For Rel, the only thing pending is her judgement call (see Insight above) on whether Vale can hold her own.

Her guess is that she can't and would be a liability.  But if she can hold her own, she might be important if we encounter Vlad in an uncertain mindset where seeing his sister helps sway him over to our side.

Edited to add:  observing Vale and thinking it through, Rel decides her (and the group's) initial conclusion was right.  Better to leave Vale behind.  Not worth the risk.  Rel promptly follows Lana to go see the Marquis.

For those headed to the Office of the Marquis, you find yourself back at the round white marble building with a golden domed roof and make your way inside. Greeted shortly by Jersali as you approach the sign in station. "Ah good, you are here." She looks behind you and then back "Well most of you? Perhaps other pressing matters with the ruidium growing from the kobolds hand? Never the less, thank you for coming and thank you for your scouting and report of the manor, and the caves below. We should be escorted back to the Marquis shortly. Is there anything else I should know before we meet with her? 



For those headed to the Library, You take a moment to mount atop Lizzy and Bellamy commands Melby to take flight through the streets to The Library of the Cobalt Soul. Going slow enough for you to keep up, Lizzy's large frame does a decent enough job of not disturbing any merchant stands or bumping into the common folk wandering the town, beyond catching many looks of course. 

The large multi-story building has a grand entry way that leads into a circular foyer with high domed ceiling. The room's mosaic tile floor depicts the symbol of the Cobalt Soul. In the center of the room sits a crescent shaped desk with two scholars sitting at it writing in ledgers. A number of closed doors line the back side of the room.

Bellamy approaches the 2 scholars "Well met, we need help identifying what is Ruidium and how to remove it from the hand of my friend"

Tex with Lizzy next to him, after they unmounted when they had entered the library, offers his hand for inspection should there be any sign of interest by the scholars. 

After confirming Lana has provided Jarsali Firahel a full report already on the house, the tunnels and the ruidium/ritual, Rel does not have much to add.

She does mention that the sending stone that Jarsali had provided her is with Bellamy and Tex at the Library of the Cobalt Soul.

Zane coughs to draw some attention before they move up to meet the Marquis, "Don't know if Lana mentioned, but... there's two less of them than there were before. Probably, we don't have the element of surprise on our side."

He adds, "Also if you could produce a detailed map of the city and the surrounding area, then that would be much appreciated. I kept mental notes on the direction and duration we traveled, and considering we ended up at some running water, then we might be able to discern some alternate entrance."

There was nothing to add and Lana nodded to the words of others and indicating her readiness to meet the Marquis.

"Yes Zane." Jarsali says as you suggest the map "Depending on what the Marquis says, we can plan a strategy accordingly. I will provide a map of course and knowing what resources she will provide us will also aid in our strategy session." 

As she finishes speaking, Marquis Lapidus, greets you and says "Follow me please to my office." You follow her graceful steps upstairs and arrive in her office once more. Jarsali beckons you all to sit and begins to tell the story of what you all found on your journey to and below Briarwood Manor. The Marquis then looks to you all and says "How many Zhelezo do I need to spare. If this is indeed an attempt on The Clovis Concord then it must be stopped at all costs, even if it means lowering the cities defenses slightly for us to aid you in this assault. I can perhaps spare five of my own but that will be pushing it. If you think you can take less then please say so now, but we must make sure this is the end of this."



Bellamy and Tex  The scholars hardly take a look from their studies at first but as Tex shows his ruidium spiked hand to them, their attention is gained. "What did you call it? Ruidium?" A human man dressed in blue robes with a white sash says to you. 

"Sounds made up if you ask me" The other barks back, a young tiefling woman with thick coke bottle glasses says in a nasaly voice. 

The human scholar then replies "You think everything you haven't read about is made up. You ain't going to make it far in this place with that attitude." He then turns to Tex and says "Tell me more about it. I have not heard of Ruidium." 

Tex moves slowly closer to the interested scholar and lists his hand to provide a good view. Then he says, "I was exploring an underground cave system and found this mineral. It seemed to pulse magically, so I cast Identify to divine information about it. Strangely, I entered a trance and experienced a very realistic vision of events from the Calamity some 800 years ago. I remember words spoken, 'Moonweaver, help me save Perigee' , when an angelic creature was struck down by a demon. One of my companions identified the mineral as Ruidium and we came here to learn more about it. We actually found it close to a ritual site, so there is reason to believe that it is used in some sort of ritual, mayhaps something related to the moon that is full this night? Anyway, It appeared that during my vision I viewed through the eyes of someone else and when that person noticed, he expelled me and the vision and the trance ended. That was when I found that the mineral had fused with my hand."

Rel cannot help but notice that, unlike Jarsali Firahel, the Marquis does not utter a single word of thanks or appreciation for the danger the party faced and information they gathered the previous night in and under the Briarwood Mansion.  Only 'How many Zhelezo do I need to spare?'.

Such is the way of some leaders, I suppose, Rel thinks, remembering her mother.

"We do not know what we are up against, even now.  The brown-haired woman in violet and gold seems formidable, and she may have mages working with her.  But there could be others, like the two we tricked, then killed, or more monsters and undead as in the manor.  And the ritual itself is a wildcard."

Rel's dark earrings sway soundlessly as she shakes her head.  "So my colleagues may have their own opinions.  But as far as I am concerned, not knowing how much help we need, if any, I cannot answer if we need five Zhelezo or none, or if even a dozen would not be enough.  The choice is yours."

Tex, the glasses wearing nasally tiefling mutters to herself, "Yeah OK, likely story" and goes back to studying her book.

The other scholar rolls his eyes at the tiefling before commenting. "I am very familiar with the Calamity. Many of my studies, and the studies of many others here in The Cobalt Soul have devoted much time into finding out the truth and building a factual history of what happened during that time. Unfortunately, many of the stories of the battles and heroes have been lost through time. The intense chaos that was brought upon Exandria during The Calamity has caused many stories to be lost... A vision is quite intriguing. And a name to go with it....this is what we who study the Calamity live for! If you wouldn't mind waiting here a moment I can try and get a member with higher rank than I. I think that this is extremely fascinating and perhaps some of my superiors may know more."

The scholar enthusiastically awaits your response

Zane perks up as Rel finishes and quickly adds, "Five would be very much appreciated. Considering the underground setting then, faster, lighter, and stealthier fighters would be better. Darkvision is almost a must as well."

Quote from Drcornwallis >>

Tex, the glasses wearing nasally tiefling mutters to herself, "Yeah OK, likely story" and goes back to studying her book.

The other scholar rolls his eyes at the tiefling before commenting. "I am very familiar with the Calamity. Many of my studies, and the studies of many others here in The Cobalt Soul have devoted much time into finding out the truth and building a factual history of what happened during that time. Unfortunately, many of the stories of the battles and heroes have been lost through time. The intense chaos that was brought upon Exandria during The Calamity has caused many stories to be lost... A vision is quite intriguing. And a name to go with it....this is what we who study the Calamity live for! If you wouldn't mind waiting here a moment I can try and get a member with higher rank than I. I think that this is extremely fascinating and perhaps some of my superiors may know more."

The scholar enthusiastically awaits your response

 “Sure, thank you. Would you mind if we accompany you? Then we’d be able to recount the vision accurately to your superior and they can immediately judge better if it is of their interest to help us.”

"There are definitely magic-users and more than one there, in addition to those who began to perform the ritual. The woman in charge is not just formidable but she looks like Zhelezo squad is needed to apprehend her alone." Added Lana her view of the situation. She did not mind the business tone of the Maquis - the fewer formalities the better - and continued in the same "cut to the chase" manner. "So... You can spare some of the city Zhelezo plus five of your own? Is it correct? Then the question is if you want us to immediately attack or investigate first."

"The second option might be wiser, for we have not been in the ritual chamber and no not about the potential traps on the way there. In this case, Zhelezo can follow some distance behind to come to our aid momentarily. But we will need some means of communication."

I was starting to lose hope, but it looks like there is at least 1 passionate scholar here. Thinks Bellamy as he waits.

Tex, the scholar responds to your request to accompany him, "Oh the areas beyond require escort by an Archivist, one of which I am about to go and speak with. Please wait here, I will return shortly." He exits through one of the doors and returns about five minutes later followed by an older Tabaxi wearing the cobalt robes as the others but is adorned with a scholarly hat of the same color. 

He doesn't bother with a formal introduction and gets straight to it "There is little in this world that I have not heard of, Ruidium would now join into that group. Perhaps named after Ruidus would be my first guess but where would it come from. Show me your hand." He looks over the ruidum spike that is jutting out of the back of your hand "Similar in color to that of Ruidus so I could see why the mineral would be called such. Hmmm,  Cursed perhaps? This is quite odd. Well, what do you wish to do? I can lead you to areas of study on things related to your story. A wide array of books on curses, minerals, and of course The Calamity. Perhaps you may find the answer you seek with enough research?" The scholar then adds in "I can help in your research if you don't mind either. I am quite fascinated in this"

Rel, Zane and Lana, The Marquis responds. "I can spare five Zhelezo in total. The gala is this evening and if you are unable to stop whatever is happening we can not allow the leaders of The Clovis Concord to be less guarded than that. Where shall I have them meet you and how quickly?" Jarsali then adds in, "I will also be going with you. I believe my skills can be used, especially should things go poorly."

Zane bows and says, "Thank you. We have agreed with Jarsali to look at some maps to possibly stage a surprise attack. We will find out shortly if we have anything to go by and make a decision."

He continues, "In any case, we will be ready within half an hour?" as he looks to Jarsali for confirmation.

Zane turns back to the Marquis, "What is the latest time by which we should inform you of our success or failure?"

"Since no one is able to recognize the mineral, yes I will take you up on your offer of help. Do you perhaps have some gifted with removing cursed objects among your ranks?" says Bellamy.

"Wasn't it you, Bellamy, who identified the mineral as Ruidium?" Tex asks. "If it is so rare, don't you remember from how you know it? Perhaps that information could give them a lead start." (I'm really asking the DM how Bellamy knows that it is ruidium. Where did he get this information from? Or doesn't he remember?)

"Also, it might help you that we have reason to believe that this mineral is used, possibly in large amounts, in a ritual. Given its connection to the Calamity, perhaps, the ritual is a summoning ritual - or just a divination if it is about visions - but I feel it is about something stronger than just learning about the past. I fear someone might want to use it to start another Calamity - as crazy as that sounds - or does so inadvertently. Also, I find it rather strange that anyone would amass secretly a mineral that is barely known and so reactive to magic exposure, there is likely an evil intent with this ritual. Last but not least, we found it in a cave system below the Briarwood mansion, if that adds an important fact to your search, and it was brought in on a skiff, which means that it may have its origin somewhere else, possibly but not necessarily from some place underground."

Rel nods stoically, her earrings swaying and grey eyes cool.

"Five then.  And Jarsali.  Zane's point on choosing those with darkvision and better at Stealth is a good one.  Our companions have the other Sending Stone, paired with the one Jarsali has.  Assuming we join with them and Jarsali is coming with us, should we leave one of the stones behind with the Marquis so that we can relay a message without having to return in person?"