039.3 WARNING: FIRE.

[Corwin]

[19:41] <Kotono> A day passes. The next morning all but Andrea gather at Whimisical Sweets. It's not open for candy business, though on entering you see Silver and Sylvie restocking various cases. "Josa's upstairs with Simmer," Sylvie calls around and armful of mints and loaves of honeyed elf bread. "Go on, we'll be upstairs in a couple."
[19:42] * Wayland nods at Sylvie and heads upstairs.
[19:42] <Janson> "I hope there's a fun and easy and high paying job waiting up there," Janson sighs wistfully before grinning at the absurdity of his hope, heading up to find out what horrors await.
[19:43] <Aaeru> "I hope it's a challenge," Aaeru says, ready to face anything the world throws at them.
[19:45] <Kotono> You get grins back, as Silver mutters something under her breath. Upstairs you go! Simmer's kicked back in a chair, a red, crystalline longbow on her lap. She's reading a book and waiting. Josa stands before the table, hands clasped, "Ah welcome, welcome, welcome! Do be seated, for our affairs this day wil require great expenditure of air as we debate and talk overmuch."
[19:46] * Aaeru strongly suspects that it is only Josa, but sits down all the same.
[19:47] <Janson> "No jobs, huh?" Janson asks, going to claim a seat.
[19:48] * Wayland sits as well. "What've you got for us?"
[19:49] <Kotono> "Ah, of course there are jobs! I have several jobs, but there are other matters first!" Josa claps his hands together, "First of all, if you haven't heard, Andrea will be leaving tomorrow for a few weeks. She is going with Brent's father to Valandia, to see if Lathander will grant Brent a new dawn and another life in this world. Today she's at a holy holiday of her faith, Alicia's day of ascension.
[19:49] <Kotono> So we will be slightly shortstaffed for the foreseeable future."
[19:50] <Janson> "We'll make do," Janson declares steadfastly. "Was just four of us to start with, after all."
[19:52] <Kotono> "ABsolutely! That is the resolute spirit I was hoping for and I daresay that I expected it from each of you! Excellent! Superb!" Josa nods vigorously to this. "Second of all, the supply closet has been refilled, especially with a batch of Healing Nectars. I do believe all of you have taken several, but do not hesitate to take more at any time. We must mind our health, and sadly the endless
[19:52] <Kotono> vagaries of fate chisel away at our sheltered bud of vitality."
[19:52] * Janson nods, starting to tune out Josa's excessive verbosity.
[19:52] <Kotono> "Which means you got your ass kicked hard enough to not want to die?" Silver calls up the stairs as she flies up, Sylvie following. She takes a chair near Janson, while Silver goes to plop down on the table.
[19:53] <Aaeru> "Do we have a new and dangerous job?" Aaeru decides to risk asking.
[19:55] <Kotono> Josa turns red at that, giving Silver a perilous look. Clearing his throat, "We do have jobs of varying risk." He gestures to the Job Board, "Please, go read and indulge."
[19:55] <Kotono> Simmer shrugs, getting up and going to read the board. Sylvie follows, taking a peek. "I know a few of them, I wrote them up this morning."
[19:56] <Aaeru> At that invitation, Aaeru gets up herself and approaches the board from the side, so as to not block it away for others.
[19:56] * Janson goes across to peek over Sylvie's shoulder at what's on offer!
[19:56] * Wayland stands and has a look. "Anything good?"
[19:58] <Janson> "Someone's harassing Sinnah?" Janson sounds appalled. "I could manage talent scouting, and hunting for roc feathers is convenient for me anyway, but I really don't like the sound of that first one. Has she talked to you about it, Aaeru?"
[19:59] <Aaeru> "Sinnah... is paying us for help?" Aaeru asks out loud, just as shocked. She shakes her head. "No, but we just got back. Maybe it happened while we were gone...."
[19:59] <Kotono> "Doubt it," Sylvie pipes up, "Shec ame by this morning just at dawn. I didn't talk to her, but she looked a bit upset."
[20:00] <Wayland> "She didn't mention it to me, and I just saw her a bit ago."
[20:00] <Wayland> "Must have happened since then."
[20:00] <Aaeru> "I'll help her!" Aaeru says then and there. "But we can't take her money like that, Josa. It's really not right."
[20:01] <Kotono> "Indeed," Josa says, "It is in our interests and our good fortune to help her, for the obvious reasons." Josa nods, "Go help her then, Aaeru. Consider it paying our debts on the affair. Take one other with you to help." Then to the others, "Once that's decided, what jobs appeal?"
[20:01] <Janson> "Her church did resurrect Wayland for free," Janson adds, "It's the least we can do."
[20:01] <Aaeru> "Silver, are you free?"
[20:02] <Wayland> "I agree. I'm personally in debt to them more than I can ever repay. Roc feathers and shocker lizard bounties sound good. Sounds like quick money."
[20:02] <Kotono> "Me?" Silver blink-blinks. "As in go on a job with you?"
[20:02] <Aaeru> "Yes. Except you won't get paid."
[20:03] <Janson> "You probably are the scariest one here," Janson adds supportively for the little fairy.
[20:03] * Aaeru nods.
[20:03] <Kotono> "No payment, possibly dangerous work instead of laying around and snacking on candy? On the other side, no Josa..." She rubs her chin a moment, "Sold! Let's go!"
[20:04] <Aaeru> "Great!" Aaeru glances at Josa. "I'm sorry I couldn't help Gracel, but Sinnah sounds like she's in real danger. Can you tell him that?"
[20:04] <Kotono> Josa takes a long, exhaling breath at that, "Go then. May Tymora bless your every step and ensure nothing but good fortune and profit follow."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "Umm. Okay." Giving the othes a wave, Aaeru heads for the House of Suffering and their non-paying client.
[20:05] <Kotono> "Good luck," Sylvie says peering at the board, "So which ones should the rest of us take? Gonna go lizard hunting, Wayland?"
[20:06] <Wayland> "Janson, want to go solo or team up?"
[20:07] <Janson> "Should be easy for you since electricity is your element, right?" Janson asks Wayland. "So long as I don't get too close to them I can help, and I need a roc feather myself so it's a good job for me."
[20:08] <Kotono> "You two have fun," Simmer says, "I think it's obvious I'm going to that crematorium."
[20:08] <Janson> "You should bring along some backup, though, just in case the blockage isn't completely innocent," Janson suggests. "A spell of fire resistance would let someone else go along."
[20:09] <Wayland> "Alright then. Sylvie, you want to go with Simmer?"
[20:10] <Wayland> "Or a few of us could go get some lizards, then circle back and take care of the crematorium together."
[20:10] <Janson> "Shouldn't leave the job hanging for weeks," Janson points out, "They'll just fix it themselves or get someone else."
[20:11] <Wayland> "That's true."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Why not," Sylvie shrugs, "Or on that, how about we do toher jobs and then we all go lizard hunting once we've exhausted all of the local jobs?"
[20:19] <Wayland> "Either way works out for me. Janson needs the feather, and I don't think the Sahuagin left a time limit." Wayland nods.
[20:19] <Kotono> "That task has been there awhile, and the sahuagin are in no hurry to recind the offer to any and all," Josa agrees thoughtfully. "It's a carryover, it's been there awhile.:
[20:20] <Janson> "That sounds like a good idea, the shocker lizards aren't going anyway. Want to go talent hunting with me, then, Sylvie?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "Okay," Sylvie says, "Wayland, why don't you go with Simmer? Then we sort out the remaining jobs when we're finished with these two?"
[20:22] <Janson> "So where's Knight Canel hang out?" Janson asks, looking between Josa and Sylvie.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Ridgeback Inn on Merchant's Way," Josa speaks up, "Room 32."
[20:25] <Janson> "Lets go, then?" Janson offers the blonde his hand before setting off.
[20:26] <Kotono> Once Janson is gone, Simmer slides up to Wayland, "So..." she says, "Going to follow along with that idea or go off on your own, Wayland? I can probably handle the crematorium alone if it's too hot for you. It's not like I can burn to death."
[20:30] * Wayland thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "What's a little fire, anyhow? I could always use the help with the lizards and the birds afterward." He turns to Josa. "Any idea where I could get some fire protection?"
[20:31] <Kotono> Josa nods, "As a matter of fortune, I do. Luna Del Stronger sells myriad scrolls of fire resistance. Simmer should be able to incant the spell from it. The duration is limited to about a half hour from scroll form, so use it when you're ready to go into the bonfires of peril."
[20:35] <Wayland> "Alright then." He stands. "Any idea where I can find them right now?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "The Goldwind Crematorium is in the Old City, on Dragonwind Avenue." Josa explains, "Good luck."
[20:38] <Wayland> "Thanks. Coming, Simmer?" Wayland asks as he heads for the door.
[20:39] <Kotono> "Sure!" Simmer follows along, "I wonder what's clogged it? Most anything would burn off."
[20:50] <Wayland> "You'd think. Who knows what's in there." He says, making his way to the magic shop.
[20:56] <Kotono> With a scroll in hand you head to the Goldwind Crematorium! It's a stout stone building, a single large chimney occasionally spewing you large huffs of smoke. Heading inside is a tastefully decorated sitting room. A pale man dressed in fine liviery rises from a seat, face pale and bloodless, and altogether too thin. Rubbing his hands together, "Ah. Welcome. Please, sit. Is th is a time of grief
[20:56] <Kotono> for...mmm. Perhaps not." Giving the two a look, "Ah, are you the problem solvers?"
[21:01] <Wayland> "Yes we are, sir. What seems to be the trouble?"
[21:01] <Kotono> "Sure are," Simmer says, brushing her burnt hair aside, "Whimisical Sweets. I'm Simmer, that's Wayland."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Our main pipe to the Inferno below has ceased functioning, as if something has clogged it," The man explains, "For no heat is reaching our crematorium."
[21:11] <Wayland> "Has it happened before?"
[21:13] <Kotono> 'No," The man answers, This is the first and only time." He rises, "Shall I escort you back to the access for the pipe?"
[21:14] <Wayland> "Sure."
[21:16] <Kotono> With Simmer the two of you are escorted into the back! Here is a plain brick room, the walls scorched hot...yet it's cool back here, no heat at all. There is a covered hole in the middle of the floor, "Remove that cover and take the ladder down. It'll take you to a small connecting passage to the pipe."
[21:20] <Kotono> Simmer approaches, "Want to do the honors, Wayland? I can take point in case blistering heat comes our way."
[21:21] <Wayland> "Sure. When does it get too hot?"
[21:24] <Kotono> "When you start burning?" Simmer banters back, "Want me to use the scroll on you now or wait until later? I mean, I barely notice temperatures hot enough to burn you to the bone. If you want heat, magma and lava are the trick."
[21:24] <Wayland> "Yeah, let's use the scroll now." Wayland nods.
[21:28] <Kotono> Simmer takes it, reading from the scroll! It burns up as each letter is said, the flames wrapping around Wayland before vanishing! "This will shield you from the worst of the fires for about a half hour, so let's get moving. Open her up and we'll go."
[21:30] * Wayland nods, leaning down to wrench the cover off the floor.
[21:32] <Kotono> This is easily done! Ahead is a narrow hole with a ladder going down! It's dark down there, "Oh, can you see in the dark," Simmer asks.
[21:32] <Wayland> "Absolutely."
[21:36] <Kotono> So reassured, Simmer leads the way. You go down a 15ft ladder to a small, carved out passage. It's supported with glazed, strong stone pillars, leading 10 ft to a sealed hole in the wall. Written on the hole is the following in Common: WARNING FIRE. DO NOT OPEN UNLESS FIRE IS DEACTIVATED OR WITHOUT PROTECTIVE MAGIC.
[21:39] <Kotono> Simmer goes over to the hole, "Would you again?" she asks.
[21:40] * Wayland does so!
[21:42] <Kotono> Another seal is opened! Ahead is a glazed, scorched stone pipe about 10 feet wide. A ladder runs down the side, and there is yet no sign of heat. Simmer peers down, "Oh hey, do you see that?" She points on down.
[21:44] * Wayland looks!
[21:45] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check, both of you.
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Simmer
[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Simmer and gets 26." [1d20=15]
[21:49] <Wayland> roll 1d20+5
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[21:50] <Kotono> At 40 feet down, you can see it. It looks like some sort of rubble is blocking up the tunnel. Against the side just above the blockage you can see something - part of the wall has given, a small tunnel having opened up as a branch. Simmer points down, "That's our blockage, and maybe a cause too."
[21:52] * Wayland frowns. "Well, let's get to work." Wayland goes to have a closer look.

[Corwin]

[19:12] <Kotono> The two go down the ladder, getting closer to the bottom. As you approach you can see that the sidewall looks to have given way, the debris managing to block the pipe up completely. You can see what looks like a tunnel in it's wake - big enough to go in and walk into. It goes on 15 feet before going downwards.
[19:15] <Kotono> Simmer peers in, a hand over her eyes, "Balmuria doesn't have earthquakes, does it? Wonder what knocked the wall out like that...though it hardly looks natural."
[19:15] <Wayland> "You've been down here before, right? Anything that tunnels through rock down here?"
[19:17] <Kotono> "I've been in the Furnance, that's a little further down," Simmer clarifies, "The fire and magma elementals could if they wanted it, but no way it wouldn't be hot if they did."
[19:20] <Wayland> "Hmm. Well, let's clear up the pipe real quick and see if we can find out what went on in here."
[19:21] <Kotono> "Go for it," Simmer says, "Try giving it a few kicks and see if that clears it? I can throw fire at it, but if it's strong or magicked enough to stop the Inferno's heat from rising, what I do probably won't phase it."
[19:25] * Wayland examines the blockage carefully, giving it a few strong kicks and shoves at various angles!

[19:27] <Kotono> OOC: What's your damage range for your unarmed strikes and what do they count for?
[19:30] <Wayland> OOC: They deal 1d8 and they count for 1d8...?
[19:30] <Kotono> OOC: Er, to pass DR. Nevermind, I just checked myself. Roll damage a few times real quick?
[19:32] <Wayland> roll 1d8+3
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d8+3 and gets 9." [1d8=6]
[19:32] <Wayland> roll 1d8+3
[19:32] <Wayland> roll 1d8+3
[19:32] <Wayland> roll 1d8+3
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d8+3 and gets 10." [1d8=7]
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d8+3 and gets 5." [1d8=2]
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d8+3 and gets 11." [1d8=8]

[19:35] <Kotono> WHAM! A good rain of blows causes the stones to shudder! It's the last strike, strong enough to rattle them all, that causes it to fall down! A good chunk in the middle falls, and seconds later the rest follows! It plummets down as a red glow engulfs the duo! Heat rises up like the fist of Kossuth, slamming both of you! Yet with your resistance you endure, Simmer grinning at the warmth. "Oh yes..." she sighs happily, "Good job."
[19:46] * Wayland reflexively shrinks back before righting himself. "Wow...that would have been awful without that scroll."
[19:48] <Kotono> "You'd be burning alive right now if not," Simmer agrees, taking in a big double lung-ful of hot air. "Aaaaaaaah. The actual Furnace below is much hotter. They slot up excess heat up to power the city's baths and fires. This is really just the controlled extra releases."
[20:01] <Wayland> "Great. Let's hope the scroll holds out for the rest of the investigation." Wayland says, heading for the tunnel.
[20:02] <Kotono> Thus the duo head down the warming tunnel! As you go into it you can hear high pitched yelps of surprise from ahead, coming from where the tunnel turns downward.
[20:04] * Wayland picks up the pace!
[20:07] <Kotono> Simmer follows! The downward slope goes only about 15 feet to a dead end. Around the bottom are red, small creatures...memories of Falis the Fire Mephit come to mind, they look just like him. About half a dozen, all looking in your direction, "Blimey, it's getting hot!" one exclaims, "Hey, did you clear away that rock?"
[20:10] <Wayland> "What's going on here?" Wayland asks, stepping forward toward the group of things.
[20:10] <Kotono> "Wayland did," Simmer pipes up, "Now what exactly are you doing up here?"
[20:12] <Kotono> The mephits turn, "We were just flying around in the pipe when we saw this appear and go slamming into thew all," They part, showing what looks to be a solid steel chest. It has an ornate keyhole, decorated with inlaid gold filigree. "It just appeared and went flying into the wall, knocked it out and sent the rock flying out."
[20:16] * Wayland moves closer to examine the chest. "It just appeared out of nowhere? It didn't come through another wall?"
[20:17] <Kotono> "Bamf, just like that," One mephit says, while another stands atop it, "And it's our treasure, too...once we can open the damned thing!"
[20:17] <Kotono> It's a steel chest. It's scuffed but intact - looks really sturdy. The keyhole is a keyhole, as one might expect.
[20:30] <Wayland> "Looks like you'll need a key for this." Wayland taps the chest. "It made this tunnel?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "Yeah," One of the mephits says, "Appeared and went throught it like a giant through a brick wall!"
[20:31] <Kotono> Simmer shakes her head, "Not what I expected," she kneels and takes a look, "Wayland, you got any way to open this up?"
[20:36] <Wayland> "I've never opened a lock before without a key." Wayland shakes his head. "Janson could probably open it if we took it back up, and you could bring it down to these gentlemen afterward." Wayland gestures at the mephits. "Unless they want to scrabble at the lock uselessly forever."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Sounds good to me," Simmer says, "Assuming you can carry it and get it out of here. That'llt ake some doing." Meanwhile the mephits exchange glances, "HEeeey! How do we know you won't fly offw ith it! I bet there's something really nice in here, like firestone or efreet fruit!"
[20:40] <Wayland> "We're Whimsical Sweets from up in Balmuria. We don't steal. It's not part of the job. We do odd jobs for people. Usually for pay."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Besides, I live down there part time," Simmer points down, "I'll bring you anything you like from it." OOC: Go ahead and make a diplo chec there, Wayland? Simmer will attempt to assist you for +2.
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
[20:42] <Kotono> OOC:No dice, at least she absorbed the one, right?
[20:46] <Wayland> OOC: Yeesh
[20:46] <Wayland> roll 1d20+1 diplo
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20+1 diplo and gets 21." [1d20=20]
[20:47] <Kotono> The mephits look amid each other before nodding, "Alright, you look trustworthy," they say to Wayland, "But we'll burn ya if you lie! Really bad!"
[20:48] <Wayland> "We're not in the business of lying if we can help it, and as long as it's not something to do with water or cold, we'll return it to you. Fair?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Fair," The mephit says with a nod.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Well...you can carry it and levitate to get out," Simmer suggests, "Assuming you can lift it? It looks heavy."
[20:55] <Wayland> "Let's find out." Wayland moves to lift the chest!
[20:55] <Wayland> roll 1d20+3 strength check gooo
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20+3 strength check gooo and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[20:55] <Kotono> OOC: What's your STr score?
[20:55] <Wayland> OOC: 16
[20:56] <Kotono> Wayland is able to lift it! It's a pretty good load but he has it! OOC: Counts as a medium load.
[20:57] <Wayland> OOC: Awright
[21:04] <Wayland> Chest in hand and agreement made, Wayland nods to the mephits and heads back the way he and Simmer had come. "Provided we can get this open, we'll get it back to you as soon as we can. What I really care about is how it got down here."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Who careS? It's treasure!" The mephits say as they fly back down! Once they're gone Simmer shakes her head, "I'm going to guess a wizard did it," she announces, "Any ideas how we can figure it out?"
[21:06] <Wayland> "Josa, I'd bet."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Right," Simmer says. OOC: How are you getting the chest up from where you are to the access to the pipes?
[21:09] <Wayland> OOC: I was gonna carry it.
[21:11] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, you have a good enough climb score. Moving in.
[21:11] <Kotono> On emerging back out with the chest, you find the pale, skinny man awaiting. "Ah," he says, "Heat has returned! The blockage is dealt...I say, ar eyou carrying a treasure chest with you?"
[21:13] <Wayland> "This would be the cause of your blockage. A couple of mephits were swarming over it. They said it just appeared out of nowhere, slammed into a wall, and made a large tunnel before stopping. We suspect wizardry. We're taking it to find out who did it, so we can prevent it from happeneng again." Wayland nods.
[21:15] <Kotono> "Merciful Kelemvor!" The man gasps, "That's...quite...unusual." He struggles with it, "Are you certain of it? The way of wizards must truly be of madness and mystery!"
[21:16] * Wayland shrugs. "I don't know about magic, myself. I'm just doing my job."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Speaking of, we're done! Payment due, please," Simmer says brightly, "Whimisical Sweets is always happy to help!"
[21:17] <Kotono> The thin man nods, pursing his lips together, "Of course." He withdraws a drawstring pouch, jostling with coins. "Here you are, ma'am. Your service was prompt and effective. Thank you, both of you."
[21:19] <Wayland> "No problem. Call on us again any time!" Wayland nods, heading out.
[21:21] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 13." [1d100=13]
[21:22] <Kotono> Returning to Whimsical Sweets is thankfully without incident. You find Josa downstairs, dusting off candy cases and whistling a merry tune. His back is to you, occasionally singing, "...by the high sun....when the satyrs...." Notably his singing voice is a wee bit screetchy, doing nothing for his performance at all.
[21:26] <Wayland> Without ceremony, though without too much force, Wayland swings the chest up and thumps it down on a solid counter.
[21:26] <Kotono> Simmer winces, rubbing the back of her head. "We're back with payment and a follow up! A big followup that needs to be unlocked!"
[21:27] <Kotono> Josa leaps a good foot in to the air, arms flailing! He turns and looks, panting, "Gods above, you startled me!" he blurts! He stares a moment, before going to the chest. "...and where in the name of sweet Tymora's chemise did that monstrosity of a chest come from?"
[21:29] <Kotono> Simmer idly tosses the coinbag to the counter besides it, "There's the payment. Anyway, we found it as the cause of the blockage. Our best guess is that a wizard did it by mistake or by strange, strange, strange sabotauge. Which means it's up to you or maybe Sylvie to figure out."
[21:29] <Wayland> "Good question! We were hoping you could tell us! It appeared in the underground tunnels below the cermatorium, smashed through a wall with considerable force, and burrowed a tunnel."
[21:30] <Kotono> Josa goes to it, taking a good, long inspection of the chest!
[21:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26." [1d20=11]
[21:33] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmmm!" He looks it over, concentrating on the gold filigree. He frowns and scrapes it with his nail a few times, flakes of gold coming off, revealing plain steel beneath. "As I thought..." he murmurs. "There is a spell known as Secret Chest. If properly cast, it hides your valuables in a secured box within the Ethereal Plane. It can be summoned back with a token and has many uses. However,
[21:33] <Kotono> it requires an exceedingly expensive chest to serve, or the spell fails. I daresay a fair wizard has been duped by a charlatan! This isn't gold, but it's golden paint in the filigree."
[21:35] <Wayland> "Oh. Then we should probably find who it belongs to?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "Such would be a formidiable task," Josa rubs his chin, "It could be a nearby wizard or one from far away, or even another plane." He hums, "It is a corundrum.  You haven't opened it yet, I presume?"
[21:38] <Wayland> "Well, no."
[21:39] <Wayland> "And I rather promised the mephits that we would bring them what was inside."
[21:40] <Kotono> "Well, mephits? What kind of mephits? Hm, no matter for the moment. Allow me to go prepare a spell that can do just that. Rest for about a half hour, I will return!" With that Josa meanders off! A half hour later he returns, dusting his hands off. "Verily, now I am ready. Let us open the chest and then see."
[21:46] <Wayland> "Alright!"
[21:49] <Kotono> Simmer sits atop a case, watching and waiting. At this Josa waves his hands, incanting! The chest glows a moment, before it pops open! Within you can see five things - a metal vial, a bottle with gold-blue liquid within, a small painting of what looks to be an angel of some sort in flight, a silver locket with a rose engraved on it, and three gold bars. The gold bars are decorated with an
[21:49] <Kotono> elaborate inset of the sun, moon and stars.
[21:51] <Kotono> Josa overlooks them all, taking a single gold bar, "Trade bars. This is surely worth several hundred marks by itself, if I recall the values with accuracy."
[21:52] * Wayland goggles. "This is worth...a lot."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Alas, Sylvie is not here now for specifics," Josa shakes his head, "But those bars are worth at least a thousand marks all together, the painting looks of fair and skilled craftsmanship, and I suspect there are two potions there. The locket also is doubtlessly worth great lucre." Rubbing his hands together, "Mephits, you said? What manner of mephits?"
[21:54] <Wayland> "They looked red."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Fire mephits. I know them from the Furnace," Simmer pipes up, "Small, fiery, fairly simple. They're like children, sort of. They love fire, being essentially minor elementals."
[21:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[21:56] <Kotono> Josa rubs his chin further, "Be that as it may, they have no legitimate claim to the treasure. Certainly they found it, but we were the ones able to open it. If any salvage it, it should be us. That presumes that we do not return to it's rightful owner, but I see little and less reason that in either scenario that this includes mephits."
[22:00] * Wayland frowns. "It doesn't sit right with me. Feels like stealing from kids."

[Corwin]

[18:14] <Ko-ExplodingZombies> "It is not stealing a tall!" Josa says, waving a hand, "But merely the proper reclaimation of lost property! With nary a doubt they had no true claim on it, but were only aping at something they could not procure for themselves!"
[18:15] <Ko-ExplodingZombies> "Eh." Simmer listens and shrugs to it, "The mephits are expecting something, we promised."
[18:16] <Wayland> "They like fire, right?"
[18:16] <Ko-ExplodingZombies> "Of course they do," Simmer says with a little huff, "I think living in the Inferno makes that a good assumption."
[18:17] <Wayland> "Well, we could use a small portion of the money invilved here to buy them an everburning torch. It's  technically not stealing, I don't think. I'd be okay with it."
[18:18] <Kotono> "Ah, a splendid idea!" Josa nods, "Also, throw in some of that alchemist's fire from the closet," Snapping his fingers, "Surely such will be more than fair recompense to those mephits!"
[18:19] <Wayland> "Good idea, they'll like that."
[18:21] <Kotono> "Okay," Simmer agrees, "But if I come back all mephit-beaten up, I'm gonna be pissed and fiery," Simmer warns, shaking her head before heading upstairs. As she goes, "I will have Sylvie appraise the goods as soon as possible," Josa promises, going to check the coinbag Simmer left behind. He looks in and briefly counts, "Mmm," Passing these over as well as a pouch of his own, "Go get that torch
[18:21] <Kotono> straightaway, before any rapscallions of risk attempt to befoul our noble cause."
[18:23] * Wayland nods and heads out!
[18:25] <Kotono> OOC: Moment, some rollin' is neede.
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31." [1d20=9]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[18:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[18:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[18:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[18:30] <Kotono> The next day brings Wayland and Simmer back with Josa. Simmer isn't particularly beaten, broken or mephit-ed. "Well, there's good news," she announces, "The mephits loved the torch and the alchemist's fire. So no acts of righteous pyromania today."
[18:32] <Kotono> "Splendid and superb!" Josa exults, "Ah, truly they would not have been able to appreciate the fine art and monetary value of these goods in any event. For indeed they are quite valuable."
[18:32] <Wayland> "Good to hear."
[18:33] <Wayland> "Any idea who they might belong to, or where they came from?"
[18:35] <Kotono> "In no particular order," Josa begins, "Slippery oil, a alchemical concoction worth about 50 marks. A potion of Sanctuary, worth another 50 marks. The painting is of an expressionist from Arad and worth 500 marks. The trade bars are 500 marks each for 1500 total. The locket is worth about 550 marks." Josa concludes, before giving Wayland a look, "Ah, I am afraid not." He considers and thinks,
[18:35] <Kotono> "Ah, perhaps spend a day asking around the city about a lost chest, discreetly? Ask so that if one is looking for one they will understand the cut of your jibe, whilst an opportunist does not. If that does not bear fruit, I reckon that fate will deem it scarcer that the posessor of these goods will become known to us."
[18:42] <Wayland> "I don't think I'm that clever, to be honest. There's really no good way to tell people you've found a chest, and would you please be honest and tell me if it's yours, is there?"
[18:43] <Kotono> "Ah well. In that case the odds of finding the real owner versus loot seekers is impossibly low. There's no point in mounting an expidition doomed to failure, despite what others may say," Josa concludes, "I do believe we have no choice but to profit off these goods."
[18:44] <Wayland> "To be perfectly honest, I think that advertising that we have that much loot in one place is an invitation to be robbed."
[18:47] <Kotono> "Exactly!" Josa adds, nodding. "So with this decided, did you want to keep any particular parts of this winfall instead of liquifying it?"
[18:49] <Wayland> "Nothing strikes me as valuable, personally. Simmer?"
[18:51] <Kotono> "Likewise," Simmer chips in, "Just liquify it all."
[19:00] <Kotono> "Indeed. With that done," Josa gestures, "Let us return to the Job Board. Did any of the other jobs catch your immediate attention, Wayland?"
[19:01] <Wayland> "Shocker lizards." Wayland says, not missing a beat.