February 25, 118
The party arrive late at Zorlac's tower; Severn arrives with them to see the results as well. They search the area where they were last admitted into the complex and Ash-Daughter finds the opening mechanism, bringing them into the geography library. There, they meet Eero, the same librarian who escorted them into the building last time, who leads them to Zorlac.
Zorlac is in an adjacent room which is an anatomy library, full of models, diagrams, and of course books. He escorts the party into an underground room which seems to be a laboratory of some sort. Books, notes, and magical reagents are scattered throughout the room, and two magical mirrors hanging on the walls show views of the two Kaplans in cells, presumably somewhere else in the building.
Zorlac explains to the party that he is an expert in magically modifying the mind and body of living creatures, and he has discovered that both Kaplans have undergone extensive magical modification. In particular, the tattooed individual has received very many magical "grafts", which provided him with superhuman and magical abilities. He does not appear to be a spellcaster, but the modifications done to him have provided him with the ability to create magical effects. In essence, it's almost like an arsenal of magical scrolls or runes have been inscribed onto his bones.
The other, non-tattooed Kaplan also shows signs of magical modification to mind and body, but in this case they are much older. While the tattooed individual has been augmented fairly recently, Zorlac estimates that the modifications to the non-tattooed individual are at least ten years old. Because they are so old, he cannot determine their purpose, as the body's natural healing has muddled the evidence.
Finally, Zorlac reveals the most important fact: the evidence in the minds of the two men show that a magical mind transfer did occur, and the mind of the Kaplan that the party know is currently in the tattooed body. It seems that during this process, the other individual was able to copy Kaplan's memories and therefore imitate him with complete accuracy. However, it also seems that all of the latent magical affects bound to that body were expended during this transfer, and no usable magical augmentations remain.
The party are not completely sure whether they can trust Zorlac's information, although Severn informs them that he doesn't think the wizard is lying. They interrogate the apparent impostor in the non-tattooed body, but he continues to protest his innocence. The party ask Zorlac whether he is able to undo the mind swap, and he says that he can, although it will take him several days. The party ask him to do so, figuring that while they wait, they can investigate Sahril's son's kidnapping, as well as decide what to do about Kaplan.
As the party leave Zorlac's home, Severn tells them that he has something else to discuss with them, and invites them to the headquarters of the Inquisition. When they arrive, he explains that he's had an idea. As he's previously stated, the only candidate for the Arch-Prelate that he would support is Sahril, but she would not be able to win without the vote of a third prelate. However, they could use the same strategy that Gorith planned to use to force the other prelates to vote for her. If they claim that Sahril, with her knowledge of magic and magical threats, was the one who captured the Arch-Prelate's killer, they should be able to drum up enough popular support that the other prelates will essentially have to vote for her, or face riots in the streets from the common people.
Severn, of course, is not aware that Sahril is being blackmailed by Gorith, but Ellyanna accidentally lets this information slip as they discuss his idea. The party try to dissuade Severn from investigating this himself, but he insistent, assuring them that the Inquisition can be very subtle when necessary. Eventually, he convinces them to provide the list of names of Therian's friends, and tells them that he will handle the investigation himself.
At this point, it's past midnight, so the party rest for the night in quarters provided by Severn.
February 26, 118
The next morning, the party split up and pursue various aims. Ellyanna returns to the College and continues studying there, while Dark Star returns to the Greasy Thatcher and studies his book as well.
Calanon, Elvish, and Ash-Daughter decide to run interference for Severn, making very public inquiries about Kaplan in order to attract Gorith's attention away from his investigation. Calanon and Elvish do this among the common people, while Ash-Daughter does this among her criminal connections, reasoning that Gorith probably his criminal contacts that will pass this information along.
Around noon, a messenger arrives at the Greasy Thatcher and hands Dark Star a message. Opening it in his room, he finds that it's the list they provided to Sahril, with a single name - Emmerson - circled. A note underneath simply says "works for Gorith" and provides the location where he works.
The party regroups at the inn, and decide to investigate for themselves rather than waiting for Severn. They head out to the location given by Sahril, which is a large administrative building used by Gorith's branch of the church. Dark Star and Elvish disguise themselves as an old Orcish man and his young page, and go to the door.
They convince the doorman to send for Emmerson, and when he arrives, they discover that he is a well-dressed, well-groomed, and overall clearly well-to-do young man. He doesn't recognize them and doesn't want to talk with them, but when they mention that they're here regarding Therian, he reluctantly invites them up to his office on the second floor.
Arriving at the office, they note that his title is listed as "Senior Administrative Scribe" on the door as they enter. Once inside, Elvish opens the door and Dark Star conjures an illusion of Gorith storming into the room, furiously demanding to know where Therian is. Emmerson protests that he doesn't know, and when the illusionary Gorith presses the issue, he realizes that the figure is not real, and breaks the illusion.
Emmerson demands to know what's going on, but Dark Star and Elvish switch tactics and intimidate the man, claiming that Dark Star (under the fake name "Vanderheim von Regulus") is a powerful wizard, and demanding that tells them everything he knows about Therian. Emmerson cracks under the pressure, and tells them all he can.
He explains that he received a direct order from Gorith to invite Therian to a certain tavern at a certain time. He did so, and at the tavern he met a grey-robed wizard who, according to Gorith's orders, he should obey unconditionally. The mage went into a back room and ordered him to lure Therian into said room, then leave immediately afterward and say nothing to anyone about the matter.
Emmerson followed his orders, luring Therian into the room then leaving the tavern. He has not seen Therian since. Although he is worried about his friend, he is too terrified of Gorith and the potential consequences of disobeying his direct orders to investigate what happened to him. Satisfied that they've learned all he knows, Dark Star and Elvish intimidate Emmerson one last time, claiming that they'll kill him if he speaks of this meeting, then leave.
The party spend the rest of the afternoon following up on what they've learned. Dark Star returns to Severn to update him on the situation. He is not happy that they disobeyed him, but the fact that they gathered such useful information makes him reluctantly accept their actions. Ash-Daughter continues her work from the morning, making very obvious inquiries about Kaplan in order to attract Gorith's attention and distract him from their true investigation.
Ellyanna returns to the College of Celestial Thaumaturgy, but instead of studying as usual, she asks around about the wizard from Emmerson's story, using a sketch of him that Elvish drew based on Emmerson's description. She finds out that, although he is not a member of the College, several members do recognize him, having seen him around the city or in various magical reagent shops. She learns his name: Malegar.
Finally, Calanon and Elvish decide to head to the tavern from Emmerson's story, the Merry Bowman, and check it out directly.
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