[IC] Graveyard Shift: Session 1

Hildar repeats the magical motions he performed in the drawing room. Sure enough, he finds his hand pulled by the wand yet again, as if it were some kind of divining rod. The tip points directly at the empty spot on the shelves that Nera has identified. As he approaches the shelf, Hildar can see that no matter where he moves his hand, the wand settles once more on a single book lying flat in this gap within the volumes.

Just as he gets close to being able to read the title, Nera bends down to inspect something on the floor. The Catfolk bumps a marble pedestal, which begins to topple. Nekurr happens to be standing nearby and swoops in to grab an ornate egg sculpture, now plummeting toward the floor. The Half-Catfolk's reflexes prove a bit too slow, and the egg hits the floor and shatters! Even worse, everyone nearby can now see that the pedestal is about to topple over, as well. Its impact would certainly damage the ornate tiling on the floor...

The sound of the shattering egg echoes through the study. However, the large number of books in the room muffle the sound at least a bit. You're not sure if Lady Dribbage has heard the din from the kitchens.

Nera: Fortunately, Nera stops the pedestal before it can hit the floor. But the solid marble pillar is heavy--the lithe Catfolk is not used to such heft. She manages to right the pillar, but the effort seems to have caused her to pull a couple of muscles in her left arm.Tronus: Meanwhile, Tronus has been carefully inspecting the desk in the corner of the room. It seems that Vizeron Dribbage made frequent use of the desk, as the surface holds an inkwell, several quills, an oil lamp, and a datebook that might warrant further scrutiny. Beyond that, the desk only has one apparent drawer, which the Dwarf finds to be locked (with no key readily available). The fine workmanship of the woodgrain catches Tronus's eye, and he traces the contours of the desk's sides. In the process, he sees what looks like a gap in the woodgrain. It's suspicious enough that the Dwarf pulls on either side. Ah ha! A hidden drawer. Tronus finds some yellowed papers inside.

Hildar: Hildar grabs the book his wand has identified in both hands. The volume has a satisfying heft and supple leather binding characteristic of magical tomes. The spine and cover bear a title in a script that looks familiar somehow...

The bust, as far as Tronus can tell, seems perfectly ordinary. It's sculpted from marble, features a human man of about middle age, bearded and looking quite solemn. A thick coating of dust suggests that the bust hasn't been touched in quite some time.