Recaps

Renato attended Governor De Sousa’s lavish banquet to deliver information and ask about texts concerning ocean races, but the governor was delayed by trade discussions. As an extravagant roasted swordfish was presented, Alvaro de Sousa finally arrived.

• Renato sampled the banquet’s food and drinks while Captain De Leon searched for investors for his Fountain of Youth expedition.
• Renato asked Gaska where Governor De Sousa was, and Gaska explained that he was discussing trade cooperation with a Merchants’ Guild director.
• Servants presented a lavishly roasted Crown Swordfish, and Gaska described how it had been prepared and stuffed.
• Governor Alvaro de Sousa descended the staircase with four armed attendants, and a servant announced his arrival.

At a banquet, Governor De Sousa rebuked Captain De Leon’s appeal to fund a search for the fountain of youth and defended his faith in Talos with remarks that appeared to criticize King Severino. Renato then updated De Sousa on the suspected underwater threat and asked for books about marine races, so De Sousa offered to introduce him to a knowledgeable Merchants’ Guild director.

• Governor De Sousa ate an enormous meal while Captain De Leon asked him to fund an expedition to find the fountain of youth.
• De Sousa dismissed De Leon’s proposal, and De Leon accused him of disrespecting King Severino.
• De Sousa invoked Talos’s teachings and declared that he would accept the god’s judgment and step aside when called, leaving the guests stunned by the apparent criticism of the King.
• Renato told De Sousa that sea elves might not be preparing to attack White Harbor, and De Sousa said he had ordered the Guard to reinforce the docks.
• Renato asked to borrow books about marine races, and De Sousa explained that White Harbor had no library before offering to introduce him to a knowledgeable Merchants’ Guild director.

Governor De Sousa introduced Renato to Amicali, a young but formidable swordswoman who directed shipping and export credit for the Turin Trading Company. Amicali recognized Renato for killing pirates, and the two exchanged greetings after sizing each other up.

• De Sousa led Renato to the fourth floor of the Governor’s Mansion and described the trading company director’s influence.
• De Sousa introduced Amicali, whose armor and weapons revealed her experience as a swordswoman.
• Amicali recognized Renato Black Blade as the man famous for killing evil pirates in White Harbor.
• Amicali introduced herself as a director of the Turin Trading Company and shook Renato’s hand.

Renato met Amicali, a renowned swordswoman and trading company director, to discuss the cultures of the ocean races. After she demonstrated deep knowledge of sea elf beliefs, Renato asked about a Hunting Guild, prompting Amicali to question his interest in the sea elves.

• Governor De Sousa introduced Renato and Amicali, then left them alone to talk.
• Amicali praised Renato’s swordsmanship, and they exchanged pleasantries before Renato steered the conversation toward ocean-race cultures.
• Renato tested Amicali’s knowledge by asking about Deep Sea Sashela, and she explained sea elf beliefs and customs in detail.
• Renato asked about a Hunting Guild, and Amicali reacted with uncertainty, saying such an organization did not seem to fit the sea elves’ way of life.
• Amicali asked Renato why he was interested in the sea elves and how they had come to his attention.

Renato questioned Amicali about the marine hunting bands and concealed his reasons for asking. Amicali identified the title “Hunting Band Baron” as one used by sahuagin tribal chieftains.

• Renato suspected Amicali was probing him and claimed his interest in sea elves came from his sea elf attendant.
• Amicali explained that marine races commonly fished for food but had little reason to gather in large hunting parties.
• Renato asked Amicali which underwater race might organize hunting bands.
• Amicali said the title “Hunting Band Baron” was associated with sea devils, or sahuagin.

After a two-day storm, Renato and Selina resumed searching the Dock District for the shark-tooth-shaped Key of the Two-Breathers. They heard armored strangers in the abandoned courtyard where they had found a magic circle, and Renato prepared Selina for a fight.

• After the rain stopped, Renato and Selina set out to continue searching for the Key of the Two-Breathers.
• Renato caught Selina when she stumbled in a murky pool and reflected on her unexplained identity and the clues linking her to the Merfolk.
• Renato heard at least three armored strangers moving near the abandoned courtyard where he and Selina had found engraved array patterns.
• The strangers stopped when Renato and Selina did, and Renato quietly told Selina to get ready for a fight.

Renato accompanied Selina as she searched for the Key of the Two-Breathers, which he had already hidden in Klauthsura's Ring. When armed figures in an abandoned courtyard detected him, Renato prepared to fight, but a familiar female voice invited him to talk.

• Selina searched sites Shahualin had often visited, suspecting the key might have been lost before the chase.
• Renato wondered why Shahualin had made no effort to recover the key and considered whether she had another way to locate it.
• Renato heard armed figures in the abandoned courtyard and suspected the underwater spies had discovered he carried the key.
• Renato kept the armed figures and Selina in view, gripped his sword, and reached for a bottle of Oil of Speed.
• A familiar woman in the courtyard called for Renato to show himself and suggested they talk before resorting to violence.

Renato encountered Amicali and her guards at the abandoned courtyard where he had found a mysterious magic circle. Amicali explained that Governor De Sousa had separately hired her to identify the island’s unknown magic circles, leaving the two investigators’ responsibilities in conflict.

• Renato recognized Amicali in the courtyard and cautiously checked for an ambush while her two guards watched him.
• After confirming there were no hidden enemies or signs of blood, Renato lowered his sword and asked Amicali why she had come.
• Amicali signaled her guards to lower their weapons and said Governor De Sousa had hired her to identify the magic circles scattered across the island.
• Amicali apologized for taking on the commission without knowing De Sousa had already assigned the matter to Renato.

Renato suspected that Amicali had come to White Harbor with a hidden interest in him, though he could not tell whether she was investigating him or the mysterious array patterns. When she deliberately revealed knowledge beyond the island mages’ understanding and watched his reaction, she exposed that they shared secrets and proposed cooperation.

• Renato reasoned that Amicali had likely learned of his inquiries through conversations with Governor De Sousa and had knowingly accepted a commission already given to him.
• While exchanging pleasantries with Amicali, Renato sensed unusual fear and hostility from her two company guards and concluded she might have come specifically to meet him.
• Amicali redirected their conversation to the mysterious array patterns in the abandoned courtyard and asked Renato what he thought of their creator.
• Amicali derided the island mages for failing to understand knowledge beyond their usual frameworks, and Renato realized she was testing his reaction to see what he knew.
• Amicali acknowledged that she and Renato shared secrets, dismissed her guards outside, and invited Renato to discuss cooperation as equals.

Renato met Amicali inside the ruined house to discuss the ancient charging circle, while both concealed their knowledge and intentions. As Amicali offered him a generous reward for his findings, Renato recalled the Turin Trading Company's connection to the pirate ship Pickle Barrel.

• Renato left Selina outside with the guards and entered the ruined house with Amicali.
• Amicali cast a spell that silenced the house and questioned Renato about the circle, similar patterns on the island, and the ritual's progress.
• Renato realized Amicali knew about the ritual's deadline and considered whether the Turin Trading Company was involved with the underwater races.
• Renato insisted that they exchange information voluntarily and on equal terms, then recalled that the Turin Trading Company had provided cover for the Pickle Barrel.
• Amicali offered Renato a generous reward if he told her everything he had learned about the magic circles.

Renato deduced that Amicali was a powerful follower of Bane who had helped orchestrate the Dead Three's plan involving the Pickle Barrel. With the advantage of knowing more about her than she knew about him, Renato interrupted her promises and asked what Bloody Marilith would fetch at a professional auction house.

• Renato connected Amicali to the plan that would have let the Pickle Barrel leave White Harbor with the Necromancy Mage and Bhaal's pirates.
• Renato concluded that Amicali was likely a core devotee of Bane, possibly the Tyrant's Hand, and understood why she had taken such an interest in him.
• Renato recognized that he had an information advantage because Amicali did not know his identity.
• Renato interrupted Amicali's offers of future rewards and asked her to name an appropriate starting bid for Bloody Marilith at a professional auction house.

Renato and Amicali nearly came to blows after he exposed her allegiance to Bane, but both chose to negotiate instead. Amicali deduced that Renato wielded shadow magic and proposed an alliance to open the island, offering to help with his unfinished ritual.

• Renato pressured Amicali by listing his victories over their shared enemies and accusing her of seeking revenge.
• Amicali warned Renato to stop advancing, and they faced each other ready to fight before both lowered their guard.
• Renato decided to postpone fighting because he needed information about the underwater army and the ancient civilization.
• Amicali cursed the Myrkul worshippers, then told Renato she did not intend to avenge the defeated and respected his strength.
• Amicali revealed that she had deduced Renato used shadow magic and offered an alliance, pointing out that his ritual lacked the Key of the Two-Breathers.