Chapter 2: Local Heroes

"I'm also more interested in 'scholar and alchemist' than 'seer' - as I prefer to look at things more through science lenses - but I wanted to visit both and see their reactions - eighter way. So we can take robe and the hair both to Mr Quink first and with no result there or simply later: turn to Ms Mvashti for..." - Li hesitated for a second -"an advice. While our more... social... friends will talk with captured attacker." - he glanced at Grim's weapon and started to wonder what kind of 'conversation' it will be.

"Of course I'm willing to hand the evidence of hair to trusty hands - if someone want's to go to the seer first?" - Li said but his body language revealed that it would be difficult for him - to decide who will be trusty enough.

Saldrina will accompany the others to see Quink, as she is very interested in learning more about the robe.

"You be the bad constable," the monk mutters before they approach the goblin. "Just not too bad. We are the 'heroes' of Sandpoint, and we don't want to tarnish that with some goblin torture."

When Khel entered the room, he halted for few moment eying all the pile books. His gaze lingered and he bent down to read the titles of some of them until his attention was drawn by the voice of Quink, "Ah, Master Brodert Quink! My name is Khel Turbane, a scholar of arcane arts from the distant lands of Qadira. I came to Sandpoint in order learn about Varisia and the ancient Thassilon magic. However, those discussions can wait. These are my fellow friends who aided in the recent goblin raid. I dearly want to talk more about magic, but it can wait. For now we need help regarding a particular enchanted object we recently unearthed. Can you help us?"

We could return the favor by helping you return some of these books to the local archive. Wess says, looking for a spot to rest his axe or his feet, and only seeing more books

Smiling at the goblin, "Aye, Snurp and more of your kin. Smashed his head good and proper. And despite being behind these bars, I'll do the same to you. End your lineage in the blink of your goblin eye."

Grim gently taps his maul against the bars then points it down. The smile turns to a scowl, "Unless you tell us what you and cousin Snurp were doing here in Sandpoint. We know this wasn't just a random attack. Who put you up to this?!"

"And my name is Li Xingchi - a r... investigator - at your service. We are sorry for such unexpected visit, but the subject is very urgent." - Li introduced himself with modest bow, just after Khel's nice start of conversation.

"Magic?? I heard that you - Master Brodert Quink - are more a man of science? Also of science... of alchemy?" - Li didn't manage to hold on with this remark (what made him instantly look embarrassed), because he was really hoping that it will be the case - he was hoping that he would be able to understand and learn a lot from this scholar... and if this will be an user of pure magic... he would be condemned to just watch as there was no magic flowing through his body. Besides he always preferred studying things that could be described with concrete rules or even mathematical language, equations. And magic... magic was too wild for that!

He mitigated himself immediately, hearing that his fellow knowledge seeker Khel - mentioned their main reason for this visit.
"Yes, yes. Can you show the object to Master Brodert Quink, Wess?" - he looked at his dwarven friend meaningfully.

"Oh... besides... we have a second thing... that would be good to establish to whom it belonged... but that's... that's for later." - said Li hoping that if there would be a 'big revelation' about the robe, others could maybe focus on it and he would be able to have more private conversation with Quink or... even he would allow him to assist with experiments aimed at checking to what race or kind of person the Hair belongs.

Li heard about such techniques even when he still was in Minkai and he always wanted to learn them.
"That would be mighty useful in many of my investigations!"

"Whether you go free is up to the sheriff and mayor, I imagine. But we will argue on your behalf to not execute you if you tell us who planned the raid. You said 'longshanks'? What did this longshanks look like?" Chigaru squats down to be at eye level with the goblin.

Li couldn't help, but smile when he heard that Brodert Quink indeed has some knowledge about alchemy. He noted in his head to get back to this subject later, determined to focus on the most important thing now: their investigation.

"Apparently this someone wanted to cover his departure from the tomb at Sandpoint's cemetery, by rising those skeletons with this robe. But do you happen to know what knowledge or equipment someone willing to make such robe would have to have? Does someone with such skills or cravings for such things come to your mind, Master Brodert Quink? Can you give us some advice for what kind of person are we looking for?"

Khel scratched his beard and said, "Well then we have a necromancer who has imbibed the robe with the magic to raise dead and has specific interest on Father Tobyn's skeleton. I don't think we can gleam anything else except may be identify whose hair the robe had. Also, Master Quink, do you know anyone proficient in divination magic or maybe sell spell scrolls?"

Muttering to himself, "A claw? Like a lobster?". Shaking his head, he looks at Chigaru, "That's a lot of different longshanks."

Turning to the sheriff, "Do any of these people ring a bell?"

"Bruthazmus? That doesn't sound like a human name. Who is Bruthazmus?"

Seeing that they probably won't get any more information from Brodert Quink about the robe, Li quickly pulled a hair wrapped in a handkerchief out of his pocket. He unwrapped it and carefully pushed it towards the scholar's face.
"Yes... the hair. Here it is Master Brodert Quink. You think - hopefully with the power of Alchemy - you could determine the race and perhaps the sensitivity to magic, it's kind or maybe even other things of the owner of this hair?"

Chigaru scratches his jaw with a thick finger. "A bugbear, hm? That doesn't bode well for us. Sheriff, have you heard of this Bruthazmus? Or maybe know someone who has?"

"Oh... I think... magic will always find its ways... Besides we have the robe for this. And I think we should try alchemy first. I would feel honored assisting you with this task Master Brodert Quink" - said Li eagerly, handing over the hair to scholar and looking around to determine where his lab can be situated in his house.