Legacy of the Silver Dragon: Chapter 1 (Chickens, Demons, and a Missing Girl)

[Binder Fred]

"Ah." On his side of things the tall elf blinks, seemingly chagrined he's guessed so completely wrong: "So I take it the gem *doesn't* have meaning for those you care about, would care to protect?" He's nonetheless crossed the steps that once separated them, to now lay a hand on his friend's shoulder -- less like comfort, it seems, and yet more like an anchor in the passing storm, a connection to the world that is.

<Response Stellan?>

And then, like a delayed switch, part of him finally works out the direction of Stellan's darting eyes: not Gregof at all, as he first thought, but the table itself. He's looking at the desk? After Bosco's attempt to shovel his (and possibly more) stuff back into his bags, the table's contents are a bit more scattered, granted, but the items taken from pockets after the theft are mostly there except for the coins, and from prior to the theft, everything is still there. The tiny scroll, the parchment with the duplicated runes, and the belt pouch and belt. What...?

Antares tenses, also suddenly remembering what they were doing *just prior to the theft's discovery*!

"Ah...? Officer...?" He begins, softly yet arms still tensed, as if fearing his words will awaken... something if he speaks them just a dram too loudly. "Could you, perhaps, lightly and most carefully flip the runed parchment over, that the runes be fully covered and hidden from sight?" Another thought: "If you would avoid looking at them directly as you do so, that would probably be for the best as well...?"

Leaning to look at Stellan's face, once the deed is done <Assuming that it is, of course >: "Is that... better?"

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

"Next time, let's find a magical gem that renders the possessor mute."

 

[gambler1650]

Gregof looks confused for a moment, and then can't help but instinctively glance at the table - as one might react if one sees a spider or snake out of the corner of his eye. He looks away again, and then reaches out to do as Antares asks. "Sorcery then..." he says with a slight shakiness to his tone that seems out of place in the solidly built man.

Stellan shakes his head once or twice, and then nods, but adds, "The.. desire to steal the gem broke before he flipped the parchment. But.. something about the pattern. I kept seeing it in my mind, working at trying to follow the lines to their ends even when I felt that I was doing things that I shouldn't." He glances back over his shoulder at the spear, and shudders, "I was _this_ close to pulling this and attacking. I.. I think I need a drink."

 

[Voda Vosa]

Nothing on the gem?

 

[gambler1650]

OOC: Sorry, knew I forgot something!

[sblock=Voda Vosa]The gem is well made, certainly not by any of the evil humanoid races that you're aware of, unless something is strange. It may not be dwarven level craftsmanship, but examples similar to it can be seen on some of the well to do members of Ascadar. The overall value is probably somewhere between 60 - 120 GP.[/sblock]

 

[Binder Fred]

"Next time, let's find a magical gem that renders the possessor mute."

"Later, Bo," vaguely dismisses Antares, so concentrated is he on what is happening at the table.

Gregof looks confused for a moment, and then can't help but instinctively glance at the table - as one might react if one sees a spider or snake out of the corner of his eye. He looks away again, and then reaches out to do as Antares asks. "Sorcery then..." he says with a slight shakiness to his tone that seems out of place in the solidly built man.

The young mage nods grim confirmation before leaning in to look at Stellan's face: "Is that... better?"

Stellan shakes his head once or twice, and then nods, but adds, "The.. desire to steal the gem broke before he flipped the parchment. But.. something about the pattern. I kept seeing it in my mind, working at trying to follow the lines to their ends even when I felt that I was doing things that I shouldn't." He glances back over his shoulder at the spear, and shudders, "I was _this_ close to pulling this and attacking. I.. I think I need a drink."

Antares looks to the bearded guard questioningly...

<Does Gregof have spirits on site, is what he's asking?>

"You didn't though... attack us. You overcame it on your own, Stellan. It could not -ah- It could not get the better of you, whatever it was." As it, indirectly yet oh so easily, got the better of Bo... But that is a concern for another time. "Here, sit and steady your nerves, and I will remain by your side for now?" This with a guiding gesture towards the edge of the nearest cot?

Once Stellan is settled <in whatever way he ends up being settled>, Antares by his side, the young elf looks to the others, concern etched on his sensitive features. "I... My deepest apologies. I had hoped that modifying a single stroke from the design would be enough to disarm, render meek and flat the lines that... Yet parts of it obviously retained fell potency, that its mere concept could exert this much influence..." It is... an impressive if terrifying feat! Thoughts swirl and congregate like clouds across his face... "Or could it be the runes had outside help? That the attention of the five-fold star entity has now turned this way, attracted by the breaking of her servant's circle? The runes... they do have a component of... funneling, focusing, concentrating? Could they have served not only to produce the silver essence, but as a gateway to that watery entity above the altar, that it might look through them to its servants, influence, and perhaps even be summoned, in whole or in part?" He is obviously not liking where his thoughts are taking him, to a place seemingly filled with even more horror than even he had first thought upon experiencing the dread tunnels below... He shudderingly turns away from them and forcibly tries to concentrate on perhaps more grounded matters: "Did you feel anything during the experience, Stellan? Were there specific demands or needs? Words? Images perhaps?" The hand still on Stellan's back communicates his apology for having to bring up that distressing subject so soon -- at all, even.... And yet they must know!

<Response Stellan?>

"And what of the gem itself, master Stonehand?" he then inquires, for he's rarely, if ever, seen the dwarven one actually *volunteer* information. Requests have to be made, knowledge has to, at least, be sought... A sentiment the young mage is not entirely opposed to, granted.

 

[Voda Vosa]

"The gem is well made, not dwarven level craftsmanship though. I remember seen similar pieces on the most uptight ass members of Ascadar." the dwarf replies. "I don't know if this thing actually possesses any sort of magical enchantment on it. It could certainly be an adequate recipient though."

 

[Binder Fred]

"I do not believe it holds any magics," confirms Antares, communicating his reasoning from earlier. "Though it does beg the question of whence such an item could have come..." he concludes. Who were these people who lived in the house? (They knew so little about them, not even a name.) Were they, for an example, richer than their dwelling would seem to indicate? "A family heirloom, perhaps?" Or did it truly come from after?

 

[Voda Vosa]

"There were a lot of those white buggers, it could have belonged to any of them." the dwarf points out.

 

[Binder Fred]

"Ah? And yet the husband as well had a small gem -- the ruby, there on the table." Assuming he was truly the man who was eaten by the beast of slime. "And quite a full purse," he adds, remembering. "Is that not a strange coincidence?" He really must read the man's ledger, where likely such a large sum would have been recorded in some way or ways, one would hope. As to the gems: "Perhaps -ah- Perhaps one of the gem-cutters or gem-sellers in town would be able to recognize them -- the cut, the brilliance, the size and impurities marring...?"

This is clearly not his domain of expertise.