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With the payments collected for Mathias, the group was ready for their next task from the councilman, Mr. Gellan Primewater. After resting at the inn, the group headed to The Empty Net and awaited their patrons arrival.
Gellan sat the group down and began to explain the next task. Outside of the city was a run down house owned by a an alchemist who had gone missing. Without proof of his demise, the other towns members were stonewalling his attempts at claiming it for himself. He wished the group to investigate, secure the premises and see if they could find either the deed or evidence of the alchemists whereabouts. In return, he would pay for its renovation and provide a place for the party to stay while under his employ. Deciding this a fair deal, the group returned to the inn and mingled with the other bar patrons.
Zelem saw an opportunity for a game and challenged Jessie 'Crazy Eyes' Brooks, the inns resident dart champion, to a friendly match. After a tense and quite close game that went deep into overtime, Jessie retained her title. In the meantime Tifa made off with some poor saps coin purse, and the two eventually gathered around the table to listen to an interesting old man named barney tell his tale of the mysterious house.
After plying him with drinks, he told the dramatic tale of swarms of rodents, spooky sounds and a “demon” that lie within the houses walls. He claimed to have dropped in while out trapping in search of a free drink, but fled in a hurry, and said the party were fools if they dare go there. While it seemed like he might have been embellishing quite a bit, he at least seemed sincere that danger might lie within. After finishing a few rounds of drinks, the party retired to the inn and awaited the morning to begin their journey.
The route there was a pleasant stroll along the coastal trail, not far from the village itself, and eventually the path up to the house was found. It looked dilapidated and abandoned, with vandalism and disrepair evident throughout the structure. Near entrance, the group noticed a strange dugout below the wall and a family of giant weasels attacked! Though they were a ferocious foes, the party handled them easily.
With the pests out of the way, the group continued on to investigate the houses exterior. The front door was barely on its hinges, and seemed to bare no traps so the party decided to enter. Here they surveyed the scene, and noticed some strange tracks heading towards the east, so the group went that direction after checking out the side rooms. The living room seemed mostly empty and some mysterious voice told them to leave giving them a bit of a fright, but the group found a trap door and jumped down to the hidden cellar.
While it seemed abandoned, a group of bandits quickly grabbed their weapons and attacked! They were quite difficult and even knocked a few of the party members unconscious, but after a fierce fight the party prevailed and managed to slay them all. The group began to loot the chests and leaders room, and decided to take a rest before investigating the rest of the mysterious mansion.

Important Characters

Gellan Primewater - A traditionalist council member of Saltmarsh, he is involved in shady activities throughout the town. Does not wish Bards Gate to expand their influence and wants to keep the town small so he maintains his influence in it.

Barney - Barney is an old trapper who spends much of his time at The Empty Net. He is a story-teller, and if a beer is set in front of him he will gladly tell you a tale. Whether these are entirely true is up for debate, and he has told the same story so many times that many of the details are embellished.