Not Today, Death!

IN THE CITY

Winter finds a set of small footprints that belong to a child leading into the shop. No return tracks are evident.


CRENUS CRUMBLE'S HOUSE

The man is silent for a moment. "Who has been robbed? The only person who had information regarding the Philosopher's Stone is Mr. Goverbandy."

IN THE CITY

Winter silently sneaks into the building. The interior is dark, the shutters are all down and it appears the shop is closed for business this day. The shop is clearly a jewelers, with walls of wooden storage shelves, each for a different precious metal or stone. A girl somewhere between ten and fifteen years old is picking through small wooden chests, occasionally pilfering expensive rings, necklaces, earrings, and diadems. Not many it appears, not enough to be easily noticed by the owner. Winter doesn't have much time to study the scene before Kade enters and knocks over the coat rack just inside the back door. The noise is almost deafening in the silence of the closed shop. The young girl immediately stiffens in surprise, then whips out a dagger, running for the front of the shop.


CRENUS CRUMBLE'S HOUSE

The large man cocks his head. "Well...in his possession, of course. Wait one moment, I will inform Mr. Crumble about your reason for coming." The man walks back to the house and is absent for a few short minutes before returning. He opens the gate and waves you inside before closing it behind you.

"Mr. Crumble is making time for you. Keep in mind he is very busy and doesn't enjoy his time being wasted. Make your story short and to the point. No dancing around with words."

You enter and the servant takes you to a parlor just off the front entrance way. The house is sparse and neglected but well-appointed with select furnishings. Crenus Crumble enters a few moments later. He is a sight to behold. The man has ugly boils all over his face and scalp. Scaly patches of dead skin cover his hands and arms. His eyes have yellowish sclera, and his lips bleed. He wears expensive clothing, however, with rings on his fingers and a gold chain around his neck. He gives a hacking cough as he shuffles to a seat near a window and waves at you to sit.

"Now then," he croaks, "What is it you have come to tell me?"

THE JEWELER'S SHOP

The girl is faster than Kade but can't match the faun's deer-like legs in speed or power. Winter skids to a halt, hooves scraping the wooden floor. The girl pulls out a knife. It has an 18-inch straight, double-edged blade with a black handle capped with an iron spike. It wavers in her grasp, clearly heavy for such a skinny child. She doesn't say anything, but her wild eyes dart around in panic. She edges sideways towards a wall while keeping the knife in front of her.

CRENUS CRUMBLE'S HOUSE

The man gives a throaty and phlegm-rattling chuckle. "On the contrary, I met with you because I think you know something. Mors, Crumble nods towards his burly manservant, "Has only said you mentioned Mr. Goverbandy and the Philosopher's Stone. If what you say is true and Goverbandy has been robbed, then this is tragic news indeed. I'm afraid I know nothing of the robbery. I did seek out Goverbandy in the past and offered to purchase a very important book from him, but he declined. I have no interest in whatever other trinkets Goverbandy possessed. If I knew where the stolen items were you had better believe I'd be trying to acquire that book instead of meeting with you. But since you mentioned compensation, maybe it is I who should offer. If you find Goverbandy's stolen items, I will pay you handsomely for the book. You may return any other stolen items to the man, I only desire the book. What do you say?"

CRENUS CRUMBLE'S HOUSE

"I have read about such things. Far beyond my capabilities, unfortunately, but what I lack in skill I make up for in knowledge. The oil is known as 'steel bane', an oil that exponentially speeds up the oxidation of certain metals causing them to rust in a matter of moments. The powder is most likely 'chorian dust', an anesthetic used to put its victims to sleep and numbs all feeling until it wears off. Its made from an exotic species of coral and thus quite expensive. Not something an average thief would use, I wouldn't think. If it's a thief you are looking for, I would suggest Pyta Ypta who runs the Gilded Lily. That fiend knows everything about black deeds in this city I've heard."