[Adventure] The Paper Chase (Judge: renau1g)

[rb780nm]

kal'Tarron scans the office and takes a good hard look at the professor. Does anything strike him as odd?

[sblock=perception check]Perception Check for anything odd about the Prof and or his office. (1d20+11=16)[/sblock]

 

[MetaVoid]

Orsik looks few items over, but finding it unconfortable standing bent under the ceiling he checks the chairs and then sits on the floor, his head level with seated professor.

"We are here about work. Could I use historical library on the grounds as part of the reward? I'd like to learn recent history of human lands."

 

[Cleverusername]

"Such a gentleman" Baracus jokes to Grys, fully unaware of the eladrin's rationale for his actions.

The brawler lets the others do the talking, although he noticeably winces at Orsik's mention of part of the reward being...research. He whispers to his fellow adventurer "Tell you what, after this job, you pay me gold, I'll tell you all about a nice piece of our history"

 

[Luinnar]

Mythra enters the study and waits at the back to see what this, so called, "Professor" has to say. Martha is stored safely away in a robe pocket. Some people don't like cats walking on their papers for some odd reason.

 

[Antithetist]

There are only two other chairs in the study apart from the Professor's, both of them deep armchairs like his own, facing him across the desk. There is also very little floorspace, so most of the group find themselves standing, squashed between stacks of books and papers. On the bright side though, the ceiling is tall enough to accomodate even Orsik without too much awkwardness.

Farrow puffs on his cigar, looking between the three questioners for a moment before making his reply."Let us take things in their proper order, hmm? I should begin by introducing myself."

He swings his feet smoothly off of the desk and leans forward in his armchair. "I am Gilman Farrow. My own interests lie largely in the field of arcane theory, but of late I have had other concerns. I have found myself unexpectedly lumbered with the half-baked theories and historical speculations of a colleague -" he stops for a moment and blinks - "former colleague, pardon me, and I am beholden to develop them. Naturally I do not wish to divert my resources to this imbecility at the expense of my own research, so I have secured a certain amount of funding to hire myself some new field assistants to follow up certain leads."

"If I am satisfied with your performance, then yes, I foresee no difficulty about granting you access to the University's facilities for your own use," he says to Orsik. "There will also be ample provision for those who prefer more tangible rewards," he adds with a peremptory wave of his cigar for Baracus's benefit.

"May I assume I have your interest? Have you any general queries before I give you specifics and send you on your way?"


[sblock=rb780nm]kal'Tarron doesn't notice anything stranger than what has already been described. If you want to know about something in particular in more detail then just ask.[/sblock]

 

[Luinnar]

You want us to be field assistance and do your work for you?! I've been studying magic for almost four decades! Actually preforming it, not any of this arcane theory rubbish. I'm not about to be hired like some young pup just out of grammar school! Says Mythra obviously angry.

If you want to hire a summoner of my ability you better offer a reward fitting of my station. I don't mean gold, I mean arcane items, artifacts and other noteworthy objects or knowledge! Mythra says his temper rising.

What exactly is this research anyway? I would like to read more details. I won't be going on a fool's errand.

 

[Antithetist]

Farrow regards Mythra blankly at first, and then with a condescending half-smile that grows wider as his tirade goes on. He leans back in his chair with a casual air. "Pardon me, master summoner, but I believe my advertisements made it rather clear that I was seeking field research assistants. If you hold such work beneath your station then I fear that you may have blundered into the wrong office."

"That said, if your interest is in... ahem... applied arcana -" here he gives a disdainful sniff - "you may well find the work rewarding. Professor Howard's work largely concerned the Dhakaani Empire, and I believe that his research has led to the recovery of a number of rather powerful artifacts in the past.

"The errand I propose to send you on will involve the location and exploration of a Dhakaani site beneath Sharn. Howard sent an untested team there, and it appears that they never returned - I hope that you have faith in your abilities not to emulate their failure. I wish to know what happened to them, and what was Howard's interest in the place."


[sblock=Insight DC 15]Farrow seems to be sincere in what he says about Howard. There also seems to be a certain amount of ill-concealed tension in his voice when he mentions the man, at odds with his otherwise relaxed and detached demeanour.[/sblock]

[sblock=History DC 18]You've heard of Professor Howard. What Farrow says about his specialisation is accurate, and in fact he is a leading expert in his field.

[sblock=History DC 20]In the last two years, however, his usually prolific output of published material has entirely dried up, and there has been no word of what he's working on.[/sblock][/sblock]

[sblock=Dungeoneering DC 20]You've heard of Professor Howard. He has been a consistent source of work for various delvers, explorers and adventurers over the years, having sponsored many expeditions into Dhakaani ruins and other places of interest.[/sblock]

[sblock=Streetwise DC 20]You recall a story run in the Inquisitive around two weeks ago, or perhaps you just heard somebody talking about it. It mentioned a fire in the office of one Professor Howard of Morgrave University which all but gutted the place before it could be brought under control. Of his life's work, only fragmentary notes could be retrieved. Howard's body was not found in his office, but nobody has reported seeing him since the blaze.[/sblock]

 

[Luinnar]

At the mention of Howard's name, and "artifacts" in particular, Mythra's rage turns into greedy interest. Howard, you should mention his name earlier. Of course I heard of him. He has not written anything in two years though, I wondered if he died. I was under the impression that you wanted us to pick some Moonwart flowers or something; blasted things only bloom in the full moon near Werewolf's nests. Mythra says in excuse.

[sblock=rolls]
Roll 1. Failed all but history. (28)
Roll 2 succeed. (28 as well).[/sblock]

 

[rb780nm]

[sblock=rolls]Insight, History, Dungeoneering, streetwise (1d20+8=9, 1d20+8=28, 1d20+6=13, 1d20+2=18)

2nd roll:history (1d20+8=21)[/sblock]

kal'Tarron doesn't know anymore about this than Mythra has already brought up, so he remains silent, observing his volatile new ally and his rather odd new employer spar.

 

[KarinsDad]

"Well met Professor Farrow, first things first as you say. My name is Grys. I'll let my companions introduce themselves. Why don't you tell us the specifics of the situation and we will gauge whether it seems reasonable for some or all of us to do some field work for you." Grys says.

[sblock=rolls]
Insight 6, History 15, Dungeoneering 21, Streetwise 18
[/sblock]