Ch. 1

"We will take from that what we may, Lady." Ravastine returns to 'guarding', but this time from outside at the seen of the attack. Her back remains to the door, and she hopes the others have more success. Her shield arm itches, and she longs for... no, this doesn't seem the sort of fight that will be won with force. The city reeks of intrigue, a nest of secrets and layers of subtlety. Don't let them draw you into their schemes - the city needs watchers, those who can protect the city not personal interests.

"Well, good work then, I'spose." Kirrian says dismissively to Kilth. Then he turns to the girls, "Girl, lass, you're at an advantage here. We do'nae know what' you're'a talk in' about. Can ye please start from the beginning? What's the your name"

"Lia, lass, were you at the temple earlier? Is that where Valerie died? We need to know what happened. Do your best to remember what ye can. We will take care of you. We don't think you are to blame. Where has your mother gone do ya think?"

Whilst Kirrian has Lia talking, Uhlskah tries to listen for any of the subtle sounds of magic which his ear has become accustomed to, around the girl, or coming from outside.

Using Arcana to Detect Magic on Lia and on the environment - watching out for any sudden changes.

Asterion nods in reply to Vardos' report. "I trust Master Shadowpool relieved you? If so then well done. Take a moment to catch your breath then leave Stevan in charge of the watch outside this temple. I want someone I can count on in here standing guard at Keleem Rynekel's bedside. That means you."

Asterion turns next to the priestess. "Lady Gavrantha, forgive me, is there truly no safe way to hurry our patient along to consciousness? I must speak with him and time grows short. It is entirely possible this incident has nothing at all to do with him and here I am hovering over him like a nursemaid whilst the clues turn cold."

Uhlskah feels sure that Kirrian can cope with Lia's questioning. It could be nothing, but both the magical resonance and the lack of the shopkeeper bother him. He hurries out through the shop, glancing at the magical glass item on the way, out into the street. If the shopkeeper is not visible, he accosts the first bystander he sees and demands, "Which way did the glass cutter go? He and I have unfinished business." Uhlskah puts all his natural drow menace into the question, leaving the imagination of his interlocutor free to decide what business that might be, and what might happen if the dark elf is disappointed.

With a supreme effort of restraint Asterion stands by and lets Keleem and Lady Vestra have a private moment, and for Lady Gavrantha to check the young man's condition. It is not simply compassion that motivates his pause; it would be utterly useless to interview the man unless Asterion is certain Kelem is lucid enough.

"Let's get ya back to the healers lass. By now they will have some answers. We are going to find our what happened. And we will find y'ur mother and explain everyth'ng. This wasn't y'ur. Come now...Gilly...um..er..see to the lass would you?" Kirrian gets awkward as he realizes he let his caring nature show just now. He takes a moment to shake himself out of it and brushes his beard and mustache with his hand in case they have been mussed by anything.

Uhlskah quickly sees the opportunity to do something for his fan base whilst hopefully diverting the attention from the supposedly covert operation.

He scowls dramatically at the shopkeeper and says in a tone mixed with anger and light-hearted mockery:

"Saved the girl? Well, you could have saved her just as well by watching your forge more carefully. I'll have to write a song about you - burning your next door neighbours is a delightful theme. In the meantime, you know full well I came here on business. I'll take one of your trinkets to show my parents, and if I hear a word about any of this from any of you," he casts his angry eyes from the shopkeeper to the passersby, "there'll be trouble. I am a singer, not a saviour of girls nearly burned by an artisan's carelessness. Now everybody move along..."

Hoping this little outburst will stop rumours from spreading too fast, or at least divert them mostly onto the glass cutter, Kilth's singing and his parents, and away from the other details, Uhlskah goes back into the shop. He takes the drake figure and wraps it a cloth and then puts it in his backpack. Evidence, maybe? he thinks.

Do I have to roll intimidation again, or can I stick with the earlier roll?

Now I think about it, I'll make a bluff roll in case it's needed.

"My good man, special is exactly what my parents are looking for, and I am not buying, merely borrowing. As a sign of my good will, here is something for the loan. I assure you I will return it in perfect condition, post haste!"

Uhlskah puts five gold pieces on the shopkeeper's counter and saunters out. He stays within sight of Kirrian and Lia on the way back to the temple but hides the fact that they are together.

"Keleem. It is Fox Asterion. Easy, man, lie down. You and your man Muhal were caught in an attack. Help me find who did this." Asterion begins asking Keleem questions, pausing to wait for the answer to each one,
"Can you think of anyone who might wish harm upon you or Muhal?"
"Tell me what you remember in front of the temple."
"Tell me all that you remember about this day: Where were you headed? Where from? Any detail, no matter how small, may be helpful."

Anticipating some unease from the boy, Ravastine will attempt to provide a comforting presence during Asterion's onslaught of questions.

OOC: wearing plate armour gives me a bonus on talking to boy children, doesn't it? ;-)