Lana, you meet Jersali in her office she offers you some wine before sitting down listening intently as you recount every moment of the investigation, sipping on her own glass of wine as you do so. Her face grows more worried the further you tell. Waiting until you finish before saying anything. 

"Whatever they are doing it must have something to do with the gala tomorrow evening. I suspect an attack....We must put a stop to this. Tomorrow morning we must meet with the Marquis and explain everything. Gather the others first thing in the morning and meet me at the office of the Marquis right away." She finally stops to take a breath. "I fear if we do not, this may be the end of The Clovis Concord..." She finishes her glass and escorts you to the door. "Thank you..." She says sincerely as you leave and she shuts the door.

The rest of you that have headed to the Seaside in find it to be quite empty this time of night. There is a young, blonde-haired, dark red skinned tiefling behind the counter who lets you know the rooms are 8 silver each and there is no food available this late though there is some ale for any who wish at 5 copper a pint. 

You all do eventually find rest after recounting the day in your minds. (EVERYONE RECEIVES A LONG REST) 

The morning light shines in through your windows and the smell of breakfast wafts in from the tavern below. You remember that breakfast was included with the price of the room. Pastries, grilled meats and plenty of juice made of the local fruits and vegetables. 

Bellamy, you awake to see that Melby has just returned, perched on the window sill. Though it cannot speak to you, you have full confidence it has only returned because it has the information you sought. It can guide you to The Library of the Cobalt Soul at your command.

Anybody who heads downstairs will see a distraught Vale sitting at a table with Zandir who continues to try and calm her while nibbling at a pastry. 

Bellamy awakens with a yawn and opens the window to let Melby in sensing she accomplished her task "Thank you my friend after some breakfast I will have you lead me to the Library of Cobalt Soul" He stretches and then grabs his pack and spellbook as he heads down. Upon seeing Vale a pang of guilt hits Bellamy. Yes we could have pushed on, but I feel the need for more information. How am I going to explain this to Vale.

Bellamy orders some breakfast and then sits down at the same table as Vale "Vale we searched through the house and we could not located your brother and one of us is afflicted by some invasive mineral. We decided to come back here to rest and to find more information. Know that we have not given up".

Tex fell asleep before his head hit the pillow for a deep, dark, dreamless sleep. In the morning, when he woke, he immediately shot up into a sitting position all senses at alarm. He carefully checked his hand unsure if he just woke from a nightmare or if last nights’s events really happened. He sighed, the mineral was still there, but he checked if the corruption at his flesh had gotten any worse during his sleep. 

When he arrives to the breakfast room, he just overheard Bellamy’s words to Vale. He adds, “Your brother wasn’t in the mansion anymore. We looked in every corner, it was just full of traps. We’re lucky to still be alive. There is a large cave system under the house and we started to explore it to locate your brother but we couldn’t finish it, we were all spent. Also, we found some strange rocks that infected me in some strange way,” he shows her his hand. “Apparently it is used for some ritual and we guess that your brother might be at the ritual site. We have not given up, just as Bellamy said,” Tex tries to reinsure her further.

(8sp subtracted for room and board at the Seaside Inn).

Rel awakes groggily, a little surprised not to have been roused earlier by any message from Jarsali Firahel via the sending stone.  She only remembers one dream, muddled and strange, in which tendrils of dark red began to encroach into her dark earrings, her black warhammer, her dusky skin itself.  Sprouting as if growing blood vessels feeding foul, cursed flesh.  She shudders in revulsion and disquiet.

At least Vrakath has not made another appearance, she thinks to herself stoically.  That we know of...

Coming downstairs, Rel hears her companions' attempts to reassure Vale, reaching for her father's divine guidance.  She clasps Zandir on the shoulder briefly in friendly greeting, then looks the distraught woman in the eye, sitting or otherwise getting on her level.

"Something big is happening here, Vale.  Bigger than any of us.  You have my word I will strive my utmost to stop it and save your brother, and I believe my companions will too.  We must keep our minds steady and our emotions calm.  We have potential allies in at least some of the Zhelezo, and perhaps the Marquis himself.  And some research to do on ruidium at the Library of the Cobalt Soul, as Bellamy said to understand what we are up against."

Persuasion plus Guidance to calm Vale:  16 + 4 = 20 (dirty) 

Vale takes in what you all say and lifts her head up. "You need more help, I can help." She lifts the dagger she was given and stands ready .Zandir gently grabs her arm "If what they say is true, this is far beyond anything you or I can do. We need to let them, and the Zhelezo handle it. It is the best chance your brother has." Vale backs off. "You are right, I just can't stop thinking about him, my poor brother..." She goes silent at the table.

(She seems to trust you at your word in not giving up.)

Zane joins the others quietly.

"Zandir, any sign of your guy?"

Once everyone is back together Bellamy says "Melby my owl knows the way to the Library of the Cobalt Soul. I can lead everyone when ready" he give Melby some food and pay the Innkeeper before heading out.

"We definitely will but not right away. Good morning, everyone." Lana - fresh, energetic and collected - walked to the table when Bellamy declared the plans of visiting the library. "A word from Jersali - we all are expected to meet her at the office of the Marquis. Now."

She looked at Zandir and Vale as if remembering who that can be, then at Tex's hand (with a tinge of sad disapproval) and added. "The situation is so serious, we might have only a day before the catastrophe. So, if you are done here, I suggest we get going."

Tex stares at Lana, “Surely, we can stop by the library to ensure that my situation doesn’t impede the operation?” He half asks half states. “The mineral might grow and begin to adversely affect my judgement or worse. And if that wasn’t enough, should we not - at the very least - have a tiny bit of information about what we should expect? My accident might be the least dangerous of the effects the mineral can subject us to. With larger quantities perhaps someone can turn us all into ruidium zombies. Walking back there totally blind to the dangers seems unwise to me.”

Zane says, "Tex, it's probably going to take days to find something useful there. Or are you hoping that there's some individual there who might immediately know about this? I mean, I can come with you and we can set things in motion, then agree to meet up with the rest at about..."

He looks at Lana, ".. hour and a half or so?"

A little bit embarrassed Tex admits, “I did think that there would be someone there who would know at a moment’s notice. I didn’t think that this would need to be researched by someone. You may be right. But what then? We should simply run and jump into the dark and see where it gets us? All for this Clovis Concord? I hope Jersali has good reasons, or very valuable reasons, for us to continue her work and I will be severely handicapped with only one hand not even taking into account what that mineral will do.”

"How urgent does attack on the gala tonight sound? I am glad that you finally began to worry about your wound, but you were adamant about not doing anything about it just a few hours ago. Did something change? So much so, that the short visit to the officials is out of question? No one said we will have to go straight into battle from there."

Lana's expression softened and she added. "Jersali does think the situation is dire. She wanted us there "first thing in the morning". I can notify her, of course, that you decided to take a detour. We can also do as Zane said - split, so some of you go with me to Marquis, and you with, say, Bellamy, go to the library. Up to you, but who knows? Maybe at the office of the Marquis there will be someone who knows about the mineral? Maybe your very symptoms will tell about the nature of the ritual?"

“Not doing anything about it?” Asks Tex unbelieving. “I want to study it as I wanted since the beginning. I only didn’t want uncaring priests to dabble in things they don’t understand and make things worse at a high price point.”

”I think it’s a good idea to initiate a more thorough research at that library.”

"I believe Rel has the sending stone, so she can come with Tex and I to the library or lend me the sending stone. Anything of import at the meeting can be relayed through the stone." says Bellamy.

“That sounds like a good plan.” Tex agrees. “Who wants to come with me? I’d say Bellamy would be ideal as he knows about the Cobalt Soul. But in principle I could even go alone if you all think it is most important to appear to Jersali’s summons at the earliest.”

Zane says, "My offer stands as well, and I've spent a fair amount of time in libraries. But Bellamy makes more sense as he has a connection and should be able to get the people to help out. If Rel can give the sending stone to either of them, then we can coordinate, once, via that."

Rel acquiesces to giving the sending stone to whoever needs to take it to the library.

With Vale having been so eager to join, she wonders if her presence might be important in case Vlad is there and his mental state comes into question.  She attempts to discern whether Vale can hold her own in a fight at any level beyond that of a commoner, casting guidance on herself first.

Rel Insight plus Guidance:  21 (natural 20) + 1 = 22

Bellamy takes the sending stone and looks to Tex "Lets be off for the Library" He then releases Melby into the air "Show us the way my friend" Bellamy follows his Owl until they reach the library.

Tex nods to Bellamy and shoulders his pack before leading Lizzy out of the inn. “We’ll catch up with you as soon as possible. Take care!” He says to the others as he steps outside. On the street Tex mounts Lizzy and offers Bellamy to ride alongside him as they are both small, he thinks Lizzy should be able to manage, “Hop on, if you’d like. We might be a tad quicker on Lizzy’s back.” Should Bellamy accept, Tex will sprinkle a tiny bit of dust over Lizzy to cast Longstrider increasing her speed further to 50 feet for one hour.

Lana nodded. "With this settled, should we be on our way too?" With both Zane and Rel - witnesses and explorers of the mission - the Marquis would get the full picture, while there was still a chance to get more information from the library at the same time.

Once everyone was ready, the small group could head straight to the office.