Adventure awaits, but so does Intrigue

See Also: Bardic Knowledge

Amer Terrante, a merchant for the vulfgrau_trading_house, arrives a few weeks after the menagerie leaves. His skills with sales contracts and trades should help the trading house regain its financial footing. He sets about contacting local craftsmen and hiring them to improve the looks of the store. Given its location on the main road by the east gate it should be well-positioned to prosper.

Several evenings later a large iron reinforced carriage arrives guarded by four determined looking men. The banners from their lances announce them as knights of the temple_of_light. The more disturbing is the fact that two of the banners on the carriage fly the black eye and sword of the Inquisition.

The next morning the temple bells ring early calling everyone to a special service. Sofiya, Brizanthimus, and Amer all attend the service, while Esandeor and Xarth elect to go outside of the town. Father Dominic says the morning prayers then announces several changes. First, Father Oswald Karlsson as arrived to take over the position of Baron Ulrichstein's personal priest. Second, given the problems the town as suffered over the last months the church has sent an Inquisitor to root out any demonic influences.

Inquisitor Valten Scholz stands in the center of the dais and delivers a fiery sermon on the evils of dark magic and one’s seduction of demonic influence. Baron Ulrichstein rises and tells Valten that the people of his town will corporate fully with him and that Valten has his complete support in this matter. The townsfolk leave in a understandably dour mood, the Inquisition’s writ of authority comes directly from the Patriarch and Queen.

While Amer and Sofiya take a round-about path back to the store, Briz returns directly to open for the day. Xarth is returning from his morning prayers sees two unknown men dressed as priests enter the store. Xarth steps inside and finds the two men “questioning” Briz about the happenings at the east gate and the incident on the commons. With some help from Xarth, Briz manages to turn the questioning around, but before he can get much information both Father Oswald and Inquisitor Valten leave. Both men see Sofiya and Amer returning, but only offer them a good day in passing.

In the afternoon a page from the manor arrives and invites Sofiya and those that work for her to the Baron's table for the evening meal. Everyone except Esandeor shows up, waiting for them is the Baron and his wife along with Valten and Father Oswald. Everyone notices that four men of the Baron's guard stay in the room, his Captain of the Guard, and one of the Temple Guards.

The dinner is enjoyable and filled with pleasant conversation, but once Lady Marjorie excuses herself for the evening the atmosphere palpably change. Valten begins his questioning of everything that happened since the battle at the east gate asking extra questions concerning the spiritual attacks in the north. While nobody mentions the necropolis they do speak about talking to a priest of Taur. While they mention the internal conflict with the elves, Valten keeps coming back to the spirits, while the Baron and Father Oswald continue to see tense at the questions.

The dinner finally comes to an end and everyone wishes each other a good night. Valten says that he may be back later to question them further, but it is clear that the source of the evil in this area originates from the north. He will be traveling in the next couple of days to question Sir Veit Kaufmann, the Bailiff of Luckau. Xarth looks visibly uncomfortable at this revelation.

As they are returning to the store Squire Eckerd Kaufmann happens to be walking nearby. He tell them that he has been given permission by the Baron to visit his father's lands for a few days. His generally affable manner slips for just a bit and he asks everything truthfully who they are and why they are here. Sofiya says they are just merchant caught up in something larger. Squire Eckard does not fully believe her, but not enough to confront her with her deceit.

While everyone else is at dinner, Esandeor is watching the store. He hears scratching on the back door and goes to investigate. He finds a woman outside trying to break-in. She tells him that she stayed with Sofiya a few days ago and left something in her care that she needs back right away. Esandeor tells her that Sofiya is gone and she cannot wait in the store. The woman goes to the front of the store and sits outside.

When Sofiya, Briz, Xarth, and Amer return to the story they find Karina outside. She tell them how frustrating their guard elf is and that she only wants the return of the property she left behind. When questioned about it she tells them that it is a dwarven map that leads to some ancient treasure. She is not sure how to open the map, but see believes it has something to do with the stars. She shows Briz a bit of soul metal that she has “found” that she thinks holds the key. Briz is practically salivating over it, but does not relish the idea of entering the Elfenwald again.

Sofiya, Amer, and Esandeor huddle together and put into motion plans to leave quickly if necessary – without looking like they are fleeing in the night. Briz convinces Carina to stay in the shop with Sofiya while they work things out.

In the morning Xarth tries to arrange a meeting with Lady Marjorie Kuhn to see if she is willing to plead their case with the Baron. When she does not reply things begin to look pretty grim.

In the evening after a unsatisfying meal, Sofiya hears Valten voice. When he passes by the store she can see that one of his men-at-arms is dragging a disheveled woman by a chain. The woman is sniffing at the air like a dog and clearly appears in pain. Sofiya rushes out to confront Valten about the treatment of the woman. Briz, nervous of a confrontation, hustles Carina upstairs – while the others go outside to support Sofiya.

Valten rounds on her and tells her that the woman is a Witchhunter and Sofiya should be more wary of her waspish tongue. When Sofiya gets close to Valten, the witchhunter charges towards her and begins to lick her hands. Valten declares that Sofiya is clearly under demonic influence and while she protests strongly, Valten and his men force their way into the shop. They search the shop, but the only other thing that appears out of order is Esandeor's sword. While the men are searching Briz sneaks Carina out the back.

There is a tense moment between Esandeor and Valten, but eventually Amer offers a compromise that Esandeor will hold the sword while Valten examines it. Valten draws upon the power of Rath and opens his eye to the truth of all things. First, he sees that Esandeor’s sword only has an aura of magic drawn to it during its naming. More importantly he looks and Xarth and sees him for what he really is – not just his outer form. He closes his third eye and quickly takes his leave of the shop, without so much as a good night to its occupants.

Out back they can hear their wagon leaving at a fast pace, they can see Carina in the wagon whipping the horses faster. As she thunders down the road and out the east gate they realize that Sofiya had hidden her communication scroll in the hidden compartment.