The afternoon sun is just beginning to peek out from behind heavy clouds, sending the last shafts of golden light through the dirty windows of the Cracked Crown, a fine inn on the southern edge of Podol Plaza in Phlan, near Scholar's Square and Mantor's Library.

After a relaxing tenday recovering from your latest adventure into the Dragonspine Mountains, you have gathered together again at Hex's request. Ola has not heeded the call, seemingly having left the town, but in her stead is another that has entered the inn with Hex.

Our Party:

Briny: Human Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline)
Hex: Tiefling Ranger (Hunter)
Sylyra Wasanthi: Wood Elf Druid (Circle of the Shepherd)
Uragum: Goliath Wizard (War Magic)

OOC: To kick off this adventure, feel free to take time to describe your characters, introduce the returning characters to our new character (and vice-versa), and discuss Hex's call to meet today.

A tired looking Uragum rubs his eyes as he tries to become reaccustomed to the natural light.  Having spend the last week in a library over books, there was sure to be a slight adjustment period.  The large Goliath stretches a little as well, his back sore from Hutchins over books day in and out.  

"No luck from me.  Spent all that time there looking for a way to shore up our defenses and nothing...  book after book and all I got is a sore back from it all.  But," he says and pulls out the flamesword scroll and hands it to Sylyra, "this can't go into my book but ya should find use for it."

For our new player! Hex is a small tiefling with red skin and long black hair that's usually tied up in a high pony tail. She has a large jagged scar that goes over her left eye which has been left completely milky white. 

Despite being the one who called the meeting, Hex would arrive last with Briny by her side. Before they enter the inn, she would pull Briny aside to tell her a little bit about the other members.

"Sylyra is a bit up tight. Cares a lot about appearances and reputation. He gets uh... upset a lot but don't take it personally. Uragum on the other hand is a pretty friendly guy. Despite how he looks, he's actually quite intelligent. Uses magic more often than he does his fists. We have another member too, or perhaps it would be better to say 'had' another member. She said she would come back but... well, it's been a tenday and there's been no sign of her since. Keep that in mind, since Sylyra might feel a bit iffy about you joining us just as Ola left." 

With an encouraging pat on the back, Hex gently nudged Briny to front and led her to the table with Uragum and Sylyra. "Hey guys, before we get to business, I'd like to introduce you to Briny! She's an associate of mine that I thought would be a good addition to our team." 

Briny steps forward with just a quick, unsure glance at Hex. Her expression is the kind of neutral that is obviously hiding nerves, then she smiles in a genuinely friendly way. The human woman in front of you is of average height, with wavy auburn hair that rests loosely about shoulder length. She has soft grey eyes and pale skin, with a hint of blue dragon scales going from her jawline down her neck and on the back of her hands going up under her long sleeves. Her clothes are very sensible travel clothes with a cloak folded back over her shoulders and sturdy boots, all in earth tones with some blue as well, and you notice that she doesn't wear any armor though there is a dagger and a handaxe belted at her waist.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you all, I hope my small magical talent will be useful."

She looks for a place at the table to sit and does so very properly, tucking her bag under her chair and between her feet.

From the moment Uragum and Sylyra had entered the Cracked Crown, the goliath could not help but catch a vibe from the elf — a cockiness. He acted less stuffy and more amused. And of course, all of the earlier reticence at being in Uragum's presence has since evaporated.

Sylyra, sitting with a noble's self-assured casualness at the table with Uragum, watches as Hex and a mousy human enter the Cracked Crown. Wait. Not quite mousy. What are those interesting scales? Sylyra lets his green eyes take in the newcomer with a lazy interest as he slowly twists his vertical staff with his longer fingers. On the middle finger of his free hand, which is currently resting on the table, is a gold signet ring with a design crafted of onyx and emeralds. Sylyra is thin and beautiful with long white-blond hair and olive skin, which cause his eyes to appear to glow. He is dressed in varying shades of green. The clothes are nothing special — hearty materials — but are immaculate.

The elf gives the human a nod and a smirk. "Working with us?" He shifts his eyes to Hex. "Does she know what she's getting into? How we've already driven off a few warriors who are clearly more experienced than she?" Without appearing to expect a response, he continues, "What's going on, Hex? Why have you invited us to this ... " he leans his head back, takes a deep breath and waves his hand to indicate the Crown, " ... washed-up goblin's whorehouse of a pretender fine establishment?" His smirk grows as he fights the urge to look around to see how many eyes have turned in his direction.

Hex stares at Sylyra, slightly shocked at his sudden arrogance, or rather increased arrogance. "Uh. Right.... Well this job is gonna be a way to introduce her to what exactly it is our group does so..." Still looking at Sylyra suspiciously, she takes a seat besides Briny. 

"I've managed to secure us a meeting with a member of the Black Fist named Aleyd Burral. Apparently there's been some thefts in the Scolar's Square, similar to the ones that happened to at the library. Seeing as we solved that problem, it looks like they want us to solve this one too."

Uragum arches an eye brow at Briny.  He eyes her up after she says "magical talent."  From what he can see, or more so not see, he says, "A sorcerer..."  He sighs, "You brought us a sorcerer?  You do know that they are all passion and no brains."  He brings a hand up to rub the bridge of his nose between his eyes.  "Okay, okay, We'll give a try. " 

He turns to Briny, "Just don't explode one of us.  Oh and I hope you don't mind dragons.  Seems everything we do has at least something to do with dragons. "

"Hey, go easy her. I wouldn't have bought her here if she wasn't capable." Hex gives Briny a reassuring look before turning back to the group. "Well, any questions or are we all good to leave? before Aleyd arrives?"

The door opens and a middle-aged female human enters the inn, tall enough that she ducks to avoid striking the frame with the top of her enameled black helm. She pulls a vacant chair out from your table and seats herself, adjusting the sword at her hip as she does so.

"I am Knight Aleyd Burral," she says, her helm adding a hollow note to her voice, "and I have a job for you." As she speaks, her eyes shift to each of you, taking sharp note of each of your present weapons and features. A thin and tired smile works its way onto her face at the end. "Sylyra, and Uragum. I was not aware that you counted among the companions of Glevith's contact. That is great news. You may be happy to know that the beacon at Sokol Keep is indeed still lit...if you do half as well with this job I will be thrilled."

"And you must be Hex, then, and Briny," she says.

Briny first scowled at Uragum, then looked interested when he mentions dragons, but before she can reply Knight Burral shows up. Yes I'm Briny. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. I haven't been told much about the contract yet, what can you tell us? She rummages around in her backpack for a bit, pulling out a quill at one point, but she puts it back when she doesn't find any paper and just listens attentively.

(Whoops, got the location of the meeting wrong haha)

Hex nods a greeting to Aleyd. "Nice to meet you."

At the mention of the Black Fist, Sylyra's look of amusement soured. He stopped spinning his staff and glared at Hex as memories of the past surfaced. His demeanor did not lighten even as the knight acknowledged him and paid him a compliment. Sylyra's lips thinned and he gave a sarcastic nod in acknowledgement, not bothering to respond verbally.

OOC: No problem on the spell change, thanks for the heads up.

Aleyd gets right down to business, wasting no time explaining the details of the job once Briny asks the question. She removes her helm and sets it upon the table, revealing her grey-streaked blonde hair.

"A string of thefts has been reported by various people who reside or work in Scholar's Square. This is not in and of itself unusual. What is unusual is that nothing of obvious value has been stolen--in each case, a single book.

I have followed a pattern. The thefts began six nights ago. They have occurred every two nights since. I do not know much else in the way of particulars about the thefts. I have not had time. I'm up to my neck in bribery, corruption, and complacency, and I have no resources to conduct a proper investigation."

She pauses to take a deep breath, settling her visible frustration.

"That being said, I want this solved. I am able to personally fund an investigation, and I can pay you as a group fifty gold pieces to do so on my behalf. I simply ask that I be kept abreast of whatever you discover that might lead me closer to apprehending the thief--before Glevith can recruit them," she sighs.

Hex nods along as Aledy explains the job, everything being pretty much as she expected. "Seems a simple enough job. Good pay and similar to our previous one. They might even be connected. Seeing as you don't know the particulars of the thefts, who does?"

Uragum remains silent during this whole conversation as he ponders all of the implications.  As Hex speaks, he gets broken out of his thoughts.  "Good question Hex, let talk to the victims, see if a pattern emerges whether by book choice, location, social connection or the likes."

Just books? How interesting. Do we know what kind of books were taken, titles or subject matter or anything? Briny looks slightly more concerned than you would expect her to be about the situation.

"The thefts were reported this morning by Cassra Brandywine, the Scribe Master of Mantor's Library. She is familiar with exactly what went missing and from where. I would suggest you start there," Aleyd answers.

"To the library!" Uragum says and begins moving away from the group.  He stops, looks back and says, "Where is the Mantor's Libray?"

Hex shakes her head, amused, and stands up to pat Uragum on the back. "Don't worry, I know where it is. But first, any more questions or we all good to go?"

Briny stands and picks up her pack again, making sure it's all set and secure. I'm ready when you all are. To the library!