Murder in the bathhouse!

I felt the urge to go back to investigate the ruins of the soon to be new graveyard of Iverbent. Something was calling me.
Cid was easily enough persuaded to accompany me on my endeavour. But first we should pay the captain of the guard another visit. Maybe we could get him to hand out some more funding.
 
This was a terrible idea. The old tinkerer hasn't the slightest clue of how to relieve somebody of their coin. It shouldn't surprise anyone that he seems to be the only craftsman in this devil forsaken town who does not own his own workshop. He almost made Eshta Pjor send an entire regiment to the crypt instead. What in the nine hells have I done to deserve to be surrounded by the incompetent?
 
Eventually we would go back to the crypt. Of course Yorawala, or rather, Yalipsis was still there studying the portal. A shiver ran down my spine at the mere sight of this devilish device.
Suddenly sparks emerged from the damn thing and three individuals came flying through. A certain nutjob going by the name Oxton, a presumptuous elf called Varis and a rather dashing looking fellow who introduced himself as Galidan. We wasted some time arguing about the why’s and when’s and when they finally accepted that it would be best if we'd leave east for the Ruins of Dumnen, they followed me back to town to prepare for the journey.
 
Girl, was I wrong. Imagine 3 grown men walking through town asking every metalworker they meet to get their swords anointed. Honestly, I had rather been forced to accompany Redemption on her quest to find the pinkest pair of boots. On top of it all, the little weird human suddenly started chanting some ritual in the middle of a workshop. I was this close to going back to Kyten Tummulus and voluntarily step through the portal, again.
Anyways, after also paying Venharice a visit, who wouldn't anoint their steel either, Varis had a brilliant idea (for once) and so we went to the bathhouse.
 
I, of course booked private quarters and just as I was finally preparing to relax in the tub, Galidan started breaking down the door of the room next to mine. I mean, I had heard some weird noises coming out of that room but who am I to question how someone else voices their relaxation?
Hence I left my room to see what was going on. I went right back into my quarters to grab a towel because the dashing paladin had obviously forgotten to cover himself up. I've seen worse though... anyways, he broke down the door and we found a blood soaked body lying in the tub, a dagger (Deathanchor) stuck in his chest. Surely I would have loved to examine this convenient tool, alas Varis picked it up first and stored it away. Greedy little elves!
We decided to question the other guy who appeared to be his murderer but he wouldn't talk. Galidan broke his arm and cast mending, then broke it again. Not very efficient if you ask me but I didn't want to embarrass him, he was surely only trying to get my attention. Since the interrogation was a fruitless toil, I searched the body of the dead man and found a few soaked papers of correspondence between the victim and someone else. Apparently he was to be trading information and geographical data about Inquest, specifically unexplored regions to the west and east of Iverbent for a hefty sum of gold and a title of nobility. Call me intrigued, this city might not be so dull after all.
 
I suggested to tie the bastard up and deliver him to the city watch, maybe there was a reward to be claimed for his head. The two men agreed and did as I asked. Before we left the private wing, the bathhouse desk clerk came up to us, asking if we had any further use for the dead body, otherwise she would have liked to dispose of him. Since we did not, we let her proceed and she opened a hatch in the floor, stuffing the body inside. I took a mental note, I shall have a similar mechanism installed at my manor.
 
We then proceeded to collect the weirdo from the public wing who had been entertaining the mob with his rabbit unicorn and sent a messenger to fetch Cid from the Tavern. Then we left for the guards house.
Surprisingly enough there was indeed a bounty of 35 gold to be collected by us. It appeared that his former employer, going by the name of Thyvir wanted to make sure his failed assassin kept quiet. Admirable, really. At least the criminal populous around here seems to be using their brains.
 
I felt generous tonight so I gave my fair share to Cid, who had been quite useful so far. Can't hurt to keep a native around.