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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cypherblade" data-source="post: 9748840" data-attributes="member: 7048389">One of those in-between sessions where players try to do hundred things and don't have the patience to wait on the story unfolding. Especially when they tried to get in to the Pemberton Industry Office on campus. But fun anyway:[spoiler]16 SpringStover arranged for a financial expert to help analyze the ledgers. He also knows someone who can craft magical items for ten days.Staf looks for Cippiano but only finds one of his lieutenants. With his worst Crisillyiri accent, he inquires after Leone Quital.17 SpringA new newspaper appears: The Alarm Bell, a gossip rag trying to smear the RHC. It covers our raid on the factories to remove the oil, the Coaltongue (the new ship built by Danoran engineers for Risur), and even the marriage of Faith Unitas and Guy Goodson, the city’s new society couple. Reed Macbannin’s arrest is also mentioned—according to the paper, he had just called an emergency meeting. The love column goes into even more detail about the Goodson–Unitas wedding.18 SpringStover informs us that Dr. Von Recklinghausen cannot be held. That was never the intent, so we collect his visa and put him on the train to the Beran border mountains.We head to the courthouse to use Speak with Dead on Macbannin’s corpse. Judge Liana Ornelis had planned to do this tomorrow, since there are still questions about the bigger picture. (The following day, the spell attempt fails.)Meanwhile, a new mayor of the Nettles has been appointed: Lieutenant Dale of the Special Forces.We also consider questioning Agent X’s body with Speak with Dead. Possible questions and answers:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is the purpose of the organization? There are many visions. A new order, a world without chaos.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Which other agents are still active in Risur? All of them, as far as I know.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What are their names? Names don’t matter. What I do is what matters.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is happening in the Bleak Gate? That’s just an echo, a ripple of something greater.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What actions were still planned? The next move has already been made. You’re always behind.</li> </ul>Unused questions included: the purpose of the basement installation, the function of the oil, Agent X’s real name, and where the other lab workers fled (for the dead woman in Macbannin’s barn).The judge tells us about a strange ring found on Macbannin’s finger: a copper band set with a tiny marble cube. The inscription reads “Overcome black arts.” It is not magical. Sarïa tries it on but feels nothing unusual. We are allowed to keep it.We visit the new mayor, Lt. Dale. He wonders why Kell’s thugs were working under Macbannin. He also doubts that Creed was Agent X, saying, “he was the very image of inconspicuousness.” He does not recognize Macbannin’s ring.We show him the passage to the basement and lend him the sixth amulet. However, the woman’s corpse cannot be moved—she seems anchored at the boundary between dimensions. Using a large saw from the lab, we cut the body in half across the planar border.19 SpringJonas Brackwel, the financial expert, arrives to examine the ledgers. Maribelle comes to help craft magical items. Staf wants his undershirt enchanted to +1, but Maribelle cannot manage that request. Instead, she begins crafting a Cloak of Protection +1 for Kane, to be finished on the 29th of Spring.20 Spring (Saturday)Speak with Dead on the bisected lab assistant:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What were you working on? We were conducting experiments for a military project—trying to enhance undead with the witch-oil.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Who were your colleagues? Kaia Steward (lead researcher), Alistair (theoretician), Miriam (fluids), Tobias (machines), and Edwin (Bleak Gate).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Where did they flee? Home I suppose.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is the black oil? It is receptive to the essence of spirits and then used as fuel.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Where exactly is the laboratory basement in planar terms? Somewhere between this world and the Bleak Gate. We suspect the university may hold traces of them—they must have studied there. On the way, we encounter a newsboy selling the latest Flint Observer:</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">announcement of the new mayor,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Felix Greenleaf (RHC) reports on the events at the mayor’s villa,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">biography of Macbannin: geomancy and infrastructure works (perhaps he built the basement himself?),</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">gang wars in the Cloudwood,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">tax increase to fund the rail network, while parliamentarian Romana pushes instead for a magical network,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Kaibo Arms & Tech Expo,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">alliance between Risur and Danor planned for next year, with even Ber’s leader attending,</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">dangerous black oil seized for safety reasons.</li> </ul>On campus, we notice a Pemberton Office—sponsored by the arms magnate and industrialist Pemberton. The building is heavily guarded (ten men) and uncooperative.At the university administration we search student and staff records. We find Kaia Steward, graduated 12 years ago in arcanoscience, planar physics, and alchemy; and Alistair Vexly, in natural philosophy.Sarïa has her ring examined, but no new information is found.We visit the Flint Observer offices, as they knew where Kaia Steward lived. Lidia Tarnwell, her friend of twenty years, tells us she last saw Kaia on the 15th. Kaia has fled the country. For the past few years, she worked for Macbannin. “The project fell apart; the earthquake ruined everything.” She does not know who founded The Alarm Bell.At Kaia’s house we find her packed suitcase—she left in a hurry. No further traces.21 Spring (Sunday)A rest day, except for the crafters.22 Spring (Monday)Back at the RHC, Felix has to explain the situation to Saxby. She is not amused seeing his name in the newspaper, and that's an understatement. We are taken off the Macbannin case and reassigned to background checks for the upcoming inauguration of the Coaltongue. [/spoiler]</blockquote>

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