It wasn't often Mijira felt small next to someone, but this man was huge. She nodded, agreeing with Dathyra and added, "Yes. Holg should know about this. We may be able to use himself against himself when the time comes. When people fear you, they usually want to see you gone. Maybe we can find more traitors among their ranks." Mijira watched the man go sizing him up. She had a bad feeling that if it came to blows she was going to be toe to toe with this giant of a man.

Once they had started to reach the end of the market, Dathyra started reading the letter Jodon had found. "A brother? Well, that does explain part of his involvement in this. It means we're going to have to be careful to watch for innocents, so as not to see them harmed. Silver and bottles, though...I think that does confirm my suspicions that they're creating some kind of a substance using the dead. As to what, I have no ideas yet. I have my doubts that Kelbin will be extremely familiar with Kristoff's associates, but we may be able to get some information."

"This Kristoff guy seems to have a lot of people working for him. This whole thing seems to get bigger and bigger the more we look. No wonder his plans are starting to backfire."

Upon arriving at the townhouse that is Kelbin's manor, the party is greeted at the door by a half elf. He introduces himself, "Greetings and good morning. I am Kelbin's house servant, Raelon. Might I ask what business brings you three to this door?"

Dathyra nodded politely. "Hello, Raelon. We had spoken with Kelbin yesterday about a favor he needed of us. We have some information for him and a few questions to ask. That is, if he isn't too busy."

Raelon nods his understanding and places a hand on his blue doublet. "Ahh, yes. Master Kelbin informed me that you might come, although he mentioned a larger party. No matter - if you would be so kind as to follow me, and I will inform the master of your arrival."

Raelon leads the three companions into the main hallway, passing a door on the right and into an open room set up with a couple low tables and three, large comfortable couches. A grandfather clock ticks giving sound to the room.

Jodon stares at the grandfather clock, alternating between being fascinated by the mechanism and wondering if the loud ticking indicates a defect in need of repair.

Kelbin enters the room while Jodon is inspecting the grandfather clock with an packed, unlit pipe in hand. His eyes sparkle with hope, happy to be hearing news so soon. His mouth opens to say something, but he never gets more than a syllable out before he stops. His eyes are trained on Mijira, who he does not recognize. He then looks to Dathyra and Jodon for an explanation and says,  "Good morning to you all. You two I have met, and I don't mean to be rude, but what is the meaning of this dragonborn being here? Where is the rest of your team?" All hope seems to leave his eyes when he continues, "Has something terrible happened?"

Dathyra paused, waiting to see if he had more to add to the barrage of questions. When there seemed to be none left, she spoke. "Things haven't quite gone as...planned. The half-elf ended up choosing not to go in search with us at all. And Sly, er the Tiefling..." She remembered Kelbin had not even learned their names in his desperation to find his friend. "Abandoned us when things became complicated. Our half-orc friend, Holg, is back at the Keg on another errand for us. This is Mijira, and she was a prisoner in Kristoff's home. That is why we're here. Kristoff seems to have fallen in with suspicious characters. We've found no sign of Arlen yet, and we're not sure how much of a connection he has to Kristoff's recent...business. We were hoping you might help us with a few things.

Kelbin's eyes widen and his face hardens into a mask of concern and outrage at the mention of Mijira being a prisoner. "Another prisoner!? This is not acceptable behavior in Neverwinter. What did he have to say for himself?" He draws on his unlit pipe, which he quickly realizes is out, then he pockets the thing in his coat.

Mijira sits in the center of one of the couches with her arms spread along the top both ways, watching this situation play out. She's watching for signs that Kelbin might know more than he's letting on. She doesn't trust him and he was a smoker. One more strike and he was out in her book.

Dathyra shook her head in confusion. "What do you mean 'another?' Has Kristoff been known for this kind of behavior before?"

Kelbin looks just as confused for a moment, then understanding dawns on him. "Did you not find Kristoff or Arlen then? I am still convinced that he kidnapped him. He probably has him locked away in a wine cellar or something. What is it that you wanted to know? His dealings with suspicious characters started long ago - it's no secret that he sells stolen goods."

She shook her head. "We have not physically seen either. There is evidence to suggest that Kristoff is indeed still present, but very well hidden. As to Arlen, we have found almost no clues to his whereabouts." She recalled that Jodon was convinced that Wendel might have known something about Arlen, but given the nature of his curse, it would be near impossible to determine what it was he knew. "So, you are somewhat familiar with Kristoff's dealings. Have you seen anyone new or peculiar he has been seen with in the days before his disappearance? We did find a note he had written to someone he only refers to as 'R.' I'm sure that's not much to go on, and you did try to avoid him, but perhaps you may know something that could lead us in the right direction?"

Not taking his eyes off the clock, Jodon adds "and, if it is no secret that he sells stolen goods, perhaps you know more about the nature of the goods he deals, and some of his customers.  Either could have played a part in Arlen's disappearance."

Kelbin strokes his bearded chin as he thinks before replying, "I am afraid I do not know what goods he dealt in. I just know, as many merchants do, that they are ill-gotten gains that should be avoided. I do not personally know any of his customers, but if I had to guess where he was selling, I would say the docks district where things are a bit less organized and can easily be loaded onto a ship heading out of the city." Looking to Dathyra, he shakes his head apologetically, "I don't know his associates either. I do know that he has left with more than a few caravans headed through the north gate. What of his groundskeepers or servants? Surely they know more about him that I could hope to know."

Dathyra nodded in understanding. "It was a bit of wishful thinking, but I understand. Unfortunately, I think he's made sure those who work for him are kept silent." It would be foolish to think that Wendel was the only one cursed to secrecy. "Thank you for taking the time to try, though. I have only one last question, unless my companions have their own questions." 

She looked over at Jodon, who was still watching the clock and Mijira, who was eying Kelbin suspiciously. She rummaged in her bag for the religious relic. "We happened to find this on our search near Kristoff's manor. Now, I spent most of my time as a healer in the temple, so sometimes knowledge of religious symbols slips my mind. Perhaps you have seen something like this before?"

Watching Kelbin closely as Dathyra showed him the symbol Mijira says, "There were zombies in Kristoff's manor. These symbols were inside them." The dragonborn felt a small wave of nausea come over her thinking about the zombies. She could deal with death and bodies having seen her fair share of combat, but undead creatures were a foul mimicry of life. It sickened her greatly to think that anyone would use a corpse in any fashion other than to bury it.

Kelbin's interest is clearly peaked when Dathyra begins rummaging through her pack, talking about something they had found. He steps closer intrigued, and when he sees the symbol, he cocks his head in vague recognition; he reaches out for it with a, "May I?" The exchange changes abruptly as Mijira enters the conversation, however. Kelbin's hand retracts quickly as if the thing might harm him and his face screws up in a look that conveys disgust. He looks at Mijira and says, "Zombies!? Do you mean to say that there are walking corpses in Kristoff's home?" He backs up a step, then he decides to sit down on the couch nearest Jodon. His face is pallid and the man looks as if he might hurl. To himself more than anyone else he says, "Kristoff, what have you done?"