Another Brief Insight Into Ardgan's City Council

Leana Thromburt

Leana Thromburt is a human councillor aligned with Hegelian interests, owning and operating Parliament of Pigeons Postal, Ardgan's largest owlery and pigeon postal service. Damthus has used her business on several occasions and knows her well enough to exchange pleasantries. Outside of politics, Leana is known for her mischievous side, often spending afternoons in the market rolling marbles across the cobbles simply to watch unsuspecting pedestrians stumble, much to the delight of the city's pigeons.

Many years ago Leana fell deeply in love with Simean Hess Strondike II, a Yuan-Ti pureblood who lived publicly as a human. Convinced he was hiding his true heritage, she spent years devising elaborate situations in the hope he would finally confess. Their relationship ultimately collapsed after a heated argument in a restaurant, with Simean later publishing an article branding her a conspiracy theorist. Despite everything, those who know them suspect the feelings between the pair never truly disappeared.

Leana is a regular visitor to The Crested Clockmaker, a well-known inn near the Gold Gate, often sharing a quiet drink there alongside the Sutak Sisters.

Laka'chantu, The Eagle Lord

Laka'chantu, known as "The Eagle Lord", is widely regarded as the greatest wizard in Ardgan. A member of the native peoples of Veridia, he is one of the most brilliant magical minds of his generation. Mocked during his early years at magic school, he devoted himself to the pursuit of magical perfection and now accepts only the most gifted students as apprentices. His home is just as eccentric, a seemingly ordinary building that mysteriously changes location each time its front door closes - making it almost impossible to visit unless he wishes to be found.

Despite his immense power, Laka'chantu has little interest in the day-to-day politics of the council. His focus lies almost entirely on advancing magical education and ensuring the brightest minds receive the opportunities they deserve. He is rarely seen attending council meetings, often appearing unexpectedly before vanishing just as quickly, usually accompanied by his ever-present eagle familiar.

Not every experiment has been a success. Amongst his more infamous creations was a hurricane in a bottle, an attempt to contain a magical storm that proved unstable. During its only test the hurricane escaped, flattening trees and nearly costing Laka'chantu his life before finally dissipating after ninety minutes. Three years ago, one of his most promising students also abandoned his teachings, pursuing forbidden magic in a misguided attempt to ascend to godhood - a failure Laka'chantu rarely speaks of, but one that continues to weigh heavily upon him.

The Plot Thickens

Morning arrives at the Tower, alongside a parcel bearing Silu's signature. Damthus retreats to a quieter room to examine its contents. Inside are Silu's findings from Lucius' documents retrieved from his office.

Silu confirms that the coded correspondence revolves around a man named Ernest Trawlee, a noble with a history of working alongside automatons.

The letters speak of shipments arriving from the Gronan League, including references to a magically infused device described only as a knee brace intended for "quick getaways".

The handwriting found in Gregor's letter bears no resemblance to Lucius' own elegant script, though Silu suspects the writer received a Gronan education.

They also encourage Damthus to read Lucius' personal notebook himself rather than rely on a summary.

Lucius' Notebook

Lucius has quietly documented Damthus' life over the years. He notes Damthus' regular visits to Seven Chins Larry for kiwis and papayas, his friendships at the Feathered Penelope, and how pleased he is that Lottie and Silu have become part of his life.

He even observes Rae, recognising that she is one of the few people Damthus truly listens to.

Towards the last few pages, Damthus finds a note that Lucius left reading: "I hope he understands that fatherhood isn't easy."

'Nother 'Napping

Rae takes a morning walk through Ardgan. She encounters a distraught mother desperately searching for her missing daughter, Petunia. The young girl, recognisable by her blonde pigtails, dungarees and collection of pins of various council members, vanished without explanation.

Rae immediately begins helping. She questions neighbours, knocking on nearby doors as a half-awake minotaur answers. Within moments he has thrown on a jacket and joins the search, followed by other neighbours who quickly rally together. Despite everyone's efforts, there is no sign of the missing child.

Rae purchases supplies from a nearby shop and crudely sketches Petunia's likeness onto missing posters. She spends time placing them around Larkin Street before accepting that she has done everything she can for now.

Making Headlines

On her journey back to the Tower, Rae sees a copy of the latest Ardgan Articles. The front page immediately catches her eye.

"Jade-Eye Strikes Again! Eye-witnesses in the Dunmahr Districtspotted him fleeing a crime scene involving an individual associated with stone clan. Is Jade-Eye fighting back against the clans?"

The campaign to paint Jade-Eye as Ardgan's newest menace is clearly working.

Catching Up Over Breakfast

Back at the Tower, Rae finds Damthus already drinking. She shares news of the missing child whilst Damthus reflects upon Silu's discoveries.

Before long he visits Gregor's room, bringing him breakfast and a copy of the newspaper. Gregor eagerly devours the fresh pantoast whilst Damthus quietly sharpens several knives in the doorway, ensuring his Gregor is aware of the consequences of any dishonesty.

But That's Just A Theory

The pair spend some time discussing everything they have learned.

Ernest Trawlee is a familiar name from their adventures in Drelidin, making Lucius' correspondence with him all the more concerning. As the morning wears on and the drink continues to flow, Damthus begins piecing together increasingly elaborate theories involving Lucius, missing children, automatons and mysterious skin bags.

He even jokingly suggests disguising himself as a child and wandering Ardgan's streets at night in the hope of being kidnapped.

For perhaps the first time, they begin to believe they can solve this mystery themselves. They do not need Gazelle L'Orange. They will solve the case before she does.

Meeting Market Middlemen

With Gregor's arranged meeting fast approaching, Damthus once again adopts Gregor's appearance. The market is alive with colour and noise, making it the perfect place for anyone to disappear into the crowd.

Using Gregor's sketches, Damthus and Rae quickly identifies the pair. The gnome, revealed to be named Ponn, is immaculately dressed in tailored clothing and expensive jewellery. His ornate chest piece gleams with embedded gemstones. Nearby stands the tiefling woman, Dani, whose deep red skin, elegant jewellery and immaculate pink coat are captivating.

Whilst making pleasant conversation, Damthus quietly relieves Ponn of both a strange golden satsuma-sized device and his coin pouch using Mage Hand. Moments later he compliments Dani's luxurious coat whilst stealing a rough-cut gemstone from her pocket as well.

When Ponn reaches for Gregor's payment, he discovers his coin pouch has vanished and immediately blames the market's pickpockets.

An Honest Conversation

Dani eventually suggests collecting the remainder of Gregor's payment from two waiting chests just outside the market. The three leave the crowds behind and enter a quiet series of alleyways, where a horse and cart waits exactly as promised.

After a few moments of idle conversation, Dani calmly drops her charming disposition. She admits this was originally intended to be the place Gregor died, but quickly reassures Damthus that they have been told they cannot harm him.

Damthus responds in kind, revealing that he had rather hoped to kill them here instead before calling for Rae to reveal herself, "Rae, NOW!"

After an awkward pause, Rae eventually rounds the corner.

Surprisingly, Dani and Ponn seem perfectly content to talk.

Damthus explains everything Stone Clan currently believes, weaving together Lucius, mechanical children, missing people and conspiracies stretching across Ardgan. Rather than smug satisfaction, the pair respond with genuine confusion. Much of what Damthus reveals is entirely new to them.

They are not masterminds. They are middlemen.

They explain that they work on behalf of the Gronan League but have never met the individual ultimately giving the orders. Their task has been simple from the beginning.

Keep Jade-Eye occupied, and out of the picture.

Shocking Satsuma

Damthus reveals the strange golden object stolen from Ponn earlier and threatens to activate it. When instructed to throw it away from everyone, he instead throws it directly at the pair.

The device unfolds to reveal tiny mechanical legs as it waddles determinedly towards its targets before clamping shut and releasing a powerful magical shockwave.

Rae shrugs off the blast almost entirely.

Dani stiffens as paralysis overtakes her body.

Ponn's ornate chest plate reveals it's power, the gemstones embedded within it glowing brightly as they absorb the magical pulse.

Despite further questioning, neither reveals much more than before. Their knowledge is frustratingly limited.

When Damthus and Rae briefly inspect the supposedly valuable chests, they discover only empty boxes - there was never any payment.

By the time the pair turn back to Dani and Ponn, they have already fled.

A Chase Towards Time

Damthus casts Locate Objecton Dani's coat that he had been carefully inspecting and follows the magical pull across Ardgan. After twenty minutes the trail leads towards the Gold Gate and eventually to a well-known establishment - The Crested Clockmaker.

Just as they approach, the magical connection abruptly drops.

Inside, they find only a handful of early patrons and the broad-shouldered owner, Cloq Hans. Every wall is covered with wooden and metal clocks and strange timepieces.

One door appears to lead into the basement.

Damthus immediately attempts to distract Hans with increasingly ridiculous stories, first claiming to be the inn's newest employee before insisting the whole encounter is some elaborate test orchestrated by the legendary wizard Laka'chantu. He even conjures a silent illusion of the councillor standing in the corner of the room.

Hans remains entirely unconvinced.

Instead, he politely informs them that if they are not buying drinks, they are welcome to leave.

Rae orders a whisky on the rocks. Damthus settles for a Scaly Sunset cocktail.

Whats Lies Below

Whilst the pair consider their next move over drinks, Sparky (in spider form) quietly slips beneath the basement door unnoticed.

Most of the basement is exactly what one would expect: old kegs, broken clocks and forgotten storage. One room, however, immediately stands out.

A perfectly empty square chamber sits hidden away from the rest of basement. No barrels. No furniture. No clocks. Nothing.

It is a room with no obvious purpose.

As Damthus and Rae continue their drinks upstairs, discussing their next steps into the investigation.