Hunting the Arch Magus Report

General Summary

The party used an astral gate to travel to Nikea at the invitation of Chandrilla Dawnstar, one of the high councilors. After entering the Acropolis they find Chandrilla arguing with Grand Inquisitor Dralin, who accuses the council of harboring the fugitive Arch Magus. After nearly coming to blows with Dralin, the party, along with Chandrilla, convince him to let them aid in the investigation. Dralin reluctantly agrees.   The party heads down to the docks and talks to Bonesaw, a foul mouthed and well-built gnome, who asks the party to deliver a package for him in return for information. The party agrees, and Bonesaw tells them that people started disappearing when another well-dressed gnome started showing his face around the docks. He also tells the party not to open the package he's given them, and to drop it off with the night librarian at the Arcanium.   After BSing their way past the city guards, the party decided to open the package. After nearly having the protecting ward explode, the party discovers they are in possession of a Serasian control stone - highly illegal, and highly dangerous. Instead of destroying the stone, they turn it in to Dralin. Dralin commends the party for their work, puts a tracking sigil on the box, and tells the party to complete the delivery. Dralin destroys the control stone and replaces it with an inert onyx, but one of the priests of Krom puts an enchantment on the fake that mimics the negative energy of the real stone and will explode when used.   The party makes the drop, and stakes out the library. They find the target for the drop - Professor Theodosius. They successfully follow him to a villa just off campus, but decide to stop when it becomes clear that his estate is guarded by some sort of powerful magical barrier.   The party now has two leads - they can head to the temple of Iowen, where the Arch Magus was last seen in public, or investigate the shop for the Guild of the Fire Forge near the market.