Vigwyn's 'A New Beginning...' [IC]

Creamsteak said:

"Huh? Well that's interesting. I don't think the town will blame you, elves steal children, not literature. You want to get involved? I'm all for it."

Click to expand...

"Smart thing would be to leave and let the guard deal with it," Gallo says with a wink and a dry smile that surely tells Edgar what is coming next. "But I've never been accused of being too smart." He hoists his pack up onto his back and starts toward Brolinar's.

"Good-looking, yes. But never smart..."

"Alright, let's do this."

Edgar will move up carefully along with Gallo.

(Move Silently/Hide +11, Listen/Spot +10)

Edgar and Gallo sidle up to the shop. On either side of the broken door is a large window. The walls have built-in bookshelves that are packed with books of every size and color. Row after row of free-standing bookshelves hold even more books. Here and there, oddities are mixed in with the books. On one shelf, you can make out a globe in the darkness. On another a kaleidescope is prominently displayed. Toward the back of the front room is a long wooden counter, apparently where most of the business is transacted. More rare books line the wall behind this counter. An doorway can also be seen in the back wall, and it is through this doorway that the jerking lamplight emanates.

It is difficult to make out exactly what is going on, but Edgar gets the impression that at least two people are moving around in the back room. They are speaking to each other in hushed and hurried tones, though Edgar can't make out exactly what they are saying. Indistinct sounds of drawers being opened and closed, and furniture being moved around give the impression that the intruders are looking for something.

[sblock=OOC]The map shows Brolinar's storefront on the main square. The grey boxes are free-standing bookshelves. Black lines are outer stone walls. Brown lines are wooden interior walls. Brolinar's occupies a corner position, right next to a 5' wide alley. Let me know if the map need any other clarifications.[/sblock]

Edgar will draw his rapier and move to inside the building to the far-west wall. He keeps the blade down and to his side so as to appear a little less threatening.

Gallo follows Edgar's lead and enters the building with his sword drawn. He tries to stay hidden between the bookshelves and keep an eyes on both the open door and on Edgar.

Edgar and Gallo slip in to the bookstore and silently move amongst the shelves to get a better view of what is going on. They find a position from which they can spy on the door to the back room without themselves being seen from that door.

As they peer on, they hear a gruff voice emanate from the back: "You keep looking back here. Maybe the old bastard has it tucked away under the counter--I'll go look there."

A middle aged man in shabby clothing steps out from the back room. He holds up his lantern and quickly scans the room. Not seeing anyone, he proceeds to squat down and rummage under the counter.

Edgar will try to get absolutely as close as possible before asking the shabby man, "What exactly is it I should be looking for?"

Seeing Edgar's approach, Gallo quickly changes out his sword for his longbow and covers him from a distance.

Edgar glides up to the end of the counter, blocking off the burglar's exit.

The man reacts with a start at Edgar's remark, and quickly straightens himself up. At the same time, the sounds of rummaging from the back room stop, as if another person back there has stopped what they are doing at the sound of Edgar's voice.

In the lamplight, the middle-aged man's expression changes from one of surprise to one of bravado and intended violence. He says in a quiet, calm voice full of venom, "Now you just turn yourself around now, sonny, and walk right back out that door. You just forget all about this, y'hear? No need to get yourself hurt trying to be a hero."