Sara, Slint, and Ludwig investigated the bandaged man's hideout while Mrek brought Kairon's body to
Akerlind, Marta at the temple of Aru. The three found a spartan living space but no signs of any creature comforts or even food; matches near barrels of gunpowder suggesting a planned booby trap; and a heavy iron chest that Slint bashed open. They also took an exotic-looking longsword from the bandaged man's body. The body itself was unlike anything they'd seen, and leaked white blood (like a gargantuan, though nobody picked up on that). Within the chest, which was locked and trapped, was a huge amount of coin, an empty glass bottle wrapped in paper from the Green Tower, a small hand mirror wrapped in cloth, and a scrap of parchment with a list:
- Madoc of Midmare (crossed out)
- Talwyn Hammett
- Timur Tekin
At the temple, Bishop Akerlind agreed to request use of a scroll of
raise dead for Kairon, under three conditions: first, her advisors and superiors must agree; second, the party must supply 500gp for spell components; and third, the party must do a favor for the church in return. Mrek agreed and left the body with the temple.
Mrek then sought out the city guard, enlisting the help of the dockside poet, and brought a dozen guardsmen back to the bandaged man's hideout. Ludwig hid away the longsword and money just in time, and the guards confiscated the rest of the items on the scene as they took over the investigation. They ordered the party to report to their headquarters the next day to give statements and handwriting samples (to compare to the list).
The next day, Sara and Slint bought potions of healing from their preferred shop on the market square, where Slint discovered that
Spall, Cuthbert had become an apprentice, hoping to earn money and learn about magic in order to become an adventurer like Slint. Unfortunately Cuthbert had spilled some 600 gp worth of potion ingredients, money which he now owed back to the shop and would be docked from his pay for many years. Mrek and Ludwig attended the casting of
raise dead on Kairon. The spell was powerful and effective, and Bishop Akerlind beseeched the adventurers to carry word of Aru's miracle to the wider world. She then gave them their mission: a boat called the
Godsong had been stolen from the church in Brymrad and seen along the coast about a week ago. The church wanted the party to hunt it down and return it. Kairon recognized the name immediately as the last small craft to arrive in Volscia Mera on April 25th, registered in the log by a halfling harbormaster named Thomas with no name attached to it.
Ludwig gave the bandaged man's longsword to Slint, naming it Toothpick. The group headed for the
Lichten, Grafton's armory and the guard HQ, both near the Necropolis Gate. On the way, Mrek cast
detect magic on the sword and mirror. Both were magical; the mirror had an unwholesome aura of divination magic. While examining it, Mrek felt a presence attempting to break out. He chose to let it, and a mirror elemental appeared and attacked the party. After a very public fight, the creature was destroyed by Mrek's
flaming sphere to the cheers of the Sunday morning crowd. Ludwig sang a song, and an impromptu folk dance broke out around the ball of fire. The mirror was still magical, but with normal abjuration magic rather than unwholesome divination.
At the guard HQ the party was formally cleared of all charges. On their way out they saw Lizbeth Nash, Cutler Hawthorne, and their thugs being led in on charges of aiding the bandaged man's assassination. Hawthorne told Mrek he shouldn't have trusted "one of your kind" not to sell them out and spat at his feet.
The party went to the Green Tower. The city guard had a watch out front, but Slint and Kairon showed off the secret back entrance they'd discovered and the group searched the place. All the potions had been confiscated by the guard, as well as any money, but upstairs Slint found a hidden closet while Sara and Mrek searched a writing desk fruitlessly. Within the closet was a small wooden box containing two notes. The first read "Hope this bottle finds you well. Love from your academic sister. - H." The second read "A man in bandages will come at midnight. Give this to him. - The Teacher." The party guessed that the midnight tears had come from Lizbeth's sister at Harkness in
Quedra, but the identity of the Teacher is a mystery...
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