We wake up and head to Bob and Chad’s but after searching around don’t find anyone. We even look in house and don’t find anyone. Perrol does use mage sight and finds a magical spot in one wall but we leave it alone. Kross does some tracking on the outside and sees a heavy set of footprints that head towards the stable and ends and a ligher set that goes to the woods to a central area. We head off to the Temple and as we arrive we notice a lot of loiterers in the temple district; mostly mothers with children. All appear nervous, we believe it’s possibly related to the disappearing families. We go to talk to Aldus Mannus, but we are stone-walled by one of the lower priest. A Favored of Kilbern happens to come by and goes to get Aldus. He comes back and says it will be 15 minutes. As we are waiting, Methius comes by and takes us to Aldus. We ask if there is any news of the missing families. He says there have been more families including a merchant family whose father was an “up and coming star”. There was no signs of forced entry, not shouts in the night, etc. We discuss and decide we should go to search the house; Aldus Mannus likes that idea. He goes back to the desk and writes something on parchment and seals it. He says this may help us gain favor in entering the building. We leave and on the way the initiate that was stonewalling us finally notices the boon and recognition dawns. We arrive at the guard station to get permission and we provide the letter to a clerk. She takes it back to an office and we hear some consternation, but once the letter is shown, whoever it is caves. They come out and a young man is directed to take us to the house. We arrive and before we enter, Perrol does magesight and I do detect evil. The only thing Perrol detects is the ring on the guards finger and I detect nothing. Glaive checks the lock and doesn’t see any tampering or anything. Kross checks tracks and notices two heavy tracks that are partially obliterated, at least a day old. We go in and Ghoral will notice that the house has things that indicate someone that was starting to “make it” but not rich yet. We start looking around. Perrol notices on a dresser that something was grabbed and it looks like claw marks. He also notices something wedged between the mattress and headboard; it’s a bag with some type of dark grayish/black powder in it and faint odor. He does magesight and detects trace magic. I take a look and it seems to have base components of potions/powders to put people to sleep. Perrol also notices a section of wall that’s not normal; a stone not quite right. He checks it and it moves, but guard comes in so Perrol stops. Glaive also notices 5 wooden blocks that are of Ulronai origin. She decides to “repatriate” it. The guard doesn’t notice. After guard leaves, Perrol pulls out the rock and finds a pouch that jingles and a ledger. He opens the bag and finds coins, 30 silver and 10 gold, and 2 gems . He looks at the log and finds it’s his business log. We don’t find anything else. Perrol give the money to the guard and lets him know that it’s counted. When we leave, the guard is nervous and would like us to take him back because of the back. Perrol and I tell the others what we found. Perrol thinks the claw marks may be Orc or Goblin. Glaive tells us what she found and that it’s a children’s toy. We go back to follow the tracks and Kross picks up. It seems to be going to the merchant district. The tracks diasppear near a Locksmith shop; it appears they may have gone in here. Perrol notices that this shop belongs to Gnorm the Gnome, a well respected locksmith that’s a little kooky. He’s not a master locksmith but is best in town. He does low-level magic locks too. We decide to go in and the bell rings when we enter. We hear someone say “just a minute”. The big door will open and a gnome on stilts comes out and get’s behind the counter. Perrol says we’ve heard of his good reputation and are interested in some locks. He says he’s had quite the run on them lately. He pulls back the curtain to show us his stock. Glaive and Perrol notice that the locks aren’t very good. While he’s talking, I do detect evil and Perrol does magesight. I detect evil above us, there are stairs up before me. It’s one blob of evil - humanoid. I ask what is upstairs, more stock? He says it’s his apprentice and his living quarters. Perrol detected magic behind the big door (lets me know). I ask “You don’t have the apprentice helping you?” and he says he is out of town visiting family. We ask if he thinks the run on the locks has anything to do with the missing families. He says we are the 4th person to mention that to him. Perrol notices that he is lying, nervous, guilt-ridden. Perrol uses a presence attack on the Gnome and tells him to stay calm and he won’t get hurt. Glaive signals to Kross to get Ghoral and come in. I activate my “Shield of the Faithful” successfully and go defensive. I notice that something is dropping towards me from above and I let everyone know; it’s a dwarf. He misses me. Glaive moves in to attack from behind to do a disabling move. Hits him in the back for 7 body. Her next attack hits in the vitals for 9 damage. He drops. Perrol prepares to grab Gnorm. The gnome pisses his pants….
We earn 1 XP. We break for the evening.