Session 38: The Truth Released

Amos, Tor'in, Meriel, Ren, and Sendara returned to Pallida University. They met with Alcor and find Zarin in the dormitories, where he had set up a magical ward to alert him if anyone tries to enter Niman Agerson's room. Zarin had been reading Niman's notes on his Arcstone experiment. Zarin compared the arcstones to a piece of paper. Normally, the paper would have just two sides, but when paper is folded, then there are more sides. Sendara felt that Niman explained it to her better.

Amos wondered aloud who would benefit from not having more powerful arcstones, and if such people could have been behind Niman's murder. Meriel pointed out that someone may have thought that Niman's research was too dangerous. Sendara and Alcor left to talk to Watch Commander Surt about the case. Sendara wanted to officially have Amos as the investigator. Along the way, Sendara attempted to convince Alcor to tell the truth to Tor'in. Alcor seemed hesitant. At the Tradefair Seat of Law, Sendara was able to convince Surt to put Amos on the investigation. Surt asked for the autopsy report on Niman, which Sendara said she would get.

The others left the dormitories and went to Renatus Hall and Niman's workshop. There, the party found that Warden Tanikus had relieved Alcor from guard duty. He assured them that no one has come into the room. However, Tor'in noticed that there were vials and jars moved out of the storage cabinet in the workshop. Zarin attempted to cast the True Wisdom of Angranarsh the Many-Eyed to sense the magic within the room, but he was unable to do so. Despite thinking that the residue leftover from the experiment should be nearly dissipated by now, something else seemed to prevent the spell. Zarin could sense something magical from the original arcane circle that Niman had drawn on the floor, and he began to approach it. As he did so, he appeared to the others to be moving both further away from it and closer at the same time. Tor'in grabbed him, and moved him away from the circle. Zarin decided to go outside and sit for a minute. 

Alcor told Sendara about his investigation at the library. He had concerns because the cases he found involving arcstone ingestion all ended in death, and there were no reports of strange dreams. Sendara took the news in stride, believing that hers is a special case, as evidenced by her interactions with Lady Lotrad.

Sendara decides to try meditating within the arcane circle. She hears the faint sound of music, and senses a presence that she believes to be Niman's gaoler. The presence radiates the desire to escape, and tries to follow Sendara. Sendara tries to move closer to the source of the sound as the presence gets closer to her. She decides that it would be better to escape the presence, and Sendara is able to elude it before ending her meditation. When she tells the others what happened and describes the music, Meriel comments it reminds her of the music from her dream.

Amos suggests finding Kith to see if she can help close the portal. Meriel and Zarin leave to find Kith. Amos leaves to find more Vigilants to physically guard the location, worried about physical dangers.