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Omrax nods at Kaâb.
Strong work, Lady Kaâb. Can you tell if the scimitar was used in the attack?
Is it new or old, maybe we can tell if the blade was the one used against our shopkeep? Some blades have jagged edges.
We may be able to use some spell to find the owner.
Omrax turns at Arnthoth's discovery...
Clawed footprints? Another puzzle. Did the blade owner have a pet? Or was a beast here after.
It did not eat the remains, but the acid might have made it unpalatable. Can you tell where the tracks lead?
The blade looks fairly new with a nice keen edge.
It takes you several hours wandering the markets until someone points out to you a maker's mark on the hilt: the mark of the smith Lohakar.
Lohakar is a friendly smith and when you show him the blade he recognizes it as his own work. Luckily he keeps records of all his works and still has the bill of sale. He remembers selling the blade to Lankesh, a high-caste merchant, who also brought it back for sharpening recently.
You head to the Commerce District and come to the home of Lankesh. A well-built Vudrani man with a beaklike nose, thick eyebrows, and a shaven head answer the door and invites you in. "Yes, I am Lankesh. What can I do for you? Come on in and sit in the living room. I have but little time though, I am terribly busy."
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Omrax will bow and enter the shop.
"Good sir, we have come to your shop to return some item of interest you may have lost recently. We would like to know how and when and under what circumstances this blade left your possesion."
Omrax will point out the blade (assuming either he has it or Kaab)
"You recognize this blade, correct? ."
Lankesh snorts in annoyance. "Yes, that is my blade and I will have it back immediately or I will contact the authorities and have you arrested as thieves."
"If you have no further business except to return my possessions to me, I would have you leave. I am quite busy with business and have no time for matters unrelated to trade at the moment. Good day!"
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Thieves? Mordrak says in shock. My good sir! We are not thieves by any means! We found this finely-crafted blade at the remnants of a crime scene. If it was stolen from you, that is yet another crime to add to the perpetrator's list of offensitudes! The Mwangi smooths his hair a moment as if thinking, then continues. Pray tell us, when did you last see this weapon before it went missing?
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Yes, good sir, we mean no disrespect but we find this weapon alongside the rest of people killed ! You could be in great danger ! We need to be able to protect you from the assassins and evil cultist responsible for all these murders.
In Sarenrae's name please, help us ,you could be in grave danger !
"I have tried to be frank with you but you do not seem to be understanding me: I have other business to attend to and do not have time to speak with you about these unrelated matters. I must get back to work now, please show yourselves out."
With that he turns and goes off deeper into his house, disappearing from sight. A moment later several servants arrive to escort you off of his property.
As you head away from the merchant's home an errand-girl who introduces herself as Shari approaches you and hands you a note. It reads (in Common):
The promise of death awaits you if you choose to keep interfering!
The girl says only that she was given the note by a merchant with a mustache.
When you return to your quarters later that day to discuss what you have found so far (or the many missing pieces to the story), an arrow suddenly flies through the window and lands with a thud! in the doorframe; an expert shot. Although you do not catch who shot the arrow, the nearest building is over 180 feet away and the culprit is likely long gone (and also likely an expert sniper!).
Tied to the arrow with a bright silken thread is another small note that reads (in Common):
This is your final warning!
The handwriting is not the same as on the first note; this is a scratchy scrawl.
Weary from your investigations and perhaps frustrated that you have not found a solid lead yet, you settle in for the night.
The next morning, you awake to find the burned-out corpse of the rumormonger Mahindra on your lodging’s front steps.
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Arnthoth ponders for a moment. "Well, it’s fairly obvious that Mahindra died elsewhere, as there’s very little blood here." Prodding at the body with his hammers, he says. "While he has heavy bruising around the neck, a very accurate strike to the heart from a short stabbing blade was the cause of death. See the puncture wound, there?"
You find a temple where an elderly cleric agrees to cast the spell for you.
"I was heading home and accosted from behind. I never saw my killer."
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A shame you did not perceivitize your killer. Hmm. Mordrak thinks a bit on what they have found so far. What, if anything, did you know of the weaponmaker Lankesh? He has seemed unwilling to discussinate these matters with us and, though I may be suspecting him unfairly, I believe him to be involved somehow in all of this.
"I known Lankesh only as a merchant."
Asking around, Lankesh seems to keep many clients, none of whom seem connected and nothing seems nefarious about his business. He is quite respected.
Later that day you return to your quarters to find a folded note slipped under the door.
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Omrax ponders the next move after failing to find a connection with the merchant and his suppliers being cultists.
"We still have the strange arrow and the shooter. We could seek out the rooftop or whatever and see if additional clues are found. Or try a fletcher to find a buyer of rare arrows."
Without solid clues to follow, Omrax will return to the guest house with the others.
As soon as Mordrak touches the note, a fiery explosion hits everyone!
Concealed inside you find two burnt up spheres.