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This particular dung beetle, however, seems to act more as a focus for spells such as locate object and scrying. Apparently Torch's intent is more than simply planting a book but using it to gain more secrets.
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Elena responds to Ouroboreia;"Nimble fingers..perhaps..sneaky
demeanor..maybe, but maybe it's more easy to anticipate what you want when your explain it a bit further. Are you yourself not able to turn...less visible? I am able to provide you with a little spiritual guidance, that would help you in what ever action you might be willing to undertake"
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Resuming her explanations on a professoral tone, Ouroboreia is able to give several key informations about Kephri and the book. "Reverence to Khepri is common among the peasants and laborers of Osirion. Khepri represent those who toil in ignominy and squalor. He is a trickster, turning the indignity of his appearance and labor upon those who consider themselves refined, elevated, and superior to others. The Scarab of Khepri is a magic item in the shape of a small golden statuette of Khepri that allows the user to speak with vermin. This particular dung beetle, however, seems to act more as a focus for divination spells used to spy on the possessor. Apparently Torch's intent is more than simply planting a book but using it to gain more secrets."
"I could turn invisible again, though it would require to come back tomorrow since I memorized it only once for today. The distraction scheme is a sensible one I believe, but we'll still need a sneaky person to do the job."
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"Sneaking - I can manage that," Mikhaere drawls, scratching the back of his head as his eerie green eyes wander from face to face, "but you bloody humans don't seem to listen much when I talk." Certainly has nothing to do with the smell, or the abrasive attitude, of course.
The tengu considers Ouroboreia's explanation, and shortly thereafter a devious glint sparkles in his eyes. "Hey, Torch did say he only wanted the book handed over... didn't even mention the special parts of the scarab statuette... we surely couldn't be held responsible if just the book gets handed over..."
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Elena will cast enhanced diplomacyon herself , ask for the book from which ever of us is holding it right now and puts it in her bag and walks up towards Ionacu
Elena lets out a little gasp (loud enough for him to hear).
"Oh, my gosh..it couldn't be...your not..no you couldn't be...are you...could it be..are you really Ionacu Lozar the famous scholar who is going to the pillars of the Sun?? If you are I would just faint. I've heard so much about you. Would you do me to honor of giving me your autograph?"
Elena will take out a piece of paper with the book underneath it so he has some support to sign if he wants to sign his autograph for me.
If he signs it she will take the autograph and giggle and smile and give him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you sooooo very much. I know it's tooooo much to ask such a great scholar as yourself, but would you do me to honor to take something of me with you when you go to the Pillar of the Sun? "
Elena looks around through he possessions while holding the book in her hands then finally settles her eyes on it.
"Oh ..this would be just puuuurfect. Could you take this prayer book with you? Maybe if you said a prayer out of it Kephri will look down you with favor and grant you some luck in doing a grand discovery...and when you do it would feel like I'd helped you just a tinie tiny bit.
Elena hands him the books with great big puppy dog eyes
"Please..will you take it with you?"
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Lozar laughs a little at your statement. "True, but the worship of Khepri is more for those who are unable to make anything of their own." He thinks a moment longer. "Perhaps it would not hurt to refamiliarize myself with these prayers, however. If only to prove me right," he finishes with a laugh. He bows to Elena. "Please excuse me, there is much to be done before we can--- HEY! No! That is NOT where those crates go!" He hustles off to correct a group of porters, book tucked beneath his arm.
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"Well the next thing on the list would be...the Well. But we've already been there. So everyone ok with going to the Dancing Dunes and pay the half-elf Madam Zelekhati a visit and try to find out how's getting her secrets?
The word on the street is that she's recently began hiring more workers at the Dancing Dunes, though she sends away most who don’t have at least some elven blood.
Not sure we can do something with that..unless we want to try to get hired there to infiltrate the place...going in disguised as en elf or half-elf might get us in faster."
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"Let's discuss a plan though..maybe we don't need to go in undercover....we could always just go in and ask her nicely..or..not so nicely. Although I have no problems trying to infiltrate, there might be other ways to go about this. We could also wait for night fall and sneak in an search around to see if we can find out anything."
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Going by the Desert Dunes, you see it is a two story building with its sole entrance on a balcony at the top of a flight of stairs on the second level. All sorts of people come and go, from the common rabble to merchants and businessmen. You do hear talk that the establishment is indeed open late into the night, possibly until sunrise and beyond. One particular merchant laments to himself about being unable to afford entrance any time other than during the day, at which point there is no cost to visit. But all the fun stuff happens at night.
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Mikhaere returns to the group to report his findings. "I thought this was gonna be one of them brothels you 'civilised' humans seem to like so much," he drawls, "but I'm not so sure now. I say we have a quick squiz right now while it's free, and if worst comes to worst, come back at nightfall to see about this 'fun stuff'."
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As the day progresses, you see fewer and fewer merchants enter the Dunes, yet more and more laborers and commonfolk, some seeming to have already started the night's activities with a few steins of ale at the inn. Otherwise, the activities on the outside pose no change. It would seem the more fun activities have begun within the walls of the Dancing Dunes.
Heading in, you hear lively music playing from the lower level. The upper level you come in from serves as entryway and balcony overlooking an elegant sand garden on the ground floor below. You can catch glimpses of private booths shuttered off with thick drapes and curtains.
A scantily clad half-elf approaches you as you enter. "Welcome to the Dancing Dunes. Enjoyment costs but one gold piece each, and I will have to ask you to peace-bind your weapons before entering."
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Elena will pay her gold piece to get in and peace binds her morning star.
Elena then smiles at the half-elf and says:
"Is there a safe place where I might be able to store my bow and arrows? I think it should be within your rules if I just take of the string from the bow, but there's not much I can do about the arrows. Those will stay sharp and pointy ..unless of course I use a lot of string to wrap them in."
Elena takes a quick look around to see if anything catches her eye. (If possible I'd like to have cast detect magic while we were still outside and still be concentrating on it to try to pick up on anything magic which might be inside.)
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Mikhaere hands over a single gold coin (begrudgingly), tracking mud over the floor where he goes. He also hands over his sling and bullets to be peacebonded, though the amusement in his glowing green eyes is left unexplained; after all, they'd need to tie his beak and claws up for him to be left fully unarmed... and that's even without his magic. The act seemed nonsensical to him--someone really wanting to cause trouble would easily be able to do so, peacebonded or not.
He'd never cause trouble, though. Nope. 'Course not.
"So where's the fun stuff at, then?" he asks the attendant brusquely. "We're new here. Heard the place was a good time."
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Mikhaere trails along behind Elena, muttering to her, "I thought this place wasn't a brothel... or is it?" He seems to be rather on edge in this place, and glares at pretty much everyone they pass.
The tengu looks around as he goes for any signs of closed-off staff areas or other interesting areas to potentially sneak around to.
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Upstairs is, as mentioned, a balcony overlooking the ground level. As box-text would put it, a spectacularly groomed garden of colorful sand occupies most of this two-story cabaret’s ground floor. A narrow wooden bridge winds about a trio of decorative obelisks dotting the miniature desert. A lavish sitting area filled with divans occupies the second-floor balcony granting a magnificent view of the garden below. Private curtained chambers encircle the garden, where lush rugs, soft mattresses, or piles of throw pillows serve to cushion the repose of clientele in each chamber.
The Dancing Dunes