Chapter 1 (Arc B): Drunken Ramblings

Oh, very few people deign to teach it. You could say it's much more self-taught. I get these dreams at night, full of grand ideas. I follow no footsteps! I forge a new path. A brighter path! Or at least I would if I could get the paperwork to prove that I'm more than,
oh what did they call me, a degenerate crackpot!

Sorry for the lack of clarity. Shannout, the statement was to Vlur from the elf guy. The following is the last thing your conversation had:

Vlur, the man looks at you. Knowledge, surely. Power, perhaps! Study for the sake of study is its own reward, after all!

The two men surge to their feet, only to trip over themselves when the cpin is pocketed. You promised you thug! The information is good!

The student that mentioned the spellbook struggles to get up to his feet, but does manage it. He scrambles with his satchel, and fishes out a heavy looking book with metal corners.

Just one minute, one minute - indeed. Here! he says after a few seconds of furiously flipping through the tome. He spins it around and shows you a page full of odd markings interspersed with bits of common. At a glance, you can tell that it has to do with forcing a target to do something. The bits of common you can understand easily, and it doesn't seem to describe a nice spell.

As you go to grab the book, you find that it doesn't leave the student's hand.

Now now, you can't be taking my spellbook! What kind of fool do you take me for! he says. This is my life's work, not yours to take there quickdraw. he slams the book closed on your finger.

The students look to each other, seeming to contemplate your offer briefly. The leader looks down at the closed book and shakes his head, grinning widely.

Not today, vagabond. You don't think I know when someone's going to stick a knife in me and liberate me of my books? How about you lot just get out of here before I let the barkeep over there know you're planning to hold up a patron. he says, a slight sneer creeping into his voice.

As Vlur and Shannout begin to walk away, you hear the man blustering behind you.

Look! It's not like I want to run off into a dark alley to show you. My professor said we may be doing some controlled casting of spells tomorrow. You're welcome to come along with us, and you can see it being cast that way. Safe for me, safe for you.

Come by Sturnk Hall. Ask for directions to Professor Maladrin's class. We meet at fourteen bells. he says with a smile.