Re-opening the Cottage

[Professor Kobiyashi]

*Reaching the Cottage, the Professor paused at the whisk boots on the pedestal, a gentle intake and exhale of breath and nod, she waved her wand and the Cottage door opened. The Professor goes to the open door, and performs some un-enchantments, and detection charms. She then turns back to the faculty and students as she is walking in*

Let’s do our best to find anything that is out of place, or doesn’t belong, but be cautious not to touch anything we don’t recognize, or is maybe different in some way, get one of the staff to ensure there is no curses, or enchantments, before we handle anything out of sorts

*The Professor heads to the desk area immediately shifting through papers, odds and ends*

[Victoria Navidson]

Caught up in the bustle of finally having some clue as to what might be going on, Victoria eagerly follows Professor Kobiyashi to Mistress Craefter's Cottage, but upon arrival hesitates on the threshold. Professor Kobiyashi is already sifting through items on the desk, but Victoria doesn't know where to begin. Mistress Craefter disappeared before she started at Avistrum, and while it's clear how her disappearance affected the staff and students who knew her, Victoria has no idea what might qualify as "out of place" when this is the first time she's seen the interior of the Cottage.

Stepping inside so, at the very least, she's not blocking the doorway, Victoria begins to scrutinize the objects scattered about, feeling that this is yet another futile effort on her part, but willing to try all the same.

[Falchion]

Falchion scratches his nose, attempting not to sneeze. He frowns, thinking about the note, and what the Professor said.

He sifts through a few items, occasionally wiping his eyes from the dust. I've never been here before. How will I know what's out of place. Wait... Why are we looking for something out of place?

He stops and pulls out his notepad, jotting a few words down, before showing it to the Professor.

Aren't we doing this backwards? It was hidden here. It's not going to be standing out with a "Hey, I'm not supposed to be here" sign. Shouldn't we be looking for something that looks too much like it belongs here instead? Something so common that anyone but the person who needs it would just pass it by?

[Professor Kobiyashi]

*Reading the note, as even more realization appears on her face*

I apologize, sometimes to me the students are as timeless as the school itself, Victoria and Falchion,*looking up at the other students* and well, I guess there are a few of you who did not get to meet Mistress Craefter or be within her cottage, and to you everything and anything can look out of place, and your right Falchion, it very well could purposely be something that would fit here

The best way I can think of is Craefter's eclectic collection included multiples of items, numerous broom sticks, wands, staves, books, supplies, so it would be more effective if we review singular items more cautiously

[Amelia Emberwing]

Amelia followed in after the others, a stony expression carving the features of her face. Sure, Mistress Craefter had been one of the teachers here, but she was more than that. To Amelia, she was a teammate, and a friend, and this was a place that the Parador had no interest in being, but recognized that it was necessary.

Crossing her arms, Amelia leaned against one of the walls and watched the Professor silently.

[Victoria Navidson]

Victoria nods at Professor Kobiyashi's explanation of Mistress Carefter's collections. "Well, if we're looking for things that aren't in sets and don't seem to match other things, what about this?" Victoria points to the broken white chess pawn on the center table. She knows there was something involving Persephone and chess pieces given to the staff a few years ago, but wasn't quite sure of the details.

As Amelia walks into the room, Victoria notices the thunderclouds written all across her face, troubled by the strain this seems to be putting on the other girl. Victoria makes her way over to the wall where Amelia is practically radiating the words STAY AWAY and hesitantly lays her hand on the other girl's arm. "Are you okay?" she asks in an undertone, not wanting to intrude but obviously concerned.

[Amelia Emberwing]

Deep in her own thoughts, Amelia was caught completely off guard by the hand on her shoulder. Starting, she turned her head sharply to look at the culprit.

After seeing that it was Victoria, the girl's features softened, and she reached her own hand up to pat the Colubrae's.

"Not to worry. I think we have more pressing matters for the time being." Amelia allowed her lips to curl up into a small smile. "Your concern is sweet though, thank you."

[Tandabat]

Tanda carefully peeks around the cottage door. Seeing the cottage rather full of other students, she decides to look around the outside, just in case.

[Victoria Navidson]

Victoria nods in understanding, "Fair enough." She smiles sadly at Amelia and heads off, leaving the other girl in peace and returning her attention toward trying to find something useful.

[Rein Darkshine]

Rein entered the cottage and looked around he understood the idea and placed his hands on his wands and started to wonder around a bit poking at this here and that there. He knocked on a few walls and stomped on the floor boards with no real luck he found a locker and started to pick through it.

"Nope, not this, no good, Boring." He seemed to sputter out as he tossed things over his shoulder. He paused and looked to the headmistress and spoke. "um is tidyness a big consure at this point Headmistress?"

[Amelia Emberwing]

Unlike the others, Amelia did not begin to rummage through things. Instead, she was thinking back to the numerous times she had been in this cottage before, trying to recall any anomalies, or anything Mistress Craefter might have said that could possibly involve what they were looking for.

[Falchion]

Falchion frowns, attempting to think. It was a puzzle, and he was good a puzzles. Whoever this TW was, they had hidden clues to help them specifically. Not the random person. But who was TW? The note had stated "love Tyler", so it could be assumed that's what the "T" stood for... but who was he? Was he a Professor? A student, a ghost?

Sighing, Falchion scuffs the dirt a bit. He scribbles down a few words, then looks at them, still deep in thought. He shrugs and shows it to Amelia.

I'm going to wait outside. I don't know who this Tyler person is, or who the owner of the cabin is. So I'm just in the way right now.

That done, he steps outside and looks around. The note had simply said "left with Mistress Craefter". Maybe he could find something outside the house.

[Falchion]

Falchion walks around the house for the third time. He sighs, shrugging his shoulders. Nothing. Everything looked... Well, let's be honest, nothing looked normal, but for what the place was, nothing really stuck out. Fal sighs again. What was he doing out here? Looking for a clue that's years old, that some wizard must have hidden pretty well if it wasn't discovered yet. But hey, he might get lucky.

With a shake of the head, Fal moves back to the entrance. He glances over at everyone working inside, looking for the clue, and shakes his head. Still going to be in the way. Looking for a place not being examined, his feet carry him to the display cases. His eyes take in the trophys, the knick-knacks, and the.....

Oh hey, they move! He grins with delight as his eyes take in the pictures. Watching them for a few moments, he nods. Of course they move. The big portraits in the Great Hall move, Houdini talks to me. Why shouldn't these little pictures move as well?

Fal moves slowly from shelf to shelf, taking in the pictures. Inside the leather frames, the people laugh and pat each other on the back, all smiles. Hey, that one looks like Headmaster Dowling! And over there too.. He stops at a couple of pictures, as a young Clark Dowling waves at him. He waves back by habit, before putting his hand down, embarassed.

Enigmus Team of '95. Cup Champions Fal's eyes look from the description, back to the picture. Yes, that was Clark Dowling, holding a golden snitch, his signature smile being flashed. Next to him was someone Fal didn't recognize. Glasses, the beginnings of stubble around the chin, and the funniest looking hat Fal had ever seen. Looks like he's getting ready for bed..... Or he woke up late and put a sock on his head instead..

They stood there, occasionally waving, occasionally shaking hands with the other members of team. Those two in the back are having a great time. HEY! That was rude

Fal looks closer at the picture, behind the others, where two people were sticking out their tongues, making rude gestures, and generally carrying on like wild men. Black smoke rolled behind them. What are they doing? Dancing around a bonfire?

Fal shakes his head. That one looked like Bloodthorn... don't know about the other guy.... looks like he had a dirty mop on his head

The two, seeming to notice Fals scrutiny, point and gesture to the smoke. They fan it, causing the smoke to disperse slightly, revealing the half burned banner of Engimus. Grinning again, they return to their rude gestures.

Fal pauses. So if I watch long enough, will the banner burn up? What happens when it's all burned? Will it restart, like a movie on repeat? Houdini interacts with me.... So time really can't be stopped, but the flames aren't getting any higher, and the banner isn't burning any more than it was when I first started looking at it.

Fal moves the picture to arms length, and brings it back close to his face. Wow... this was just amazing. I wonder.... Fal looks over to the Professor, then over to the students. Ok, no one's watching.....

Fal moves the picture slightly, tilting it slightly. The people remain upright, although some of them start to lean. Hmmmmmmm.... Looking around again, Fal quickly turns the frame upside down, and back correctly, then looks at it. The people in the portrait are slightly tumbled, those close to the front now glaring. Maybe? Fal looks around again, then shakes the picture up and down quickly, an amused grin on his face.

[Victoria Navidson]

Sidestepping the pile of junk rapidly building around Rein, Victoria continues searching the cottage, hoping to stumble upon something useful. Unfortunately, Rein's pile of "stuff" isn't the only messy part of the cottage and nothing seems to stand out as not belonging with the rest of the half-finished projects. Well, except for that chess piece, but since Professor Kobiyashi doesn't seem particularly interested in it, it can't be terribly important. Can it? Trying to remember what she'd heard about the chess pieces Persephone had given to the staff, Victoria notices Falchion shaking one of the dusty photos and grinning like a kid with no adults to stop him from raiding the candy jar.

"Fal, why are you pestering the pictures?" Struck with a sudden idea, Victoria's eyes go wide and she makes an undignified "Ooo!" sort of a sound as she rushes over to Falchion's side. "How aware are the pictures? Photos don't usually talk but depending on the type and strength of the potion they were developed in, I wonder if any of them might be aware enough to help us out. If they've been here the whole time, they might have seen TW hide whatever it is and be able to point us in the right direction!" Grabbing various pictures and shaking them to get the occupants' attention, Victoria peers closely at each in turn, discarding some, waving at others to see if she gets any sort of reaction.

[Falchion]

Fal stops as Victoria notices him, his face turning quite red. He smiles nervously, and breathes a sigh of relief as Victoria begins shaking the other pictures. He looks back to the picture he's holding, feeling bad as he views all the members of the quidditch team holding onto each other for support, and in the background, the young Kraven and the mop-head glaring at him, still making rude gestures. Behind the two, the banner still smoked and burned.

Absorbed once again in the picture, Fal scratches his chin. What would happen to the smoke if I turn this upside-down? The people seem to be aware of what's going on, but the fire doesn't seem affected. Frowning, he flips the picture over. Five seconds should be enough to change the flow of the smoke.... hey what's that?

He squints at the back of the picture, then wipes the dust off of it with his shirt, and looks again.

To Craefter, Love Tyler - Hope you like the chest!

Fal shrugs. Just a memento of times past.... maybe? Frowning, Fal reaches for a few other pictures, quickly turning them around. Nothing, nothing nothing..... Hmmmmmm.....

Fal taps his finger on one of the shelves. It could be nothing, but then again.... It had that Tyler guy's name on it. He looks at the picture again, noticing the now slightly sooty members with unhappy faces, glaring at him. I don't see a chest in there.....

Shrugging, he takes the picture over to Professor Kobiyashi. He pulls out his notepad and pencil, and scribbles a few words, before tapping the Professor on the shoulder.

Is this something?

He holds out the picture, pointing to the writing on the back.