Edit: I just replayed this quest. It turns out that you can finish the quest (possibly losing some XP, didn't do the tally) by doing the exceedingly simple and obvious: Kill Carver. The log says that the murders will likely never be resolved now, and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve. Considering that the alternative, telling on the cook to Carver, will probably result in the magisters finally going over the edge and launching a full-blown pogrom with lots of innocent dead, not the worst outcome imo. (Carver's loot was also far better than the paltry quest reward he offers, just saying... certainly didn't influence my choice...)
Yeah I did that, I just would have liked a more official ending towards that path.
So that is why you would be helping them.. because its a chance to learn more about source.
I don't really remember anything about a source vibe, other than that the magisters suspect a Sourcerer. It seems like the default path once you find the cook and realize they aren't a sourcerer should be throw the magisters off her trail.
(shrug)
