Stenne brought up the rear, keeping her senses alert for any encroaching threats that could come after. Her hands held another ale bomb,a nonlethal deterrent.
Inside the shop is quiet. Everything looks just the way it did during your first visit.
"I believe if anyone is here, they would be in the back room by the fire."
Vors moves to the back room.
No one responds to Tessara’s call. The shop remains quite except for the footsteps of Vors moving towards the back room. Vors approaches the door leading to the back room. When first you were here, this door was hanging wide open, but it has since been shut.
Vors notes the door was open before. He can hear a fire crackling inside. He pauses and then approaches with caution. When close enough, he stops and listens while visibly looking for traps. He will wait for the rest of the party before even considering any further action.
Stenne entered, eyes searching and ears pricked. She even smelled the air for anything off.
She slipped her ale bomb into her sleeve to throw whilst appearing unarmed.
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Tessara's eyes focus past the closed door to the backroom, as if seeing something beyond it. "Vors," she whispers, drawing close to him and concentrating on the aura her divination is picking up, "There's something powerfully magical in that room. Be careful."
Calling up the diagrams of aural fractometries from Borgen's Treatise on the Auras of All Arcane Forces, and Their Immediate Interpolations in her mind's eye, she tries to decipher what school of magic this power might belong to.
Vors appears uneasy and concerned to you.
"Thank you for the warning, Tess."
He whispers to the party "I cannot be certain this door is without traps. I am willing to inspect it further if that is what you prefer. There may be nothing at all to this. We could just knock and introduce ourselves. Personally, I am in need of a pole and some bait. I rely on your better judgment. How would you like to proceed?"
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Her mind working silently as Vors speaks, still focused on the door, she says at last "I think... I think that fire you mentioned may be the illusion. Observe it carefully when you have a chance. As for the door... it may be wiser to simply enter, but knocking would certainly be more decorous. Perhaps our dear captain is simply deep into a good book."
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Versed as she was in the multitude of smells and tastes of her craft, Stenne took notice of any variations no matter how minor in her surroundings. She breathed through her mouth and tasted the air she drew in.
The fire burned bright and crackled in the hearth as though the flames were gnawing greedily at the wood.
However,the absence of two things told her it a visual phantasm. The smell of burning wood should had been left lingering in the air. Not even a hint of soot.
She also didn't smell the stonework that made up the fireplace. The bricks smelled hours cold from where she stood.
Hm. Why bother with the illusion of a fire?
She approached the door, eyeing it suspiciously for any tamperimg.
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"A fire would indicate that this place is occupied. Someone wanted to give the illusion they were here, when in fact they are not."
Cavasin ponders over the simplicity of the spell, given that moments ago, he had seen with his own eyes immaculate and impeccable illusory doubles of the entire party in the study room.
"My meagre experience with spell-tricks like this is that sometimes the simpler the illusion, the easier it is for the mind to process. No one would think twice about the sight of a cookfire in a window, for they are as common as a copper piece."
Cavasin smiles with a wistful look in the distance. "... but my mentor always said; "Simple illusions trick only the simple minded."" Cavasin leans down and claps a hand on the shoulder of Stenne. "That you so skillfully spotted such a ruse by sight and smell alone? Seems I've much to learn from you, wise one."
Vors takes in all the observations of his party. He taps on the door. "Mr. Muesello, it is Vors Aman. I have need of a pole and some bait. Are you there?"
Vors’ greeting is met with silence.
...Hm.Curious. Either he's out or being kept away. Something tells me not *urrrp* by c-choice.
Stenne went ahead and shoved the door open, ducking through catiously.
Vors peers into the room Stenne opened the door to. He agrees with Moonshine's insight that this absence may not be by choice. The illusion was created, however, but by whom? He has a desire to rid himself and his companions of the evidence they found as quickly as possible. He looks for somewhere to hide their findings.
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Stenne bursts through the door into the room beyond. Inside the room, you see Cruven standing beside the fireplace talking to who you assume is Lady Eshin, who is seated in an armchair facing away from you. Frustration is apparent on Cruven’s face as the discussion between the two continues. Although the conversation looks quite heated, you can’t hear anything other than quite crackle of a fire.
The moment your ears pass the threshold of the door, the sounds of the street outside disappear. The room is enveloped in complete silence other than the voice of Cruven half way through a sentence.
”… we both know they—“ Cruven stops his sentence abruptly and looks in the direction of the door. ”Well speak of a devil...” Cruven’s experssion remains the same as he eyes the new intruders.
Lady Eshin turns around to see who Cruven is speaking to. Upon seeing the party, she stands up out of her chair. ”Good. We can get some answers now.” A smile appears on her face as she continues. ”I am glad to see you all alright. We heard there was quite the commotion at the Collegium.” Her eyes move from one party member to the next, scanning each face. Suddenly, a look of concern crosses her brow. ”What happened to the others that left with you?”
Vors does not return the lady's smile. "We were separated and have no reason to believe they were in harms way as we were. We do have findings for you, Lady Eshin. Of the nature you seek."
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"As I'm sure you've heard, there was an... incident at the Collegium. There was some deal of confusion, and in the time it took to remove ourselves from the scene, as Mr. Aman stated, we were separated from the others."
Cavasin gestures to the empty space in the room. "We simply assumed they'd meet back here, but it appears that isn't so."
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The moment your ears pass the threshold of the door, the sounds of the street outside disappear. The room is enveloped in complete silence other than the voice of Cruven half way through a sentence.
As Tessara passes through the portal, her eyes widen slightly in realization and sudden understanding. So that's why they couldn't hear us...
At the same time, she pauses a few moments to focus her gaze on the fire behind their two employers, trying to see through what she suspects is an illusion.
"My Lady, I am afraid that the plan's enaction was not quite as smooth as we had hoped. We were discovered by some sort of construct guardian, as well a..." she pauses uncertainly, not wanting to betray Iliyana's trust or her duty to Lady Eshin, and decides to err on the side of caution to both. "...a caretaker. And there was an incident. A fire. I am not sure if the business with the guards outside was due to our presence being discovered or not, but I do not think that either of the individuals we met inside the secret archives would have revealed our identities or connection to you. In any case, once the riot squad came rolling in, we no longer had the option of searching for Prince Magniventris or Miss Cressen, and had no choice but to trust in their skills to return on their own."
”I told you they were behind it! This isn’t good m’lady.”
Lady Eshin turns to Cruven as he speaks. ”There is no need to act too rashly Cruven. We will wait to see what our informants tell us of what the Collegium is able to discover. Then we will decide our next play.”
Lady Eshin turns her attention back to the party. ”You said you found matters that might interest me. May I?” She holds out her hand expectingly.
Vors hands her the notations he made. "This is but a portion of our findings. My scriblings."
Certainly found some unusual findings. Nearly got shredded by bits of parchment. Stenne deadpanned.
Lady Eshin takes the note from Vors. ”Thank you” she says gratefully. Her expression shifts to that of confusion when Stenne mentions the parchments. ”Perhaps it is best that I do not fully understand that statement.”
”My lady, you seem awfully calm and collected about this whole ordeal... do you feel alright?"
Lady Eshin turns to Cavasin. In a calm tone, she replies ”I must admit that the situation we find ourselves in at this moments is… less than ideal. But I am confident that we will be able to handle it. You all have done Zobeck a great service, and we are deeply grateful for that. Now, is there anything else that you found or have we covered it all?”
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Tessara draws the pages of notes out of her bag, as well as the pen, ink, and modified Deck of Illusions Lady Eshin provided her with the day previous. "I hope you will be pleased with our discoveries, my Lady, and that they might prove worth any trouble that the investigation brings to your doorstep."
”Thank you.” She says, taking the items from Tessara. ”I will know more about the merits of your work once I have had my people look at the information you have brought me. But now, if there is nothing else…” Lady Eshin’s voice trails off as she looks towards Cruven.
”Ah, yes of course m’lady.” Cruven motions to the door. ”If you don’t mind, I will show you all to the door.” Cruven slowly herds the group towards the exit of the shop. When he reaches the door, he opens it slightly and checks the street outside before opening the door fully. ”Thank you all for your help. Lady Eshin will contact you if your services are required again.”
As you exit into the street, the sun has just set but the bustle of the docks can still be heard. The street around you is quiet, and your bodies feel tired after a long day.
Relieved that the job she had been hired to do in order to satisfy a debt had been cleared without fallout, Stenne exhaled in relief. She hiccupped and stuttered out a belch.
F-Fuh...Finally. That's over and done with. That's probably the easiest jobs I've had to do. But my debts settled and I'm fine with that.
She remembered the two missing persons from their group.Hm. Better try to check up on those two...After it dies down a bit.
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Tessara gives Stenne a demused smile. "That was the easiest? I can't imagine how colorful your life must be, my dear Deepmug." Though truth be told, she's a bit envious, having grown up listening to tales of her Uncle Caladrel's grand adventures. The elf is also curious how much the pay will end up being, though she would never be so gauche as to mention money. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough, once the council's had time to evaluate our results.
"I agree, though. It is our responsibility to ensure that their research notes don't fall into the wrong hands, as well."
"No gold, no reward? I am heading to the tavern with my silver. If anyone cares to join me, you are welcome"
Stenne winked at Vors and sniggered. Aye. I'll see ya there later.
Stenne decided if she would look for anyone it would be the proclaimed Prince Magniventris. He was a potential rival and fellow alchemist.
And if he was dead, she could grab his formulae book for herself.
Stenne was no stranger to bloodshed or gratuitous displays of violence in her life as a dwarf quick to thumb her nose at authority and law.
But this...She suppressed the bolt of unease that made her quite sober. This was clearly overdoing it.
Whatever happened here had devolved into an out and out massacre. The law here had become viciously heavyhanded as of late, it seemed.
No doubt she would have been among the unfortunte bloodstains had she lingered.
The moonshiner made herself scarce, trundling back to the tavern where Vors was probably drinking himself stupid.
She needed to refresh and recollect.
"Ah, Moonshine! Glad you could join me. The house ale is quite good. It is all I have tried so far. What would you have? This one is on me."
Stenne accepted the free tankard of ale with a lopside grin, appreciative of the free booze.
Aye, that's a right rogue. Won't mind if'n I do! She bumped tankards with his in a jovial manner.
Drinking deeply and wiping suds from her nose, the she-dwarf mentioned,Good thing we made ourselves scarce. I checked out the street near the Collegium--deserted save for all the bloodstains. That could have very well been us.
Vors buys Moonshine several more ales. He tests her fortitude while giving her protection.
"A cunning observation, my dear. This enforcement is a true concern. We should get to the bottom of that. Speaking of bottoms, let me buy you another."
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"... or how about I get this round?" Cavasin steps forward, lit by the flickering din of a lit brazier, though he keeps his distance given the party's more recent experiences with fire.
"One for the both of them, 'keep, and another for me." Cavasin leans on the bar beside towards Vors and Stenne while he removes his traveling gloves. "Unless... I don't mean to intrude on anything..."
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Tessara gives Vors a disapproving look, and answers "Perhaps after we find our companions."
She makes her way back towards the Collegium with Stenne, keeping a sharp eye out for danger. Even with her spells depleted, her long experience with fencing gives her a sense of self-assurance, should they run into trouble.
But the scene of the carnage is as disheartening to her as it is to the dwarf. "I'll continue to look for George and Cassandra, Deepmug. Be safe." Though they came from very different worlds, Tessara was finding that the shared trauma of battle had brought her a little closer to Stenne, and to her lost companions as well. She spends the evening searching for any sign of them, or of their research notes.
Ha! Too late fer that. Time for carousin' an' companionship! Stenne declared with a cackle, greedily downing any and all offered ale.
Bah. I'm sure once we've had a right rest and collect ourselves, we'll set out and investigate. Mebbie find some trouble and treasure,eh?