Cedany will go check the dresser, see what the gnome keeps in his drawers.
Cedany finds a variety of clothing like items and copious watch chains and vests of all things. Apparently this gnome's fashion sense is similar pant/shirt - new vest/chain every day.
Tirkala and Lucky look over the documents, widgets tools and so on. Lucky finds not traps but the drawer is "locked"...
Harrison would reach into his coat and pull out a set of fine thieves' tools and set to work trying to open the drawer with practiced ease.
Mhmm, good point. dont waste the spell, its more about noticing something about what is in the writing than comprehending its contents if that makes sense...in that case you can make a straight Int check...
Mael moves to the other side of the door, also slipping into the shadows and listening.
A click here, a lifter hidden latch there and there is success! Harrison pulls a drawer open that has:
1 Key (Magic) (transmutation) (Does not look like the others)
1 Leather Portfolio w/ papers. This portfolio features a small and intricate lock. (No Magic)
1 small box (approx 6 inches by 6 inches) with elaborate woodwork in the form of gears and clockwork. This box also features a small and intricate lock. (No magic)
Tirkala frowns as she looks at the papers.
"There's a code hidden in this text. It may be related to why the guy was kidnapped. We should bring these with us. If we can't break it, maybe our employer has someone who can."
She looks to the others.
"Anything else?"
"Indeed, there was a hidden drawer down here with a few items of interest." As he speaks, he'll gingerly place each of the items he has found on the table before taking some time to examine each a bit more thoroughly for any signs of danger.
If he finds nothing of further interest, he'll go about trying to open each of the locks. First he'll take a moment to see if the key will fit either. If it does not, he'll work on opening the portfolio before moving on to the box.
Cedany watches the professionals at work.
Maeltheron, with arms crossed, taps his foot, impatiently awaiting the results of Lucky's analysis of the items.
Lucky takes his time but finds that the locks on both objects are safe but surprisingly sophisticated. Neither proves interested in opening to his skill.
Harrison would look at the objects with a forlorn look upon his face. It was not often that such objects proved beyond his skill.
However, instead of allowing his disappointment to keep him down, he would suddenly pick up the box once more and give it another shot.
Tirkala hrmmed as she watched Harrison in action.
"Is the key connected to the code in these notes? And are the keys to the rest elsewhere in here?"
A surge of inspiration later Lucky hears the satisfying *click* of the minature but remarkably strong lock.
The box holds a series of metal plates upon which images of other gnomes and a few non-gnomes stand posed as though for painting. The fidelty and "realness" of the images are almost unnerving. A few obvious pieces of correspondence from another party and a brooch are the only other objects in the box.
The brooch is a handsome piece featuring a tooled bird in an exotic metal with gemstone feathers and eyes. It is certainly a more "feminine" piece by most standards and it appears to be most valuable.
Tirkala smiled, focusing on the necklace with her detect magic ability.
"This would go nicely in my bed..." She whispers, hoping the others don't hear.
Harrison would take a close look at the items he found in the box.
Not sure what I conclude from it all.
Harrison will give the other lock a try now.
"This would go nicely in my bed..." She whispers, hoping the others don't hear.
Harrison's best gues is a bit of a wild estimate that the brooch could command as much as 35,000 gp based on various factors.
The portfolio releases with a satisfying *click*. Within are documents of obvious importance; Will, deeds and titles and a few bond documents that list monetary assets in various parts of Korvosa. It is plain that whatever his interest in watches and clockwork, Bastqualmie Moondew is a fairly rich gnome...or in some circles Harrison is a rich halfling as he now has the holding documents in his hands...
Tirkala looked at the documents Harrison uncovered, keeping up her ability to detect magic and trying to discern if any of them were magical. Just in case they turned out to be of use to her... er, just in case they needed protecting.
Creak
Tirkala's head shot up as soon as she heard it. She immediately began to signal to the others, using the system devised by Osk, that there was someone on the stairs. She also pointed to her eyes, clenched her fist, and made a semi-arcane gesture; she hoped they understood her message.
Now, she just had to sound casual...
"We might want to bring these papers with us; our employer may want to see them. Anything else of value within this room?"
Even as she spoke, she raised her hands, tensing and ready to unleash arcane magic as soon as someone came through the door.
Mael moves quickly and silently to the door while sliding his Curveblade free. He positions himself to attack who or what comes through the opening.
Harrison would be too engrossed in looking over the documents while maintaining his own spell to notice the noise outside the door.
These documents could be of some use, but it's not wise to count your blessings before they have come to fruition, he would think to himself.
Then, as Tirkala draws all of their attention to the presence of an unwanted guiest, Harrison would put all of the documents he has just found into his other hand with the portfolio before invoking a spell to vanish from sight.
If he still has still has time, he'll snatch up the box and it's contents and push them into his jacket to make them disappear from sight as well.
Martin and Mael blend into the shadows around them, silent and ready to strike. Tirkala holds up her hand and anticipation while Harrison casts his spell and disappears as he scoops up the other objects of interest as Cedany waits from her position.
Round 1
Finally, Harrison would pull a dagger from one of his wrists sheaths while stealthily moving beneath the desk and behind Tirkala's legs .
Tirkala sighed, silently. It seemed no one was coming up... Time to get creative!
"Too bad we didn't find what we were looking for... I bet this journal we found would be of use to someone. So much information about the criminal underbelly... So, shall we get out of here and burn this place down? Just to send a message about how this is our turf now..."
That should get some interest!
Cedany almost chokes at Tirkala's words, and then tries to suppress a girlish giggle.
Silence greets the sorcerer as the group continues to trade glances.
- He'll place the documents back into the portfoilo and lock it before placing it on the table.
- He'll remove his backpack and place it on the floor at his feet.
- He'll remove his sleeves of many garments,allowing his garments to shift back to their normal form (Entertainer's Outfit), and place them on the table.
- He'll pick up the pendant and key, loop the pendant's chain through the key, place the chain around his neck, and slide it beneath his clothing.
- He'll pick up the portfolio and slip it into his shirt.
- He'll pick up the sleeves and put them back on. This time his clothing will shift into a fine nobleman's outfit with a elegant shirt that rises up his neckline to conceal the chain that lies there, a tight fitting vest that will secure the portfolio to his chest and help hide it away, an exquisite jacket to offer further concealment to the items and draw attention, and other various items to help finish the ensemble.
- He'll relock the box, place it into his backpack, and finally slip it over his shoulder.
Flanking the door with Martin, Mael motions silently that the enemy has drawn and points in the direction of the noise.
Can Cedany get a good enough view from where is, if there's an invisible opponent there would casting "create water" as a momentary "rainfall" over the area, give us a rough idea where he is (not expecting it to remove all attack penalties or anything, just a space to target?).
Harrison would look to the others and use their hand signals to ask, "Do you want me to investigate?"
The room has no windows either does it?