Last time we left off with Fosco getting into trouble at the animal trainer’s shop. When he arrived, he was welcomed by a shout! Yarl was looking for a lizard, later found out to be a Laughing Ruk. This lizard had a hallucinogenic bite that made the whole encounter very confusing. Fosco and Yarl manage to contain it and discuss why Fosco is here. Yarl explains that Fosco’s cat, Asher, is actually a Karabra. Instead of a discount on training lessons, Yarl trades information. He says that the Tide Master of the Red Pools is coming to him in a few days with a special animal to train. He invites Fosco join him while he trains the animal. After Fosco spends time with the trainer, he heads out to figure out what the alchemical bags do. One is good at catching things on fire. Radril spends her time looking for Skari. She doesn’t find any new information on Skari’s situation, but she soon finds herself in The Shadows. Radril goes into a Tavern called “The Sickle” and talks to the bartender, Joss. Their conversation soon turns to The Caves and Joss says that if anybody has a problem, they turn to The Caves. Radril tries to get more information about “The Red Pools” but Joss doesn’t have much to say as it is an Eastern affair. Thankfully she gains n information on The Mage and the Alchemist. The Mage won the fight so the Alchemist is gone (for now). Fosco goes to his meeting at the tavern Driv’s as instructed by the note left under the stone. He meets a human with dark black hair. Allit, the human, is impressed with Fosco’s skills “to not be where he is.” An organization that Allit works for has been compromised and someone is trying to sabotage his plans. Allit suspects San-Balet and asks Fosco to look into him. San-Balet is unpredictable and doesn’t act like a normal rival, but he is known to hang out at The Sands of Harad. Allit’s associate will be at Driv’s if Fosco needs to make contact. By random chance, Fosco notices Radril walking around the corner outside the tavern. Radril tells Fosco about “the stranger” asking about Skari. Fosco follows by telling Radril about the Tide Master. As they are walking back to the Albetross they decide to get something to eat. Fosco is “so short on money” so Radril graciously offers to pay for dinner. Radril heads alone to the Albetross to talk to Massa as Fosco goes off to “gamble.” The only information that Radril gets is that in “The Shadows” you go to the Caves to make people go away. She also learns that the Caves are older than Strayhold itself. Fosco heads to the Sands of Harad to scout and possibly find San-Balet. The Sands of Harad is extravagant, full of tourist traps, and fancier than most of the establishments that Fosco visits. Fosco orders a drink that ends up being the same size as himself from the bartender Coop. After some friendly words from Fosco, Coop shares some information on San-Balet. Coop says that he has skin and wears a green cape. He is known to hire men like Fosco for “certain tasks.” Happy with the information that he received, Fosco heads back to the Albetross to wait with Radril to confront Skari. Skari shows up, late, and Radril and Fosco tell him about “the stranger” looking into him. Because of their use of false names in Strayhold Skari is now nervous. Eventually Skari opens up and talks about being Kinoden’s knife. Skari tells them how he is part of a religious group known as The Takers. While in the city, he found his religious brothers hoping to get work. Since the only people who know his name in the city are the brothers, it means that one of them squealed. Skari has a contract for the next night in the western part of the city. As this may be a set-up, Fosco and Radril offer to watch Skari’s back. No one died on this night (out of the three of them anyways).