Session 34: The Gorgon's Treasure

Tor'in and Sendara leave Zarin with the grieving Albania Adventa in the workshops at Renatus Hall of Pallida University. They make their way to the dormitory room of victim Niman Agerson where Alcor is already investigating. The room was messy, with half-empty cups of tea and used plates scattered around the room, a pile of dirty laundry in the corner, an unmade bed, and disorganized papers all over the desk. Alcor pointed out a sealed envelope on the floor by the doorway, as if someone pushed into the room under the door. It was sealed with wax, marked with "V" from a signet ring. Inside they found a promissory note for 2,500𝔊 at the Aurum Bank. Looking around the room, Sendara cast a spell to detect the arcane. She spotted a small pouch of Arcstone shards on the writing desk, and a magical lockpick hiding under a pile of laundry.

Sendara looks over the papers, and finds what appear to be lab and research notes. They are in two slightly different handwritings, and they realize that they are written by the same person, but most of them are from a left-handed writer, and the others from a right-handed writer. Some of the notes are dated, and Sendara finds that the 21st of last month (Mais 21) was the last one written with the right hand.

Sendara, compelled by curiosity and the need for research, decides to ingest one of the arcstone shards. At first, the effects seem minor as her physique is surprisingly adapt at handling the strange substance. She starts to feel light headed and has a sort of double vision, with flashes of the same arcane vision she had casting her spell earlier. She steps out of the room and casts the spell again, and it seems to be stronger effect, as if the previous spell was but a creek and her spell was now a river. Assuring Tor'in and Alcor that she is still well, they return to Zarin.

Zarin explains how the security of supplies in the arcane laboratories normally work. There are storage areas in the larger workshops, usually a large cabinet or locker, that is locked to the faculty with an arcane lock. Albania adds that two days ago, wards were added to the cabinets as additional protection. Zarin said that the arcane lockpick would probably work, but not with the wards in place. He also added that the lock appeared to be a shoddy or makeshift design. Sendara then turned pale and collapsed. Amos took her back to the Necropolis to make sure she was taken care of.

Tor'in and Zarin returned to Amos, Meriel, and Ren. Amos looked at the seal on the envelope and recognized the patterns around the "V" as belonging to the Order of the Gorgon. After some discussion, the group decided to take the promissory to the bank and get the funds to enter as evidence. Meriel dressed as non-descript as possible with Ren posing as her bodyguard. Meriel successfully get the money, which Amos placed in a simple wooden box and hid as evidence in a dead case at the Tradefair Seat of Law. Now the group decided to wait and see if the withdrawal of money would bring out the owner of the "V" seal.

Tor'in and Zarin went back to Niman's dormitory to wait and see if anyone stopped by. Meriel, Amos, and Ren went to the Basilisk's Cauldron, a tavern in Dweamor Street that is popular with students at the University. They weren't able to find much information there, but one of the patrons was watching them carefully. When Meriel approached him, he introduced himself as Thelian Blackthorn, a student at the University. Merial and Amos recalled he was one that Albania had mentioned as having an antagonistic relationship with Niman. Thelian was helpful when questioned by Meriel, but neither he nor any of the other patrons or students at the tavern were aware of Niman's passing.

Outside the tavern, Ren kept an eye out on the people walking people. One portly fellow stopped by the window to peer inside, but did not enter. He was dressed better than the typical faculty, and too old to be a student. He then left, and Tor'in later spotted him in Niman's dormitory. He knocked on the door, and tried talking to Niman through the door. Having no success, he left with Tor'in following. He eventually arrived at a manor in the city, with a "V" crest on the gates of the wall surrounding it.