[Sentinemodo]

Kot has writen

you see a perfectly mundane human aura, nothing besides that. Weird...

because he is an elf, that means he is masking. Unless (which is perfectly possible), there is some other method he is employing tools improving his strength to achieve the same effect, he is strong enough to block me. If he would be as powerful as to block me by standard masking I would have known that IC.

While it is perfectly possible he got 5 hits on standard masking, usually you get 3 hits on 12 dicepool. Thats why I said that I usually get through.

I did not protested GM ruling, I was taking conlusions and speculating, which as a mage sniffer is my job to do (IC of course). I believe you've reached the same conlusion as I did that he must be initiate. Only you think level 5 is achievable for an elf, whereas I think level 3 would be sufficient to block me, which again would be perfectly reasonable in my opinion. From that point I speculated further on his motivations and traits and why this wouldn't be higher. 

I've already removed the post anyway and I am sorry if I offended you. It is a pity though that the matter that could have been resolved on PMs had to be discussed here and distract everyone from the game.

EDIT: reworded few statements, hasty writing ...

[joe15552]

Apology accepted, and I apologize as well for detracting from the game.

[Sludig]

Thanks guys, I've tried all the options and still haven't been able to get them to post, so I have no idea, I'll keep trying though.

[Kot]

I'm reminding you - you've got to ask questions now. Or you won't have the info later. This is your last chance before you have to hit the streets and start searching...
And you still have to brainstorm for a bit and put the safehouse together. Or I'll do it for you. Do you really want that?

[Sentinemodo]

Actually guys do you have any other questions? I am a little bit at loss. He told us a little bit about the history of the urn, says he know something more that is worth couple of thousands, but I don't know what to ask him further, other than, where that damn vase can be now?

Also I don't know if we want to give him that urn for a day or two, you sure about that? what if he drop it from the table? We'll go to Uncle and say that we are sorry? I'd rather drop that nuyens.

[Kot]

The thing is, he can tell you that 'few k worth info' only if you agree on giving you the item. And for all that you know, it's made of metal, that's as good as new after millennia of who-knows-what. You see he's emotional about it, because deep down he's a scientist, despite being a mage. That's like getting to examine a new element for him.

[Sentinemodo]

I know, that's why I proposed him to name the price - how much is the few k's worth of info, we'll pay and let us return to the issue once we get the vase, or he could actually talk to Uncle about lending him the item after we finish.

Secondary, I don't know what to ask him about. So far he only told us this is extremely magical thing, which we knew from the begining and suggested he know more, but there is nothing on the table worth few k's so far.

Anyway Sludig agreed on giving the thing to him afterwards, so I won't interfere there, even though I am not comfortable with that.

[Teyl_Iliar]

my questions mostly relate to the people we are hunting, not the artifact. Does he know anything about their numbers, how many of them are there and what are they armed with guns, magic, both? Their goals, does he know anything about what they are trying to achieve out here, with the urn, without the urn, motivations in general. Their location, does he know anything about where they are or where they might keep such a powerful artifact when other parties are OBVIOUSLY interested. As far as the artifact stuff goes, given that he's had a chance to look it over what is his estimation of it's power? what could a force possessing it possibly achieve given its use? Does he know of any other groups that have been attacked by this force? If so would they possibly help us in our efforts to get some payback in?

that's all the questions I've got.

[Kot]

I'm going to post three Knowledge rolls that i made for Teatime.
1. Black Men: Teatime's Knowledge roll (9d6.hits(5)=2)
He heard some pretty weird stuff about those, and he's not entirely sure what to make of them. He's absolutely sure that they don't use magic though. They abhor it, and treat magicians like devil worshipers. But judging by their attacks, they're far from being ignorant in magic lore.

2. The Artifact: Teatime's Knowledge roll (10d6.hits(5)=2)
Besides what he told you already, what you've heard from Uncle, and the stuff that would bore you, he can tell you it's a unique piece of magic craftsmanship. Somebody made it either on request, or for someone, judging by the work, and what was left of the markings on it. And it's power? It could be anything. Ancient magic is almost unpredictable, and he never encountered anything like it. If someone wants it, they probably know what it is. And that's an information he couldn't find, even with all his expertise and sources.

3. Other groups: Teatime's Knowledge roll (8d6.hits(5)=3)
He knows of one group that had an encounter with the Black Men. A mysterious gang called 'The Masks' was recently attacked by one of the Black Men strike teams. They managed to protect the target - one of their shamans - but at a huge cost. Over a dozen gangers were killed. The attackers bailed out for some reason though. They might be interested in getting payback, but those people are... Well, weirder. They act strange. They don't show their faces to anyone. They talk only through devices, and in an unnerving manner.

[Sentinemodo]

Any clue on where the urn can be? (who was the person who had it, how it was stolen, when, by whom in what circumstances?
How could this masked gang be contacted?

[Kot]

Teatime doesn't know. If he knew where it was, Uncle wouldn't hire you.
As for the gang, Roll for Local Knowledge.

[Sentinemodo]

9d6.hits(5)=5

this MY city

[Kot]

The old road that was bypassing Tricity once. They have their hideouts all over the old ruins claimed by the forest. But you know who might know one of their lieutenants. The problem is, he lives in Silesia...

[Sentinemodo]

That's the open question to everyone.

So far I understood that BlackMan stolen the urn from unknown and unimportant Mr. Johnson.
To find it we need to find BlackMan.

We know how the thing look (by the way how large it is, I sure hope we do not need a eighteen-wheeler to tranport it (I just thought about ancient greece wine vases ;P)
We know the BlackMan have a grudge against mages (yikes, thats me), and a group of Masked gangers,
We know that BlackMan are linked to religious organizations
We know that Masked gangers are  numerous enough to be still a count despite a loss of dozen members, and that they have a shaman.

In the background there is a terrorists and Evo matter, hich is probabbly linked, probably via BlackMen.

Do I miss anything?

[Kot]

You could easily carry it. It's the size of a large pot.