Session 17 - Widowers and jaguars and golems, oh my! Report

As interested as the party may or may not have been in talking over the state of things with Morgan Cippiano, the fact of the matter was that Nevard Sechim was planning on speaking in Dawn Square in Bosum Strand early that afternoon. The party agreed that it was important to help make sure everything went well for Nevard. Hearing that Flint police were heading up there early to make sure the crowd wasn't riled up to "inflict justice", Ældreth and Edward headed up to check out Dawn Square early. Eoghan Connell, Sigefert Smith, and Mairi Lomashney remained behind at the RHC headquarters to get in some precious research time.   Mairi discovered more information on the "witchoil" Dr. Wolfgang von Recklinghausen had talked about earlier, confirming it's relatively small size of known manifestations. Sig looked through the papers received from Wolfgang, making a few connections to some struggling noble families such as the Maccalums and the Lomashneys. He also took note of a certain letter sponsoring a Danoran citizen and allowing them to purchase private property in Flint.   Meanwhile, at Dawn Square, Ældreth stumbled into a figure from his past. A companion of a former lifetime, the guard captain handling the Dawn Square situation requested Ældreth's assistance: there was a large disturbance in a nearby neighborhood. People were feeling "funny" and an entire block smelled of burning grease, but not fire could be seen. Ældreth recognized the signs of "witchoil" and quickly agreed.   Ældreth and Edward went to check out the situation, noting a faint haze, like the sun isn't shining as brightly in that neighborhood. Ældreth also heard screams from dozens of spirits through the Bleak Gate. They discovered the source, a boarded-up warehouse, and waited for backup.   Once the rest of the aprty arrived, they broke in a window in the back. Inside were eight ritualists? technicians? burning evidence and a giant, rusted golem whose dark interior flashed with pale white light each time it moved. Combat ensued, with multiple quickly deceased technicians and the golem, apparently fueled by over five gallons of "witchoil" throwing crates and tearing through the fences and Sig. After combat, the bodies of all of the technicians disappeared in minutes, fading into the Bleak Gate. However, much of the evidence had been preserved. Including instructions on creating "witchoil"-animated jaguars, apparently in the same handwriting as the note Sig discovered earlier that morning.   The handwriting of Mayor Reed Macbannin.