelved.

"Isn't that cool! Do you need help? Our place got all messed up too. Are you going to be open later, so we can chat magic, or do you need to close for the day? I didn't want to do magic in front of Blas... teehee... Blastwind, since you said something about needing like a magic badge or something, I didn't know if my Bookwyrn thing was enough, and didn't want you getting in trouble too. I'm hungry, should we see if the pastry shop has some damaged goods they need to sell?"

Rishaal smiles at the young Bookwyrm. “That is wonderful, see what hard work and studiousness will get you! I would certainly register as soon as possible with the order though. There is only a small fee and you are covered for any liabilities in the course of your spellcasting should damage be proven necessary or accidental. Of course there’s the chance of conscription in times of extreme need but that’s merely our duty don’t you think.”

He looks around at the mess “While it would be a great help, I cannot accept spell casting services from an unlicensed mage lest I be shunned by the community. The pastries would be wonderful though.”

(You would all know that working outside of a guild is particularly dangerous here, with not only legal ramifications but also public hazings. The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors is not just any old guild, they have a lot of power in the city and work side by side with the City Watch as you have seen. Their leader, The Blackstaff, is said to have control over many gigantic statues in the City that can come to life and defend the City in times of need.)

As Cico helps her up Aimee explains,

"The secret to making it look real is to not try and catch yourself at all!"

She rubs the bruise forming on her cheek.

"Whose Hah Lamm? But okay!"

To Eddy,

"Not much! They brought Cromly in from retirement to help PuffGas, who the guards seem to think can solve it! They got him out of retirement FAST! Probably grabbed him along the way!"

"How do I register? We should get some pastries and get back to the manor. Hey! Is Lif okay? Anyone check on him?"

Cico smiles at Aimee.

"That was not-catching-yourself at its best." Cico says. Then he adds. "Hlam is who we have to see. He lives on the mountain." 

He then catches a break in Lyss's whirling-dervish energy to ask a question.

"Do you trust this shopkeep?" Cico asks Lyss quietly. They have much to do but they still also have Primara to release. "Does she know magic? Enough to know what could release someone trapped in a statue."

"Rishaal? Yeah, he's great! Do you like books too? He can let you into his secret club! Aimee and me are members to, we're Bookwyrms! Kerri might be too, I can't remember. He's very by the book... Eh, eh? So not sure if he's good with secrets... But you suck at secrets too, no offense."

Cico raises an eyebrow at Lyss and then frowns.

"Some secrets are more secret than others," he finally says. "But okay, we will keep Primara a secret from him."

"Maybe we ask him some other questions first, and see if we want him to know the secret, based on what he says? I think he's good people, but if that's the sort of thing that liscensed mages have to report, I don't want him to get in trouble for not doing it too, you know?"

Aimee nods and winks to Cico while loudly whispering,

"Ah, yes the secret mission!"

To Lyss,

"I hope they have some pastries left with all of those watch people having been here!"

On trusting Rishaal,

"Well, ya! Bookwyrms for life! I think he'd help free a unicorn, but might still rat on us!"