Amongst the Dead

The aftermath of the meeting is a sight to behold. Bodies remain scattered throughout the penthouse of the Feathered Penelope, and blood stains the floorboards. Damthus hears the city guards rushing up the stairs, having finally responded to the commotion.

Damthus quickly assumes the form of Galmar Stram. On arrival, the guards immediately defer to him. With authority, he orders them to stop wasting time and begin searching the city for the attackers responsible. The guards scramble to obey, rushing back down the stairs.

What Shall We Do With a Raging Lottie

Lottie is still very much under the influence of the magical rage.

The moment she notices Galmar standing in the room, she lets out a furious roar and launches herself across the chamber. Damthus barely manages to react in time, abandoning the disguise and shifting into the form of a silver-haired Leonin with an athletic build.

It is enough to make Lottie hesitate, but not enough to stop her entirely. She collides with him and drives him to the ground, pinning him beneath her weight. Her eyes remain wild with rage, there is a glint of recognition.

Before the situation can escalate further, Betsyemerges from the servants' doorway and calmly casts Sleep. Lottie immediately slumps forward, unconscious, collapsing on top of Damthus.

Together, he and Betsy drag her through the hidden servant passages and into the staff quarters below.

The Sleeping Lion

The next hour passes in uneasy conversation. Tea is brewed and theories are exchanged, but every answer only seems to raise more questions. Nobody understands who orchestrated the attack. Nobody understands how the magic worked.

Lucius escaped. Eleanna escaped. Galmar escaped.

Whilst they talk, another concern begins to grow.

Lottie refuses to wake.

Her skin becomes hot to the touch and her breathing grows increasingly laboured. She is suffering from a severe fever.

The Medical School of Life

That is when Rae remembers an old folk remedy.

The cure, according to the story, involves allowing a frog to swim around in wine before using the creature's spittle as a treatment.

With no better alternatives available, Rae and Damthus head out into the city in search of a frog.

The Search for Frog

The streets of Ardgan feel familiar and unchanged. Rae and Damthus move carefully through the streets, avoiding attention where possible.

Damthus adopts the form of an elderly blind woman, complete with a cloth covering her eyes, whilst Rae plays the role of caretaker. They are stopped by two guards on one of Ardgan's main streets.

The guards ask questions. Rae refuses to cooperate. Damthus responds.

Insisting that he recognises one of the guards, Damthus reaches out and begins feeling the man's face. He correctly guesses the man's surname: Ferrite. Damthus confidently explains that he knows the guard's mother and follows with unsolicited advice that he should call her more often.

An Elaborate Backstory

Damthus launches into an tale explaining a hawk, on two separate occassions, stole both of his eyes after he prayed to a demon named Barrelez'barrina for a famous lemon cake recipe.

According to the story, the recipe later helped him defeat Mrs Ferritein a baking competition. The guards seem enthralled in the old woman's tales.

Eventually the Ferrite guard ask if they can help.

When they learn that Rae and Damthus need a frog from the River Hanol, he volunteers to fetch one whilst the other remains behind.

Dressed to Unimpress

During the wait, Rae provides Damthus with a running commentary on the remaining guard's appearance, describing his clothing and features with increasing levels of cruelty.

Eventually the frog arrives in a sodden burlap pouch, and the two parties go their separate ways.

A Questionable Cure

Returning to the Feathered Penelope, Rae and Damthus explain the remedy to Betsy. When asked for wine, Betsy provides the cheapest option available.

The wine arrives in a bucket. Its smell alone suggests it may have been a mistake.

Nevertheless, the remedy proceeds. The frog is introduced to the wine. The necessary ingredients are acquired. The treatment is administered.

Within minutes Lottie's fever begins to break. Her temperature steadily falls, and colour returns to her face.

Strike While The Iron's Hot

With Lottie stabilised, attention turns back to the events of the meeting. The books recovered from the penthouse remain one of the few tangible clues available, and Damthus knows someone who may be able to provide answers - Segrid Nardorm.

The journey takes them north towards the oldest districts of Ardgan. Ancient stonework dominates the landscape. Massive statues watch over the streets, whilst religious iconography decorates walls and buildings alike.

At the heart of this ancient architecture stands Iron Clan Headquarters.

Politics Matter

Before reaching it, however, the pair encounter another checkpoint.

Two guards stand watch over the road leading upwards. One appears approachable and relatively progressive in his views. The other looks harsher with conservative views.

Naturally, Damthus chooses the easier target.

Taking the form of a young woman with brightly coloured hair, he briefly appears in the street before ducking into an alleyway and calling for help. The more sympathetic guard quickly moves to investigate.

As he approaches, he notices a badge proudly declaring support for Yuan-Ti visibility, a reference to the council member Transavald IX.

Before the guard can ask too many questions, Rae strikes him over the head and plops him inside a nearby barrel.

Moments later his partner calls out; "Reggie?"

Damthus steps from the alley transformed into Reggie.

Secrets Within Iron Clan

Using his new disguise, Damthus infiltrates Iron Clan Headquarters with ease.

There are fewer guards, fewer servants and noticeably less activity throughout the building.

Making his way through the headquarters, Damthus eventually reaches Segrid's office and performs the agreed knock. She quickly ushers him inside.

She informs him that Lucius has not returned to headquarters since the meeting. Nobody seems to know where he is.

Damthus asks about the mysterious boy accompanying him. Segrid reveals that it is not a child at all, but a mechanical construct. Some form of invention.

When provided the books to inspect, Segrid shares the revelation that the magic used appears to be entirely new. It combines ancient magical traditions with modern arcane techniques. Whoever created it possesses extraordinary knowledge and has likely spent a lifetime studying such things.

Segrid requests to hold onto the books to continue her studies, and would have more information in a couple of days.

Lucius' Office

Before leaving, Damthus decides to take a risk.

He gains entry to Lucius Kallin's private office. Knowing he has little time, he immediately begins searching the desk.

There is no opportunity to examine everything properly. Drawers are opened. Documents are skimmed. By the time he leaves, he has secured a notebook and several documents.

The Crooked Mast

Whilst Damthus explores Iron Clan territory, Rae remains behind sat atop a barrel inside which the gagged and bound Reggie.

An elderly man emerges from a nearby building carrying a rug and strikes up a casual conversation. The two exchange pleasantries, discuss local matters, and briefly mention a nearby tavern called The Crooked Mast.

Throughout the entire conversation, Rae manages to conceal some of the noises from within the barrel, by rhythmically tapping her feet on the barrel.

The old man eventually returns indoors.

The Day Finally Draws to an End

As the night draws to a close, Rae and Damthus reunite and make their way back to the Feathered Penelope.

Back at the Penelope, Lottie rests peacefully as her strength slowly returns. The building is quiet. The city outside continues to churn with uncertainty.

Betsy promises them a safe haven for tonight, but only tonight.

In that brief moment of calm, Damthus sits down and writes a letter to Silu. After everything that has happened, after all the death, panic and confusion, he finds himself reaching for something simple.

Someone he loves. And for a little while, that is enough.