Acknowledging the dire need for expert insight, you shove the dagger into a hidden pocket, shrouded by the folds of your coat, and make your way through the rain-drenched streets of Thesario. The clamor of the city is muted by the relentless downpour, and your footsteps echo through the alleys like memories of a forgotten past. The scent of dampened earth assaults your senses, grounding you in the bleak reality that lies before you. Deceptively labyrinthine and swathed in shadows, the city's darker quarters have delivered answers before, and you hope that once more, the elusive whisper of illumination will manifest itself within those murky depths.
Navigating the narrow, dimly lit lanes, you seek out an old crony - a man who knows the criminal factions of Thesario like the back of his battered, knobby hands. His name is Lysander, a man with a tongue as sharp as his wit and a wealth of sordid connections. Ancient in age and appearance, the wrinkled lines on Lysander's face seemed to carry stories, each crease a tale of secrets uncovered and clandestine meetings. The moment the door shut behind you, the air becomes stifling, thick with the intoxicating blend of cigar smoke and aged whiskey.
Taking a seat across from Lysander, you pull the dagger from its concealed location and watch as his eyes narrow, the weight of the sigil's message sinking in. With a wheezing sigh, he looks up at you, sadness mingling with fear in his rheumy gaze. 'This symbol,' he whispers, a tremor in his voice betraying his practiced composure, 'it belongs to a nefarious organization known as the Crescent Serpents. Their influence stretches far and wide, reaching all corners of the city, with a merciless grip on the criminal underbelly of Thesario.'
With your throat constricted by the gravity of Lysander's revelation, you press on, urgency spurring your every word. 'How do I find them?' you demand, steeling your resolve for the daunting task ahead. Lysander hesitates, but the unspoken plea in your gaze seems to coax him into compliance. 'There are three locations in this city where the Crescent Serpents hold their greatest sway,' he says, his voice strained with the effort of sharing his hard-won knowledge. The energy in the air seems to change, tinged with the electric charge of your next steps.
Visit the corrupt merchant who has ties to the Crescent Serpents.