A New Barovia: Chapter Two

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"There are many trails beckoning," Valanth says, her voice as cool and crisp as her - impeccable - appearance.

It is worth noting, perhaps, that the veiled mage stayed behind in the room she shared with Marilee to freshen up, denying her an opportunity to look at Valanth's face.

"If I may be so bold: Go with the matter that has the longest standing. Old trails grow cold, and you risk losing your quarry."

[steveflam]

Once the meal is over, you depart from the Inn. Militia Headquarters is your destination, but Jacob's home is on the way to the HQ. Adam has been very adamant to go to the dark elf's home and seeing as you are passing his home, what better opportunity than to go investigate his home now.

Approaching the door, you have the sense that someone is watching you. Of course you are right. At the top of the house, on the roof, are both Lupzig and Rizzin. The little dragon flies down to land on Thomas' shoulder. Lupzig the owl hoots once, the flies off into the Barovian sky. It is the last time you will see De Casteeles Owl.

The Pseudodragon's mind invades everyone's at the same time. I was wondering when you would eventually come to master's home. To enter you must speak three drow words - delmah ssinjin delmah.

Once the words are spoken, the door to the home opens. A long hallway extends form the door. When everyone has entered, the door closes behind you. Before you, a spectral Jacob appears before you. "Who are you and what are you doing in this house?"

Everyone answers honestly, but Adam and Thomas permit you to go on. The phantom dissipates and the hallway disappears, revealing a massive library with a door in the easternmost corner. There are empty sections of missing books here, but one section remains. There are books of every known language of these very lands.

The door at the east side of the library leads to an open room. It is scant with but a chair, desk and a chest!

[Ken of Ghastria]

Khalfani says softly, "An interesting place... but then, I did not expect it to be otherwise."

The gnome pauses as he looks around, and then he points into the room. "That desk there... the drawer has been enchanted. I cannot say exactly what kind of magic, but I would suspect it is something to discourage or punish thieves... an enchantment from the abjuration school, most likely."

_____________________
Khalfani failed the Spellcraft check to identify the type of magic.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Valanth casts her eye upon the drawer and mutters a brief phrase, punctuated by a flick of her fingers: "Quod est occultus, video." After a moment, she nods. "Yes, it is enchanted."

(OOC: Spellcraft check:24.)

[Rock of the Fraternity]

After a moment's thought, Valanth shrugs. "It appears to be from the healing school of Conjuration," she announces. "I have no idea whether the drawer is fitted with a more mundane trap, however."

[VAN]

Adam moves in the house with great interest. When notices Jacob's ghost he doesn't get afraid, he only tells a small prayer so the drow's soul rest in peace. When Khalfani tells them about the drawer he says:

"Whoever tries to open it will need to be extremely careful, maybe it is trapped. But we need to open it and check what is inside. Does any of you know how to search and disable traps? We need to check also the desk and the chest."

Then Adams goes at the library and looks carefully at the remaining books.

"I'm afraid we might be late my friends. Many books are missing and doubt Jacob would have lost them. I'm afraid whoever has been after the 2 dark elves has already been here and got the books and who knows what else. However I do hope Jacob got some books from his homeland here and they are between the remaining ones. It will be extremely useful to know more about his land, that way we will able to understand and fight better his enemies."

Looking around Adam calls Rizzin.

"My friend, do you know if anyone else has been in the house before us?"

[Ail]

"Ah... erm.... well, I think that may be a little in my line of business, yes..."


Robert says a bit amused, a bit uncomfortable. It is one thing to rob from rich people, another entirely to do it from arch-mages. And this wouldn't be robbing even, but the particular circumstances wouldn't make the traps any less dangerous.


"Let me give a try"

he says feeling dumbly courageous. What with women watching and all, he had to play the part and not be afraid.

But as he walked to the drawer, he realized how stupid such display and bravado would be anyhow, and proceeded to do his work as professionaly as possible.


"I have more experience with other kinds of skills"

he says

"Traps isn't usually my forte, so excuse me if anything goes wrong...
Perhaps someone can help me with some magic first?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Back well away from it, please," Valanth says, following her own advice. As soon as everyone is well away from the drawer, she flicks her hand at it and mutters a single word: "Reserate."

(OOC: Valanth casts Open at the drawer.)

[steveflam]

"Back well away from it, please," Valanth says, following her own advice. As soon as everyone is well away from the drawer, she flicks her hand at it and mutters a single word: "Reserate."

(OOC: Valanth casts Open at the drawer.)

The drawer opens, sliding out silently. Inside, are several scrolls 8 to be exact.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Well now," Valanth says, and glides up to the drawer. She gently caresses the tightly rolled parchment. "Healing spells, it would seem. How very useful."

[steveflam]

Rizzin looks at Adam. "I do not know who was here before you, Master Adam as I was not here when the books were taken.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Khalfani looks around a bit more after Valanth's identification of the scrolls. "Based on all that I have heard of Jacob, it seems unlikely that he would have kept all his important possessions, especially magical ones, in plain sight," he offers. "Let us look for concealed doorways or panels while we're here."

The gnome then explores the bookshelves, especially the emptier ones, looking around and occassionally rapping his knuckles againt the back of the shelves, listening carefully for any suggestion of a hollow space beyond the wall.

[Ail]

"Oh, well..."

Robert shrugs a bit disappointed.

Then he looks for ways to make himself useful, and sets to help Khalfani.

OOC: Search check: 1d20+2 = 3 (natural 1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3379838/

So I guess he just idles by, getting in the way.

[VAN]

"Very good idea Khalfani. I will check the scrolls later if you want. They will be very useful to us. If you can Valanth try to open the chest and the desk as well please."

Then he starts searching with great patience the library and then the chest.

[Ail]

"Very good idea Khalfani. I will check the scrolls later if you want. They will be very useful to us. If you can Valanth try to open the chest and the desk as well please."

Then he starts searching with great patience the library and then the chest.

"Hey, I'm pretty good at opening locks, if anyone wants that particular skill... I hear spells can't last forever, anyways..."