Shadows over Sigil - The Eternal Boundary

The Condemned Live Longer

"Only the sane can prepare for their madness."

Factol Lhar, in preparation for the Grim Retreat

First Guild Day of Retributus, 126 HR

When they woke up the next morning, Naghûl felt relatively well-rested and relaxed. They had spent the night in Lereia's new house and had been able to wash and have breakfast there. The kitchen was already stocked with Bytopian shepherd's bread, honey and hard cheese, as well as coffee and various teas. So they had sat on the cushions around the low table in the lounge for breakfast and discussed how they wanted to proceed. They had agreed with Jana that she would follow Eliath to his home or quarters when he left the Black Sails . They therefore considered going to the Athar's house and asking her about the latest situation. Since the Gatehouse was on the way there, they also wanted to pay a visit to the Bleakers. After all, they had made an agreement with the minotaur Blackhoof to inform him of any news regarding the murders, in return for which a certain Derioch would give them information about Eliath. Before they left, Lereia went to the Foundry to see old Nadilin, who was a kind of steward and concierge of the faction. She asked him for the copies that Ambar had made of Toranna's documents during the night. There was also a short note from the factol:

"Dear Lereia,

as we discussed at our meeting yesterday, I have sent an inquiry to the Hall of Information regarding the unknown mark on one of Toranna's documents. As I had indicated that the matter was officially urgent, the information was indeed made available to me early this morning. The red sun is a seal that is in use in Sigil. It belongs to a woman called Derioch Ysarl. She is a factotum of the Bleakers. I hope this information helps you in some way. I will contact you should I receive any further evidence regarding your current mission. Take care of yourself and your companions and do not take any unnecessary risks.

May the Lady's shadow never fall on you.

Ambar Vergrove"

Of course, this surprising information encouraged the group to go to the Gatehouse and ask for Derioch. Kiyoshi, however, did not miss the opportunity to make his daily status report at the Barracks and wanted to meet up with the others again at Jana's house. When Naghûl, Lereia and Sgillin reached the Bleakers' headquarters, it was bustling with activity as midday soup was being handed out to the poor and the orphans. They stepped up to one of the long wooden tables set up in front of the Gatehouse, bending under the weight of the many tin bowls and large, steaming iron pots. An older hobgoblin, whom they asked about Derioch, pointed wordlessly to the end of the next table, to a human woman with chin-length black hair, dressed in a simple brown linen robe. They walked over.

"Lady's Grace," Naghûl greeted her politely. "We have come because Blackhoof told us that you might be able to tell us something about Eliath's whereabouts."

The woman lowered the soup ladle she had been using to distribute a stew-like dish into the tin bowls. At least she didn't seem surprised by the request, so she probably knew what it was about. "About his whereabouts?" She lifted her shoulders. "No, not really. It's been a good while since I last saw him." She didn't appear openly unfriendly, but rather reserved.

"But he was here often?", Naghûl asked.

Now Derioch put the ladle aside and looked at him piercingly. "He was here," she replied curtly.

"Would you mind telling us why he was here?"

"Well." She tapped her forehead. "Just a madman."