Everett's late arrival was just in time, as Alex's new friend arranged for a crew to be at Holly's Hut of Hamburgers to meet them. Skillful work with an ion pistol and pure brute strength drove off a 6 man crew looking to acquire a new teenaged weird scientist. With her plan falling apart, Nixie changes her mind. "Uh, sorry. I just remembered I..." A long glance at Everett interrupts her train of thought. She snaps to, then turns and bolts, leaving the poor kid confused and wondering about why girls would treat a boy that way.
Gaspard, with Proditione's vigorous (and brutal) assistance, manages to apprehend the least elusive of Dom's tails. He's a portly fellow with what looks like some low-grade cyberware installed. When interrogated, he holds out for about 30 seconds until Proditione's sword makes an appearance. He spews what he knows with little prompting beyond that. "Me'n my boys got hired ta watch the shifty one. Stupid good pay just ta watch 'im, folla' him 'roun'. Ain't even s'posed ta hit 'im or nuthin'. Oh, an'..." He pulls a small cat's eye gemstone from his pocket. "we was s'posed ta keep this with us. Maybe slip it into his pocket if we could get close 'nough. They said he was s'posed ta deliver somethin', an' they was just makin' sure he didn't bolt with it. I swear that's all!" When goaded, he describes the person who hired him. "Pretty boy. Maybe some kinna Asian? Dark hair. Pretty boy stubble. Prolly ain't done five minutes of hard work in 'is life. Had a big tough with him, what prolly did all the liftin', knowwhatI'msayin'? Big guy was all cloaked up though. Couldn't make 'im out. Big though. BIG." His discomfort at being around a demon gets the better of him, and he begins begging forgiveness from any god who would listen, hoping to avoid being dragged to hell with his interrogator's demonic enforcer.
As you discuss what you know between you, Ghurab appears at the doors of the inn. He has a weary look on his face, and seems a little distressed. He moves into the breakfast area and addresses his friend. "Joe..." He stops short, looks quickly around him, then shakes his head. "I need you all to come with me to the College." He refuses to answer questions, only stating "We've found something. It's not safe out here. We'll talk at the College."
You follow Ghurab to the College. He's moving with urgency, as fast as he can walk without making a scene or a sprint. You pass the gates and two massive elemental watchers, one Earth, one Air, pay you nothing more than a glance as they keep their vigil. Ghurab leads you into the main building, down hallways, until you get to the Great Library. As he goes, he pulls Joseph close. "Joe, it's someone inside, somehow. The attack was a fake. They needed cover to get..." He clams up as you pass the doors of the library.
The library is in immaculate condition, especially considering it had been ransacked just a few days before. Several apprentices and a few (likely summoned) otherworldly helpers are putting the finishing touches on placing the books back on shelves in their particular order. And you would need that particular order; the walls and shelves are stuffed with thousands upon thousands of books, scrolls, parchments, and tablets. To have a book out of its place in this library would take days to find. The place is truly magnificent.
Ghurab leads you to an unconventional sight amongst tomes of learning and knowledge; an orc, clad in robes, sitting at a table, looking at what appears to be an inventory. He looks up at you. "You are the ones aiding us, yes? I am Xiaodi-Jin. You may call me Jin. Please, sit." He stands, gestures at the chairs around the table (enough for each of you) and sits again. "Ghurab has informed me of your assistance in finding the truth of what happened to us the other evening. I thank you for your efforts on our behalf. I have something I wish to share with you." He looks down at the inventory, then shuts the tome. "The library was a shambles after the attack. Books everywhere." He looks over each of your faces. "Only one book was taken. One. Not another book in the library was so much as even scuffed, nor a page bent." He glances around, then closes his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the librarian's silence overtakes you all. A shimmering globe surrounds the group, ensuring your words stay within the bounds of the spell. "The book that was stolen was a history book. The history, though, was dark. Necromantic cults, those who consort with demons -" He stops short, regarding Proditione briefly, then continues. "- as a regular practice, and such. However, this volume described, in detail, the steps taken to create a Tome of Darkness, a book of such unspeakable horror and power. Its creation required sacrifices and pacts with...well, I won't bore you." He sits back in his chair, probing his temples with his hands. "I have no idea what anyone would want with such a book. The steps required to scribe the evil tome would take ten thousand years, a hundred thousand sacrifices each year, and a hideous ritual while consorting with a demon lord of the worst kind. We know of no such tome; this was a flight of fancy on the part of these necromancers, always looking for their eternal unlife. Why the book went into the steps to unmake such a tome is beyond me. Again, all a flight of fancy, if you ask me." He sighs. "Still, Lexitros, the chief librarian, wants the book returned. Have you any idea who might've taken the book?"