You can still feel the chill of the catacombs in your bones as you follow Marshal Vendri and Darrett Highwater to the small meeting room. You have just escaped from the clutches of Lord Soth, the death knight who killed the governor and his council and unleashed his undead army on Kalaman. You have also witnessed him stealing some of the residual power from the cataclysm right before he blasted a hole in the mountain and escaped, heading north. You don't know what he was looking for or what he plans to do next, but you know it can't be good.
As you enter the small meeting room, you are greeted by Lord Bakaris. He accuses you of being responsible for the death of Kalaman's leaders and of being in league with Lord Soth. He claims that he has powerful allies who will not let you get away with this. He spits out insults and threats, matching your tone and standing toe to toe. His grief must be great to be so suicidal.
Marshal Vendri has had enough of his nonsense. She stands up and faces him with a stern look. She tells him to leave before things get out of hand. She says that she has more important matters to attend to than listening to his petty complaints. Lord Bakaris glares at her and then at you and your companions. He vows to make you all pay for your crimes and then storms out of the room, followed by his guards.
Marshal Vendri sighs and shakes her head. She turns to you and your companions with a warm smile. She thanks you for standing up to the arrogant noble and says she trusts you completely. She asks you to tell her everything that happened the day before, including how the governor died.
You recount your harrowing experience in the meeting room with the possessed man and then in the catacombs. You explain how Soth killed the governor and his council and how he seemed to be looking for something called the City of Lost Names in the Northern Wastes. You admit that you never got close enough to confront him or to hear what he had to say.
Marshal Vendri listens attentively, nodding and frowning at times. She expresses her sorrow for Kalaman’s loss and praises you for your courage and bravery. She also says she is aware of Lord Bakaris' rumors that you could have saved Kalaman's leaders and that some locals are looking for someone to blame for the terrifying slaughter. She assures you that she does not believe those lies and that she will do her best to protect you from any harm.
She then says that she does not know anything about the City of Lost Names and that the Northern Wastes is nothing but a deadly wasteland. If Lord Soth is heading there, she believes he presents no further threat. She says that Kalaman's military should focus on fighting nearby Dragon Army forces and restoring Kalaman's government.
Darrett, who has been silent until now, speaks up. He says that he does not understand Lord Soth's cryptic goals, but he believes that your discoveries are important. He then asks Vendri to let him take you and a contingent of troops into the Northern Wastes to investigate whatever the Dragon Army wants there. While Vendri isn't confident the move is strategically sound, she thinks it's a good idea for you to get out of Kalaman for a while to avoid the ire of its citizens. She needs to decide if they need to start evacuating or if they can maintain some safety within the walls for her people. She asks you to leave while she and Darrett discuss details, suggesting you visit the castle's small library and learn what you can about the Northern Wastes.