Adventure: The Power of Knowledge (DM: Fragsie, Judge: TwoHeadsBarking)

[TwoHeadsBarking]

ooc: I may have been unclear; the elf only saw Kyvan near the manor, not anyone else.

 

[JRYoung]

"Very well then, we go..." Skalisss states plainly as he leads the others forward to the front door of the manor. "Be mindful that they may not be here at all" he reminds his friends before knocking at the door.

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

As soon as the knocker hits the door you hear someone from within shout, "Hold on, I'm coming!" The speaker is almost certainly an elderly woman, judging by the sound of her voice. This is confirmed when a very tired looking woman opens the door. "Welcome to the Scruppsworth estate. I'm sorry to say that the professor is ill, so if you have any business with him it will have to wait for his recovery. Er, come to think of it..." she inspects you closer, "You don't look like academics. Why are you here?"

 

[garyh]

We're looking for a gang. Are they hiding here?

OOC: Growl, unfortunately, just isn't suited to citycrawling and talking. I'll do my best, though.

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

The woman looks at you incredulously, "A gang? Here? Are you with the guard? Is this about Bruno? Because I told the professor that boy was no good, he and his hoodlum friends. But the professor, bless his heart, took him in just the same. Poor man. A good man, but not very sensible. And to fall so ill all of a sudden. And where is Bruno I ask you? Nowhere to be seen, of course." She suddenly looks reproachful, "Oh, but listen to me go on. Nobody's home but me. Been that way since the professor got sick and had to be moved. I've seen him overexert himself before, but never this badly. Quite a shame. I hope he recovers soon. Why are you looking for a gang in his home?"

 

[JRYoung]

"Madame," Skalisss chimes in, "people are falling sssuddenly ill all over the city. We have traced those responsible, one wasss recently ssseen next to this houssse. We would like to do a sssearch pleassse."

 

[Tomalak]

Leaving sword and shield stowed, Andrec shakes out his hair and puts on his glasses. Despite the environs he again looks the picture of a self-important irritating paper-pusher. Slipping to the front of the group, he leans conspiratorially towards the elderly woman.
"In truth, ma'am, my superiors at City Hall have been most worried about the Professor. We were not, however, aware of this young man's nature, did you say his name was Bruno? With a B? I would very much appreciate it if you could give me a full description of him, and tell me about what he's been doing while under the Professor's shelter. In the meantime, my associates would like to take a look around - not disturbing the Professor, mind you - and see if this Bruno may have left anything nefarious around. Would that be alright?"

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

The housekeeper looks noticeably relieved by both Skaliss and Andrec's words. Apparently she is pleased that someone official is on the case. "Oh, please, come in, come in. You needn't worry about disturbing the professor; one of his students had him moved to the temple for closer observation and care. Do try to not knock anything over, though. Yes, his name is Bruno. Bruno Allastar. The professor took him in as an apprentice a few years ago." She shakes her head, "He was hard-working, but he didn't make the best decisions. I think he was involved in a street gang before he started working for the professor. I know sometimes he would sneak out and, well..." she looks a little embarrassed as she trails off. "Anyway, he disappeared when the professor got sick. Haven't heard from him since. Feel free to look around the house. I hope you find something useful."

 

[JRYoung]

"Thank you Madame" responds Skalisss. "Thessse criminalsss did consssiderable resssearch at the Library, perhapsss thisss 'Bruno' did sssome arcane resssearch here. Can you point usss to the Professsor's Library?"

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

"Of course sirs. Just follow me." She leads you through the manor and upstairs. You notice that the house has indeed been well tended for. Everything is clean and clearly in it's proper place. She stops in front of a large ornate door. "This originally was the master bedroom, but the professor re-purposed it as his study," the housekeeper explains as she opens the door to you. Within is a rather large room, every inch of which is covered with books, artifacts, and archelogical tools. The bookcases are overflowing, and most of the floor holds what they cannot. A path has been kept clear leading from the door to a desk sitting beneath a dirty window. Everything in the room is dusty and cluttered. "I'll just wait out here while you work. The professor also has a workshop downstairs. I can show it to you when you're done here, if you'd like."