Death in Freeport

[Voadam]

At the Athenaeum

Wilbur spends the time before the audience reading over scrolls on rituals to the God Shamash, though he does not discover much more dealing with knives other than the expected sacrifices to honor the god.

When a clerk comes and nods to Hinjo the barbarian goes over to Wilbur and says it is time for the meeting.

The assistant loremaster has his own tower spire in the rear of the Athenaeum and it is in his office that the meeting occurs. Milos is a middle aged man with a continually severe expression. He sports a pair of thin spectacles that enhance his scholarly mien. And his office bears numerous scrolls. A large text is before him on his desk as you enter. He finishes pouring over a certain passage then looks up and meets both of your eyes.

"I understand you wished to speak with Loremaster Thuron. I’m afraid such a meeting is impossible,” he says. “The loremaster is extremely busy planning the dedication of the Lighthouse of Drac. He cannot be disturbed. However, I am Thuron’s eyes and ears around the temple, and you may ask me your questions."

 

[Erekose13]

With a toothless smile Darkata takes the two golden lords. Dogrynn clears his tab and buys a few drinks for his new friends.

They chat for a while and Scuttlebut is the fact that the Bloody Vengeance left the harbor and many breathe a little easier knowing the cold blooded killer is out of the harbor, they figure fewer bodies will show up tangled on the docks for at least a little while. This morning, they heard tell, they only found two down there, a big orc and the other just some guy. The laborers figure it was likely Scarbelly's work before he took up his next commission to hunt down ships for one side or the other of the Nothern civil war. One jokes that Scarbelly's got commissions from both sides and a free reign to hunt any ship in the northern waters, not that he'd refrain without his privateer writ.

"Saw Scarbelly this morning. He was trying to pressgang a bunch of new crew. Lucky to get outta that one. I mean I want to get on a ship, but maybe not the Vengeance." replies Dogrynn. He finishes up his drink and motions Anton towards the door. Unless the man has other business to finish up he heads out.

 

[Shayuri]

"I'm curious, Logan," Arcata says as they wind their way between stalls and rough-looking clientele, "What do you make of all this so far? Maybe a fresh perspective is what we need to see the missing pieces."

 

[Neurotic]

Logan Artimus

"I don't believe there is much insight into all this that I could offer.

I, for one, wouldn't join the group that I know nothing about and I don't feel comfortable still. And if I was part of the group I wouldn't feel comfortable if we just took on another one into our confidence without knowing him first.

But I have no choice and we do seem to have similar goal in mind. The fact is that right now there are three groups, you and your dogheaded friend and Hinjo, if he is with you, then there are those two, Wilbur and ... Anton was it? and then there is me.

I'm here to find Lucius and in whole truth, if any other agent of Seven Towers was here he wouldn't care about Lucius, but about recovering the books he found. But I know him and so I try to do both. If we can somehow secure and isolate that weapon of his, all the better.

Sorry, I'm rambling, you asked about insight.

My belief is that someone in Athenaeum already knows the dangers of Lucius and is wilfuly supressing all efforts at finding him until such time it may be too late. Whether this is because there is some personal blame which he or they are trying to avoid or active worship of chaos that will ensue, I don't know.

By extension, such people are not fit to guard the secrets of evil knowledge as they might be tempted to use it. So, my mission just became more complicated. And I'd be welcoming any help you might offer. Even you work for brother Egil as mercenaries, I believe Assembly would be willing to pay for your services. I don't mean offense, if you work because brother Egil asked you to, you still can benefit from little payment."

 

[Walking Dad]

"Has any other scholar showed interest in those texts? I could perhaps use a different perspective to all of this." Wilbur says.

 

[Graybeard]

Anton notices Dogrynn motioning towards the exit. He quickly downs his drink and grimaces at the lower quality than he is used to. Then he carefully places the mug down and quietly slips out, following Dogrynn to what will likely be another dive.

 

[Voadam]

At the Drac's End Markets:

It takes a while for Logan and Arcata to locate likely sellers but they meet with little success. This does give them some time to feel each other out though and go over the issues they know in depth. The one seller who does remember Lucius, a toothless old woman named mother Agnes who hawks goods from a rickety vegetable cart, says it has been days since she saw him, more than a week, and asks after him and his poor health.


At the Athenaeum:

Milos says "You were researching Uraqi religious scrolls, was it not? Those were within the purview of our librarian Lucius. He is unfortunately unavailable at the present and you could check with our Brother Egil who is handling Lucius' duties. I myself am quite familiar with Uraqi lore and scroll translation work, is there a particular reference work you were struggling with?"

At the Docks:
Doggryn and Anton take their leave of the Broken Mug and head across the docks to where the rumors said the bodies were found, though Dogrynn thinks he is in the right area he's not sure of the exact spot.

 

[Neurotic]

Logan Artimus

"I can't help but notice that you avoided anwering the question about Wilbur and Justin. So, what do you think about them?"

Logan smiles to add levity to his words.


To mother Agnes:
"Poor health? What do you mean?"

 

[Shayuri]

"I'm not a mercenary," Arcata replies evenly, "And before I accept any request for help, I'd need to know a lot more about what I'm being asked to do, specifically."

"As for Wilbur and Justin...I'm not sure. I haven't known them long enough. However, I trust Brother Egil's judgment. If he trusts them enough to bring them in on this, then I'll give them the benefit of the doubt."

At the turnip cart, she listens for the woman's answer, but also glances over the cart and her wares, trying to see what it was that would cause Lucius to choose this person, this merchant, out of all the ones here.

 

[Voadam]

Drac's End vendor

"Las' time I saws him 'e was looking so tired, thuh poor dearie. Pale and haunted e' looked. Care fer a beet?" Mother Agnes says with an empty-mouthed smile. "They's good for thuh cholic."

Arcata looks over her cart and all she comes up with is that Agnes' wares are cheap.