Age of Ashes (Team Alseta)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

Ellaeaanda simply stands there for a moment, searching the area for anything that might be amiss, then wordlessly complies with the server’s request, exiting through the door he had opened.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Netkin waits until they are a bit out of earshot to whisper : "Well, if we are back in Breachhill, might as well have a quick meal at the inn before we move on... No? I could kill for a proper lunch!"

He then realizes that his grandma is probably expecting him. He's been away from several days - they've never been separated for so long. He feels a pang of guilt at delaying their reunion. " oh, I need to check on Grandma... Maybe a quick meal then!"

Ardoinel nods.

"I see no reason why not. I find the spending of money soothes the frustrations of service workers quite well."

"Yeh, yeh, you are not the first ones to go to the back. Come along."

The server guides you to a table and has you sit down.

"So what will it be? Stew and pickles?"

He waits for you to place your orders and leaves to the kitchen.

Resa seems really confused by this, but at the word of pickles she looks a bit green. " Just no beets please, just because I come from evil does not mean I wish to be evil." She really has a weird idea of what beets are.

Netkin tries to talk his way into a steak. Stew is fine enough, but he's got to be careful with his health. "Surely beetroots aren't that bad," he chuckles, a bit surprised by Resa's vehemence, and unsure of whether or not she's joking.

"I could kill for a proper lunch!"

In a perfectly genuine voice that is as nonchalant as trifling chitchat about the weather, Ellaeaanda responds “One need not pay in death—silver and gold are welcome in civilized lands.” The elf gracefully seats herself before ordering a proper vegan meal. “Kale, arugula, spinach, and beets,” she says, uninterested in Resa’s curious objection to a perfectly nutritious vegetable. “And rare should his steak be,” she interjects, whether the halfling wants her to or not. “If one must eat meat, pure should it be. Prolonged cooking ruins its juice.”

When the shop worker speaks tells the party to kindly leave the storeroom, Cerrus is roused from his extensive reading of his tome. He quietly remarks to the group. "A tunnel to Breachill was not part of my notes on the citadel. Curious."

Cerrus complies with the worker's request. "Stew for me, please. Oh, and you said not the first people to go to the back. Who have you seen going that way?"

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Ardoinel orders the stew and pickles as well.

"I'll eat your beets if you don't want them, Resa. Though I'd highly recommend giving them a try. 'Nature's candy' some people call them. Don't know what you're missing!"

Resa makes a face at her companions ordering what she considers evil food, shaking her head and pointing out " I would like just stew. Carrots and extra tomatoes? Mainly carrots really. They are portable and tasty. Not evil."

”You sure? They are the specialty of the house. Roxie’s family recipe.”

”Out of steak, I can bring you some pork chops.”

”Pickled kale, arugula and spinach salad, and pickled beets. I can’t get you rare chops, but I could make it an order of pickled ears.”

”Don’t know who it was. Roxie has just been given us some words about it. She’s seen people sneakin’ in, I guess.”

”Sweet as they come with a little bit of tangy flavour. A good pick for sure.”

”Extra carrots, extra tomatoes, you got it.”

”I’ll be back when your order is ready, if you need anything just shout.”

"Pork chops then," Netkin squirms a bit on his chair, uneasy. "Um, quickly, if possible? I need to go check on my grandma soon... She's probably waiting for me!"

The server comes back within twenty minutes with everyone's orders. The pork chops are a little overcooked, but the meat is good. The stew is warm and the vegetables are fresh. They are quite generous with the extra carrots and extra tomatoes. But the highlight really are the pickled kale and pickled beets. In spite of the amount you saw in storage, it is clear that it is a recently made batch, and the tanginess of the vinegar is the perfect balance to the sugars of the vegetables.

“Exquisite,” Ellaeaanda pronounces happily after sampling her food. She offers some of her pickled kale and beets for everyone to try, then hails the server. “Excellent service and delicious food we must proclaim. Commend you we shall if Roxie you bring?”

When the server returns with the food, Cerrus continues his questioning about people entering the store room.

"Did Roxie do anything to stop people sneaking in? Did she talk to them?"

"Is Roxie around now?"

While the group eats, Cerrus turns to Netkin. "If you don't mind, I'm happy to accompany you on your trip home. I'll leave you to visit your grandmother alone, but I'd like the opportunity to stretch my legs."

"Not a problem... I'm quite itching to go as well!" Netkin confesses. His gaze often wanders to the front door as he munches through the pork chops, delicately wiping his fingers with a napkin when he needs to reach for his glass of water.

"I'd be happy to join you as well...Your grandmother sounds like an admirable woman, given the grandson she raised," Ardoinel says warmly. "It'd be an honor to meet her."

"I'm glad you enjoyed the meal. It'll go get Roxie for you, it'll be just a moment."

He leaves to enter the employee area.

"You what!" You hear the voice of a woman coming from that direction.

Then, after a few moments a stocky red-haired woman comes out and approaches your table.

"You wanted to talk to me."

Roxie is Indifferent.

"A merry meeting, Ms. Roxie! You might remember us from the Call for Heroes...we'd heard you'd noticed people sneaking about in your establishment," Ardoinel says.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

""I'd be happy to join you as well...Your grandmother sounds like an admirable woman, given the grandson she raised," Ardoinel says warmly. "It'd be an honor to meet her."

Netkin's cheeks go a little pinker. Even the tip of his ears are now rosy. "She is," he admits, and dabs the corner of his eyes a little with his napkin. "Probably more worthy of admiration than I am, to be honest. She did a lot for me... When she was already ill."

He dabs them a little faster when Roxie comes to the table, and quickly gathers himself.

"Maybe Lirayne, or her apprentice, are regular customers, by any chance?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

“Compliment you we must,” Ellaeaanda says when Roxie arrives. “Such delicious food and excellent service deserve recognition.” She places a gold coin on the table in front of the red-haired woman, ostensibly as a very generous tip. “But troubling is news of trespass into your stores. When and who would dare?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Cerrus attempts to highlight the gravity of the situation and speaks directly to the issue at hand.

"As Ardoinel and Ellaeaanda pointed out, we are concerned about occurrences of trespass here at your establishment. During our endeavors at the behest of the town council and our efforts towards helping Breachill, we found a tunnel that leads from Citadel Alterein directly to your storeroom. Your help in identifying who has used that tunnel in the past is very appreciated and could go a long way to ensuring the continued safety of all Breachill townspeople, including yourself."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

EDIT: That's a 28. I forgot that Cerrus is an expert in Diplomacy from the Marshal dedication.

”Aye, someone has, but that is somethin’ for me and ma business to deal with. So I won’ be snoopin’ as to who comes, and who doesn’ to ma establishment. You migh’ be heroes o’ breachill, but you sure don’ act as such. If you were really so concerned ‘bout trespassin’ how come you are the ones trespassin’? Frankly, ma server should ’a kicked you out, but coin is coin I s’pose. Now, I don’ remember your business with the council havin’ anythin’ to do with me. And if I heard right, the Warbal has already heard from her tribe, and the criminal is behind bars. That is what the council hired you for, not to snoop ‘round ma business. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a tavern to run.”

She walks away from the table.

Unfortunately, Netkin’s and Ellaeaanda’s questioning, along with the fact that you were caught in her storage room, have made Roxie defensive. Even Cerrus’ tone and regard for the people of Breachill are not enough to assuage her. Netkin and Ellaeaanda bring her down to Hostile, with Cerrus bringing her back up to Unfriendly. She is Unfriendly right now.

Cerrus pipes up just as she walks away. "Very well. You can decide how you want to run your business. For the record, we didn't intend to trespass. We are only following leads in our investigation."

Having nearly finished his meal already, Cerrus stands up and exits the building, loitering nearby for the others.

Resa was not that great at talking to others, and let the others lead on it. However, as everything went south, she couldn't help but feel the woman was very rude, but waited until everyone was out before saying so. " She seemed less worried that criminals used her business than the city looking in to it. Perhaps she is not up to code for food health?"

Seeing that Roxie had little interest in being paid, Ellaeaanda calmly repockets the gold coin on the table and follows Cerrus outside, carrying her plate of half-finished salad and beets. There she inclines her head towards Resa. “Unreasonable and ungrateful are many, for reasons each their own. Laundered coin and unwashed hands are but two.”

The elf looks over at Netkin. “Shall we stop at Lirayne’s bookstore on the way to your grandmother’s house?” She holds up her plate of vegetables as an offering. “Some nourishment to stave off death.”

Ardoinel gives Resa a curious look as he finishes his meal.

"It would be surprising if such codes existed in a town as relatively remote as Breachill," he says. "My understanding is such laws are relatively new, and mostly in very urbanized and bureaucratic places that can afford such."

It's true, we didn't really see food inspection until 1890 here in the US! Isger, where we are, isn't even beyond a feudal state, if I'm correct. Do they have a local lord the town council answers to?

He takes a gold coin and before he leaves, he passes it to the server.

"Here, for your generous service and patience. Treat yourself to something nice."

Then he turns back to the others.

"Let us away, then."

Netkin visibly shrinks in his chair as Rosie berates the group. He doesn't take conflicts well. No matter how rude people are, he always ends up saying sorry, and Really, I didn't want to be a bother, and "No, I can see how my angrily telling you to stop kicking me could have come off as overreacting and a bit offensive, really, if I'm honest."

"Shall we stop at Lirayne’s bookstore on the way to your grandmother’s house?”

[b]"Um," Netkin hesitates. He's yearning to go, but he's had one big conflict so far, and he doesn't think he can stomach another. "Fine? But... Quickly... Thanks..." He puts a couple of lettuce leaves in his mouth, purely out of politeness. There's nothing that staves off hunger like red meat, but he doesn't want to be rude.

"A quick stop at Lirayne's store is a good idea. We may find something important." Turning to Netkin, Cerrus continues. "We'll get to your house soon. I promise."

"To be fair to Netkin, whether or not Lirayne is present, I suspect this stop will be anything but 'quick.' Either we'll question her, or she won't be there and we may need to snoop. Both of which take time," Ardoinel comments quietly.

Ardoinel

Technically, Isger is a Vassal state of Cheliax, but the house of Thrune neglects it for the most part. As for a local authority, the closest thing would be steward Hedvend VI, who is widely known for his incompetence.

”Thank you, sire,” he says before discreetly pocketing the coin away.

Everyone

Fortunately, the Reliant Book Company is only a 5 minute walk west of the Pickled Ear.

The bookshop is small, obscure, and tucked into an out-of-the-way corner, to which Netkin has no trouble guiding you. It receives little foot traffic, and it consist mostly of those looking for rare tomes. As you approach, you notice that the shop is closed for business, and there seems to be no movement or light coming from the inside.

The main door is tucked away in an alleyway, and there are three windows around the building.

Ellaeaanda fixes the halfling with that curious gaze of hers when he puts some lettuce in his mouth. “Already eaten you have. The salad is for your grandmother.” Her voice is calm and not in the least accusatory, even if her words might convey a different impression. “Fear not. Not today will the norns cut her thread.”

When they arrive at the closed bookshop, she defers to Ardoinel. “Time to snoop, as foreseen.” The elf casually strolls around the building, trying to peer inside through the windows.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Sorry," Netkin swallows down the lettuce, looking contrite. "I panicked."

Though not completely pacified, he is somewhat reassured that Ellaeaanda is not worried. That she could see things invisible to most mortals was beyond proof.

"What exactly do you want to find inside? If neither Lirayne or Calmont are in..." he asks the elf, while peering through the windows. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"We don't know what we might find before we look." Cerrus helps Ellaeaanda and Netkin look around the premises.

Everything looks rather normal from the outside. There are shelves upon shelves of old books, a counter with a ledger sitting on top, and a door with a “Staff only” sign on it. A little dust has started to gather in the doorhandle on the window frames, not more than a couple days worth. As you probably suspect, the door and the windows are locked, but they seem to be mechanical locks only, with no other security measures added to them.

"Resa, can you open the door for us? I'll stand guard and warn if prying eyes come by."

Resa goes to the door to check it, trying to figure out if there was anything magical on it first, and if it was truly just locked, she does a pretty okay job at her attempt to open it.

lock picking: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

No one seems to notice as Resa inserts her tools into the keyhole. It is a good luck, but it is nothing extraordinary. Within a few moments there is a satisfying pop as the door unlocks. The air coming from the inside is slightly stale.

"Oh-looks like it remained closed for a while!" Netkin scrunches his nose.

He waits for someone to lead the way inside - he is no warrior, and does not want to be exposed. If all is safe, he takes a proper look inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Cerrus leads the party into the building, careful to watch his step as he doesn't trust Lirayne or Calmont at all.

"I don't trust these people. Be on guard."

“None remain,” Ellaeaanda placidly muses on the inhabitants, “not with dust in their lair and must in the air.” Without hesitation nor trepidation she follows Cerrus into the store.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"We don't know if she left any 'surprises' behind for suspicious people, like Calmont...or us. Keep your wits close and your gaze as steely as Torag's," Ardoinel cautions as he follows the group into the store.

The store is in fact empty, with nothing protecting the dust that threatens to accumulate on the ancient volumes. The shelves remain organized, and the counter area untouched. Tucked in a corner, there is a second closed door. There is no sign hanging from it.

Since this is an investigation scene, I'm gonna ask what you are looking at or what you are looking for. We can keep the already rolled perception checks.

Netkin peruses the bookshelves, curious as to whether or not they contain volumes on aiudaras.

Resa would look for traps, barring that, anything that would be of notice for a thief, even if she wasn't proud of her past, she needed to help out her friends for everything she could do.

While the bookshelves likely contain very many books of interest to Cerrus, he focuses his search on areas where the store staff may have stored notes or personal effects.

Ellaeaanda heads towards the counter, where she peruses through the ledger, looking for information or any patterns.

Ardoinel looks to see if there's anything here BESIDES the books for sale. Some folk sold things on the ground floor of their home and slept above, and it made more sense for Lirayne to hide her secrets in a private place, rather than the more audacious technique of hiding something in plain sight.

Netkin

There are a few books that mention Aiudaras, although none of them specializes in the subject. There are mentions in some history books, some pathfinder chronicles, books about elven culture, even in a book about commerce throughout Golarion. None of these mention anything about Aiudaras in Breachill, or even Isger in general.

Resa

There is nothing suspecious in the store. In fact, the halls are clear and the shelves secured.

Quite a few things might fetch a few coins. Some of the older tomes, and some crystal decorations, for example.

Cerrus

You look in some of the cabinets and drawers by the counter. There are some notes here and there, but they are mostly business related memos, such as “Reorganize demonology section.” There is also some paperwork and some tools, like hammers and nails, to make quick repairs around the shop. There are no personal effects in this room.

Ellaeaanda

The ledger is a record of every transaction from the business, it lists every item sold or bought, the amount and to whom or from whom it was sold. The books have reasonable prices, with only a few going above a couple of gold coins, and the titles range from the mundane, such as “Alchemical plants from the Impossible Lands,” to the occult, such as “Necromancy scrolls developed by Tar-Baphon (Translated).”

The last line does call your attention just before you close the ledger. It reads:
“Scroll of Summoning Elemental” - Bought - 30gp - Magical Imports, Absalom (Missing)

Ardoinel

There are other items for sell, such as incenses, crystals, and crude dolls, but you can’t see inside the “Staff Only” room, nor the other locked door.

"Not much here," Netkin moves away from the bookshelves - regretfully. "Although I doubt that Lirayne would keep a secret plan in the main shop..."

"Anyone else had more luck?"