The Closed Eye (DM: Halford, Judge: garyh)

On their way down the streets of Cobblestop, Woe nods approvingly to Tander and pats the wizard on the back.

“It’s for the best Pal. Better to butter Marco up as a reliable contact we know where to find, than spook him into hiding. We might be able to use the scribe later to set up a meeting with the Roots.”

Once back in Doddoddod’s home, Woe checks to see if a messenger from the Glasston’s has dropped off an illustration of Arnest and brings it to discussion with the group in a private room.

“Now this is all a little too convenient. A predominantly halfling street gang becomes the exclusive sole recipient of the last Screamer issue, and one of the two main articles of that very issue antagonizes guards that are looking into “innocent halfling streetdwellers”.”

“I’m guessing the Screamer was hoping to protect its distribution pathways. Perhaps the author knew this would be the last issue because of opposing forces closing in, so it made sure the final issue got to the right people and it made sure the guards stay off their backs for the time being.”

“Going further down this line of thought, there’s also the possibility that the author actually is to be found among the Roots gang. Regardless, I’d wager there’s connectivity on one level or another.”

“I considered pressuring Marco about the Roots, but the scribe seems to sympathize with them and I think he’s already overstepped what boundaries he can today. Besides, we get paid to find Arnest not solve the Screamer mystery, so let’s focus on the Glasstons before D’Rawth, the L’irkash family, or the Roots – though all of the latter are suspects to my mind. Easy to see why the Screamer is targeting the L’irkashs, probably none too happy with those forgeries.”
 

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The guard came around, of course, same fellow as always, Axtius. He looked as worn out; made an effort. I always tell him, if the guard were as diligent chasing criminals as he is looking for the Screamer...?

[sblock=Woe]Axtius, or as you and the other older guardsmen called him, "Reddie" was a recruit. A half elf with a florid face and a habit of volunteering.

Volunteers are the village idiots of the city guards; looked down upon by everyone.

Reddie wasn't bad, but he had an offensive sense of optimism; the sort to wander around on a gray rainy day talking about how "you need to have bad days to appreciate the good ones".

He's exactly the sort of person to be put on "permanent" Screamer duty.
[/sblock]
In addition, we should check in with city guards that worked recently on the Screamer case, I have someone specific in mind. Quite the number of options here…”

Thirsty from putting a share of his speculation into words, Woe helps himself to a glass of Doddoddod’s liquors. His hand glides longingly past the luxury brandy imported from the Valley of Bone, but settles as usual on the mediocre Allarian whiskey – the one plentiful and mundane enough that Dod won’t notice Woe dipping into it.
 

Out of Character...

[sblock=OOC]
Feel free to take any last actions in the shop before you depart.

So, how many XP's do you think a hunchbacked halfling is worth? ;)

Getting the halfling to leave his shop and Daunton just by bluffing him, would be a truly difficult undertaking.

I know, but Palindrome tries because he's Palindrome.

At least we got the Screamer without having to pay for it.

Point of Clarification...
I'm a little confused. The family that sold the fake Screamers is the same family that was written about in the Screamer? Does that mean the fake Screamers were to abnegate the real Screamer?

I thought the family trying to buy up the Screamers were the family at the wedding, and another family was printing up fake Screamers--probably to stir up trouble for the wedding family.[/sblock]
 
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Tristan considers the facts that were gleaned from Marco, and the new paper. Woe is right in general, they are looking for the son, not the author. . . but the easiest way to find someone was to follow their tracks.

"I think the important thing to consider is how much Arnest knew. It seems that if everyone who had a copy of the last Screamer got it, ultimately, from these Roots. . . well then, I can't imagine that their involvement was too deep a secret. What we know, Arnest might have discovered, too. Perhaps he tracked them down. They might be involved with his dissapearance. . . or they might simply have seen him.

Either way, I think we can safely assume that Lady Glasston is unlikely to have gone asking around halfling street gangs about her son. So it is an untried avenue of attack."
 


Either way, I think we can safely assume that Lady Glasston is unlikely to have gone asking around halfling street gangs about her son. So it is an untried avenue of attack."

"Yes, you have a point there," Tander says, nodding. He watches with interest as Woe pours himself a drink. "The gang seems as good a place to start as any. Not sure how we'd go about finding said halflings, though. I don't suppose you just walk up to a halfling and ask, 'Are you a member of the Roots?' Or do you? I know little of such matters..."
 

Flashback to Marco's...

Feel free to take any last actions in the shop before you depart.

[OOC: Please excuse the tardiness of this post. I was going to do this with Palindrome early this morning, after I finished the OOC post, but as I was typing up the entry, the system booted me out for maintenance.]

Palindrome notes the others leaving the shop, post haste. With one last lingering glance at the floating quill, the mage heads for the door. As he reaches for the knob, he pauses in thought.

"Hrm. Marco, you wouldn't happen to know the whereabouts of a Glasster...Gaston...er, Glasston...yes, Glasston boy? I think his first name was Arnest or Arnold or somesuch. We've encountered his name a few times in the course of our investigation, and I think he may have knowledge of our murderer that could help us free the streets of Daunton from this scourge."

[sblock=Skill Check]Bluff or Diplomacy (whichever fits best, the numbers are the same): Get information about Arnest from Marco. (1d20+7=16)

A modest result.[/sblock]

[OOC: After response...]

Palindrome's tone softens.

"Very well. If you do hear anything else, please notify us immediately, whilst keeping it secret. We don't want to put your life at risk, do we?"

There is actual concern in Palindrome's voice as he says this. He smiles in a shy manner and wrings the brim of his hat. With an uncomfortable nod, Palindrome puts on his hat and exits.

[sblock=Bluff check]Fake concern for Marco. (1d20+7=18)

I'd like to thank the Academy for this award...[/sblock]
 
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Flashback to the street...

On their way down the streets of Cobblestop, Woe nods approvingly to Tander and pats the wizard on the back.

“It’s for the best Pal. Better to butter Marco up as a reliable contact we know where to find, than spook him into hiding. We might be able to use the scribe later to set up a meeting with the Roots.”

"I suppose," Palindrome sighs, "Though I would much rather butter him up as an entree for an ogre."

"By the by, Tander," Palindrome says, "Thanks for assist."

Then Palindrome turns and bites his thumb at Marco's store.

---

As the quartet returns to Doddoddod's tower, Palindrome pulls alongside Woe and converses in hushed tones.

[sblock=To Woe]I'm surprised that 'goody-two-shoes' had it in him. I'd have thought he would have been the first to cry foul when I made up that story about the murderer. He's certainly a much better companion than Sir Stick-Up-My Bottom.[/sblock]

There is a significant look at Tristan.

[sblock=To Woe]But enough of that...

I've been thinking about our future visit to the Glasston's manor.

After my gibes, I think the harridan will spend great efforts in the oversight of my person. Therefore, that should leave you to move freely about the place. Should you find any valuables that appear somewhat easily missed, we could 'liberate' said articles. Then, we could secret one of the items in the possessions of the grandson, lending credence to a theory that perhaps he stole some family heirlooms before absconding.

With the blame shifted to the grandson, we could purloin to our hearts' delight and our minds' cunning judgments. All fault would lie with him. Even better if he should be dead!

Should you need my assistance in picking locks or sleights of hand, you need only ask for me whilst touching the side of your nose. I could contrive a reason to vacate the room, perhaps telling the grand-hag's lackeys that I need privacy to engage in thaumaturgy or somesuch.

Ah! By these pickers and stealers, such a fine day!
[/sblock]

Palindrome holds up his hands and wriggles his fingers.

He seems disturbingly happy...
 

And in the present...

Palindrome sups on a panda steak in dolphin sauce and sips a mug of treant leaf tea.

[OOC: Bless Dod*3's epicurean tastes!]

Not one to interrupt gustatory processes with conversation, Palindrome takes an occassional note as the others speak.

Wiping his lips on a napkin, he stands and walks to the liquor cabinet. With a smirk at Woe, he pours a snifter of the Valley of Bone brandy, inhales its heady vapors, swishes the contents, tastes, and spits the brew into Doddoddod's enchanted Spitoon of Holding. "Ah, delightful!"

He places the snifter on the mantle of the fireplace and promptly forgets about it.

Palindrome draws back a secret panel, exposing the chalkboard upon which Doddoddod has spent the past few weeks developing a ritual that will cook the perfect souffle. He erases the center of the formula and writes the following:

To Do List...
  • Visit Glasston Residence
    [*]Search Arnest's Room for Clues
    [*]Question Servant Girl about Arnest
    [*]Question Spinthresh about Arnest, Screamer, and elf maiden
    [*]Find information about Arnest's elven mistress​
  • Visit 'Roots' in 'Undergrowth'
    [*]Uncover their connection to Screamer
    [*]Find connection to Arnest
    [*]Get list of recipients of Screamer
    [*]Why does this gang have sole access to the Screamer, now?
    [*]Could the author of the Screamer be a gang-member?
  • Visit D'Rawth (Red Herring?)
    [*]Question about Arnest
    [*]Question about Screamer​
  • Visit City Guard
    [*]Question about Screamer
    [*]Question about Roots
    [*]Question about any crimes or dissappearances associated with Screamer​
  • Visit Lirkash (Red Herring?)
    [*]Question about Screamer
    [*]Question about spreading false copies of Screamer​
 
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And finally...

Palindrome shares the results of his...

[sblock=Arcane analysis]The Screamer is handwritten, and then copied using a simple set of magical inks that normally only last a few days before turning into smear.

This copy was expertly treated, by Marco (you can feel his resonance), to make the inks permanent. Probably within a half a day of having been produced. The smearing has as much to do with the cheap quality of the paper as anything else, the producer is obviously not adept, or not particularly interested in permanence.

You can not help but notice there is an odd resonance down at the bottom of the page. There is a blank spot, an area where nothing appears to be written.

There is a very specific, very subtle resonance there. It's dormant now, but exposure to a certain kind of energy would trigger the effect. Whatever the effect is it's quite weak, certainly not more powerful than a cantrip.

The energy is illusive, quite difficult to detect, even a trained mage could easily overlook it. A poorer quality copy of the screamer, or one made permanent later after production might have lose the energy entirely; as it is its almost gone.

The energy itself is.... you're not sure if you've experienced it before. It's something exotic for sure (nothing prosaic like fire or force).
[/sblock]
He requests the copy of the Screamer and--in succession, pausing to study the results--casts the four cantrips upon the Screamer, in this order: Light, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, and Mage Hand.

[OOC: If these bear no fruit, he is going to search Doddoddod's library for information about magicks cast upon texts and secret pages. He also asks the party member with the best Perception to study the document for a secret page (per the 1st level ritual).]

[sblock=Arcana Check (if needed)]Searching library for references to text-oriented magic. (1d20+10=27) [/sblock]
 
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