Inquisitor 1265

[Ripper]

Gosh this is hard (but enjoyable)
I need help with one clue: Scot follows cardinal mostly about city in Ancient Greece (5)
Also for After returning fry teases ducks (7) I've got the answer as Garrots (teases is rag, but I don't understand the 'fry' part)
THen I hit a real problem . I've got the two groups of letters (top & bottom line) therefore I know the date, but I don't understand what is meant by "the total number relating to the date of this event"
and I can't fathom the "outline of a thematic shape" I realise it should be near the bottom and have looked for mushroom shapes in vain!
Any help gratefully received!
Thanks in advance!!

[boreas]

TEIAN, meaning about the city of Teos.
The total number of letters to remove is 45, this being the year of the event. (1945).

The letters removed make a very simplified mushroom shape rising from the bottom.

[Ripper]

Thank you boreas!

[Gregsdad]

Ripper

Re Garrots, the "fry" part of the clue has an "a" dropped from previous clue into it so becomes fray = gar backwards; rots is an old term for "teases". A garrot is a colloquial term for goldeneye.

[Ripper]

Thanks Gregsdad!