Mikal looks at the list of purchases, not seeing anyhting unusual. He looks on as Aria continues to question the baker woman. He is getting the sense that this was a regular old burglary, someone stealing bread because they cannot afford to buy it. He wonders if that is what it is coming to in Coran, as the Mage's guild continues to ignore the plight of the citizens.
Garion defers to Aria and lets the spell drop.
"Threatened me?" her voice goes up half an octave. "Oh no, nothing like that has happened. We keep to ourselves and mind our own business, just trying to make an honest living." She sighs. "There seems to be so much trouble in the city these days. I sometimes wonder if we might be better moving to one of the outlying settlements, or maybe to Gumlat. Terrible thing that happened to the Duresu family too, just down the street. Don't know where I'll buy the spices we use for baking from while the merchant's guild sorts that out and a new owner takes over." She shudders, "Not sure I'd want to own a place where murder was done."
Aria nods in gratitude and understanding, and steps back to allow the others to ask their questions.
A small stove sits outside the fruit shop, a boiling pot of water sitting on top of it. A basket of apples sits on the ground next to the pot.
Entering the shop, a young woman in her twenties at the back calls out, "Just a minute." She is busy rummaging through a couple of boxes at the back. "Where did I put that?" she mutters to herself. She continues moving boxes and looking through them. Finally giving up she turns to you, frustration showing on her face. "Sorry. What can I get for you." She tries to put on a pleasant face, but does a poor job of it.
Cindy, less confident with strangers stays in the back disguised as a human child looking around at wares.
Finally giving up she turns to you, frustration showing on her face. "Sorry. What can I get for you." She tries to put on a pleasant face, but does a poor job of it.
"Hopefully, answers to some questions, miss," Garion answers with a smile. "My name is Garion, my friends and I are investigators for the Guild. I understand the shop was broken into. Was anything taken or anyone hurt?"
"They said they would send someone to look into it. I've been robbed twice now though. Once two nights ago and again last night." Anger shows plainly on her face, her cheeks flushing. "The first night they took my coin box from under the counter. I don't keep a lot in it, but need it for making change during business hours. They left everything else undisturbed. This morning when I came in early half my fruit baskets were tipped over." Her eyes tear up and her voice stutters a little, "And now I can't find the cinnamon I was going to use on my steamed apples this morning. Why... why would they take that? I'm a seller of fruit, not fine jewelry, I can't afford to hire full time guards."
"How much cinnamon was taken? It's an expensive spice in most parts of the world."
"Just a small amount is all. I purchased a pouch of it just a few days ago as I was nearly out. It's not worth more than a gold here in Coran. I just don't understand it." The woman sighs. [b]"I'm going to have to find someone to run and fetch me more now... Aaagh." she cries out in exasperation, shaking her head. "The Duresu's. I don't even know where to send someone now to fetch me some."
Vados takes a few gold from his pouch it in the hands of the woman.
"The guild will not stand idly by while you are so abused. I hope this will help you replace what you have lost."
Cinnamon
At Vados offer of coin, "Thank you, I appreciate your kindness."
Vados turns back to the party.
I will admit that our investigations have left me...confused. I wish I knew where to go or who to pursue. Perhaps we should return to the guild with our information and seek further guidance? Or should we proceed to the inn and coordinate?
"The cinnamon seems to be a key ingredient in all these cases," Garion muses. "Is it, perhaps, a component in some spell or ritual?"
Knowledge: Religion
Spellcraft
Thinking back though, what Mikal and Talathel found in the Duresu shop - a pouch filled with pesh powder. Now that would be used in some rituals of darker deities. It could also fetch a high price on the streets.
As the group considers what course to take next a young messenger boy comes in bearing the insignia of the guild.
"Vados? Garion? I was told you might be here or down the street at the bakery. Master Raseb says he'd like you to come and see him when it is convenient for you to do so."
Master Raseb is one of the bureaucrats for the guild, a eunuch from somewhere overseas who has worked for the guild for a number of years. A brilliant mind for numbers and a cunning 'politician'. He frequently handles matters between the guild and the various magistrates and mage council members.
"We have several tasks already, but Master Raseb will not be forgotten." Aria informs the messenger boy, and turns back to the others.
The page boy nods to Aria, "I will let Raseb know."
Thinking back though, what Mikal and Talathel found in the Duresu shop - a pouch filled with pesh powder. Now that would be used in some rituals of darker deities. It could also fetch a high price on the streets.
"It seems we are needed everywhere at once. Which leads should we follow first? I am concerned about the repeated incidents with the spice thieves. Perhaps we should try and track down any potential buyers."
A dozen entries written in ink cover half the page. The page details dates, locations, and names. All but the last entry are past. The latest entry though lists a date for two days from now .
Rosuc - Silver Spirits
"I think we need to find a place to regroup, think out our actions, take and merge any specific notes, and determine the best course of action." She looks around at the tavern noise around them. "Someplace without distraction would be best."
Finding a private dining room at an inn in which to talk is a simple matter.
Garion muses, "It seems our next most logical steps would be to interrogate the Drow, if possible, and then be at the Silver Spirits and see who, or what, meets with Rossuc."
Vados nods.
"I'm amenable to this plan. Does anyone have a connection in the guard to help us get in to see the prisoner?
"I'd asked Silvers earlier, but he said it would be difficult, if not impossible... or words to that effect." Skyfire curled around Aria's neck and rested his eyes.
"I'd be interested in knowing if cinnamon has been stolen from anywhere else. Was the Daresu's shop the only one that sold cinnamon? Its possible other spice traders may have been robbed, where other clues could be found."
Vados ponders for a moment.
"We do have a piece of cloth from the scene of the one of the spice robberies. Are any of us able to use a scrying spell upon it? I have seen other guild agents employ this technique to track their targets."
"I fear I have no such spell at my disposal. Although it does indeed seem like a good idea."
I can't do that either. Sorry.
Sorry I am not much help. I feel useless both IC and OOC. I am hear every day and can post but am not sure what to do. I am usually pretty good at mysteries but am totally lost here.
"Then we should head to the merchant's guildhall for two reasons. One, to find a reputable spellcaster, and secondly, to see if anything else unusual has been going on along the lines of what we've gathered information on."
The merchant's guild hall lies at the east end of the Merchant's Road. Exquisite craftsmanship is seen in the construction of the mostly marble edifice. A dozen guards employed by the guild stand outside, preventing unwelcome visitors from getting to close.
The guards readily recognize the group and part to allow entry through the large gate.
Inside rich rugs cover much of the clean wooden floor. Several clerks sit at a desk to one side, one stands as you enter, "We did not expect you so soon, but Raseb said to send you right in when you arrived." The clerk opens a door off to one side
Raseb is a thin wiry man, dark skin, head shaven. Several bracelets ornament his arms and he wears loose fitting stylish clothing. His smile is genuine, something he does not offer freely to strangers who come to visit him, he gestures to several seats near his desk before sitting down in his own high backed leather chair.
"Good of you to come, though I had not anticipated your arrival till late today. There are several items I would like to bring to your attention, but first, if I may ask, how fare your investigations?"
"Poorly. We are baffled by what little evidence we have found. And the Magocracy seems to have cut us off from interviewing the one suspect of the murders that had been occurring. We have found some interesting things, though, and require the services of a diviner, if you might know of a reputable one."
Cindy allows the veil of her disguise to fall away as she strides into Raseb's office. We have discovered much, but must be missing pieces of the puzzle, or lack some clue to allow us to draw needed conclusion from what we have found. Allow us to share with you what we have found and perhaps, with your knowledge, you can help us see the whole. She begins to share what the group has learned.
Vados listens as Cindy recounts the tale. He stands at attention by one of the chairs Master Raseb motioned to, though he does not take a seat.
"A diviner is easy enough to arrange for, though not necessarily cheap, depending on what you are looking for."
Raseb listens closely as Cindy Lu relates the information that has been gathered. His expression a study of concern.
"May I see the piece of cloth and the feather?"
He examines the cloth first, shaking his head, "This could belong to just about anyone, doesn't seem to be anything extraordinary about it." He pauses for a moment thinking, then raises a questioning eyebrow, "Maybe something left over from one of the errand boys the merchant's sometimes employ?"
He looks at the black crows feather, "You've checked this for magical auras?" Raseb shakes his head, "I've heard of criminal organizations sometimes leaving calling cards, like you say. A foolish practice in my opinion, something only the arrogant or vain would engage in."
"Well I have a few other things that may interest you."
"Just this morning one of Miss Ashin's caravan guards returned, only without any caravan. They were on their way to Issust Hold, delivering a large supply of food stores and were waylaid about a day and a half journey out of Coran. The bandits were dressed in Ondian uniforms. Said they had received word the caravan was smuggling flayleaf. When the caravan captain refused to submit to this fraudulent claim they ensorcelled him with a spell and attacked the guards. Several were wounded and the caravan lieutenant, Idmech Daniay, was seriously injured. The guards had no choice but to retreat. The lieutenant is recovering, but he mentioned the bandits summoned a demon to aid them in their attack. Idmech said there were maybe a few less than a dozen men among the bandits, but they were not common thieves certainly. Among them was a woman with a singers voice, and one of the catfolk. The captain left with the bandits and we fear he will not come back alive. I'm not sure much can be done about the entire situation now, but it was something I felt you should be aware of."
"The second thing is that tonight there is a public meeting scheduled with members of the mage council. These are usually tiresome affairs, arguing about the tariffs, discussion of other issues in the kingdom and the like. Mister di Alkanov plans to bring up the issue of piracy you handled for him and seek redress on behalf of Miss Ashin's losses. No doubt the recent murders will be discussed as well. It may interest you to attend tonight, though that is up to you if you feel you have the time to spare."
Raseb stretches in his chair, covering his mouth as he coughs a bit, "A young woman, Susan Watersmith, a pawnbroker who is registered with the guild, and a teenage boy stopped by early this morning. She was clearly troubled by something, said a friend of hers knew some information about the murders of two nights ago, and wanted to discuss this with the guild. I'm not sure why she doesn't simply go to the city watch if she does indeed have information." Raseb adds as an after thought, "I don't believe she is related to the Watersmiths you are more familiar with."
"Last of all, I was visited not an hour ago by two representatives from the government. Apparently they got wind of the circumstances surrounding Mister Jumai and was hoping we could provide some greater insight into those events. They expressed an interest in meeting with you to trade information on the case. I'm not sure they know much though, and while they posed as simple bureaucrats I feel these two were more than that. I informed them I did not know if you would have a chance to speak to them any time soon, but I can arrange for you to meet with them if you wish to do so."
"And what of the cinnamon? Have you heard of other thefts of the spice recently? They may all be related." Aria pipes up, her voice still stinted by military command-tone.
Cindy listens carefully. We should follow up on all of these leads. And I for one would like to be there tonight for the meeting. Addressing the group she asks What is first? What seems more urgent?
"I'm am not aware of any other theft of spices, though I can send out someone to talk to each of the major spice merchant's here in Coran and get a report back to you."
"If we can do so quietly, all the better. I really don't want the thieves knowing we're onto them, if they are stealing quantities of cinnamon for some purpose." Aria paced, impatiently, and Skyfire, who had been sleeping on Aria's shoulder, releases a snore. She reaches up to pet him quietly, letting him fall back asleep, but it is obvious her mind is focused on other matters.
"Of course Aria.", Raseb gives her a nod.
He pulls a piece of parchment from his desk and takes a moment writing on it with a quill pen. "I should be able to get a report back in by this evening."
"Would you like to speak with a spell caster then to try and get a bead on these mysteries of yours? Or shall I arrange a meeting with the government bureaucrats first?"