Session 4

PCs (2nd-level): Bernard, Estel, Tristan, Vladimir

The PCs meet with Ahmad, the captain of the Sea Harpy, hoping to find the location of the alchemical fire. After a few exchanges of words, it is clear that the man only wants to steal their money, and a fight ensues. The party rapidly subdues the pirates, taking them prisoner on their own vessel. 

From Ahmad they learn that the men he brought in from Anuire had clear instructions to contact the Prince's Guildhall. He thought they were men of Khet, but their masks actually represented cherubic faces. Estel connects this detail to the angelic cults of Anuire. The party decides to leave the pirates alive, maybe to use them in the future as contacts with Ariya's underworld.

In order to access the Prince's Guildhouse, the PCs meet with Omadi again to ask him for a contact person. The guildmaster is happy to oblige, at the same time reminding them of the issue he has with the silat. The PCs decide to visit the silat the same day. They persuade her in leaving the bath-house, but the silat demands to be transferred tp a "blue" house. The PCs believe her demands are no big deal, and leave her to further arrange preparations.

In the meanwhile they visit the Prince's Guildhall, where they begin asking a few questions. Their research seems inconclusive, until they notice the smell of smoke coming from the upper floor of the compound. They investigate, and find a guilder burning several papers in a brazier. When the man sees the PCs, he attacks them, hoping to make an escape. 

The party manages to subdue him without killing him, but a dark arrow shot from an adjacent building pierces the man's heart, killing him on the spot. Vladimir has the chance to see the assassin for a split second, the light of the afternoon sun shining on his metal mask. Then the assassin escapes.

When the other guilders arrive on the scene, Estel has already gathered whatever papers remained, hiding them in her own book. The PCs explain the facts to the guilders and to the Swords of Avani arrived at the scene, omitting the incriminating papers, and blaming the whole thing on assassins from the Brotherhood of Khet. Thanks to their names, the authorities do not pursue the matter further, and allow the PCs to leave.

Back at Malik's palace, the party has a  chance to analyze the papers. After several hours of carefully deciphering the coded messages, they find references to the alchemist fire, and to the men that provided it: a mysterious figure called the Alchemist.