Mists over the Musarde [IC]

[ewancummins]

'' Jeweler? Of course I know a good jeweler- it won't be much trouble, Norzak. We can go there later today. ''

Checking the board, Norzak sees a variety of ads, announcements,etc. Some look official, and many others have obviously been posted here by private citizens. One poster stands out:


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ATTENTION CITIZENS!


WANTED:


Information leading to the arrest of two men and a dwarf suspected in the abduction and possible murder of Pierre Renault- last seen alive in the company of the three leaving the Sign of the Two Goats.

Suspect 1 is a dwarf, shabbily dressed and filthy besides.
Suspect 2 is described as being handsome, tall, and of noble bearing, dressed as a knight or gentleman in the fashion of the northern countries.
Suspect 3 has spectacles and gray hair. By his accent, he may be Lamordian or Falkovnian.

To collect your reward of twenty florins, bring information to the central gendarmie station.

CASH REWARD: 20 FLORINS


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[Le Noir Faineant]

Ewan, you're great!

Cirdan stops to read the poster attentively, while his faces changes from red like a tomato to white like marble.

Witha theathrical gesture, he draws his dagger, and cuts the poster from the wall.

"We won't stop until we find those vicious criminals, or will we, my filthy friend Norzak?!"

[ewancummins]

Evangeline and Charlotte stand nearby, discussing the possibility of eating at this cafe.

''It looks like fun! ''

''My lady- they have a pig's foot in a jar! That seems odd. ''

[ewancummins]

Meanwhile, Bennedict has arrived at the store and home of Mattheo Barozi, a seller and collector of books of all kinds.


The sign outside the chipped and weathered marble facade reads ''THE MARBLE FAUN, BOOKS & SCROLLS''. Benn enters the shop and sees that it is much the same as when he last was here. Little motes and swirls of dust hang in the air, illuminated by the sunlight coming in through the leaded glass windows. The shop is crowded with tall wooden shelves, most of which are nearly full of books, scrolls, and parchment. Behind the front desk sits a harmless looking balding man of middle years- Mattheo Barozi, the shop's proprietor.

[Benn knows Barozi both as a personal friend and as a business contact. Mattheo is an Invidian immigrant who arrived in the town a couple of years ago. He's also a prominent collector of books on a wide variety of subjects. He is reputed to possess one of the better private collections of books in town. Incidentally, Benn know that Barozi lives in the upstairs loft and keeps his best books up there.]

[Adam]

Benn gives the doorframe a tap with his walking stick. "Good morning, Mattheo," he greets the man, warmly. "Good to see the moneylenders haven't closed you down yet. I happened to be in the neighborhood, and thought I'd stop by and say hello to my old friend."

The archivist gives the older man a wide smile.

"Found anything interesting, recently?"

[steveflam]

Ewan, you're great!

Cirdan stops to read the poster attentively, while his faces changes from red like a tomato to white like marble.

Witha theathrical gesture, he draws his dagger, and cuts the poster from the wall.

"We won't stop until we find those vicious criminals, or will we, my filthy friend Norzak?!"

"Er no we won't Elf. Cirdan yes, yes I kinna agree there." Norzak overhears the pigs foot in a jar and rubs his tummy in anticiapation. He walks over to Evangeline and Charlotte and says "Missy ya t'aint ne'er eaten anything quite like a pig's foot in a jar. It's pickled I'm sure. It's considered a delicacy amongst me people. This looks like my kinna place! I bet I kinna persuade them ta git me a nice ale ta boot! Whatta yer say missy? Wanna give the pig's foot a try?"

[ewancummins]

[at the cafe]

Evangeline wrinkles her nose just a little bit. Charlotte giggles.

''Oh, well, I will try it.''

She turns and enters the cafe, Charlotte quickly following.

The interior of the cafe is roomy and well lit, between the open window and a lantern suspended from a hook on the ceilling towards your left. Underneath the lantern is a long counter, with a set of wooden cabinets mounted on the wall behind it. The counter is topped with cotton napkins and the open cabinets contain wooden cups, jars of various things [including pickled pig's feet, jam, peaches,etc]. Against the counter are several stools. Across the room to your right, facing the open windows and the riverwalk, are several small wooden tables with wicker chairs. The far wall has an half-door leading to what appears top be the kitchen. The whole place is very clean, and the walls are whitewashed. Someone has placed vases of flowers in the windows.

The place doesn't seem too busy, at the moment, with just a few customers inside. A young girl is taking their orders.

As your party enters a heavy-set man with iron gray hair, dressed in simple workman's clothes and a white apron, greets you thusly-

''Hello friends! Welcome to mah place. ''

[ewancummins]

Benn gives the doorframe a tap with his walking stick. "Good morning, Mattheo," he greets the man, warmly. "Good to see the moneylenders haven't closed you down yet. I happened to be in the neighborhood, and thought I'd stop by and say hello to my old friend."

The archivist gives the older man a wide smile.

"Found anything interesting, recently?"

[at the Marble Faun]

Mattheo smiles.

''Interesting? Of course, Bennedict. I've come into possession of an illuminated Ezran hymnal from the early years of the church. Quite unique and very valuable. I may try to sell it to the church authorities here.''

[Adam]

"Ah, well, if you think that is best." The younger man steps up to Mattheo's desk. "I've always found them to be a bit of a bore to negotiate with, myself. Very stodgy, and very tight fisted with their cash. Though I suppose they have enough of it that it's at least worth feeling them out. I might like to take a look at it if you don't mind. There may be some incantations worth noting contained therein. You know how such things interest me."

He walks around to one of the shelves, glancing at the titles without interest. He knew well enough that Mattheo didn't put the good stuff out front for the average consumer to bump into.

"While we're on the subject, I was wondering if I could ask a favor. This town doesn't have any public lending libraries, a real testament to their dedication to higher learning. I'm looking into something for a client, investigating the origin of some items he discovered. They may have something to do with matters of an occult nature. I know you have some texts that may be of use, so I was wondering if I could look through your private collection, to see if there is anything I can dig up?"

[steveflam]

As your party enters a heavy-set man with iron gray hair, dressed in simple workman's clothes and a white apron, greets you thusly-

''Hello friends! Welcome to mah place. ''

Norzak eyes the place with appreciation. It seemed a fair enough establishment, especialy if pig's foot was made here! Then he spied the owner. Heavy-set also merant he enjoyed his own cooking meaning if he ate it, then the food had to be good! Not all cooks did that. Approaching the man, he extended his hand "Nice ta meetcha! I'm Norzak and I'm accompanying these here ladies" he points back over his shoulders at Evangeline and Charlotte "As well as tha elf. I saw ye had pig's foot in a jar, bub. A man after me own heart 'n' tummy" he rubs his stomach before continuing. "Tha ladies wanna try it 'n' I wanna have some 'n' buy some fer me own personal use. Set us up with a table fer four!"

[ewancummins]

"Ah, well, if you think that is best." The younger man steps up to Mattheo's desk. "I've always found them to be a bit of a bore to negotiate with, myself. Very stodgy, and very tight fisted with their cash. Though I suppose they have enough of it that it's at least worth feeling them out. I might like to take a look at it if you don't mind. There may be some incantations worth noting contained therein. You know how such things interest me."

He walks around to one of the shelves, glancing at the titles without interest. He knew well enough that Mattheo didn't put the good stuff out front for the average consumer to bump into.

"While we're on the subject, I was wondering if I could ask a favor. This town doesn't have any public lending libraries, a real testament to their dedication to higher learning. I'm looking into something for a client, investigating the origin of some items he discovered. They may have something to do with matters of an occult nature. I know you have some texts that may be of use, so I was wondering if I could look through your private collection, to see if there is anything I can dig up?"

[at the Marble Faun]

''Research, eh? Of course, of course. Here, let me find the key. ''

Mattheo digs in his pockets till he comes up with a large brass key.

''You remember to watch out for that fourth stair- I've not yet had it fixed. Take as much time as you need. I'll be down here, minding the store.''


Up the narrow stairs and beyond a creaky wooden door is a large room that doubles as library and quarters for the bookseller. Shelves of books line the walls, stacked nearly full from top to bottom. What doesn't fit on the shelves sits in chests stacked in the middle of the room. Only a small space to your left is occupied by Mattheo's concessions to bodily comfort and necessity: a chamberpot, an old cot with a heavy blanket draped over it, some simple utensils, and a little writing desk on which stands and oil lamp [unlit]. The blinds on the rightside windows are oopen to admit sunlight.

Looking at the books, you can see that Mattheo has made some progress at the task of organizing them by subject. It's hardly scientific, but it does mean that you won't have to hunt through the shelves at random.

[ewancummins]

Norzak eyes the place with appreciation. It seemed a fair enough establishment, especialy if pig's foot was made here! Then he spied the owner. Heavy-set also merant he enjoyed his own cooking meaning if he ate it, then the food had to be good! Not all cooks did that. Approaching the man, he extended his hand "Nice ta meetcha! I'm Norzak and I'm accompanying these here ladies" he points back over his shoulders at Evangeline and Charlotte "As well as tha elf. I saw ye had pig's foot in a jar, bub. A man after me own heart 'n' tummy" he rubs his stomach before continuing. "Tha ladies wanna try it 'n' I wanna have some 'n' buy some fer me own personal use. Set us up with a table fer four!"

''Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Norzak. Mah name's Odall . ''

The big fellow and the young girl set a table for you all, near the window so you get plenty of sunshine and fresh air.

The cafe turns out to be an ethnic affair- they serve Arkandaler cuisine: lots of garden vegetables [including many dishes made with squash and tomatoes], cornbread, catfish, and pork. Half the food is fried. The dessert menu includes various dishes made with peaches and berries. Drinks include some weird concoction called the ''mint julep'', coffee, and also a line up of more usual beverages.

[ewancummins]

After you are seated, Evangeline turns to Cirdan and asks-
''What's that notice you cut down? ''

The door swings open and two men enter, their green surcoats marking them as gendarmes. Both men are armed with longswords and have bucklers hanging on their belts. They take up seats at the counter.


''Hi ,Odall'', says one of the two- a wiry looking man with a Van Dyke style beard and mustache.

''Jean and I will have the usual, please. Oh, and some coffee, too. It's been a long shift.''



[They are sitting with their backs to you]

[Adam]

Bennedict opens his bag, pulling out the dog eared journal and setting it on the cot with his writing implements. "And now, down to the business at hand." He turns to the rows of bookshelves, brushing his hands along the spines lovingly. One day he wanted a collection this good. Well, maybe a little better.

"Ratmen, portals beneath the city, mirrors..." he mumbles, scanning the titles for anything useful. Finaly, his eyes settle on one that is of use, pulling it free form the shelves. "Incabulos," he mutters, dropping it open and paging through.

[ewancummins]

The spine reads, quite simply:

The Incabulos Cult

Nothing fancy about the covers, just plain brown leather. Inside the book, on the first page, is the full title, handwritten in an old fashioned style:

The Incabulos Cult of the North Country, a true account of the dyvers strange and terrible superstitions of that land's inhabitants, as regards the
veneration of the demon-god Incabulos, as given by Johannes of Egertus, Year of the Gray Mists-