Algernon's attention for the past moments sustained merely by his own thoughts, it hadn't occurred to him to actually attempt to inspect the scene, and as such had relatively ignored the others. Not that he didn't care, just that he hadn't placed emphasis on what was going on around him, at least, until he realized that there was new information before him, and with a quick movement he soon was beside the desk. "Esk, look around the desk for information which may hint at the whereabouts of the mission Paladin, specifically look for any drawers or false bottoms or any secret compartments of any kind." In the meanwhile, he placed his own focus on the mirror which had been uncovered mere moments before, listening to the voice which it emitted and preparing his well scuplted mind to remember the words verbatum. Esk, as silly as ever, hopped off of the shoulder of Algernon, and carefully walked around the many scattered items which lay before him, looking for any papers, going through a few of them, looking for information which may pertain to the case at hand, Algernon finally having decided to use him as an advantage.

Keris watched the new arrivals sit down, noting how the gnome chose a seat near to them. Seeing the gnome pull out a book, Keris looked at his eyes, and how they didn't follow the words on the page. Keris edged his bar stool cloder to the group and tried to listen in as well.

Rutgar looks to Rhys then back at the mirror before speaking, “We where wondering the same thing…” He says to the man without even looking at him, instead his eyes studied the forest behind him, what kind of trees they where, how the moss grew, the color of the soil and every other detail he could pick out as he sought to determine the location of this person. (yay knowledge geography and nature!)

Algernon's thoughts were unclear as he stared at the surface of the mirror, still waiting for Esk to finish his inspection of whatever papers may be on the desk, and this gave Algernon more focus toward the true action of the moment, the speaking object before him.  Still, Esk's interest in the paper soon dulled, and within a few moments he hopped back onto Algernon's shoulder, evidently finding nothing of interest.

"Talking objects.  Been awhile since I've seen that.  I haven't looked in a mirror lately."

Algernon merely looked at him as one would look at a puppy who had unknowingly pooped on the floor, and then broke it with a rare smile.  It was sure to be a long while since they would be allowed to enjoy themselves, and at least Esk would make the most of the circumstance.  Then, Algernon placed all focus back on the object.

I'm baaccckkk!

 

Algernon,Rutgar,and Shaala

 

 The dark-haired man in the mirror looks at the group with an incredulous  and somewhat puzzled expression.Then he notices Rhys,who has just come to stand beside Rutgar to peer at the mirror.

 "You're one of Cassia's order!",he says in suprise,apparently recognizing the armour emblazened with symbols unique to the Lathanderian order,"I beg pardon for my harsh words,but these folk do not look like paladins."

 "That's because they are not,"replies the holy warrior,"Who are you?"

 "I am Kale,of Clan Durandir",says the man,"And who are you,master paladin,and what of your companions?"

 Suddenly Kale's eyes widen as Rutgar's words sink in.

 "Wait a minute,what do you mean you don't know where Cassia is?! I though your order knew how to to keep track of its members!"

 

 Torbin and Keris 

 

 As the men and half-orc are about to continue speaking,another fight breaks out. Apparently one of the men sent flying into the wall by the barkeep earlier has regained consciousness and,seeming to not have learned his lesson,confronts the old man.Said elderly wizard does not take too kindly to being yelled at by a drunken sot.

 All eyes are on the subsequent beat-down as the man is thrown all over the room.As the flying body narowly avoids hitting Torbin,Fellaxe's eyes,which had been watching the spectacle in amusement,fall on the gnome.

 For a moment he seems not to recognize Torbin,but then his eyes narrow in suspicion.With a gesture towards his men and the half-orc,Fellaxe fingers his greataxe as he rises from his seat,fellows in tow.They make their way unerringly towards Torbin's table.

 

   Torbin tensed up as he leaned quickly to his left, just enough to allow the loud-mouthed drunk to soar by without clipping anything important. The smell of cheap ale was unmistakably saturating the surrounding air as the man came to an unconscious rest against the wall behind him. Loosing a soft sigh, Torbin was glad that he hadn't had to dive for cover and risk losing his spot next to Fellaxe's table. As Torbin went back to feign reading his book again, he caught a glimpse of the drow half-breed along the bar looking cautiously in his direction. It intrigued Torbin, not in that it was a stare of sizing up an opponent, at least not quite. It was more along the lines of trying to decide the better between a couple of race horses that were about to run the quarter mile. 

   And it was then that Torbin heard the charis at the table behind him slide back suddenly and quietly, followed by numerous footsteps and the shifting of armor and sword belts. Knowing all too well now that the tavern keeper had zero tolerance for rough housing within his establishment, and suddenly began to wish he had ducked away during the ruckus, and get out while he was still ahead. It was obvious to Torbin now that he was probably going to be unable to follow Fellaxe and his men anymore, and set his mind to figuring out to get out of this newest mess of his. To help his mind along, he intentionally flipped to a particular passage of his book that he liked to read before setting off to do his giant slayings, one stanza in particular.

   "Approaching combat should be done with the care of petting a scorpion. Though at the best of times it will seem as if you are in control, a stinger could easily strike true if you are not prepared to leap away when necessary. In these times, one should not only leap away, but run away, for once the stinger has struck out once, there is no calming it. But escape is not always possible or even forthcoming. It is in these times, when cornered or outnumbered, that all gnomes should remember just three things. Swing low. Strike hard. Stay quick."

   Slowly and methodically, Torbin repeated this mantra in his head. Swing low, strike hard, stay quick. He had no need to calm nerves, or build himself up to take on this challenge, but he found that it helped to focus his mind on the task at hand. As the sound of footfalls ceased directly behind him, and the sound of chairs being scooted ever so slowly away from his table by the other patrons, Torbin tucked his small book into a vest pocket. Taking a slow and deliberate breath, and continuing his mantra in short form, Torbin waited as non-chalantly as possible for the stinger to drop.

Low, hard, quick.

Low, hard, quick.

Low, hard quick.

"What's happened to her?" Shaala asks curiously, taking the mirror from Rutgar.

"Anything you know would be a help."

While listening to any response Kale gives, She turns the mirror over in her hands, trying to see anything interesting about the rest of it, and possibly guess it's origins.

((nothing counters paralyzing fear like suicidal curiosity. :P)

((Heh, I just realized that turning the mirror over in her hands would probably cause massive vertigo for the guy on the other end... Oh well.

Psst! Sir Navrick Twain is needed in the We are not alone rp. :D))

You should try taking a lozenge for that