Gerrard:

Responding quietly to the dwarf, Gerrard says, "That would explain a lot, Master Qivys, though I hope for Kei's sake he is still human and salvageable."

"Interesting set of connections...all leading back to a particular warehouse," says Gerrard.  "Perhaps our next stop will be of some use before this late afternoon delivery," he adds, "Though I am probably better suited to the seafaring portion of our investigation than this subterfuge..."

Turning to Peri, he says, "At your discretion, Master Fenwader," deferring to the halfling's judgement on dealing with the underworld element here.

It is approaching noon. (Constable Jute had excused herself to get to work before this most recent meeting.)

Grotten continues to offer her pricey private eye services. (Any jobs you want to hire her for?)

And what would you like to do next?...

- Visit Thornwell to give your report to date and ask about Peri's shoes?

- Wait to intercept Loquid on his delivery to Mr. Dory's warehouse?

- Wait to visit 'The Squat Neck' near Frother’s Lamp in the Low Quarter and try to intercept the false Kei?

- Go shopping? (At Melody's place, or elsewhere?)

- ...Find the sunken Tammeraut? ...Return to Saltmarsh? ...Something else?

Peri:

Peri listens to Grotten's report, growing more concerned as it goes on. They hadn't really known much about Kei's past before coming to Saltmarsh; was this a drastic change or was he perhaps reverting to his character? No, Kei had been sketchy, sure, but not outright murderous. He flips another platinum coin to Grotten. "You've done a good job. I don't wanna drag you into any more danger than you might already be in."

He huddles up with the others. "Everything comes back to Dory and his warehouse. I don't really care about these murders, but it seems like Kei's tangled up in this mess too. I don't know about vampire charms," he says to Qivys's suggestion. "I didn't see any other vampires there, but then I wasn't exactly myself by the time I went through the portal. Maybe this Dory is a blood-sucker too, or some other kinda mind-controller, like the devil we ran into in that library. Right now I think we oughtta go see what our patron has to say. Question is, do we mention all these connections to Dory? She might have useful information if we do, but she just as easily might tell us to back off. These ritzy types get awful touchy about common folk makin' 'em look bad."

Gerrard:

"I'll bring up the matter of Dory obliquely," says Gerrard to his friends, "and you watch the Councilor's reaction.  If you think it is safe, give me a sign and I'll reveal the connections to the city leaders."

As they walk back towards the Thornwell estate, Gerrard adds, "For my part, I expect the Councilor is already suspicious of high level connections to the murders given how circumspect she wished us to be in mentioning her name.  I think what we have found might come as confirmation of her worries, not a surprise."

Thwack 

Looking up at the others from the middle of the bunched adventurers, Thwack listens and nods at every suggestion. When Peri finishes talking he chimes in with "You know, me can sneak into warehouse easy. Thwack so tiny no body see. You can all go see boss lady and me sneak. Or I follow Terry. Me no care."

Grotten pockets the platinum piece in a flash. "If you have any untoward ideas regarding the warehouse, look me up. Talk to me before you do anything rash. Melody knows how to find me." And unless you have any further questions, she departs into the shadows.

The walk back to Thornwell Tower goes smoothly, although you sense that the ever-present local militia upon re-entering the High Quarter seems to be keeping an eye on you.

The black-and-red, ice-cold door opens, as the young nameless doorman once again lets you in, and into the parlour to wait for Thornwell. She appears, wearing meticulously-oiled leather armor in a similar-but-different black-and-red scheme from your last visit. 

"Good afternoon, my resourceful detectives. Please sit. What have you learned? Tell me what you know."

Gerrard:

"Greetings, Councilor Thornwell," responds Gerrard, bowing formally, "We indeed have learned a few things from our investigation, though we did not mention your name--fortuitously, it seems."

"We visited the Hopene’er Asylum, where Emil Trantor was kind enough to escort us to Jarme's cell after informing us that a councilor was permitted to see him before his execution.  The drawings in his cell were disturbing and confusing, but to my mind they showed depictions of a tentacled horror out of legend--an Aboleth--devouring the Styes," adds Gerrard, pausing a moment to see what Thornwell's reaction is, especially when he mentions the unnamed councilor.

Insight:  11

Qivys follows along, saying nothing.
He does fiddle with his ear now and then. 

Thornwell seems unfazed by Gerrard's news. "An aboleth, I see. Grave news, if this proves to be an accurate omen. But we must have facts, not just the drawings of a madman. It's important to follow the facts, and to follow them wherever they lead. And if a counselor were found to be involved in this in any nefarious ways, you have my full permission to bring them to justice."

"What else have you learned?"

Gerrard:

"Indeed," Gerrard continues, "Yesterday evening we made contact with Constable Jute, who was kind enough to show us the scenes of two of the recent murders this morning--not including that of our Procanite Priestess, of course.  The site where Constable Jute found Jarme crouched over the body was Hemlock Pit, a noxious pond just below a suspended ship and attached by a tubular passage to a rather busy warehouse--owned by the same councilor, if I am not mistaken."

"The other murder site was nearby, and the body was *mostly* gone, cremated on orders of a certain councilor, it would seem.  The Constable recalled that the body had been torn apart, almost as a display of savagery, by something very strong and perhaps using a piercing weapon.  At this more recent site, we were able to learn that three web-footed creatures left the scene of the murder and headed to...a certain councilor's warehouse," he adds carefully.

"I see," responds Thornwell, measuring her words. "Mister Dory is my colleague on the Council. All the more reason to keep my name completely out of this. He deserves the respect and good faith due to him as a ruler of this city, so be very, very certain of your accusations before you proceed. Nevertheless, if that is where the facts bring you, I will not stop you from administering justice. The warehouse is his, as is the vessel. They are well-guarded by his guards and minions, I can assure you. I understand his office is inside the vessel. If you choose to visit him, I cannot directly help you, other than assuring that the city militia will look the other way, should anything happen."

Gerrard:

”As of yet, all we have is evidence that Mr. Dory is linked to the murders—and their investigation— in multiple circumstantial ways.  I had considered speaking to him to see if he learned anything from his questioning of Jarme before we uncovered the additional links, and I can still do that at some point,” suggests Gerrard.

”But first, let us discuss the reason we came to the Styes—what has been leaned of the blue boil undead and their planned invasion?  And what news of the potential Scrying on Master Fenwader’s boots?” he asks.

Peri:

Peri listens as Gerrard handles the touchy conversation. It's interesting to watch the nobleman work in his favored terrain. He feels as though there are layers of meaning being exchanged that he's not privy to, like a couple of Thieves' Guilders using their secret Cant. Nobles' Cant. Or maybe "Rich Thieves' Cant" he thinks, barely containing a snort. And just like the Guild, this one's primary concern was making sure the ugly business was handled out of sight and couldn't be traced to her door. 

As the conversation was rather deftly steered to the matter of his slippers he perked up. They might finally get some answers about who was involved in the death of the Soul of Winter. 

Thwack 

Slack-jawed, Thwack listens intently to Gerrards recount of their investigation. He clearly has no idea that the tale he's listening to is merely the retelling of their mornings venture. A few barely audible "snarf"s escape his mouth and when the noble finishes he turns to Qivys and says "Exciting story Bernard comes up with. Me hate to be trying to catch the nasty killer". Without waiting for a reply he wanders around parlour absent mindedly looking and touching anything he sees.

Qivys turns to the kobold just as he walks away. Qivys opens his mouth to say something but thinks the better of it.
Qivys doesn't hold the same wonder as Peri does over the conversation. Dwarves, especially Qivys, would rather deal plainly and bluntly than do this tongue dance Gerrard and this woman are doing. 
Qivys' mind wanders a bit. He misses his family and his surrogate father, Dwal, and his mind goes back to those times of building houses for those in need.
Qivys suddenly sits up and his head jerks back and forth looking for where that noise came from.
"Did I just hear a SQUAWK?" he thinks to himself. 

Thornwell puts one hand out to shoo Thwack away from the black drapery, as she continues to respond to Gerrard. "As I promised, the Styes' Naval Guard has set sail, and patrols have been doubled along the shore. The patrols report no unusual activity so far, and we'll find out the status of Uskarn and the waters offshore sometime tomorrow. They have the diver aboard, and I expect a full report of land, sea, and deep, as soon as word is returned. Come see me mid-day tomorrow."

"As to the slippers, they are in a safe box at the moment. Your halfling seems to have caught the interest of the minions of Iuz, a foul demigod in the distant north. This footwear reeks of the Abyss. What interest those filthy marauders have in you, I know not. Were you owned by, or working for, such an entity, perhaps?" She examines your reaction carefully. "While wearing those shoes, you are vulnerable to mind reading – a powerful charm with no range restriction, and a very well-hidden charm at that. It took much of my arcane ingenuity to tease out this ability. A clever item, frankly, beyond what I would have expected from that uncivilized horde. I may try my hand in making something similar, perhaps. I don't suppose you'd be willing to dispose of them with me? Certainly you do not want to wear them again?"  

Peri:

"Mind readin', huh? If Kei was here he'd probably have some quip about tryin' to read from an empty book," he chuckles.

"I bought the slippers from one of their Quartermasters workin' outta Saltmarsh. Given how we beat the ever-lovin' snot out of her, I doubt she's the one who enchanted the slippers. Probably came all the way from, uh, wherever the hells they get their stuff from. Which also means any of the other stuff they sell might have similar charms on 'em. We should let everyone in town know what they're up to."

"The good news, for me anyway, is that it wasn't my loose tongue that got the Winter attacked, nor was it any of the folks in Saltmarsh. Which means I can mark 'Kill the Saltmarsh traitor" off my to-do list. And takin' down Iuz is a little beyond our means, so I guess we just write the whole thing off as just another terrible thing the Iuz cultists have done. I guess we could kill Xondros, for what it's worth, but I don't think it's gonna set Iuz back much.

"Thanks for your help. Not much we can do about it in the end, but it's a real weight off my conscience."

"May I hold them for safekeeping?" asks Thornwell. "Iuz's stronghold is extremely distant, fortunately. Nevertheless, he clearly has tentacles as far as this. He is a blight upon this plane, and he is quite powerful. You do not want to attract any further attention from even his minions, I assure you."

"As to your detective work, I approve. But tread carefully if you plan on confronting Mr. Dory. He rents space in the warehouse to merchants and alchemists, many of whom use it as a staging area for shipments. After dark, the warehouse is locked tight and well-protected."

"Come see me again tomorrow."

Peri:

He scoffs, "You can keep 'em! They've been real useful, but not so much I want a demon demigod knowin' where I am." He looks to Gerrard; if the nobleman doesn't have any more questions Peri is ready to go.

"I shall. And I expect they may be useful to me, as well, to keep Iuz far, far away. Come see me again tomorrow."

The conversation winds down. It is early afternoon.

What would you like to do next? The perfumer, Loquid, is expected to make a delivery to Mr. Dory's warehouse late this afternoon. The false Kei, "Moonbeam", is expected to be at "The Squat Neck" near Frother’s Lamp in the Low Quarter late tonight. Thornwell's fleet is due to dive the sunken Tammeraut site sometime today or tonight. Some six months have evidently passed since you departed Saltmarsh.