Sunday before dawn, Fireseek 2, 591 Common Year

As the night drags on, the other members of the squad head out to patrol the streets. Finally, Aramek and Rain are left to themselves in the guard post.

Aramek says, “Great, now I can tell you what I’ve found. The simple fact is that I really like and respect Master Parwyn, whom I am staying with and assisting during the day. But I could never figure out why there was an unspoken, but underlying, melancholy hanging over his household until last night.

Every so often, in the late afternoon before I turn in for some sleep before our shift, I practice my spellwork up in the Master Parwyn’s loft. Now last night, as I was practicing the spell to detect magic I caught a glimmer of an otherwise invisible arcane mark set on a chest in a corner of the loft. I also noticed that there was another arcane mark on an old journal on a small bookcase. These were just elementary manuals of alchemy and herbalism and journals that seemed to be nothing but notes left by some former apprentice. But this mark I examined more closely and I saw that it spelled the name ‘Reece.’

“I very much wanted to read the journal but out of respect for Master Parwyn I decided to ask him about it first. Master Parwyn, however, did not share my excitement. In fact, for a moment I thought he was going to strangle me. But then he just appeared totally deflated. He told me that Reece was his son, and that he had disappeared several years ago, as did so many others when the Scarlet Brotherhood ruled this city. Then he told me that I could read the journal or look through the chest as long as I left everything as I found it. 

“So all this afternoon I read through the journal. Much of it consisted of notations on herbs and alchemical concoctions, but here and there were Reece’s writings about his own life here. They describe the years just before and during the occupation by the Scarlet Brotherhood in 583 and 584. Reece’s early entries just seemed to be about drinking and partying and his fiancé Ahlissa. But then he describes the invasion by the Scarlet Brotherhood and the ravaging of Monmurg, and then of how they came to Westkeep with armies of orcs, and goblinoids, and Amedi warriors. He describes all the brutalities and disappearances. Even his fiancée Ahlissa was taken away. The things these people suffered, it was terrible! Anyway, then he writes that an artist friend of his named Relikez, who had escaped during the surrender of Westkeep, had snuck back in. He had found a small outpost or shrine in the Hool Marshes and believed there may be a larger lost city. Then Reece and Relikez left Westkeep for the swamp to find some power they could use to destroy the Scarlet Brotherhood. That was the last journal entry. I couldn’t possibly tell you everything in the journal. I’m just summarizing it.

“Then I found a small statue in the trunk. It is a small wooden statue wrapped in parchment of a skeletal being in a cowl and cloak holding a scythe. It looks like it might be Nerull, the ancient Flan god of death. There was writing on the parchment as well. It may have been Reece’s handwriting and it said, ‘Thanatos god of Thracia. Is this the power I seek? Can he still be called upon from within his ancient shrines?’

“If could only find a way to bring peace and closure for these kind people who’ve taken me in. If only there were a way to get into the marshes, perhaps on an herb-hunting mission or some such, and investigate what Reece was talking about.”

At last, thinks Rain, something different and outside the city. This is exactly what I need to clear my mind of everything that’s going on – a day trip into the marsh.

“I’m in,” she says to Aramek. “Gods know I could use a diversion from, well, I could use a change of scenery. Does the journal give any real details of where we may begin looking? And who else were you thinking of asking along?”

“The only clue I have is that the journal mentions possible tunnels out of the city, though it didn’t say where. It also said that Relikaz’s discovery was in ‘the heart’ of the swamp, which is not exactly on the beaten path, and the note with the statuette mentions a shrine.

“Now about leaving the city, if we want to provide a good cover story, I do need to seek out herbs for Master Parwyn. Of course, we would need to be excused from the night watch. I don’t want to just go AWOL and endanger my best friend’s welcome in Westkeep.” Aramek indicates Snoop, the best friend he speaks of.

“Since I don’t stay in the barracks, I’ll have to defer to your judgment as to choosing folks to go along. I don’t know the other fellows that well. I like them well enough, but other than when we are on duty I haven’t been around them as much as you. In fact, tonight’s feast was the first time I’ve had a chance to interact with you all in a social environment and everyone seemed to have a good time together. But, as to their relative strengths and weaknesses, I couldn’t make that kind of assessment. Surely you would be a better one to decide on whom to invite along.”

“Hmmm… let me think,” Rain pulls out her flute and starts to play. She knows songs, mostly of the melancholy variety, and is happy to play them when the situation is right, but this is a time for pondering, so she resorts to sparse seemingly random notes that intertwine together to help her think.

As Rain plays, she is able to clear her mind and ponder. Surely some members of the squad would be good, but as her mind reflects on each of them, there is somebody else who keeps slipping into view – Sir Jankin. Why am I so curious about this man, surely it is only because of the incident with Rinya. Isn’t it? Well one thing is very clear – I must bring Aramek’s story to Lady Sedara’s attention. This may be the kind of thing she is looking for and she will be able to arrange time off for us to investigate.

Rain continues to play for another five minutes or so then breaks off. “Aramek, do you know of a Sir Jankin? I do not know him yet, but I think he may be one to help us. Also I have an idea to have time off arranged for us and maybe get us some supplies. Let’s meet again tomorrow before our shift. That will give me time to investigate and make some arrangements.”

For now, Rain foregoes telling Aramek about the tunnels beneath the ruins of the Locksmiths Guild, though she is fairly certain that is what the journal Aramek read is referring to. She wants to get Lady Sedara’s council on this matter before she starts choosing who else she should ask to come along. In any case, before they can speak any further, the others return and then it is Rain and Aramek’s turn to join up with a couple of the others and patrol the streets. Once the shift is over the squad, including Rain, return to the barracks and Aramek returns to Master Parwyn’s, though they are all due back on the parade grounds that afternoon for drill and combat training.

After her shift is over Rain writes a coded message to Lady Sedara, “A friend of mine has found information regarding Scarlet Brotherhood and possible way to destroy them. Suggest we meet to discuss. Maybe my friend Aramek also, I trust him.” Rain carefully leaves it behind the designated stone and then finds one of the ladies-in-waiting and asks her to relay her thanks to Lady Sedara for the extra spices. Rain then goes to bed so she can awaken in time for the afternoon drill. Hopefully at that time Lady Sedara will have further instructions for her.