25 Month of the Bear, 1287

The influx of eager adventurers was astounding in both numbers and immediacy.  The notice posted throughout the land drew members of nearly every race in Trozan here to Briedhof, an immense and bustling town, one truly deserving to be the capital city of Trozan.  For those who entered through the East Gate, they had been duly checked in, the guards dressed in chainmail with a green surcoat emblazoned with the Briedhof rose and a right sleeve marked with the image of the sun--Guards of the Sun; for those who entered through the West Gate, the guards were similarly dressed through the right sleeve was marked with a brown bear--Guards of the Bear.  At either gate, the guards were no-nonsense, unwilling to be hurried just because traffic had increased so dramatically since the notices had been posted, making certain that no enemy of Trozan made entry through laxity.

The notices had sent waves of excitement and expectation throughout Trozan.  The center of the city's social activity, the Mithril Claw Inn, rested serenely along Main Street, though within view of the devastation that those local to Briedhof referred to as the "Fire District", a large tract of ruin caused by magical mishap. Often, adventurer-wrought turbulence occurred behind the doors of the Mithril Claw, but only rarely was such turbulence enough to bring the guard who would then demand that combatants choose between taking their fight to the arena, receiving a date for the royal court which would issue a binding judgment, or shaking hands and making peace.

Having secured lodging at the Mithril Claw, those answering the call could present themselves at nine bells to the dock gate, known as the Gate of the Black Lotus, to answer the recruitment call.  Last night, there had been entertainment by a troupe of four human men--the popular Balkin Four--who were talented with singing, dancing, and acrobatics.

This morning, at just seven bells, the Inn's common room was fairly empty--five patrons from the prior evening of a most varied nature--two elves, though they clearly hailed from different tribes, a dwarf, a kuduk, and a slithzerikai.  At one table, not far from the entrance were the only two other patrons--one man wearing the robes of a mage, a golden chain around his neck which undoubtedly led to the green card that he must carry in a secure place beneath those robes, the other a man in chainmail and the white leather headband embroidered with purple and gold telling of his devotion to Peren.  In front of them, on the table, were cooling cups of coffee, plates of eggs and sausages haphazardly poked at, while their primary attention was upon the heavy tome between them.  Behind the bar, a neatly dressed, clean-shaven human man stood ready to take breakfast orders.

The aroma of freshly-brewed coffee wafted throughout the dark but cozy establishment, mingling with the enticing aromas of sausages and freshly-baked bread.  From the prior evening, patrons would recall that the menu currently also included stewed apples, fresh-pressed cider, hard cider, and a variety of ales and mead.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:55, Sun 18 Apr 2021.

Aender had a dull ache where he was sure all the thinking was done.  His memories were splinted in such a way that they were all there, but not neatly connected the way they usually were.  Fortunately, he was surrounded by others who looked as if they had all their ducks in a row.  The nearest was also the smallest.  Aendyr slid over to the Kuduk.

"Say chum, I can't seem to remember why I'm here.  I'm going to assume it's for the same reason as you, so if you could clue me in on that point I'd really appreciated it.  Oh, the name's Aendyr," he said extending his hand for a brisk handshake, but noticed it was already holding a large ceramic boot shaped mug a little under half full of hard cider.

He transferred the mug to his left hand and offered the handshake anew.

"Hey, are you a pirate?  You look more than a bit like a pirate to me.  Not that I've seen many of them first hand.  Mostly heard about them in swashbuckling tales of adventure.  I'm hoping you are an honest-to-goodness pirate because then, you know, I've met one first hand.  But more than the pirate thing I'm interested in why we're here.  You could maybe answer both for me, chum.  Oh, and tell me why there are no women."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

"I could use some coffee please," Korin grunts quite loudly, his face grimacing and pale. Then something finally clicks in his brain. "Pirate? Are you a pirate?" he asks in delayed reaction surprise, his eyes open and looking the one Aendyr was talking to. "Don't tell me I've signed up for some sort of sea adventure!" Korin says holding his head in distress.He collects himself after several moment. "If you would tell me how you off ward of sea-sickness, I'd be grateful. I'm on the verge already." In looking at his face, Korin truly doesn't look well. He pauses and takes a few breaths.

"I know," he says holding up his hand, "I drank too much but it's that wrenched city guard's fault, going pathetically slow, asking all those STUPID QUESTIONS! Had to drink to forget such a laborious and unpleasant experience. There HAS to be a better way of entering the city!"

Korin pauses, his eyes the different members assembled. "So are you my fellow adventurers in arms?" he asks curiously.

Neo put down his mug of hot tea, and looked at the elf profferring his hand. He didn't speak like other elves that Neo had met and seemed more daft than any elf he had previously encountered.

"Good morning to you, Aendyr.

I can't say why you are here, but I am here in answer to a poster calling for volunteers to fight for Trozan's freedom. I've served two terms in the army, and I thought a third might prove lucky. And no, I am not a pirate.

Why don't you sit and have something to eat...and perhaps you might want to lay off the hard cider for a bit...the brass frown on drunkenness first thing in the morning, anyways."


Neo's head swivelled to see what idiot had asked the same idiotic question as the idiot elf. A dwarf, of course!

"No, good sir, as I was explaining to Aendyr here, I am not a pirate. Just a simple Kuduk scout looking to return to the military.

If you are here in answer to the poster, the chances of going to sea are really quite low.

You may as well join us, we can break our fast together, and then head to the dock gate."


"Excuse me! Could we get three meals please? Eggs, sausages, and bread."

"Awwwww," Aendyr sighed in disappointment upon hearing the little guy wasn't a pirate.

Aendyr nodded.  "I've served my two years in the army too, but it was a while ago.  I can't say for sure that we were fighting for freedom, though.  More like mines, and mills, hardwood forests, and farmlands.  We did free some slaves.  Hey!  That's freedom.  Sounds like we fought for freedom after all."

He pats the Kuduk on the shoulder.  There was brotherhood in armies.  Was he signing up for the army again?  He did remember posters.  'Something something Briedhof!' said the sign.  There was a rose and sword and a substantial pile of gold.  Aendyr had pulled the poster down to show to the caravan master.  They were going that way and happy to have another sword to deter bandits.

He sat down as the Kuduk suggested.

"I won't be laying off the cider, chum, but I will lay into some breakfast.  This place smells like heaven.  I used to be a cook, you know.  Fed the brown rice to the chickens and the white rice to the humans.  That was until we noticed the humans were losing their night sight, what little they have.  Am I right?" he laughed.  "Then we switched it around.  Who cares if the chickens go blind?  The eggs still cook up just as good."

He gave the dwarf a short wave and a salute with his mug.  These guys were alright.  Still, not a peep yet as to why it was just guys.

Meridian sits at a table by himself, not yet having met the others and not being as casually social as the other elf in the room. He doesn't avoid eye contact or interaction, but doesn't seek it out either, until the barmaid comes by, at which point he flags her down respectfully and orders some sausages, bread, and water.

Noticeably, his hair is bright golden, in a manner that no human's would be if not interestingly died or enchanted. For any with basic knowledge of the realms, this marks as him likely as an Nolothrond elf from the Lilymoor province. In appearance, he is neatly groomed and well-dressed in fine clothes appropriate for a merchant or administrator, a silky red shirt worn atop slim dark brown trousers.

When his food comes, he eats in silence, listening to the various other conversations in the bar as a means to pass the time, and perhaps to gather information on others who may have come for the same prospects as he. It was not clear to him how many recruits would be accepted, and these others may well be competition more than companions - at this point.

"Get those breakfasts right up," agreed the man behind the bar.  After a retreat into the kitchen, he returned with plates featuring a substantial portion of scrambled eggs, three nicely-browned sausage links, and a slice of bread which had liberally been spread with a butter which was quickly melting from the warmth of the bread.

Qrox also is seated alone.  Unused to large cities, or being in such a state, surrounded almost entirely by races other than the Slith, is enough to make one nervous.  But it is also very exciting and fascinating.   After a quick discussion with the man serving, during which there is some confusion, finally a mug of fresh cider is brought out along with a basket of fresh uncooked eggs.  Qrox sips the cider, and occasionally tosses a whole egg, shell and all into its large mouth and crunches it down happily.

As the early risers ate their breakfasts, despite the absence of the women who had been present in the evening before, a chubby man with wispy white hair, dressed in simple brown tunic and trousers entered the Mithril Claw. He paused by the table of the two men with the tome on the table, and suddenly there was a cloud of sparkling dust surrounding the duo.

As the two men began sneezing violently, the man grabbed the volume from the table, then ran back out of the inn, the whole event unfolding in an astonishingly quick manner.

"Help! *ah-choo* Catch that *ah-ah-ah-choo* thief," said the armored man, who seemed to be almost completely disabled by the sneezes, the last word followed by a rapid series of sneezes.

The robed man was caught in a paroxysm of sneezes, coughs, and strange combinations of sneeze and cough, unable to gasp out any words for all the symptoms he was displaying.

Korin leaps to his feet and dashes off into pursuit of the man in the brown tunic, flinging chairs and even tables out of the way if need be. He races out the inn and looks for and pursues the man. Running as fast as his short legs will carry him shouting repeatedly as he goes, "Stop that thief! The man in the brown tunic! Make way! Make way! Thief!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

"This is the test!" Aendyr exclaimed, springing to his feet.

A test by whom for what purpose would've been important bits to work out in such a theory, but thinking overmuch only served to dull the reflexes in times like this.

"Goodbye for now, delicious breakfast," he added as he rushed out the door with the dwarf.  "I'll be back for you shortly."

He wasn't quite sure his breakfast had caught that last bit, but hopefully it would stick around for his return.  It shouldn't take too long to chase down a fat old man encumbered by a heavy book.

Neo slipped his pack on as he moved toward the door.

"Keep our meals warm," he shouted at the server, "we'll be back in a moment."

With that the kuduk sprinted out the door wondering why he was so keen to chase down a book thief. He followed his table-mates into the street, unwinding the sling around his wrist, as he ran.

For a large person, Qrox is remarkably agile.  Up quickly, moving around to the two men sitting and sneezing, Qrox uses a long strong torso and long arms to reach out and try to pull the men out of the area of effect by the back of their chairs.  First making sure they are okay before heading after the others.

When the commotion begins, Meridian looks up from his breakfast, but his instincts run differently. Rather than leaping to his feet, he watches for several seconds while the party of three charge out the door and the Slith moves to tend to the men. His sharp wit is busy calculating the probabilities of such an occurrence and what its meaning may be.

After finishing his bite, he stands calmly and pushes in his chair, still surveying the room, including the reaction of the man behind the bar and any others in immediately visible sight. If a thief were this brazen, his escape would already be planned, and perhaps the best place to which to flee is nowhere at all. He examines the room carefully, with his keen elven eyes and ears.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Inside the Mithril Claw, the man behind the bar had pulled a young lad--perhaps all of 9 years old--and was speaking quietly, but a few words could be caught by Meridian's acute hearing.


At the table, as Qrox moved to pull the men back, the shimmering dust seemed to be settling.

"He'll hang for that," said the man in robes, then he sneezed again, and rather ostentatiously pulled a handkerchief and blew his nose, which seemed to resolve the sneezes.

The armored man, waved off Qrox's concern.  "No, no, please," he said.  "I assure you, we're fine.  Please, go find him, save the book."

---

Outside, it was clear that the city was waking from the night's slumber.  A significant number of men and women were traveling on foot, or by horseback, or by carts and wagons, as the trio who had burst from the Mithril Claw caught sight of the thief turning right onto Main Street, back toward the East Gate.  Moments later, the shorter Korin and Neo lost sight of the man.


A woman, her arms filled with baskets of herbs, suddenly fell to the street with a cry.

Neo points to the fallen woman, "That way, Korin!" The kuduk immediately dashes toward the woman, eyes darting about, looking for the book thief.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

Meridian walks over to the table, joining the conversation and curious why the men themselves were not setting off after this precious book. He paused and replayed the scene in his mind. Did the two men acknowledge the thief in any way prior to the explosion of dust or was he merely pretending to pass by? He wasn't sure, but he did not think they spoke with one another.

"Did you recognize the thief?" Meridian asks, recalling what he remembers aloud, "a chubby man with wispy white hair, dressed in simple brown tunic and trousers"

It didn't even occur to Aendyr that his height challenged compatriots weren't getting the eyeful of events he was.

"Your acroFATics won't save you, book thief!" he shouted as he made a sharp left turn to continue pursuing the white haired man down a smaller side street.

Aendyr gracefully spun widdershins around an abbot to keep from plowing into him and then hurdled his young daughter.  "'scuse me.  Coming through.  Thief to catch."

Wait, did abbots have daughters?  Maybe it was his niece, or an orphan.


"Hey!" he shouted at the chubby man.  "What's in that book?"

To him books always conjured memories of Shenandoah Sam's rootin' tootin' crossbow shootin' adventures.  Before Aendyr's premature militia days, his older brother Taegen brought heaps of crudely illustrated books written entirely in Troll to the village.  The more Aendyr read, the more Taegen brought him.  Where did he get them?  No one knew.  Aendyr loved Shenandoah Sam's short fuse and the torrent of Troll curse words he would spout as he stomped comedically on his hat when things didn't go his way, which was frequently.  Now Aendyr could swear in Troll with the best of them.  Poor Sam would constantly get this limb or that lopped off.  He'd hop around for a while before regrowing the leg or arm.  Strangely, he always regrew his crossbows too.

Come to think of it, His new dwarf buddy reminded him more than a little of Shenandoah Sam with his red hair and short-ish stature.  Of course, he was a good deal less green than Sam.  Aendyr knew it was a real longshot that the thief had swiped a Troll picture book, but there was only one way to find out.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

Korin looks momentarily at Neo and then charges towards near where he points to, his mind racing. Was the thief now invisible? He had trained for combat with an invisible opponent, using his other senses and intuition to guess where his opponent was and where they might attack from. This, however, was different. The thief was fleeing and fighting was, for them, likely to be a last resort with a good chance of being a futile once sufficient numbers were gathered around to make flight impossible.

He races up by and past a bit of the fallen women, being alert for any signs of any invisible opponent, especially one he might run into.

OOC:
Use Blind-Fighting skill if possible to help locate any invisible opponent.

Inside the Mithril Claw

As the youth that the bartender had been speaking to left, the bartender said, "That was Lorand."

"The Clean?" said the robed man.  With that, he hurried from the establishment, turning to the left as soon as he hit Main Street.

The armored man, with a few more sneezes, quickly followed suit.

---

On the streets of Breidhof

On Main Street, the woman who had been knocked to the ground was frantically trying to return the herbs to her baskets.  All evidence suggested that she was not badly hurt, at least no broken bones or other serious injury.

Despite the best efforts to keep him in sight, the thief seemed to be well-familiar with the streets and alleys of the city, his brown clothing mingling with the brown clothing of a number of others already on the streets.

At that moment, there were a number of shouts a little west ((another left turn from Aendyr's position)).

"That's him!"

"Get the Guard!"

"Thief!"

Following the noise, a knot of about a dozen people had gathered in front of a large building with a signboard depicting a tub which appeared full of steaming water under the Trozanese words "Bath House".

Meridian follows the robed man, maintaining his pace.

Following the two men from the Mithril Claw led down a more direct path to the bath house, where an angry crowd had started to gather.

Qrox follows at a distance, seeing a group of angry men, the Slith tries to remain unnoticed, not sure if the locals are all that friendly towards his race.

Daydreaming of Troll stories had caused him to lose sight of the book thief, but not far away he heard cries and shouts and the word 'thief'.  Aendyr ran that way and arrived in front of the tub building.

"Hey there people," he said to the crowd, not as out-of-breath as you'd expect.  "I'm chasing that thief you're all yelling about.  Which way did he go?"

Meridian continues to follow, not interacting with the men but curious as to their route. Were the following the noises - or did they have an idea which way the thief was heading? That would make this man not a very good thief, but then again, if his identity is so easily known to the bartender, there must be more to the story.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Having lost signs of the thief, Korin slows to a walk. When he hears shouts and cries of the thief, he starts jogging that direction. However, he pays attention to his surroundings looking for anything that seems out of place and especially the one who might have stolen the book or whatever it was. He knows with each minute of passing, the odds of catching the thief diminish.

Neo continues to move through the crowds of people, keeping his eyes and ears peeled for anything out of the ordinary, that might signal the thief's whereabouts.

He chuckles quietly, when he hears shouts of 'thief' rising above the general din. "Well, that is convenient!" he mutters as he moves toward the shouts.

He finds himself behind a crowd in front of a bath house. He spots Aendyr in the crowd and Korin approaching it, just ahead.

"Oy! Korin! Wait for me!" The kuduk knows it will be much easier to push through the crowd with a burly dwarf doing the pushing.

"Yeah, that's the guy I saw runnin'," said one of the men in the crowd.  "Had a big book with him."

"Musta stashed it somewheres on th' way," said another voice.

"He don't need to steal.  He's got plenty o' coin," said another voice.  "This isn't like Lorand!"

"Haul him off, I say," said a woman in the crowd.  "We've had two already. This has got to stop."

"He's been at the bath house since six bells.  I know this for a fact, I just finished my bath."

As the crowd continued to grow, four armored men, wearing chainmail with surcoats much like the gate guards except that here the sleeve bore an emblem of a black lotus, pushed their way through the crowd.  One of them pounded on the door.

"Open, in the name of King Leonato," said the guard pounding the door.

Moments later, a small, chubby man with white wispy hair--garbed in dark gray trousers and a lighter gray tunic--stepped out.  The guards shackled him, and then pushed their way back up to Main Street to take the unresisting man to jail, with one of the guards remaining at the door of the bath house.  Although the man who emerged from the bath house physically resembled the thief they had seen at the Mithril Claw, it seemed the time had been far too short for the man to have gotten inside the building of the bath house, stash the tome, and change clothes.

"This establishment is closed," the guard said, "if you have information, please make a report, otherwise get on about your day."

"Perhaps this thief is smarter than I thought," Meridian thinks to himself, watching the crowd, the guards, and the scene unfolding. It did seem unlikely that an obviously identifiable person would commit such an act. Presumably, the thief musty have had good information, and training in disguise spells. Often the best caper is pulled off in broad daylight, in the crowds, leaving few clues.

Upon the guards instructions to move on, Meridian strolled back to his breakfast, going over various details in his head. He looks towards the morning sun, estimating how much time is left before his appearance. He should have time to finish and grab his gear, but there isn't time to fret over the affairs of these strangers.

"Yes, excuse me, guard-sir," Aendyr said raising and waving his hand.  "Where do we go to make a report, and is it OK if we make the report after breakfast?"

Korin watched with unease as the lotus emblemed guardsmen manacled the unresisting man and started leading him off to jail. He had been pursuing the thief moments after he had stolen the book and still the thief had gotten away from him and 2 of his companions but not the guard? How had news of the theft much left the description of the thief spread so quickly, maybe faster than Korin could even run?

When he hears the guard tell the crowd to go about their day, he becomes deeply suspicious. The guard should be asking who in the crowd saw the man with the book. Who saw him run or go into the bath house and what time he went in. It would have had to have been in the last 10 minutes or so. Such testimony was necessary to establish the man's guilt. If the guardsmen cared about justice, they would know that!

As he hear someone complain that the man had been in the bath house since six bells, he casually makes his way over there. "Do you know the man? You sure he didn't trick you?" Korin asks them. "Could he have snuck away without you knowing and then returned without you realizing? A good thief might do that to have an alibi. Is that possible?" Korin asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Qrox is puzzled, are these strange goings on just normal for a large city?  The man arrested seems unlikely to be the thief, but is it any business of a newcomer to interfere, would anyone take the word of a Slith here.  Maybe, a priest, perhaps.

Quietly, finding the voice who said something about this happening before, Qrox asks gently if other objects have been stolen recently.  What they were and if, as a newcomer, this is normal, is this a safe town to visit?  Were the other thieves caught as easily as this one?

After that and listening to the talk of the crowd for a bit, Qrox too returns to his meal.

"It was my book," said the robed man from the Mithril Claw.  "I'll go make my report."

The armored man headed up the street with the robed man, following along the same path that the guards were leading Lorand.

"Come up to the guard house at the city jail," the guard replied to Aendyr.  "Better to make the report now, while all the details are fresh in your mind."

"Of course I know Lorand," replied one of the bystanders, who had spoken of Lorand being at the bath house.  "I come here every week for my bath, and let me tell you, Lorand isn't hurting for money, do something like this.  I just don't think he has it in him, doing things like that."

"There were two others," came the reply to Qrox.  "Didn't make any sense, George and Roger were always good, honest, hard-working sorts, and it doesn't make sense they'd be taking off with valuable magic items.  But everyone around saw them, no mistaking it.  But you see, the guard here, they come quick and don't have any tolerance for folk who'd break the king's peace."


Those returning back to the Mithril Claw, saw that more of the Black Lotus guards had arrived here, with two standing outside at the entrance, barring entry.

"Official investigation," one said, "no one's going in before we've got this finished up."

Once back to the tavern, Meridian is visibly annoyed that he is not permitted back inside, but he does not make a fuss. He steps back and waits for a minute. Then, after some reflection, he asks politely, "Sir, I appreciate you have a job to do. So do I. I have an appointment across town at nine bells, and I would like to at least retrieve my belongings from my room, as I may not be able to return afterwards. Would you permit the staff to fetch it if I wait outside? You're welcome to inspect it."

He smiles and does his best to appear professional and reasonable. "You can even finish my breakfast, for which I have not yet paid. Whatever is going on here, it's none of my affair."

Internally, he chastises himself. He should have anticipated this and retrieved his gear before leaving after the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

"He'll have to plead his case before the magistrate," Korin says with a shake of his head. He starts to head back to the tavern when suddenly he freezes. "It can't be...," he says under his breath.

He immediately sets off to where the woman with the herbs had fallen down. Once there he will ask those nearby if they saw the known of the woman and where he might find her.

"Damned dwarf," Neo mutters to himself, as he watches Korin disappear into the crowd, without the slightest acknowledgement.

As he mills about with the rest of the crowd in front of the bath house, he hears various bits of chatter and gossip.

~Hmmmm. Bathmaster Lorand has no need for coin...he was in the bath house all morning...not enough time to get changed...~

"The woman with the basket!" Neo shouts out loud, drawing a few stares.

Neo immediately begins retracing his path, hoping to locate the woman that was knocked over.

The guard was right.  Aendyr should go make his report now.  Sure, his breakfast was delicious, but there were always other breakfasts.  There might be one tomorrow.  For that matter you could sometimes eat breakfast for lunch!  Aendyr joined the armored man and the robed man as they followed the guard to the city jail.

"Hey chums," he said to the pair from the silver claw place.  "My name is Aendyr.  Sorry I didn't catch the guy who stole your book.  We was awful quick on his feet.  I lost him in the crowds not too far from the bathhouse.  He just disappeared.  I think he might've been using illusions."

"Say, who are you guys, and what was in that book?  Was it an important book, or was this just a frame-up to get Lorand tossed in jail?  I sure hope I have time to finish my breakfast after this is done.  I've got some sort of appointment at nine bells.  I think."

Main Street

Retracing the way back to the place where the woman had been knocked down, Korin and Neo found themselves outside a pottery shop.  The woman herself was no longer present, and none of the people present seemed to be the same ones who had been about the place a few moments ago.

As the two looked around for evidence of the woman, they saw a copper-haired elf in simple green clothing walking in their direction.  The elf looked back toward the Mithril Claw, which was near enough to the current location as to be in view.  He seemed, however, to be walking more or less toward Neo and Korin.

---

Near the Mithril Claw

One of the guards present said, "You were present when the theft happened?  You need to go to the guardhouse at the city jail and make a report.  Don't worry, we should be done with our investigation before eight bells, there'll be plenty of time for you to get your things."

---

En route from Bath House

"It's good to meet you, Aendyr," said the robed man.  "Name is Khandus, and I was meeting with Keyon here.  Always stay at the Mithril Claw when I come to Briedhof, and seemed to make sense to handle the business at breakfast."

"That was a mistake," said Keyon, the armored man, "appears that our business was uncovered before we finished.  The tome was going to be a donation for the temple of Peren."

"Oy! Korin!" Neo hails the dwarf as they both converge where the basket laden woman was knocked down.

"You had the same thought as I? The woman with baskets was involved with this theft?

We should..." The kuduk stops speaking mid-sentence, noticing the elf walked toward them. "Do you know him?" he asks the dwarf, gesturing with his head.

"Maybe, maybe not," Korin says frowning. "Certainly it seemed oddly coincidental, though. I would like to ask her what happened. "


"No, but he seems headed our direction and coming from the Mithral Claw no less," Korin responds to Neo. He falls silent, observing the elf, waiting to see if the elf passes them by or greets them.

"Who else knew about this book donation?" Aendyr asked, but he could already feel himself losing interest.

The coolest part of this caper had been the sneezing dust, that stuff was trick.  It totally kept Khandus from casting any spells, and disabled Keyon for a little while too.  Maybe he could get his hands on some of that stuff.  Would pepper work?  That made people sneeze, or so he'd been told.  Maybe he should grab some pepper and test it out.  Sure would come in handy to keep witches from turning him into a frog or some-such.  Haha!  They'd never see that coming.

Aendyr chuckled to himself.

The two men looked at him.  This was no time for chuckling.

"Oh, sorry.  I was just thinking about a funny joke."  Think fast man, think!  Got it.

"A man walks into a library and asks for a book on how to commit suicide.  The librarian shrugs.  'Sorry', he says.  'The first guy to check it out never brought it back.'"

Aendyr chuckles again.

"See?  Pretty funny."

Meridian accepts the guards response. So long as he can get back timely, he is happy to give his version of events to the guards. He asks, "Do you mind directing me to the nearest guardhouse? I am new in town."

Then, he heads off in the direction provided with every intent of giving a brief but full and accurate report on what he observed and then hastily returning to the Mithral Claw. Should he pass any of the others, he mentions to them that the guards will not permit their return until they give a report.

Neo, takes a half step back from the dwarf; his hands fall to rest on the hilts of his dagger.

Making no attempt to disguise his action, the kuduk looks all around, to see if he notices any other people heading toward the pair.

In front of Orm's Pottery

"Now you don't want to be doin' that out here on the street," said the approaching elf, his hands open.  "Not wit' the guard all on alert and all.  Lissen, I seen you come out of the Claw, an' the guards ain't been that nice to me, mebbe there's something you'd be interested in knowin'?"

---

Guard House

The guard at the Mithril Claw had given directions to Meridian that were pretty easy to follow, up the road across from the main entrance to the palace.

Here, too, led the path followed by Aendyr and his new companions--Khandus and Keyon, neither of whom had seemed amused by Aendyr's joke.

Lorand and the guards who had brought him here were no longer in view, but the guardhouse, just inside the gate, was easy enough to reach.  Glassee walls lined the path, perhaps to allow for identification or even a visit with the accused under the watchful eyes of the guard.

Finding the number of people who were willing to make statements about the theft, guards set up four places, one guard at each to take the stories as provided by Meridian, Aendyr, Khandus, and Keyon.  Additional witnesses were kept just outside, in order to try to keep things orderly.

"Sure. I still haven't had breakfast yet and would be happy to buy you breakfast," Korin offers, "though if you're in a hurry we could talk here or take a walk."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Aendyr needed to find chums with better senses of humor.

When they passed the glass walls Aendyr was fascinated to the point that his feet stopped moving for a few seconds so he could gawk.  The clearness of the glass was a marvel.  They must cost a fortune!  He had a strong urge to smash one of them.  Shattering glass was a visual and auditory delight.  Normally, Aendyr's impulse control was very poor, but smashing a glass wall in a guardhouse would surely get him in WAY more trouble than it would be worth.  His mother would be proud of his self control this day, but he sighed anyhow.

It wasn't just the building that was impressive.  These city guards were very well organized and efficient.  They had been remarkably prompt in showing up to the scene of the crime, and now they were handling the investigation with a level of professionalism unrivaled in his experience.

He waved goodbye to Khandus and Keyon as the guards split them up.  He had this funny feeling it'd be the last time he saw them.  Not that ill fate would befall any of them, just that paths diverge.

"Hey before we start, I'd like to know.  Who makes your glass?" he asked the guard.

Neo's hands continue to rest on the hilts of his daggers as he surveys the street for anyone else approaching.


Speaking quietly to the dwarf, he says, "Not here, Korin...it's too open...let's find a more private spot."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

"Would you be willing to take your hand off your daggers," Korin appeals to Neo in a low voice. "I think it's pretty unlikely that anyone is going to try anything overt, here in public. I think it's a lot more likely especially with things riled up as they now that someone will notice, get concerned and call the guard to come have a talk with us. Now you wouldn't want that, would you?"

In front of Orm's Pottery

"That's fine, that's fine," replied the elf, "but I'm all right.  'Sides, they're not lettin' anyone in the Claw til they finish investigating.  Though we can go to the Boar's Head, if you want."

---

Guard House

The guard with Aendyr replied, "That's Crandel's work.  Now, about what you saw, if you would begin with how it started."

Meridian gives a brief, fact-based report, telling the guards who he saw in the room, how the thief came inside, what he was wearing, and so forth, ending at his arrival at the bath house. Meridian expresses some doubt that Lorian is the perpetrator, as it would be one of the dumbest capers in history, to commit the act in front of so many people. Yet, it is not his business, and he is more concerned with getting to his appointment timely.

He reminds the guard that he needs to get his gear and asks for some verification that he has given his report that he can give to the guards at the Mithral Claw so that he can go about his day.

Meridian must be thinking he's being stalked by the large lizard that was eating breakfast.  Everywhere the man goes, the lizard seems to be casually following the elf.  Qrox feels silly but the elf just ends up going everywhere Qrox needs to be, just a little quicker.

When arriving at the gatehouse, the lizard priest waits till being called to make a report.

When called, Qrox very politely relates just the basics of what was observed and does not add any extra details or opinion.

"Boar's Head it is," Korin says. "I'm buying for you too Neo if you want anything."

The Boar's Head

Their new companion led Korin and Neo to a restaurant near the city walls. This one featured a signboard with a boar's head on a platter, apple in mouth with the Trozanese legend "Boar's Head"  Looking about, the place was quite large--perhaps enough tables for 120 diners, though there was just a small scattering of people present, most of whom seemed to be nearly finished with their breakfast.

A waiter took them to the table and asked for their orders, offering bacon, cooked beans, sausage in a sauce, and cold meats for food and ale at a shop-bit a pint, dwarven ale for a dragon, light beer for five freeholders, and dragon's breath beer for four freeholders.

Their elven companion had become fairly quiet, and said,  "An ale and sausage in sauce for me."

---

Guard House

In their turns, Khandus and Keyon were taken out, and their words "That's him," could be heard.

Qrox, likewise, when his statement was complete, was asked to come to the glassee wall, and confirm the identification.

The guard with Meridian said, "What is it that makes you have doubts?"

Qrox stands very still, flicks its tongue, sniffs the air.

"This man was arrested from the bathhouse, but not the one that disturbed my breakfast, may I go now?"

After one more look around, satisfied that the elf is on his own, Neo nods, and drops his hands. "Of course. The last thing I need before re-joining is a run-in with the local militia."

Neo follows that elf and Korin to the Boar's Head. He watches for anyone following them the entire way.

He scrambles into the chair, sitting on his pack.

"I'll have bacon, beans, and sausage...and a large mug of tea, please."

He waits for the server to leave, before asking the elf, "I'm Neo. So, what's your name, and why did you search us out in that crowd?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

"It all started with breakfast," Aendyr began.

He described the scene in the Mithral Claw, the chubby old man, and the sneezing powder. He told about himself, the dwarf, and the kuduk rushing out after the thief, and the thief knocking down the herb woman.

"...That guy zipped through the crowd like a pro.  He was quick and agile, way lighter on his feet that he looked, that's for sure..."

He described following him down the side street where Aendyr lost him, then hearing people shouting about theft at the bathhouse not far off.

"...When the guards dragged Lorand out of the bathhouse he was wearing slightly different clothes than the thief, and he sure didn't move as gracefully.  That's why I think the thief was in disguise or using an illusion.  Lorand is being framed."

If they trot Lorand out behind the glassee wall to identify him, Aendyr will confirm that yes, the thief looked like that guy, but he'll repeat his reasons for thinking the real thief was trying to look like Lorand.

"Bacon and sausage, make that a double helping of bacon. I'd like an ale too," Korin says to the waiter.

"This looks like a solid establishment," the dwarf says approvingly. "Do you come here often?"

"Appreciate you meeting with us for breakfast, especially me being a dwarf," Korin says. "I've heard some elves find dwarves loud and uncouth so I'm limiting myself to one ale out of consideration."


Korin nods, looking at the elf, eyes black eyes curious.

Boar's Head

The elf had waited until the food had been served and the waiter had gone away from the table before speaking again.

"Name's Jhaeros, and ... well, you seem likely folk, what notice things.  And I'm not wantin' to get myself stuck here in the city, I'm needing to get back home.  So, there's something I know what might help find the thief.  The real thief, not Lorand.  See, just as the bells were ringing, I see this chubby fellow standing on the street, looking into the Mithril Claw.  Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag, and there was a little tag fall out of his pocket."

---

Guard House

As each of the witnesses was led over to the glassee wall to identify Lorand, they could see that the man looked just like the thief, with the exception of the different clothing; the only problem with this being that losing the thief in the crowd and the fuss at the bath house had occurred far too close together in time for the distance .

"Please, let me talk to you, I beg of you," said Lorand.  "This is all some mistake ... some terrible, terrible mistake."

"That's enough of that," one of the guards said, pulling Lorand away from the window.  "They're not here to visit you, just to make the identification."

Neo stops shovelling beans into his mouth at the mention of the bag, his spoon hangs frozen, dripping into the bowl.

"I trust you picked up that little tag, Jhaeros?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Aendyr wonders what will happen to Lorand, but it's not really his problem anymore.  He shrugs.  He's already pretty much already forgotten about the book.

"Well if that's everything, I've got a breakfast to get back to," he says to the guard intent to make his way to the Mithril Claw.

"and you want us to buy it from you?" Korin adds before chuckling. "I think you mistook the reason for our pursuit of the thief. I felt somewhat outraged and, foolishly perhaps, thought I would be quickly able to caught the vagabond and return the tome. He turned out to be much quicker than I would have guessed. But personally, I have no stake in the matter  and frankly have other business to attend to. I neither know the book owners nor this Lorand fellow accused of stealing it. It was mere happenstance we were in the tavern that morning and I've never been to this city before."

"Lorand would probably be very interested, especially if he's innocent. The book owners might if the book remains missing and the clue leads to the book being found. A reward, in essence, but I think they would want the book found. I would say your best bet is with Lorand, though. I'm not sure why you would need to talk to us, unless you are reluctant and unable to approach him for some reason? Need a middle man of sorts?"

"Or do you want to do the right thing, without getting involved? Can't say I blame you for wanting to avoid dealing with the courts."

The kuduk notices his dripping spoon and returns to eating his meal while listening to the elf.

"Well, with Lorand in jail, I can hardly go talking to him, though if you're interested--might be nice to show up those guards, solve the theft, right?"  Jhaeros paused to take another bite, and then a drink before looking to Neo.  "Of course I picked up the tag--only to return it to him, you understand."

Jhaeros pulled out a tag, which had the words "Neville's Pawn Shop.  Item# 219.  20 Mth Bear 1287" written on it.

"Before I get the chance,, he goes into the Claw, and throws some dust at these two guys ... one of them was Keyon, he's an avantar of Peren, he is.  Not high up, mind, but he might be goin' places.  Oh, where was I?  Anyhow, he dusted the mage and Keyon, stole their tome, rushed out the door, just like you know.  Now here's where things start gettin' strange.  I don't see how they arrested Lorand at the bath house; I followed that thief all the way down to Frog Street before I lost him in the crowd, and then as I was heading back, I saw Lorand being taken to jail.  I don't understand it; Lorand don't know how to teleport, so how in Peren's name could he be in two places at once?"

With that, Jhaeros gave Neo a triumphant look, and then went back to eating his food, the tag still on the table.

---

"Very well," the guard said, "you'll need to stay in town until we have the trial tomorrow.  Staying at the Mithril Claw, right?"

As Aendyr made his way back across town, his companions on the way from the bath house--Khandus and Keyon--had departed elsewhere, and upon arrival at the Mithril Claw, he found two guards blocking the entrance still.  All told, it was still before eight bells, however.

Korin returns to his food as well, forgetful for a time of the events. "Do either of you all know where this shop is?" he says gesturing at the slip of paper. "So you don't want anything from us?" he asks Jhaeros.

Aendyr is surprised to see guards at the Mitral Claw.

"You guys have a detective in there checking out the scene of the crime?  Damn, you're thorough and efficient.  I have never been in a city with guards this well organized.  I'm serious.  It's really impressive.  Crime committed... POW!  The guards are there, fast.  And they care about the facts too.  Investigation.  No Stone unturned.  I just got done giving a statement and making an identification down at the guard house.  They're like clockwork over there too.  Well oiled machine you guys are."

"No problem, chums.  I'll wait.  You guys should be proud to work in such a professional organization.  How long have you two been guards here in Briedhof?"

As he chews on a sausage held in one hand, Neo picks up the paper with the other.

"So, the thief pawned something six days ago.

Today he steals a book...from a mage and an avantar, no less.

And he has some magicked powder and likely an illusionary disguise..."

The kuduk finishes the sausage and starts on another one as he leans back in his chair and ponders.

"I'm no magistrate, Korin, but if I had to explain this right now, I would say the thief needed coin, so he goes to the pawn shop. But he will need more coin to reclaim his goods, so he takes the job of stealing the book, and I would say that he was hired by a mage or maybe an illusionist, who provided the dust and the disguise.

Or I could be completely wrong.

Still, I wonder what's in the book? A spellbook perhaps?"

Neo then turns back to his remaining beans and bacon.

Near the Mithril Claw

The one guard who had spoken scowled at Aeryn.  "You trying to distract us from duty?"  The silent guard just watched, though not staring at Aeryn.

---

Boar's Head

"Pawn shop over on the west side of town," said Jhaeros.  "No, nothing more than the breakfast, and for that I thank you.  Desperate job, it was.  Course, Khandus is known to stay at the Claw whenever he comes to the city, so finding him there isn't any accident."

---

Guard House

After completing the report and making remarks on the identification of Lorand, Meridian and Qrox were separately allowed to leave, being advised that they would be needed the next morning for court.  At the identification, Lorand pleaded with each to talk with him, although the guard pulled Lorand off.  Of course, if they requested to speak with the prisoner, permission would be granted, but the suggestion would not be made by a guard.

Still finding these affairs to be ones best managed by the guards and local magistrates, Meridian waits patiently for permission to retrieve his belongings and finish his breakfast, if allowed. He finds it odd that the guards would summon him again the next day after having already made the identification, but he is new to the city and not familiar with all of its legal customs. The guards are merely doing their duty as one part of the larger justice machine. It would be for the magistrate to piece together the facts and set the matter straight.

"Ah..., pawn shop. My Trozanese reading is not very good and I was having trouble making that out. Well, that explains things," Korin says. He pauses and then says, "What were you saying about desperate job? I think I missed that."

"Your idea does seem very reasonable Neo," Korin says stroking his beard, looking thoughtful. "It does look like the book was being targeted specifically and that suggest someone wanted it. I'm less clear about Lorand and why he was framed. If it was just opportunistic or if someone had it in for him as well. Always possible the whole thing was to setup Lorand but someone really would have to not like him to go to all the effort. Probably not likely but I wouldn't rule it out."

"It was thinking our pursuit was futile but now I'm beginning to think it may have been very helpful. Whoever did this took great pains to plan this. Our collective quick and rapid pursuit may have created problems for the thieves and I do think it's likely we are dealing with more than one thief," Korin says suddenly looking around for anyone who appeared to be eavesdropping.

He continues much more quietly. "We may have thrown off their timetable and perhaps even someone got worried people were closing in and had to create a distraction. It certainly worked on me," Korin says ruefully.

"Where is Frog street?" he asks.

He looks to get the waiters attention to pay his bill.

OOC:
Ready to continue but happy to stay if Neo has more questions.

This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Qrox is about to return to the Claw, but being a priest has duties, perhaps even in another land. He asked if he can comfort Lorand in his time of crisis.

Guard House

"He'll be needing a priest, right enough," replied the guard, looking over Qrox.  "We just ask that you agree to a quick search. All arm--well, weapons and shield to be left in the guard house, retrieve things when you're done with the visit."

---

Boar's Head

Jhaeros explained that from Main Street the first turn had been onto Sun Street, and then they had crossed over Frog Street, which ran parallel to Main, though Korin and Neo had followed a little further than that cross street, as well as giving more specific directions to the pawn shop.

He paused to take the last bite of his sausages, and then took a long drink to finish his ale as the waiter came over to request six shop-bits to settle the bill for all the food and drink at the table.

Once the bill had been settled and the waiter had gone again, Jhaeros said, "Desperate job--a lot of risk in it, and using that dust make it a capital offense.  Strange business.  Well, I thank you for the breakfast, but I need to get on my way."

With that, Jhaeros stood up to leave, although he did not make any move to retrieve the tag he had shown.

Neo slips the pawn tag into his pouch when Jhaeros stands up and makes no motion to retrieve it.

"Thanks, Jhaeros. Have a safe journey home...and my apologies for ebing suspicious when we met...old habits..."

The kuduk reaches out to shake hands the elf.

"Oy! I just thought of something...maybe you know the answer Jhaeros as you have spent more time in Briedhof than me and Korin...will a pawn shop return goods without a ticket? And is a ticket all the identification needed to redeem the goods?"

Neo's eyebrow rises slightly, and a small smile appears on his face as he awaits the elf's reply.

When Jhaeros states that using the dust makes it a capital offense, for the first time in their conversation, Korin becomes visibly angry, his face red and his black eyes burning. It took all his training as a warrior plus some previously hidden reserves to keep from shouting a loud and blistering, curse-laden string of responses at the poor elf. The unspoken words reverberating though his mind. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WOULD MAKE USING SNEEZING POWDER A CAPITAL OFFENSE!!! After several moments he manages to subdue the anger to a visible the scowl on his face though he is still very angry.

When he finally rejoins the others having exited the dark depths of his mind, Neo is bidding Jhaeros farewell. He watches as Neo extends his hand to Jhaeros with growing unease. Though no longer angry at the elf, the anger remains, simmering like a volcano ready to crush or break whatever might become available. He urgently and repeatedly reminds himself not to accidentally crush and break the elf's hand if a handshake is offered. Don't vent his anger and frustration on the messenger he repeatedly tells himself.

As Neo asks last question, though momentarily irritated, a new curiosity develops. His anger rapidly fades as he realizes where his companion is going. Not even realizing it, he holds his breath.

Boar's Head

Seeming unaware of Korin's distress, Jhaeros shook hands with Neo.  "It's the tag you'd need, and the coin to reclaim whatever it is," he said.  "And in another week, you might be able to reclaim it, but he'd start offering it for sale then."

He held out a hand to shake hands with Korin before turning to leave the city.

---

Near the Mithril Claw

Meridian and Aendyr had returned to the vicinity of the Mithril Claw, only to find that the investigation was still being undertaken there.

"What?  No.  Take a compliment, buddy."

Aendyr leaned an arm on the front wall of the Mithril Claw and sat down.  Nothing to do but wait.  Not much fun in waiting.



Aendyr nodded to the armed and well dressed elf when he returned to the Claw.

"Hey," he said by way of minimalist greeting.

This guy had been there earlier.  He was quiet and serious and kept to himself.  He had the air of royalty around him.  What was a highborn elf like that doing at the Mithril Claw?  He didn't fit in.  Come to think of it, none of us fit in.

"Hey," he said again from his seat on the ground.  "Are you here in Briedhof about the... um, the poster thing at nine bells, too?"

Neo chews on his last slice of smokey bacon as he watches the elf leave the tavern.

"Well, Korin. Now what? We have a little more than one bell before we need to be at the Dock Gate.

The thief, the real thief, that is, can't get his pawned goods.

From what I understand, Lorand will spend the night in jail, but won't be brought to court until tomorrow.

Seems to me, we should keep our appointment and continue our investigation afterwards. What do you think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

"I know you weren't talking to me but I am here for the event at nine bells." This is spoken by a half elf which had just walked up as the other elf had started speaking.

By his appearance he seems to be ex military from his Beret with unit crest and emblem, to his stance, and way in which his weapons and gear are cared for. An Xamaran longsword and five daggers can be seen with just a quick look, at his feet is a well cared for backpack with a rottweiler dog laying on part of it.

"I was going to stop at the Inn for some food before going to the dock gate but that seems unlikely now with the guards closing it off. Looks  like I just missed some excitement, people are talking about a robbery or something?

Meridian, still focused on attempting to retrieve his gear, tries to conceal his annoyance. When spoken to by Aendyr, he gives brief affirmative nod in reply but doesn't engage in conversation. He is preoccupied by attempting to flag down one of the staff inside, assuming he can find one, with a wave or through a window.

Qrox hands over the scythe and the blowgun that the priest carries.  The turtle shell shield is still back at the room in Mithril Claw.   Nodding politely to the guard,  Qrox waits to speak with the prisoner.

After disarming, Qrox was led to a small booth of a room, surrounded by the glassee walls, and Lorand was brought into the room.

"Thank you, thank you," said Lorand.  He was twisting his hands together.  "As I've told the guards, this is some insane mistake.  I am innocent; I've never stolen anything in my life.  I'm being framed, but I don't know by whom, and I don't know why.  I was working in the Bath House all morning--we do quite a business, especially people who want to start the week out right.  Cleanliness brings one closer to the gods, they say.  So I was preparing for the day's patrons when it all started.  People started gathering, pounding on my door screaming "thief" and "crook".  Then, the King's Guard arrived to arrest me.   Being a peaceful man, I didn't resist, I had faith that I would be tried justly.  But now ... I have learned that I'm going to be made an example.  There've been a few robberies lately, and to discourage more, they're going to try me immediately.  I've no time to prepare.  I'll be hung by noon tomorrow.  Save me, please, if you are good.  Break e out of this jail, so we can find the criminal and bring him to justice.  I know it's immoral ... but please.  Please help me."

Maybe he was a mute.



"That you did, chum," he said to the newly arrived half-elf without getting off his rump.  "Someone walked right in here with sneezing dust and stole a tome right out from under the distressed nasal passages of a avantar of Peren and a green card mage.  Three of us chased the thief, but he got away.  And the plot thickens.  The thief pulled the heist disguised as a bathhouse manager.  The guards grabbed the framed man and his trial is scheduled for tomorrow morning.  This is one fast moving city, huh?  Lots happens before nine bells.  Early bird gets the worm."

"Say, what's with the pooch?  You some kind of man-tracker?  Maybe we can do these guys job for them," he said pointing a thumb at the guards.  "You know?  Follow the crook's scent.  Should be fresh.  I can lead you as far as where I lost him."

"He just likes to rest a lot so he uses my pack for a pillow! I can't tell one track from another and in this city, he probably didn't leave much to begin with. "

Looks at the guards searching the Claw and then back to the elf. "I don't think we have time for it now before nine bells but after would love to hear everything you know and copy how you chased and lost him to find him again? I might be able to think of something you missed. You never know might be some coin in it from the thief, framed manager or the original owners of the book."

Qrox will listen, then lays a hand on the man.

"Lorand, I am a priest, and I shall bless you, but I cannot read the future or the fates. I will pray with you now to my goddess who is both gentle and powerful, and to your own god if you have one, do not underestimate the power of faith.  That which seems hopeless this minute, may yet change, have courage, have faith.  I believe you are not the thief of that book, and will say so at your trial."

"It is Peren that I honor," replied Lorand, looking a little dejected.  "There are many who will say that it was I who stole this tome, and I beg of you--if you are truly good, find this criminal who wears my face.  Then, they will believe I am innocent."

Qrox nods, and continues to pray, "Peren the altruistic, I beseech you hear our prayer, this man, your servant, and I wish your blessing and guidance in finding proof of his innocence. I ask you let me stand for him and give unto me thy guidance and aid in assisting your servant. In this, and in all things, your will be done".

Then, Qrox grips Lorand by the shoulder, "I will do what I can to find evidence that will free you, may the gods guide my steps".

Guard House

"Thank you," said Lorand.

As the meeting ended, the guards took Lorand deeper into the grounds of the jail, while Qrox received back his weapons.

---

Near the Mithril Claw

As Meridian, Aeryn, and Khaaven met, ten members of the guard emerged from within the Mithril Claw.  Several of the number carried bags and boxes, the means of carrying their tools for investigations.

The two guards who were at the door blocking entrance joined the others, leaving the Mithril Claw ready to resume business.

---

Shortly after the guard had left the Mithril Claw, throughout the city could be heard the ringing of the bells, eight distinct chimes.

"I don't care that much about that appointment," Korin growls. "Someone is always going to be in need of good fighters. If they want to choose someone else, fine, let them," he declares irritatedly. "Whether you want to join me in proving this Lorand fellow is innocent is your choice. Maybe it's just the fact that these Black Lotus guards rub me the wrong way. I'd love to show how despite all their overbearing attitude, how incompetent they truly are. Plus, I'd like to find out what's really going on."

"I'm not against getting together first, though, with the others. A lot has happened. Would be interested to learn what they have been doing and if they discovered anything. I do intend to visit that pawn shop though and would really welcome you coming along. I don't understand human culture and some of these laws seem hateful. Capital Offense for using sneezing powder. Never happen in a dwarves kingdom, that I can assure you."

"Shall we go back and meet up with the others?"

It looked like the investigation at the Claw was wrapping up.  There'd been A LOT more guards in there than he expected.  Aendyr got to his feet, brushing off his pants and armor as he rose.  He patted the half-elf's dog on the head.

 he said to the dog, and added


Aendyr went into the Mithral Claw, hoping his breakfast hadn't been taken as evidence.

Khaaven's dog got up from the position on the backpack and trotted toward the door of the Mithril Claw.

When permitted inside, Meridian goes directly to his room, hoping one of the guards hasn't gotten handsy and taken something. He surveys his gear and puts everything into its proper place for travel. When he returns downstairs, he does check to see if he has any breakfast remaining, which although not as tasty cold would be just as nourishing. Either way, he pays the barkeep and purchases a small loaf of bread in case he doesn't get a chance to snack later.

Khaaven gathered up his pack, went inside the Claw found a table to sit at. Putting his pack down by his chair before speaking. "Thor" at which point the dog came to his side and laid down using the pack for a pillow once again.

Khaave looked towards the elf which had been talking about the earlier events with him. "Please have a seat, looks like we have a little  bit more time to talk about the excitement earlier." gesturing toward an empty seat at his table.

"So you said the  theft happened here, with sneezing powder. Then three of you chased him out into the streets and to the bathhouse where the guards arrested him? Sounds like a frame up to me for sure, could be some coin in it for sure to investigate."


"I wonder if some of the earlier events may or may not be connected then. I heard that two other people from town who were honest, ran off with other magic items. Seems like they might be connected. You said the trial is tomorrow right? Do you want to try to investigate it and present what we find at the trial or just try to delay the trial and then investigate it?"

Neo's eyebrow rises in surprise as the dwarf tirades about the guards.

~Why would he answer the call to join the militia if he has no use for them?~ the Kuduk thinks to himself. ~Then, I didn't really see eye-to-eye with the the military either, and here I am signing up for a third go round. Maybe he has his reasons too.~

Out loud, Neo says, "Agreed. Back to the Mithril Claw...then to the Dock Gate for nine bells to join up; and then the pawn shop...unless there is a better lead to follow."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

As Meridian finished his breakfast he notices the newcomer also talking about the events of the morning but now apparently involving two more people. He decides to eat slowly and see what happens as the others return to the tavern.

Aendyr accepted the half-elf's offer of a seat, but not before he'd secured his mostly uneaten breakfast from the man at the bar, who'd also topped off Aendyr's hard cider.

"Thanks chum," he told the barman, paying for his meal and tossing in a tip.  "Not even the law-of-the-land can keep the Mithral Claw shut down for long.  What in the world did it take 10 guards to investigate in here anyhow?"


He slipped a sausage link to Thor, chugged some cider, and sat down to discuss the eventful morning.

"Yep.  That's the broad strokes of it.  That over there is the table where the mage and avantar were sitting with the book," he said pointing to the now empty table.  "The dwarf, the kuduk, and I were sitting at this other table over here.  We were just discussing how the kuduk wasn't a pirate, but he sure was dressed like one.  Right after he assured the dwarf there'd be no ships he said we should go down to the dock gate.  Sounds like ships to me."

"But all that pirate stuff was set aside when the thief ran off with the book.  The avantar cried out 'Oh help!  Get that thief!' between sneezes.  The three of us hopped right up and chased the thief.  I thought sure we'd catch him right away.  I can run down and tackle just about anybody."

"Hey, I wonder where the dwarf and kuduk got off to."

He shrugged.

"Anyhow, I'm Aendyr," he said reaching out to shake the half-elf's hand.  "Funny that I know your dog's name before yours."

"So you say this is the third in a string of frame-up thefts?  And the other items were magic?  Maybe the book's magic too.  All I know is it was supposed to be a gift for the temple of Peren.  The rub is this city doesn't like magic one bit."

Qrox returns to the Mithral Claw with much weight upon the mind.  Is there any chance to find a clue to save Lorand?  What of the eight bell appointment?

Finding it open, the priest first gathers up the trusty turtle shell shield,  a valued possession,  then sits and eats several more eggs.

Those returning to breakfast from their earlier stay found the barkeep willing to provide warmer food than the much-cooled fare that they had started with.  The meals themselves were two shop-bits, including one drink, second (and beyond) beverages charged in addition.

"They made sure no one came down from any of the rooms, questioned the staff," replied the bartender, taking in the coin.  "Thank you.  It's why we try to keep things quiet enough to not involve the guard, but something like this ... Well, sometimes there's just no helping things."

---

Will allow another day real-time for any further conversation before moving folks along to your appointment at the Gate of the Black Lotus.

Neo entered the Mithril Claw, glad to see there were no more guards milling about. ~It'll keep Korin from losing his temper again!~

"Oy! Aendyr! There you are. Couldn't keep up with you with all those people about. Me and Korin..."

The kuduk's voice trails off at the sight of the dog curled up under the table..."Whose your friend...friends? Mind if we join you?" Without waiting for an answer, Neo slings his pack onto an empty chair and turns to the bartender, "Did you keep my breakfast? And another cup of tea if you don't mind."

Looking over at the half-elf, he extends his hand, "I'm Neo Shadowcloak, pleased to meet you."

Qrox had overheard several snippet of conversation now from the group gathering at the Claw. The Slith rises and walks to their table, carrying the almost empty bowl of eggs and cup of apple cider.

"I am Qrox Nahl, a priest of Essk'atlik, may I join you?  I hear you may be going to the meeting at the bells and then to investigate the theft?  I met with Lorand just now in his cell, and made promise to him in the name of his God Peren to help make a case for his freedom, again may I join you?"

Aendyr was happy to see the kuduk and dwarf return, and so soon after he wondered out loud where they were.

"Of course you can join us, Qrox Nahl", he says mirthfully  "Our mismatched freak show sausage fest wouldn't be complete without a giant troll-sized lizard priest.  Whatever's going on at nine bells at the dock gate HAD to be arranged by humans, you know.  I can just see 'em sitting in a lounge smoking pipes."

"Gadzooks man, dangerous business.  Scrounge up a carriage load of disposable demi-humans to do the deed.  Capital idea!"

Yep, that's how human conspirators talked.

"Say, speaking of the nine bells thing...  Am I going to need all my gear or just the swords 'n chain I've got on me?" he asked Neo.  "We're not going to shove off right away, right?  The guard asked me real nice to come to Lorand's trial tomorrow and say a few words.  I do relish a chance to say a few words on the record."

Reaches to accept the offered hand, looks around at everyone gathered around. "Brevat,  is the name, nice to meet everyone. "

Pauses for a few moments, "We know the man in custody isn't the true thief! Question now is if this robbery is related some how to the other two. If we take some time to investigate further, am sure we could earn some coin from the information. If anyone is interested I would be willing to assist as well."

---

on phone so if errors please forgive me and blame Aendyr.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

The time passed, as those in the group at the Mithril Claw waited for the appropriate time to put in the appearance at the Gate, spending a little time to finish off their breakfasts, with some discussion as to the theft and potential investigation to uncover the true thief.

Leaving the Mithril Claw, the path led south past the large area of still-burnt out structures and the intact temple of Vikkar Tornor--locals told how the vicar had beseeched protection from the fire on the temple and prevented considerable loss of life by gathering those fleeing the burning of their homes under the safe roof of the temple.

From there, there were a few more homes and shops, and then the buildings turned into smaller, older homes and businesses, including a tavern with the name "The Gnarly Naga".  Continuing, the water of Lake Pottawa could be seen past the Gate of the Black Lotus, the building a large two-story structure.  Past the gate, there was a path leading directly to a docks.

Approaching this gate, there was an increasing number of guards bearing the insignia of Black Lotus, along with a fair number of other persons who appeared to be answering the same call that had been on the signs posted throughout the kingdom.

With some level of efficiency, Black Lotus soldiers, garbed in chainmail with a black surcoat trimmed with gold, took the names of each of those arriving, directing them into different quadrants of the fenced yard of the gate barracks.

Those arriving from the Mithril Claw were asked their name and then directed to follow a 30-ish appearing woman whose insignia indicated that she carried the rank of sergeant into a small meeting room within the building which comprised the left side of the gate on their approach, the meeting room quite close to the entrance to the structure and containing a dozen chairs around a table, although devoid of other furniture or decoration.

"I'm with them," Korin says apologetically squeezing his way into the room last minute. He surveys the room before taking a chair in the back. He really didn't want to be here. However, Neo had taken the receipt and, well, if he was going to unravel this mystery and keep Lorand from being executed, he needed help. Had his literacy with Trozanese been better, he might have taken the receipt and gone to the magic store himself. However, he couldn't make out the store name and showing the receipt to strangers would have been a mistake. Perhaps when this meeting with the Back Lotus was done, he could convince at least a few of them. If nothing else, it would be good to hear what the others had learned since he had dashed out of the tavern in pursuit of the thief.

"There you are Korin, thought we'd lost you in the crowd again!"

Neo puts his pack on the chair next to dwarf, and climbs on top of it. He then leans toward the dwarf and quietly says, "Once we're done here, we can head to the pawn shop. Brevat over there, the one with the very large dog, says that this was the third theft by upstanding people...Qrox over there, the Slith spoke to Lorand and seems convinced of his innocence...and Aendyr, well, I think his brain might be addled, but he said he is speaking at the trial tomorrow....but he also spoke a lot about sausages, so who knows what's the truth."

Seeing Meridian, he adds, "That blond elf...he just seems to be everywhere we are! Didn't meet him, though."

The kuduk then sat back in his chair, his hands behind his head, waiting for the sergeant to speak.

Well here they were, at the thing he'd come all the way to Briedhof for, whatever that was.  It didn't surprise him at all when they were split off from the others massing in the yard.  This odd group was being guided by an invisible hand, not of fate, but a plan.  That might rub some the wrong way, but Aendyr sort of liked being part of a plan.  With any luck this sergeant lady would lay the plan right out for them.  He wanted to ask her a bunch of questions, but he knew from experience that sergeants tended to be the short-fuse yelling sort that jumped all over the first one to open their mouth, so Aendyr kept it buttoned

...for now.

Qrox takes a seat, this is exciting and new for the priest.

Once the group had settled in places in the room, the woman went through a sheet of paper she had, running through names, and pausing to look at Khaaven.  "You're not on the list," she said.  "Well, you may as well stay.  Name is Sergeant Minka."

She stood as she continued looking at the group.  "Understand that you were present in the Mithril Claw when an armed robbery by magical device took place, and are witnesses.  The victims have positively identified Lorand the Clean as the perpetrator, and reports indicate that you've expressed doubts about that identification.  Therefore, understand this--the trial is tomorrow at ten bells, the hanging will be at twelve bells.  After that, we'll get you into a suitable outfit.  However, if Lorand is truly not the thief, and you are able to bring this true culprit in, we will be offering you a position as scout and elite advance guard.  It's a reasonable test.  Questions?"

As usual, Meridian watches the others and listens but doesn't say much of anything. He isn't rude and doesn't deny any social customs, but he doesn't engage in idle chat either. When the names are read, he presents himself merely as Meridian. With so few in the room, an elaborate explanation does not seem necessary.

The repeated seemingly common notion that the hanging would immediately follow the trial does not gives him much confidence in the justice system, especially any time magic is involved. It is already clear that the others from the Mithral Claw are interested in investigating the crime, so he would not be on his own. He has little interest in becoming a detective, but if his potential employer wants this exercise performed, so be it. There are worse entry tests to endure.

"Questions?" he thinks. No, not really. He stands briskly to attention and says loudly to the Sergeant, "Accepted." Then, he waits for the others, presuming they may have questions.

"What power or authority will we have for this investigation? He is not the thief, I am certain of that. I know we could solve this but in less than one day maybe a bit much."

Looks around the room at the others, " I have several ideas which would need to be checked out. We would also like to speak with someone with final authority on his case sometime tonight if possible. "

Neo jumps to the ground, slips his pack onto his back, and steps up to the front table.

"Brevat has a good point, Sergeant. Any chance we can get some documentation that gives us the authority to act in the name of the Crown?"

He waits for Minka's response, then he drags a chair to the table, and stands on it.

"I suggest we take a few minutes to present any information we have, and plan a course of action.

I'm Neo Shadowcloak, Korin," he points to the burly dwarf, "and I tried to follow the thief, but we lost him in the crowd. We met an elf who said he saw the thief just before he entered the Mithril Claw...when he pulled out the bag of sneezing powder, he dropped this."

Neo holds up the pawn ticket. "It's a ticket for a pawn shop on the west side, and it's dated six days ago. It's my guess the thief wanted to use the money from the theft to claim what ever he or she pawned.

We can either watch the pawn shop, and wait for someone trying to to redeem an item without a ticket, or we can get the item and hope the thief comes to us.

Does anyone else have any information to share?"

"Ah..., no. Met a friendly dame. Quite friendly, actually. She hadn't met a dwarf before and the conversation was really well but then, uh... I told her of our business and she insisted that I not be late," Korin says with a sigh. "I suppose was for the best."


"Three thefts!" Korin exclaims rather loudly shaking his head. "And have the other two been...kiictt" he moves his hand across his throat demonstratively as if to cut off his head.


"Elves do seem to pop up in places unexpectedly," Korin affirms.



Korin looks at Neo in disbelief when he talks about official documentation from the guard. Was it lost on them that they were wanting affirmation from an organization that was recklessly and negligently about to execute an innocent man? But when Neo started talking about staking out the pawn shop and hoping the thief comes back, Korin can't hold it in any longer. He throws up his hands.

"The thief isn't going back to the pawn shop and just staking out the pawn shop by itself isn't going to work," Korin says exasperatedly, shaking his head. "Stake out the shop, yes, but also let me go lean on the pawn shop proprietor. After three robberies he has to know something. Let me talk to him and I will convince him it's in his best interest to talk or at least get him nervous enough that he does something foolish. That's when you follow him, Neo, and see where he goes. He will take you to the thieves and, if we're lucky, maybe the book! Worth a shot anyway."

That was his thought exactly as the theft was happening.  Now he knew who was behind the test and why.


"Yeah Sarge, I've got questions?  What about the other two thefts just like this one that got pinned on some Roger and George guys?  Magical items stolen.  Same frame job M.O.  Sounds like the same illusion disguise thief to me.  What can you tell us about those?  How long ago were they and where?  Got any clues?"


He was glad to see Neo hop up and take the lead.  That guy had a crisp mind, and was downright friendly.




"Why not do all three?" he asked Neo, Korin, and the others.  "First retrieve the pawned object with the ticket, all friendly like.  Then give the clerk the third degree.  After that we can wait for the thief.  Does it say on the ticket how much the item costs to get out of hock?"

"You may speak with someone at the time of the trial," replied Sergeant Minka, "unless you have an actual individual in custody before then."  Her mouth thinned into a disapproving line as she turned to Aendyr and said, "No evidence was presented that Roger and George were not guilty of their crimes.  The other thefts did involve books of considerable value, but there is no reason to continue those investigations."

"It is expected that you will abide by the laws of this city, and will not require any further authority," she concluded.  "That is all, you are dismissed."

With that, she turned to leave the room, heading deeper into the gate structure.

Looks around at the others,"I think we should divide into two groups, one to investigate the three magic books stolen and the men accused of stealing them. They might discover a reason for the thefts and frame ups, if lucky who is paying the thief. Group two stays on the thief, pawn shop and whatever other leads we uncover."

Continues to look around at the group to see if anyone else has any suggestions.

While the other discuss plans, Meridian approaches Neo respectfully. When he has his attention, he introduces himself, "I am Meridian, a solider from Lilymoor, come to the city for work. As our potential employer has directed us collectively, I believe we are now in the same unit, so to speak." He extends a handshake and offers a friendly nod to any other standing immediately nearby.

"May I examine the ticket?" he asks. If permitted, he looks over it carefully, front and back and then returns it.

"Sometimes a test is not about success, but how a team works together, even sometimes, how one deals with failure.  If a team we are meant to form, I vote to stay together, so we can learn about ourselves as a team.   As a team member though, I will honor the majority".

Neo watches calmly as Korin bursts into another rage.

"Fair enough, Korin. I'm guessing at what the thief will do, as are you."


"No. Jhaeros, he's the elf who gave it to us, said it has the item number, the name of the shop, and the date and I can't read Trozanese."


"That's another possibility, Brevat. But the sergeant said to leave the other thefts lie."


Neo shakes the elf's hand. "A pleasure to meet you Meridian." The kuduk hands the ticket over. "Could you confirm that there is no other information on it?"


[Language unknown: "Inlat ameoutthe, Enmi."]

"I have to say that I agree with Meridian and Qrox. We are being thrown together as a unit. And we need to learn to work together and to have each other's back."

He laughs slightly, and adds, "Besides, I have no idea how to go about investigating the other thefts.

I'm for going to the pawn shop right now, getting whatever it was that the thief hocked, and then letting Korin lean on Neville the pawnbroker...if we get the name of the thief..maybe we can track him down.

Otherwise we let it slip that we are staying at the Mithril Claw. And maybe he comes looking for us.

It would be ideal if any of you could detect an illusion as it is likely that is how the thief will approach. If not, we will have to be sure that some of us are close to the door.

But that's getting ahead of ourselves, isn't it?"

The kuduk, leans against the back of the chair to listen to any comments. suggestions, or rebuttals.

---

Just realised that Neo can't read Tozanese!
DM: There is no language group for slith.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:44, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

"All for one, huh?"  Aendyr nodded.  "I can dig that.  We can always split up later if time gets short."

"Hey, pawn shops usually have real good security on account of all the coins and valuables.  If it's a guard, no problem.  We've got more than enough muscle to intimidate a clerk AND a guard.  If it's locked doors, barred windows, and metal shutters we might have trouble.  This one guy I got a loan from about six years ago had his customers in a cage when they walked in the shop.  A cage!  An ogre couldn't have broken into or out of it.  Place was a mini fortress.  You can't so easily put the screws to a chap safe and sound in a fortress.  Somebody put their thinker on that while we hoof it back center-townward."

He looked at Brevat.

"Let's not drop the other thefts either.  I don't trust the sarge one hundred percent yet," he said even though she was still there within earshot.  "I wanna know if I'm being lied to or not."

Smiles slightly with the comments from everyone. " The sarge is right in a way, the other two cases are closed because the so called thieves were killed, we need to save this one." again looks around the room at everyone before speaking again.

" More information on the other two might help us solve this one. I have several ideas which we could use, that would keep us together as a unit most of the time. Would like to split into two groups to start with, each working our way back to the Claw. Try to gather information on the three thieves, any enemies in common, property they might own or did own and who owns now for the two dead ones." pauses to let everyone think about what was just said. "My group with the pawn ticket will arrive at the Claw first to do some prep work before us going to the pawnshop. The other group will check on the bathhouse, see if it is open still or closed since the manager is arrested. If it is closed see if it would be a good place to trap our real thief at along with whatever he might bring with him."

Moves closer to Meridian, "Can I see the ticket when you are done?'


[Language unknown: "Andle ssitet ec reany t ngteus int ent il but se."]
_{"I will explain in much more detail back at the Claw. To many ears around here, even if you don't like my idea the the time spent going to the Claw and gathering what information we can will be well spent. We can agree on plans once we are all back at the Claw."}

Qrox's large head swivels to each person speaking, blinking and occasionally flicking of the tongue.

When Neo leans over and speaks closer to Qrox, the priest leans over and hugs him,  engulfs him more like given the size difference. And responds.

Meridian reads the ticket aloud and adds, "It is the shop, a number, and a date - nothing more, but it is all we have to go on."

Then he hands it back to Neo, or Khaaven, as seems socially appropriate.

Once Khaaven has looked at the pawn ticket, Neo holds his hand out, expecting it to be returned to him.

[Language unknown: E rodin e elee t enc Thoicaore Und a nd illwhiyin. San lat i uronom.]

"It looks to me that at least four are for sticking together, Brevat. Do we head to the pawnshop or do we take time to make more plans?"

---

I'm not sure if the small text in Khaaven's last post is for Neo only or for everyone.

"I'm going to the pawn shop," Korin declares. "If some want to go to the bathhouse or somewhere else, that's fine. What I don't want to do, is sit around blathering about it what to do next. Time's a wasting!"

[Language unknown: " Artec On eesise Anhent chore wendos sais'prol haun ceho-adad staes k somsetres. P ul prte le hathe strardainintwer lelin hi erati ulal iouni les asson k ati ounli ica ati lesbutsti atees oulhat'onsess. "]

" I have a plan and it will only take a little while to prepare what we need, so if we could split into two groups gathering information on our way back to the Claw. I will explain in full detail the plan, we should be able to be at the pawn shop in like two or three hours but prepared for what we need to do. You realize that this pawn shop is connected and has protection so just barging in will mean a death sentence to the man we are trying to clear. "

looks around to the people gathered around, "This is what I was trained to do in the military, so put your emotions aside and be professional. I would like Neo, and Korin in my group at least for the return to the Claw."


Hands back the pawn ticket to Neo, " I will need it back once we get to the Claw."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

Korin looks Khaaven in surprise. He replies in Dwarven, perhaps with a smile though it's difficult to see with his beard.


"I'm interested in hearing your plan when you're ready to go," Korin says to Khaaven. He appears calmer though no less determined.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

Meridian stays close to Neo, whose calm manner more suits his own. He watches patiently while the dwarf gets angry and Khaaven appears to try to take command without divulging his plan. Aendyr had been unusually silent, but Meridian is fairly sure he'll go along with whatever the majority decide. While they talk, he introduces himself to everyone to be polite, but no more as he figures they will get to know one another better as the day goes on.

After being certain that the ticket is returned to Neo, Meridian asks, "Are we ready then? We can return to the Claw on the way to the pawnshop."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

"So...  if we split up into two groups, how are you gonna tell the other group the plan?  I certainly don't want to be in the didn't-get-to-hear-the-plan group."

"Split into two groups to gather information on way back to the Claw. At the Claw everyone will hear the plan and can give any suggestions to it. I also want to know if the bathhouse is closed so we can use it for the trap or not."

[Language unknown: Hislin-ratnceect lane herundame i eraima i!]

"The bath house is only a few minutes from the Mithril Claw. We can pass by on the way to the inn...as a unit."

When the group returned to the Mithril Claw, they found that the common room was empty, except for the bar man.  Perhaps unsurprising for the time of day, but easy enough to find a table for everyone, should that be desired.

---

I have added a slightly annotated city map as the Group 0 map.

Qrox will take a seat and order a cold mug of apple cider.  It is a sweet treat for the Slithian.

Approaches the barman,"We will take a room for a meeting, send up food and drinks for six. Also send up a deck of cards, what is the name of a place to play cards with a bad reputation?" handing him a king coin while waiting for a key and answer to his question.

Once he has the key he motions all in the group to follow him.

Inside he takes out a chest from his pack and places it on the table. "Neo, I can use that ticket again now."

"Food and drink stays down here," the barman replied.  "You want a place to play cards with a bad reputation, try Buster's."   His tone on the word "Buster's" was one of unmistakable disdain.  He drew up a mug of fresh-pressed cider for Qrox, setting that before the slith.

The barman looked back at Khaaven, and pushed the king back.  "There's no one here this time of day, you can have your meeting here in the dining room.  Don't have any vacancies, but you can try Tomlinson's."

Meridian sits down at the same table as Neo Shadowcloak.  He does not order a drink or food, having eaten a large breakfast not that long ago. He waits patiently for the others to sit down and continue the prior discussion. Hopefully, the Dwarf has cooled himself after a long walk. Laws against magic were necessary, sometimes harsh ones, but then again, Meridian didn't expect a Dwarf to have deep insight on them, or necessarily have respect for other cultures.

When Khaaven places the chest on the table and asks for the ticket, Meridian's face turns towards him and he stares briefly. It is not his place to intervene between these two, at least not yet. Instead, he looks to Neo to see whether the Kuduk plans to hand over the evidence he discovered.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

Korin shakes his head in disgust as he overhears the barman refuse Khaaven's request for a few drinks upstairs in their rooms. Only hours ago a capital crime had been committed and here the barman was fretting about the possibility that someone might spill their drink?  Irritated, he sits down at the table with Neo and Meridian. "I don't need a drink Khaaven. I've had about as much as I can handle."

Then he notices Meridian's observing the chest and watching Neo, Korin says to him, "It was an elf who gave us the receipt. Not exactly sure why he did. Didn't want any type of reward or nothing which caught me a little off guard. Admittedly, Id don't know much about elves. Do you think that was odd?" he asks Meridan.

"A mug of hot tea," Neo says to the tavern keeper as he throws his pack on a chair and climbs on top of it. He gives a nod to Meridian when the quiet elf sits next to him.

"What's in the chest, Brevat?" the kuduk asks, as he reaches into his pouch and pulls out the pawn ticket.

"Forgery tools?"

Neo catches Meridian looking at him as he retrieved the ticket. He looks to the elf, his eye brow rising slightly, questioningly, as he passes the ticket to Brevat.

Meridian observes the exchange, wondering if Neo could see what would happen next. Kuduk's can be naive. When Korin speaks to him, he thinks briefly. He wasn't at the encounter, so he is missing the subtle details by which one might distinguish a fraud from the truth.

"Odd? Most certainly, don't you think?" he replies. "Not because of one's race - just that some bystander would find such a ticket, find you, and hand it over to you, a stranger in the city, not a guard. Yes, I think it very odd. Still, it is the only real clue we have at the moment, and there is not likely time to hunt down every witness and lead."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Tue 27 Apr 2021.

Brevat smiles slightly, gather round and let me tell you of a plan, as he lays the pawn receipt flat on the table.

Opening up his chest removing some parchment and inks. Starting to make two copies of the pawn ticket as he speaks to those gathered. " We will go the pawnshop,Korin will enter first trying to redeem his ticket. It won't work when refused complain that you won it in a card game at Busters. Make some noise ask about name of who pawned it whatever. I will enter during this noise and try to redeem mine, when they refuse me I will join in making noise. Next someone else will enter warning of the guard coming to investigate the noise, at the same time Neo will enter with the true ticket and redeem it. Neo and I will convince them it is best to do so. Neo can let it be known he will be at the Claw."

Looks at Neo,

"I believe Neo and I can convince the shop to reach out to the thief to find Neo at the Claw."

Looks at everyone, then stops his gaze at Neo. " Any thoughts or suggestions.?"

Qrox frowns, "Miss Minka tasked us with following the laws of the city during our investigation, this plan breaks several, I cannot be part of it.  We clear one criminal while becoming six criminals ourselves, this is not wisdom".

"Hey, you know it's a lot less odd if the whole thing is a show, a setup for our benefit, with Lorand, and Keyon, and Kandus, the pawn shop owner, the guards, and sarge in on it.  Maybe it's a test they've done for two other groups before us.  I wonder if those previous groups failed the test, or if they need several elite advanced guard units.  You guys do realize that 'elite advanced guard' is just a euphemism for guys-they-send-in-to-die-first.  I'm not sure that's a great prize."

Aendyr wondered for at least a quarter minute why he hadn't gotten another hard cider.  The last few were very good.

"I'm still going to do the test either way.  I wanna see how it turns out.  We're the bees knees, so we'll crack it for sure.  Plus if Lorand's life is really on the line I don't want him to get hanged.  I'm up for joining this elite advanced guard too.  Pretty sure I can get out of it alive somehow.  Wait, did someone say forgery?"

Aendyr suddenly focussed in on what Brevat was doing.  He'd never seen genuine forgery in person before.  This would be something to see!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Tue 27 Apr 2021.

Hopefully Brevat didn't need peace and quite to focus on his forgery task because Aendyr only stays quiet long enough for the plan he wasn't fully listening to filter through his brain.

"Is a pawn ticket really worth anything?" he wonders out loud.  "Who wins a pawn ticket in a card game?  I mean you can't just turn it in for the thing.  You still have to PAY for the thing.  If someone tried to cover a bet with a pawn ticket I'd probably batter him about the head until he coughed up something of value."

"Right?"

He looks around at the others.

"Except, actually I'd wonder what the thing was that the ticket was for.  Might be worth something just for the mystery of it.  Ooooo, what am I gonna get when I pay the pawn broker?"

"Neo, do you think you likely have enough coins to cover this thing, forgeries or not?"

Meridian nods in agreement with Qrox. In the end, the point seems the same either way. Neo redeems the ticket and is available at the Claw. The rest seems like distraction and an opportunity to get arrested, with no benefit. If the plan is for Korin to be a distraction, Meridian is quite confident the angry dwarf can do so without needing a pawn ticket.

Then again, Meridian doesn't believe that this ticket just fortunately found its way into Neo's hands in the first place. It all doesn't smell right to him. Meridian is more interested in what was pawned and whether it may lead to an identity of a relevant witness, as opposed to being a generic item. But wouldn't such a clever thief just be setting up the net victim?

"Pawning an item is legal, is it not?, as is claiming it, with payment?  If it was Lorand's book, the thief likely pawned it in Lorand's image, so we may not learn much, but its possible he didn't think it could traced back and used another image.  Then we'd have some proof for the courts."


"Lorand told me it was a special book meant to be given to his church in the name of Peren, I would like to go to the temple of Peren and see what they have to say about this.  If they are willing to help, they may have influence with the courts to at least buy Lorand more time, and if they have a higher priest, we might convince him to help us locate the book, if it does not turn out to be at the pawn shop.".

"This ticket is worth something?" Korin asks. "I thought it was a receipt of purchase. What are you saying it it?"

"The book wasn't pawned the ticket was dropped before the theft."

Looks around at everyone, " Glad everyone agrees to my plan, with only slight revisions. Korin and myself will go into the shop first complaining that someone is passing forged tickets as collateral from card losses. We show the fake tickets and make some noise, Neo will go in with the rest of the party and claim the item. Again we convince them to have the thief find Neo and party at the Claw. No laws broken since the copies weren't used to try to redeem the item, and we still get the thief to come to us."

"Sorry Korin...I didn't think to explain.

A pawn shop will lend money to you for a short time, but you have to put up something of value for collateral. The collateral is usually worth more than the loan. You then have a set amount of time to repay the loan with interest, of course and then you get your collateral back.

Often the person never comes back to repay the loan, so the pawn shop will then sell the collateral to recoup the lost funds.

Based on the ticket we have, the thief," Neo glances over at Meridian and smiles wryly, "If it was the thief's ticket, that is, pawned the item on the 20th of this month."


"No, Qrox. I believe Brevat is right. The ticket is for something else that pawned before Lorand's book was stolen.

But Meridian has me thinking now that Korin and I may be the pawns being played in this game. Perhaps Jhaeros simply wants us to redeem the ticket for the collateral and he plans to relieve us of the item."


"I don't think I do, Brevat.

While I doubt forging pawn tickets is a serious offence, Qrox raises a solid point that we are not to break the city's laws.

And, I have to admit, I don't see what we gain. We can retrieve the item by paying for it...if we have enough coin. The more intimidating of us can make some idle threats to the pawn broker if need be.

Handing out forged tickets and concocting stories of card games adds complexity without need...at least, none that I can see.

I served for a period under Willem Ockham, who had a saying, the simplest solution is usually the best one. I tend to agree with him."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Thu 29 Apr 2021.

"We aren't handing out the two fakes but bringing them to the attention of the shop, and Busters is where crooked games are at. If the pawnshop thinks the fakes are coming from the thief he is more likely to give him up or convince the thief to meet us. I can guarantee that the shop is connected so minor Intimidation won't work. We need quick results since tomorrow is the end one way or the other."

"Wasn't the 20th a few days ago?  Either that date on the ticket is when he got the loan or it's past too late to pay off."

"Thanks Neo," Korin says gruffly. "I appreciate the explanation." He pauses, stroking his beard.

"Why are you so confident the pawnshop is in on it Khaaven?" Korin asks. "I know pawnshops are not the most scrupulous of businesses but that doesn't mean they would stoop this low. If it turns out they aren't in on it, we may end up alienating the only promising lead we have."

"I say we talk to him. Find out what they know. See how they react when we show them the ticket. The fact of the matter is this ticket can be used by Lorand in his defense. It won't be enough to save him but it would put the pawnshop in a bad light, the kind of attention I think they would prefer not to have. Might motivate them to help us find the thief."

"We should not start making forgeries. That ticket is the one physical piece of evidence we have. If we start making forgeries, it becomes worthless. That is, unless you have some additional information about the pawnshop that you're not telling us," Korin says to Khaaven.

Meridian continues to watch, confident in Neo's simpler plan. The others try to talk sense into Khaaven but don't make much of a dent. It appears he intends to nominate himself in charge, which never ends well, usually for the one doing the nominating; or perhaps he plans to go off on his own. The others seem fairly united in their approach.

He considers explaining to Aendyr that the date is clearly the date of the loan. Whatever due date would be a policy of the shop based on the loan date, but he decides against it.

"Unfortunately," he speaks to Korin, "by itself, I fear the ticket will not do much to save Lorand.  At the moment, nothing connects it to him or the thief.  It could have been dropped by anyone passing through the street.  Not even the person that gave it to you is available to testify as to how it was found. Still, for the moment, it is our only clue, be it a trap or stroke of good luck."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Thu 29 Apr 2021.

Qrox, "I agree Korin, we should follow Neo's simpler plan, for the time being."

Aendyr clapped Brevat on the shoulder consolingly.

"Don't be glum, chum.  Your plan was all sorts of exciting and entertaining.  It would've made great street theatre and to be honest I would've loved to be a part of it, legal or not.  I could've been the guy who runs in and says 'Cheese it!  It's the fuzz!' and then we'd all scatter maybe bumping into each other on the way out the door.  They would've been left scratching their heads wondering about forged pawn tickets being passed in poker games just the way we're wondering about an elf who just happens to find a super important clue, give it to us, and disappear."

"You gotta let this one go, but keep up that kind of thinking.  It's pure gold."

"I'm gonna run up to my room and grab my pack.  Be right back," he said to the whole party and jogged off, returning maybe a minute or two later even readier for adventure.

"The group should go with Neo's plan then, I will follow along in the background observing everything. If the time comes when it fails to get results , I will step in with the card game story and attempt to move it along, nothing illegal about what I will be doing."

Looks to Korin,

"Then we're decided."

Neo picks up the original ticket, after Brevat finishes one of his forgeries, and mutters [Language unknown: Thi ulme.].

"Meridian, I think you should carry the ticket, and speak to the pawnbroker...perhaps with Korin and Aendyr standing with you as if they were guards.

My inability to read Trozian may cause problems, and Qrox may raise some eyebrows...I have not seen many Slith in this city. We can wait outside, and Brevat can enter the shop separate from you.

Oh! I have some gold Kings in my purse, if needed."

The kuduk looks around, and finishes with, "Shall we?"

He then slips his pack onto his back and heads out of the Mithril Claw making for Neville's Pawn Shop to the west.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Sat 01 May 2021.

Korin nods in response to Khaaven and then grunts in assent to Neo. It was a good role for Korin as it would give him access to the shop, an excuse for looking around while not being the center of attention. It also relied on skills he was familiar with. Scrutinizing others, assessing potential threats and moving to intercept when needed. He stands up, ready to move into place as a bodyguard of Meridian.

Brevat packs his chest back up, securing it back in his pack and the copies  to a pouch. Standing up waiting for the rest to go to the shop.

All numbers are straight XP; add 10% if applicable.

Having made their decision about how to proceed, the group gathered those things that seemed necessary and left the Mithril Claw.  By now, the streets had grown less crowded, although not completely empty of traffic.  All along the road, there were a number of shops open--passing the Sleepy Toad Tavern, Alice's Cafe, a fine looking home, a set of rather disquieting warehouses, a tile maker, a quilter, an empty building with a "for sale" sign affixed to its front, a general store, lantern shop, a scribe, a large temple to Shau Lin, a sword maker, more homes, the Dancing Pygmy Tavern, Rose's Eatery, and a mirror maker.

Taking a turn just before reaching a very fine private residence, the group turned into an area which was a mix of homes and businesses, the businesses including a seller of daggers, a hat seller, a butcher, a shop advertising that it sold baubles, a palm reader, and a messenger service.  A large building across from the butcher's had been divided into three businesses: Elmer's Leather, Doral's Oil and Lanterns, and Neville's Pawn Shop.

Meridian accepts the ticket and places it secure in his belt pouch, on which he keeps a firm hand while the walk about the city. "So we are first redeeming the ticket, before asking questions that may spook the pawnbroker?" he asks, hoping that the group we be on the same page.

Aendyr knew that in social situations bodyguards were mostly to be seen and not heard, so he'd better get the chit-chat done before they got to the pawn shop and he had to get into character.

When they passed the mirror shop he slid up next to Qrox.

"Hey, did you see that glass they had down at the guard house?  Of course you did.  Amazing wasn't it?  I'll bet that same guy who made their glass, goes by the name of Crandel by the way, works that mirror shop too.  With glass like that you could just coat one side with a thin layer of silver or somesuch and you'd have yourself a perfect mirror.  Just add some nice wood backing and frame for looks and durability and you're all set.  I'd love to get in on some of that action.  I could make a fortune selling mirrors outside of Briedhof.  Rich people LOVE big mirrors."

"Do you have enough coins? How much do imagine it might cost? Have you thought about what you'll say if it's more than you can afford?" Korin asks Meridian.

"Meridian, you can send one of your men to get some more coin if needed...I will be waiting outside with Qrox, watching the street, and I will add to the pot..." a small frown crosses his face, "the Crown will be paying us our expenses...I hope."

"Even if they don't we'll still have a thing of value, whatever it is," Aendyr said as much to Meridian as to Neo.

He really looked forward to finding out what the pawned object was.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:37, Sun 02 May 2021.

Approaching the pawn shop, the group could see the shop occupied the end of the structure, with a large window featuring a metal lattice across the glass to divide into sections too small for anyone to squeeze through.  Through the window could be seen a lone human male at the counter, along with evident cases along the walls.

Somewhat wary of what his newly met companions may do, Meridian agrees to redeem the ticket, or at least attempt to do so. In his experience, less is more, especially when subtlety is involved. When all agree, he enters the shop without saying a word and hands the ticket the man behind the counter. "I need to redeem this," he says.

Then, he waits.

"Hmm," said the man behind the counter, Neville Pigot if the sign was to be believed.  He took the ticket and looked it over.

He pulled a ledger from a drawer, and muttered, "Don't look like Sam. Odd."  Drawing his finger down the ledger, he came to the relevant entry, and looked up to Meridian, and said, "Ah, one ring two dragon faces.  Redemption fee six hundred kings."

Aendyr stood to Meridan's left side and a step behind him.  He looked alert, but didn't respond to the interaction between Meridian and Neville.  He waited to see if Meridian had the kings, or if he'd send him out to fetch some from Neo.  It's not out of the question that the lordly Meridian was loaded, but 600 kings was a lot.  It might be more than the lot of them had, pooled together.

Meridian traces the man's finger in the book with his eyes, looking to read any information he could make out on the page, including any notation of the redemption amount or pawner. After the man speaks, he looks back to Aendyr and gives him a nod to fetch more coin.

The elf thinks, "Sam. Well, now we at least know the pawn broker knows the identity of who pawned the ring." It reinforces his theory that loose lips are undesired. Meridian never claimed to be Sam, or anyone else for that matter. In any case, as a golden-haired elf, he surely stands out like a sore thumb in this city.

While waiting for Aendyr to return, he steps away from the counter and looks around the shop, window shopping while he waits.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Tue 04 May 2021.

Aendyr nodded professionally, did an about face and exited the shop.


"Oh man," he said to Neo once the door closed.  "The thing's a ring worth 600 kings!"  He liked the ring of that.

"So Meridian sent me out here for more coins.  How many more?"  Aendyr shrugged.  "No one knows.  That guy is a man of few words.  He just nodded, ya know?"

Korin, behind and to Aendyr's right, stayed expressionless as heard the clerk first mention the name of Sam and then the princely amount of 600gp. Merian and sent Aendyr on the errand that was likely to be futile unless the group was far better resourced that he guessed. For that matter, even those wealthy would not likely have that kind of money readily accessibly save inside of a safe in a secure building.

Despite his differing appearance between Meridian and Sam, the clerk's suspicion seems not to have been roused. At least not yet. When they failed to come up with the money, however, it might be a different story. If they failed to come up, he corrected himself, though he did not doubt his guess.

He does his best to wait patiently, casually observing the shop, using his dwarven abilities to notice anything unusual about the floor. He moves with Meridian as he shops though always staying behind and out of his way.

Brevat had been observing  the interaction between the shop owner and Meridian, all the while staying out of the way with his hood up to remain unknown.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Tue 04 May 2021.

The shop was rather neat, with several shelves with a thick glass separating any visitor from the items in the shelf.  In the shop, items could be seen which included a silver set of eating utensils which included a small card stating that this was one of a set of twelve for 20 kings for the complete set, a silver flask with a price of 30 kings, a golden brush and comb set for 15 kings, a rather filthy looking mass of wool for 200 kings, and a violin for 120 kings.

By the looks of things, the shop itself occupied only about half the section of the building, with a door which undoubtedly led to a back room where other things--perhaps those not yet ripe for sale--might be kept.

From the butcher's shop, the man called out to those who seemed to be lingering in the vicinity, "Smoked venison on sale today.  Twelve kings a pound."  This was, of course, a substantial reduction in price from what might be expected for the goods.

"600 kings! Hell's smells!

I've got 70 kings to my name! Brevat! Qrox! Do you by chance have a prince's ransom in your purse? Aendyr how much do you have?"

Assuming that we don't have 600 gold kings:
"We need a new plan...? Brevat, do you want to try your angry card player farce?

Aendyr you can just go and make it look like you are hustling Meridian out to keep him away from the crazy man ranting about forgeries.

Or does Aendyr just go in and whisper to Meridian and have him tell the shopkeeper he will be back as something has come up?"

"Why sure, a fortune has passed through my hands over the many years, but what's the point of hoarding it up?  Well, I suppose the point would be to have 600 kings ripe and ready to hand over to Neville, wouldn't it?  Sadly no, you see a few months back I was robbed of my fine and cherished arms, armor, and gear.  Actually, the correct word would be burgled.  The gear was burgled while I worked.  I've only begun to put together an acceptable collection of replacements.  A fellow named Tobias helped me chose this pack and the stuff inside.  I've never been that good at predicting what I'll need other than a pair of trusty blades, so thank you for the assist Tobias.  I've got little over 10 kings to my name right now.  Good traveling money, but not enough to start up a serious business endeavor, right?"

"Now don't get in a panic, little leader," he said to Neo.  "A new plan is just what I have, with two or three options in fact."

"First off, they know we don't have 600 kings, the ones who set up this test.  That's to test our ability to overcome such a financial hurdle.  We can't very well earn it in a day, nor can we steal it.   That leaves asking for it.  We've got three chums that might have 600 kings for the cause.  The obvious-est one to ask is Lorand the Clean.  We've been told he has stacks of gold and has no need to steal.  He is also very motivated to front the cash, since his neck is on the line.  You know who should ask him?  Qrox.  There's not a reasonable man in this town who would fear Qrox was swindling him.  Lorand the Clean will know the big guy is on the level."

"Other possible lenders include Khandus and Keyon.  They have an interest in finding the book and this is the first step of that journey.  Finding them might be a trick, but we could start at the temple of Peren.  Keyon is a man of the cloth and the book was to be a gift to that exact temple.  Maybe the priests themselves would front us 600 kings.  Who knows?"

"So there's no need to do anything rash just yet.  I'll go fetch Medirian and Korin.  Then we can all go see Lorand the Clean.  Sound good?"

Ever since he heard the man referred to by his full title Aendyr really enjoyed saying 'Lorand the Clean'.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:08, Wed 05 May 2021.

Brevat deciding it is time makes his move, approaches the shop owner while still cloaked.

Slamming his hand down hard on the counter releasing the two copies of the pawn ticket. [Language unknown: "Ie foicth ec not lefone, o romprores evolas un ereeaubut thu redul latone-ichent om everomout caliwhse butstaent di Larsomday. O intnc ecoul n prutnahipe ie ec ons p ouer, etwhe elmincarnd stit p eetr ionessone.]
Slamming his hand down on the counter once again, to ensure he has the owner's attention. [Language unknown: " Unbele rient wh at ro, miut potona olesfo tinis strle whmietur. Est asme a itliro butck m eau, isante unshe ni t siyin aredinone diun ll e ntiavesom meca sonhistho. Ithforore th m antesthouing Ion le roweon al ion wi urninc itncpe!"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Thu 06 May 2021.

Meridian looks astonished by Brevat's pounding. He turns away from the displays of goods for sale to see what the commotion is. When he does, he sees the two forged tickets thrown onto the counter. "Well, that's that," he thinks, wishing he had the original ticket back in his hand already.

Hopefully the shopkeeper has not made the connection that they are together, even though they entered at nearly the same time. Attempting to reinforce that notion, Meridian steps backwards a step, behind his bodyguard that is still inside, which he presumes anyone with bodyguards would do.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Wed 05 May 2021.

"I don't know what you're saying!" said Neville, looking thoroughly shaken by Khaaven's actions.  "Speak the king's good Trozanese."  He looked like he was edging toward the back room.

"You have until tonight, otherwise tomorrow you will no where to hide. I will be at the Mithral Claw, you don't want me to return tomorrow for you."

Slamming his hand down with full force this time.

Before turning around and leaving without any further sound, or sign that anything had happened.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Thu 06 May 2021.

Meridian watches Brevat shout at the clerk. Surely, Neville heard him. As the scene had nothing to do with him, so far as he is concerned, at first, he ignores it, but seeing the shopkeeper is still in the back, he steps back towards the counter and peers towards the back to see who may be there.

As Khaaven slammed his hand down on the counter, the weights lined up at one end for the scales chattered and a few tumbled out of their place.

"Come back, and I'll be calling the guard!" said Neville, his voice quite shaky, even though he was saying it after the door had closed behind Khaaven.

Meridian returned closer to the counter, the ledger book with the ticket still on the counter, with the two additional pieces of paper--the tickets left behind by Khaaven--loose on the counter.  Neville himself was in the doorway between the shop proper and the back room.

Looking thoroughly shaken by the interlude, Neville started back toward the counter.  "Now, about that ring?" he said, his voice still shaky, and Meridian might notice a slight tremble in the other man's hands.

A flash went through Meridian's mind - from lemons, make lemonade. Suddenly, his face looks annoyed, and he reaches out and picks up the ticket, the one that he presented and the clerk left on the counter. He snips at Neville, "What's the meaning of this?" Before waiting for an answer, with his other hand, he grabs the other two tickets off of the counter and looks at them. "What kind of crooked place are you running here?" he says, sneering at Neville.

Then, he turns to Korin and slaps him on the shoulder and yells at him, "Where the f**k is he with my money?"

Without waiting, ignoring Neville and anyone else in the shop entirely, he storms outside (with all of the tickets) to confront his complacent bodyguard, leaving Korin behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Thu 06 May 2021.

Once Brevat leaves the pawnshop he makes his way to the next block area before taking his black hooded cloak off and reversing it to its red side leaving the hood down. He then moves back to the shop area to watch for anyone leaving in a hurry, if so he intends to follow them.

Korin moved forward quickly in front of Meridian, ready to intercept the trouble maker should he make move towards them. He watches the ensuing confrontation, doing his best to look fierce and tense. The fact he was caught off guard by sudden Khaaven's behavior helped matters not to mention his surprise at seeing the forged tickets. Surprised. Angry. A mix of emotions not the least of which wondering if things would take a sudden bad turn.

He endures Meridian's slap on the shoulder wordlessly without emotion, doing his best to keep his face grim. It didn't bother him. Indeed, he was a bit surprised that the elf had the nerve to do so. Either a growing sense of comradeship, a sense of desperation or perhaps both might have compelled the elf to act as such. It didn't bother Korin at all. He just hoped the ploy worked.

After Meridian rushes out of the shop, Korin through up his hands, looking over at the clerk saying irritatedly, "He always sends that elf to get money and then wonders why it takes so long." Muttering to himself, he then promptly leaves hurriedly in pursuit of Meridian.

Once outside, Meridian gives a small hand motion that the group should move down the street a several doors so as not to be overheard. From there, he gestures angrily and points towards a building or side street that appears to offer some additional privacy.

Once done, he cannot hold back a grin any longer.  He pats Korin on the shoulder that he previously slapped. "I'll bet he's never seen an Elf slap a Dwarf before," he says apologetically. "Well-played."  Then, he explains to the others what happened in the shop. "Unfortunately, Brevat's intention to break the law ruined the gambit. There was another individual in the back of the shop, and I suspect we could have learned more had our teammate," he says with emphasis, "not shouted and banged on the counter on which he dropped the forged tickets. I was forced to improvise, and I was lucky to grab them before the shopkeeper was able to examine them."  Lest he be caught with the forgeries himself, Meridian tears them into small pieces, being certain that the original in his other hand is safely stored in his belt pouch.

"Neville, the clerk, looked fidgety, and there may be some opportunity to lean on him, but I suspect the man in the back is more important. Also, the clerk let slip that whoever pawned the ring is named Sam," he adds.

"Unfortunately, now our cover is blown," he says, gesturing towards Aendyr, Korin, and himself. "We could ask our witnesses if they know a Sam or follow whomever is in the shop."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:17, Fri 07 May 2021.

Khaaven did not see anyone leaving Neville's pawn shop.


The others slid up the street by the house which held a sign "for sale" near the leather goods shop at the opposite end of the building which housed the pawn shop for Meridian's words to the others.

A woman, dressed neatly in a simple gown covered by an apron, made a beckoning gesture toward the group from her place at the butcher's shop, across the street from the group.

Listening to what transpired in the shop, a grin crosses Neo's face, "Not a complete loss, Meridian...we know Sam pawned a ring and it's worth 600 Kings!

Our plan was far from foolproof, and don't forget, Qrox and me are still not tied to the rest of you, at least to Neville."

The kuduk chews his lip in thought as he tries to formulate some ideas, when he notices the woman in the butcher shop waving.

"Oy! She's waving us over!"

Neo surreptitiously checks the road in both directions, looking for anyone that might watching the party, before crossing.

"Good day, Ma'am. Can we help you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Sat 08 May 2021.

Brevat will watch the shop for awhile to see if anyone leaves.

"She probably wants to sell us smoked venison.  I hear it's on sale," Aendyr tells Neo before heading in the direction of the butcher shop.

If she wasn't trying to sell them discount meat then she was probably another actress in this test.  Aendyr thought he'd keep that idea to himself for now.

"Would you like some smoked venison?" she said.  "We're having a sale on that today.  And ... well, are you here to finally do something about that pawn shop?"

"Humph! Perhaps we were more obvious than we realized," Korin says to Meridian.

He proceeds across the road, walking up beside Neo.

"How fresh the venison and how much does it cost?" Korin inquiries to the woman. "What's wrong with pawn shops? Don't they provide service to the community?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Sat 08 May 2021.

"Just finished smoking yesterday," she replied.  "Twelve kings a pound, though we'll sell down to quarter pounds.  "I suppose pawn shops have their purpose, but that one--he's dealing with thieves, too.  Told the guard, but they haven't been able to pin any stolen goods on him.  Yet."  She gave a daggered look toward the pawn shop across the street.

"I'd like a quarter of a pound please, wait, make that half a pound" Korin says. "It's interesting you say that. I was trying to track down someone who had recently visited that pawn shop  and had some questions to ask them," Korin says nodding and tilting his head while emphasizing his last few words.  "They would been by maybe 5 or so days ago, perhaps named Sam. Any ideas who that might be or where we might find them?" he asks.

He pulls out the coins needed to pay for the venison.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Sun 09 May 2021.

"Oh, come over here to the counter, and I'll get that wrapped up for you," said the woman.  "My name's Belva, by the by."  She went to the counter to weigh out the half pound of smoked venison and start to wrap that in the paper wrap.  "I don't know the man's name, but there's one very strange character comes around, always looks like he's up to no good.  You know what I mean, I'm sure."  She started tying the bundle of smoked meat as she continued speaking.  "He's a bit too flamboyant by half, with a parrot on a shoulder, and fancy dress.  Folk going to a pawn shop don't try bringing so much attention to themselves, honest folk, I mean."

"A pirate?" Aendyr blurts out, unable to contain himself.  "Say, I knew a fellow like that with a parrot on his shoulder, but he was no pirate.  He just liked perpetrating pirateness.  Something about the clothes, or maybe the tricorn hat.  And the parrot wasn't a parrot either!  Or maybe it was a parrot, but no ordinary parrot.  You see this fellow was a wizard in disguise and this parrot was his little demon helper also in disguise.  I know that sounds all kinds of creepy and unnatural, but he was a great chap to kick back a few drinks with.  I'd like to think that pirates are a treat like that to chill with, know what I mean?"

He turns to Korin excitedly.

"You know what this means?  We can ask around town.  Sure as shooting," that was a phrase roughly translated from Troll that Shenandoah Sam used all the time.  "Someone will have seen a pirate with a parrot and can point us in the right direction!"

"Thank you, ma'am!" he said to Belva.

Aendyr was now stoked to be on a pirate hunt, even if it was another fake pirate.

Meridian looks pensive, while the others talk. He mutters, "No.... I'm not sure.  Earlier, I thought someone was in the back of the shop, but thinking about the scene again, I don't think there was.  I can't say.  I didn't see."  He is obviously a bit unsure as to what happened, a bit distracted by the unexpected events.

Still feeling like he needs to stay out of sight for the moment, he suggests that Neo may want to hang out at Elmer's Leather or Doral's Oil and Lanterns, or the butcher and keep an eye on the pawnshop. He suspects that Neville may close for lunch and try to flee the scene.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Mon 10 May 2021.

Brevat maintains his observation of the pawnshop, hoping to see someone he can follow.

Neo nods to Meridian, "Watching to see if Neville runs off is a good plan."

Gesturing with his head, he adds, "Brevat is down the road a bit watching the front, I could check the back for another door and keep watch if there is one. If not, I can join Brevat in watching the front.

Qrox do you want to keep me company?

What about the rest of you? Where to? The bath house? Or perhaps to find Khandus or Keyon and see if they will front the money to get the ring? Or just stay out of sight?"

Aendyr looked directly at Neo.

"I'll ask around about our flamboyant Pirate Sam, Chief."

Aendyr's imagination ran wild with fantiful scenarios.  Maybe Pirate Sam stole overdue magical books for a wispy purple demon librarianess, or maybe he had a list of scurvy souls who had wronged him.  Yes, Pirate Sam had constructed a list of everyone even remotely responsible for him getting his leg chewed off to the knee by vorpal gators.  Now it was just a matter of framing each and every one of them.  A hangman's noose would be good, maybe too good for them.  Or maybe Pirate Sam was just a simple pawn.  It was the parrot who did all the scheming, whispering commands into Sam's ear.  Poor Pirate Sam thought they were his own ideas and carried them out to the letter.

Aendyr would get to the bottom of this mystery, or at least pull back the curtain enough to catch a glimpse of the truth.  The others could then crack the case wide open.

"Meet ya back at The Claw," he said with a wave.

And with that he hurried off down the street looking for city dwellers who looked to be in the know.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Tue 11 May 2021.

---

"I think I'll mosey over to the bath house. Probably not much there but it would be good to check, just in case. Then I'm going to head down to Frog Street. For those who don't know, that's where one of our pursuing friends followed our thief to before losing them. So met back at Mithral Claw?" Korin asks. After receiving the answer, he will proceed to head to the bath house.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Tue 11 May 2021.

As Meridian looked about, the butcher shop seemed to be, by virtue of being across the street--though not face-to-face across--from the pawnshop, the better place to keep an eye on the pawnshop than the shops adjacent.

Korin found the streets continued to be fairly busy, though not quite as bad as the early morning when many were on their way to workplaces, and in time, he made his way to the bath house.  Here, a sign had been nailed to the front door "Closed".

---

Anyone else with locations, either specifically mentioned before or a business-type that you want to look for in the investigation, let me know.

Korin will look for an open shop adjacent or as near as possible to the bath house. Once found, he will as the proprietor about the bath house being closed asking, "I misplaced one of my amulets and wondered if I might have left it at that bath house yesterday. Do you know when it might be open or if there is anyone who might let me in to take a look?"

Neo will walk down the street and pause to adjust his pack near Brevat, without actually looking at him.

[Language unknown: T inos aineauest noenc n ic lout evni atwaec, ho Fi ic notont m wa hoter derstrore.]

The kuduk will then do just that. If there is a back door, he will find a spot to keep an eye on it. If not, he will walk back to the street and buy a quarter pound of the smoked venison and lean against the front of the butcher shop while eating.

---

Qrox is welcome to join Neo, as he is not doing anything particularly sneaky.

When Neo made his way toward the back of the shop, he saw that there was just a thin alleyway along the back between the back of the shop and the city wall.  There was, indeed, a back door, though its position suggested that it was a personal door--since it was quite common for shopkeepers to live upstairs from their own shops.

---

As Korin looked about near the bath house, he noted that he was near the same pottery shop which, on the main street, had been where the woman had been knocked down with the runner turning down the road just past.  Also near the bath house was a shop which advertised some sort of service related to shields, though his command of written Trozanese was insufficient to identify if shields were sold or only painted there.

Qrox nods to Neo's kind offer to accompany him, and follows quietly along.  The priest moves smoothly and with quite a bit of agility for such a large lizard persona.

Meridian will move about the shops nearby for an hour or so.  Then, if nothing important happens, he will head back towards the Mithral Claw.

Korin grumbles in irritation of his inability to clearly read the shield's shop sign. He heads over to the pottery shop instead and starts briefly looking at a few items hoping to draw someone's attention. Is there someone who appears to be a proprietor around?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Sat 15 May 2021.

When Korin entered the shop, he could see a number of pottery items were arranged for sale--dishes and jars of various sorts.  The prices, as marked, looked to be nearly half of what might be expected for the goods.

Orm looked up from the turning table, and said, "I'll be right with you."

Leaving the jar half-turned, he swiped his hands clean on a nearby towel and came over to Korin.

"Sad business that," said Orm.  "I heard about Lorand, and it is quite a surprise.  I'm not sure who his heirs are, or if the city will just sell the place.  Can't imagine they'll let it stay closed for long, not after the old bath house collapsed, leaving Lorand's the only bath house in the city."

"I'm surprised that Lorand would be doing such a thing," Korin says. "Have there been problems in and around his bath house? Crime, shady characters and such?"

"No, Lorand never tolerated such," said Orm, nodding.  "Still, saw him running by this morning, knocked over poor Gilda.  But to be honest, I don't ever remember seeing Lorand run before at all."

Tomorrow would mark the beginning of her military career. Originally, it was to have been today.  But a messenger had come this morning to say that the specifics of her duty would be delayed until tomorrow noon.  A wizardess as well as a woman, her assignment was to be the scout unit.  That much she did know.    She'd mixed feelings about it, wondering still if it had been the right choice.

Any rate, she had one more free evening to enjoy a nice meal, with a few of her family  and friends, before she was stuck with whatever fare the mess hall saw fit to provide.

Tweeb's market was excellent;  the best meats in the city. And Belva and her kids (loosely speaking, as they were close to her own age) were pleasant.  In addition she'd heard there was a special.

Nearing the place, Morveya instructed her familiar, Eila, to perch upon a nearby building, and wait.   There were certain things one did not do with a bird of prey. Taking them into a meat market being near the top of that list.   Once the falcon was situated, she entered the shop.   As she did, she heard Lorand's name mentioned.   Quite the scandal, that.   And hard to understand.  All of the books recently stolen...it smacked of a scheme, of some larger picture.   She would bet her last shop-bit on that...

"Good morning, Morveya," said Belva.  "Thought you'd be already off on your way.  Come to get a little taste from home to carry with you?  We've got smoked venison on special today.  Twelve kings a pound."

She smiled at Belva, "I got a reprieve! By the graces of inefficient administration, perhaps.  I'll get assigned tomorrow.   So, one last home-cooked meal, before I'm at the mercy of the mess hall!  That smoked venison sounds perfect," she reached within her purse for the kings.

As she did, she frowned "Quite the fiasco with Lorand, isn't it?   I was stunned to hear of that.  It makes no sense to me."   

"Are you sure it was Lorand? What was he wearing?" Korin asks.

"Would you introduce me to Gilda?" Korin says after a few moments. "She may have gotten a close up view of the thief. Perhaps she saw something important detail that was only noticeable close up. Would you be willing to introduce me or tell me where I could find her?"

Neo stood patiently while Belva waited and chatted with the dark-haired woman. She caught his attention when she told the shopkeeper that she was joining the military tomorrow; and even more so, when she mentioned Lorand.

~Just a local catching up on the gossip...or something more?~

"Good day miss, I could not help to overhear that you are joining-up tomorrow.

Neo Shadowcloak, member of the elite scouts, at your service.

You mentioned Lorand, my unit has been assigned to try to track down information on what happened today, would you happen to have any information regarding Lorand?

Oh. And, I'll take a quarter-pound of the venison, Miss Belva."

The kuduk places his coins on the counter as he looks back to the dark-haired woman.

---

I'm assuming your comment on the back door makes it of little interest so going to plan B, loitering in front of the butcher shop, watching the front door.

Hopefully, Qrox is still along for the stakeout!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Tue 18 May 2021.

"Ah, he was wearing brown clothes," said Orm.  "Not sure why that would matter.  Now Gilda--well, I can't be leaving the shop in the middle of the day, but she has a spice and herb shop over across town a bit."

He gave directions to the shop, suggesting that Korin follow the road along which the Mitril Claw was found, turning right on the first road after the castle grounds, and into the group of shops.

((Near the circle with the multiple curved lines leading from it, toward the middle left on the current game map.))

Belva was efficiently wrapping up the orders for both Morveya and Neo, leaving them free to converse.

Morveya glanced down at the kuduk when he addressed her. She was no stranger to those people -- her family’s business typically bred or traded some number of ponies to sell to them and other little folk in the market for a mount.

But this one’s lean build and deep green eyes were not typical of what she had seen.   If not for the facial and foot hair, she almost could have likened him to a short elf.

Her brows arched a little after he announced his scouting unit was assigned to gather information on Lorand’s reported crime.

She smiled courteously: “A pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m Morveya Steed, soon to be in the ranks of the scouts myself.    As for Lorand, I’m afraid I can tell you little, save for the local talk about the incident. As I was saying to Belva, I find the whole thing odd.  I’m guessing you know of the two prior thefts, as well?” 

"Thank you," Korin says to Orm. He proceeds back towards the Mitral Claw but then passes it, following the castle wall to the first road right. He proceeds down that road looking for shops and in particular a spice and herb shop. Neo's idea was better than I would have guessed. This might be useful. Hopefully Gilda will be able to tell me something useful.

"Another scout! What are the chances?

We have heard...the rest of my unit is around here...about two other thefts of books. We were told that the guilty parties were captured quickly...and dealt with swiftly.

Now, I suppose you could say the same about Lorand. Quickly identified and captured and likely to hang tomorrow.

But we are convinced that there is a illusionist of sorts  involved...someone who can look like another. And my friend Qrox...the very large Slith you might have noticed on your way in...he spoke to Lorand and is convinced that he is innocent.

If you're to be a scout, Morveya, perhaps you would like to join us to solve this mystery if we can?"

Korin found the streets were reasonably busy, about what might be expected for a city of this size, but that he was easily able to make his way along the route that Orm had suggested.  Here, he came out into a small business district.

He saw a tea and coffee shop.  Along the park, there was a ring outside with a number of shops and a temple--the Park Tavern, a money changer, a small park with a sign in front of it identifying the place as the Temple of Lenoris, Buster's Lounge and Dance Hall, the Spice and Herb shop, a barber, a gift shop, and another shop selling cheese and milk.

---

As those in the vicinity of the pawn shop watched, a cart pulled by a half-dozen large dogs pulled to a stop in front of the pawn shop, and the passenger got out and walked into the pawn shop.  From the meat market, it could be seen that the lad was giving a package to Neville, and likely coins were handed over.  As the youth returned to the cart, Neville could be seen in the shop turning over a sign which now read "Closed for lunch.  Re-open at one."

If Meridian is still there, he will trail the cart to see where it goes next.

Qrox is hovering a bit behind Neo, and Morveya is almost surprised not to have particularly noticed the huge lizard person.  Qrox is quietly standing, listening and observing through half shut eyes and swaying ever so slightly to and fro.

"I am Qrox Nahl,  a friend of Neo's, and a cleric".

"Innocent men paying with their lives for crimes they didn't commit is horrible.  There's just a small amount of time to save Lorand, then."  She nodded to Neo. "I'll help you."   

Once the slith spoke, Morveya answered in basic but understandable Nilese. [Language unknown: "Ratwhethu, Ivven Ilwi.  Ek stncon k il Thekorund unretean. M has siur'chpl tiaset asiou isunsi." ] Reverting back to common- "A cleric's magic is a boon.  I too am a spell worker, a wizardess.  Though just months out of apprenticeship."   
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Thu 20 May 2021.

Qrox makes a gentle bow, and then a quick flick of tongue several times.

"Equine, yes, that is expected, avian, less so....it is out pleasure Morveya" Again a tongue flick to confirm, the scent in the air, it seems strong despite the rather off putting tastes floating about the meat shop otherwise.

The cart went up the street, passing the other shops in the building which housed the pawn shop and the structure which was currently for sale, and stopped in front of the weapons shop.  Here, the young man got out once more with another package, spending about as much time there as he had at the pawn shop.  The cart then moved up again to a large private residence, and the lad got out again with another package.

[Language unknown: Vor It ompoad wifiho ti Om se somfi ck ncplospe, as tonghe diiock p voric diwhi erele ac!] Neo chuckles.

"We should get back on the street and keep an eye on the pawn shop."

Neo will quietly explain to Morveya what has happened since his breakfast was interrupted at the Mithril Claw by the theft.

"Qrox, this smoked venison is excellent...although it might not be raw enough for your liking...try some, if you like."

"I'm rather fond of my spine," Morveya smiled, "Any hugging must leave it intact."    [Language unknown: "Ettiss erein el sa waain not as rut ta she miom t Tareur le. Onell omdi etpa roioof andortkor und poant korfi th redwilereres beneivwa, se thivorted po o oursomoer ureio trilaimoto,"] she finished in perfect Kuduk.

"Your senses are impressive, just as I heard they were," she said to Qrox.  "The avian you scent is my familiar. She is perched outside -- and her view from above may be helpful to us."   

"Yes...the venison!  I was taking mine home.  But that must wait."  She addressed Belva and asked if she might leave it, to pick it up before the shop closed.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Thu 20 May 2021.

"Certainly," replied Belva.  "I'll just keep it wrapped here behind the counter.  And of course, you're welcome to stay here in the shop and keep an eye on that place.  If it can be any help at all."

A sandy-haired young man walked from the south, paused in front of the pawn shop and then returned the way he had come.

Korin casually walks up to the herb and spice shop and enters. He starts looking for spices, cayenne pepper and other similar hot spices, hoping to get some assistance.

If Qrox weren't already green, the thought of venison would have had that effect, but the priest politely declines the offer.  Neo seems well versed with the Slith, so it was probably in jest, the closest thing to red meat a Slith eats would be frogs.

Korin entered the spice and herb shop, finding that behind the counter was the woman seen earlier that day after she had been knocked down by the fleeing thief.

Jars on the shelves behind her were neatly labeled by their contents.

"Good day to you," she said.  "How may I help you?"

Khaaven is still keeping pawn shop under careful watch. When the lad comes by the shop and leaves right away, if anything weird came to his attention he would tail him. Otherwise stay watching the shop.

20:41, Today: Khaaven rolled 3 using 1d20.  Observation  target base 16.

Neo quickly closes his package of venison, when the courier in the dog-pulled cart leaves the pawn shop.

"The venison is excellent, Miss Belva!"

Turning to Qrox and Morveya, he adds in a quieter voice, "I think we should watch for our friend Neville in the back alley again....it looks like he is planning on taking a lunch break."

The kuduk will leave the butcher shop and move to a location where he can watch the alley, preferably without having to be in the alley.

---

If there is a shadowy spot, he will hide there, otherwise he will trust that he will be ignored since he is not known by Neville.

As Korin entered the spice shop, Aendyr appeared at the shop window.

"Hey Korin!"  He said, waving.  "There you are.  Small city, huh?  Hey, I'll be over at the bounty hunter just a few shops down."

As the group continued to observe the pawn shop from various locations, a stylishly-dressed woman came down the street, and paused in front of the pawn shop, looking in the window at the few things that were displayed for sale visible from the street.  Neville looked up from his lunch, which he seemed to be eating at the counter, and gave her a wink and a small wave.

The woman turned away, a look of indignation on her face, and she walked away.

"Good day," Korin response. "How fresh are... aren't you the woman I saw down on the street this morning? Are you ok? Did you slip and fall?"

Morveya nodded at Neo's suggestion.    And, upon spying the indignant woman, had an idea for possibly learning a little something about the pawn shop and its owner.

She walked out of Tweeb's, and followed in the woman's wake -- briskly enough to catch up, but not so quickly as to seem she was jogging after her.

Once she was alongside, Morveya ventured "Isn't that Neville such an ass? You'd think a business owner would know to treat customers and prospects in a more professional manner." 

"No, I didn't slip," said Gilda.  "Someone who looked a great deal like Lorand shoved me so hard that I fell.  I'm all right, didn't lose too much of the herbs I'd picked this morning.  There was quite the hue and cry, but I can tell you ... in my business, a good sense of smell is important, and things just were not right, he didn't smell like Lorand at all."

As Gilda spoke, Aendyr appeared outside the shop again.

---

"Some nerve," sniffed the woman, looking at Morveya with a rather cross expression.  "Used to be, a lady could go window shopping without the shopkeep acting fresh."  She pulled her skirts tight and said, "What is this city coming to!"  With that, she seemed to be picking up pace, moving away from the area.

"Hold on," Korin says to Gilda. He turns and waves at Aendyr. "Aendyr, come in here for a minute."

When Aendyr walked into the shop it dawned on him who the lady was.

"Oh hey, I remember you.  You're the one the book thief knocked over while making his escape.  Sorry I didn't stop to help.  Hot pursuit, you know," he said to the herb lady.

"We're doing everything we can to catch the guy who knocked you over.  His name is Sam, by the way.  Do you know anyone named Sam, or anyone lookin' like a pirate, all fancy dressed with a parrot on his shoulder?"

Then he turned to Korin.

"Oh, sorry chum.  You've probably asked her all this already, haven't you?"

Then he looked back to the herb store lady.

"Sorry for asking you all that stuff again, miss.  It's just that I'm all excited to find this rogue."

Korin shakes his head. "No, just figured out who she was and was starting to ask some questions. Gilda here," he says with glance and a nod toward her, "is certain the thief wasn't Lorand. She's skilled herb master, a profession that utilizes and requires a keen sense of smell. Keen to such a degree she's certain the man who knocked her down was not Lorand as he didn't smell like him."

He pauses musing the thought. "Do you know who the man who knock you down smelled like? Do you remember anything else about him? We are trying to prove Lorand's innocence but are short on clues and running out of time. As Aendry said, the name of Sam has turned up in our investigation as well as someone with parrot. Do either of those ring any bells?"

"I'm afraid not," said Gilda.  "He didn't smell like anyone I know.  Lorand, well, he runs the bath house, of course, and he's very partial to sandalwood soap.  So that always lingers on him, he's quite fastidious.  The fellow who knocked me down, though, he had an unwashed smell about him, and a slight  peppery scent."

"I'm afraid Sam is too common a name," she added, "it doesn't bring anyone to mind.  As to the parrot, well, perhaps Bruce and Jenny can help there, they run a shop they call Bird Land."  She then provided directions to the place--a few blocks almost directly west.

"But was there anything that you were looking for, a spice or herb?" she asked.

"This city is going to the Orc-men, for sure," Morveya nodded in concurrence.  And let it drop at that.  Plainly, there was no more here than aggravation at mannerless, flirtsy behavior.  And something else abruptly caught her attention:

Crandel's Keep...visible from here...yes.   There was someone she might ask questions of.  Someone who might be able to help connect the dots a little, as to why those three books.

Morveya made her way back into Tweeb's, and told Brother Qrox: "I'm heading to Crandel's Keep, not far from here.  To ask a few questions of somebody.    If that comes to anything, you and Neo will be the first to hear."    And with that, went back outside.

Morveya reached out in thought, to touch the mind of her familiar.    The falcon took flight from where she had perched, following her mistress from above, as Morveya began to head in the direction of Crandel's.

Going to Crandel's.

Edit:  Told Qrox what I'm going to do, instead of Neo, since he is trying to hide/be unobtrusive. 
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Sat 22 May 2021.

Without further comment, the woman continued on her way, headed well away from the pawn shop.

Morveya made her way across town to Crandel's Keep, a place she had not been since acquiring her own green card early in the apprenticeship, as soon as William Munny had deemed her ready to cast spells independently--admittedly, the first ones were tiresome repetitions of Polish, Clean, and Shine, using magic to accomplish what would otherwise be mundane tasks.

The tower at the corner of the keep towered up at the corner of the city wall itself.  Crandel had used a number of magics to defend this quarter, and it would be quite the fool who would try to breach the walls.

The courtyard held a number of battered dummies, the magically protected area showing signs of a number of charring events as one might display control over magical fire by planting it directly on the dummy and not the ground beneath.

Three lynx--giants of their species, 4-1/2 feet long--patrolled through the courtyard.

A tall, blue eyed blond warrior, Jiron, if her memory served, greeted her at the entrance with a curt, "Name and business at the Keep of Crandel?"

This spice girl was a real find.  Good on Korin for thinking to chat her up.  She was giving them all sorts of leads.  Peppers and parrot purveyors!

"Peppery scent?  What kind of peppers?  I was a cook for a few years and I think I came across at least six different kind of peppers all of them with their own unique taste and smell.  Seven if you count a once-in-a-lifetime blue pepper.  You see, there was an elf lady I knew named Rubarae.  She grew these hot but delicious orange peppers in a sandy valley.  One day she discovers one of her orange pepper plants grew a blue pepper.  If that isn't a reason for puzzlement, I don't know what is, but Rubarae took it all in stride.  Once it was ripe she picked it, chopped it up and put it in a lamb and mint roast.  Everyone who ate the dish complimented Rubarae on its amazing taste.  Within a week all of their eyes and hair, Rubarae's included had turned blue.  That's quite a pepper, right?"

"Anyhow, as the leading herb and spice seller in town, you could probably even tell us who buys this particular kind of peppers.  That sure would be a big help, narrowing down the places we need to go to follow the peppers trail to Pirate Sam."

"Oh hey, Lorand's trial is tomorrow morning at ten bells.  Would you be willing to come say your piece about the smells?  Everyone we chew the fat with is convinced for one reason or another that Lorand the Clean didn't do this dirty deed, and every little bit of testimony will help keep his neck out of the noose."

Aendyr wanted to ask the shop owner about non-magical sneezing powder too, but he figured he better give her a little chance to talk before she forgot all the questions he already asked.

Meridian will do his best to tail the woman, stealthily, even though that is not his bailiwick.

Yes, it had been some time since Morveya had set foot in Crandel's.   Much had happened for her in the interim, the completion of her apprenticeship included.   The lynxes were as stately and elegant as she remembered. She had always loved seeing them -- however, her familiar was new since the last visit.   And though she wagered the felines were trained not to react to the familiar of an authorized wizard, she became a little concerned for Eila, and thus instructed her to circle above, for the time being.

Her pride was a bit stung that Jiron didn't remember her, even though he saw hells knew how many magelings, many of them more significant than herself.   She answered with the wizard's poker face she had perfected (or at least fancied she had):

"Morveya Steed, registered practitioner and green card holder, former apprentice to Master William Munny.   I've come to request distance communication with that master.   I have the funds to pay for it."   

Korin pauses, not looking at Gilda, waiting for her reaction and response to Aendyr's question. He had considered but then decided against asking her to testify. He doubted it would do anything beyond making her a potential source of ridicule. One witness based on smell would probably be insufficient, at least in this community! A community that gives the defendant only one day in preparation for defense of a capital offense!

The Black Lotus or perhaps their bosses seemed fully intent on keeping a reputation for law and order making sure people paid for a crime even if that meant punishing innocent victims. He had no doubt they would vehemently object to any suggestion Lorand was innocent unless there was someone else in the stockade with solid evidence against them. And then, the Lotus would take credit because we are in the employ of them aren't we?

Such were his thoughts as he waited for Gilda to respond. He wouldn't have asked the question but he wasn't about to interrupt. In his mind, every persons had the right to freedom and to make their own choices. It was one of his core beliefs and he wasn't about to compromise that.

Regardless of how the conversation goes, he will ask before he leaves, "How much for some ground or flakes of cayenne pepper?" His intention being to purchase some to help spice of his meals.

Spices and Herbs Shop

"More the common black pepper," said Gilda, who was of an age well past that of "girl".  "And certainly, I'd be willing to come speak on Lorand's behalf."

"Cayenne?  You're better with my husband's side," she added for Korin.  She gestured toward the half wall.  "He handles anything that isn't local.  There are some people who wouldn't buy from us at all if we mixed the local herbs and spices with the imported ones."

Graham, Gilda's husband, indeed had cayenne in stock with both flakes and ground at 3 kings per pound.

---

On the Streets

Seeming to be in quite the hurry, the woman Meridian followed turned and entered the Red Griffin Inn, just a few streets over from the pawn shop.

---

Crandel's Keep

An utterly unremarkable clerk dressed in a simple white blouse and gray skirt handed Morveya a slip of paper.

"You'll be seeing Rank," said the clerk.  "His office is in that building there."  The clerk pointed to the low building along the keep's city-side wall.

The paper held the day's date, Morveya's name, Rank's name, and the comment "long distance communication with Master William Munny".

The building consisted of little more than a hallway with four doors to each side.  The first door to the right was marked "Green Card Applicants", the first door to the left was marked "Green Card Pick Up".  Rank's office was the third door on the right.

Meridian does his best to find a place across the street from the Red Griffin from which he can keep an eye on the woman's movement and follow her if she leaves.

Ah, Rank --  perhaps the stars were aligning; for Rank had owned one of the books that was stolen in a prior theft.    She went to that third door and knocked -- "Hello?  I'm here for facilitation of long distance communication..." 

Aendyr was disappointed to hear that Sam smelled like common pepper.  No lead there unless they smelled that smell with their own noses later today.  He was also amazed to be in a city where black pepper was common and mundane.  When he'd been a cook he'd been lucky to get his hands on one or two spices at the most.  Here in Briedhof there were luxuries aplenty.  Surely, a benefit of living in a king's city.

"Thank you.  You are a kind and brave lady," he said regarding her willingness to testify.

"Say, this morning, when our mystery thief stole the book from Khandus and Keyon, he disabled them with a magical sneezing power.  That was quite a trick, and it made me wonder if there was some pepper powder or something that someone could use to similar effect?"  he asked the herb lady.  "Sure would come in handy, and no magic required."

Maybe he'd buy some pepper powder if it wasn't to expensive.

After Aender and Korin were done with their spice business he'd suggest they head to Bird Land.

Qrox is quietly overwhelmed by all the talk, and social interaction with other races. Not wanting to disappoint the others, yet feeling less and less useful in the present surroundings.  Stepping quietly to Neo, "My new friend, I feel I may be of use more elsewhere.  I will meet back at the tavern. I bless your search for clues".

Qrox will move off in search of the temple of Peren.

Korin purchases a pound of cayenne pepper, thanking the man.

He then exits the shop with Aendyr when he is ready. Once outside he says to Aendyr, "That was a good idea asking her to testify. We still might need more evidence," he grumbles. "Is there a presumption of innocence in this town or is it that of guilt? Do you know?"

When Aendyr mentions Bird Land, Korin responds, "Bird Land? I'm open to going there though remind me. What is there?"

Outside the shop Aendyr shrugged.

"I don't know what their stance on innocence is here in Briedhof.  I'm new to the place, and now we're going to be leaving as soon as we came.  It's kind of a shame, you know.  Every time I turn around here I see or hear something amazing.  For instance, do you know they have 14 taverns in this town?  Fourteen!  I tried to pub crawl the place and I only got to five before a bartender got angry because I was drunk.  I didn't think I was drunk, but it turned out he was right.  Now that I think about it, that's a strange thing for a bartender to get bent outta shape over.  You'd think they'd be in favor of drunkenness.  The drunker the better."

"Bird Land is where Bruce and Jenny can tell us about Pirate Sam's parrot."

Aendyr was glad the spice lady had just said those names and they were fresh in his mind. The rest of the story took a bit of thinking and poor Korin had to wait several long, quiet moments while Aendyr collected his thoughts.

"We know the thief dropped the pawn ticket, right?  And Neville said the ticket was Sam's, so we're pretty sure the thief is Sam.  Then Belva, the butcher with the over-priced, discount deer meat said she saw this flamboyant foppish chap with a parrot on his shoulder parading around near the pawn shop, and being up to no good.  She also said people going to pawn shops don't draw attention to themselves like that, which made her extra suspicious of him.  So I say this pirate guy is our Sam.  Maybe he is, and maybe he isn't, but we have no idea what Sam looks like, and we have a real good idea what this parrot guy looks like, so I've been trying to find him and see if he's Sam."

"The spice and herb lady said Bruce and Jenny know all about parrots, so maybe they know where we can find Pirate Sam.  See?"

"I'm glad you're on the trail of Pirate Sam now.  After all, it was you who had the good sense to talk to that butcher lady in the first place.  She's the one who tipped us off about the fancy-pants parrot guy.  Without you we wouldn't know thing one about him."

Aendyr smiled broadly and nodded.  It all sounded like first class detective work if he had ever heard it.

Near the Red Griffin Inn

Once the woman had entered the Red Griffin, she was rather quickly lost to sight, but it was not hard to find a place to observe, as across the street there were two shops next to each other--one with an abundance of fruit, the other with an abundance of vegetables.  This also happened to be near a peculiar structure of blood-red stone which the sign indicated was a tourist attraction called the Balor's Eye.

---

Near the Pawn Shop

From their separate positions, Neo and Khaaven kept watch over the pawn shop, as Qrox indicated an intent to depart.

As Qrox started away, a blond boy came down to the pawn shop, and tapped on the window.  From within, Neville could be seen looking over, shaking his head and pointing at the sign that declared he was currently closed for lunch.  The boy tapped his foot for a moment, and seeing that Neville was not going to open the door, headed back as he had come.

---

Bird Land

Flanked by a bookbinder and a wheelwright, the Bird Land pet store rose taller than other shops.  Within, a number of cages of various sizes could be seen, as well as barrels with various sorts of seed for birds, items for grooming birds, toys, and a variety of songbirds, parakeets, parrots, cockatoos, doves, and falcons.

"Hello," said a man, probably of middle years, "how may I be of assistance?"

---

Rank's Office, Crandel's Keep

"Come on in," came the response to Morveya's knock.

Within, there was Rank in robes that seemed about to swallow him entirely.  While most elves were slender, he looked almost anorexic.

The walls themselves were lined with a number of crystal orbs, rolls of parchments, and the desk itself was littered with a number of implements that looked like he had been working with fire magic, including a brass bucket full of water.

"Well, this is a welcome distraction," he said.  "Long distance communication, you say?  What are the particulars?"

As he spoke, he stood, and started clearing the parchments from one of the chairs.

"Hullo," she smiled at Rank cheerfully, amused by the consuming robes.  "Practicing a little pyromancy, are you? I've thought I might one day like to learn that 'affect normal fires' spell.  It's of the school I specialize in."   

"Anyway, I'm hoping to get a hold of my mentor, Master William Munny.  He comes into town so seldom, and I wished to consult his opinion about some books.  Specifically, the three that were recently stolen."     

"We were interested in your parakeets and perhaps parrots as well. Would you show us what you have available?" Korin asks the man.

Qrox glances over to Neo to see if he is watching.  If so, the priest lowers his head and swings it in a way that indicates, come with me.  If Neo doesn't see or doesn't catch the motion, Qrox moves off either way, following the boy at a distance.

Aendyr isn’t quite sure why Korin wants to see parakeets.  Maybe to throw Bruce off the scent.  He waits until the man busies himself with Korin’s request before starting up the chatter.

“Say chum, is it OK if I call you Bruce?  That’s what we were told your name was.  You and Jenny were highly recommended on the topic of birds.  Top bird experts in the know, we were told.  My name’s Aendyr and this is Korin.”

Aendyr offers to shake the man’s hand assuming his hand aren’t full or preoccupied with showing Korin his selection.

“Do you sell many of these parakeets and parrots?  You see, we’re on the trail of one specific bird owner who perpetrates piratehood.  He dresses in flamboyant fashion and perches a parrot on his shoulder.  Know the guy?”

Neo watched the large Slithzerikai priest leave the alley and move back onto the street.

~No one likes standing watch!~ As a scout, the kuduk was used to having to watch a position for hours at time, it was part of the job, although not a particularly exciting part.

Just then, Neo caught Qrox gesturing to him. ~I'll have to teach him to be a bit more discrete!~ Neo thought, as he laughed out loud, ~Let's see what has caught his interest.~

Neo moves quickly to where Qrox is standing, "Did you miss me already?"

Bird Land

Bruce started showing birds.  "We sell quite a few," he replied, pausing in front of the cage of a small--6" bird with mostly green feathers overlaid with black and dark green stripes on the back, wings, and side.  "This little lady would make a fine pet, she's very interested in people.  Don't really recommend shoulder perching for any of our customers.  Birds like this little lady aren't large enough to hold on well, and certainly not walking about town--too many things can startle a bird, and it wouldn't go well.  No, there aren't pirates about.  There's just the lake, and not that many places for someone to hide to be a pirate that doesn't end on the gallows right quick."

---

Rank's Office

"Yes, I've been working on some greater precision with fire," said Rank.  "Would've come along much better if ... well, it does seem you know about the theft of my book.  They caught the man, but didn't recover the book, which certainly set my work back quite a bit.  Don't know what a handyman would do with the book, it's not something that would be of much use without magical training."

---

Near the Red Griffin Inn

As Meridian watched, there was no evidence of the woman who had entered.

---

Near Neville's Pawn Shop

As Khaaven, Neo, and Qrox stayed near the pawn shop, with Qrox communicating with Neo, there seemed to be no other activity in the area, at least for the moment.

"So what would one do to keep a parrot fed? Would you need to purchase feed from here or in a similar such shop in town? Can they find food on their own or is that perhaps not recommended?" Korin asks.

Qrox, quietly leans to Neo and barely whispers "A woman peaked in the window a bit ago, now this boy, they look different, but smell the same. We seek a shapechanger, yes?"

Neo's eyes widen at Qrox's words.

Meridian will enter the Red Griffin and order a drink and some food, waiting around the lobby a bit, still just observing as indiscreetly as possible.

Morveya nodded.

"Exactly. Personally, I don't think the handyman is the thief," she told Rank frankly.  "If you, as a wizard, wished to steal a collection of books, for which you had some use together - wouldn't it be convenient to frame others for it?  Leaving you free to go pursue whatever your plan is? What I'd like to ask my master - who's a rather insightful man - is why those three books?  What do they suggest when considered as a set, rather than unrelated thefts?"   

Rank's Office

"It certainly would, though I can't quite see the connections," said Rank, who stood again, and started moving things from a shelf before presenting something that looked like a slate with a braided gold cord attaching a slate pencil to the device to Morveya.  "Go ahead and write out what your query is."

As Morveya wrote, he paced, and said, "I know there was a text taken from a professor at the university.  2nd Principia Geomantica, as I recall.  Not that that necessarily works together with the fire magic.  That is quite a puzzle--perhaps something we won't resolve until the thief is caught."

---

Bird Land

"Of course we sell all the appropriate food for the birds we sell," said Bruce.  "Some of these birds will do fine with other food, I can go over all those details if there's one that particularly catches your eye.  There is another pet store in the city, but they're a little ... well, they don't specialize, so you might not always be able to get the best food for your bird."

---

Red Griffin Inn

When Meridian entered the inn, he saw no signs of the woman he had followed to the place.  On the menu for lunch was a breaded chicken breast in a sauce of whiskey and mushrooms for six shop-bits, cheese rolls stuffed with chopped nuts and honey for five freeholders each, and a selection of beverages from ales, lagers, wines, and rum.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:55, Thu 03 June 2021.

While she may have left through a back door, Meridian considers it more likely that she went to a room.  Given that it's lunchtime now anyway, it seems an opportune time to eat, and wait. He order the cheese rolls and a light ale as an appropriate lunchtime snack.

Qrox nods to the boy he has kept his eyes and smell on.

"Two pet stores?"

Aendyr marveled at this just as much as he had at fourteen taverns.  This city not only had everything, but several of everything.

"That's amazing!  When I look back upon my life, there's only one other place I've ever been with even one pet store, much less two.  That store was on the west end of their town.  It was either the first or the last place you saw as you passed through.  I happened to go west, so I hadn't seen the store yet when I ran into an addled friar.  He was telling anyone who would listen about a sin.  Two boys were keeping dozens of slaves in cages.  Since I had the brawn he claimed this was an opportunity for me to set things right.  The whole thing sounded fishy.  Children slavers?  I'm not one for clobbering children.  I only wanted a job.  I told the friar I'd take care of it somehow.  Imagine my surprise when these boys turned out to not be slavers at all.  They were just running a pet shop."

Aendyr leaned over to the cage of a particularly colorful parrot.  At least he thought it was a parrot.  Bruce had shown them parakeets too, but Aendyr thought those were mostly either just green or just blue.

"Hey parrot chum," he said to the bird.  "Have you ever seen a flamboyant chap dressed as a pirate with one of your pals on his shoulder?"

Questioning these birds was a long shot, but Aendyr was running out of Pirate Sam leads.

Korin notices the hesitation in Bruce's voice. "We're actually interested in finding a parrot owner as Aendyr mentioned. Have a few questions for them about the theft this morning. You heard about the I gather?" he pauses, given a chance for the man to nod or respond before continuing. "We have a bit of evidence that shows Lorand is not guilty but are hoping to find more. This other shop might be helpful. If you would let us know where it's at and anything that might be relevant, that would be greatly appreciated."

Dear Master Munny,

I hope this message finds you well.  I couldn't truly say I'm sorry to be back home, but I remain grateful for your instruction, and the moral and practical lessons I learned in addition to the magecraft.   Tomorrow begins my tenure in the military's scouting division. As it happens, I'm already aiding them.  A matter of book theft;  a trio of seemingly unrelated tomes:  The Miscellania Pyrologica, The 2nd Principia Geomantica, and a book whose title I do not know, but was deemed suitable for donation to Peren's temple.   It is beginning to appear that innocent men may have been framed for their theft.    Meaning the perpetrator is still at large.   And I realize this is a long shot, but your insight and knowledge often surprise me.  Can you see any relevant relationship between those works?   Anything that might hint why they were stolen?   Or that might suggest what other books this thief might seek to acquire?

Thank you for your time, master - the lives of innocent men may be spared if this puzzle can be put together.    Sincerely, Morveya

Neo surreptitiously looks to see the boy that Qrox has identified.

"I will fetch Brevat. If you keep watch...and smell...on the boy we will track him as a group. I will be able to keep any eye on him, but if changes shape only you will be able to identify him again.

If he leaves before I return, follow him...I'm confident that I will be able to find you in a crowd!" the kuduk adds with a laugh.

Neo will then quickly move toward the spot he last saw Brevat and will walk past him before stopping to pull out a piece of smoked venison from his pack.


The kuduk then ambles further away from Qrox, before turning around with the crowds and heading back to meet the Slith. When he passes the young boy near the pawn shop he casually stretches his left arm, elbow out, as if his pack was pulling on his neck, and then continues to where he left the Slith priest was waiting.

If the boy and Qrox are gone, he will toss any pretense of stealth, and will tell Brevat that they have to locate Qrox, while explaining how the Slith used scent to determine that the woman and the boy were the same person.

Crandel's Keep

Rank took the slate back from Morveya when she had finished, and chanted a short rhyme.  The slate--slate pencil and all--vanished.

"I'm not sure how long it will take him to reply," said Rank.  "Where may I send the word of reply when it is received?"

---

Bird Land

The parrot looked over Aendyr and said, "Pretty boy!"

Bruce seemed rather disappointed, as the prospect of a sale was evaporating, but he provided directions to the other pet store.

---

Near the Pawn Shop

The boy glanced over his shoulder seeming to become aware that the slith priest was following him, and ducked into the service entrance of a hat seller's shop.

"I think the parrot likes you," Korin comments. "Are you ready to go?"

OOC:
Korin's ready to go to the other store if that's where Aendyr wants to go. Open to going somewhere else too.

"Smart bird,"  Aendyr laughed,  "but maybe he's talking about our foppishly dressed Pirate Sam."

Aendyr shrugged.  No way to know really.  Even if the bird *had* seen Sam, it wouldn't be able to tell them where to find him.  Better check the other pet store.

He nodded to Korin.

"Let's go."



On the way to the second pet shop Aendyr shot the breeze a little.

"This might be the end of the Pirate Sam trail.  So far nobody's seen him but the deer butcher lady.  I sure hope the others are having better luck.  All we've turned up so far is a nose-witness' report of a common black peppery smell, unless you got some clues before we met back up."

"Say, did I mention?  I put a professional on the case - a tiny minotaur bounty hunter named Jaxal.  He's tracking Sam down too, and you can bet he's got man finding tricks neither of us has ever thought of.  I've heard that minotaurs never get lost.  Not sure if that's any help tracking people down, but I'm sure it comes in handy sometimes."

"Hopefully it's able to turn up something," Korin growls. "I have half a mind to try to break in the prison and free Lorand before those imbeciles execute an innocent man! It's outrageous that they give us only one day to prove his innocence." He shakes his dwarfish head muttering.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't suggest we use the bird as a witness," he says grimly. "It would have been wrong on more than one account. Buying a witness!" he says maintaining his grim face for a moment before breaking out into a laugh. "And a bird-brained one at that!"

Then he gets more serious. "I want to check out that other bird store. I still think it's possible that our pirate friend is known there. I'm also a bit suspicious. Bruce was obviously less than thrilled at the prospect of losing a sale and wouldn't want us to go there regardless but whether it was only that or if there was something more, I don't know. I think it's worth checking out. I would welcome your company," Korin says looking at Aendyr.

Aendyr laughed, slapping Korin on the shoulder in a buddy-buddy fashion.

"A parrot witness would ruffle more than a few feathers."

"We'll check out this other pet shop for sure.  Leave no stone unturned.  I think I'd like to mention the black pepper scent thing to Jaxal too.  Might help him track Sam down.  Do you happen to know if minotaurs have extra-good sniffers like bloodhounds?  I was wondering that earlier.  I probably should've asked Jaxal himself."

Neo realises that Qrox is not where he left him...he quickly scans the crowd and as expected spotting the large Slith was not difficult.

"C'mon!" he calls back to Brevat, all pretense of guile being tossed for expedience.

The kuduk bolts down the street and catches up to Qrox, who appears to be staring into the door of a milliner's shop.

[Language unknown: "Linallvor m, Be! Le rea trine t oerratugh os ll wa nancut peteer ieseis!"]

Neo then dashes into the door.

---

We might have lost Khaaven/Brevat - almost 3 weeks since he last logged in.

Morveya left the most appropriate address with Rank, thanked him for services, and then departed.

Which will be my mailing address in the military, if I happen to know that (and only if there is a way to have it come directly to me), otherwise I'll leave the address of my family's home.

Outside, Eila took wing from she'd perched, and followed from above as the wizardess made her way toward where she had last seen Neo and Qrox...

Pet Land

Traveling along the way to the shop according to the directions provided by Bruce, Korin and Aendyr made their way to the shop Pet Land.  From here, they could see the towering structure of the Red Griffin Inn, and they were near to where they had started at the pawn shop.

Within Pet Land, they could see a number of creatures--there were some small cages with song birds, larger cages with a bear cub, dogs, cats, a wooden cage which held a rust monster, and other fauna.  Isvahn could be seen growing in pots throughout the shop, and there was a man in a dark brown robe with a blue cord at the waist who was moving around the shop, checking on the various creatures.

"Good day," he greeted them.  "I'm Percy--can I help you find an animal companion?"

---

Near Trilby's Hats

As Morveya made her way back toward the commercial district where Tweeb's Meat Market stood across the street from Neville's pawn shop, she saw some of her more recent acquaintances near Trilby's Hats.

Neo himself had burst into the back room to find it filled with stacks of boxes, though he did not find anyone in the back room, though he could hear the voices from the sales floor suggesting that the proprietor was currently with a customer.

Neo looks around the piles of boxes in the backroom. Perhaps a small boy might be able to hide amongst them.

The kuduk starts to move cautiously about the storeroom looking for any sign of the shape-changing boy.

"[Language unknown: "San, u noiepa under ceosal, seoer llngar ic secefo i ndeoneint!"]

Aendyr looked around in wonder.  Pet dogs and cats he expected, but pet monsters?!?

"Say Percy, you've got quite the menagerie here.  Are you some kind of a trainer?" Aendyr asked.

"I mean some of these animals look pretty wild.  I met a chap once who claimed to be a dragon trainer.  He and this dragon had a show, and you can bet it was popular.  They raked in the coins, mine included, because who doesn't want to see a dragon show.  The dragon was a bit on the small side.  It flew through hoops, and breathed fire on the hoops to light them up, and flew through them again.  There were other cool parts of the show like catching stuff with its tail.  Anyhow, I was drinking alone in what I later found out was the least popular pub in town when I met this woman.  She was pretty and all, but strange looking too, you know?  I didn't so much invite her to sit down with me as she invited herself.  'How'd you like the show?' she asked me.  I told her it was amazing, but it struck me as a strange question since I didn't remember seeing her in the show or even at the show.  We drank and talked.  Well, I did most of the talking.  I think she must've been a bit shy.  When it was getting so late it was almost morning she just mentions out of nowhere she's married to the dragon trainer guy and she turns into the dragon for the show."

Aendyr stopped his story for a moment and blinked blankly at Percy to show just how stunned he was at hearing this.

"If you believe that, the guy wasn't really a trainer, was he?  The show was still really good."

He nodded, smiling.

"But chum, we're not here about dragons.  We're here about parrots.  You see there's this guy named Sam, dresses fancy like a pirate and sports a parrot on his shoulder.  You'd think lots of people would remember a guy like that, but it seems like no one has seen him.  That's where you come in, Percy.  Everybody says if you want to know about a guy with a parrot, go talk to Percy.  Maybe this Pirate Sam bought his parrot here.  Heck, maybe you even trained the parrot to shoulder-sit.  At the very least you might've sold some bird food to a guy with a parrot.  Can you tell us anything?  We'd sure appreciate it."

Qrox continues to sniff around, and in the way of his kind, with small flicks of the tongue, both smelling and tasting the air, the priest continues to try and catch the scent of shapechanger.

Pet Land

"Trainer?  No, no, nothing like that," said Percy.  "I follow Lenoris, of course, and work to see that all of these animals find a good companion.  Now, parrots, those I don't usually deal in--song birds, that's another story, of course.  And there's certainly plenty of overlap with parrot diet and the diet for other creatures, I might have sold some food to such a fellow, but most folk buying food for their companions don't bring the companion into the store when they're buying the groceries."

---

Trilby's Hats

As Neo looked around and Qrox sniffed for evidence, it seemed that the boy--or shapeshifter--had managed to elude them.  The only thing that had been consistent between the forms was an interest in the pawn shop, which was due to re-open after lunch soon.

Korin stokes his beard, thinking.

"Well if ya do run across a pirate looking fellow or perhaps someone going about with a parrot perched on their shoulder, please let us know. Just to let you know, there is a bit of reward being offered but only for today so if you hear or see something, don't wait. My name's Korin and I'm staying at the Mithral Claw. You can reach me there."

Korin looks at Aendyr. "I'm ready to go meet up with the others."

"As am I, chum.  Why, I'll bet Neo has got this mystery pretty much figured out by now.  Whereabouts did you leave him?"

Neo's brow furrows when he and Qrox are unable to locate the boy in the storeroom. The kuduk decides to step into the front of the store and speak to the merchant.

He will wait for a pause in the conversation, "Excuse me, would you have happened to notice someone enter your store from the back room in the last few minutes?"

Neo entered the shop floor, finding an elven man attending to a well-dressed human woman who had an array of five boxes in front of her and a large mirror.

"Not until you did," replied the merchant after excusing himself from his customer.  "And I'll thank you to leave immediately--through the front door before I call for the guard."

Neo's eyebrow rises at the merchant's unpleasant reaction.

"I suggest you keep an eye open Master Trillby...I followed an apparent criminal into your store...if he is still in your storeroom then you could be his next victim...or it might throw a bad light on you...making you look like an accomplice to his capital crime.

But, I will leave as you wish."

Neo then steps past he merchant and heads toward the front door.

As Neo exited Trilby's, it seemed that Korin and Aendyr were approaching around the corner while the others were together outside Trilby's Hats.  According to the sign in the pawn shop, it might be expected that the shop would soon re-open after lunch.

Qrox, odd and large, remains mostly quiet with opinions and continues to follow along, listening, tasting the air, nodding in a peaceful friendly manner.  Neo occasionally wonders if the Slith actually understands much of anything that is going on or if its just a simpleton.

Hearing the commotion in the store, the priest sticks his head in and takes a quick smell of the lady with the boxes, after all, it was a wealthy looking woman first associated with the smell.

The woman shopping at Trilby's smelled quite different from the prior individuals (or was that one with two faces?) that Qrox had observed.

---

Returning to the most solid lead, that of the pawn shop, with the permission of the proprietors of Tweeb's to find suitable spots to keep watch from within the shop, the group returned to observe the pawn shop just as Neville was turning the sign back to show that his lunch had finished.

A man emerged from one of the buildings, and it appeared there was something that he was concealing beneath his cloak.  The man cast a number of glances around as he made his way over, looking quite on edge, before he entered the pawn shop.

Qrox makes a quick shake of the head to indicate the latest person does not carry the scent found earlier.  Whatever lead that might have been, seems to have gone, the moment lost and with it Qrox begins to doubt they will save the man who has begged their help.

Neo stuff the piece of venison into his mouth and quickly put the near-empty bag back into his pouch.

"Oy! I'll bet coins to cauliflower that's our thief with the book! I think the time for subterfuge is over! Come on!"

Neo leaps into the street, and dashes into the pawn shop hoping to catch the thief before he can fence the stolen book.

---

Just followin' DM's orders and getting this appetizer off the table so we can jump into the main course!

As Neo made his dash toward the pawn shop, he saw the man who had entered leave the pawn shop again.

As fate would have it, Morveya was nearing the rest of the group around this time.   She arrived just in time to see Neo hurry into the pawnshop. Apparently bent on doing something quickly.

She went that way, prepared to back him up if the situation called for it.

It had been two years since Drostan had last come this way...which considering he was a young human made it quite a long time ago for him.  He remembered picking up some quality hard-tack from Tweeb's so there was a bit of nostalgia.  He saw some scurrying around going on but it was none of his business...yet...so other than keep a wary eye to not be knocked over he simply paid attention as he went to head into the butchers shop.

As this activity began in the vicinity of the pawn shop and Tweeb's, also approaching the pawn shop was an elderly woman.

As Drostan made his way to the shop, he noted a number of individuals present in the shop whose attention seemed to be focused on the pawn shop.  The woman at the counter, Belva, greeted Drostan.  "We have a special today on smoked venison--twelve kings a pound."  Of course, asking for quarter pounds was reasonable enough, though the shop did not wrap smaller amounts, and other items were also available.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:55, Fri 09 July 2021.

Aendyr much preferred action to subterfuge.  Surely, Neo knew what he was doing.

"Coins to Cauliflower!" he cheered as he rushed out with Neo.

At first he was a half step behind the kuduk, but in his excitement he ran past him and smack into the cloaked man who had spent far too little time in the pawn shop.  This startled Aendyr and threw him off his game.

"Oh hey, sorry about that, SAM.  Didn't mean to plow into you like that."

He tried to hold the man up, so as to not rudely knock him over from the unexpected collision.  Then and idea flashed into his mind.  He gave the man a few good sniffs, hoping for a whiff of black pepper scent.  If the man sniffed him back he'd get a nose-full of alcohol breath, probably even if he didn't sniff.

"You're a swift one, you know, conducting business in a flash like that.  I'll bet Neville appreciates that.  Time is money after all."