Moving into the modest house on Lady's Grace Lane, you find no immediate sign of anything amiss. A voice calls out to tell you to come in. Within, it looks like a normal enough dwelling place, for someone who values books over nearly anything else. There are shelves everywhere, loaded down with books, and more books on chairs, tables...nearly every surface has some kind of book, scroll, or folio on it.

A cheery-looking woman is sitting in the kitchen, reading through what looks like a Tien cookbook. She looks up as you walk in, her expression curious. "What's this about, then?" Her voice isn't frightened at all, just intrigued.

Firea turned to Kiru. "What, never seen a talking red fur'd seven tailed fox before? Or never seen a human turn into one? I ain't human pup, so don't try nothin'."

Then she would move up next to Bristle as she knocked. When the door opened she would press her nose past Bristle and sniff more. "Smell nothing but books, leather, dry paper, glue. Structures old...aged wood and dust. Nothing unusual." She said low to the others. Then she walks in with the others, taking her human form before they get to the kitchen.

Bristle entered the dwelling with that familiar feeling of unfamiliarity. The one people tended to get from being in a home they haven't been in before. Almost cautiously, the changeling woman approached the room the voice was coming from. After all, it would be weird to barge through a stranger's home at a brisk pace.

She nodded to Firea as the sorceress reported on the spells, then she stepped into view of the librarian and spoke. "Hi. We understand you work at the People's Library? They said you have been out sick for quite some time now. And well, normally we wouldn't pry, but... you may be the only one who can help us find what we are looking for. I may even be able to help you with your illness as a thanks for tolerating our intrusiveness."

As she spoke Bristle tried to gauge just how sick this librarian might actually be, if at all. Not only was Bristle a cleric of Death, but she was also a quite capable healer if she decided to apply herself.

---

Can Bristle see if the librarian really is or was sick? And if so, with what?
21:09, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 39 using 1d20+21.  Heal check - librarian's illness.

Sebastian stays back, content to let the others do the talking. Instead, he looks at the books strewn about, quickly reading covers and trying to find any theme or commonality among the titles and topics.

The librarian looks confused. "Illness? What do you mean? I was put on leave by my supervisor, I'm not out sick." She shrugs.

"I guess that would explain why they are not concerned about your continued absence..." Bristle mused. "I have to say, you do not look sick either. Can I ask why you were put on leave?" Bristle realized after the words were out of her mouth that it did in fact sound like she was prying too hard into this stranger's life.

"I apologize. I really don't mean to pry. It is just that the information we are seeking could be incredibly important. My name is Bristle Chonk, and these are my friends." She would let the others share their own names, if they felt so inclined.

More weirdness. Letting Bristle do the conversation, Sebastian activates his more arcane senses, looking for signs of enchantment or similar magic.

Cast detect magic, and if not interrupted, concentrate for three rounds to look for magic auras on the librarian.
16:05, Today: Sebastian Kosmin rolled 31 using 1d20+1d8+8.  spell craft to identify auras.

"Voh'ren Wildheart," the Half-Orc says with a courteous nod as he introduces himself to Roslyn Pilov.

"This wolf pup here is Kiru," he adds as he gestures toward his animal companion. "He's well-trained and friendly, but I can have him wait outside if you would prefer."

Once introductions are over, Voh'ren stays quiet and allows Bristle and the more charismatic members of his group take the lead. It is plain to see that the Half-Orc is uncomfortable being put on the spot, and prefers to leave socializing to those who are eloquent and erudite.

"I'm Firea." The young redhead said with a small wave. She stood there, next to Bristle but was still looking around curiously. "You have a lot of books! Do you have any about Kitsune?"

Roselyn laughs and pets Kiru, and shakes her head in response to Firea's question. "No, I'm afraid not - I've heard the name, but I don't have much on Tien history, I'm afraid."

There is no sign of magic. The librarian just shrugs in response to Bristle. "I've no idea, actually. He just told me he was putting me on administrative leave. Something about having damaged some books? But I don't know what he was talking about. I think I'd remember doing that." She laughs a little.

"Sebastian. What were the books you were looking for? The ones last checked out by Roselyn here?" She was curious to know if Roselyn would recall checking them out. Or what was in them. Chances were that those books were the same ones she supposedly damaged, but couldn't remember.

Sebastian watches the woman very closely as he speaks. "I was looking for the annals of Andoran for the year 2062 AR. The records at the library suggested that you were the last one to check it out, and I would very much like to read it as well." He says.

Roselyn's eyes twitch. A shudder runs through her body. Her expression is briefly twisted and tormented.

And then it's gone. She smiles, friendly and cheerful. "I don't remember checking that out, no. I suppose it's possible - I do read the annals a lot, it ties into my interest in history and culture, naturally. But I don't remember checking out 2062."

"Hmm..." Firea took not in both the woman's answer to her question, her reaction to Sebastian's question, and her answer to his question. "The you should know there is a large Kitsune population in Varisia. The race has lived there for for some time." Her tone shift a bit, it was obvious that she suspected something, but she was sure that it was not the woman's fault. "Are you alright?" She suspects something was done TO her.

It was time for another tactic, with that thought in mind Firea walked over to the woman. She'll walk behind her, running a gentle hand along her shoulders. "You know you want to help us, and answer our questions honestly despite anything that might hinder you. Right?" Then she  stopped in front of her and smiled. "And if you do, I will show you something rare that only few ever see."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

The woman smiles warmly to Firea. "Oh, yes, there is that subpopulation in Kaer Maga, and they've spread somewhat. But it's just not an area of focus of mine. There's so much history to know, after all. So many things to know..." She trails off, still smiling, and then starts.

"Oh, I wish I could help you, but I don't...I don't remember..." She shakes her head and coughs, then straightens. "I really don't know anything about this book. I don't think I ever even read that volume of the annals - it's so far back, and so specific. I do wish I could help, but I simply do not know."

OOC: Sense motive please.

[OOC: 17:32, Today: Firea rolled 3 using 1d20.  Sense Motive.

I can Bluff, Intimidate, and Charm my ass off. But when it comes to sensing another's motive? Nope, not me. lol]

I on the other hand, am quite good at sense motive...
17:36, Today: Sebastian Kosmin rolled 37 using 1d20+1d8+16.  sense motive (with free inspiration).

Bristle isn't half bad herself, it seems.
16:49, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 30 using 1d20+10.  Sense Motive.

Voh'ren grins as Roselyn pets Kiru. The gesture helps put him at ease. Kiru, though, enjoys it more. The wolf pulls its lips back in a toothy smile and pants happily.

OOC:

15:20, Today: Voh'ren Wildheart rolled 16 using 1d20+11.  Sense Motive.

I'm not too bad at it, but the dice do not like me. :-p

Sebastian knows this woman. Not her face, but her mannerisms, her taunting tone of voice. He had heard her before. Her voice still haunts his nightmares. He snarls with rage. "Whisper... You're not fooling me again, not this time. Leave. Now." His hand goes to his gladius, knuckles white with the tension and fury of his grip.

Firea cocked her head to the side, then looked between Sebastian and the woman. "So...what I did had an effect?" Maybe not the effect wanted, but it was one nonetheless.

"Can't blame a girl for trying," the woman says. Her voice is completely different, now, nothing like Roselyn's - that mocking tone and flippant disregard for the implicit threat is so reminiscent of the presence in your dreams that it's eerie. "I had you going for a while there. So what's new, darlings? Enjoying your vacation?"

She leans back in the chair, puts her feet up on a stack of books (knocking one off carelessly), and yawns. "Any of you got some food? This bitch doesn't eat enough, I'm starving."

"I wouldn't feed you even if you were in my body." Firea growled low as she looked at the woman.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Bristle asked, moving to push Whisper's disrespectful feet off the book pile. The woman had no respect for knowledge. "You just go around possessing librarians?" The changeling had definitely been surprised that Whisper had made an appearance in the flesh, but maybe they could squeeze some information from her as a result. In fact, maybe she already had...

Even so, Bristle still opted to cast a thought-detection spell on the red-haired witch. Maybe she could glean some additional information, either from Whisper or the librarian.

---

When Bristle pushes Whisper's feet back down, I would like to attempt to use Bristle's Lore Keeper ability. "Lore Keeper (Sp): You can touch a creature to learn about its abilities and weaknesses. With a successful touch attack, you gain information as if you made the appropriate Knowledge skill check with a result equal to 15 + your cleric level + your Wisdom modifier. (28)"
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/class...ns/knowledge-domain/

After asking her question, Bristle will also cast Detect Thoughts to try and sense what is really going on inside Whisper's mind.
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic...ls/d/detect-thoughts

Bristle goes slack for a moment. Whisper smiles, a knowing smile, removes her feet from the books, and sits up a little straighter. She dusts off her fingers casually on her shirt.