Lukwind met Rohit & Gerald at the city gates, when they returned with Antonio the corrupt majordomo. They took him to the Imperial Inquisitors so that he could give evidence against his employer, James Jonstone, Lord of Fernquay. However, they were completely astonished when Antonio informed the Inquisitors of Martok's whereabouts, collecting the ransom money for providing such information.

As the Inquisitors summoned the Imperial Cavalry to arrest Martok, Rohit & Gerald raced back to Villa Zarios to warn him. Riding their horses to their utmost, they made it there in time to tell Martok that Antonio had triple-crossed them. Addric stepped forward, declaring that he and the men he had trained were ready to fight or to flee, whichever his brother decided. Martok didn't even know what the charges against him were, but there were enough shady deeds in his past that he would prefer not to face up to them. Elsa, likewise, decided to avoid the Inquisitors' questions by riding off into the hills.

Not long after they were gone, Rohit spotted a group of griffons in the distance. He and Gerald hid themselves, so that they could see what transpired. One of the Inquisitors was riding a griffon, accompanied by a unit of Dragonborn cavalrymen. When the griffons landed in the villa courtyard, Martok's mother went out to meet them. She loudly protested her son's innocence, refusing to answer any questions about his whereabouts. The dragonblood warriors searched the villa from top to bottom, but didn't turn up anything. In the end, they were forced to return to Marchion empty handed.

In the meantime, Lukwind rushed to the townhouse of Lady Cecelia Redfern, to give her the news. When she heard what had transpired, Cecelia uttered a most unladylike curse. "I was a fool not to have foreseen this outcome! Too blinded with hatred by Antonio's betrayal. Whatever damage I'd hoped to cause to James Jonstone's reputation, it has backfired on me a hundredfold."

After ranting for quite some time, Cecelia eventually calmed down. "When the Inquisitors return, we will need to be ready to plead on

Martok's behalf. I hope I can rely on you to aid me in his defense. I should warn you, however, that the Inquisitors are not fond of the

arcane arts, nor of those who employ them. If they catch you spellcasting in their presence, it will not help our cause."

Lukwind was forced to admit that he was a Changeling, a secret that he had only revealed to his closest friends. If the Inquisitors were to

discover his deception, it could be prejudicial to Martok's case. This warranted a change in strategy. Cecelia would appear alone before the

Inquisition, and also use her influence with the newly-elected mayor and amongst the city council to appeal for clemency.

Meanwhile, it would be Lukwind's task to enlist the support of the masses. If the tales of Martok's heroics at the Maze of Screaming

Silence, as well as vanquishing the vampires, etc. were known to the general populace, the Inquisitors would need to proceed much more

carefully. Marchion is a city that loves its heroes, and the Emperor and his Inquisitors are unpopular enough as it is.

In addition, Gerald, Rohit, Lukwind & Garyn took the opportunity to shop for magical items. At Marvo's Magical Miscellany, Lukwind was able to drive a hard bargain on the price of vests of resistance, a choker of eloquence, cloak of charisma and other wondrous items.

In the evenings, they hunted for the perpetrator of the docklands murders. As they crossed Market Bridge, they noted that scaffolding had been erected on the site of the warehouse fire. Lukwind cast message so that he could maintain communication with Garyn and Rohit, who scouted ahead. As was customary, the Vanara climbed up to the rooftops and leapt from building to building, while the Half-Elf skulked through the alleyways below. Gerald lit his torch and began sweeping the streets with detect evil.

A gang of half-orcs were occupying an intersection in the middle of the docklands. They stared menacingly at Gerald and Lukwind as they approached, but the bard was able to use his diplomatic skills (boosted by fascinate and suggestion) to defuse the situation. When he told the gang leader, Dench, what they were doing, he was actually impressed that anyone would bother. Murder in the docklands is a reasonably common occurrence, and the fate of Marchion's less wealthy citizens is rarely discussed in council chambers.

Dench didn't know anything about the grisly killings that Lukwind described, but he directed him to inquire at the Pickled Otyugh. Most of the key figures in Marchion's underworld could be found there. On the way to the warehouse on pier 28, Rohit lost track of the rest of the party. Garyn, too, was subjected to a strange magical effect, but he managed to resist it. He found Rohit and led the way, so that the Vanara didn't become completely lost.

Lukwind knocked at the warehouse door. A viewhole slid open, but he could only see darkness inside. Gerald scanned the building with detect evil, but found nothing. "Dench sent me," he told the doorman, and they were ushered inside. An ogre dressed in fine clothes greeted them and offered to take their cloaks. "Keep your weapons sheathed," he advised, "and mind your manners. Many of our patrons are easily offended."

With that, the ogre opened another door, to the inside of the tavern. Raucous sounds of music and laughter suddenly assaulted their ears, and Gerald's detect evil spell revealed many auras. After ordering drinks from one of the scantily clad serving girls, Lukwind announces that they're "here about the murders."

They are shown to a private booth, occupied by a group of halflings. Their leader introduces himself as Cadric Dewash. After Lukwind explains that it's the serial killings that he is concerned with, the halflings visibly relax. "Oh, that's nothing to do with me," Cadric says. "But if you're planning on spending any time in the docklands, you'd better introduce yourselves to the other members of our society: Captain Carver, and Axl."

It turns out that Axl's gang wasn't at the Pickled Otyugh that night, so Lukwind left a message for him. Next, they were escorted to another booth, this one guarded by a pair of minotaurs. From their sharkskin armor and serrated scimitars, Gerald identified them as the infamous pirates of Knossos. Lukwind easily bluffed his way past the goons. Inside the booth, there were two humans and four hobgoblins. The heroes were shocked to recognize Deborah, the rogue that they had defeated in Sweetmead. "What the fuck are you guys doing here?" She spat at them.

After a tense standoff, with blades drawn, Lukwind manages to calm the situation at least enough that they can leave the tavern without incident.