Maybe we can find someone around here who knows more about it, like Tamora said. If they're that desperate for it, they'll probably come back looking for it with a more... persuasive force.
Hoga looks around, and grabs another brew.
We should probably not split up now. We don't know who they are or how far they'll go to get it.
"We should be staying together. With us apart, they will have an easier time to acquiring the book with force than all of us together and we intend to make it hard for them to do so."
After draining the last of her mug, Tamora covers her mouth to muffle the disgraceful sound that rise to her mouth and expels to the air. As she excuses herself, she places the mug down.
"Let us hope that we find someone that knows about the book. And we will continue that tomorrow. I will retire to bed early today. I am very fatigued since I had been staying awake from yesterday summarizing those books. I'll see you in the morning."
She begins to make her way to the stairs.
"Ok. I agree with that plan." As Tamora finishes her mug Kakrish also finishes his. He bangs his mug down onto the table with a loud thump. "I'm off to bed too so I guess I'll see you all in the morning."
See you all in the morning. Hoga finishes his cup and goes to his room.
Catching up with the others Kyras asks Why not catch up with that man and see what he will pay for the book?
Tamora's movement stops and she turns to Kyras.
"It's far too late for that now but it's a good thing we did not chase after that man. We still need information about the true buyer which is at this point unknown to us before we can negotiate price. The information about them will also help us decide whether or not it is worth to sell it to them. If they are too shady, we are not parting with that book. Is your raven still following that man from above?"
Kyzen agrees with the plan, but will order one last drink before going to bed... "One last drink for me before bed, see you all in the morning!
Why is it far too late? It is true we do not know the true value of the book but I believe that the raven could deliver a message to the man if we wish to meet with him,
"He had a head start and we are already at the inn before we change our mind. He must be out of our reach by now unless your raven is trailing him and locate his destination or he is still in town. And no. While we do want to know the value of the book, it seems far less important than figuring out why that someone wants it. I am not talking about that man earlier. He is just an errand boy. I am talking about the person who employed him to buy that book for him from the auction. If you have been paying attention to the conversation between that man and baroness earlier, that man has an employer. We want to find out more about the employer before doing business with him rather than that man that met with the baroness. I don't think we need deliver a message to appoint a meeting with him. If we want to deliver a message, it is to the employer, requesting information about himself before we meet with him. Frankly, I do not think we need to do much or anything at all. I have a feeling that that man will turn up here again to search for the book regardless whether we request for a meeting or not. He does not look like the type to give up. We can take advantage of this and lure him into revealing who hired him so we can meet the real deal."
Tamora put a hand on her mouth to stifle her yawn.
"Speaking of the book, I knew that we have forgotten about something important before we even think about meeting the buyer and sell the book. Have we peruse the contents yet? Perhaps it will tell us some clues of the reason of it being the coveted object of a given few. "Dreaming Dark" seems like it is related to the Dark Tapestry to me."
Catching up with the others Kyras asks Why not catch up with that man and see what he will pay for the book?
"Do we really want to confront that man? He is just an errand boy for someone who hired him. If anything, wouldn't it be better to follow him from a distance and observe the kind of person his employer is before we negotiate with them?"
As you discuss the options in front of you. The Raven taps its beak on one of the windows. Curious about it, one of the patron nests to the window opens it up. In a rush, the Raven flies up to your table and land on it. "Hey Elf, if you want to send me on a scouting trip, we need to devise a way to communicate from a distance." He walks to one of the plate and grab a few pieces of food. "Now, about that guy. Unless something changed on my way back, he is meeting two other mortals in a clearing just outside the town. One is a female human, the other is hiding under some sort of big heavy cloak, but from the size of it, he could be as big as numbnuts over here." He points at Hoga. "The woman looks like a spell caster of a sort, so I didn't want to get too close in case she could see me."
Well done my friend. Kyras says to the raven. I am not sure how we might accomplish that feat of communication at such distances but I shall think on it.
Hoga, this "bird" is my friend, not my familiar or employee. I do not order it about. Turning to the raven Kyras asks It is a mystery though. What do you think? Care to see if you can catch up and shadow this group for a short while?
"Ah, yes. I forgot we still have our raven in the air."
When the raven returns, Tamora listens with a solemn expression.
"Now that we know who his employers are. We are definitely not doing business with them unless that business is confrontational."
Yes. If they want it, they'll have to take it. I expect that they'll try.
There might be some magic we could use so Kyzen could talk to birdbrain, here, Hoga says, pointing at the raven.
We could be forewarned, and thus forearmed when they come.
"There is the message spell if any of us are able to cast it. If not, we will have to find another means of communication."
"Maybe we can buy a wand or scrolls with that spell?"
Message is quite limited and would not work over a few hundred feet. No that is not what we need.
"Kyras, you might want to examine the book that they want before we confront them? Perhaps the book can tell us why it is coveted by them?"
"Aha. The plot thickens." Kakrish let's out a short and harsh laugh. "Yeah Kyras, can you take a look through that book. I'm sure it won't hurt you at all."
I have spent considerable time with the book already. I can make little of it.
Tamora tries to detect magic on the "Dreaming Dark" book.
"What is in it that makes little sense? Is it the language? Or was it blank like the protected spellbook?"
You take out the book and start studying it again. The first thing you remembered as you are trying to read is that it is written in a strange language. Maffei takes a look. "It is written in Aklo. I can read some of it, but it also seems that whoever wrote this used some kind of code. There is some magic spells that could help with this. If you don't have access to those spells, I can always work with someone who is good in linguistics, but that would take a while."
@the group... "Is there someone friendly in town that could help us with that task?
Kyzen tries to recall if he heard of someone in town or noticed any "house front/logo" (don't know how to say it in english... LOL) that could fit that description...
I have studied language some. It may not be beyond me to solve this riddle, with some help, if we are allowed the time.
"We will make some time. However, if the wizard's spellbook has the spell that allows the user the understand the language faster, then the process will be faster. Did you not scribe such spell from the book?"
Tamora glances at Kyras.
Alas, no such magic was in the book in question.
"Let me take a look. I'm quite the expert with languages."
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[dice=Linguistics]1d20+1
"Let me take a look. I'm quite the expert with languages."
Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 258
School divination; Level adept 1, alchemist 1, arcanist 1, bard 1, cleric/oracle 1, inquisitor 1, investigator 1, medium 1, mesmerist 1, occultist 1, psychic 1, shaman 1, skald 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, spiritualist 1, warpriest 1, witch 1
Casting
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (pinch of soot and salt)
Effect
Range personal
Target you
Duration 10 min./level
Description
You can understand the spoken words of creatures or read otherwise incomprehensible written messages. The ability to read does not necessarily impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning. The spell enables you to understand or read an unknown language, not speak or write it.
Written material can be read at the rate of one page (250 words) per minute. Magical writing cannot be read, though the spell reveals that it is magical. This spell can be foiled by certain warding magic (such as the secret page and illusory script spells). It does not decipher codes or reveal messages concealed in otherwise normal text.
Comprehend languages can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
[dice=Linguistics]1d20+1
"Let me take a look. I'm quite the expert with languages."
Kakrish studies the book studiously for a few moments and declares "I can make nothing out of this chicken scratch. But I have trained for exactly this sort of thing. Tomorrow morning, as I'm doing my preparations, I'll prepare a spell that will let me read this book as if it was the back of my hand."
Kakrish smiles triumphantly.
"So now what?"
Next round's on me, fuzzy! Let's try some wines. I got a couple that look pretty fancy.
"You do that. I need to catch some sleep. Summarizing whole 613 books into a thesis takes toll on one's waking period."
Tamora walks upstairs.
Hoga sees that Tamora is angry. He looks at Kakrish, not understanding why.
Was it something I said?
He gets up dutifully, and follows her to her room, having promised to guard her.
Kakrish just waves his hand dismissively at the departing Tamora. Ha. Women! You can't understand them and you can't live with them." Kakrish watches until she disappears up the stairs and around the corner then turns back to Hoga. "You know, with all my experience with women, you would think I could figure them out better. But I guess not."
He bows formally to Hoga as the half-orc himself leaves to head up the stairs.