57. Crimes and Important Medical Research Report

General Summary

14th Dravago, 999 YK

• They proceed down the tunnel to the next door. Lozaal opens the door, which isn't locked, revealing a small, brick and mortar room.
• The room has 4 thugs sitting around a little table, and a robed man examining corpses. Each thug was wearing a metal half mask, which Lozaal recognised as being related to the Emerald Claw.
• The thugs attacked the party, who took them out easily. The physician cowered and immediately surrendered.
• Kalshana was injured, and Warden healed her, revealing that healing magic is not as effective in the Mournland.
• The physician is named Emilaj Constock, he's a physician from Rekkenmark and was kidnapped by the Emerald Claw to perform medical research into the preservative effect of the Mournland.
• Initially he was being forced, but he recognised the potential of the research and was happy to do it.
• Lozaal dragged some of the unconscious thugs back into the corpse room.
• Warden cast detect magic, and became uncomfortably aware of his inner workings.
• Lozaal also seemed to glean more information from detect magic than usual.
• Kalshana and Emilaj had a conversation about the strange condition of the corpses, and Emilaj quizzed Warden on his introspective experience.
• The group interrogated one of the thugs, Jannik Rothenstein. They were ordered to watch Emilaj as he worked, and make sure he didn't leave. They don't know who gives their orders, but a hooded figure visits them every week or so.
• There is some discussion of what to do next, and whether Emilaj should be allowed to continue his research. They decide the potential good means he should.
• Kalshana casts Speak with Dead on one of the corpses in the tunnel, the corpse of a civilian. The corpse screams, and seems to be reliving the Mourning. They scream, and seem to be in pain. They learn the corpse's name, to try and contact their family.
• They leave the tunnel, and Lozaal finds that Evanazer has been murdered.
• Sheriff had noticed the body and approaches. Lozaal and the others come out, with the prisoners.
• They explain what happened to Sheriff, who believes them, and they put the thugs into Sheriff's cells. Sheriff only has 3 cells, so two of the lads need to share. They'll be held for a time, fined, and then released. Sheriff will put out a notice not to serve them.
• Dax gives Emilaj 20 gold to fund his next steps, and he goes to ask Belaluur about facilitating his research.
• Kalshana casts Speak with Dead on Evanazer, learning his name, and that he was murdered by a female shifter and a female human. The shifter has grey-white fur, the human was average build but maybe a bit fitter.
• Lozaal also takes Evanazer's purse, which contains 160 gp. 40 gp each, as he promised.
• Dax summons a spirit to aid her, which takes the form of a wyvern. They are named Qerurruq Drendrizue Zeddarri.
• They have a discussion about the Quori, as Kalshana summoned what looked like them during the fight. Lozaal is cautious.