Inside Job

 

You awoke to begin your journey again into Solfare.  Bam-Bam is slowly, "earning" his stuff back as he questions everyone to see who has it.  I.G. grants it to him willingly, though only one piece at a time.  Once arriving at Solfare, you begin to ask around the lower market area concerning "James" who you last knew was headed back to Solfare many centuries ago with a shard of the crystal.  Most laugh since "James" seems to be a very common name here, mostly owing to the founder of the Solfare Siege Workshop after Nylus was abandoned centuries ago.

 

A magical alchemist’s shop near the end of the market, near where the road leads up to the high castle keep above, catches the eye of Raiden along with Frank.  While the others go to inquire about town, Raiden is looking for that boost of power and defense he so craves and begins to negotiate with the shop keep for a ring of protection.  The Alchemist agrees to bargain for a lower price in exchange for a favor, to take a flask of unknown content to the Siege Workshop in the Castle keep above.  The deal is struck, and he heads on his way to the siege workshop, not after lusting for a staff of power sitting behind a barrier of glass in the shop.

 

On their way to the Siege Workshop, Raiden and Frank happen upon Binx and Calvin who appear to be taking notes and comparisons to the blueprints they found on the bandits earlier.  While Calvin records them in his book, it seems to be a direct representation of the Castle they see ahead.  Calvin is resolved to return the blueprints to the rightful owners and proceeds up the mountain side with everyone.

 

The guards are hesitant to let just anyone in, but you do have business here and convince him of that.  Raiden hands over the flask to the summoned Siege Workshop Captain, but the man doesn't give Raiden the time of day before quickly moving back towards the workshop.  The Captain of the Guard (Milton) escorts them to the main castle and to the entry hall where Calvin presents the blueprints to a skeptical Lady Capret who oversees the Town while her husband is away in Forsdon.  The Captain of the Guard's sister, Emma, is her Lady in Waiting and the royal interpreter of the seasons.  She carries an old, but well cared for leatherbound book under her arm wherever she goes.  She takes the group out to the courtyard that overlooks the general Keep enclosure and shows them the sundial with its missing crystal.  You have surmised that it likely held the shard that James took.

 

As Lady Capret huffs off seemingly annoyed at being bothered, Emma attempts to apologize on her behalf and offers to escort them back to the lower market.  Emma explains why the sundial is so important as it has always been able to predict the exact growing season and crop for their farms and the outlying areas.  She and Milton explain some of the hesitancy in several to trust appearances of those dressed like Binx as there have been several thefts, vandalisms and disturbances around the town besides the sundial crystal.  While the people of the town don't generally know it, the disturbances happen at the castle too, but the Lady tries to keep it hushed and puts up a front.  To the town, this seems like ignorance to a large problem that they are experiencing, but the truth is that no one has caught anyone responsible to date, only floated a description of Kamanthal Nomads as the culprits.  One thing is certain, it seems to happen just after dusk every night for the past several weeks.

 

Emma heads about her business in town while the others all meet up together with IG and Bam-Bam who have been asking questions in the tavern.  Frank receives divine insight that he should attempt to help the people find the source of the thefts in town and stays behind with Raiden, who doesn't want to see that Lady %^$#! again.  The others attempt to head up into town again meeting up with Emma who agrees to get them inside the Castle again to show them a picture in the Great Hall of her ancestor Marla and her research partner James, who together founded the Siege Workshop.  While not strictly used for "Siege" today, it still focuses on powerful technology that they use in all sorts of ways.  Emma quickly dismisses herself and hurries to the Sundial Courtyard where she appears to attempt to replace the crystal with one that doesn't quite fit the same way.  She appears desperate to try this fix for it before the last light of day fades.  As it does, the disturbances begin.  The town below also seems to be in an alarm.

 

The Castle guards rush about as reports shout out from dark areas of the keep that they might have seen something.  Calvin and Binx notice it as a distraction and it draws several people away from the Siege Workshop where people continue to sneak inside.  As the team follows, they find several "researchers" who aren't carrying their swords and equipment in the name of research alone, along with the Siege Workshop Captain and an animated armor, similar to the ones in the arena.  The captain quickly puts up a flame wall and ducks into his office, closing the door behind.  While our heroes battle in the workshop, Bam-bam, loving the fiery atmosphere, and IG pull off some daring maneuvers to bring down the resilient researchers.  Calvin and Binx apply some close quarters beat downs to their foes.  When the flames dissipate, they move into the office, only to find no one there.  Some quick investigation finds a tunnel leading downward behind a bookshelf.

 

Down in the town, Frank and Raiden approach the jeweler’s shop where a city police guard is waving people to return to their homes.  The windows of the shop are broken in and he tells people they are investigating.  As the crowds disperse, Raiden intimidates the man into letting them look inside.  Upon entering, they find rocks that broke the windows inside, but not much else disturbed.  When turning to inquire more to the guard, they find he's sneaking away, down a side alley.  As they follow him down several side streets and alleys, they end up following him through a door where in a small room, there are three guards, all dressed in city guard attire, who immediately respond to the surprise with a fight.  After subduing the three men, they find some money along with a list of marked locations that seem to match the reported thefts and vandalisms in the town.  The only place to appear multiple times is the Jewelers shop that was hit today.  They decide to head up to the Castle to tell the rest of the group what they found.

 

Raiden and Frank arrive just as the rest of the group are preparing to head down into the secret tunnel.  They fight and subdue the Siege Workshop Captain, while also finishing off the animated armor which is pinned by a boulder against the wall, seemingly the result of a triggered trap.  They begin to settle down for the night in a Harry Potter Tardis tent that's bigger on the inside before proceeding as they have endured much and need the rest desperately.