As the group of motley investigators continued their search of the Bellantanian Zoo, they did their best to rest as the zoo guards were difficult to dispatch. Raul and Grandma Grettle were forced to take cat naps while the rest of the group decided to take a look around the covered travel wagon which housed Boos and his men. After some time the local guards were dispatched as requested and the group convinced the guards they had the situation under control as they were commissioned as a private investigation company to bring those responsible for damages at the zoo to justice. The Guards acknowledged them and reported back to their captain who would surely be back to inquire further. Marvin the Unicorn, showed the party where Zimo the old Zoo Keeper was murdered and Baelon began to dig up the area searching for any further evidence of Zimos body. Muk and Argento went into the wagon to investigate further where they discovered a large fancy chest with a complicated lock too difficult for Muk to open. The Rest of the wagon yielded administrative duties for the zoo such as feeding times, show times, and travel logs. This was proof that Zimo was alive before the parade and no duties were checked off after Boos “took over”. They also discovered that there was to be a private showing of the animals (which had been enchanted) for the 3 Lords of Boulder in just a days time. The Party agreed this was surely a plot to assassinate the lords and reek more chaos. Lastly Argento found a locked drawer but was strong enough to force the lock slamming the drawer open and smashing 1 of 2 strange vials. A green puff cloud into Argento’s face sending him into a frenzy rage.
Argento began attacking anything that moved, proving how the anarchists were “enchanting” the animals in the parade, further evidence. Since Argento was already scrapped up from the previous fight it didn’t take long for Bertold to knock Argento out, calming him. Bertold himself decided to check out the wagon where he unlocked the chest with a key he found on Boos body, opening the chest to reveal, Zimo’s dead body. He took the last vial of frenzy potion and found a note saying, “DOWN WITH THE ROYALS” and a strange symbol of a faceless mask.
When the Guards finally came back to the zoo they met with Lieutenant Aryn Sparrowhawk. She spoke with Baelon about everything that happened at the zoo and the previous day. Baelon presented the evidence so far including the potion that through the animals and Argento into a rage. She mentioned that the party was free to go because the evidence proved that Boos was indeed behind everything. The party was reluctant to disclose that they had yet to discover the true puppeteer of the events. The Guards took over the scene as the party headed out to meet with Lord Mendes at the Belly Up Inn. Bringing Marvin with them the party got back to the inn to discover that it was locked with Grey Gor inside drunk and sad. He eventually let them in and told them that he had kicked out all his patrons because Maurice and Meltu left him after he found out about the hatch in his inn. Grandma Grettle and Leo went into the kitchen to whip up some dinner for everyone, while Raul and Muk went to bed. Baelon insisted that the Belly Up Inn must stay open and that it was Grey Gor’s responsibility to hold himself accountable and that he must find new employees to keep his business afloat. Bertold had trouble convincing the Unicorn Marvin that he was not his Master but his friend and that he could join the group but he must learn to fend for himself a little bit better. The Unicorn had trouble fully understanding but after some time it began to settle in. While most of the party went to bed Baelon, Bertold, and Grandma Grettle stayed up waiting for Lord Mendas.
Mendes eventually arrived after a few hours. Around midnight the party woke everyone up accept Raul who really needed some rest (3 points of Exhaustion). The group presented all of its evidence to show Mendas that there was indeed a terrorist plot and the explosion at the parade was only a test for something far more sinister. Though the party was able to thwart this plot, he should remain vigilant and keep an eye out for this mystery threat was still at large. Lord Mendes was thrilled with the parties work and his suspicions confirmed, he offered to sponsor the group should they wish to be recognized as formal mercenaries, or adventurers. He proposed the contract and offered further work should they agree to accept his sponsorship. The party decided they must review the contract in the morning with everyone and they would meet back at Mendes keep to give their answer and a signed contract. At this time Muk began to sleepwalk around the inn, but due to his strangeness the party simply watched as the little guy waddled around and the rest of the party laughed and rested.
The next morning Grey Gor began to clean up his mess and decided to open for the day, as the party sat around a table for breakfast to discuss the contract. Grandma Grettle told the party she would no longer be traveling with the party that she fulfilled what she needed to and in strange and very different voice announced to the party, “I WILL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN” and she disappeared. This left the group speechless but Argento mentioned fey creatures were mysterious and the party agreed. As the party examined the contract Baelon told the group that in his youth he had been an adventurer in the Frontier near the free cities, and that life as an adventurer is wild and dangerous, not for the feignt of heart, each of them should really think carefully before committing because once they signed they were bound by honor to help each other whatever their goals were. Baelon was first to sign, citing that he had lived a long and quite life as a winemaker and that he was ready to use his experience to help the world in whatever ways he could, he did not want to go silently into the night. Second was Bertold, ready to give up his life as a performer and pursue greater goals, such as making more and more gold. Third was Argento, the Goliath had grown increasingly frustrated with the bureaucracy of being a town guard. Raul was fourth, signing because he had become fond of this group especially Muk, and that he had unfinished business and that a little drink and a little gold would help him reach his goals. Last to sign was the “happily wedded” Grung, Muk Mukabee. The strange and enigmatic creature signed to the surprise of the party, but he didn’t seem to tell the party why he was willing to commit to this group, perhaps his family was struggling and they needed the gold, no matter the reason the five were ready to begin their adventure donning the name TO BE DETERMINED, TBD. Fitting for this group who was unconventional to say the lease. They adopted a lantern as their sigil and Marvin agreed to be their Mascot. Leo was reluctant to sign having only met the party days prior as a mercenary hired by Grandma Grettle. On their way to Lord Mendes city guards led by the Loxodon Captain Tact Haelstrom descended upon the party seizing the hafling informing them that he was a run away AWOL from the Military nation of Mares. Leo was under a false alias and taken into custody to the shock TBD.
Lord Mendes gave the group a few leads to check into. Farmer Haggen from Haggen Farms in the town of Moris 15 miles outside of Boulder had went missing. Livestock had been reported missing but very abnormally. Missing without a trace, no blood no tracks, nothing. Secondly, Lord Mendes had one of his men Yon Vanderwild go investigate these disappearances but had not yet checked back with him. Having been longer than normal Lord Mendes was looking for an update. Rumors of a rich Mining group kicked out another mining company from the Enriched mountain, Lord Precious had issued this contract and that he would have more information. Lastly, a local ring merchant has been reported to sell rings that seem to affect peoples moods in a strange way. Lord Mendes daughter herself was affected. After accepting the various quests from Lord Mendes the party asked for a room to discuss amongst themselves what they should do first.