Edited notes. Please excuse any typos.

~

It starts with the view of the wizard tower of the adventurers' guild. Halfway up, there is a large circular room where we all have gathered along with [[Fiff]]. They are a bit panicked about their lost spell book. [[Fiff]] is a tall fungril dressed in long, flowing robes of autumn colors. They are rambling about how nobody should be able to decipher the magic script of the book and that they're too busy to look on their own.

We start our investigation with some questions:

- [[Zarah]]: "When did you last see it? Did you misplace it, or did someone take it?" "I asked an intern... to put it back on the bookshelf." Ah, seems like we've found the most likely culprit

- [[Beltran]], "Who was this random intern?" [[Steve Gutenburg]] the intern printer. He's a scribe for the wizard.

- [[Fazak]] is starting to seriously doubt this division...

- [[Corin]] "Does anyone else have access to your tower?" It's public to all members of the guild. It's usually stored on the bookshelf. The shelf lines almost half the entire circular wall, full of all the books and tombs supplied to the guild.

[[Zarah]] walks over to the bookshelf, noticing the empty space where the book would be. Though on her way there, she bumps into the edge of a desk. She accidentally on purpose finds a clue! A scrap of paper slowly falls from the table, and looks like a note with only the title "[[Grimoire of Grimaces]]". This title is for the missing spell book we are looking for; it's on a particular style of casting that involves intense scowling. ([[Fazak]] would be a master.) [[Fiff]] has no clue where the paper came from, maybe some sort of hit.

[[Zarah]] offers her Charging Quiver, but no one here uses arrows. [[Fazak]] thinks about his halberd being an arrow, flying through the air.

[[Corin]] asks about a tracking spell. [[Fiff]] frowns really intensely, focusing on the paper. Our first look at the Grimace magic. The paper shimmers with magic until fading. Suspicions affirmed, "Oh, I knew it was intern... I need to focus on my desk full of magical nonsense, but he might be somewhere in the guild building."

[[Beltran]] questions, "Who would want this Grimoire?" Since the magic is difficult to learn, but not magically impressive. Seems like something a high-level wizard would like to show off with, or something a desperate mage would steal.

[[Zarah]] will criminal sketch with her Minor Illusion as [[Fiff]] describes [[Steve Gutenburg]], that way they have a visual of the criminal!

- He is a Firblog, with floppy ears, light brown fur, and a flat nose

- Bald on the top, but fuzzy everywhere else

- "Basic" mage robes for the guild

- Probably has ink stains on hands/clothing

[[Fiff]], in horror, exclaims, "Oh, he's gonna make a copy of the books. He's a new intern, only a week in." Even if he can't decipher the words, the face drawing in the book can still be enough to cast. Plus, he can always make a copy to study later.

[[Fazak]] readies his gear, "Welp, we have a description, let's start."

~

We start by scanning the guild for people who are bald on top, furry on bottom.

- [[Zarah]] scans the crowd

[[Fazak]] starts asking around. "Seen a Firbold with a bad haircut and suspicious aura?"

- [[Fazak]] with the aid of [[Beltran]] ask around

- [[Corin]], impressed by [[Fazak]], will encourage him with words "You would be such a good follower of Mother," which helps to kick him out of his "full grandpa grump" mood

Both spot some people who seem to know [[Steve Gutenburg]]. "We've seen him around. Been working for [[Fiff]]. I saw them head out towards the docks with a very big book just earlier today."

[[Zarah]], "If he's going to the docks, he might be trying to sell it." [[Fazak]] is SICK of the docks and is dreading the trip. [[Beltran]] leads the way to the docks. "I look at the stars every night."

~

Late afternoon/early evening, we make our way to the docks. Walking around and looking for anything suspicious. [[Zarah]] picks up a magical sense. There are the normal blips of magic from her companions and other passersby, but also a very strange blip from below.

[[Zarah]] crouches down, head to the floor, sensing for anything else. [[Beltran]] stops in bewilderment, "Are you alright?" "I feel a strange magic underneath!" "I haven't seen anything out of the normal waiting for [[The Maiden's Rhyme]]."

Looking for a place that might lead down, [[Fazak]] turns to the closest building, a storage warehouse. He points, "If it's something down there... Maybe a basement?" Scoping the scene real quick, it seems pretty much deserted, everyone closing around this time.

The door is locked and [[Corin]] is a bit apprehensive about breaking in. There is a window on the 2nd floor above the door.

[[Beltran]] asks if [[Zarah]]'s broom is fixed... not yet. [[Fazak]] cracks his neck, "ugh," he shakes out his wings and loudly flies up. Peaking through the window, it looks like a regular warehouse, with crates and storage neatly organized. "Doesn't look like it has any obvious basement. Maybe the sewers." "Ew..." "You hugged an undead fox!"

[[Zarah]] hugs the edge of the pier to find any grates. There is a draining grate not fully underwater; it is up to their knees in water. "Do you think this could be a path forward?"

[[Fazak]], seeing [[Corin]] face of determination, backs off. [[Corin]] wants to pull the grate to "prove himself." He hops down into the water. He PULLS, takes a few more breaths, and pulls harder. (25 with fear) He lifts the grate off the wall, and it comes off with more ease than expected.

Suddenly, we hear voices up ahead, "Huh, what's that?" legs sloshing through water coming our direction.

"We're doing work for the city. Oi, official guild business, who's in there?" [[Fazak]] calls out. Someone moves up into the light. We all recognize [[Steve Gutenburg]] from the description.

[[Zarah]] throws the net down from the pier(17 with fear), and it catches [[Steve Gutenburg]], but not before he starts shouting "HEY, we've got trouble!"

,

Two pairs of glowing eyes in the darkness of the tunnel.

[[Corin]] stumbles to add, "I'm sorry, Sir Gutenberg. Maybe you forgot to put a book back, we don't mean any trouble."

[[Beltran]] pulls out a piece of paper. "We've been hired to detain you if you won't give us this book." Using his depth deceiver (CRIT) [[Steve Gutenburg]] is getting worried, "You know what-" and he starts frowning REAL hard.

### Combat Start!

[[Steve Gutenburg]] curses [[Beltran]]... and unsettling presence from the frown. "He's using the Grimoire!" Behind him comes a floating skull with a sinister smile. The skull turns to [[Fazak]], a blasts of strange magical energy shoot from its mouth. [[Fazak]] turns to let his armor take a bit of a hit. "Okay, talking over."

[[Fazak]] immediately pushes forward, engaging the skull. Smacked with a giant polearm, using his pray dice. He thrusts his halberd up, attempting to pierce the skull.

Beltran pulls out his rapier, lunging at the skull with an extra slash from his offhand dagger. The skull is hit, but the magic within the skull starts to condense and BOOM!

- [[Fazak]] jumps in front of Beltran to protect him from the shrapnel blast.

Another skull now approaches; it spots Beltran and barfs out a necromantic blast.

[[Steve Gutenburg]] wriggles free from the net. He turns to the tunnel, calling out, "A little help, please!" Turning to the three in the tunnel ([[Corin]], [[Beltran]], and [[Fazak]]), he lets out magical discharge.

[[Beltran]] slides back from the shockwave, starting to look really hurt. "Everyone, stand your ground, we got this! Take them down," he calls out some Inspirational Words.

[[Corin]] focuses on his axe, "This is the scary part." He holds up his spirit weapon, and it shoots Beyblade style. Just as [[Zarah]] jumps down and pushes a large burst of chaotic magic from behind her friends. The bubbling green magic pushes the axe forward, turning one skull to ash and seriously injuring the other.

The sound of more people coming sloshing through the water.

[[Beltran]] rallies out a call, "I told you we could do it! Stay strong!" He takes a plugging step forward, one-two step rapier-dagger combo at the skull, but misses. The skull cackles as he trips. [[Fazak]] steps forward and reassures him, helping to guide Beltran into hitting. In retaliation, the skull blasts [[Beltran]] with magic spit.

From deeper within the sewer, a tall elf comes up behind [[Steve Gutenburg]]. He rushes up to [[Corin]], attempting to stab him, but misses.

[[Zarah]] pulling upon the darkness within the tunnel, casts Shadowbind, extending further than what is seen. Shadowy tendrils pull from the stone walls. Gently passing by her campions, the shadows slither and grasp onto the enemies, locking them in place.

[[Corin]] sparring touch to [[Beltran]].

[[Fazak]] sees the opportunity, "Ready, lad?" [[Corin]] and him **Double Spirit Weapon Beyblade Extraordinar Combo**! They hit the skull, [[Steve Gutenburg]], and the elf. The skull is smashed into pieces as the humanoids are left dazed. [[Fazak]] shouts out, "We're here for a book. You want to live or die? Just give us the damn thing."

"Ugh, fine. The books over there." He points with his chin. "It's back there."

[[Zarah]] pops open her briefcase. She rummages around and pulls a clay mask. She slathers it on [[Steve Gutenburg]]'s face to stop him from casting any spells. She turns to the elf with a glint in her eyes, putting some on his t-zone. She pats them down, but doesn't find anything.

There is a halfling and a ribbit (stuck on the ceiling) bound in the shadow further in the tunnel.

The book is gross and soggy. [[Fazak]] is ready to go, with a net in his hands. [[Beltran]] is sniffing his stinky cloak, [[Zarah]] casts minor illusion to make it appear clean, but the smell is still there.

[[Fazak]] CHOOSES to drag [[Steve Gutenburg]], tied him up in a net.

[[Zarah]] casts her floating eye, turning to the bound figures, she smiles. "If you leave, I will find you and come after you. So, you'd better not move. Okay, let's go!"

[[Fazak]] heals [[Corin]] with a pat on the shoulder.

[[Beltran]] cheers, "You did a really good job, keep it up," to [[Zarah]]. She feels hopeful from the kind words..

~

[[Corin]] talks to a guard, letting them know they've got some thieves held under the pier. He says to let the book air-dry to not smudge the ink.

We arrive at [[Fiff]]'s office, and they are surprised/confused at our method of bringing the thief back. "Why is the book soaked?" "We got it back, that's all that matters!"

"I need a bath," [[Zarah]] huffs. [[Beltran]] seconds that..

[[Fiff]] brings out our rewards, "This might help." They present a shoe-sized wooden chest decorated with curly filigree. [[Fiff]] just stares at it... (Really intensely) Ah, the box of staring! It opens to a pile of gold and some sort of bright orange crystal. "Okay, thank you for getting the book back... even though it's soggy. You can have this."

- Unstable arcane shard ([[Zarah]]) You can make a Finesse Roll to throw this shard at a group of adversaries within Far range. Targets you succeed against take 1d20 magic damage

- Each person gets 3 handfuls of gold

- Chest of Prolong Eye Contact ([[Corin]]) This magical chest appears empty. When you speak a specific trigger word or action (in this case, staring very intently) and open the chest, you can see the items stored within it.

- [[Fazak]] gives [[Beltran]] one of his handfuls of gold to help in cleaning his cloak.

- [[Beltran]] and [[Zarah]] head to a local bath house.

Notes test