Café de Nuit

Alain whispers back : " Perhaps, but let's just do a search of subject headings by sections so we can do more thorough search later . I think we both look and the other keep watch while that person is searching, because I don't know what the exact title is we are looking for. "
Alain is taking notes down for later perusal .

Lord Skybolt wrote:Alain whispers back : " Perhaps, but let's just do a search of subject headings by sections so we can do more thorough search later . I think we both look and the other keep watch while that person is searching, because I don't know what the exact title is we are looking for. "
Alain is taking notes down for later perusal .

Alain and Norzak search the library. They find a number of historical texts, historcial records, theological tomes,etc. Nothing about the origins of the city or any magical portals, though. From the arrangement of the books, one gets the impression that at least a couple of volumes of the older records are missing....

Searching the room treveals that the far door is unlocked, and opens onto s stariway leading up. The side door is locked, and with a very complicated mechanism. It is also very solid and thick, with iron bands reinforcing it. No light creeps through the narrow space around the door, and no clues as to what is one the other side are found elsewhere in the library.


After several minutes of searching, Norzak and Alain hear voices and footfalls coming down the stairs. It sounds like three or more poeple!


''Did you hear about the trouble the gardeners had with the polecat? Nasty thing bit one of them! ''


''Oh, poor fellow. Well, we'd better get down and finish our tasks. That ale served me right, though. Good idea to take a break.''

''I hate dusting and cleaning down here- I mean, really, the whole library and the cellars?''

Alain whispers to Norzak :" Maybe we would should leave and come back later when we have an exact title to search for." After hearing the voices coming down the stairs .

Norzak nods at Alain and follows him out of the Temple.

"Ah yes, we have our share of Old Duke Gundar's people, as I hear you do in Borca as well. Such a sad lot. But tell me, there is such learning here, have our scribes learned nothing of how this all came to be?"

Irena, as it turns out, knows very little about the history of Richemulot beyond what she's already said.

Van Willen's tour takes Benn all through the cathedral, but doesn't disclose any secrets. The locked room next to the library is not part of the tour.

[If asked about the room, Van Willen will tell Benn that it is a private office, and provide no further information]


Alain and Norzak slip out without drawing attention to themselves.

So it is that, their reconnaisance finished, our heroes prepare to make a rendezvous.

Elsewhere in the city, even as the heroes are gathering to discuss their next move....

The cramped workshop is dimly lit by a single fat candle mounted on a wooden shelf against the back wall, overlooking the long table which stands against the wall. The door is closed and the shutters are drawn down tightly, so that only a hint of daylight seeps in through the cracks.

Pale hands hover over the tabletop, quivering slightly as if with palsy, or perhaps anticipation. The elongated fingers dance across the surface of the table, tracing over each knife scar, and rubbing at the stains as dark as port wine.

The hands move away for a moment, out of the flickering circle of candlelight. When they return, they clasp between them a wicker cage. Inside the cage is a dove, completely white and spotless. It coos softly.

The right hand reaches in and snatches the bird. The dove tries to fly away, but her wings have been clipped- she cannot escape. The left hand reaches into the shadowy space beyond the table and retrieves a ceramic bowl. Then, reaching again, it comes back into the light with a dully gleaming bronze knife.


A paper thin whisper issues from the owner of the hands.

''Now, let me see.....''

Norzak speaks in hushed tones with Alain. "Bub. We need to come back here soon, and late at night. That way we kinna make shore we ain' disturbed by some freakin' temple cleaners! Now tha we're purty shore tha books we nee' are in that locked up chamber, we kinna come back 'n' get 'um ness time. Less' go into tha temple 'n' get tha others. Then we kinna git to tha office 'n' talk 'bout our plans."

Norzak then takes the lead and walks up the temple steps, followed by Alain, he hopes. Pushing past the doors, he enters the Ezran temple and looks around. Looking back to Alain, he says in a loud voice "'Ey. I toles ya the architecture was like that, ye dolt! Bah! 'Umans!! They don' unnnerstan nuthin'!!!"" He looks apologetically at those in the Temple, hoping Benn and Dorgio are amongst those present. He turns, winking at Alain and gestures for him to follow him out, exiting the temple and descending the stairs.


"Less' wait a few minits', bub. I'm sure they 'eard me and will be out soon enough. We kin 'ead bcak to our office, thass the most privy place I knows. Dun' truss noone, it's safer fer ye 'ealth mac."

Alain nods and follows along after Norzak.

Alain and Norzak are the first to arrive at the building containing their headquarters.

Inside, they find things just as they'd left them- except for a folded slip of parchment tucked under the door to their office. Someone has written a note on this:



Dear Sirs,
I am in possession of information that may prove of great interest to you. Please meet me beneath the Great Gallows at the stroke of midnight. You will not be disappointed.

- a Friend

Norzak looks at Alain. "I think this dolt presumes us bein' innocent amateurs or someat. Oi'! Smells of a trap or I'm a bearded elf! Bub, ye think they'd give us more credit or somethin'. Let's wait 'n see whut tha others finded then discuss this lame attempt and disposin' of us."

Norzak pauses before adding. "So me thinkin' is tha' we shoul' raturn to that there room unannounced 'n' take our lil time openin' that there lock. Whut yer thinkin' bout that plan?. Ay, by tha way yer not too shabby fer a 'uman, ye kin get aroun' silent enuff."

Dorgio returns to the office, and almost immediately yanks the symbol of Ezra from his neck. "Ah, you're back," he tells Norzak and Alain. "After seeing all that, I am feeling even less guilty; they could stand to lose a few treasures! Unfortunately the woman I spoke with, she knew nothing we didn't already. How went your end of things?"

After seeing the note, he curses softly. "Kurva. I thought we'd covered out tracks better than this." He begins almost unconsciously rolling a cigarillo as he stares at the note. "So which one of us gets to be the bait?" he asks, giving a faint, tired grin.

"Lemme at em. Ye kin be there before'and ta spring our own lil trap on 'em morons. I kin show up at tha appointed time alone. Whut'r ye thinkin bout that?"

"Ey bub" Norzak says to Dorgio "I thinks we finded tha place with the books Benn needs." And thus Norzak goes on to explain what transpired with Alain. He doesn't ask about Dorgio's time, as that part interests him in the least.

"I agree with your assumptions on them taking us for pawns to be moved along at their will . If this is a trap we should trip it so we can deal with who's behind, and if you wish to be the bait it's find by me and I'll back you up from the shadows if want. " Alain says after sitting down and reading the note.

He listens to Norzak's account, then leans back and lights the cigarillo, neglecting his usual tendency to avoid smoking indoors. He tilts his head back and blows a few ragged, tentative rings, then speaks.

"They are well accoutered, the Ezrans. You saw how much wealth there simply lies in the open. And that noble, the one Benn was dancing with, she has ties with the church, even donated to their library. Whatever they've locked that door with, I am thinking it might be a little out of our skills. Not meaning offense, of course.

"I think maybe we go see what this stranger wants. When does Cirdan return? If whoever this is has only been following us a short time, they may not recognize him. We could send him out, and like you said, we'd hide nearby. If the stranger recognizes Cirdan as one of us, then maybe that will tell us something."

He pauses then, and his eyes widen. He takes another drag, and exhales a tight oval of smoke. "Hmm...she does know the library. Norzak, are you thinking perhaps the woman from the party has taken fond of Benn?"