Dead Wizards and their Toys

Early evening in the Quill's Repose finds it beginning to quiet from its usual daily diet of Temple and Arcanist students toiling away in its stacks, and the wind outside is becoming chill indeed. Not everyone has left, yet, and among the stacks is a ginger-blonde man who, from his build, might be more at home on the Festival Grounds than in a library, but is here nonetheless, sorting through a large pile of what would appear to be sildanyari histories. There are several stacks of books, apparently in some form of order.

Seldan gave up on the fourth circle magic about an hour ago, and turned instead to helping with Malik's research. His reading requires a spell, and although translations are inexact with the spells, it is enough to determine whether the book wants a closer look or not.

Malik, similarly, looks like he might be better at home elsewhere. Though from the way he's sitting, relaxed with his feet up on one of the free chairs and a bored look on his face as he stares down at the book in front of him, he's made himself plenty at home already. He flips through the pages quickly, scanning the language as he attempts to narrow down exactly what it is he's looking for, the book nearing its end. "Well, I don't think we're going to have any luck with this one, either," he sighs, setting the tome aside. "If it's like the others, there are about one hundred thirty pages left, and it's probably all filled with an account of the -newest- in the line, who needs to outdo the one hundred twenty seven pages of his predecessor." He rubs at his face, glancing out the windows at the fading light. "Any luck on your end?"

Skribbles walks through the library, whistling a bit as she walks by several people who glare at the gobbo with the intent of shushing her. She turns the corner, a large book in front of her as she heads towards Seldan and Malik. She blinks as she spies the both of them, tilting her head as she stops whistling. "Hey you two, whatcha doin?"

Seldan is buried in a book as well, although he sits rather more traditionally and more upright, and looks rather deep into whatever it is he was reading. He's about to answer Malik when Skribbles walks up, and inclines his head. "A bit of research," he tells her formally, that Myrrish accent relatively light in this area of quiet and his own relaxation. "You will recall the vampire that attacked Vardama's Temple."

Malik nods, pointing a thumb in Seldan's direction. "That," he tells the gobber, much less formally. "He was after something." A beat. "Well. A some/one/ and his some/things/, anyway." Gesturing toward the pile of books, he says, "So now begins the rather tedious task of searching through tomes until we come upon some kind of mention of him. Maybe. You'd be amazed at how much basic information is -mysteriously absent- when someone goes looking for it." Picking up another tome, he cracks it open, thumbing through pages.

Skribbles climbs up on a chair and then turns to lean on the table. She points to all the books and says, "So you're looking for one name in all of these books in hopes that you find it among...what...six-thousand other names?" She reaches for a book and oof's as she brings it closer. She fingers through it for a moment before looking at the two men, "Who hurt you?"

At the flippant assessment from the gobber, Seldan laughs heartily. "I begin to think that a search in this section will prove fruitless. The only thing known for certain of the man was that he was believed to be a demon worshipper, and was so executed. Perhaps the city records will bear more fruit, for they are the only things that speak of the things that we know for certain. Histories of the sil will not avail us."

"We wish to know why the vampire and his demon mistress took an interest in this body, enough that they were willing to risk the Temple of Vardama to find it."

"And what they -found-," Malik adds. "Apparently he was buried with his toys, like a good demon-worshipping wizard. But there's no mention of what those toys actually -were-. Which is problematic, if the artifacts and the body are both in the hands of a demon-worshipping vampire and his magical mistress." Malik doesn't object when the gobber starts searching through the other book, though. "And if only it were six thousand names. Alexandros was apparently massive, even back then. I think we've probably looked through ten times that many, and we only have the span of almost a century to narrow it down."

Skribbles scans through the book for a moment, not bothering to ask for permission as she reads through the words. "So you have a century to play with, with an obscure name, and all of these books in the merest hope you find something about him. Sound about right?"

"Nearly so, and yet is much research of a similar nature." Seldan closes the book he was looking at, and sets it on a particular stack with a quiet *thump*. "But such knowledge may be crucial, if we are to stop these demons and their plague. It is worth the time to seek whatever we can learn of their intentions."

"In truth," Malik says, "we've found more information on fewer clues before. Of course," he adds, "it led us to an idiot. With knowledge of how to stop the plague, if he weren't so busy tending to his admittedly lovely band of companions that I can only assume is a harem of some sort." Malik's dislike for Dylan Hunt is well-known enough that this information probably surprises no one. "So it's not a completely useless endeavor. I figure if we read every book in this library seven or eight times, we might some day actually be able to remember what section to start in."

Skribbles chuckles and closes the book with a thump, which echoes through the halls of the library. She looks between the two and lets out a long sigh, "So what's the name of this super-special person? And what is this artifact that he had? I mean, I'd think tracking the artifact might be easier. You have something like that, maybe narrow the focus.'

Seldan listens to Malik's diatribe, with a growing smile on his face, but he says nothing of whatever it was he was thinking. Instead, he schools his expression and answers Skribbles' question. "Nenarulo Calanalata. Would that we knew what was buried with him, that the vampire stole. That is part of what we wish to learn. We know that pair to be associated to those responsible for the plague in the city ... and we know not their intentions. Something of their methods ... but not yet what they mean to do."

Malik gives a little nod, affirming Seldan's points on the matter as he continues scanning through the book, only catching the little smile out of the corner of his eye and returning it fleetingly back to the paladin. "Whatever it was," he muses, "it was worth twice attacking a temple designed for the purpose of fighting undead. Only the truly insane would do that for some trinket. Kol had to think that it was worth the risk."

Skribbles thinks for a moment and says, "Well, I mean, if this artifact was really so wonderful, it had to have been crafted by someone. Perhaps looking through the records of the Temple of Reos might help as well. I mean, we're usually around when something like that is crafted so that it has Reos' blessing. I mean, it's a longshot, but not as much of a longshot as sitting here all day and night and night and day and day and night and so forth and so forth and so on so on so on."

"Would the faithful of the Smith track the fate of such artifacts, as well as their making? Perhaps an angle worth the try, if their end is tracked as well as their beginning. If not, I do not see the value." Seldan smiles at the gobber's vehemence. "Patience and thorough search has already yielded us some information that we would not have otherwise found."

"If the Temple of Vardama didn't even bother to track their identity, I doubt that Reos was as concerned with their end as with their beginning," Malik sighs. "But it doesn't hurt to investigate new angles." Turning to Skribbles, he asks, "Do you think you would know where to look? We can use all the help that we can get on this one, and you seem more familiar with Reosian archives than either of us are liable to be."

Skribbles places a hand on her chest and stands upright, "I am Queen of that library." She then opens one eye and looks between the two men, "Alright, to be honest, I'm not in the library as often as I should be. If I have some names though, or some background to start on, it might help start you on another path. The beginnings of a project of that magnitude would be marked down. Each request for a Reosian has to be marked."

Seldan thinks about the request, suddenly frowning. "If such things as were buried with him were truly of evil ..." He stops, clearly censoring himself. "We know not if the man was Reosian, or no, but I think it unlikely that whatever was buried with him was buried with no knowledge of its nature. I do not see the Seers being so ... lax. Perhaps seeking records of things lost around that time."

Malik nods. "If they had a reputation about them, then I suppose that it's possible their loss was recorded. Or their design copied." His looks grows more pensive, and he finally gives Skribbles a nod. "That -- is not a bad idea, searching the records of Reos." And then, to Seldan, "...nor is searching the libraries of Eluna. Both might be a bit more forthcoming, given the attack on the other temple. It's in everyone's interest to try and figure this out."

Skribbles points at the books in front of them and smiles, "Well, at least get you out of these stuffy books for a moment. The items seems to be a lot more unique than the man himself. I mean, you said this vampire went after this guy to get him and the artifact, no? Look at both." She smiles widely, her fangs shiny to all. "Skribbles knows a thing or two."

"I wish to also search the city records," Seldan adds, but nods. "Your assistance, and your insight, may be valuable, Forge. Your timing in stopping by is fortuitous."

"I think that we can all divide the work, really," Malik says. "Seldan, you can search the city records and the Elunite Temple. Skribbles can look for the Forge's records. And I --" He frowns. "-- can stay here and read more ancient sildanyari, I suppose. There's bound to be some mention of the man somewhere. If we split our efforts we're more likely to find something, I think."

Skribbles nods her head, "Reos knows where I'm needed because I'm his favorite and most wise of all the Forges of Reos." She sighs melodramatically, "It's hard being this perfect and this humble at the same time." She grins again, "What do you have so far?"

Seldan snorts and closes the book. "Humble, indeed." He stops and peers out the window, then sighs and stands up. "It nears evensong, Malik, and I should speak with the Seers before then. Shall I meet you here when my prayers and meditations are completed?" He nods down at Skribbles. "Forgive me, but I really should go, and I will want to seek the Temple's records, if they might be vouchsafed to me."

Malik looks up at Seldan, about to answer, but then seems to change his mind about something. "Here is fine," he agrees, looking at the books. "It should give me time to look through the rest of the records. I might be able to find something useful. Especially if our Gray friend shows up. SHe might have some tricks for finding information among --" He gestures, broadly.

Skribbles hops down out of the chair, reaching up for her book and cradling it in front of her again. "I'll let you know what I find. I might get lucky." She gives a wave to the two men as she trots off towards the Reosian temple.