Jarrith turns over the body and Tessa receives a shock. This was the necromancer! The Emerald Claw agent that attacked the caravan! Marot feels a shudder, as the dead woman's face is the one he saw in his mind—right before he was forced to attack his friends in the inn.
A search of the body reveals that it was killed by magic: Burns, acid, and other such mark it heavily.
Other than the corpse, which bears many magic items (a wicked looking dagger, a pale hide made into studded leather armor, a pair of rings, a headband, and other such), the room is laden with material. Just looking through the books shows a wealth of necromantic lore, probably worth the cost to someone with interest in the darker arts. One particular fragment, written on a faded pink leather, causes Jarot to drop it immediately, the vileness of the page sending pain up his arm.
Tessa is helping with the search when she finds something interesting: A set of notes that seem to be more recent, likely penned by the necromancer herself. She reads them to the gathered.[sblock=Exceprts]The records we acquire point to a strong necromantic force here. The Tome of Strahd. We must find it...
Attacked the camp of those fools from the Twelve. Nothing. They knew less than I. It must be in that Castle. I must know for sure...
Weak minded fool. Allowed be privy to their secrets, to find the clues to the power here. And with the journal, it will not be long...
'Lord' Sergei. A fool. There is power here. I will find it without that fop...
How could I have been so blind. It was there all along! The highest tower holds the secret to avoiding death by the sun. Down here, away from him, I've finally been able to find the truth. He won't like it, but I'll be gone soon...
The rest of the pages have been torn away.[/sblock]While Tessa is reading, Khensu also finds something of import: His haversack, places with other alchemical accouterments. And within, the lost relic.