Once finished with his breakfast Barin moves towards the door and nods to Rasil:"We've better hurry. I'll be damned if I let that snob get the work done before we do ours!"
Rasil smiled. "Sure thing Barin. I'm ready. Off to Meisner's Auction House!"
He hastily joined the dwarf in departing the barracks and heading for the auction house.
Simza was the one to slow them down in fact, burdened as she was with her armor, she did her best to keep up however, shaking her head at Koraq's question. "No. I don't recall them saying too much about him, other than that he still had his copy of that book." she replies, and then frowns, her brow furrowing. "We did secure his book back at headquarters didn't we?"
Issceran, Simza, and Koraq make their way to Irefoot Hall. There, they find some of the merchants picking through their shops, while others sit to the side, fuming (among them being Kinman). When you approach him, he looks the three of you up and down, finally deciding that Issceran is the least objectionable, and tries to block the rest of you out. The elf, however, is too distracted by the sights of the ruin to pay much attention to the conversation, leaving Simza and Koraq to handle the questions.
Barin and Rasil make an interesting sight at Meisner's. Though dwarves are not uncommon, they are usually the more refined variety. Gnomes are quite frequent, though not usually with dwarves.
That being said, the auction house is quite eager to maintain good will with the City Watch, and so it takes but a few minutes before you are ushered into a posh office to see Sir Meisner himself.
"How may we at Meisner's Auction House of Fine Art and Antiquities assist the Watch today, gentlemen?" the man asks in all the pomp Barin was expecting to receive.
"We're curious about some items that were sold here. They're involved in a case. They are triangles of black gold. Sound familiar?" Rasil said with a smile.
"Triangles of black gold? Any chance these triangles were enchanted in nature?"
Upon getting a confirmation they were, Meisner continues. "Yes, we did have two up for auction about a year ago, now. Two fragments of a much larger magic item, yet each still possessing its own enchantment, though non-functional." He opens a cabinet and begins searching through records. After a few minutes, he announces. "Here we are. One of the fragments was purchased by a Mr. Mar Bannock, the other a Mr. Veristan Mikobar. I'm sorry to say that neither gentleman left any sort of contact information, so I don't know how helpful this will be."
Simza would be happy to let Issceran take the lead in the matter as they approach Kinman, not eager to deal with the man as portrayed by the others, but since the Elf seemed distracted she stepped forward to claim the Chelaxian's attention.
"Mr. Kinman, we're sorry to have to bother you again, but we've come upon a new lead for the case and were hoping you might be able to help us." she begins as politely as she can. "We were hoping to inquire if you knew anything about an artifact known as the Enjoiner."
Kinman gives Simza a sneer, mostly directed at her Varisian garb, though he looks blank at the mention of an enjoiner.
"A Mr. Mar Bannock and Mr. Veristan Mikobar, you say?"
Rasil tugged on his lavender mustache as he continued, "Well, that's more than we new before we got here! Thank you very much!"
Looking to Barin, Rasil said, "Looks like we're going to have to ask around town about these two."
Koraq is already suspicious of Kinman given Barin's views of the antiquiter. Figuring Issceran would be better suited to working on an intellectual level, he was surprised that Simza took the lead on the questioning. However, Koraq studies Rav's reaction.
"Ya sure you don't have anythin' to say 'bout the Enjoiner, Kinman?"
"Quite sure. I've never heard of anything called an enjoiner. Perhaps if you could describe it, I could recall if I ever sold such a thing before."
Simza frowns slightly at Rav reaction, or rather lack of one, or indeed a response. "Uhh, certainly. It's a triangle of black gold, one of five pieces of the same design which are pieces of the item known as the Enjoiner. It may have been on a chain to be worn as a necklace or amulet."
"On a platinum chain? The Shoanti relic? Sure, I have it. Didn't know there were others. If the midgit would ever let me look through my shop, I could show it to you!" He raises his voice at the end, to make sure the stocky woman examining the foundations could hear him. Rumblemountain glances up, catches whatever retort she wants to make, and returns to her perusal.
Koraq, not wanting to waste any more time here, goes to Mrs. Rumblemountain, ready for round two of any verbal sparring that may ensue.
"Hey lady, MSI needs Kinman 'ere to verify an' item of his stock is still secure and all. There gonna be any problms with that?"
Rumblemountain looks up at Koraq. "Oh, hello again. My name is Rumblemountain, by the way, not 'lady'. As for a problem, no, not at all." She stops to smile at Koraq and give a small laugh. "I would never hold up an official investigation. Technically, I secured this site almost an hour ago, now. I was just making him wait cause he's a complete jackass, but if you need him in here, then by all means."
Koraq chuckles at Rumblemountain's comment, nodding in agreement. "Heh, guess you're not so bad after all Rumblemountain."
After that, Koraq motions for Issceran, Simza, and Kinman to come up.
"Finally," Kinman growls. "Guess you people are good for something."
Once amid the ruins of his business, he takes a moment to get his bearings, then says, "It's over there."
Five minutes of searching later, you do not find an enjoiner. Kinman is hopping mad, uttering all sorts of epithets against both Shoanti and Varisians alike.
Mostly in general, though some at a Varisian witch he claims cursed his shop a few weeks ago.
Barin repeats in a soft, dangerous tone:"Mar Bannock, and Veristan Mikobar, and of course no information of any kind on them, eh? Could you at least tell us when did they purchase the enjoiners? And did they ever bid on something else? I take they were not members of your usual clientele"
Simza's cheeks flush significantly as she follows Rav in and he fails to find the item in question. "Well. It seems we now know what was taken here." she says at last, her voice a bit strained.
Rasil cringed at Barin's gruff demeanor, but he was getting used to it.
And this is when he isn't angry! I sure don't want Barin ever mad at me! the gnome thought emphatically.
"Um, yes. Good questions Barin." The gnome turned his attention to Meisner in anticipation of the man's answers.
"Well, the good news is that we can probably get your creepy book back to ya sooner than expected. Bad news is that things are gonna get messy real soon at this rate..."
If Meisner thinks anything of Barin's gruffness, he doesn't show it. "Certainly. The enjoiner fragments were purchased at an auction on the 6th of Pharast of this year. My records don't indicate people who bid on items, just who successfully purchased them, although now that I think of it, I'm quite certain Mr. Mikobar bid on both of them, but Mr. Bannock easily outbid him on one of them, the Millis Fragment. Mr. Mikobar purchased the Gush Fragment, as I recall. Yes, there it is. Now, as you say, Mr. Mikobar is not one of my usual customers, we don't get many tattoed Shoanti bidding on fine antiques and works of art," he pauses to share a small smile, "but Mr. Bannock is a regular. Of course, he doesn't purchase for himself, but rather for his Lord or Lady. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you which off hand, but I'm sure a bit of asking around could help you with that."
"If all goes well. Mr. Meisner, you have been very helpful!"
Turning to Barin, Rasil said, "Now we just have to track down Mar Bannock to ask him about the Millis Fragment and Veristan Mikobar, this tattooed Shoanti, about the Gush Fragment!"
Barin gives Meisner a nod that could even be mistaken for approval, after a fashion: "Good. I trust you'll doeverything you can to help the watch solve this. We have reason to believe these costumers of yours to be in serious danger. One last thing... can you recall if there was someone else who bidded on those fragments? Or someone who seemed desperate to get them but couldn't? Didn't you hear there was someone interested in the enjoiners in the circles you frequent? We know for a fact there's someone out there who's EXTREMELY interessed in those trinkets. Someone who won't stop until he gets his hands on them"
After receiving Meisner's answer, Barin goes away with Rasil and answers him, somehow desolately:"I think you are better suited to sweet talk your way 'round here. My way of getting people to talk won't sit too well with these charlatans I fear"
"The sooner the better," Kinman says distractedly, taking advantage of being let in to start rooting for things, "But find my fragment, too! If sonebody's knocking down buildings to get those, their price is going to skyrocket!" He straightens up. "Imagine how much I could get for the completed item!!"
Simza frowns at Kinman's comments. "If we do find the pieces then they will be returned to their original owners." the veiled girl observes primly.
"Well we'll leave you to your work Mr Kinman, and do our best to recover your property. Thank you for your help." she says, eager to be away from the rotten man. She heads back to the Dwarven Inspector then. "Mrs. Rumblemountain? You said you had secured the site, does that mean you know what caused the collapse?"
Rumblemountain nods. "Good morning to you. I've found the same sort of damage here as West Naos, centered under the Chel's shop, though why anyone would wish such a charming gentleman harm is beyond me."
"I don't recall any other bidders, though there could have been. And no, I haven't heard of anyone in my 'circles' looking for more fragments, so whoever it is, doesn't run in my 'circles'."
"Well, thank you Mr. Meisner, and have a pleasant day. Come along Barin, why don't we head over to Irefoot Hall to fill in the rest of the team," said Rasil.
Upon realization that three of the fragments are now missing, Koraq looks slighty up over the horizon of rooftops. "Simz, I gotta bad feeling."
Simza nods as Rumblemountain confirms that the damage was the same, deciding to fill the inspector in on their suspicions that it was a summoned creature in the form of a snake. "Do you think that a supernatural being of that nature could be responsible for this?" she asks when she is done, glancing at Koraq's comment. It didn't look to good admittedly, but she hoped the others would have found some other leads they could follow.
Thinking about it for a second, Koraq goes back to the rummaging Kinman for one more question. "Bein' a collector and all, do ya happen to know if anyone else happens ta have one of these enjoiner pieces, or at least is into Shoanti relics?"
"I don't see why we need to get to the others: we've better asking 'round here. I bet some of these snotty snobs know everything about the enjoiners. So... why don't you start making friends with them?"
Rasil cocked his head to the side, thinking. "Yes, Barin, you're probably right. We might as well get started!"
The pair head out into the area near the auction house to see if they can learn the whereabouts of Mar Bannock (so they can ask him about the Millis Fragment).
Gather info time: hours
Three hours of searching and asking around the neighborhood, Rasil finally finds a tailor who knows a Mar Bannock, the head butler of Lord Millis.
"No, I don't know anyone else with these things. I don't really make it a point to purchase Shoanti relics. I carry tried and true Chelish antiquities, but it was a good price for something so historic and magical, and I was happy to help out a good Chelaxian family by buying it. Of course, it would be nice to have anyone actually interested in buying it. The only person who even really looked at it...was that tattooed Shoanti savage! Yeah, I remember now. He really looked like he wanted it, and tried to haggle me down to some ridiculous price. That was a few months back."
"Gotta name or a location of this Shoanti guy?"
"So, Bathbone... did you learn something useful or did you just improve your knowledge about old and dusty junk better left undisturbed in some tomb somewhere?" Barin looks quite bored, having spent the last few hours staring at very refined tapestries he could not care less about.
"Of course not!" Kinman retorts. "It's not like I would actually associate with that filth."
"Yes, Barin. Apparently, Mr. Bannock is the head butler of Lord Millis. Interesting how the fragment he purchased was called the Millis Fragment, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, I've never heard of Lord Millis."
"Good work anyway! Let's just go back and ask that snotty auctioneer, Meisner about this Lord Millis. I bet he knows every damned noble from here to Brevoy!
So saying the dwarf motions toward the auction house once again
Actually, a 6 is still good enough to know Millis (which should be a hint as to his relative power and standing in Magnimar!).
Rasil thought about it for a few minutes, "You know, Barin, I think I have heard of Lord Millis. Oh, we'll need to tread carefully. I believe he lives this way."
The gnome headed off toward where he thinks the man's residence is.
Satisfied Barin follows the gnome towards Lord Millis' Manor
Simza thanks Mrs. Rumblemountain for her help, asks her again to send them a formal report once she's written it up, and excuses herself, heading back over to Koraq to see what had held him up. "Well. Perhaps now would be the time for some research." she suggests, probably able to guess Koraq's response. "Hoepfully we'll turn up something useful before we meet back up with Rasil and Barin."
"A library? No thanks, Simz. Think Iss," pausing to make sure the elf wasn't within earshot. "Isscey will be of better use to ya there. I'll walk you two to the place, but I'm gonna check out a couple of contacts an' see if they heard of a creepy Shoanti shaman guy. Figger I can meetcha back at the library when I'm done."