alarms

The group finishes the fight, killing Reprut, Zan, Zan's mage, the guards and archers. As Forsythe chases down the last archer, they search the bodies and find a couple magic items as well as two letters. One seems to be a writ from Durranet V, the other is a brief note reading, "Item in the skyfields based on research - EK." Among the magic picked up by Kadath is the bracelet worn by the illithid. They all gather on the floor of the colosseum and learn the names of the slaves, finding Elkian among them. Alarm bells ring through the city and they quickly make their exit, using the dust Evangeline has to make them invisible.

They make their way out of the colosseum and to an ally before the dust wears off. They continue to make their way to the Methuk's estate, keeping out of sight. At one point, they heard the guards mention that Lady Studani had seen the attackers and had descriptions. Once they reach the estate, Lord Methuk directs them to a hidden room beneath the kitchen. After talking with the illithid, they learn he is Xec from Curtaris. Evangeline is able to remove the bracelet and learns that it suppresses the magic of the wearer.

Learning from Lord Methuk what may come of Reprut's estate, Fix asks Forsythe to draft up debtor's notes to be placed in Reprut's offices showing a large debt to be paid to the Trentson estate. This letter was taken by Illiphyn to be planted in the office and a copy was given to Fix as a receipt.

Evangeline took this time to draw with the magic ink again, focusing this time on Reprut. Once she was finished, the picture showed an orc dressed in robes and carrying a spear standing in front of a shimmering lake. Forsythe immediately recognized this as Garon the Wild in his home town of White Lake, but kept this to himself. Jhorn was called up and he confirmed this was Garon holding the spear now in Jhorn's possession. Evangeline then takes the previous picture of the bones, meditates on it, and begins to be pulled into it. Fix, recognizing what Evangeline was doing, was quick to pull her back.

Ulros, one of Lord Methuk's servants, was sent out to see what he could find out about the attack. He returns with the descriptions that had been released of Fix, Evangeline, Kadath, and a human man (Forsythe's form when he met Studani). The group then begins to discuss her trustworthiness. Not coming to any conclusion, they decide to take up watches for the evening in the secret room. Forsyth, however, takes up a spot among the rafters of the entry hall.

In the early morning hours, toward the end of the third watch, Fix sees Gavyn instantly appear beside Evangeline. A look of confusion crosses Gavyn's face just before fainting. After arousing him again, he shares that he had been ambushed by Gaera's guard and mage and woke up in her basement. Gidna had informed him of the scarab and that Gaera called it "Darling." Gidna had also told him to leave, using the stone that their mother had given him. He almost waited too long as Gaera had just begun taking his own spine when he finally activated the stone.

Kadath took this moment to scry on the blood that would still be on Gaera's hands and found her washing it off into a basin. Then a vial was dipped into the basin, collecting the blood and water mixture. She carried it to the basement and placed it between a pendant of the Jagged Dream and a set of daggers. She then turned and addressed Gidna as "Darling.”

Episode 64