Outside of some residual malice in the room, you detect nothing in the shop Vaddis. The courtyard also has some residual spoor. One of the apartment doors whiffs more strongly.

There's one likely spot she may have shimmied up to the roof of an adjoining shop. A drain pipe barely nailed against the wall. It is pulled part way out.

Vaddis inspects the drain pipe to see how freshly it has been pulled free, trying to determine the amount of rust on the nails and how exposed the holes have been to the weather.

Selvin let out a small growl. "I REALLY want to find this damn charlatan murderer. But do we need to wait for the guard since you called for them?"

"An hour and a half? Are we sure Vendra's the murderer?" Izzick asked as he looked at the corpse once more before joining his companions outside. "</darkgreen>She certainly didn't come an hour ago...she was dead when we saw her unless Vaddis is far off.</darkgreen>"

It was a half hour Izzick. Vendra probably killed the woman who was making a fuss and fled. As far as the guard...they will be here soon. Though you guys are unofficial members of the guard yourselves. So feel free to act as you see best. The most likely avenues of investigation are in the courtyard out back. The rooms Vaddis sniffed as having an evil intent would be good places to start.

"Open in the name of the law!!" Vaddis beats on the door!

The last reverb of Vaddis's big fist dies away. There's silence from behind the door. And then what might be a floorbord squeaking. And then silence again.

Vaddis kicks in the door!

Selvin let out a small sigh that was mostly mock and with no real frustration behind it. He bounded out after Vaddis since he was about to get in, or rather start, trouble once more.

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Tarrov made his way back across the city to Lavendar's Fine Perfumes, the last place to which he'd heard his companions were headed.  He felt sure he could pick up their trail there and rejoin them before too much of the evening had gone by.

But when he arrived, the huge commotion indicated that they might still be there. Conversations with some of those in the street got him up to speed on the situation, conversations in which the name "Vendra" figured prominently.  He canvassed those gathered for information about Vendra, what she might be up to, and where she might have gone.

Tarrov sighed as he looked at the smashed, splintered door.  Always the very-direct approach.

The bard walked inside the store just in time to see Vaddis kick in yet another door . . . .

OOC:  10:29, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Knowledge (Local) Check regarding the Lavandar, Vendra, known associates and contacts, where she might go to hide, criminal connections, etc.

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The door swings wildly open and slams into the wall. The four of you stare inside.

The room beyond is weakly lit by the flame inside a small paper lantern. It appears to be a small two room apartment. The walls are adorned with delicate wall hangings. Candles of various hues and sizes are set out on every piece of furniture around. A second door just off the small kitchenette leads to a cramped but nicely furnished bedroom. The air inside smells of cherry wood.

A satchel stuffed with clothes sits on the floor of the bedroom. A couple of sheets of paper lay on the bed. Letters from the look of it. A small bag filled to the brim with coins is set next to the letters.

There's no one here though.

Vendra is well known as a perfumer. She's one of the premier 'scents of the elite' in town. Of course, she has a history. When she first came to Korvosa she was hocking a cure all called Luxurious Linement. The stuff was snake oil but Vendra makes a good sales pitch. She supposedly does some work for a few small guilds in town. Learning when her clients won't be at home, the schedule for their security details. That sort of thing. But other than an information broker and cheap charlatan, she isn't hooked into anyone heavy thay you know of Tarrov. Honestly she is fairly good as a perfumer. Why she even bothers with crime is a bit of a mystery.

The two letters are...surprise...vague and mysterious. One is to a Loretta Scaripani. The Scaripani family are actually a powerful noble family in Old Korvosa. They may be one of the most powerful families in the city actually. The letter seems to be just a sales order really. ...loved the jasmine fragrance you sent, it reads. I simply must have more. And perhaps some of those candles with the honeysuckle scent. Unlike you, my night vision is not so good... it reads.

The other letter is an oddity. It is a love letter but in the same way a whore is a girlfriend. The author, one Girrigiz, seems to be well accquainted with Vendra's charms. The content of the letter is pretty much what you would imagine. What makes it odd is the writing. The print is labored, as if done by a young schoolchild still learning his letters. The spelling and grammar though are on an adult level. There are also small tears in the paper as if the writer put too much pressure on the quill and actually poked the tip through. The paper also has an unpleasant odor. Like a refuse dump or open sewer.

Under the letter from Girrigiz is a small opened vial. A drop of some kind of greyish liquid still clings to the rim.

Vaddis takes 20 and searches the room for anything else, including a secret door or trap door.

Selvin looks over the letters as Vaddis searches. He also shrugs and picks up the bag of coins for the group (or possibly to turn in to the authorities if it's part of the case - yeah right).

"No signs of her?" he asked, as his eyes looked around the room while his nose scrunched up. A few smells he liked individually, but all at once, it was certainly overpowering.

22:21, Sat 04 Oct 2014: Izzick rolled 18 using 1d20-1 ((19)).

The stench is indeed strong Izzick. However you pick up what you think are traces of her scent. It's not hard. She must have bathed in her terrible perfumes. There does seem to be some sort of 'understench', for lack of a better term. A smell like wet, dirty fur. It is similarto the stink on the letter.

Vaddis, you find a small catch on one wall. Flipping it releases a section of the wall which swings open on a hinge. From the location, it must open onto the next apartment. The one ith the boarded up door.

The net apartment is a mess. There are several patches in the roof where parts of it collapsed. Along one wall is what must hve been Vendra's work space. Lines of small vials and tubes cover shelves on the wall. Most seem to be ordinry perfumer's materials. There is a box sitting on a small work bench under them. Black wood...it is the same kind of box that's been washing up on shore. There is a small notebook set next to it. It is mostly full of perfume recipies. But the last two pages seem to contain notes about the box. It appears Vendra was actually researching it.

...not sure what she's looking for here... the notes read. Most assuredly necromantic. But not in and of itself deadly...

There are some nonsense symbols. Alchemical ones perhaps. They make little sense and seem to be musings about some kind of concoction. The notes continue. THE COINS!!! This is underlined. Paid Ehert for wand. Need to pick it up. Probably already infected. And then, It would take months to work out an antidote. Draws blood upwards. Not worth going back to Racker's. Cash in and get out. Ehert should have wand ready tomorrow. I got order in just in time...

Ehert is a fairly well known enchanter who specializes in custom making wands. Racker's might mean Racker's Alley. A fairly infamous little spot in North Point that's well known as a haunt for pickpockets and thugs. The rest...well. You'll figure it out.

"We must get to Ehert the Enchanter's as fast as possible!"

Selvin gave a nod, "Right! Let's go!" He then bounded out into the street and began running full-tilt towards Ehert's shop.

Vaddis followed Selvin as fast as he could.

Izzick followed behind his companions, though made sure to grab at the perfumer's notebook in case her arcane scribblings meant more or could mean more for a real cure. If nothing else, the secrets of the perfumer would make a nice side hobby that could save some coin for the orc.

You guys do realize it is the dead of night? The shop will be closed. You can try to track down Ehert at home. Or you can stake out the shop.

Stake-out, front & back

Ehert's shop is on the corner of two lanes, not far down the way. The building looks secured when you arrive. Shortly before dawn, staff begin to arrive and go about setting up for the day's business. No one seems to be acting suspiciously.

Shortly after wunrise, the traffic on the streets begins to pick up. Regardless of whether there are plague concerns or not, people still have work or business to attend to. When the clerk unlocks the front door there is a customer waiting. An elderly lady dressed like someone's maid. She hands the clerk a note and small pouch. He checks it and then disappears into the depths of the shop. He reappears with a package, about a foot long and a few inches wide and hands it to the maid. They seem to make some small talk and then the maid leaves.

No one else is queueing up this early.

The two of you with canine like noses both catch the same scent. The elderly maid smells like Vendra's shop.

OOC: I was going to assume it was Vendra in disguise anyway LOL!

Selvin looked at Vaddis, "Before or after transaction is complete?"

"Before." Vaddis draws his sword and prepares to engage.

Izzick nods and then begins to gesture and speak arcane words, surrounding himself in an arcane armor before they enter the fray. A powerful wand maker likely meant a powerful spellcaster, but there was no being too cautious.

Casting Mage Armor on myself