Esker

Human man and member of the Tide whom the party found dead in the basement of Kobolwitz Manor on 12 Thelliea.

The party found and unlocked the secret compartment hidden behind the wine racks in Ser Reginald Kobolwitz's wine cellar. Inside they found a dead man with multiple stab wounds in his back, who had been dead for at least a week. In his fist he held a crumpled note.

J,

My informant has confirmed that Kobolwitz did have our quarry in his possession before his demise.

You and E are to enter the manor quietly and secure the blade. It will be well hidden – the old man wouldn’t leave it out in the open. You know what eccentric rich fools are like – look for a hidden safe or vault.

I’m told the manor is locked up and no one has been inside since someone set off a trap while the place was being cleaned. As long as you don’t alert the guards outside, you should have the run of the place.

When quarry is secured, bring it straight back. I’ll be waiting for you in the cask.

A high tide carries opportunity (in elvish)

— V

Because he was holding it, the party assumed the dead man was the addressee referred to as J, and speculated that he had been betrayed by the person referred to as E, who must have taken Ser Kobolwitz's scimitar.

On the evening of 14 Thelliea, the party meets Orianna in The Baron's Cask, who explains that J is her brother Arnuanna, E is Esker, and V is herself. Since Esker is a human man and Arnuanna is a tiefling, it was Orianna's brother who betrayed and killed Esker.