Hester's response is anything but casual.  It's much more a scolding tone, insistent even.  "And what was it you did in 2062 that anybody would do if they had the power but most do not."

"I'll tell you later," Whisper says with a sly smile. "Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I look forward to the chats we'll have, darlings." She raises one hand in a mocking salute, and then her face goes slack. Empty. Not her, not Roselynn, just...empty. Breathing, eyes open, but nobody's home.

"Well that was typically frustrating for her. Let's search the house, see if we can find anything useful. Confirm that the book isn't here." Ishmael said, and describes what he knows of the book.

17:57, Today: Sebastian Kosmin rolled 31 using 1d20+1d8+13.  perception - search house.

"Surprise, surprise. Whisper conveniently avoided telling us anything useful," Bristle commented as she leaned down to check Roselyn the librarian's status. She doubted there was anything they could really do for her, but still thought it wise to check. She also wanted to be certain Whisper was truly no longer listening.

When she was as certain as she could be, even going so far as to plug the librarian's ears, Bristle felt it would be a good time to inform her peers what she had come to realize about whisper. "When I touched Whisper's foot, I was able to get a sense of who she was. Chaotic and jumbled. Alien and vast. I could tell she was not mortal. Even so, it did not prepare me for what I "saw" when I tried to read her thoughts. Just a hair's breadth behind what was left of the librarian's mind, I found a boundless consciousness. If a normal mind is like water in a bucket, her mind was as the sea. It was... jarring, to say the least." Bristle was not a fan of feeling so helpless. Nor a fan of admitting her helplessness.

"However, I still believe we have pieced together a few important clues. For instance, knowing how long this librarian had been on administrative leave lets us know how long Whisper has been influencing her actions. It also tells us that not everyone at the library was under her influence, at least not at that time, since otherwise there would be no reason for her to have been punished for destroying a book."

"Likewise, whatever was in that book was worth it to Whisper to keep secret. Which suggests either herself or her plan has a weakness we might exploit. If we can find it. She certainly avoided our questions about it. It is also worth noting that she dodged the question about what she is. Either she doesn't know, can't explain it, or wants it kept secret. My bet is on the latter. At any rate, I think we should try and look up beings with unfathomably vast minds when we get the chance."

---

Heal check with Guidance to check Roselyn's status.
21:13, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 29 using 1d20+22.  Heal check, with Guidance - librarian's status.

Sebastian finds nothing about the house that suggests it is more than what it seems. There are a great many books, but no sign of the annals volume he is looking for at all.

Meanwhile, Bristle confirms that Roselynn appears catatonic. She is still breathing, still alive in the most technical sense, and not unconscious, but not responsive to any external stimuli. She is, quite simply, not present in her own body, though it is still alive.

Voh'ren's lips pull into a thin, tight scowl as Whisper vanishes.

"Damn," he grumbles, frustrated at being given the slip. The Half-Orc goes over to the recently released Roselynn. However, he lets the more learned cleric determine Roselynn's condition.

"I had hoped for more answers," he says, "but I suppose we have some new trails to follow. Perhaps they will lead us to more favorable footing next time we cross paths with Whisper.

"May the Green helps us," he adds softly upon hearing Bristle's description of the scope and magnitude of what Whisper represents.

As Whisper left, Caleb slowly lowered his crossbow, a scowl still firmly on his face. "It's proof we're on the right track at least. You don't try to destroy information about yourself unless it can be weaponized against you. I think we'd be well served trying to hunt down another copy of this book you're looking for. Before that though," he said, slinging the crossbow back across his shoulder and gesturing to the librarian, "What do we do about her? I haven't the first clue what Whisper did to her, do you have any magic to fix her Bristle?"

"My guess is that her mind was frayed. I could feel my brain fraying just trying to read Whisper's thoughts. I can't imagine what would happen if she possessed me directly." Even so, Bristle thought for a moment about any tricks she might know that could restore Bea's mind. "There are always Miracles... Or vanquish her body to speak with her soul maybe?" Bristle shrugged as she continued to contemplate.

---

Does Bristle know a way to fix the librarian's mind?

"None of my gifts I think can fix that." Firea said in thought about the woman. "As to the book, where could we get another copy of it? Wasn't this area still part of Taldan in 2062?" She asked curiously.

OOC: Bristle has not previously seen anything quite like this, I don't think, and doesn't know of a way to repair it offhand.

Sebastian also investigates the librarian for signs of physical or magical mental damage.

16:57, Today: Sebastian Kosmin rolled 41 using 1d20+1d8+20.  heal check.

"Yeah, that's all I can think of right now," Bristle said after she had pondered a bit more. "I don't really feel like spending one and a half grand to bribe master cleric into healing this lady, and I'm going to assume killing her is not everyone's preferred course of action, so I suppose we will need to find our information by other means. Maybe find another copy, as Firea suggested. Or go back and check who else may have read the missing book in the past? Talk to them? Regardless, what should we do with this librarian in the meantime? Leave a note for her neighbors?"

"We can't just leave a note, look at her. She's apt to starve to death before anyone finds her. I say we drag her to the local temple of Saranrae, they'll take care of her. We can also look for information about that Elias Halson guy while we're there, two birds with one bolt," Caleb said, already moving to get a hold of the comatose librarian, assuming she lacked the faculties to walk under her own power.
"After that, I don't know about any other libraries that might have a copy of the book you were looking for, but there is a local history nut that might know something, a half-elf that goes by Wren. Fair warning, she's got a reputation for being more than a little strange. If any of you know how to communicate in sign language, it'll make this easier."

"Sign language? No. But I can use my abilities to possibly keep her calm and easier to deal with." She said with a simple nod.

Hester reaches up to touch her headband.  "Ahh yes", she says.  "I know of these libraries..." [ooc.  Ylva?] her face signals embarrassment. "I don't know how I could have forgotten."

12:55, Today: Hester Darkeye rolled 17 using 1d20+14.  Any other libraries? Know local (not sure how many ranks of know local from the headband I guessed 4 but it may be 8).

Headbands that give Intelligence always give full ranks in one skill per two points of bonus, so, 8.

Hester can think of other libraries, but none that are as comprehensive as the People's Library that Bristle and Sebastian have already examined.

Voh'ren stays silent as he listens to the others discuss their options. While he thinks, he directs Kiru over to the catatonic woman to get familiar with her scent.

"I would prefer that we do what we can to help make Roselyn whole again," he says. "I can contribute some gold if necessary, but if the Temple of Sarenrae will care for her then that might be a better option.

"I'm not learned in sign language," Voh'ren continues, "and I doubt I could be more than an extra pair of eyes in a library. However, we could also try retracing Roselyn's steps. Kiru has her scent, and we might be able to find out where she went while still under Whisper's control. It might lead to nothing, or it might lead to the book's remains. I have heard that mages can sometimes repair broken items. Would it work on a burned book?"

"If the booked is truly burned the likelihood of repairing it is next to impossible even for a mage. There are two spells possible for such a task, of which I know one of them. Mending and Make Whole. Sadly though both require that all pieces of the object be present to fix. The issues with burning is that it is impossible to ensure all pieces will be present." She explained. "We would be better off seeing if one of the other libraries Hester mentioned had another copy of the book, or seeing where this woman went and if the book was actually destroyed."

"Perhaps you can set up a meeting with this Wren lady tomorrow, Caleb. It is getting late and we still need to bring this lady all the way to the temple. Wish I could have brought my bear..." Bristle was not looking forward to carrying an unconscious woman through the streets. Maybe they could make her appear passed out drunk so that it wasn't quite so suspicious. She began looking for any sort of alcohol container even as she continued to speak.

"I do agree that retracing Roselyn's steps could be useful though, Voh'ren, if possible. Even if it doesn't lead us to a book. It could be useful to know what other tasks Whisper may have used her flesh puppet for."

---

It is late in the day, correct? If Bristle finds some alcohol in Roselyn's home, she will soak a rag with it and tie it somewhere to give Roselyn a strong alcohol smell. Then help carry her to the temple of Saranrae.

Roselyn is quickly carried to the temple of Sarenrae, where the priests take one look and say that they will do their best to keep the woman comfortable, but don't expect much more than that. Retracing her steps shows that she took a winding route through town, stopping at the river and several stores that deal in alchemical and magical items - especially spell components.

A message is sent to Wren, and receives the reply that she will meet with you in two days, after the inauguration festival - she dislikes arranging things immediately before such events, apparently.

Is there a way to find out what items/spell components Whisper may have purchased? Can Voh'ren tell how long ago she was there?

Tracks were left over the previous three days. You can roll diplomacy to convince the shopkeepers to tell you what was sold. Or intimidate, I suppose.

Might as well roll Diplomacy since she has her Enhanced Diplomacy cantrip prepared today:
15:14, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Diplomacy, with Enhanced Diplomacy - Whisper's items.

The shopkeepers prove reluctant to talk about what another client bought with a stranger, and do not share what items Whisper used Roselynn to buy.

Firea will attempt to play bad cop with the shop keeps, countering Bristle's good cop, in order to get the needed information.

17:57, Today: Firea rolled 32 using 1d20+16.  Intimidate the Shopkeepers (Badcop mode, initiated).