Trouble in Rya's Hollow

[aloud] You party, having just completed your previous task, has founds its way to the Badgers Den, a good sized inn situated at the edge of the mountain town of Rya's Hollow. Your party sits at a corner table, recounting the highs and lows of your latest adventure while washing the dust of the road from your throats. As a cloud passes by, darkening the day somewhat, you hear a small kerfuffle outside, as things settle down a well dressed but harried looking man bursts into the bar, and after a brief glance around, approaches your table.
"Thank goodness you are here, I was worried you would pass right through our town and I would be out of luck. Something was stolen from me, well, from the town really, sometime in the last hour, and I was wondering if I could trouble you to recover it. I would of course be more than willing to compensate you handsomely," he says, tossing a decent sized coin purse onto the table, "but time is of the essence, as the item stolen is central to a ritual to bless Rya's Hollow that must be completed tonight. I fear the thief means to flee our valley and may already be well on his way. Although I have sent word of the theft to the passes, I am sure the thief knows other ways out of the valley."[aloud]

Investigation:

Things you can learn talking to the harried man:

• He is the town mayor
• His home sits a little above the village on the valley wall
• the item is a barrel sized metallic egg, silver in color with lighter and darker colored veins tracing a pattern on the surface These veins pulse alternately with an inner light.
• You should be able to catch up with the thief as the egg is somewhat fragile and weighs nearly 200 lbs.
• Should you succeed your reward will be another purse similar to the one he threw on the table, each, as well as an item made by the town craftsman, a man by the name of Stradivari (yes, THAT Stradivari.)

Places to start depending on party composition:
ROGUE: If the party has a rogue they will notice a surprising amount of thieves cant around Rya's Hollow. Most of this is old and weathered, warning off any who would try robbery in the town, but some few signs appear to be fresh marking several streets, alleys, and even cellars and buildings, as a safe path, free from prying eyes. You also notice several shops with the clear mark indicating an informant, or perhaps an unknowing accomplice.