"You killed him. Good job." Ag's sarcasm was palpable.
"I did not kill him." Reggie stated in disbelief.
"He's not breathing nor is his heart beating. I think this constitutes dead." Ag pulled his hand from the halfling's chest and rose from his squatting position.
"Youcan'tbefuckingserious..." Reggie whispered to himself as he planted his face in his hand like a reverse face palm. He felt a slight disappointed weight slump herself over his shoulders. He then quickly rose shouting. "HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW HIS NECK WAS SO FRAGILE?"
"He's old and a halfling. What did you expect? Also I specifically give to the Adventure's hand sign for 'subdue with hand chop.'"
"No, you gave the sign for 'strike with blunt object'. 'Subdue with hand chop' is lower on the neck."
"Ah, I now see the folly was on my part."
"No! You're the... wait you're not going to argue with me?"
"I gave poor communication and it has caused the death of a... questionably innocent old man. I take full responsibility."
Reggie was taken aback by the sudden integrity of the dragonkin in front of him. They are usually very proud people who perceive themselves as flawless. Reggie couldn't tell if he was just cut from a different cloth or it had something to do with his Order.
"Either way we have the writ and can easily claim this as self defence in this kind of environment."
"Yes, but now we're missing in opportunity of interrogation. He must of poisoned us for a reason, plus he was carrying a sparkly looking dagger. Could have asked him a lot of questions about that." Ag squatted back down picking up the knife and inspecting it. Both stopped for a moment as they heard the overhead floorboards creak as the supposed cloaked figures took their leave in haste.
"Good, we don't have to worry about them for the time being." Ag sighed.
"Honestly, I just hope we can keep the whole Vulgar Dynasty daily kill count to one tonight." Reggie let out a nervous laugh unaware that Bounty and Ave had killed 20 people just a few hours ago.
"Interesting..." Ag quietly stated as he lit a small fire on the time of his index finger as he moved it around the guard of the dagger.
"What?" Reggie bent down to help inspect.
"Watch this." Ag sat his finger along the face of the blade then moved it up and down.
"What is it I'm trying to look at here? Laymen's terms please."
"Focus on the hilt, pay attention." Ag continued the back and forth movement adjusting his whole position to give Reggie a better look. That's when they both saw it. The very secretive filigreed etching of the familiar predatory bird in front of a sun on the horizon.
"Damn. How the hell did you know that was there?"
"I didn't, but for the slightest second I saw it flash when I picked it up."
"Look there next to it. Looks like some sigilcraft. Do you know any sigils?"
"No, and I assume if you're asking me then you know none either."
"You got me there." Reggie shrugged.
"We'll take it with us. Come on. We still need to check if this is connect to demon worship."
Both got together investigation the office downstairs only finding a near ancient ledger. They gathered that lighthouse used to be it's own standalone fort, dungeon included. After the nearby village got more built up the militia took over and the fort was converted into a lighthouse.
They did a second take over the halfling. Still dead. Nothing of significance about his clothes or in his pockets. Even in death he still had that disconcerting grin. It made Reggie's blood run colder than the ghost connected to him, but Ag could only give a final look of distain before they both climb up the ladder to the first floor.
They spend a good hour checking every nook and cranny trying to find some sign of cult shenanigans, ever unaware of Dian enjoying her newfound company just a few miles away. They found nothing of value, but Ag found specifically two items of value that we're no longer present. The lighthouse beacon gem was missing, as well as that empty vial sporting the strange symbol that it shares with the dagger he saw on the ingredient rack.
"What are you looking for? Don't tell me you're thinking of having tea at a time like this." Reggie asked from across the room overturning a couch.
"No, it's nothing." Ag adjusted the three blades on his back before grabbing Reggie. "We're not going to find anything here. Let's hope our comrades had better luck." Reggie nodded and followed with. The door opened to heavy rain. A torrential downpour that blocked their vision and almost silenced their voices. Both of them stopping to see a singular red glow in the direction of the town.
"The hells kind of fire is that to still be lit in all of this?" Reggie shouted, his voice barely reaching Ag.
"Has to be magic. No natural flame could burn through this. Give me a second and I'll check the rune." Ag flashed a purple rune infront of his face as his vision enhanced on the target flame. He broke out in a sprint panicking.
"Ag! Wait up! What's wrong?"
"I know that spell! Explosion!" Ag continued running forward with Reggie barely keeping up behind him. Reggie could feel a tightness around his neck and an uncomfortable feeling in his lungs. He needed to get out of the rain soon.