Derived from raw notes taken by Greg and Brian.
We began by interrogating Orazio in the Northwest Tower. He revealed critical details about the political landscape and Auttencourt's schemes. Orazio explained that he is cursed to consume books--- a punishment from rival academics at Candlekeep. The cage, a gift from the Auttencourt, prevents him from destroying knowledge.
Orazio shared that the Auttencourt, with Corsi participation, are orchestrating a plan to bankrupt the Tethyrian royal family, the Rhinduan. He described Tethyr as a political buffer between Calimshan, Amn, and Aureltaran, warning that its collapse would spark a race for control among these powers. The Gati Amari, political mercenaries with unclear motivations, are fomenting a popular revolt in the name of Zharanda Star Rhinduan to end the Rhinduan bloodline. Orazio also confirmed that Captain Arsene, a newly turned vampire with poor impulse control, killed Francesca Girasole in a fit of rage.
Orazio, while disdainful of the Auttencourt, acknowledged that they provide him safety and access to knowledge. He expressed a desire to be free of them but would not act without a plan. He also confirmed that Farnar is greedy, taking money from the Auttencort to report on Del Veighn's whereabouts.
We extracted Orazio, Farnar, and Francesca's corpse from the northwest tower and returned to the Grotto.
After regrouping, we turned our attention to rescuing Rowan. Using a Sending spell, Gavin received an image of Rowan's location--- a tower near a lake on the northern edge of the city.
We navigated the sewers to avoid detection, encountering a Gelatinous Cube and a room filled with Feywild flora. Kira identified healing plants similar to those used by Mother Verduna and harvested them and other related flora for later use.
Deeper in the sewers, we discovered a mass grave of desiccated corpses, likely dating back to the Tethyrian civil war. As we investigated, the corpses animated, and we fought off zombies, including a massive zombie clot. After clearing the area, we opened valves to flood the chamber with water from the lake above and we climbed into the tower.
Inside, we found Rowan chained to a bed, guarded by two unmasked assassins in red leather armor: Khalil and Lillian Rill.
We discovered Rowan as the sky to the east started lightening into false dawn, nine days before High Harvest Tide and the wedding. The clock is ticking.