"Stay or go?" Marissa asks. "It's as if someone compelled them to act that way, so think quickly!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Sat 21 Sept 2019.

"Let's go." Rath's voice was rough and angry. There were dead men sprawled at this feet. He didn't want the pile to grow. "The mayor's safe. They don't want him dead. They want us."

"Well, that maybe true. Then again, the Lord Mayor's illness and behavior are a concern. That said, I think I'd like to check on my mother now, make sure she's alright. There were some hints that I should have heeded that indicate she's in peril. I hope you'll all come with me...but if not, I'll head that way myself."

'Stay,' urged Saliq. 'The Mayor saw us fight for his life whatever pathetic trick the enemy used. Better to talk to with him now and try and clear the air.'

"No.  Make our apologies to the mayor.  This was a trap, and I can't believe that whoever set it failed to account for the mayor's vouching for us.  And given that I don't see him . . . I think we go while we can."

Inas says this as he grabs a napkin and cleans the incriminating blood off of his weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Mon 23 Sept 2019.

As the party mulls over what to do, the sounds of armored feet grow louder from above.
There is a groan from under the table, and the weak voice of the Mayor.

"Help me, I am poisoned".

Marissa doesn't hesitate - she dives beneath the table and scrabbles around for the Lord Mayor. Once she finds him, she pulls the stopper from a small vial and commands, "Drink this, quickly!"

Potion of Neutralize Poison.

"You must determine who your friends are, Milord," she said as the man pulls himself from the floor. "The old saw says keep your friends close, your enemies closer, but I would suggest perhaps just keeping only your friends close for the nonce. Do you happen to know with certainty who those friends might be? Besides us, of course."

Marissa finds the invisible Mayor and helps him out from under the table, he takes the potion and drinks it.  He places something gently in her hand. Which become visible as he releases it.  Its a small dart with a bit of blood on it, obviously the method of his poisoning.

"Yes, you are friends of the Lord Mayor, I do not doubt this, but this was a well organized and executed set up.  There will be many witnesses against you, and having been ill myself, I'm not sure how quickly, or even if, I can explain away what has been seen today.  Who wants you blamed with my attempted death, I need time to think.  If you stay, I'm afraid you will be arrested until things can be sorted out, that may not be pleasant.  If you flee though, you may be on the run until the plot can be revealed, and it lend to the case against you".

"You could declare us your bodyguards.  Looks like you'll need it, with plots comin' from within."

"I fear such a ploy would likely put the Lord Mayor in greater danger, and we likely would still be imprisoned," Marissa said. "I also believe that some of the pieces are coming together so that a clearer view starts to come into place. Seems the reach of the Illithids and their masters is greater than any of us thought. I would leave this place, head to my ship and make a short circle, then look to find a safe haven and potential allies.

Inas's state of consternation seems to diminish at Marissa's suggestion.  Clearly, the thought of leaving by ship had not occurred to him.  But then:

"We will appear guilty; but hopefully, that can be corrected later.  But we must warn Dreadi, in case efforts are made against our tower."

Marissa nods in agreement.

"The mayor," Rath said begrudgingly, "will have to identify us as assassins. Otherwise, he's dead." Rath was not happy. "You hear that, Mayor?"

He took a deep breath. "Let's go. To the tower? To your mother's? Or to your boat?"

Marissa looks sad.

"She used to call me Mari when I was a little girl. My mother, that is. Milord Mayor, you will seek her out, please once we are gone, and if it is in your power, you will protect her." It is not a request.

Firming herself, she turned to her companions and said, "To the tower first to secure needed items, then to the docks, and the Night's Wraith. I have a skeleton crew always on standby and she sits on the outer ring of docks for a fast exit when needed. Her draft is shallow so that we can weigh anchor even at low tide and she is fast as a...well, a wraith!"

Saliq frowned. 'I have more to say but I cannot say it here. No slight intended to you Lord Thyrandas but if the enemy can read minds they pluck the memory from your head. Once we are safe.'

As the party prepared to depart, Marissa leaned toward Saliq and quietly asked, "Can you weave your phantasm so that common soldiers and other such nuisances don't recognize us? I don't want to have to answer for broken bones or worse.

The decision made, the group heads out the clandestine way they entered, through the back entrance and out through the restaurant.  The back metal door to the Mayor's keep has been torn asunder, bent and ripped from the wall, the two guards outside are both unconscious, yet seem to be alive, though battered and bloody.

Given the length of the hallway though, any noise of combat or sense of danger did not make it beyond that hall, there is no one waiting to stop them as they exit, and the streets are normal and quiet as yet.  The coach that brought the group to dinner is nearby awaiting their return and nothing seems amiss as they ride back to the tower in peace.

Whatever is to happen, it seems to be a step behind the group, at least for the moment.

Rath looked miserable on the carriage ride. Evidently, thoughts were running through his head, showing up as emotions on his face -- anger, misery, worry, confusion, and an occasional smirk. Also evidently, none of those thoughts ran to any conclusion, as the expressions were short-lived and ever-changing. He fingered his amulet, the one that would bring answers to questions, but he had too many, and none could be answered with a yes or no. Damn the gods for imposing such ridiculous limits on their answers.

He waited for Saliq to say what he had to say. Rath hoped the wizard had somethings solid in mind, because he himself was at a loss.

The party returns to the tower in near silence, thoughts rushing through their heads.  What to do, secure the tower, warn Marissa's mother, flee into the night, and go where???  Something is afoot and it makes no sense.  There are two many factors at play and no time to sort them out.  Arriving at the tower, you find Twink sitting outside on the small courtyard beyond the entry gate.  When questioned about going back in, he shakes his head,

"No way, there is a ghost in there!  A woman, old and kindly,  keeps wanting to talk to me, but a ghost none the less....you can see through her.  Nope, no going in till she is gone".

Moving inside, you find her sitting in the recieving room, sipping steaming hot tea from a half visible china cup, the Lady Drusilla, in the flesh, so to speak.

"If she's kindly, what are you afraid of?" she asks Twink. "By the way, have you had word from your sister?"

Inas summons Dreadi and, while he waits, on a hunch he addresses Lady Drusilla.

"Lady Drusilla, how nice to see you; it has been a while.  Is this a social call, or have you news to convey?"

Saliq who had seemed lost in deep thought blinked, then smiled, his expression turning notably more cheerful. 'Wonderful to see you Lady Drusilla. You are looking well.'

Twink just shakes his, "friendly or no, she's a goodsdamn ghost....!".


Lady Drusilla, looks up from her tea, "Dear me, oh, thank you Saliq, always such good manners.  And it is true, I'm doing much better.  That wardstone has freed me to move about the tower again, and infused me with more substance.   Who knows, in a hundred years, I might even live again."

"Straight to the point Inas, true enough there seems little time for proper etiquette.  Being deceased does have some upside, its seems, as we said in my day, you have...well, stepped in it.  Not through your own fault, but none-the-less.  I see lines of intrigue and danger wound all about you, woven like a net, being drawn tighter.  Political strings, revenge strings, religious strings, very messy."

"Too much for me to understand or untangle.  Sometimes thought if you figure one strand out, cut it, the rest become easier.  I'd start with political, Inglebern, that nuisance.  Always seemed to know everything going on before it happened, I'd seek him out."

With that she returns to sipping her tea.

Mari laughs at Twink, rustles his hair before heading in. She listen's closely to Drusilla, then looks at the others once she's done.

"Well?" she asked. "Seems like the easier choice of the bunch. If we can figure out the political angle, maybe we can find linkage to the other choices."

As the party sits listening to Drusilla, the front door flies open, and slams shut, Twink comes running inside.

As he hauls past you, and heads up the stairs, "Ghost is better than octopus head..." he calls out as he disappears up the steps.

A moment later, there is knock at the door.