Split up and try to find the relic

You all repack your haversacks and leave the halfling's shop, embarrassed for wasting his time and having lost the relic. You huddle near the window to discuss the new plan.

"Are we sure that the relic was actually packed away, and we didn't leave it back at the Rusted Dragon?" Bruce asked as the group corralled around him.

You nod in acknowledgement "Yes, absolutely positive. I made sure to put it away after we showed it to Dandree last night, and double checked before we left this morning"

"Okay, the only chance we have to find this thing is to split up and retrace our steps" Bruce replied

"You mean comb through the entire city? What, you think the asshole who robbed us is just going to wave it around for us all to see?" Kraig interjected

Swigrod, surprisingly interjected "Likely to brag about what he did. Pawn relic off and relish in the coin."

Bruce agreed "Or in the things he can buy with coin. Let's get going. The less time we dawdle around, the better our chances are of finding this prick. Look through all the shops like this, find all of the fences who buy stolen goods, and the like. Check out taverns, gambling parlors, et cetera, and keep an eye out for someone being a damned fool with their money. We'll regroup at the inn up the street from here come sundown. If we find it, we'll sell it the next morning. If we don't, well, we'll figure out a new plan from there."

Going in disparate directions, you comb the city of Krakorum. Being a stranger to the city, you easily get lost, and find yourself in the same place in more than one occasion. You eventually do get your bearings, using a large clocktower towards the center as your reference point. Thankfully, even though you don't know the city well, you have the benefit over the four humans is that your pendant matches the relic you're looking for. When you ask strangers about it, you have something for them to actually see, rather than their imaginations. Although you don't find the relic, or any strong leads for it, you take some solace in finding that the humans here are really nice to you. You remember hearing stories back home about how bitter these people can be, and even outright xenophobic, but you didn't experience any of that. There are a few times when you start to feel a pull in your mind towards something, as if the relic is nearby and calling you, but it was never in the same direction. In the end, none of the shopkeepers that you visited had seen it or heard any word of it. None of the venues that you checked out had anyone being standout stupid with their money. A few drunks, but nothing more than that, and they looked to have been **** since before you arrived in the city.

Empty handed, you return to The Salted Longshoreman and meet with the others. Unfortunately, they met much the same fate. You somberly share a meal together, thinking on the next move. A small part of you is thinking if maybe this is the point to remove yourself from this group; you did more than they originally asked you for, and this could very well be wrapped up. On the other hand, there is something you like about them, and there's still a glimmer of hope that something might turn around.

While thinking about this, Kraig discretely gets the attention of you and the others "Something's off"

Swigrod responded with the wrong assumption "Yesterday's soup, ruins flavor"

"No, not that. Look to the side," Indiscreetly, you all look to the far wall, seeing the tavern wench Nancy walking up the stairs with one of the guests, hand in hand.

"So what?" You ask

"So, Nancy hates that guy. Can't imagine there was that sudden shift of opinion to merit sharing a room together..."

You start to wonder if this could be Veserae's influence, or at least the influence of her nearby relic. The darting eyes between Bruce, Swigrod, and the others seems to imply they might be thinking the same thing. Before anyone starts to move to question Nancy and her companion, you start to hear a loud commotion outside...