The Four Lands - The Great North

[Dracomeander]

"Sorry to rush you good sir but it is close to closing and I must tidy up the shop and the hurry home. I do appreciate your patronage" the bookeseller says. "Perhaps on you next visit we can allow for more time or you could perhaps arrive earlier in the day"

Finnian looks back to Master Calon before leaving.

"Unfortunately, when one's conveyance does not arrive until late in the day and intends to leave before the start of the next day, the choice of timing is not one of the things one has the luxury of choosing. Good day to you, sir, and I shall definitely keep your shop in mind the next time I'm in town."

Finnian leaves and waits for the others to join him on the street. While waiting, Finnian scans the street to note the other businesses around and watch the people on their late day business.

Jaroth pauses for a moment and whispers again. "I have the means to allow us to eavesdrop on the transaction, but it would entail a fair amount of risk..."

"There is definitely something strange about the transaction they are preparing. I would like to get a chance to see what is in the young man's heart. What are the means and the risk you are proposing?"

 

[Rath Lorien]

Anniston catches up with Finnian and Jaroth outside the book shop.

"I appologize for taking so much time bickering over the matter of a few silver pennies. I admit that my willingness to haggle like a common fishwife has caused no small degree of amusement among the gentle southern lords in the Valley of the Light."

"Have you noticed that in the north gentlemen of quality are taught to watch the pennies and consider it a matter of poor taste to watch each other, while in the south gentlemen of quality are taught to watch each other and consider it a matter of poor taste to watch the pennies?"

"Ah, but I see that you two are involved in some sort of discussion. I hope I did not inturrupt."

 

[Canaan]

Anniston catches up with Finnian and Jaroth outside the book shop.

"I appologize for taking so much time bickering over the matter of a few silver pennies. I admit that my willingness to haggle like a common fishwife has caused no small degree of amusement among the gentle southern lords in the Valley of the Light."

"Have you noticed that in the north gentlemen of quality are taught to watch the pennies and consider it a matter of poor taste to watch each other, while in the south gentlemen of quality are taught to watch each other and consider it a matter of poor taste to watch the pennies?"

"Ah, but I see that you two are involved in some sort of discussion. I hope I did not inturrupt."

"No need to apologize at all, Anniston. His price did seem a bit high. Finnian and I were just discussing the oddity of the transaction the bookseller is about to undertake with the boy from the ship. It is quite peculiar. What could a bookseller be selling that is so secret that he must close his shop to conduct the transaction? We were discussing the means by which we can discover the subject of the transaction and the motive in the boy's heart." Jaroth tells Anniston.

 

[Rath Lorien]

Anniston replys to Jaroth, "It would be inappropriate for us to ignore a criminal act, but I did not see anything incriminating. What did you observe and what do you propose we do about it?"

 

[Dracomeander]

Finnian gestures around as if trying to deccide where to go next while checking to see that no one is paying attention to them. Then turns back to Anniston pitching his voice to remain private.

"As I mentioned earlier, both Master Calon and the young man appeared nervous to have us in the shop while they were trying to conduct business. As the young man prepared to leave, he was threatening dire consequences if their business could not be completed before the ship had to leave. Whether the consequences were to him or to Master Calon, I could not hear, but they were definitely mentioned.
"Also, Jaroth here noted something about the bookcase in the back that made him rather uncomfortable. Perhaps you could elaborate on that for us, Jaroth."

 

[Canaan]

Finnian gestures around as if trying to deccide where to go next while checking to see that no one is paying attention to them. Then turns back to Anniston pitching his voice to remain private.

"As I mentioned earlier, both Master Calon and the young man appeared nervous to have us in the shop while they were trying to conduct business. As the young man prepared to leave, he was threatening dire consequences if their business could not be completed before the ship had to leave. Whether the consequences were to him or to Master Calon, I could not hear, but they were definitely mentioned.
"Also, Jaroth here noted something about the bookcase in the back that made him rather uncomfortable. Perhaps you could elaborate on that for us, Jaroth."

Jaroth sighs uncomfortably. He pauses to choose his words carefully. Moving closer to Anniston and Finnian, in a barely audible whisper, he says: "I have the ability to sense magic." He pauses for a reaction from Anniston.

After a moment he continues, "A powerful aura emanated from the north wall of that small room we were in. It was there for an instant and then vanished, as if it were heavily shielded. I cannot be certain, but I deduced that it could be associated with the subject of the transaction between Calon and the boy."

 

[Scotley]

"Ah, the fresh peaches for me, if you don't mind my dear," says Vadric to the young lady. Turning his attention back he Bertrand, he adds "I believe we would do well to visit not only this Paragon, but also this Benny as well. Good food will be hard to come by once we are back on the ship."

"I'll take the olives. The peaches for me as well. I companions are really missing out. Trips to Paragon and Benny are in order. I wonder what our fellows have gotten up to? Perhaps we should try to locate." Taking another sip of coffee he adds, "After dessert of course."

 

[Rath Lorien]

Anniston returns Jaroth's gaze directly. He begins speaking in a formal and professional tone.

"We will discuss your magical abilities in more detail later, but for now I will assume unless you correct me right now that your magic is a sorcerous gift of the Light and not the aberation of wizardry."

"I do not need to tell you that using magic to investigate magic bears the risk of causing as much or more trouble for us as for those we are investigating. Also bear in mind that we are visitors in this city and are not familiar with the legal and political environment."

"However, based on your observations, I agree that there is sufficient cause to warrant further investigation. Apart from confronting them directly or reporting our suspicions to the authorities, what do you propose we do about it?"

 

[Canaan]

Anniston returns Jaroth's gaze directly. He begins speaking in a formal and professional tone.

"We will discuss your magical abilities in more detail later, but for now I will assume unless you correct me right now that your magic is a sorcerous gift of the Light and not the aberation of wizardry."

"I do not need to tell you that using magic to investigate magic bears the risk of causing as much or more trouble for us as for those we are investigating. Also bear in mind that we are visitors in this city and are not familiar with the legal and political environment."

"However, based on your observations, I agree that there is sufficient cause to warrant further investigation. Apart from confronting them directly or reporting our suspicions to the authorities, what do you propose we do about it?"

Jaroth levels his gaze at Anniston, being clear to look him in the eye as he answers the paladin. "Your assumption is, of course, correct Anniston. I am no rogue wizard. My magic is my gift."

To Finnian and Anniston, Jaroth continues, "As for further investigation of the boy and Calon, I agree that we should not risk legal entanglements ourselves. I will therefore leave what I am about to suggest open for discussion. We should decide together the wisdom of this approach. I will merely suggest a possibility, not a recommendation."

Jaroth continues, "I propose one of us eavesdrop, unseen, from within the store. The difficult part will be slipping into the store. It will require the eavesdropper to slip in while the boy enters the shop. I can make the eavesdropper invisible to sight. Any scent he wears, must be removed so as not to be revealed by a sharp nose. And care must be taken to move stealthily, lest the ear reveal the intruder. The enchantment will last only two minutes. It may not be enough time for Calon and the boy to complete their transaction."

 

[Rath Lorien]

"I am not comfortable taking this approach. There are a variety of ethical reasons, but one practical reason is that I do not think two minutes is enough time."

"Jaroth, please do not take offense if my response sounds blunt, but our current situation does not allow us much time for diplomacy."

"Your proposal is worthy of consideration, but may I offer another suggestion? If you are correct in your suspicion, then it is likely that the young man will be in possession of incriminating evidence on board the ship. We may be in a better position to continue this investigation upon the high seas."