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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cypherblade" data-source="post: 9797730" data-attributes="member: 7048389">Ok, Staf played out his PTSD from the Yerasol War, that's why he's taken off the case and put in jail; He will be interrogated soon enough. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />[spoiler]3rd of Autumn, 500 A.O.V.We discreetly slip a small pencil into Kaia’s pocket — a mundane object, but one we can magically track later if needed.We estimate the trip to Kell’s estate and back will take roughly four hours.In the meantime, we head to Hans Weber’s house to treat Xambria Meredith.At Hans Weber’s ResidenceWe find both Weber and Meredith at home. Meredith has drawn a map for us, outlining the route to the ziggurat.She recommends hiring a local guide in Bole.From Bole, we must travel to Agate, and from there, take a boat into the swamp.She describes the landmarks in detail — follow the waterways until we reach trees marked with golden ribbons.Her expedition had searched for three weeks before finding the ziggurat, guided by rumors and information supplied by Caius Bergeron.Kane attempts to break any lingering curse affecting Meredith. She doesn’t feel any different afterward, but we tell her, “If it doesn’t help, at least it can’t hurt.”We wish her well and take our leave.Journey PreparationsBole is primarily known for logging, though it maintains an extensive reforestation program (in cooperation with the fey).The town is famed for its fine food and distilled spirits — entire districts are dedicated to breweries. The fey are active there too: they frequent theaters, drink heavily, and occasionally cause trouble.Conflicts are growing around the railway expansion, which the government wants to extend further.The River Delve flows through Bole toward the capital. A system of locks and canals allows lumber to float all the way to Slate, though more and more wood now travels by rail to Flint.Bole was once the capital of a small independent realm, and it still bears traces of its former grandeur — faded, but proud.Its RHC office, however, has only one employee: a half-elf named Shaiaila Lundquist, considered something of an eccentric.Incident at the RHCWhen we return to RHC headquarters in Flint, we find a protest outside — demonstrators demanding Rock Rackus’s release.Ayleen and Staf get drawn into the shouting. When Staf tries to pull the protest leader aside, six men tackle him.He retaliates — one swing of his maul, and one man drops unconscious.As the crowd backs away, Staf grabs the leader by the collar.Ayleen tells him where to find the halfling parents whose child Rackus shot dead — suggesting that’s where they should protest instead.Several auditors witness the entire scene.Meanwhile, Kane and Felix ask Alaric to prepare our travel supplies for the journey to the Bayou, and we spend the evening writing reports.SuppliesEach of us receives:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A return train ticket to Bole</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A Potion of Cure Disease</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A Potion of Greater Healing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rope, boots, mosquito repellent, camping gear</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">200 gp for expenses</li> </ul>The Return of KaiaAbout three hours later, Kaia returns — carrying two items: a serrated blade and an amulet.The amulet resembles the ones from Axis Island (like our Golden Icon of Wind).We return Kaia to her cell and resume questioning.She explains that in Macbannin’s basement lab, they were experimenting on the black oil — a substance from a sub-dimension of the Bleak Gate.When placed near someone dying, the oil would absorb the departing soul, becoming more potent. That energy could then empower constructs or creatures.Kaia worked for Macbannin, but who did he work for?According to her — for a tiefling from Danor, Caius Bergeron.She claims to have seen him once in the lab, discussing investments of hundreds of thousands of gold florins for a new factory.Kaia herself needed money to continue her research — she’s the one who designed those gun constructs and mechanical men.Lydia Tarnwell’s VisitFelix brings Lydia Tarnwell to visit Kaia in her cell. Lydia is registered as a guest, and the two women speak privately for half an hour in an interrogation room — while Felix listens in.Kaia admits she never left the country; she stayed in Flint to continue her experiments.That matches what we suspected all along.After the conversation, we give Lydia the address of the halfling parents whose child was shot by Rock Rackus.Ayleen argues with her over legal ethics — when is someone justified in shooting?Afterward, our elf quietly adds Lydia Tarnwell to the RHC blacklist — she’s no longer welcome inside the headquarters.Ayleen files a thorough report on the incident.4th of Autumn, 500 A.O.V.The next morning, Staf is charged and arrested.Two complaints have been filed — one from an old woman, the other from yesterday’s protesters.He’s also officially suspended.We also learn that Kaia was transferred overnight — to Slate Prison, by direct order of Lady Saxby.Stover finds this extremely odd; he hadn’t authorized it.We ask whether Carlao can take Staf’s place on our trip to Bole.He agrees — though everyone knows he reports everything to Saxby.The Train to BoleAt 8:15 a.m., the train departs — we make it just in time.It’s our first train ride. Our first-class tickets list the round trip at 50 florins.Carlao finds it strange that Staf would attack dockers, given his sympathies for their cause.Felix wonders aloud if Staf might have been magically influenced, though he can’t say when or by whom.We discuss Macbannin, the money trail (half a million florins spent on factory investments), the missing materials (enough to build ten factories), Bergeron, and the banks involved.We also note that Bergeron funded the ziggurat expedition.Arrival in BoleIn the afternoon, we see red flags along the railway — talismans meant to repel fey.By late afternoon, we reach Bole, a town of gardens and trees.At the town square stands a palace; in one of its outbuildings is the RHC office.Inside, music plays softly — formal and dignified. A half-elf woman sits by a phonograph: Agent Shaiaila Lundquist.When we introduce ourselves, she rolls her eyes.We explain that we’re investigating the High Bayou expedition.She confirms the expedition passed through Agate, and that later a large object — a thin but massive crate, four meters high and wide — was loaded onto a train bound for Flint. That was over a month ago.In Agate, we might learn more.When asked if tieflings were involved, she nods: they claimed to be monster hunters heading into the Bayou, and soon after, they returned with that enormous crate.Lundquist pours us a glass of local whisky. Kane doesn’t drink and passes his to Carlao.We spend the night in a small inn and restock supplies.5th of Autumn, 500 A.O.V.We set out on foot through the damp hills toward Agate, a small settlement of barely 200 people.We find lodging at the only inn, run by a man named Xavier, and ask around about the ziggurat.Locals say the swamps are full of giant spiders, ettercaps, and trolls.We track down the guide who led the expedition — a tall man nicknamed “the Long One.”He first accompanied Meredith’s team, and later guided the first group of tieflings into the Bayou.According to him, the second group of tieflings was not the same.He admits he never liked the pyramid’s aura — it felt wrong.When he dropped Meredith off for her resupply trip, he didn’t even go ashore; he left her at the riverbank.That’s why he wasn’t present when she found the bodies of her team.6th of Autumn, 500 A.O.V.In the morning, Kane casts Aid on everyone before departure.We take the Long One’s flat-bottomed boat into the High Bayou.The swamp water comes down from the mountains and pools behind beaver dams.Spiderwebs hang thick among the trees; crocodiles glide through the murky water.We stay alert and avoid most dangers.By nightfall, we’re suddenly ambushed by a swarm of bats.Roll for initiative…[/spoiler]</blockquote>

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