• Aswen says she was visited by Odran Newgreave, who offered a man for security, named Dirk.
• PCsRandall & Ben learn Dirk is turning away business from Dusk, and Odran is paying Aswen to keep Dusk financially afloat.
• Using ESP, Randall learns Dirk is spying on them for Odran.
• PCs follow Dirk to a secluded area, kill him, and toss his body into a nearby well.
• PCs lead Mertin - an elderly citizen of Soleme - to The Merryweather, in an effort to distract him from the well in which Dirk was tossed.
• Mertin survives an ungodly amount of Kraken Juice.

Aswen

Aswen greets the PCsRandall & Ben, who notice a strange man sitting in the corner of Dusk’s common room.

Aswen brings out a banquet for the PCs. They describe their heroics on Tarr and Ben’s recent duel. Aswen scolds Ben for duelling, and for taking the Ashbane rapier.

Randall gives Hal a mission: scare Gerwin Maxwell to test his loyalty.

Dirk

Aswen says her business has started to struggle. She mentions Odran Newgreave visiting her shortly after Ben departed for Tarr. Odran asked about Ben’s movements, and offered Dirk - the man in the corner - as a guard for Dusk. Aswen describes Dirk as “helpful” for turning away a number of “suspicious” customers.

Ben tells Dirk his services are no longer needed. However, the guard refuses to leave, and he reminds Aswen about certain “payments”. She explains how Odran has been helping keep Dusk financially afloat.

Using ESP, Randall learns that Dirk is closely observing them, and plans to report to Odran as soon as possible. The PCs agree to eliminate Dirk.

The kill

Aswen brings the PCs to a double room so they can “nap”. After they get Aswen to leave, Dirk exits the inn and the PCs climb onto the roof via the window. They attract the attention of a passer-by, who then loses interest after Randall starts clearing the gutter.

The PCs drop into the streets and follow Dirk to the Spire area. In a quiet alley, Randall blasts Dirk from behind with magic. Ben finishes the job with a devastating blow, and guides Dirk’s body right into a nearby well.

Mertin

A door opens nearby, and an old man appears to investigate the commotion. Having quickly put on a “disguise”, Randall introduces himself as John, and Ben as Richard. He says Richard was just dropping a stone into the well to test its depth.

The old man volunteers to demonstrate how the well operates, as he needs some bathwater. Randall insists on using the bucket himself, but after two attempts he only manages to draw bloody water. Giving up on this, Randall then offers to take the old man out for lunch and a drink.

The PCs lead the old man - who introduces himself as Mertin - to The Merryweather.

The Merryweather

The PCs run into Watkins the immortal in the common room. They re-introduce themselves as Richard and John, and Watkins avoids blowing their cover.

The PCs order Kraken Juice for Mertin, who happily guzzles it down. Before Watkins can work out what’s happening, he’s called away by two lady friends.

After an hour, and with Mertin still conscious, First mate Rick appears, who the PCs introduce as “Arthur”. Like Watkins, Rick is confused by the whole situation, and decides to leave the PCs to whatever they’re doing.

Randall successfully convinces a very drunk Mertin that a well-related situation never happened. An hour later, Mertin finally collapses. The PCs tell Grilt to give Mertin a bed and a proper meal tomorrow. As the PCs prepare to leave again, Grilt’s assistants report that Mertin’s condition seems stable.