Arly says (to GM), "I got 2000gp."

[D&D] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

Kaylee has arrived.

Arly asks (of GM), "So, how much in addition to the sword for the cloak and the bell?"

Arly asks, "Er, chime?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heylo."

GM says, "oh, sorry, how much would you have to throw in? you'd need to throw in all of it to get the cloak and the chime; the chime is about 3000 and the cloak is 1000; the sword is worth about 2000"

[D&D] GM says, "hey, we're just finishing up with Arly"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Sara's on the fone with her mom, who just called, but should be available eventually."

Fincul says (to Arly), "The 1800 was assuming you donated 10% to the Razites, BTW. Which is entirely up to you."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Excellent."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Onyx's character sheet is up."

Arly says (to Fincul), "No one told me about that, but whatever. I'm used to having huge portions of my salary taken away before I see them."

GM says, "hee hee"

Arly says, "Okay, well, I'll just take the cloak but pass on the Chime for now."

GM says, "alrighty"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oh, and Kaylee volunteers to help escort Raz folks to the site to help get it set up and stuff."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "And/or help with the reconstruction."

Arly says (to GM), "Updated character sheet sent."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Since my gloves were too 'spensive to donate)"

[D&D] Arly asks, "What did everyone else get from the Tomb?"

Onyx has arrived.

[D&D] Onyx says, "(Sara's not here, but I figured I'd log her in so she can read backlog when she gets here.)"

[D&D] Fincul says (to GM), "At some point in between the previous story and this one, I'd like to have cast History on the crate, if I may."

[D&D] GM says, "(excuse me for a few minutes while I fuss with people's sheets)"

[D&D] jnc says, "(Don't let the fact that I'm logged in fool you - I have to go to work because I skipped Friday due to parental visit.)"

[D&D] Kaylee asks (of Fincul), "New spell?"

[D&D] Fincul says (to Arly), "I got a +1 dagger with ghost touch and a (partially empty) wand of Vampiric Touch."

[D&D] Fincul says (to Kay), "Yeah. One that I had on a scroll before, but I didn't want to use it into I got it in a more permanent form."

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

[D&D] Fincul says (to JNC), "Aw."

[D&D] Fincul says, "s/into/until/"

[D&D] GM says, "alrighty"

Arly asks (of GM), "Can I ask you a quick question before we start?"

Arly asks (of GM), "On the character sheet I just e-mailed you... Do I still need the section called Class Skills? How is it different from the Skills section?"

[D&D] GM says, "the class skills section 1) tells you which skills you can raise normally (versus cross-class skills, which are more expensive) and 2) it tells you what the stat is for each skill, which you need for distinguishing between how many ranks you have in a skill and what the total bonus is"

[D&D] GM says, "since the scores you have there are just the total bonus of ranks + stat bonus"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Sorry I'm late - Mom called, and she needs lots of support right now. :-("

[D&D] Arly says (to GM), "Uh, okay, whatever."

[D&D] Arly says, "Anyway, so I guess I'm ready to start whenever."

[D&D] GM says, "mmhmm"

GM says (to Fincul), "the crate has, most recently, an impression of magic and things appearing within it"

[D&D] Kaylee laughs.

GM says, "further back, there's the sensation of being jostled around considerably, loaded and unloaded with other crates repeatedly"

GM says, "then a shadowy recollection of being carried carefully along, set down on earthen ground (some sort of long hair was picked up there -- perhaps a horse-hair?), another crate being moved nearby, opened, rope taken from that other crate and put into this, then this being put into a pile with others"

GM says, "then the faint sensation of being branded, magic again"

GM says, "and then back to being hewn from the original log in the first place"

GM says, "and then just the very faint sense of being a tree"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Any sense of the people -- impressions of their intentions with the crate?"

(From Arly) GM says, "and then an even fainter sense of being a seed"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Keep going! Keep going!"

GM says (to Fincul), "with loading it and transferring the rope in, there was a definite sense of being quiet and not wanting to be noticed"

GM says, "before that, when the branding was done, a definite sense of expectation"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Also, I'm trying hard not to imagine that it's a Crate Sprite telling me about its personal recollections :) )"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "A Nobilis crossover."

[D&D] Lionheart says, "Diary of a Mimic."

Fincul says, "Mmm."

GM asks, "anything else anyone wants to do before skipping back to where-we-left-off?"

Arly asks (of GM), "Last week, or the week before, which was next week last week?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "This time-travel confuzles my poor barbarian brain."

[D&D] Fincul exclaims, "Back... to the Future!"

[D&D] Arly says (to Onyx), "I'm not a barbarian, but I'm confused to."

Arly says, "I'm just sort of curious as to when we are right now."

GM says, "ok then"

Arly says, "Other than that, let's do it."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I think we just met with the members of the resistance or whatever they are -- the ones you didn't want to touch your ring :)"

GM says, "to refresh everyone's memories, including mine, when this particular thread left off, you all saw some men get arrested and escape"

GM says, "you eventually tracked them down and they claimed to be members of some sort of organization and to have been betrayed"

GM says, "a guard confirmed that they'd been ordered to arrest the people who showed up in a certain place at a certain time, but didn't seem to know why"

GM says, "it eventually transpired that Cassis, the rider you'd met in the swamp, was also a member of this organization, or connected to it in some way"

GM says, "and on a separate thread, you had recently realized that Cassis was not Cassis at all"

GM says, "but somehow the one in Mor's End was only someone pretending to be Cassis"

GM says, "you had a slightly odd confrontation with him and his bodyguards, which eventually he followed up by sending a note asking you to lunch at Tria's Vintage at 1pm the next day"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I suppose we just know that there are two Cassis-claimers."

[D&D] GM says, "true"

[D&D] Onyx says, "with body-guards"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "But certainly the guy here claiming to be Cassis is not the guy people met in the swamp."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Right."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Nor the one who knew about the ring."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "how tought did the body-guards look? professionals? well-armed and armored? Or more crowd-control types?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "tough, rather."

[D&D] GM says, "they were fairly burly, and carrying swords"

[D&D] Arly says, "All burly guards carry swords. It's a fact, I think."

[D&D] Onyx says, "whether they can use them very well is another question altogether."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I suspect that if we tried to fight them, we might be forced to fight a few city guards as well."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Although if they attacked us instead, it might be different."

Fincul asks, "Should we retire for the evening?"

GM says, "oh, and the folks in the organization seemed to have it in for the duplicate Cassis, and when you mentioned you were having lunch with him they seemed to plan on showing up and possibly giving him what-for"

Fincul asks, "Or ought we try to pursue further courses of information gathering this evening?"

Arly says, "Information gathering sounds like the best option at this point."

Arly says, "We still don't completely know what's going on, and the sooner we find out, the better."

Fincul asks, "Mmm. There's the inn where the so-called Cassis is staying. Is any of you skilled in the passing of locked doors unnoticed?"

Kaylee says, "Not I."

Onyx says, "I walk by locked doors all the time without noticing."

Arly says, "I certainly am not skilled in that area."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "If someone is enchanted or charmed, will they be aware that they were enchanted afterward?"

Onyx says, "I can get by locked doors, no problem. Its the noticing that's the problem."

[D&D] GM says, "it depends on the spell; most don't wipe out the memory unless they say so, but that doesn't mean they'll realize they were enchanted"

Fincul says, "I might be able to distract away any guard at the door, possibly, but not without being seen by them."

Fincul says, "Well. One guard, at least."

Fincul says, "Er. Assuming they're not strong of will."

Fincul coughs.

Fincul says, "Perhaps, er, someone could climb through a window."

Fincul glances Kaylee-wards.

Fincul says, "Although if the room is occupied at the time, that could prove... difficult to explain."

Onyx says, "Climb? Sure."

Onyx says, "Explain? Just bash 'em."

Kaylee asks, "Do we know his room?"

Kaylee says, "And actually, I've never seen the guy."

Fincul says (to Onyx), "That could lead to a somewhat more antagonistic relationship than we as of yet have engendered with them."

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "Er. No, I don't think so."

Kaylee asks, "Did you see any symbols on him? You know he's from... some guild?"

Onyx says (to Kaylee), "Try seducin' him. That oughta work. Then you kin go through the door, rather than th' window."

Fincul recounts how the not-Cassis appeared in their earlier meeting at the inn.

Fincul says, "Of course, I could just make someone invisible."

Kaylee says, "Oooh la la" and shakes her shoulders.

Arly says, "Hrmf."

Fincul says, "It's a new technique I've learned. I haven't had an opportunity to try it out yet."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Where did you all deliver that scroll, again? The mage guild?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Right."

[D&D] Fincul says, "And the porter brought it up to him, and came down with the money."

[D&D] GM says, "although you recall that Cassis has since moved to an inn in the noble's quarter"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "How big is the city?"

Kaylee says, "I'm disinclined to break any laws just yet--let me talk to the Raz people to see if they know anything."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "A mile across? Less? More?"

[D&D] Alex says (to Fincul), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that less is http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19970221. So deal with it."

Fincul says, "Hmm."

Fincul says, "I could make an attempt to discover where the scrollcase ended up."

[D&D] GM says, "hmm, maybe a bit more, but not that much more"

Fincul says, "Although it won't work if it's too far away."

Kaylee says, "I'll check out his inn tonight, maybe."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "About how far is the mage guild from the inn?"

Kaylee asks, "Meeting's tomorrow at 1?"

Fincul says, "Right."

Kaylee nods.

Kaylee heads to the Raz place if she's done being needed here.

[D&D] GM says, "other side of town, maybe a bit more than half a mile"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "We don't necessarily have to RP it either; just after general info on the guild's rep, and Cassius if need be, maybe the guards, too."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Strength & rep, all."

[D&D] Arly asks, "Rep?"

Onyx asks, "Ahm more concerned w' the guards. Did anyone catch any sort of badge or device they wore? Does the town have a guard guild, or some such?"

[D&D] GM says, "The Raz priesthood is glad to see you, but doesn't know anything about Cassis or his bodyguard"

[D&D] GM says, "Dormund, the gatekeeper at the mage's guild, is well-known and reasonably popular, as befits the public face of the guild: he's often the one who shows up for ceremonies and things"

[D&D] GM says, "The mage's guild has a few rooms which tend to be taken by people looking for comfort and extreme privacy"

Fincul asks, "The city guards, or Cassis' bodyguards?"

[D&D] GM says, "but not everyone staying there is necessarily a mage"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Aha."

Onyx says, "Cassis' guards. Iffen it comes to brawl."

GM says, "Mor's End does have a guild of (body and carvan, not city) guards, but the bodyguards he was with had only the symbol of an S looping around 3 circles"

GM says, "which you recognize, belatedly, from the seal on the letter Cassis sent you"

Fincul says, "They wore Cassis' own symbol, fr-- well, you know."

[D&D] GM says, "(sorry, wasn't sure how well that'd be remembered)"

Fincul says, "Hmm. I think I shall attempt to satisfy my own curiosity tonight as well."

Onyx says, "Hrmph. Not much t' go on, I reckon."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Heh, no prob. Extra info from the GM is always good."

Fincul says, "At the inn. Feel free to join me if you wish."

Fincul spends a few minutes with his spellbook before setting off.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Can I ask the Raz folks if the recognize the S thingy?"

[D&D] GM says, "they do have a heraldic device book but it's somewhat out of date .. ah, but here we go: it's one of the minor noble houses with land outside Execs"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Execs?"

[D&D] GM says, "er, Execks"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "OK: "Execks?""

[D&D] GM says, "which is the town at the other side of the swamp"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Aha."

[D&D] GM says, "where you first met up with the others"

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

GM asks, "is anyone going with Fincul?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Did the ring people have a symbol?"

Onyx says, "Hrmph. Not much t' go on, I reckon."sure"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Or the ring itself?"

Fincul approaches the inn from outside, but doesn't get too close to the entrance.

Onyx says, "sure, i'll go. i could use a pint."

[D&D] GM says, "the ring itself was unadorned, except for the gem"

Fincul says (to Onyx, quietly), "If he's kept the scrollcase in his room, this could let me find which room is his."

[D&D] GM says, "the people had no symbol that you noted but they were trying to stay pretty undercover so that's not too surprising"

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

Fincul waves a small twig as though it were a divining rod. "Ubi tu esse, mihi monstra."

[D&D] Kaylee asks the Raz folks if they know of any intrigue in amongst the various noble families in the area or around Execks.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Onyx is partially afk with Ellric, so assume she goes along with whatever)"

Fincul nods, and points the appropriate window out to Onyx. "There it is."

Fincul says, "Kaylee said she would be coming this way. We should wait for her before acting on this, I think."

Arly says, "Good idea."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Any more info from Raz?)"

[D&D] GM says, "sorry, right"

[D&D] GM says, "There's always stuff going on but they don't know much about the current situation there -- sometimes it's land disputes, sometimes it's trading rights"

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

[D&D] Kaylee thanks everyone and heads back to the group.

[D&D] GM says, "sometimes this spills over into Mor's End since it's a bigger city and most of them arbitrate here"

[D&D] Onyx says, "back - El Nino is in bed, but not yet asleep."

Onyx asks (of Fincul), "So now we break in an' search 'is stuff, eh?"

Onyx cracks her knuckles.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "What time is it when I rejoin people?"

[D&D] GM asks, "I dunno, did Fincul wait until dark?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "We can fast forward to dusk if it's not then yet."

Kaylee relates her findings to the group (the S is a minor noble house symbol; the mage guild has rooms for people who want comfort & privacy)

Fincul says (to Onyx), "I was thinking of something a bit more surreptitious, but with a similar ultimate effect."

Kaylee grins.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Is this a top-floor room?"

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Of 2?"

[D&D] GM says, "of 4"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Aha."

[D&D] GM says, "so it's relatively tall"

Fincul says, "Kaylee, if what we observed in the tomb is representative, should ahve no trouble scaling the wall to perform a bit of covert observation of the room."

Arly says, "True."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Is the window in a viewable spot from the street?"

Arly says, "However, I'm also adept at climbing and may be of some use as well."

Fincul says, "And I can take measures to ensure that she herself is not observed while doing so -- if you are willing."

Kaylee grins. "Yeah, I do that OK."

Fincul says (to Arly), "Mmm. I could possibly prepare both of you to go unseen, yes."

Kaylee asks (of Fincul), "What did you ahve in mind?"

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "Magical invisibility."

Kaylee says, "That works."

Kaylee asks, "How long will it last?"

Fincul says, "Nearly three quarters of an hour, I think."

Arly says, "That should be more than enough time."

Onyx grins. "Aw, no breakin' 'n enterin'."

Fincul says, "It won't cover any noises you make, of course -- and I should warn you not to attempt to do battle while cloaked by magic."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Is there a building that high across the street?"

Kaylee nods.

Fincul says, "Or else the effect might quickly lose its potency."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "So do you both want to climb up?"

[D&D] GM says, "there's a nearby 3-story building; there's nothing close and 4 stories"

[D&D] Fincul says, "If so, I'll quickly learn another copy of Invis."

[D&D] Arly says, "I think it might be the best idea."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Can I sit on the roof of the 3-story and see in the window in question?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(If I can't tell, I try)"

Fincul spends a few minutes studying. Perhaps he even spends that time before Kaylee arrives, if Arly suggests doing some of the climbing while they made smalltalk waiting for her :)

[D&D] GM says, "no, the blinds are drawn"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Lights?"

[D&D] GM says, "no lights"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "OK, let's go for it."

Arly says, "I'm ready."

Kaylee says (to Fincul), "OK, I think it's a good time--just after dusk."

Kaylee says (to Arly), "Let's try not to bump into each other, though."

Kaylee asks, "Should I remove the scroll if I find it?"

Arly says (to Kaylee), "It's a deal."

Fincul sprinkles bit of soot on Kaylee's and Arly's head and places a hand on their shoulders, saying "Evanscete."

Onyx keeps an eye out for observers.

GM says, "(Kaylee and Arly fade from sight)"

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "Do not open the scrollcase."

Arly bumps into Kaylee. "Oops, sorry."

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "It's trapped, magically."

Kaylee climbs up the corner of the inn, lightly sprints across the roof, then hangs down from the roof by her feet over the right window, and listens.

Kaylee nods, though you can't see it.

Arly climbs up close behind.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(Also, hee hee bumping)"

[D&D] GM says, "(roll a listen check (the stat is wisdom))"

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 18 | 18 + 2 = 20

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 13 | 13 + 7 = 20

[D&D] Arly says, "Gah."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Perfect."

GM says, "The room is silent."

Kaylee looks to see if the window can be opened from this side, or if it's already open.

[D&D] Arly asks (of inky), "So, how does this work? I can still do everything invisible that I can do visible, right?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Except attack."

GM says, "It's latched shut from the inside, although it's not much fo alatch"

[D&D] GM says, "right, it ends when you attack"

Kaylee tries to slip one of her thin monk weapon thingies through the window to open the latch.

Arly says, "We should be able to get that undone fairly easily..."

[D&D] GM says, "but otherwise you can do whatever youlike"

Kaylee's disembodied voice says, "Shhh."

[D&D] GM says, "this is a straight 1d20+dex for you two"

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 20 | 20 + 3 = 23

[D&D] GM says, "(assuming you're both trying)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Dude."

GM says (to Kaylee), "ah, there, it pops open first try"

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 4 | 4 + 4 = 8

[D&D] Arly sobs.

Kaylee eases open the window and listens again.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 19 | 19 + 2 = 21

[D&D] Onyx passes Arly a tissue.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "These dice like me today."

GM says, "(still nothing)"

Arly asks (of Kaylee), "Think it's safe to go in?"

Kaylee slips into the room, leaving the window open for Arly.

Arly climbs in carefully.

Kaylee's disembodied voice says, "Shhh."

Kaylee's eyes adjust to the light, and she surveys the room.

Arly looks around carefully as well.

GM says, "This is a living-room type area: it's got a couch and three chairs"

GM says, "There are three doors (closed) opening out from it"

Kaylee looks for light coming out from under any of the doors.

GM says, "There's a faint light from the door opposite the window"

Kaylee listens at one of the other doors.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 5 | 5 + 2 = 7

Kaylee, hearing nothing, opens the door quietly.

Arly listens at the other door without light under it.

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 7 = 9

GM says, "Neither of you hear anything"

Arly moves quietly over to the door with light and tries to listen at it.

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 7 = 16

Kaylee surveys her new room.

GM says, "Kaylee's door swings open, revealing what's most likely a master bedroom"

GM says (to Arly), "you hear footsteps, and some muffled conversation "...sheets ..""

GM says (to Kaylee), "there's a large bed, a dresser, a desk, and a chamber-pot"

[D&D] Arly says, "Eep."

Kaylee looks on the desk first.

[D&D] Arly says, "I'm going to try to sneak into the bedroom to warn Kaylee."

[D&D] GM says, "you can't *see* Kaylee, of course"

[D&D] Arly says, "But I know where Kaylee is."

[D&D] GM says, "but presumably you know she's in the bedroom"

[D&D] Arly says, "I mean, in the bedroom."

[D&D] Arly says (to GM), "I'm guessing Arly would notice a door opening by itself, yes. :)"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "If I pick up a piece of paper, does it disappear too, or does it float in midair?"

GM says (to Kaylee), "the desk has some papers piled on top, and some quills for writing and sand for blotting"

[D&D] GM says, "small things disappear, large things float"

[D&D] GM says, "(paper is small)"

Kaylee pockets the top blank sheet of paper, then carefully looks through the rest of the papers.

[D&D] Kaylee nods.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(assuming there was a top blank sheet of paper)"

[D&D] GM says, "(or, actually, it looks like large things are invisible but only for the bit nearby you)"

GM says, "You pick up one of the blank sheets from the pile"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(#pedant Technically, I think you're supposed to have to pocket something or stick it in your clothes to make it vanish with you, if you weren't carrying it when you disappeared.)"

GM says, "The rest seem to be a fairly complicated collection of letters in regards to some sort of property and mineral rights in nearby lands"

Kaylee mentally notes any names or places that pop up, but doesn't try to understand the meat of the issue.

GM says, "There are some letters from surveyors, some letters to and from various important personages (clerics, nobles, Lady Kianna herself)"

GM says, "it appears to devolve on a complex matter of inheritance and where exactly property lines are drawn"

GM says, "meanwhile, outside the door, Arly hears the footsteps pass by the door and continue on"

Kaylee replaces the papers as carefully as she can manage, then moves to the dresser.

Arly says (to GM), "Okay, I'm going to try to go into the other room, the one without light under the door."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(assuming no other items on/in desk)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Or drawers"

GM says, "The desk does have a drawer, which contains some sealing-wax and candles"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Stamp?"

GM says, "...but no seal"

GM says (to Arly), "the other room has two beds in it, not as nice as the one in the other room"

Arly asks, "Any other furniture?"

GM says, "It has a pair of dressers and a chest at the foot of each bed"

Arly says, "Okay, I'm going to search both the chests first."

GM says, "(also both rooms have a mirror on the wall, in which you don't show up)"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Hee."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Clearly, you must both be vampires now."

Kaylee checks the drawer for a false bottom.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Pun not quite intended.)"

GM says (to Arly), "one chest looks like what you'd expect for a warrior: it has leather, weapon-oil, a whetstone, a pair of daggers, etc"

GM says, "also some small pouches full of coins"

GM says, "and a collection of dried travelling rations"

Arly asks, "And the other chest?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I guess stealing from the guy (at the moment) wouldn't be kosher."

[D&D] Arly says, "Oh, I'm not taking anything."

[D&D] Onyx says, "yum, travel-rations."

GM says, "the other chest similarly has some rations and bags of coins and flint and steel and so on"

Tyoka has disconnected.

Tyoka goes home.

[D&D] Fincul says, "If Ven were here, he'd do it -- so it's probably a good thing he's not."

Arly asks, "But there's nothing hidden in the bottom of these trunks or anything?"

[D&D] Onyx says, "I wasn't assuming you were, I was wishing you could. ;-)("

GM says, "but the majority is taken up by a box which appears to contain a variety of small items: fine white sand, a small crystal, bits of herbs, hairs of some kind of animal"

Kaylee, assuming nothing more in the desk, searches the dresser.

Arly says, "Hrm."

GM says, "Meanwhile, Kaylee's dresser contains several sets of fine clothes and several more sets of rough traveller's clothes, one rather muddy"

Arly says, "I'm not sure I know what any of that means, but I'm going to place everything back in the trunk as carefully as I can."

Kaylee sniffs the mud.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Is it recognizable?"

GM says, "smells like .. swamp"

GM says, "Tucked beneath the rough clothes is a pair of daggers and a small vial"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Nothing hidden in the clothes?"

GM says, "(if you guys would like to search for false bottoms or whatever, you can make a search roll, which is int as its stat)"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(timing)"

Arly rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20 + 7 = 27

Kaylee examines the daggers for markings, as well as the vial.

[D&D] Arly exclaims, "Woo!"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Woot!"

[D&D] Onyx says, "clap clap clap"

[D&D] Arly says, "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "The invisibility spell will wear off by then."

[D&D] Arly says, "HA ha."

Onyx pulls out a small knife and trims her nails, while waiting in the shadows of the street below.

GM says, "The daggers are plain but well-sharpened, and recently cleaned, though a few stray bits of blood remain in the grooves"

GM says, "The vial is labelled only with three small blue dots in a line"

Kaylee replaces both, searches the bed.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 19 | 19 + 1 = 20

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Man alive."

GM says, "Meanwhile, Arly does an exhaustive search of his area and finally turns up a familiar scroll case in the back of one of the dressers, rolled up in a cloak"

Arly asks (of GM), "Is there anything in it?"

Arly asks, "Er, the scroll case, that is?"

GM asks, "It looks like the wax has been cut away (as if it's been opened once): do you want to open it?"

[D&D] Arly says, "Yeah."

Arly says (to GM), "Er, yeah."

GM says, "You pop it open -- it's empty"

GM says, "however, as you're twisting it to peer inside, you realize the other (unopened) end is a bit heavier than you'd expect"

Arly asks (of GM), "Is there a way to open that end?"

[D&D] Erisia has joined the channel.

GM says, "you could cut away the wax on that end and cut the cap off, if you like, yeah"

GM says, "meanwhile, Kaylee searches the bed"

Arly says (to GM), "Okay, I'm going to cut away the wax."

GM says, "fastened to the underside, on one of the planks, there's a flat folder"

Fincul nudges Onyx, pointing towards the entrance.

GM says, "ok, you cut off the wax and pop the cap off -- but there's nothing in the case on that side either"

Arly asks (of GM), "Can I tell why it felt heavier, then?"

GM says, "The folder has three dots in an inverted triangle on it, with the top two being green and the bottom red"

GM says (to Arly), "actually, the case doesn't feel heavier now"

Kaylee, if she can, opens the folder and looks at the contents without unfastening it from the bed.

Arly asks (of GM), "?"

Arly asks, "Did something fall out onto the floor?"

[D&D] Kaylee raises he hand. "I know, I know!"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Er, 'her'."

Fincul points his right hand at the window, whispering "Hava-shuul."

GM says (to Kaylee), "you've got slide it out -- it's actually not fastened, but sitting on a plank under the mattress"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Gotcha."

GM says (to Arly), "oh, wait, it's not the tube, it's the cap that's heavy"

GM says, "(heavier than the other cap, anyway)"

GM says, "Suddenly, the window shatters"

Kaylee opens the folder, assuming it's not fastened.

[D&D] Fincul says, "Er, wait..."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Doesn't Mystic Bolt not damage normal matter?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Assuming it's a non-magical window."

Arly looks up.

[D&D] GM says, "actually -- right, what he said"

[D&D] GM asks, "so, er, did you want to do that?"

Arly replaces the scroll case quickly in the cloak, keeping the heavier cap with him.

[D&D] Fincul was hoping for 'suddenly, you spot a flash of orange light by the window'.

[D&D] GM says, "oh, I see"

[D&D] GM says, "my apologies"

[D&D] Arly asks, "Wait, so the window isn't broken?"

[D&D] GM says, "it is not"

[D&D] Arly says, "Okay."

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "but out of the corner of your eye you notice a flash of color int he other room"

[D&D] GM says, "(Kaylee is still busy with the folder)"

Onyx asks (of Fincul), "Uh, yeah?"

[D&D] Arly says, "Okay. I still want to try to get all the scroll case stuff except for the heavy cap back where I found it and then get in the other room to investigate."

GM says, "Inside the folder there's two pieces of paper, with a fold-mark down the center"

GM says, "Both hand-written with care"

[D&D] GM says, "ok"

Fincul whispers (to Onyx), "Did you see them? Cassis just entered the inn."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heh--Sara was in a different window ;-)"

GM says, "One says "Recognition marks: the ring, the hand gesture (it details a number of gestures), the words (it details some phrases), the message-drop (it details some places around the city)""

Onyx heads towards the entrance to head off Cassis and his dudes.

Kaylee reads the other.

GM says (to Arly), "there's nothing amiss in the center room here, although it seemed like you saw the flash from outside"

GM says, "Meanwhile, Cassis and his guards have just stepped into the lobby when Onyx catches up"

Onyx is heading even faster towards Cassis and co., trying to not look like she's hurrying.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Walk casual."

Onyx asks (of Cassis), ""Heyla! Howzit?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Onyx hasn't met Cassis yet, has she?"

GM says, "Cassis turns to you with a glare. "Have we met?" he asks, coldly."

[D&D] GM says, "(no)"

Onyx says, "No, but we will, and glad I am of it, too."

[D&D] Arly asks, "Am I back in the main room yet?"

[D&D] GM says (to Arly), "yes"

GM says (to Kaylee), "meanwhile, the other paper seems to be some sort of procedure: "eliminate contacts; trace network; locate shipments and intercept; arrange for audience with Lady Kianna; ----""

GM says, "The writing ends abruptly"

Onyx says, "I saw your future last night in a dream, and had no idea why it came to me. Now I do."

[D&D] Arly says, "Okay... I'm going to try to investigate the scroll cap to find out why it's so heavy."

Kaylee replaces the sheets in the folder, and puts it back under the bed.

GM says, "Cassis shakes his head impatiently, and gestures to the stairs. One of his bodyguards heads for them, while the other stays to help glare at you."

GM says, ""My future, you say?""

Onyx tries to get in the way.

Kaylee enters the other room, and bumps into Arly.

Onyx says, "Yes, you have a son, but the mother hasn't told you. She will."

Arly whispers to Kaylee, "Watch it."

Kaylee says, "OH, there you are. Let's go."

GM says, ""Excuse me!" the guard says, swerving around you."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(in a whisper)"

Kaylee opens the window for arly.

Onyx says, "She hasn't trusted you, since . . . Well, I think you know when."

GM says, ""A son, have I? One would think I would have heard about this before.""

Arly says (to Kaylee), "Wait, look first. See if it's safe."

Kaylee pulls out a piece of thread and loops it around the latch.

GM says, ""But I don't have time for blackmail at the moment; if you have anything better, do come and see me in the morning.""

Kaylee exclaims, "It's safe already. Get out of here!"

GM says, "Cassis gestures to his other guard, and the two of them head for the stairs"

Kaylee (in a whisper)

Arly carefully makes his way out the window.

Onyx exclaims, "Blackmail - Never! I only tell you what I saw!"

Kaylee follows Arly out the window, trying to pull the latch closed with the thread once out.

GM says, "The two of you scramble out the window and Kaylee pulls the latch shut with a click."

Kaylee . o O ( Sweet! )

Onyx says, "The earth told me - Ah, never mind. (aside) Unbelieving pagan infidels."

GM says, "A few moments later, Kaylee sees the corridor door swing open"

GM says, "The receptionist looks at Onyx a bit oddly, as do the one or two other guests in the lobby"

Onyx pulls herself up to her full height, and glares around the room.

GM says, "Three men step into the room, although they don't make a light yet"

Onyx exclaims, "What are you looking at?!"

GM says, "The receptionist becomes busy with her paperwork"

Onyx stomps out.

Kaylee watches, peering around the edge of the blinds.

Onyx heads back towards Fincul.

GM says, "Cassis gestures curtly to his guards. One goes to stand by the entrance to the master bedroom, while the other draws his sword and swings the other bedroom door wide"

Onyx says (to Fincul), "Ahm sayin', Seers git no respec'."

GM says, "He peers inside and then steps through"

GM asks (of Arly), "are you climbing down or staying up?"

Arly says, "Hrm."

Arly says, "Staying up for now, I think."

Fincul says (to Onyx), "Alas, that is often the way of things."

Kaylee whispers (to Arly) "Go on down--I can jump if need be."

Onyx says (to Fincul), "I dun the whole bit, and he didn' listen to nuthin. 'Course, it was a pile of horse droppins, but still. . ."

Arly asks (of Kaylee), "Are you sure?"

GM says, "There's some delay, and then he comes out again, shaking his head"

Kaylee whispers, "Yeah."

Arly carefully makes his way back to the ground.

GM says, "The bodyguard who went into the room abruptly turns his head, and marches over to the window"

Fincul says (to Onyx), "Perhaps the use of potent-smelling herbs and strangely-shaped jewellery would have helped lend your performance greater credence."

GM says, "He kneels to examine the latch, and then flips it open and raises the window to look out"

Kaylee freezes.

GM says, "Meanwhile, Cassis and the other man head into the master bedroom"

Onyx says (to Fincul), "Herbs, huh? I got an amulet, but mebbe I don't smell funny enough."

GM says, "a snatch of conversation drifts out through the open window "...spell ... quite sure...""

Kaylee is ready to fall backwards if the guard feels around.

Kaylee strains to listen.

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 13 | 13 + 2 = 15

GM says, "The bodyguard looks out and down, right through Kaylee and Arly"

GM says, ""... disturbed .. look for ...""

GM says, "Then he reaches out, to the sill and right where Kaylee is"

Kaylee silently falls backwards.

Kaylee pushes off from the wall to avoid Arly.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I have 'Slow Fall', which makes a fall 20 ft shorter than it actually is."

[D&D] GM says, "okay"

[D&D] GM asks, "do you have move silently?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I also have tumble, I guess."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "It's a class ability at 0 for me--I have 3 dex."

[D&D] GM says, "that'll do too -- make a tumble roll"

Arly thought he had already climbed down, but climbs down again just to be sure.

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "hee!"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Er, checking..."

Kaylee rolls 20-sided dice: 4 | 4 + 12 = 16

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oy."

GM says, "There's a slight scrape as Kaylee brushes against the wall to slow her fall -- the guard jerks his head down, but still doesn't see anything, and eventually shrugs and closes the window."

GM says, "and Kaylee reaches the ground, followed some time later by Arly"

Kaylee gets up and dusts herself off.

[D&D] Fincul says, "No one but Arly can say when Arly climbed down."

Kaylee heads over to where Fincul et al are.

Arly does, too.

[D&D] Fincul says, "What with Arly being invisible and all."

Kaylee's disembodied voice says, "Well, there's some sort of land dispute.

Fincul says (to Onyx), "I hope you bought them enough time, with the seer act."

Fincul blinks.

Onyx continues complaining about how Cassis ignored her "vision".

Fincul says, "Oh, phew."

Kaylee says, "Oops, sorry."

Kaylee pushes Fincul lightly on the shoulder.

Kaylee reappears.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Was that an attack?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Hee."

Kaylee exclaims, "Hi!"

Kaylee recounts her adventures and findings.

Fincul says, "I was worried you were still in there, and wouldn't be able to re-open the window without being seen."

Onyx wraps an arm around Kaylee's then Arly's shoulders. "Ahm glad yer back.

Kaylee says, "Aww."

Kaylee says, "I think they might know we were in there."

Arly says, "Are my shoulders visible yet"

Arly asks, "?"

Fincul asks, "Arly? Is that you?"

Kaylee says, "Something about a spell and being 'quite sure'."

Arly says, "Yes it's me."

Fincul asks (of Arly), "Did you want to be visible?"

Arly says, "I see no reason to remain invisble anymore."

Fincul says (to Arly), "'Appare' at will, then."

Onyx says, "Nope, I just smelled where you was. Jus' kiddin'. I kin see you."

Kaylee says, "And something about 'disturbed'--I don't know if that means they thought things *were* disturbed, or were just checking to see if things *had* been disturbed."

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "Hmm."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Also, I'm not entirely sure what you did find up there, since I was AFK dealing with a cat part of the time and skimmed things."

Kaylee says, "But anyway. Assume heightened suspicion, but no hard evidence on their part. I didn't take anything out, at least."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Heh."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "What cat part were you dealing with? (OK, that's Sara's joke)"

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "hey!"

[D&D] Kaylee says (to Arly), "this might be a good time to bring up your scroll case cap ;-)"

Fincul nods. "Did you discover the scrollcase? Or any other items of interest?"

Arly says, "Yes. I found it."

Arly pulls out the scroll case cap.

Kaylee raises an eyebrow.

[D&D] Fincul says, "As well as the weird stuff in the second chest, so we'll know they have a spell caster."

Kaylee asks, "You dont' think they'll notice that's missing?"

Fincul asks, "It's... shorter than it was before, isn't it?"

Arly says (to Fincul), "The case itself was empty."

Kaylee says, "Oh, well."

Arly says (to Kaylee), "There wasn't time to replace it."

Kaylee nods.

Kaylee asks, "Why did you take it?"

Fincul asks, "Did it trigger a spell when it was opened?"

Arly says (to Kaylee), "There's something about it... It's heavier than it should be, as if there's something inside."

Kaylee says, "Oho."

Arly says, "Perhaps we can all figure out how to open it."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Does the cap appear to open at all? Any seams?"

Kaylee says, "Well, let's have a look."

Fincul asks, "Shall we return to our rooms to discuss this?"

Kaylee says, "Sure."

Kaylee says, "Though we should remember that they'll be able to find the scroll cap the same way you could find the scroll case."

Arly says (to Kaylee), "I'm hoping they won't notice, at least for a while."

Kaylee nods.

Fincul asks, "Mmm. If they have a mage who had handled the scrollcase -- did you see any signs of there being a spellcaster in their group?"

Arly says (to Kaylee), "We may still have time to replace it."

Arly says (to Fincul), "I think so."

Kaylee says, "If the thought it was empty, that seems likely."

Arly says (to Fincul), "One of the chests in the bedroom."

Arly asks, "There was an odd collection of items in one of the chests, too. Fine white sand, a small crystal, bits of herbs, hairs of some kind of animal... Anyone know why someone might possess such items?"

Fincul says, "Mmm."

Fincul opens his component pouch and shows it to Arly. "Somewhat like this?"

Arly peers inside.

Arly says, "Yes... I believe so."

Onyx gestures at the cap. "Lemme see?"

Arly hands the cap to Onyx.

Kaylee says, "I don't think we should risk trying to replace the cap--let's just open it, dump the cap, and head back to our room."

Onyx fiddles with the cap.

Fincul assumes they're talking and fiddling while travelling.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Sure."

[D&D] Onyx says, "definitely."

GM says, "It looks like there's a thin groove around the cap, so that it could be popped open with a thin blade or something"

Onyx pulls out her nail-trimming knife, and fiddles with that and the cap (after reaching our rooms).

[D&D] Fincul says, "(OK, someone please remove the image of Varicella as a Barbarian from my head.)"

[D&D] Arly gets out his longsword...

[D&D] GM says, "ha"

[D&D] Onyx asks, "Varicella?"

[D&D] Alex says (to Onyx), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Varicella is chicken pox."

[D&D] Fincul says, "The title character from an IF game by Adam Cadre."

GM says, "in the room Onyx pops the cap open, revealing an iron disk, stamped with a B in a triangle on one side, and something looking like a twisted X on the other"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Any symbols I recognize from the papers I rifled through?"

[D&D] GM says, "no, although it didn't actually cover symbols"

Fincul says, "I wonder if it's possible that the scroll was a false lead, and that this is what the real Cassis was trying to deliver."

Arly says, "It's not unlikely."

Kaylee says, "Could be."

Arly asks, "The question is, what is this thing?"

Arly asks, "Does anyone recognize these symbols?"

Onyx says, "Mebbe we oughta dump the cap, iffen it don't look like they opened it already."

Kaylee, before she forgets, jots down what she remembers from her search.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "When I detected magic on the scrollcase before, did anything I detected seem to come from this end of the case specifically?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Also, can I attempt Arcane Lore to see if the symbols are magic-related?"

[D&D] GM says, "no and yes"

Fincul says (to Onyx), "Not a bad idea."

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 10 = 28

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "you're pretty sure they're not, although the first symbol looks slightly familiar"

Fincul says, "Hmm."

Fincul says, "That letter B..."

[D&D] Fincul exclaims, "Hmm!"

Fincul pulls out the box from under bed bed and rifles through it.

[D&D] Kaylee says, "It's the boxy box from the bed bed."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Anything from the Raz temple or warlord's tomb?"

GM says, "It still has the non-magical weapons in it"

Onyx says, "Iffen no one objects, Ah'll hide this in the town dump. Ah'll be back."

Kaylee says, "Sure."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I wanted to check if any of the marks on the weapons looked similar to the mark on the disc."

Kaylee says, "Oh, wait, almost forgot."

Kaylee pulls out the sheet of paper.

GM says, "..and yeah, the maker's mark on the weapons is the same as on the disk"

Onyx trots off, cap in hand.

Kaylee says, "thought there might be an impression of whatever was written on top of this."

Fincul holds up a sword. "Aha! There!"

Kaylee says, "Curioser and curioser."

Arly says, "Hrm."

Arly asks (of Kaylee), "Do we have some soft lead or ash to rub on the paper?"

Fincul says, "It would seem that events are becoming mysteriously interconnected."

GM says, "(Onyx goes off and tosses the cap in an inconspicuous place)"

Kaylee gathers some soot from the fireplace and lightly dusts the paper with it, rubbing it in gently.

Arly asks (of Kaylee), "What does it say?"

Kaylee says, "Give me a second..."

Onyx returns, and pours herself some water.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Did we ever research that maker's mark?"

[D&D] GM says, "not that I recall"

GM says (to Kaylee), "no good, unfortunately -- people don't write on the paper in stacks, here"

Kaylee says, "Sigh, nothing."

Fincul says, "Perhaps at some point, we should research weaponsmiths' markings."

Arly asks (of GM), "So it's a regional thing, is what you're saying?"

Kaylee peers at the paper itself, looking for maker's marks or the like.

GM says, "(heh)"

GM says, "watermarks? hrm, I'm not sure if that's period or not"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "It's your world; you can make it up ;-)"

(From Arly) GM says, "did Microsoft Word exist in this time period? I mean, there's no other way to do them, right?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Also, ask Emily."

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'm not sure if actual *paper* is period or not :)"

[D&D] Arly says (to Fincul), "Paper, vellum, whatever."

[D&D] Arly says, "We all know what he means."

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] GM says, "this is true"

[D&D] GM says, "I think there is no watermark here either, I am afraid"

[D&D] Onyx says, "Vellum would be too thick, especially using quills, which do not require you to bear down while you write (IIRC)."

Arly asks (of Fincul), "Do you have any way of making hidden things appear? Could there possibly be something written on this paper we just can't see?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Actually, looks like paper and parchment are both in the SRD, the former being twice the price of the latter.)"

Kaylee says (to Arly), "I doubt it--it was just a blank piece of paper."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Lemon juice! Er, maybe not. ;-)"

Kaylee says, "In a stack of unused paper."

Arly says, "Perhaps."

Fincul says (to Arly), "If the writing itself were magical, I could."

Arly asks (of Fincul), "Could you try? Just to see?"

Fincul says, "Alright."

Arly asks, "We know we're dealing with spellcasters... Where better to hide something than in plain sight?"

Fincul touches his eyelids while muttering, then looks at the paper again.

GM says, "(nothing)"

Fincul says (to Arly), "Three or four sheets down from plain sight, perhaps."

Arly says, "It was worth the attempt."

Fincul looks at the disc as well, and glances around for any other magic here that he hadn't noticed before.

GM says, "The disk isn't magic; I think you've identified everything else"

Fincul says, "I'm curious about the past of this disc, actually."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "You notice Kaylee's slippers are magical, if you hadn't noticed before."

[D&D] Onyx says, "hee"

Fincul starts to prepare another spell from his spellbook, if it's not too too late into the evening yet.

GM says, "(It's about 9 or 10 pm now -- getting late but not bedtime yet)"

GM says, "eventually Fincul finishes studying"

Fincul studies the disc, turning it over in his hands and chanting unintelligible questions to it.

GM says, "There's the sensation of being removed from confinement, and then put into it"

GM says, "Before that, the feeling of being handed from one hand to another, and the sensation of nervousness and confusion but determination to find things out"

GM says, "before that a long period of resting quietly, broken once by something rubbing against the surface"

GM says, "and before that, the first/last impression is the heat of the forge as the disk is pounded out"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Any sense of where the resting quietly was, or what might have been rubbing?"

[D&D] GM says, "the resting seems to have been in some secure, quiet place, perhaps a desk drawer or a chest"

[D&D] GM says, "definitely some distance from here"

[D&D] GM says, "as it travelled a long time when it was moved from hand to hand"

[D&D] GM says, "the rubbing was something flat and thing which pressed against the whole surface of the disk, and then something rubbed on the other side of that"

Fincul says, "Hmm. This disk was created some time ago, some distance away from here."

Fincul says, "Its travels only began relatively recently -- furtively passed from person to person. People who might not have fully understood what was going on, but were working towards some goal. Trying to find something out."

Kaylee says, "Hmm."

Kaylee says, "The paper I found had a lot of information on some sort of organization."

Fincul says, "Probably including our own handling of it earlier -- it seems to have travelled quite a ways in this manner."

Kaylee says, "The ring as a symbol of recognition; handshakes; greetings; meeting places; dropoff points."

Fincul asks (of Kaylee), "An organization our target was a member of, or was working against?"

Kaylee says, "And another paper had instructions on eliminating an organization."

Fincul nods. "Mmm."

Kaylee says, "Ending with meeting Lady Kianna."

Kaylee asks, "The people you met said they had been betrayed, right?"

Kaylee says, "So I assume it's their organization that's been outlined in those papers."

Kaylee says, "Whatever organization that might be."

Kaylee says, "If it's the one that's confused but determined to figure stuff out, though, it doesn't seem evil."

Fincul says, "Mmm."

Fincul says, "A philosopher-general once said, 'My enemy's enemy is my friend.'"

Kaylee asks, "Are there more than two groups, here?"

Arly paces around the room, thinking.

Fincul says (to Kaylee), "If you include us, at least three."

Fincul says, "If you include the unwitting pawns in the employ of the government -- such as the guards we met this morning -- there are at least four."

Kaylee nods.

Kaylee says, "There's that merchant who hired you initially, too, I guess. The one that was killed."

Fincul asks, "The 'real' Cassis?"

Kaylee says, "No, the guy who bought the rope."

Fincul says, "Oh, yes."

Kaylee says, "And whoever killed him."

Fincul says, "Mmm."

Kaylee says, "Since that crate seems to be tied to all this."

Fincul checks his notes for the name of the Mendrick got his information from.

Kaylee asks, "So, tomorrow, we research maker's marks, and meet up with dudes?"

Fincul says, "Hmm. He bought it from a man called 'Burkes'."

Kaylee says, "Since they've never seen me, I plan to be there before noon, and just wait."

Arly says (to Kaylee), "I believe that would be prudent."

Onyx says, "Ahm not sure I should meet with the dudes. Cassis probl'ly thinks Ahm a freak."

Kaylee says (to Onyx), "You can hide and emerge if needed."

Onyx says, "He's not a believer."

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Hey, speaking of crates of rope and Mendrick, did the innkeeper get our shipment of rope?"

Kaylee shakes her head and smiles. "How sad."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah"

Onyx says (to Kaylee), "Sure, Ah"

Onyx says, "'ll stay oughta site."

[D&D] GM says, "he was not entirely thrilled, but he's been paid in trade before, so he was good enough to hand over the promised half to you guys"

[D&D] Fincul says, "In rope or in cash? :)"

[D&D] Onyx says, "50 one-foot pieces of rope, sure."

[D&D] GM says, "in cash, yes"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

Fincul says, "It's probably best not to let on how many of us are connected with our group."

Kaylee nods.

[D&D] Fincul says, "(Of course, I guess 8gp would have gone further last week before we cleaned out that tomb than it would now...)"

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "8gp? Ha."

[D&D] Fincul exclaims (at Kaylee), "*Each*!"

[D&D] Kaylee exclaims, "Woot!"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Anything more tonight? or fast forward to tomorrow?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Anyone want to see me juggle glowing balls of light?"

Arly glares at Fincul quietly.

[D&D] GM says, "I'm fine to fast forward if nobody has anything else to do"

GM says, "ok, so the next morning dawns bright and early"

GM says, "your lunch date, should you choose to accept it, is at 1pm"

[D&D] (from Kaylee) GM says, "Also, you're all naked in a ditch."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Does the inn we broke into last night serve breakfast to the general populace?"

[D&D] GM says, "hrm, yeah, I think so"

Fincul asks, "Morning, already?"

Fincul sits down with a mug of something warm and spiced to do his morning studying.

Arly says, "I hope I'm not starting to get old. It felt as though I hardly slept at all last night."

Kaylee says, "I'm going to breakfast at Cassius's inn to see what he does this morning, then I'm heading early to the meeting place."

Kaylee exclaims, "See you all then!"

Kaylee skips out.

Onyx asks (of Arly), "Yer gettin' old. Want to warm up the day wi' a round or two of sparring?"

Arly exclaims (at Onyx), "I believe so, yes!"

Onyx exclaims, "Yer on!"

Arly exclaims (at Onyx), "If you think you're up to it!"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "I'm having a leisurely breakfast at that inn, watching for them coming down/leaving."

Onyx downs her hearty breakfast, and heads out to the ring for a warm-up.

GM says, "Cassis doesn't make an appearance himself, although one of his bodyguards comes down, picks up some wine and bread and fruit, and carries them back upstairs"

GM asks, "Later all three come downstairs and head out into the city; do you want to try and follow?"

Fincul heads downstairs to inquire about pastries when he finishes studying.

GM says, "the pastry vendor is able to supply you with a variety of pastries should you so desire"

Fincul says (to Inkeeper), "They call it a 'croissant'. They're made by the elves of the northwestern province."

[D&D] Onyx exclaims, "hee!"

Fincul tries to find one with cheese baked in, and then heads to the mage guild to look up markings of various sorts.

GM asks, "okay, what are you looking up there?"

Onyx asks (of GM), "Is 'later' before or after Arly and I head for the sparring ring? Would we notice their appearance?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "I'd like to look up blacksmith/weaponsmith maker marks, and I'm also curious if there are any codes that are sometimes used by folks who want other code-savvy people to be able to read stuff, but not the normals."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Particularly any known codes involving colored dots."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Kaylee may want to follow the three goons -"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(A long shot, since it'll probably be a private code, but just in case they had wanted it decipherable by allies who wouldn't know what code they were using.)"

GM says (to Onyx), "if you went to the other inn with Kaylee, I dunno, you can decide if you'd like to have left already or not"

GM says (to Onyx), "if you had breakfast at your own inn, of course, you didn't see them at all"

[D&D] Onyx says, "ah, right. so Arly and I have a nice little work-out."

[D&D] GM says (to Fincul), "um, how about if you make an arcane lore roll, in lieu of a general reaearch skill"

Kaylee follows until they turn off of a major thoroughfare, then lets them go. She's not exactly the most inconspicuous tailer one could have.

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 10 = 11

[D&D] Kaylee laughs.

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Oh well. Do I roll separately for the two different things I was researching?"

[D&D] GM says, "sure"

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 10 = 17

[D&D] Fincul says, "(It's sorta nice to know that my critical failure rolls still beat an unskilled person taking ten, though.)"

GM says (to Kaylee), "they head for the heart of the merchant's district, and then off"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "'Off' meaning 'off the major thorougfares'?"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "And I presume they didn't stop at any shops?"

[D&D] GM says, "right, onto a side-street lined with shops"

[D&D] GM says, "the particular side-street they're on seems to be the horse and saddle section"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Gotcha."

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "And nowhere near the meeting place?"

[D&D] Fincul says, "They're there to pick up a new 'harness' and a riding crop, IYKWIM."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "Oy ;-)"

GM says (to Fincul), "the B-in-the-triangle is actually easy to find: it's the mark of one of the more elite weaponsmiths in the city"

[D&D] Fincul asks (of GM), "Right in this city?"

[D&D] GM says, "right"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "So it wouldn't be uncommon for someone to, say, trade a dagger made by a B-triangle guy for a spear? ;-)"

GM says, "the triangle with a differently-colored tip can mean 'candle' or 'rebuilding' or 'treachery'"

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "Wait--colored like that triangle onthe folder?"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "Does this mean that the three dots were non-colinear?"

[D&D] Kaylee says, "The ones on the folder were in a triangle, I thought; the ones on the vial were in a line."

[D&D] Kaylee says, "(IIRC)"

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "any triangle with a differently-colored tip"

[D&D] GM says (to Kaylee), "right"

[D&D] Fincul nods.

[D&D] GM says, "and there's nothing to be found about the three dots in a line"

[D&D] Fincul says, "So, just to make sure I understand correctly: the disc, which was made far from here, bears the maker's mark of someone right in town? Interesting."

[D&D] GM says, "yep"

[D&D] GM says, "well"

Fincul also looks up local rumored secret societies while he's here.

[D&D] GM says, "the disk travelled to get here recently"

[D&D] Fincul says, "With us, most likely."

[D&D] GM says, "it's possible that it was made here, travelled away a long time ago (and hence didn't leave an impression), and then travelled back again"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Aha."

[D&D] GM says, "(I dunno, roll for that too, I guess)"

Kaylee wanders around the city for a while going literally where the wind blows her.

[D&D] Kaylee asks, "We went back to the forge, right?"

Arly says (to Kayle), "TSD."

Fincul rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 10 = 19

Kaylee then heads to the meeting place an hour or two before noon, orders some food, sets up stuff like she's studying, and waits. And, hey, studies.

[D&D] Kaylee says (to Arly), "Hush, you./"

GM says (to Fincul), "there are various notes but it's hard to sort out the rumors from the facts"

Onyx says (to Arly), "Let's go at it, then wash up and head out."

Onyx rolls 20-sided dice: 15 | 15 + 8 = 23

[D&D] Onyx says, "sparring strength, not full strength. No sense in killing each other for real."

GM says (to Fincul), "there's talk of some supposedly-broken-up thieves' guild, the Golden Bones; an assassin wing of the church of the healing god"

[D&D] Fincul would be happy with rumors. If there were solid facts clearly available, they wouldn't be 'secret' anymore...

GM says (to Fincul), "some sort of Mor's Elders association of old families attempting to regain control of the city from the current government"

GM says, "something based in the slums that's allied with goblins in the swamp"

GM says, "although whether to take over the city or the swamp isn't clear"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "That's four you listed, right?"

GM says, "and various organizations that are based here because it's convenient (being on a trade route) but don't have any interests in the city as such"

[D&D] Fincul says, "(I'm assuming the elders aren't allying with the goblins or whatever...)"

[D&D] GM says, "right, sorry"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "How am I on time? Is it approaching lunchtime in my part of the thread, or is there time for more research?"

GM says, "there are particularly some interested in the places nearby here: to the east there's a somewhat dictatorial government intent on expanding its power and seeing converts and political ins"

GM says, "to the northwest there are disputes about the mines"

GM says, "and to the south there are complex trading regulations and rights of land ownership, as mentioned earlier"

[D&D] GM says, "it's not til 1, so you probably have another hour or so"

Fincul looks into how and when the current government came into power.

[D&D] GM says, "and in terms of (OOC) time, I think we're going to stop once these threads are tied off, since some people have to go and I am a little short on sleep"

[D&D] Fincul says, "And if I'm allowed, I'll just take ten on that, since that'd give me an effective roll of 20 anyway."

GM says (to Fincul), "it's a somewhat typical story: the city was founded on a trade route, walls grew up to defend against the swamp and other dangers, nobles grew up and got rich as landowners and held iron control on the city for a while"

Onyx and Arly wash up after a productive sparring session, and head toward the meeting place.

GM says, "the merchants and new rich became increasingly unhappy with the order of things, and this culminated in the old guard being forced out by the grumblings of the populace"

GM says, "and a new leader installed over them"

GM says, "some of the noble families remained in power but to a much lesser extent, and the Lord/Lady of the city has, at least so far, been more responsive to the common person than the old group was"

GM says, "although this is a somewhat ticklish balance, since the new Lord/Lady is picked every twenty years by the city's council, which has a large number of nobles still on it"

[D&D] Fincul asks, "When was Lady K installed?"

[D&D] GM says, "about fifteen years ago"

[D&D] GM says, "I guess 17, to be precise"

Fincul notes down the names of some of the more important figures -- coincil members, deposed noble families, etc.

[D&D] Fincul says, "Er, council, even."

[D&D] Onyx asks, "so the power will be turning over again in 3 years. Is that too soon to start manuevering? Is this city of any particular importance?"

GM says, "none look familiar, except that the church of Raz used to have some standing on the council in the beginning but this faded when the church ran into problems"

Fincul picks up after himself, packing away his notes and putting books back where they belong, then sets off to make the meeting.

GM says, "as, I expect, do Arly and Skalheth"

Arly says, "Uh, I guess. I thought I was already there."

[D&D] Onyx says, "You should go there again, just to be sure. ;-)"

GM says, "meanwhile Onyx and Kaylee hang out and look inconspicuous, and the two men you met earlier do whatever they do"

[D&D] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "and we will find out exactly what happens then next time we play"

[D&D] Fincul says, "I feel bad that I've been doing stuff, and everyone else hasn't had anything to do."

[D&D] Onyx says, "Nah, don't worry about it. It goes around."

[D&D] GM says, "I guess I will check in wednesday-ish again and see how people's schedules look"

[D&D] GM says, "I believe I am busy saturday night but otherwise free"

[D&D] Fincul says, "Cool."

[D&D] Fincul says, "Good game."

[D&D] Onyx says, "we're busy friday and sunday."

[D&D] Fincul says, "So, maybe we can manage something Saturday afternoon."

[D&D] GM says, "yeah, we can see"

GM says, "alrighty -- see you all later"

GM has disconnected.

GM goes home.

[D&D] Onyx waves.

Onyx has disconnected.

Onyx goes home.