So someone could be taking the dolls and putting something on them. Strange thing to do. Specifically to children too. Very predatory. It could be that adult minds are stronger, and they are only testing out these dolls on smaller minds.

Now that they are with themselves though he follows with Lucifer, shooing the kids along so they can escort them back to where they're being picked up. They do barrage Lucifer with questions and Istredd is pleasantly left alone, the benefit of being the boring book guy as opposed to the musician. He keeps up the rear guard and picks up one of the dolls that was dropped. Nothing on it now, a simple inanimate object.

Possibly. Although I'd think someone would have mentioned it already if they had. Istredd doesn't remember it himself but he also is not the type to make something like that. He's not a creative. I'll check in with the mages and let them know to look out for these. Who knows what they could end up making children do in a trance. Walk off into the night, steal things. Be bothers in general.