If the box doesn't open, the goblin decides to fiddle around with it again long as no one tries to stop him. He pulls, loosens and works on the lock.

OOC
Ok
Taking 10 on Disable Device so 19.

"Here, try it with these." Cain offers his own tools to Gaius.

Aid Another for +2 to Gaius' roll, no need to roll with Cain's skill.

Galus poked and prodded at the lockbox, jimmying with its damaged lock in an effort to get it open. He had little success until Cain lent him the use of his equipment. The tension on the pick was just right, and with a jerk he reached into the locking mechanism and felt a little snap. The fire damaged components in the lock had broken, but Galus managed to nudge them in the right direction so that the shackle locked in the open position instead of the closed.

Inside the lockbox were a small collection of documents. They had been protected from the flames and had not burned, but the intense heat had blackened and charred them almost the the point of illegibility. Our heroes handled them gingerly. The barest touch could send them crumbling to ash.

The top several pages were completely illegible. The next one had columns of figures along one side and looked to be an invoice of some sort.

---

---

There followed more burned and illegible pages. The last paper in the small case was a fragment of a letter, preserved by the other papers atop it.

---

"Interesting find, though fire damage makes its meaning somewhat ambiguous. Did out good doctor buy body parts, or sell them? If the second letter was addressed to him, that would indicate the latter."

Cain examines the papers found, trying to determine if magic could be of help in recovering more information here.

There's a cantrip Mending and a spell Make Whole that can repair objects. Could they work on these fire damaged pages?

“It is mostly whole bodies, much the same as the case in Morast; where the good people were slain and even the boneyard robbed; bodies were still required but nearly dying by camin the operation moved to sanctuary.  There is little doubt, though it creates many new questions....”

The goblin looks at the note and sighs "If that Barda wrote this yes if he did knows something we don't well do. Sad it is sad." He shakes his head towards the tools as he has his own but nods to Cain "I hope he didn't write these but hard to say, yes hard to say."

Shade runs her finger just above the page, not touching the fragile paper yet, and examines the words with growing distaste.  "Look, at the bottom of the first page, that partial larger word could be 'Hergstag'.  There was some kind of involvement with that town, somehow, and on a list of body parts with prices to boot.  The 'security considerations' make me think someone was making certain no one could object to obtaining the 'materials'."  She pauses and examines the second letter again.  "Something about blackmail and partners, which makes me think the two owners of the Chymical Works might be behind it.  I've got nothing to back it up, but I've had a feeling they've been involved for the past couple of days.  If Brada was getting materials from them and then they blackmailed him... It mentioned getting materials elsewhere because of their blackmail. So did he turn to other methods than just hiring graverobbers?  Did he turn to the Beast?  Did he make Solomon?  And was this place burning down retaliation for daring to break his contract with his blackmailers?"

"Barda wasnt as good nope nope as everyone thought but but I think yes we should make him out to be as is yes? Think think the Works yes made Solomon I do to get the materials? Turns on Barda yes yes because of the agreement? Dislike it I do yes yes but think the key is in the Works!" The bard looks at them "Sorry sorry shouldnt have spoke...."

“I am reading the first page as a receipt for dead bodies, possibly signed by Volkstag himself....the hand writing must be analyzed, to confirm...  “The second note I am reading thusly; (No)w that I ha(ve hidden be)neath...( re)cords of our dealings. blackmail and (threats) of force will not sway me in my det(ermination to ex)pose you and your partner.  Should.    ...(.  )ass n(.....) (Yo)ur threats w(ill not sw)ay me and ( ) blackmail will avail you nothing.  (blank) will acquire my research materials els(con)sider our dealings finished.”  “Making the top page the evidence mentioned in the second page.  Someone has the man’s research as well.  Plus we need the letters from the town guard.”

Lays a hand on his companions....

“Perhaps magical c will reveal more, or sharper eyes!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

"...kstag. That does look like a k on the first page. Vorkstag? Still a bit slim as a justification for a warrant, but it's certainly another reason for us to take a closer look at that factory."

Our heroes performed a thorough examination of the pages, poring over whatever intact bits could be found by the light of Cain's magic.

They performed one last sweep of the laboratory to make sure there was no other clue or vital piece of evidence that they were missing and then brought their fragile finds back to the carriage.

---

Cain, yes, Mend or Make Whole would help you reconstruct the pages. Mechanically speaking mend will give you a +2 to your Linguistics check to decipher the partially burned documents, the much more powerful make whole will give you +10.

Let me know where you would like to head next.

The goblin is pretty confused about what he read and heard. He ponders to himself, petting the gecko and mutters something under his breath, waving a hand in front of his face. Galus takes a look around once more, eyes narrowed.

OOC
Casting Detect Magic

15:15, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Perception.
Hell can't even see myself lol

Galus performed one last magical scan of the area, playing the emanation of his detection over the walls of the subterranean laboratory and the crumbling ash of the ruins themselves. At last satisfied that there were no further hidden auras or points of mystical influence our heroes set out for assistance in deciphering the partially burned parchments that they had found.

Constantine recommended a friend of his, Kendra Lorrimor, a student of history and supernatural phenomena at Lepidstadt university.

At Cain's insistence they took a detour through the Magician's Alley to poke through several of the shops there specializing in spellbooks and scrolls, and then made their way to the university itself. The Antiquities department was still cordoned off and under guard, an active crime scene until the conclusion of the trial, and our heroes made their way to the massive library in search of miss Lorrimor. They found her deep in the stacks. She was sitting at a table in a small alcove, books and scrolls piled all around her. All seemed to deal with constructs, golems, or mystical means of influencing the mind.

She was a pretty young woman with whisps of hair escaping her loose bun and an ink smudge on one cheek, the very picture of a fledgling academic. Her face split into a wide grin and she stood to curtsy.

"Constantine! Mistress Shade. Lovely to see you again. Who are your companions?"

There was a quick round of introductions and then down to business.

"I've been researching ways that Solomon may have been externally influenced or controlled. I'm close, I know that I'm right on the verge of a breakthrough. I'll keep up the search. What brings you to the university this afternoon?"

“This is Galus Gleeman a fine fiddler I say and Caine also helping in our investigation....which is why we are here, we found papers that were charred and need to be restored or at least all the words revealed.”

"A gleeman. Not a fiddler, nope nope." The bard moves around the area, seeming very curious. He opens up several books and scrolls and pulls his violin out "Play a tune?" He glances at the others and lowers the insturment "Don't forget Miss Shade right? Hope so." The goblin sits down.

"Yes, well, we are here seeking help in deciphering some fire-damaged writings we found. I took the liberty of picking up some scrolls that will hopefully make the task a little easier."

Right, I'll be buying 2 scrolls of Mending and 1 of Make Whole. The idea is to first cast Mending on both recovered documents, and have Make Whole in reserve if Mending alone does not get the job done.

Kendra's brow furrowed and she cleared a space to put the charred scraps of parchment. She set her candles out around the space and pulled a small crystal eye loupe from her heavy canvas bag which she fitted over one eye.

"Hmmm." She mused, moving back and forth over the sheet.

She spent a good deal of time on a preliminary examination and then called for Cain's scrolls. She discharged both scrolls of mending into the invoice and the letter, but didn't feel the need to make use of the scroll of make whole. The charred edges of the parchment receded somewhat and new letters peeked out, rather like a bit of black cloth being drawn across the page.

"The trick is that the spell will repair the paper, but not the contents that were on it before it were burned. Bring that closer." She said, pointing at one of the candles.

"Yes, look here. It's almost gone, but you can make out the signature on the invoice. Most of the letters are missing, but you can distinctly make out 'O' 'R' 'K' 'S' 'T' 'A' 'G'.

The letter has smaller print and didn't recover as much with the spell, but you can definitely see the gist of the content. The person who wrote the letter was being blackmailed, and this letter was his declaration that he would expose the blackmailer's crimes if the blackmail continued.

Enough has been recovered that both of these would hold up in court as evidence."

The bard starts to sing, dance and he uses his violin but Galus doesn't seem to get the beat down as best as he can. He grumbles once done and blinks after the items are idenfity and info was gained "Bad times I guess? Apologies, yes yes. I know-go sit in the corner..." He grumbles, probably realizing in the libary wasn't the best time."So off to court? Yes? I mean I want to know who in Orkstag wrote it. I mean, well yes. Can I talk to that there you know the Beast? I want to but..." He puts the violin to his back and looks at the others "I know I am of little help, I know...." His eyes go back to Kendra "Interesting. What is that if I may ask I mean if you don't mind? The crystal loupe?"

15:47, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Perform: Dance.

15:47, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 11 using 1d20+8.  Perform: Sing.

15:47, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 11 using 1d20+10.  Perfom: Violin.

Cain finds himself in agreement with Gaius, at least on this. "To the court, yes, or the lawyer. The evidence may not be as rock solid as I would have liked, but this is the second lead now pointing to that damn factory. Maybe we finally have enough for a warrant now. I mean, how many "...orkstags" can there be around anyway?"

Blinking as Cain speaks, the goblins eyes narrow. He sits down, looking at the ground then around the room. Galus stands up again looks at Cain "Wait wait you agree with me? Never had someone agree. Kidding right?" Galus just seems dumbfounded. The goblin takes off his hat, adjusting it and puts it back on before looking at Godalming and Shade "He...agreed? I well...yeah...umm...." Taking a deep breath he finds a corner and sits down within eyeshot of the group with a perplexed look on his face.

“Let us see what Kendra and the Magics may further reveal and illuminate of these documents and we can continue our investigation for the court proper.“


“At this point we have naught that clears Solomon of involvement, so we need a bit more time to seek clues, perhaps Solomon may give his own alibi for the night of the great fire. I am sure it was visible for many miles, if we can confirm that location or a witness. “

Galus wove perhaps two bars of his composition before the swift rustling of skirts announced the arrival of a spindly librarian with a stark white bun atop her head and an expression like she had a lemon in her mouth.

"Shhhh! This is a library!" She hissed, scowling down at them.

Kendra bobbed her head apologetically but the librarian had already whirled with a snort and was stalking off towards the next group of offenders.

Kendra rummaged in her belongings and produced two large sheets of wax paper which she cut in half with a small set of silver shears and laid on either side of the evidence. They had been fortified somewhat by the spell but were still fragile so she also sandwiched them between two bits of wooden clapboard that the library had available to transport fragile scrolls and documents.

"I'll remain here, my research is very close. Good luck." She said, already distracted by her books as our heroes made their way out of the library.

They took the short ride to the city center where they found Kaple in his office poring over a brief. His face brightened as they stepped in.

"Yes! Have you f-found anything?"

---

Solomon is also in the basement prison, he's here to question as well if you would like.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:23, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

The goblin grumbles under his breath as the librarian leaves "Someone doesn't get...nevermind! Nevermind!" He then leaves with the others, probably on his gecko. Galus stays in the back and sits down on the floor. He crosses his arms and waits "I wonder if I should have stayed? Helped out? Dunno...be in the way." He pulls out his violin but stops, probably learning his lesson from the libary 'Got something for you? Umm I think he's got it? Maybe not or she...." He puts his hand under his chin as if pondering "...I dunno but how did the Beast start you know a fire? I know Galus go away. Sit in the...wait...nevermind."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

“Yes we found documents that confirm the sale of corpses and a blackmail plot, though the players may be in question.  Kendra is preserving the documents and trying to fully reveal the signature.”
Did Kendra come along and bring the documents they have to be submitted into evidence...

SCG heads to the basement to approach Solomon for a talk
“We just came from the isle where the sanctuary once was it burned down...”
He holds up 4 fingers..
“Four Cycles of the moon ago...did you see the big fire?”
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Cain gives his report as well. "Not all that much. A couple of documents badly damaged by fire, one a letter about blackmail, the other an interesting invoice from one "...orkstag". An invoice for bodies and body parts. Given that the name Vorkstag has already crept up in this investigation in a very suspicious manner, we can reasonably assume who is behind that invoice. The question is, would this be enough for a warrant to search their factory?"

I think Kendra probably already gave us everything we could get. And I assume we also took the documents with us?