The party speculated that the princess' memories we found in Scagliano at the ruined estate might also have been the memories of Zaranda Rhinduan given the apparent personality differences with Ottillie.
The party returned to the surface after finishing their conversation and headed further south near the road between Riatavin and Saradush.
While traveling further south, Kincaid caught up with the party. Kincaid shared that he'd confronted Rowan about the Savelli and learned that, while Rowan is disgusted with the scheming of the Corsi and Auttencort, the Savelli are more interested in playing both sides and trying to come out allied with whomever is victorious.
Travelling further, the party came to a sign reading, "Hoofwright Stables".
Hugh introduced himself to Magnus Hoofwright, the apparent owner and stablemaster of the stables, who seems to be suffering from a loss of memory. It seems likely that his memories were somehow removed in the manner of removal that resulted in the liquid memories we discovered at the ruins. Magnus reminded Hugh of his grandfather Cedric and clearly was in need of help, so Hugh spent some time trying to connect with him over their shared love of and background with horses.
Gavin remembers the stable from the memories he inherited from drinking the water at the ruins (Session 15).
Barrick started speaking with one of the stable hands and Hugh joined in the conversation. Hugh realized that the stablehand was actually a soldier. After challenging them, the second stablehand threateningly exposed a scimitar and the first threw a bead from a necklace, launching a fireball. A fight began.
The bead from the necklace that exploded into a fireball killed the hapless, harmless Magnus. The part made sure this murderer was executed. The companion who made the threat with his scimitar surrendered and Hugh knocked him out cold so the party could chat.
Exploring the stable, Bikke discovered a horse wearing the livery of Riatavin's royal guard. There are six horses in the stable, all of which are fine horseflesh (surprisingly so far the style of stable). Hugh also notices the unusual absence of the rest of the stablehands and Magnus' family, possibly murdered or brain-sucked by the drugged beer.
Barrick: What the fuck is going on here?
Farid: He'll kill me if I tell you.
Barricl: I will if you don't.
Farid: Zev Faheem, he'll kill me.
Barrick: Zev was here?
Farid: Zev was here.
Barrick: What were you told, exactly?
Farid: I was told, Rashad and I were to stay here, offer them room and board and make sure they drank the beer. Make sure travelers drink the beer and he'll return to collect them.
Barrick: When's he coming back?
Farid: I don't know, he doesn't tell us.
Barrick: How long have you been working for Zev?
Farid: A few months. I started smuggling weapons from Calimshan into Tethyr. Swords, crossbows, infantry weapons. Zev just told me to bring them in. I used to trade, but the routes have dried out.
Barrick: You have 5 seconds to tell us something useful to save your life.
Farid: All the trade routes were destroyed during the war. Zev bailed us out when the routes dried up. We started working for him to eat. When anyone asks zev or disobeys Zev or fails to follow Zev's orders, Zev makes you disappear.
Barrick: Last chance.
Farid: I can tell you where they go. Southwest, 10 miles, give or take. There's a path into the foothills. That's where they come from.
Hugh decapitates Farid for participating in the murder of his good friend Magnus.
The party took the neglected horses and proceeded into the foothills where they believed Zev's base of operations is.
The trails grow narrow and rocky, so we hobbled our horses in a reasonable pasture and continued on foot.
On the trail, we found a younger man, mid-20's, dark skinned and muscular in heavy armor. He matches the description of Bruno Custode and introduces himself as the man to Gavin.
Bikke: We were looking for you, you and Matteo.
Bruno: We were ambushed by the Vuotoment (aka empty-minded) in the cave up the path.
Bikke: We'll help you get him back.
Bruno: Easier than doing it on my own. The empty minded are farmers, peasants, and smallholders. Common people who don't remember themselves. There are Calishites out here who are working with Tethyrians to wipe people's minds, recruit them, and give them instructions that they will follow. Some are in these caves, many have been sent to Riatavin. People I've known for years don't remember me anymore, it's uncanny. Instead, they know they must tend some flowers or whatever else they are assigned to do.
Gavin: What were you and Mateo looking for at the ruins of Alamander's estate?
Bruno: Let's start by telling me who you are.
Gavin: We're working with the Aureltaran green under Richard Corsi, not Eldred, and we wish to foil this sham wedding between Ottillie and Etienne Auttencort. We think that Zev FAheem is the ringleader of this operation
Bruno: I don't know Zev Faheem, but I know Nova Amara. I want to trust you, but I'm not sure how. Why do you want to stop the wedding?
Gavin: The Auttencort are vampires. What were you looking for in Alamander's ruins?
Bruno: There were runners heading there from the Sandstone Palace. We wanted to understand why. We heard that there was traffic there from the city from contacts along the route.
Short version, that was enough.
Bruno: Have you killed Captain Arsenne yet?
Gavin: Not yet.
Bruno; Good, he's mine. We were ambushed at the stable. They took Mateo, I was able to get away.
As we walked to the cave.
Bruno: I don't know if these people can be saved. If you aren't in danger, don't be a danger. As I was taught in the guard, respond with a single degree more danger.
Kira, Barrick, and Gavin recognize that these are old gnoll caves. Kira sees that they are abandoned. It seems likely that they were abandoned by the gnolls during the Campaign, and Zev would naturally know which cave systems were abandoned during the campaign.
The first cavern contains an apparent mess with mindless people, In the center of the cavern is a large hyena wearing elaborate armor.
Barrick used some trickery to determine that the hyena was at least aware of our presence and willing to prevent us from interfering with the mindless people.
Barrick then got aggressive and attacked the hyena as it was walking past him.