We returned to the Inn and met up with Elodiel. We let her know what was going on and she let us know she gave the resurrection potion back to Ginny. For it she received a portable hole with a note "68 skeletons 1 ballista" I opted not to open it up. I think this might be a gaggle of animated skeletons meant to be used as a distraction or buffer in an attempt to flee. Now it's time for bed.
In the morning Verrick was sick and Evelyn opted to stay with him to tend to him, We went to the Speaker's house to find it had been broken into, the shardaline statue we destroyed had been stolen, several guards slain, no marks on the door for forced entry or picking. The footprints were identical to the attack on mother, except there were three of them. Possibly Dwarven footprints. Definitely Magical influence in the room where the carnage occurred.
We followed the prints which seemed to lead out of town and towards the nearby mountains. I suggested if we wanted to help, we give that info to the guard captain, and if they want our help, they send someone with us or we wait for Verrick and Evelyn.
With the captain we followed the tracks for the rest of the day, we cam across a giant fortress embedded in the mountainside. Heavily fortified and is currently active. Certainly out of the way of ten towns proper.
We turned back, and headed for Easthaven. Camping out in the woods.
Returning to town the next morning, we arrived to find the front door of the speaker's office torn away. Unable to find signs of Prudence or the Speaker we started investigating the office. We found the Speaker and his last guard in the cells below. Apparently Prudence took advantage of the reduced guard detail, showed up with thugs, locked the Speaker and his last guard up in the cells, and then stole the copper cauldron.
The speaker noted the 'Zentharum' tattoo on one of the thugs. A crime syndicate from the south. The speaker agreed to still pay us, though it doesn't feel good. We'll keep an eye out for it's whereabouts. Possibly back to Targos where Prudence said her family was.
We stopped in as a relative of Mayalee's who tends to a grove of trees, some sort of druid. Soon enough we'll be heading towards the next town north.