Session 36: Restless Spirits

Sendara awakes from her fever with a start to find Alcor waiting in her room. She immediately tells him that they must go to the University. Not bothering to wait for a response, Sendara heads out into the city in her nightshirt and no shoes while Alcor follows. She rambles on about needing to release Niman, who she also has started referring to as her brother. They soon reach Renatus Hall on campus and head to the room where Niman's body was found. Sendara barges through the Vigilant rope blocking off the workshop. Alcor points out the items sitting in front of the supply closet that weren't there earlier: some empty glass containers, some glass vials still filled with liquid, and a small open lockbox. Reaching out to sense magic, Sendara notices that the lockbox once contained Arcstones. However, the residual magic from Niman's experiment still overpowered the room in general, although it has lessened.  Looking over the arcane circle, Sendara notes that it looks like it was drawn by Niman with his left hand.

Sendara sits on the floor and begins to meditate, reaching out to commune with any spirits of the dead. She senses Niman's gaoler, and Niman. She sense emotions from him, but he is unable to communicate directly. Sendara consoles Niman, and tells him she will do whatever she can to help him. She has a theory that she can put a spirit into an object. While she sits with a book and stylus and begins writing her notes, Alcor heads out.

Meanwhile, Amos, Meriel, Ren, and Tor'in return from Rattlestone to the Tradefair Seat of Law. Along the way, Tor'in questions Amos about the connections between arcstone smuggling and Niman's death. Amos isn't sure if there is a firm connection, but he is concerned about the two old case files he discovered that belonged to his mother, Trisa Crow. One referenced the smugglers known as the Hollow Men, and the other missing Kurunite from the Order of the Gorgon. Between that, and the recently revealed information he received from Lady Zara fae'Fournius that his mother actually died at the Imperial Docks where the Empire stores their arcstone, makes him wonder about what really happened. Tor'in makes (for him) a consoling response, which is returned when Amos offers him a hug.

When returning to his desk, Amos found a note from Zarin. Zarin's note was trying to be cryptic, but explained that the workshops in Renatus Hall had items stolen after the 21st (the day of Niman's experiment). The thefts occurred even after the faculty added arcane wards to the supply closets.

In the Vigilant archives, Amos does some research on the Ministry of Trade, including the Ministry of Imports and Vice Minister Spettius Volusenna. As the Vice Minister of Arcane Resources and Trade for the last ten years, his position would have covered the importation and distribution of arcstones in the empire. Amos discovered several incidents of minor instances involving the misappropriation of arcstones, but nothing that would be considered a major heist. Calling it a night, the group dispersed.

Back at the University, Sendara's thoughts are disturbed by an elven man introducing himself as Semeko, who works as a custodian at the University. She begins questioning him. He said he last cleaned Niman's workshop on the 32nd of Mais. Niman's body was discovered the next day on the 1st of Iunius by Semeko, lying down in the middle of the circle. Warden Fario Tanikus never interviewed Semeko. Semeko says that the arcane wards were put on the cabinets on the 31st. Niman had spoken to Semeko a few times, usually just exchanging pleasantries, which was more than other students.

Returning home, Tor'in found a note from Alcor delivered by the Speakers' Guild. It read "Sendara awake. Healthy by acting strange. Investigating weird stuff at the University." Tor'in takes the note, and then heads to bed. A few hours later, he decides to find Sendara. He wanders the city, first heading to the Necropolis and not finding her there, he then goes to the University. He discovers her sleeping, hunched over the notes she was writing. He wakes her up, and she explains what she has been doing at the University, including about Semeko.

Sendara reaches out to Niman again. She feels his fear, specifically of being watched. There is a mix of some guilt and resolve, and a concern for other people. She asks him about the supplier of the arcstones, but it's hard to get a good description from his emotional outpouring. She does get a vague description that she makes note of, and that although their relationship wasn't friendly, it was mutually beneficial. Sendara tries sensing for and reaching out to the other spirit that is Niman's gaoler, but is unable to.

Tor'in and Sendara decide that the need the others. Sendara makes her way to the stairs, and feels the temperature dropping and becoming downright chilly. She reaches the stairs and despite going up several steps, the top of the stairs never get any closer.