Rel takes a deep breath, trying to mask her apprehension.

As she walks in the gilded double doors, she prays for her father's divine Guidance to find the right path when speaking to the... 'Zhelezo' inside?

Walking through the doors under the statue you find yourself in a long hall, about 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. The walls raise to the ceiling about 30 feet above your heads. Every 20 feet a marble statue on a pedestal sits against each wall. At the feet of each statue stands a guard. About halfway down the hall on the left is a stairwell leading up to the second floor and at the end of the hall, a large double reinforced door is closed with two guards on either side. A small desk is set to one side where a book keeper sits inspecting some papers.

Zane goes up to the book keeper.

"Hello, my name is Zane. We were directed here by one of the Zhelezo to properly report the murder of a ships captain this past night on a ship docked here. The Zhelezo themselves went to investigate the ship. What would be the correct procedure in this matter?"

Rel stands next to Zane, trying and not entirely succeeding in looking optimistic that this bureaucratic exercise will lead anywhere.

Perhaps all it will do is make it less likely that the Zhelezo will come after us as suspects in the murder of the Captain.

She feels a stab of worry at the young guard investigating the Dragonfly on her own.  Maybe we should have gone with her.  If Vrakath is there again...

Bellamy hopes that justice can be found with Vrakath dead, Though he is quite slippery. He waits to see what the book keeper says.

On entering the building, Tex unmounts Lizzy and leaves her at the door. Nervously he walks through the hall following his companions at a growing distance as he stops to look at all the statues from as close as the guards permit. When he finally catches up, he whispers to the others but in earshot of the clerk, “What a place this is. It looks like a temple from the stories. I wonder who are all these people that they made statues of them.”

The book keeper looks up and you see now a pale skinned elf with very thick glasses resting on the bridge of his large pointed nose. In a nasally voice he says "Hmmm, murder you say? Well then, give me your names and a description of what happened so I can write it down here in our records for the Zhelezo captain to investigate. Hmmm, best to be as descriptive as possible yes?" 

Zane says, "So we arrived in port yesterday and split from the captain to go eat and sleep in the inn. What happened after that Zandir here can fill in."

He steps aside and nods to Zandir to take it from there.

(essentially not omitting anything, but also framing the event to start from when we left the ship)

Zandir fills in the details, describing Vrakath, his bloodlust, his need for vengeance, and his connection to The Revelry. The book keeper stops taking notes and looks up at Zandir and the rest of you as he mentions the connection to The Revelry. "Are you certain he is working with The Revelry? Oh goodness, we must inform the Marquis at once!"  He pulls out a schedule book and flips through the pages, running his finger down the last few pages before stopping, "The Marquis can be available in ten minutes if you all don't mind waiting. I am sure she will want to hear it straight from you all."

"Yes I will wait as its important we meet the Marquis who probably has the power and resources to hunt the murderer down." says Bellamy

Rel quietly asks Zandir and the others:  "Are we certain that Vrakath is with The Revelry?  The others seemed to be, but Vrakath acted unconcerned about their fate.  It is as if he was only using them and their captured ship, and when he saw we were stronger, planned to use us instead."

And even more quietly, out of earshot of the bookkeeper, "if this Marquis is in league with The Revelry, then this sudden urgency could be to act against us.  Perhaps accuse us of the murder and apprehend us.  Still, I will wait with the rest of you and hope I am just being paranoid.  Just everyone be ready."

"Only one way to find out. lets stay on our toes and see what happens next" whispers Bellamy.

Tex says, “We should give space for the queries of other citizen,” and motions the group to move a little bit away from the clerk to get some privacy. Then, he comments, not too silent as to give the impression they have something to hide but quiet enough that he is not overheard by guards or book keeper, “Should we mention that a vampire is involved, too? Now that we’re here. They could help us with that as well. I think you wanted to feel out the official channels about that problem, too, right?”

Zane nods, "Lets see how they react to what we told the clerk first. We are nobodies and if we start dropping a very large story then we might get laughed out of here. We don't have a whole lot of proof to support any of our claims."

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, a Zhelezo officer calls from the stairwell down the hall, "The Marquis will see you now, follow me!" Ascending the stairs leads you partially oustide to a stone balcony that overlooks the ward. It has a clear view up the hill to the Skyport and the crescents beyond. Two large double doors sit open providing entry inside. Inside the second floor you find the Offices of the Marquis. The massive chamber has been split into five sections by large stone walls that converge in archways at its center where a round anti chamber exists allowing passage to each area of the building. In the center of the anti chamber stands a round desk on a raised platform. Sitting at the desk are five bureaucrats who are busily working, talking with others who approach them, and directing people to different areas within the building. Other bureaucrats go about their daily business within the offices.

The Zhelezo officer leads you to the rear of the second floor, and into the Marquis' large, private office. Standing as you enter behind a large desk is a tall human woman with dark skin and hair. Bright green eyes with a hardened smile. She wears a blue, non-formal robe and a golden clasp holds her long hair back in a ponytail. She nods as you enter "Please come in, have a seat." She gestures to a sitting area with crimson cushioned furniture and a table set with tea and pastries. "Please, help yourselves as we speak. I am Marquis Olesya Lapidus. Book-keeper Talin has told that you have had a run in with The Revelry and that one has committed a murder within my city. Please, explain this business in great detail."

Rel pours herself some tea and is on the verge of avoiding the pastries but then remembers Bellamy.  She takes one and nudges it over in the plump tabaxi's direction so he can enjoy it along with however many pastries he ends up taking himself.  As she is getting refreshments, she uses it as cover to cast Guidance on herself in the hopes of persuading Marquis Olesya Lapidus.  Rel's own tea begins cooling, forgotten as the half-drow begins speaking.

"Thank you, Marquis.  Most of us were hired to protect cargo being transported aboard the Dragonfly, under the command of Captain Flame on Water, from Port Zoon.  We departed in the early evening day-before-yesterday, bound here for Port Damali.  We soon encountered trouble in the form of a squall which blew us off course to the west and an attack from what I am told was a Swavain Basilisk which we were able to slay."

"The following morning as the Captain set us back on course, we were set upon by the Revelry.  On a ship larger and swifter than the Dragonfly which we later discovered they had attacked and commandeered.  In truth, they did not assault us immediately, but seemed to have a personal grievance with the Captain, insisting that he meet with them.  Wishing to spare us, the Captain boarded their vessel alone, asking us to abandon him and sail away as he provided a distraction.  Perhaps unwisely, we refused to abandon him and as his distraction began, a battle ensued.  We slew the Revelry pirate captain and his four men, a light crew for such a large vessel, but there was another.  A thin green humanoid named Vrakath with a lethal magic sword."

"The Captain denounced Vrakath as a killer, apparently from past experience.  Vrakath behaved strangely, teleporting with magic between ships and staying aloof from the fight initially.  But once we were victorious over the other Revelry pirates, he demanded to join us, which the Captain refused.  In the resulting fight, Vrakath seemed initially confident in his ability to overcome us all single-handedly, but was soon surprised that he could not, though he was deadly and nearly did slay one of us.  As the battle swung against him, he used a strange rod to disappear, apparently teleporting away.  We could not detect him anywhere, even looking for invisible creatures.  We licked our wounds and left the other ship drifting, making for Port Damali."

"Upon arrival and delivery of our cargo, we all spent the night at the Seaside Inn, but the Captain was insistent that he would need to sell the Dragonfly after the run-in with the Revelry.  He and First Mate Zandir were in the process of readying the ship this morning as the rest of us were still having breakfast.  Zandir describes Vrakath arriving, seething at his earlier defeat, holding Zandir in place with magic and mutilating the Captain, torturing him for information.  Apparently information on our location.  That is the reason for the condition of the Captain's body.  We found Zandir near dead when we arrived at the Dragonfly and were able to heal him.  But Vrakath is at large and very dangerous, both as a fighter and as a spell-caster who can teleport."

Rel's Persuasion plus Guidance:  25 +3 = 28 if she receives help for advantage, or 23 + 3 = 26 if not.

She follows Zane's advice and does not yet bring up the situation with Vale and vampire-bitten undead Vlad.  The account of him being under the effect of a Geas and taken to the old Briarwood manor in The Crescents district of Port Damali.  Let's see how the Marquis takes the Vrakath situation first.

Bellamy stares a bit at the bureaucrats, and then looks at the marquis. Seems to be a very capable person. He then sits and eats a pastry while drinking tea. 2 sips in and Rel has pretty much summed up what we know so far.

He stays silent for now to see how the Marquis reacts.

The Marquis, still standing and pacing as you relay the story ponders to herself for a minute after you finish. "So this...Vrakath. You are not sure if he is with The Revelery, yet he was indeed working with them in some way. Hmmm, perhaps hired muscle. Nevertheless, he has a connection to those damned lawless fools. If word is to get out about The Revelery returning to Port Damali, well, lets just say I spent many years and a great deal of taxpayers money to rid my city of them once and for all. My citizens would not be happy. Seek him out and kill him. Bring me proof when he is dealt with. His head for all I care. I will not stand for any connection to The Revelry within Port Damali again." She pours herself some tea at this moment before continuing. "It would be a shame for you to be the ones to lead The Revelery back to my city." She returns to her desk and sips her tea as she gestures to the Zhelezo officer to escort you from her office.

“Wait a moment Marquis. Can you offer us aid or a guide as we are new to this city. I don’t even know any of the names of the districts. We need your influence for a city wide man hunt. We have no leads. That was why we came to you” says Bellamy with a touch of desperation. 

"Hmmm, you bring about The Revelery and yet still ask such things. Normally I would decline such a request however" She sips her tea once more "I cannot afford to let anything related to The Revelry within my city. Seek out Jarsali Firahel. She frequents a tavern called The Bee and Bugle, over in the Beaded Alley. Give her this and she will guide you as needed." She hands you a large brass coin with a depiction of a hooded, armored woman sitting atop a throne of pillars. Below the woman is a scale, perfectly balanced. "This will let her know I have sent you. She is to be trusted."