33.01 It Must Make Haste, Haste!
“It Must Make Haste, Haste!” Well, it’s not like they’ve been sitting in their rooms all day long, enjoying room service. And when they are not searching, they are… busking and grifting? That last bit on the sly, of course. Wouldn’t want to alert the wizard.
While the White Bear Tavern isn’t visible in the big city shot, the place behind them is. Can you spot it?
Be careful out there.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1
Beside a (human) shoulder-level wall, Puccini is leaning down to better listen to the whispers of Hob, how is magically disguised as a gnome. Suddenly, a telepathic message pulls his attention - and his eyes - away from the armored gobo.
Whiskit, offscreen telepathically: "Guess who wants to talk?"
Hob, whispering: "<After this, I think...>"
Panel 2
Mentally responding, Puccini excuses himself with a smile...
Puccini, thinking: "One moment, Whiskit."
Puccini: "Sorry, I have to take this call."
Panel 3
...and the view changes, shifting upward as the wizard stands. Placing a couple fingers to his right temple, Puccini closes his eyes calmly as he begins the telepathic conversation.
Puccini, thinking: "Puccini here."
Panel 4
Puccini's calm is shattered as the mental response is deafening.
Nob, offscreen telepathically: "<What is taking you so long?!>"
Panel 5
In a tall, large view is a street in front of a large cylindrical tower with rounded triangular windows. Some distance from the tower is the dividing wall that Puccini now leans against with arms crossed. Just to his left is a tall arch entrance, its only distinguishing feature, which Pōk is leaning a shoulder upon in a relaxed, if not angled stance. Much like Hob to the wizard's right and the other four companions, the gobo wears the illusion of a gnome. The street is not empty. A red-haired woman in green with a more wealthy or magical clothing is walking across the street (towards the viewer), her attention on a busker. Nak, standing some distance in front of Puccini, is quietly observing her. A man of dark hair and attire is walking behind the busker in question - Fip playing the lute - and doesn't seem to appreciate the music playing. Fip's hat is currently upside down and being held up high by Wak, ready to accept the two coins from the hand of a passerby, just out of shot. In the immediate foreground, illuminated by a light source behind the viewer, a man in official clothing and a feathered cap is walking left out of frame. He is leaving without his pouch, which has been deftly plucked from his belt by the left hand of Nik. We don't see the front of the gobo, but we do see what is being held behind the back: three other pouches that have been lifted from passerbys.
Puccini, thinking: "What do you mean? We are beginning an extensive search of the Breakershome area. I - -"
Nob, offscreen interrupting telepathically: "<An extensive search? You're a wizard! Just... magick its location and finish this!>"
Puccini, thinking: "It is not that simple. I've been using magic since the start to track the stone..."
Panel 6
The view is split with Puccini in Breakershome on the left and Nob in the wizard's tower on the right. Puccini, motions with his right hand, arms still folded and eyes with a white glow. Nob has thrown up both hands in frustration.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "...but there's an odd interference. I was about to - - "
Nob, interrupting (transmitting): "<Is it still in town?!>"
Panel 7
Puccini pushes away from the wall, using both hands to gesticulate the certainty in his answer. Nob responds by pointing and holding up three fingers to emphasize the demands being made.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "Yes! Despite the issue, it's here!"
Nob (transmitting): "<I want a full report! thrice a day!>"
Panel 8
It is now Puccini's turn to throw his hands up, but this time in defeat, while Nob, arms crossed turns away, havinf the final words in their telepathic discussion.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "Fine! Let me take care of one thing... then you'll have it!"
Nob (transmitting): "<I better!>"
Beside a (human) shoulder-level wall, Puccini is leaning down to better listen to the whispers of Hob, how is magically disguised as a gnome. Suddenly, a telepathic message pulls his attention - and his eyes - away from the armored gobo.
Whiskit, offscreen telepathically: "Guess who wants to talk?"
Hob, whispering: "<After this, I think...>"
Panel 2
Mentally responding, Puccini excuses himself with a smile...
Puccini, thinking: "One moment, Whiskit."
Puccini: "Sorry, I have to take this call."
Panel 3
...and the view changes, shifting upward as the wizard stands. Placing a couple fingers to his right temple, Puccini closes his eyes calmly as he begins the telepathic conversation.
Puccini, thinking: "Puccini here."
Panel 4
Puccini's calm is shattered as the mental response is deafening.
Nob, offscreen telepathically: "<What is taking you so long?!>"
Panel 5
In a tall, large view is a street in front of a large cylindrical tower with rounded triangular windows. Some distance from the tower is the dividing wall that Puccini now leans against with arms crossed. Just to his left is a tall arch entrance, its only distinguishing feature, which Pōk is leaning a shoulder upon in a relaxed, if not angled stance. Much like Hob to the wizard's right and the other four companions, the gobo wears the illusion of a gnome. The street is not empty. A red-haired woman in green with a more wealthy or magical clothing is walking across the street (towards the viewer), her attention on a busker. Nak, standing some distance in front of Puccini, is quietly observing her. A man of dark hair and attire is walking behind the busker in question - Fip playing the lute - and doesn't seem to appreciate the music playing. Fip's hat is currently upside down and being held up high by Wak, ready to accept the two coins from the hand of a passerby, just out of shot. In the immediate foreground, illuminated by a light source behind the viewer, a man in official clothing and a feathered cap is walking left out of frame. He is leaving without his pouch, which has been deftly plucked from his belt by the left hand of Nik. We don't see the front of the gobo, but we do see what is being held behind the back: three other pouches that have been lifted from passerbys.
Puccini, thinking: "What do you mean? We are beginning an extensive search of the Breakershome area. I - -"
Nob, offscreen interrupting telepathically: "<An extensive search? You're a wizard! Just... magick its location and finish this!>"
Puccini, thinking: "It is not that simple. I've been using magic since the start to track the stone..."
Panel 6
The view is split with Puccini in Breakershome on the left and Nob in the wizard's tower on the right. Puccini, motions with his right hand, arms still folded and eyes with a white glow. Nob has thrown up both hands in frustration.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "...but there's an odd interference. I was about to - - "
Nob, interrupting (transmitting): "<Is it still in town?!>"
Panel 7
Puccini pushes away from the wall, using both hands to gesticulate the certainty in his answer. Nob responds by pointing and holding up three fingers to emphasize the demands being made.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "Yes! Despite the issue, it's here!"
Nob (transmitting): "<I want a full report! thrice a day!>"
Panel 8
It is now Puccini's turn to throw his hands up, but this time in defeat, while Nob, arms crossed turns away, havinf the final words in their telepathic discussion.
Puccini, thinking (transmitting): "Fine! Let me take care of one thing... then you'll have it!"
Nob (transmitting): "<I better!>"
Wasn’t it Pucchini’s stone? Why is the wizard just accepting Nob acting like he’s his boss?
Yes, they are looking for Puccini’s black stone. As to why Puccini is letting Nob boss him around? He is trying to make this arrangement work, but I think he is starting to realize just how impatient and bossy the gobo leader really is.