Mask of Diamond Tears IC

[Faulty]

Tulisa gives you instructions to Dr. Marling's house, explaining the way and writing down notes on a sheet of paper. She explains that from here, the walk is about 20 minutes.

[Saintheart]

Barenn takes the proffered sheet of paper and passes it to Trixauna. "Much appreciated. Now, then: if you would be so kind as to show us down to where the cart is currently being stored?"

[Faulty]

"Yes, of course." Tulisa guides you out of her office, locking the door behind her, and leads the way through the mueseum. You pass into a side corridor and enter a locked section of the building. Past storage rooms, you finally step outside into the loading dock. It's actually a small alcove in the side of the building, around back. Tulisa carefully locks the door behind her after the last of you steps out. "There," she says, pointing to a nearby wagon. It's a horse drawn wagon made of sturdy wood with wheels of the same material. The storage area is completely enclosed, and the only door is covered with metal plating and the hinges themselves are as well. What looks like a large metal handle is inset into the center of the door with a lock in the center, and a pair of handles sit along the left side, obviously to assist in opening the door once unlocked. The place where the riders would sit is a bench a top the front. Small, three rung ladders hang down from the side and allow for climbing up. A black awning hangs over the bench, obviously to protect the riders from the wet of rain or heat of the sun as they drive one or two horses, the number it seems would properly attatch.

[Saintheart]

Barenn puts his hands on his hips, staring at the wagon. He clicks his tongue in annoyance. "If it was made from stone or steel I could probably tell more about it. We dwarves do not really care for wood." The dwarf glances over at Trixauna. "I have always known you to have a sharp eye, Illumian. I could try and help you look over this thing..."

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Search roll, with the intent of using Aid Another if Trixauna or anyone else decides to go over the wagon looking for hidden catches, traps, anything out of the ordinary... (1d20+7)[24]

[Dreamshifter]

Bluebell lets out a sigh of relief to be out of the office. She had been suspiciously quiet the whole time, though she hadn't been standing still exactly.

Arriving at the cart, she gives it a glance, but can only shrug. "Looks normal to me. Which means nothing, I guess."

[zagan]

Lut

Lut turn around the wagon trying to find any detail that could help them.

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I also make a search check to Aid another for probably Trixauna because she had the best bonus.

(1d20+4)[21]

[Swooper]

"You check the outside of the wagon, I will search the inside. Make sure to take a look under it," Trixauna says to those helping with the search. Before starting the search, she chants a simple incantation and then walks around the wagon, concentrating intently on it.

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Cast Detect Magic from a Beguiler slot. Walk around to see if there's anything magical around (apart from us, heh). If she finds anything, she will concentrate further on the effect to find out more about it (roll spellcraft for me) and focus her search around it if applicable.

Search check with +4 from the aid another rolls by Barenn and Lut: (1d20+23)[39]

[Faulty]

Your spell picks up no signs magic anywhere in, on or around the wagon. As you search the outside of the wagon, you find that the allegations that there were no signs of break in are true. Nothing is found on or around the bench, either. Tulisa Gadfly opens the the door of the back of the wagon for you, giving the large handle a 180 degree turn. She pulls the door open with the side handles, allowing dimly illuminating the inside. She pulls a copper coin from her pocket and casts a spell on it, causing it to eminate light. She tosses it into the back of the wagon, so that it's clearly illuminated. There are no signs of suspiciousness there either. You find that inside the cart is a handle identical to the one locking the door from the outside. Fiddling with the handle, you find that it causes metal rods to pop out of both the top and bottom of the door. Identically shaped holes are present where the door is when closed. Obviously, turning the handle locks the door in place by securing the rods in the grooves. Turning the handle from both the outside and the inside has the same effect. While inside with the door closed, examining the locking mechanism in action, you hear a click when you turn the handle back into locked position. You can hear Tulisa exclaim a muffled and colourful word, and a quick apology. You hear the clatter of keys, and in the few seconds you spend locked in the room alone, you find that there is an identical lock on the inside handle. So the lock could be opened with a key--or a lockpick--from either side.

[Swooper]

After completing the search, a thought appears to occur to Trixauna. "Tulisa Gadfly, tell me," she says, raising an eyebrow. "You say there were no signs of the door being forced open, and after examining it I agree. You neglected to tell us one thing though. Was the door unlocked when the guards returned?"

[Faulty]

"No, it was locked. But all you have to do is turn it all the way to lock it, it doesn't require a key. That's why you got locked in, I'm sorry for that."

[kpenguin]

"I'm BORED! Aren't you guys going to beat somebody up?"

"Orni, a criminal investigation isn't about busting heads and fisticuffs. It requires long periods of meticulous observation and deep analysis."

"But that's BORING. Why are we doing this anyway"

"Beacuse the nice lady needed help.

"Oh... right. I forgot"

[Faulty]

"Have you found all you need, then?"

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If you guys want to head out, you can.

[Swooper]

Trixauna nods. "Not much to find here anyway, but I believe we are done here. Before we leave, though, I would like to meet the two guards who transported the Mask, if they are available."

[Faulty]

Meeting with the two guards provides no new useful information. Tulisa imparts on you the urgency of the situation once more, before saying good bye at the door of the mueseum.

[zagan]

On the way to see the archeologist Lut listen to any stray gossip and look around just in case he ran into any of his contact.

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I make a gather info check regarding any info on the mask.
I take 10 for 28 total and it take me only (1d4+1)[3]*10minute

[Faulty]

For Zagan

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What you find out about Thaddius: he's a bachelor and ladies man, who pursues dalliances with several of Talantier's ladies. Though he may seem at first glance to be nothing but a spoiled playboy, he is actually a talented Illusionist. He is also very fond of obscure art objects and keeps a sizable collection at his chateau on the north-eastern outskirts of town. Over the past decade, he has been accused of involvement in the theft of many rare abd valuable art pieces, but not proof has ever been found and searches of his chateau have found no stolen objects or goods. The description of his personal retainer, a tall, homely woman named Desdemona, matches the description of the statue Tulisa told you about.

[zagan]

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Unless someone else as something to do I assume we arrived before the house of the archeologist

Lut rejoin the rest of the group after talking to his contact.
"Yes, it's confirmed Thaddius is a talent illusionnist and one of his servant bore a strong ressemblance to our statue." he said with a smile.
"What's more he as been accused of theft in the past but never convinced."

[Keld Denar]

Yea, lets get going with the Archeologist interogation! go go go!

[Faulty]

You make it to the house of the archeologist, a rather unassuming house in a set of row houses. He's a portly middle aged Dwarf, dressed plainly and with glasses, and he leads you through a house decorated with maps, art objects, animals heads, and various other paraphenalia gathered through years of archeology. He takes you to a sitting room where you all sit, and inquires, "How may I help you?"

[Keld Denar]

Clothilda rushes forward excitedly lifting the dwarf off the ground and shaking his whole body instead of just his hand.

We are looking for the Mask of Diamond Tears! It was stolen and the nice lady wanted us to look for it. What can you tell us about it?

Realizing that she is holding the poor dwarf several inches above the ground, Clotty gingerly sets him down and shuffles backwards, looking down at her feet.

Very sorry mister dwarf, very sorry indeed.

[Swooper]

Trixauna goes wide eyed with shock and horror at the gross breach of etiquette by Clothilda, then rolls her eyes and restores her composure.

"Pardon my companion, doctor Marling, she tends to get... overexited sometimes," she says apologetically to the flustered and probably quite surprised dwarf when he is back on the ground. "She speaks the truth though; we have come to inquire about the Mask." While dr. Marling is leading them into the sitting room she shoots a glare at the giant-blooded woman.

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How do you pronounce a ; anyway?

[Faulty]

Dr. Marling rubs his hands along his shirt, trying to get out the wrinkles Clothilda covered his clothing with. "Yes, yes. I know Tulisa was saying that she was looking for help. A good thing she found some. Well, I'll tell you everything I know about the mask." He stops suddenly, with one hand in the air, mid gesture. "Uh... where was I? Oh yes! The mask." He pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and coughs into it before replacing it in his pocket, "Ahem. Well, we found the mask in the remains of a pyramid in the mountain. It was the only thing we found that wasn't unrecognizably corroded or shattered. We're certain it was used as part of funeral ceremonies," he says, nodding, his tone proud of his scholarly deduction, "though we only found one; it could possibly have been worn by some form of priest leading the ceremony. It was carried in our caraven and switched from the caraven directly to the wagon, which was carrying other donated art objects, a statue or some pottery or some such thing, which went immediately to the mueseum. It was guarded by two gentlemen who work for the mueseum, both were armed and we were sure it was safe enough. You see what happened, however. That's all I can tell you, I'm afraid. I'm sorry to rush you out on such short notice but I'm having guests over very soon and I must prepare some tea and cucumber sandwiches. I imagine Tulisa sent you, what a bad time. Oh well, none of you knew," he says with a chorttle. "Can't blame anyone. Well, he claps his hands together," he stops and his face gains a look of deep concentration, as if trying to remember something, "well... well... what was I saying? Oh yes, let me show you to the door," he says cheerily as he adjusts his glasses.

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If you have nothing to say other than a thank you or something, feel free to add in a bit about him closing the door so we can continue on. Also, bonus points to whomever catches the theatre reference in there.

[Swooper]

Trixauna knits her brow slightly. "Wait. One more thing. The statue that was being shipped with the mask. What can you tell us about it? Where did it come from?"

[Keld Denar]

Aside to her allies, Clotty whispers: Clotty may not be very smart, but I think the dwarf knows more than he lets on.

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SenseMotive - (1d20+4)[10]

[Faulty]

"It was donated by some well known member of the art society I think. I'm not sure who, Tulisa should know."

For Keld

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You get nothing.

[zagan]

"Well that was a bust, if you want we can regroup and discuss what to do next at my apartment ?"
He said to the rest of the group.

[kpenguin]

"Are you quite sure about that? Perhaps there was a name you missed?"

Heiron reads his body language and face for clues.

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Diplomacy - (1d20+37)[45]
Sense Motive - (1d20+24)[28]

[Saintheart]

Barenn Lavawalker, after holding his silence for some minutes, finally could bear it no longer. Bad enough that this dwarf was acting like some effete groundling, bringing shame to half the dwarven race -- in fact Barenn was fairly sure he might be some z'gb'tr -- but now he was, it appeared, being somewhat evasive with the group.

The dwarf marches up alongside Heiron and the half-giant, flexing his gauntlets and generating a sound approximating gnomish gears grinding themselves to pieces. "Any help you could provide would be most appreciated," he says. And if you don't, there's a decent chance of me putting my fist in your face, he thought, hoping the message was getting across.

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Aid Another on Heiron's Sense Motive check: (1d20+2)[12].
Intimidate check: (1d20+21)[27]
Diplomacy check for Aid Another on Heiron's check, if Intimidate is inappropriate: (1d20+1)[17]

[Faulty]

The eccentric Dwarf blinks a few times. "That's really all I know, I'm sorry."

For anyone who rolled sense motive checks

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He seems to be telling the straight truth, though more than a bit eccentric.

[Keld Denar]

Well, I guess that's that. Now what we should be inves...invest...in...lookin into?