Post 142
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[h2][color=00aeef][i][b]Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=00aeef]Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 05[/color][/b][/i]
[color=00aeef][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 40 / 40 [color=00aeef][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 16 [color=00aeef][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=00aeef][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Coach House (basement)
[color=00aeef][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Investigation (22)
[color=00aeef][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=00aeef][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=00aeef][i][b]Ki:[/b][/i][/color] 4/5

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BlackBerry could hear the jangle and thuds of things being moved downstairs. After lighting a candle he followed Lizbeth and Vicroria down to join Lady Kathryn who looked to be wrestling with a box.

[color=00aeef]"Anything of note?"[/color] He asked, angling the candle light so as to see better the details of the box. [color=00aeef]"My it does remind me of a puzzle box...here, Lady Kathryn, could you hold this please? There, and allow me to give it ago."[/color]

They were after all looking for a Secret Study, and with the obvious ideas of trap doors or unoticed bookshelves out of the question, that left only the really out of place or bizzare left to follow; such as a puzzle box apparently embedded into a wall shelf. At first he went after the slats of the box but without any luck trying to make them move, the same for pushing and twisting at the mushroom tabs even though they gave a little under his fingers. Then his fingers brushed along the corners of the box and at the front left he felt it twitch under his palm, he followed the movement and felt the corner click into place but the box stayed close. He [color=00aeef]"hmmmed"[/color]. Getting to the other corner took some effort stretching his thumb and pinky finger to push both corners in. He was rewarded with a soft 'click'.

[color=00aeef]"Ah hah!"[/color] Blackberry grinned, opening up the box expecting to see....something. his grin dropped. [color=00aeef]"Ah...hah. Hm."[/color] The two slots at the back of the box stared bank at him.

[color=00aeef]"Would you happen to have found a key or fork perhaps in the investigation of the study?"[/color] He asked Lady Kathryn.

He noticed when turning to face her that Victoria and Lizbeth had gone up stairs but he could hear their voices drifting, muffled slightly, back down to them. He also heared the door opening and Kosaras unmistakable declaration of her return.

[color=00aeef]"Ah that must be Kosara, and she does sound in good health and spirit."[/color] The last knot of worry untangled itself. [color=00aeef]"We should go upstairs and report our finding. But before we do."[/color]

BlackBerry remembered he was still angry.

[color=00aeef]"May I ask, just what in the nine hells are you playing at?"[/color] BlackBerry fought to keep his voice quiet, it was a harsh restrained whisper griding through through his teeth. [color=00aeef]"The letter Lizbeth had, the one addressed to Madame L'Rose, that was the one you handed her was it not? Do not lie to me, just as you dine so easily this morning."[/color] A note of hurt overtook the frustation for a second before it happily hopped into the burning fire of rage. [color=00aeef]"Could you have chosen a better time to give her the information? Or better yet, leave it to her Aunt to tell her instead of reading it herself, here of all places?"[/color]

Blackberry piched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in an effort to block out the headache that had been plagueing him most of the day. Lizbeth was already in a very, very precarious place emotionally and spiritually, and the letter in question may have been the straw that broke the camels back (whatever a camel was anyway). Lizbeth sorely needed time to process everything, answers to her questions about her Grandfather, and someone to sit down and guide her throught it; effectively the girl needed everything they didnt have enough of at present.

Against his better judgement he then asked, [color=00aeef]"Just where dud you get that letter?"[/color]