"Hmmm... constriction injuries plus those puncture marks... are we looking at the work of a large snake, I wonder?"
Calatin would like to look at some natural history books, he's sure he's heard about giant snakes... although how likely it is that one's roaming town without having been noticed... or... have there been any reports lately about missing small pet animals?
Do the crush marks match up with the concept of a snake coiling around the body?
And where's that dratted owl? How many mice does that greedy bird need?
The crush marks do look like the work of a large constrictor snake. Any one of many libraries should have books on snakes, such as the library at his alma mater.
"Markiv said the fellow summoned a snake to do his bidding. So that works. Now I'd like to talk to Flynn's roommates again. Maybe they remember him having an heirloom necklace."
Rumblemountain shakes Laya's hand with a look of complete bewilderment on her face. "I ... uh ... I'll keep that in mind. You can tell your friend Mr. Wallas that whatever took West Naos Market down took this building down, too. I'm done calling it an accident, though. Somebody wanted to take these buildings down for whatever reason. It's a lot harder to bring down a one-story building than it is a two-story building, which is probably why your bad guy concentrated his efforts here. He wanted this specific section of the building down. Sure wish I knew how he was doing it, though."
"You have ink smudges on your fingers," Laya comments, "so you obviously do a lot of writing." She starts to peer at the rubble. "What's different about this section compared to the rest of the building? Is it something about the structure or something else? What shop used to be here?"
Rumblemountain shakes Laya's hand with a look of complete bewilderment on her face. "I ... uh ... I'll keep that in mind. You can tell your friend Mr. Wallas that whatever took West Naos Market down took this building down, too. I'm done calling it an accident, though. Somebody wanted to take these buildings down for whatever reason. It's a lot harder to bring down a one-story building than it is a two-story building, which is probably why your bad guy concentrated his efforts here. He wanted this specific section of the building down. Sure wish I knew how he was doing it, though.""You have ink smudges on your fingers," Laya comments, "so you obviously do a lot of writing." She starts to peer at the rubble. "What's different about this section compared to the rest of the building? Is it something about the structure or something else? What shop used to be here?"
"Different? Not much. The building is pretty symmetrical, and the land is flat, so there's no reason to believe that any one part was more or less stable than the others." She flips her notebook open and consults it. "It looks like the Cherished Chelish was in this section of the building?"
"Cherished Chelish." Laya mulls over the name for a moment. She picks up a piece of rubble and begins to examine it carefully. "So you you'd say the perpetrator used the same methods to collapse this building as the Naos Market? How long do you figure it took?"
"Cherished Chelish." Laya mulls over the name for a moment. She picks up a piece of rubble and begins to examine it carefully. "So you you'd say the perpetrator used the same methods to collapse this building as the Naos Market? How long do you figure it took?"
Thora rubs her nose with her thumb, leaving an ink smear there as well as her hand. "Well, as I couldn't say what method was used, I couldn't guess on how long it would have taken. If you can determine through some other means how it was done, I might be able to tell you how long it took."
Jaijarko is a name known throughout Magnimar (even with that bad of a roll) as the principal real estate mogul in Rag's End - he owns well over half of all the flea-infested hovels that pass for living quarters in that dreary end of the city.
About the others, he has no clue.
"Unfortunately, we haven't yet worked that out either. We were hoping you might have an idea how it was done. Still, knowing it was focused on this spot is a good starting clue. I should find the owner of this Cherished Chelish place. Thank you very much, Ms. Rumblemountain. You've been a great help. I'll check in later to see if you've learned anything else."
Laya places the piece of rubble in her pack, and then goes in search of the owner of the Cherished Chelish.
"Unfortunately, we haven't yet worked that out either. We were hoping you might have an idea how it was done. Still, knowing it was focused on this spot is a good starting clue. I should find the owner of this Cherished Chelish place. Thank you very much, Ms. Rumblemountain. You've been a great help. I'll check in later to see if you've learned anything else."
Laya places the piece of rubble in her pack, and then goes in search of the owner of the Cherished Chelish.
Thora Rumblemountain waves Laya over to the general direction of a pale-skinned, haughty-looking man currently bent over sifting through bits of rubble and debris. According to the notes Captain Percival gave her, this should be Rav Kinman, the owner of the Cherished Chelish, a fact he confirms easily enough as he first straightens up at her voice, then hunches over again to address the petite investigator.
As Markiv is heading out, possibly heading towards the Stone of the Seers in Keystone and some of the eating establishments around there, he is met by Captain Percival with a young human woman in tow.
"Ah, Mr. Goldroth! How fortuitous indeed to find you here. May I present to you Ms. Auriel Minick. She is a, well, street-wise young lady with a somewhat unorthodox set of skills - skills which you will likely find great use for at MSI. I am in a bit of a rush, or I would escort Ms. Minick personally, but perhaps I may leave her in your expert care?"
The young woman, dressed in eclectic clothing of the most modern fashion, her hair dyed a shocking and entirely unnatural shade of red, gives the old man a quick once-over, seeming to both start and end with his choice of footwear. Looking a little askance, she asks, "Escort me where? I didn't sign up for delivering meals to the elderly and helping little old men across the street."
Ignoring her jabs Markiv responds, "Ah, Ms. Minick, how interesting. The MSI attracts all kinds. I'm in need for someone with a keen eye for unique individuals. We'll be going to Keystone."
As they travel Markiv explains the details of the case so far, "...as a summoner myself, I've taken a special interest in our suspect. I find it offensive that he uses his gifts in such a manner. Perhaps my own eidolon drive me against such a dark creature."
"So, wait: you're saying there's someone destroying buildings? Not much coin in that, unless he runs a construction business. Or are the piles of rubble just a distraction? People get so caught up in the collapsed building that they don't pay attention to what turns up missing?"
"I don't know about a distraction, but it's certainly the means to an end. Like I said, he took a necklace out of the second location, and I suspect something was removed from the first as well. The others should be questioning for what was missing exactly. Perhaps if they can find out what was so important about this necklace we'll know what else the suspect might be looking for and where he'll strike next."
"So where am I taking you now? Or are you taking me?"
"We'll start here, at the Stone of the Seers, and see what turns up from there," he says pushing his way into the tavern. "Keep an eye out for anyone who acts strangely if they over-hear my questioning. A lot of people think if you're not talking to them, no one is paying attention to them."
Awgin knocks on the door of the flophouse shared by Parko Finderal and Jom, Bryndor Flynn's former roommates.
Awgin knocks on the door of the flophouse shared by Parko Finderal and Jom, Bryndor Flynn's former roommates.
The door opens to reveal Jom, his eyes even more red than this morning. He brightens up a bit upon seeing you. "Hey! You're back! Did you figure out what happened to Bryndon?"
Thora Rumblemountain waves Laya over to the general direction of a pale-skinned, haughty-looking man currently bent over sifting through bits of rubble and debris. According to the notes Captain Percival gave her, this should be Rav Kinman, the owner of the Cherished Chelish, a fact he confirms easily enough as he first straightens up at her voice, then hunches over again to address the petite investigator.
"Hi, Mister Kinman?" Laya says, extending her hand. "I'm from the Magnimar Special Investigations unit. I was wondering if you could answer a few question. You ran the Cherished Chelish, yes? What kind of merchandise did you sell and is any of it missing?"
"We'll start here, at the Stone of the Seers, and see what turns up from there," he says pushing his way into the tavern. "Keep an eye out for anyone who acts strangely if they over-hear my questioning. A lot of people think if you're not talking to them, no one is paying attention to them."
Markiv and Auriel make their way past the monolithic Stone of the Seers along Seerspring Boulevard, the beautiful Seerspring Gardens to their left. They turn in a narrow side street and quickly come out into a student ghetto of sorts where student housing buildings compete with pubs, magic supply shops, and other more exotic businesses for space and attention. The streets are occupied by as many young men and women in black academic gowns as regular street clothes, a steady stream of which seem to be entering and exiting one pub in particular. The sign above the door names it the Familiar Goose, and the picture is of a man, obviously a wizard being goosed by a goose (which also wears a wizard's hat) in a very unfortunate and private location.
Laughter bubbles out the doors as you approach and upon entering, you see a bright and cheery, if very odd pub. Flame appear to hover and dance across the ceiling, providing light, the tables float in place, and drink and food orders drift through the air at a good clip to the outstretched hands of hungry and thirsty Stone students.
A plaque, identical to the sign outside, hangs on the wall just inside the door. "Welcome! Have a seat and a drink," the wizard on the plaque gasps is pain.
"Not yet. Tell me about what .. uh, Bryndon would wear. What kind of clothes did he like? Did he wear a hat or jewelry or anything?" Awgin says in his gruff manner.
Just in case
Diplomacy
"Not yet. Tell me about what .. uh, Bryndon would wear. What kind of clothes did he like? Did he wear a hat or jewelry or anything?" Awgin says in his gruff manner.
Just in case
Diplomacy 1d20-2
"Uh...what he would wear? I dunno. Clothes, I guess," Jom replies helpfully.
Finderal pipes up, "Nothing specific, if that's what you mean. He didn't have any money for decorations, and he didn't care about them. If he had anything valuable that he wore, we never saw it. You think he was robbed? Who knocks over a building to roll the night watchman for his swag?"
Thora Rumblemountain waves Laya over to the general direction of a pale-skinned, haughty-looking man currently bent over sifting through bits of rubble and debris. According to the notes Captain Percival gave her, this should be Rav Kinman, the owner of the Cherished Chelish, a fact he confirms easily enough as he first straightens up at her voice, then hunches over again to address the petite investigator."Hi, Mister Kinman?" Laya says, extending her hand. "I'm from the Magnimar Special Investigations unit. I was wondering if you could answer a few question. You ran the Cherished Chelish, yes? What kind of merchandise did you sell and is any of it missing?"
"I did run the Cherished Chelish for many years. I specialize...specialized in artifacts and antiques from the time of the founding of Magnimar, specifically stuff of Chelish origins. I had furniture, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, books, you name it. As for what's missing, I still haven't found half of my inventory - or, at least, what's left of half of my inventory. You think whoever did this did it to rob me of something? Fat lot of good that overpriced security company has done me then, isn't it?"
As Markiv and Auriel leave behind the upscale businesses of the Vista district and enter Keystone, Aurel's pace and demeanor grow more confident and less like she thinks everyone's watching her. By the time they turn down the alley and come out among all the students, her step in her comfortable but stylish low-cut boots is positively swingy, and her eye twinkles as she nods to a few of the more attractive young wizards in training. Among the black robes, her colorful hair and clothing and her bright jewelry stand out even more noticeably than in the wealthier areas of town, but she seems to enjoy the distinction here.
She laughs at the sign at the Familiar Goose.
"We'll start here, at the Stone of the Seers, and see what turns up from there," he says pushing his way into the tavern. "Keep an eye out for anyone who acts strangely if they over-hear my questioning. A lot of people think if you're not talking to them, no one is paying attention to them."
"In case you haven't noticed, Pops," Auriel murmurs, "a lot of people are going to be paying attention to me. I knew you were old; didn't know you were blind." She shrugs. "But I'll see what I can do." She quickly separates from Markiv, as if they just happened to walk through the door at the same time and looks around for a young man sitting alone. "Hi," she smiles warmly, taking a seat at his table.
Auriel slides into a seat at a floating table next to a handsome young man. Elven ancestry peeks through his thick curly mop of brown hair. His features are slim, betraying a half-elven heritage. He turns to smile a practiced smile at Auriel. "Hi. Lyeban Lerath. Don't thing I've seen you here before, and I know I'd remember. There's a whole room full of wizards, and still, you're the most enchanting one of all."
Auriel laughs lightly at his line. "Well, you're a live one, aren't you? Here I thought wizards were buried so deep in their books I'd have to juggle knives to get their attention." She offers her slim hand frankly. "Auriel Minick. I'm a townie," she adds with a self-deprecating shrug as she leans back in her chair to make herself comfortable -- and incidentally get a better view of the room , "obviously. So, Lyeban Lerath, is that one hell of a wand in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?"
"I did run the Cherished Chelish for many years. I specialize...specialized in artifacts and antiques from the time of the founding of Magnimar, specifically stuff of Chelish origins. I had furniture, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, books, you name it. As for what's missing, I still haven't found half of my inventory - or, at least, what's left of half of my inventory. You think whoever did this did it to rob me of something? Fat lot of good that overpriced security company has done me then, isn't it?"
Laya nods. "Yeah, I wouldn't go back to them if I were you. Their security is rather poor. There are multiple ways of bypassing the security system, such as just following an authorized person in under cover of invisibility. I mean, really! An alarm spell does a better job than that. Indeed, there are so many ways to bypass the security that it makes my job a lot harder since I can't easily narrow down which method was actually used."
She starts looking over the area where Mr. Kinman was looking. "There's no way to say whether whoever did this was specifically trying to rob you. However, it would seem that the perpetrator single out this area particularly to cause the most damage. That could have just been random choice though." She picks up another piece of rubble and sticks it in her pack.
"Did you have any particularly valuable items in your inventory? Or any items that someone for some reason might want destroyed?"
"I did run the Cherished Chelish for many years. I specialize...specialized in artifacts and antiques from the time of the founding of Magnimar, specifically stuff of Chelish origins. I had furniture, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, books, you name it. As for what's missing, I still haven't found half of my inventory - or, at least, what's left of half of my inventory. You think whoever did this did it to rob me of something? Fat lot of good that overpriced security company has done me then, isn't it?"Laya nods. "Yeah, I wouldn't go back to them if I were you. Their security is rather poor. There are multiple ways of bypassing the security system, such as just following an authorized person in under cover of invisibility. I mean, really! An alarm spell does a better job than that. Indeed, there are so many ways to bypass the security that it makes my job a lot harder since I can't easily narrow down which method was actually used."
She starts looking over the area where Mr. Kinman was looking. "There's no way to say whether whoever did this was specifically trying to rob you. However, it would seem that the perpetrator single out this area particularly to cause the most damage. That could have just been random choice though." She picks up another piece of rubble and sticks it in her pack.
"Did you have any particularly valuable items in your inventory? Or any items that someone for some reason might want destroyed?"
"I have quite a few valuable items. A few tapestries from before the founding of Magnimar, a 200-year-old copy of the Asmodean Disciplines, an enchanted Shoanti pendant, a gold-and-diamond holy symbol of Aroden that once belonged to some renowned bishop, a few other odds and ends worth over a couple thousand gold pieces each. But nothing that anybody would want destroyed, although I suppose there are a few ignoramuses who would try to do away with the Disciplines if they could."
"I have quite a few valuable items. A few tapestries from before the founding of Magnimar, a 200-year-old copy of the Asmodean Disciplines, an enchanted Shoanti pendant, a gold-and-diamond holy symbol of Aroden that once belonged to some renowned bishop, a few other odds and ends worth over a couple thousand gold pieces each. But nothing that anybody would want destroyed, although I suppose there are a few ignoramuses who would try to do away with the Disciplines if they could."
Laya grimaces at the mention of the Asmodean Disciplines.
"I have quite a few valuable items. A few tapestries from before the founding of Magnimar, a 200-year-old copy of the Asmodean Disciplines, an enchanted Shoanti pendant, a gold-and-diamond holy symbol of Aroden that once belonged to some renowned bishop, a few other odds and ends worth over a couple thousand gold pieces each. But nothing that anybody would want destroyed, although I suppose there are a few ignoramuses who would try to do away with the Disciplines if they could."Laya grimaces at the mention of the Asmodean Disciplines.
Basic Asmodeus bible (would be like saying he had a copy of the first Gutenburg bible).
"Uh...what he would wear? I dunno. Clothes, I guess," Jom replies helpfully.
Finderal pipes up, "Nothing specific, if that's what you mean. He didn't have any money for decorations, and he didn't care about them. If he had anything valuable that he wore, we never saw it. You think he was robbed? Who knocks over a building to roll the night watchman for his swag?"
"No one, I guess." Awgin turns and leaves, his face downcast.
Awgin's thoughts
Awgin makes his way back to the MSI headquarters. When he arrives, he has some tools and several wooden slats. He greets Mrs. Brigglespan and goes directly to the roof.
Nazard
"Uh...what he would wear? I dunno. Clothes, I guess," Jom replies helpfully.
Finderal pipes up, "Nothing specific, if that's what you mean. He didn't have any money for decorations, and he didn't care about them. If he had anything valuable that he wore, we never saw it. You think he was robbed? Who knocks over a building to roll the night watchman for his swag?"
"No one, I guess." Awgin turns and leaves, his face downcast.
Awgin's thoughts** spoiler omitted **
Awgin makes his way back to the MSI headquarters. When he arrives, he has some tools and several wooden slats. He greets Mrs. Brigglespan and goes directly to the roof.Nazard** spoiler omitted **
There is roof access. If it's not on the map, it's an over-sight.
Mrs. brigglespan returns the greeting, arching an eyebrow at Awgin's hardware (the tools and lumber) but doesn't otherwise comment.
Markiv, do you have specific questions for the pub patrons or just some generic information-gathering?
Markiv spends an hour asking questions of the local magic students. He learns nothing about a summoner or serpentine eidolon. In fact, once it's clear he's asking about a summoner and not a conjuration specialist wizard, the magic students get turned off of talking to him. Magic students seem to view summoners as a somewhat lower caste of spell caster (on the level with bards), though not nearly as bad as those wilders (sorcerers)).
Auriel has a grand hour chatting up various hunky guys. Lerath informs her that the answer to her question is "Both!" and attempts to convince her to come back to his place. Some other guys, obviously his buddies, try to hone in on the conversation, and he sends them packing, dousing one of them with his own drink with a mage hand.
By the end of the hour, you learn nothing about your summoner, other than that he hasn't made an appearance in this part of town. Auriel doesn't notice anybody reacting in anyway oddly to Markiv or his questions.
Magic students seem to view summoners as a somewhat lower caste of spell caster (on the level with bards), though not nearly as bad as those wilders (sorcerers)).
Auriel has a grand time being the center of attention for an hour, laughing heartily at the men jockeying for position around her. As she takes her leave, she tells them, "Oh, don't worry; I'll be back. I never knew a bunch of stuffy old wizards could show a girl such a good time." She leans closer to Lerath and whispers her new address where only he can hear it. "Haven't even moved in yet myself," she murmurs, shrugging the somewhat bulky satchel she's carrying with her.
Laya grimaces at the mention of the Asmodeus Disciplines. "Dreadful book," she says. "It's far too long. Frankly, it could have gotten its point across in one tenth the amount of space. But you know those Asmodeans, they have to put everything in legalese just so they can worm around the intent of the words and use them to whatever advantage they need at the moment. And one tenth the amount of space would mean nine tenths more space to actually say nice things for a change. Not that Asmodeans would ever actually say nice things, but you know what I mean. At any rate, I can see why some people might want to destroy the book, but I doubt they would go to this much trouble to do it."
She pauses for a moment, and looks over the rubble again. "No," she says, shaking her head. "Theft can't be the motive. Anything that's vanished might have been taken on a whim at the moment, but there must have been another reason for bringing the building down. Collapsing the building isn't a very efficient way of hiding the theft, after all. Well, thank you Mister Kinman. You've been very helpful. If you discover anything missing from your inventory, could you please contact me or one of my associates at the MSI building? You'll find us at [insert address here]."
She shakes Kinman's hand and starts to walk away. Abruptly, she stops and turns back. "Actually, if you could get me a complete list of your inventory, that would be great. You never know." She shrugs.
Auriel meets up with Markiv outside the alleyway. "No one seemed to care one way or another what questions you were asking," she informs him. "Can we go somewhere I can drop this off?" she asks, shrugging the shoulder carrying her bag. "Captain Boring-Shoes said there'd be somewhere to crash with this gig."
"Of course, we'll return to the MSI building," says Markiv as he flags down a ride. "I fear my efforts since the last time we met the others have not borne any fruit. Let's hope they faired better."
"I was thinking," Auriel says, as she settles into the cab with an approving glance around, "about your case. There's a con some of the guys pull, betting people on the street they can't solve riddles. Most of the well-to-do sort get all riled up at the thought that they can't outthink some street hustler, and they ask a couple of easy gimmes to start out with and act all upset when the mark gives the right answer. Lures them in, see. Then, the guy says Double or nothing on one last riddle, and when they agree, he brings out an egg and asks if they know how to crack the egg without anyone touching it. They think and think and when they finally have to hand over the coin, the guy smiles and says, 'Wait for it to hatch.'
"I was thinking about your stones broken from the inside out. What if they weren't stones? What if they were some kind of egg from some weird magical beast and all your thief has to do is wait for them to hatch and bring down the building? It's a long-term game, for sure," she shrugs, "but if you're an elf or something and have plenty of time...."
"An eclectic idea, I was leaning towards summoned earth elementals."
Laya receives a complete inventory list (albeit a dusty one) of the Cherished Chelish, and heads back to HQ, arriving shortly before a disappointed Awgin. A tired out Markiv arrives last with Auriel in tow.
Dinner time has arrived. Mrs. Brigglespan tells you that she'll have a driver and cook hired for you tomorrow and bids you all a good night as she closes down her office.
Auriel watches Markiv for a long minute from between narrowed eyes. "And 'eclectic' means 'stupid,' right? Look, I don't know anything about summoning and elementals, except that if it's going on, I don't want to be anywhere near it. I never went to a fancy school like all those black-robes back there. All I know is scams: how people make one thing look like something else entirely and make money off it." As the cab pulls up outside the MSI building, she shoulders her bag and hops out, leaving Markiv to settle up with the driver. "If we are dealing with someone that can order around rock monsters, I'm going back to juggling on the street corners in Lowcleft. I don't want any part of that fight. The Watch can handle it on their own."
Auriel seems antsy at the meet and eat. Everyone's feet are under the table, and it's driving her crazy resisting the urge to duck her head under and check out their shoes. Gods, hope all wizards don't run to fat like that, she thinks to herself, remembering Lyeban's good looks.
"Wait a minute: that doesn't make sense," she replies to Calatin's information. "Pops here said the snake didn't go in the building until after it fell down. How could it kill the guy before?"
"Maybe it killed him while he was still outside," Laya suggests and then her eyes widen. "Of course!" She grabs her pack from the halfling-sized seat beside her and begins rummaging through it. After a moment, she pulls out a piece of chalk.
"Oh!" she says and turns suddenly in Auriel's direction. "I'm Laya by the way." She reaches out to shake Auriel's hand, but realizes her own hand has a piece of chalk in it, so quickly switches the chalk to her other hand. She then tries again, leaning over the table a little to reach Auriel.
"Now, as I was saying..." She bends over the table and pushes her food and Calatin's food aside. With the chalk, she begins making a rough sketch of a building, which she adds to as she speaks. "Let's say the night watchman was on his way to work. Meanwhile, the summoner and snake are hiding over here outside the building. The night watchman arrives and activates his special sphere thing, which lets him into the building without setting off the alarm. As soon as he does that, the snake attacks and crushes him. The snake then waits outside while the summoner carries the body into the building and places it somewhere it'll get crushed. Then they do whatever they need to do the bring the building down. That's the weird part. And we still don't know why they did it. Or who they are. Maybe they were stealing something, but if that's the case, why not just steal it and leave? Why bring the building down?" She sighs and begins crossing out her little sketch.
Auriel shakes her head. "The collapsed building is the distraction -- something so big and flashy everyone focuses on it and misses what's really important. If he'd just killed the guy and stolen whatever is was he wanted, the Watch would be on a burglary case; instead, he made a huge mess so no one will even know what's missing for at least a week. By then, he's long gone." She smiles a little. "You have to admire his style."