The party finds themselves in hot water as they figure out the puzzle, giving their own life force to break the barriers surrounding the carapace chiseled key. Knowing that it must be approaching dawn and they didn't want to miss their ride, they quickly moved through the rest of the rooms before coming on an office that held evidence of potential foul play. As they emerged through the end of the tunnel, they found themselves behind a secret passageway inside an unknown office. Hearing a scream from the floor above, followed by a moment of silence before another scream, Thea erupted from the room with Nadal and Varek giving chase. Not wanting to leave someone in need, they moved upstairs and slammed through the doors to the master bedroom only to find themselves facing a most grizzly murder.
Glowing red eyes underneath a shadowy cloak and a creepy smile flashed to the party before it leapt to the grounds from the balcony and snagged its horse. The party gave chase as the town guard showed and apprehended them on the count of murder against the Talo family. Without a governor presiding over the city, word was sent for both verification of identities as well as assistance in the investigation. Sam escaped by turning into a beetle and giving chase while Asterion moved as fast as genasily possible to catch up to the cloaked figure. He followed it to the north docks where he moved under water and followed it out of town, only for a larger ship to take a stop next to it and return to the ports of Ehthenae. Asterion followed the figures coach back to the Oakeshield conservatory.
Inside the stockade, Nadal found themselves subdued with a bag over their heads. Taking a moment of silence, they reached out, praying to their patron for assistance, but at a great cost.
The party was released, on grounds that they would catch the killer within 36 hours. They regrouped, and moved south through the city towards the Oakenshield Conservatory's merchant building.
