As nothing seems to be happening on the lower floor everyone but Edgar makes
their way up the narrow staircase, following Callum as he collects the short
sword and levers the chest open. Edgar remains alone on his high perch watching,
in vain, for any interruptions.
The chest contains clothing cut for a
fairly tall and well-built man. There are a couple of white silk shirts
embroidered with black-work flowers and vies, as well as a fine fur trimmed
cloak and 3 pairs of silk stockings. A pair of britches and a waistcoat in a
deep plum satin embroidered with silver thread and sporting silver buttons
completes the collection.
At the bottom of the chest there is a heavy
leather purse, and two fine leather purses, all closed with drawstrings. The
smaller pouches are much lighter than the larger leather one.
Entering the room as the sound of splintering wood echoes, Madelyn makes her way over to Rolf’s side. She eyes the decor of the room as the contents of the chest are examined.
Seeing Callum with the sword Kerim holds up a hand.
"Effendi
Callum, perhaps from here it is I that will have the call of it?"
With his Katar Kerim lifts out each item of clothing, and then using a
lockpick with a hooked end he lifts out each of the purses.
He then
smiles at Callum, a thought coming into his mind that seems to appeal to him.
"As I am done with it now it comes to mind that perhaps the builder
saw fit to build a hidden compartment. Such might be best located and opened
with your...crowbar"
It seems for the moment that with something to
occupy his mind Kerim has temporarily forgotten the needle (well what does one
expect from a poison that he feels no pain of, nor is already dead. He's
subconcious brain has conveniently made him blind to any possible delayed
threat). The gift of the naive you might say.
GM: If no-one else does
Kerim will open the purses. Does the silver buttoned waist coat look my size?
And I suspect I haven't changed my shirt for days. Though I will stop short of
those thigh revealing breeches.
Rolf feels a lightening of his burdens as Madelyn approaches. He almost reaches out to her before remembering the situation and the proprieties of the situation. Settling for a bit of an awkward smile, his eyes brighten with her company. Given Kerim's enthusiasm, Rolf nods absent (and unnoticed) approval for his examining the purses.
The shirt and waistcoat were clearly for someone larger than Kerim. But
having said that - sleeves can be rolled up, extra jumpers can be worn and
buttons can be moved ......
The large pouch contains a collection of
coins, a cursory look inside incates mainly golden coins, but a few silvery ones
as well ....
One small bag contains 5 matched Moonstones all seperately
wrapped in silk ....
The last bag contains only an ornate metal disk,
gleaming brightly and highly decorated around the edges. It bears the symbol of
a Flaming Sun between 4 lozenges. There are four thin leather ties attached to
loops on each corner of the disk - the leather is carved and stained in what
appear to be random patterns, but is still marvellously supple and beautiful
Satisfied that he can still hear the voices of his companions, and thus know no harm has yet befallen them, Edgar paces along the rafter, his talons clicking on the wood, as he seeks a better vantage point that he might see what everyone else is doing while he continues his watch.
New clothes methinks, Kerim likes em baggy.
As for the moonstones,
individually wrapped eh! Must be worth something or they are perhaps religious
artifacts of the area.
Kerim examines the stones, are they shaped? He
picks one up and feels it, are they carved, embossed or the like?
With
the five all unwrapped he looks at Ravn "Know you if they be items for
ritual?"
He then passes his attention over to the metal disc,
picking it up for all to see he holds it to the middle of his chest, though
doesn't slip on the leather bands. These he thumbs through his finger, testing
the supple nature of the leather.
"Know I this. Only magic has the
power of preservation enough to keep leather from times harm such as I can feel
here."
Kerim holds the disc out for anyone to take, his attentions
returning to the clothes.
Rolf nods sagely at Kerim's comments that the disk and it's leather straps must have been protected by some sort of magic. True, leather must be constantly maintained or it becomes hard and brittle. He looks at Kerim, "Aye, I think you are right. But I have no knowledge of such things." He looks to whoever else is about, "Do any of you?"
The moonstones are shaped a bit like half a grape, although the bottom edge
is rounded. They are highly polished but bear no inscriptions.
"They look ready for mounting." comments Peter, thoughtfully, indicating the moonstones.
Ravn studies the golden disc intensely, a look of both interest, wonder and
uncertainty upon his face as he runs his finger gently along the ingravings on
its side.
"The disc is, as you rightly assume, an artefact of power, I
sense it in my every bone. My first guess would be that it is of dwarven make
since dwarves like to clutter everything with runes lime the ones on the side of
the dsc, but those markings look like nothing I have ever seen - not that I have
ever seen an actual dwarven rune, mind you. As for the symbol - a flaming sun
surrounded by four - it suggests a representation of the four seasons, perhaps
an enchantment to ensure sunlight and warmth all year round. But it is all very
unfamiliar to me, so I really cannot say for certain. The four leather straps
rather than just one or two for simple mounting around the neck makes me think,
though, that the disc is supposed to be worn on the chest as erim showed - and
this in turn indicates to me a more protective than offensive use." He hands it
to Zhiri. "You seem to have atoned with the powers of flame - maybe you can tell
us more?"
He then weighs each moonstone in his palm, tests their shape
by wobbling them on the floor on their less curved side, and carefully as well
as minutely searches for signs of runes, even smelling them and licking his
finger for telltales of paint or salt water.
"These stones, too, are a
most peculiar find. I must agree with Peter, though, that their rounded
undersides could indicate that they are supposed to be mounted somewhere. Their
number, five, corresponds to the five-pointed star which is, to my knowledge, a
symbol much used in the Southern arcane arts for warding and summoning trollish
creatures and powers out of this world - maybe there is a connection there? Yet
I really cannot say for certain about this, either, it is out of my field."
The rune caster bags the moonstones.
"I shall guard these until
we come upon a possible mount for them or their use becomes clearer. I suspect
they could fit somewhere in the temple but I will look into that only when we
are done here."