At least the mayor was being upfront with them on his intentions. Even though Othorion didn't like having to put up with a zone of truth, the mayor was right in that this was his home and they were there for a job, and he could induct the process however he wished. It did annoy him a little, but he supposed this was one of the many things he had to contend with when dealing with commoners. 

But he thought it best to move on, and turned his attention to Arlayna, listening intently to her words. A frown growing on his face. And the more she spoke, the deeper the frown became. Despite himself, he was feeling a slight hint of agitation, his stomach twisting at the numbers of adventurers who had attempted whatever mission the mayor put them up to and had gone missing. Was he walking to his death? Would he leave his father heir-less just to prove to arrogant snobs back home that he was worthy to be among them?

This was no time for fear, he had to remind himself. If he were to lose his cool now, it wouldn't only shame him, but also his entire family. 

"I believe I have," he said, in response to Arlayna's question. "The barkeep at The Olde Crow Inn, but other than him, no one. Nor have I had any need to visit the fey before, or interact with fey creatures. Yet."

Ah, it seems the mayor is the direct type, simply looking for solutions rather than friends. Joy nods, taking on a more serious expression as she listens. She grasps her holy symbol and murmurs a quick prayer upon hearing that there have been other groups to attempt the mission before them. Based on what she knows of fey—mainly tales of warning from childhood—the poor souls would have been lucky if their fate was simply death.

Kesh and the others still seem resolved to take on the Murder Court despite the revelation, which is a relief. 

“No, I haven’t seen anyone other than us and the townsfolk since I got here. And I’ve never been to the Feywild. But…Well, there is something you all should know," she begins, reluctant but resolved that it needs to be said, "I was born in a village on the outskirts of the Ravenswood, a place called Hratt. Maybe you know of it. A fey…likely a hag, had a hand in my birth. But so far, I’ve never encountered her or any other fey as far as I know.”

She pauses, feeling somewhat lighter now that her origin is out in the open. Now she can focus on the mission. "I learned Sylvan at the temple where I trained, as a precaution, and I know a little about their abilities—the ones I share, at least."

She tilts her head slightly, her gaze inquisitive. "Does this ‘Dart’ take on a particular form when it appears, or disguise itself as others?”

Arlayna and the mayor both listen quietly as you each express your answers coupled with questions of your own. The mayor seems to pay the most attention to Joy and Shae as he knows the effects of the spell have not touched those two and he needs to watch them closely for any tells. The constable looks back to Haelviird as you all finish. He nods and she turns back to follow up. "First, the Dragonborn and the noble Drow will step forward. Fret not there is nothing up my sleeves," she squares up her stance and laces her fingers together in front of her waist. She knew the mayor would want the least troublesome taken care of first and she waits for Kesh and Othorion to step forward. The hearth to your left crackles and pops loudly as a hot ember pops out. As natural of an occurrence as that may be, some of you may startle at the sudden noise breaking the silence of the empty space between your conversations.

The Alchemist makes a sideways glance at those beside him before stepping forward with a low growl. It's as much in complaint as anything. The pop draws his attention momentarily, but he does not startle. Coming to a stop before the bitter elf, his side glance turns into a glare of suspicion, flicking between the mayor and his officer. 

"Very well. Now what?"

Hearing his name called out, he looked between Arlayna and the mayor then stepped forward with Kesh, his back straight. The moment the hearth popped his head casually turned towards it, then back at the elf before him. His hands clasped behind his back. He shared the same suspicious looks as Kesh, looking at the mayor and the elf, but he didn't say anything, simply waiting for what they had in store for them. 

The Elven constable nods slightly as the first pair step forward, "Compelled as you've been, the truth is still in the two of you. The Jae's form and features in their...oh forgive me, The Murder Court is comprised of beings the elders of this town have called Jae since they first made contact with them nearly eighty years ago. They are fell beasts of shadow that are dark in their features, at least if they all resemble Darthuul. If you can imagine a feline insect that walks on its hind legs, then you'd have the gist. Their flesh is dark and formed of shadow and sorrow I assume; and the blades that have made attempts at cutting that one seem to have less effect as the darkness binding them to this realm bends and weaves itself around solid matter. We believe they are capable of taking other forms, but have always seen Darthuul as such."

Her eyes stray toward Othorion, "And what of Daerin, the barkeep, has raised your suspicions?"

He didn't intend to be put on the spot when it came to mentioning the barkeep. He was just being thorough, and perhaps a little difficult for the unnecessary zone of truth. "Nothing," he said with the slightest of shrugs, "I was just being thorough with the question."

What bothered him, however, was her description of the Jae. He didn't know what form the Murder Court took, but walking bugs of darkness was not on his list of potential monstrosities. A look of slight queasiness took over his face as he imagined their forms. It was a good thing he knew a bit of magic. They were likely to encounter the Jae, and should they be hostile, he'd kill the bastards with fire.

Arlayna raises a thin brow, "I see. Well, if the two of you have nothing further to add," she turns as the mayor leans over and opens the chest to his left side. The constable bends down to retrieve a hooded cloak the same color blue as the sash at her waist and a weapon similar to a short-hafted spear with a stone blade. Intricate patterns adorn the haft of the yklwa and the hem of the cloak, and she draws near the Drow and the Dragonborn to hand the items over. "Consider these the first of your payment should you succeed. Should you fail, I'm sure I can retrieve what you've left behind. You may have a seat."

She awaits the pair to step aside and be seated before calling the remainder of your group forward, "Geren Alkis, Shaephina Bloodmoon and Joy...if you three would step forward?" She asks as she takes up the more formal stance once more.

Shae watches intently as her companions are called forward, noting their reactions and the constable’s words. The description of the Jae sends a shiver down her spine—feline insects formed of shadow and sorrow? The thought alone is enough to make her uneasy. But she keeps her expression calm, her mind already working through what little information they have.

When she hears her name, Shae steps forward without hesitation, her gaze steady on the constable. She accepts the situation for what it is, aware that they’re all being tested, perhaps even played with, by the mayor and his officer. Still, she has no intention of backing down. As she takes her place before them, Shae tilts her head slightly, her voice calm yet inquisitive. "You mentioned the creatures that harass this village are called Jae, and the village itself is named Jaekin. Is there a connection between the two? Could the origins of this place be tied to them somehow, or had it always have this name?" She pauses briefly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considers the implications. "If they’ve been here for eighty years, there might be more to their presence. Understanding that connection could be crucial to dealing with them."

Jae. Joy gives a wince at the description, trying to picture the creatures in her head. Insects have never been a favorite of hers, let alone person-sized ones. They do have catlike features as well apparently, so at least that is somewhat less alien. Shadow and sorrow, protected by darkness. Her radiant spells should be effective then if it comes to violence. As always, she hopes that it doesn't but is prepared to act if it does.

She steps forward next to Shae, her attention occasionally flicking from the constable to the mayor. It is a bit unnerving how silent he is while his gaze seems to bore holes in them. Is he concerned they might be Jae in disguise? "I wonder...um, have the Jae tricked you before, pretending to be allies?" She addresses both the mayor and the constable, watching closely for any reaction.

ooc: Insight on mayor and constable 21

Humanoid shadow creatures that resemble both cats and insects and are resistant to damage? Possibly fey? Fascinating!

Geren smiles at the thought of the secrets they must possess.

He steps forwards to receive whatever magic item they plan to give him. Not that he plans to stop at one, if as many previous adventurers failed as they claim there must be a hoard of the things. He'd solve the Murder Court problem for them, then demand his pick as a reward. If this worked out it would be an incredibly lucrative adventure.

As Geren waits for his up-front payment he runs through his memories to see what else he can determine about the Murder Court.

OOC: Knowledge checks:

Arcana:

18

History:

20

Nature:

8

Religion:

19

The mayor leans forward as the other three approach and rests his chin on his fist, his eyes and his interest probing deeper into all three as they approach. At Shae's words he scoffs and his hands move to grip the armrests of the wooden seat, the knuckles growing increasingly whiter as he speaks. "Those who laid the foundations of Jaekin did so with the aid of the Jae. The peasant humans were scarcely able to climb the Cragsmoot much less transport the plunder found there. Certain...contracts were made. Blood oaths that the founders were swindled into entering, and The Murder Court was established as the governing body, albeit secretive, of Jaekin. Things went along well enough until the village first decided they no longer needed the aid of an invasive species to dictate their day-to-day. That was nearly twenty years after the first haul from the mountains brought coin into the town. The villagers were not nearly prepared for how the Jae would react. Mist and shadow, revenants and beasts, arose from the valley and have accosted us here ever since. There is but one way to deal with the Jae and that is to slay them" Haelviird nearly growls as he slaps his palm on the armrest. "I do not require of you to understand, only to seek and destroy."

Arlayna clears her throat and watches the mayor calm himself and lean back in the 'throne' once more, "Well...I think that may also answer your question, hexblood. Now, I pose questions to the three of you that require answers. You will speak truthfully of your intentions and reasonings here. Geren Alkis, are you compelled by the influence of any being other than yourself?" She slowly drags her stare away from Geren to Shae, "Shaephina Bloodmoon, you've resisted the effects of the truth spell. Speak our intentions here and do you pose a threat to Mayor Haelviird Brodenbuck?" Finally, the constable's eyes rest on Joy, "Joy, the blood of the fey is strong in your veins. Has your hag mother sent you with ill intent? Are you compelled to do anything other than duties sworn to Mayor Haelviird Brodenbuck?" Arlayna's words seem very carefully chosen and names uttered quite specifically. She rests a hand upon the hilt of her rapier as she awaits the answers, and the mayor's scowl is prominent as he leans forward once more. The fire to the right sizzles as sap ekes from the wood within the hearth and thunder rumbles as if on cue.

Shae feels the weight of the mayor’s gaze and the intensity of Arlayna’s questioning. The urge to speak and share her intentions pulses within her, fueled by the magic of the spell. She takes a steadying breath before answering, her voice calm and clear.

"My intention here is to find the Murder Court and exact revenge for their many victims. I want to ensure they can no longer terrorize this town or anyone else." She hesitates for a brief moment, feeling a strange compulsion to be completely transparent. "As for the mayor, I will pose no threat to him as long as it is not concluded that he partook in the machinations of the Murder Court. I don’t believe that to be the case, but something in me felt it needed to be said."

Shae meets Arlayna’s gaze, her expression resolute. She has spoken her truth, and now all that remains is to see how they will react.

Joy nods as the mayor finishes his explanation. Clearly, he believes what he is saying, but it is hardly enough to fully understand the situation. She finds the intonation of Arlayna’s command odd but doesn’t think much of it.

 “I’ve never encountered the hag or received any orders from her.” The constable is particularly suspicious of Hexbloods, it seems. Not an uncommon sentiment, of course. If anything, her willingness to allow Joy into town at all only demonstrates their desperation. Still, calling a hag her 'mother' is a bit much... “I am sworn foremost to my Oath to pursue peace and justice. That and your request for help are why I came here. I intend to do all I can to protect the people of this town and assist my allies in finding a solution to your problem with The Murder Court.”

Blood oaths, contracts, and murderous fey. Geren can't wait to get to the bottom of this.

He just needs to persuade the Mayor to let him do things his way.

Trying to sound conciliatory Geren addresses him.

"End the contract and if necessary eliminate the Jae, got it. And from what you've said elimination might be necessary. But to beat them I think we might need to know them. So I'll need you to be understanding if we don't just go slaughter them and have to use other methods to solve this. Violence isn't off the table, it's just not going to be our only tool."

OOC: Persuasion roll to improve the Mayor's opinion of Geren and have him cut the party some slack.

25

In response to Arlayna's question Geren laughs.

"I am influenced by many beings, I take orders from none. The barkeep influences me to drink, the baker influences me to purchase pies, and attractive individuals influence me to flirt. To address the spirit of your question I'm not beholden to anyone other than myself. I had not heard of the Jae until this day and to my knowledge have had no contact with them or anyone acting on their behalf. Currently the closest thing I have to being beholden to someone is being in the Mayor's employ. My intentions are to fulfill my end of our deal, get compensated, and indulge my curiosity. Exactly what temptations do you think I'll have that cause you to treat me with such suspicion? It seems like something I should know."

OOC: Persuasion roll to improve Arlayna's opinion of Geren and hopefully get her to be more open about what's going on/why she's so suspicious.

17

Geren notices the strange inflection in Arlayna's voice when she says the last sentence. More magic no doubt. Well, this just ensured he' be working uncover his employer's secrets as well. It might be nothing more than stress-induce paranoia, but Geren wasn't one to leave knowledge unknown.

The mayor nearly cackles at Shaephena's insinuation, so much so that his constable turns to make sure he's finished. He waves her away with his hand and rubs the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes. "At least you've been able to get the truth out, Arlayna. Partook in the machinations...that's rich. In a sense all from here have partook in those whether for good or ill. I assure you I wish only to see the end of those demons of shadow. Come forth and claim your reward, Shaephena Bloodmoon. I think Arlayna has recovered the perfect thing for you." Haelviird reaches into the chest and hands the constable a blank emblem made of silver. When Shae lays her hands upon her pre-payment, the silver surface wavers and the image of a dark hand adorned with silver jewelry appears within its surface. The mayor raises an eyebrow considering the emblem's representation, "Perhaps your dark goddess will ward you from the brutality of the Jae." He waves the dark elf to the side to address Joy, "You seem more pure of heart than your kin. Perhaps the Morning Lord has preserved your soul and can continue to protect you from the curses likely lain upon you. Be forewarned, hags inhabit the Ravenswood and have tricked many villagers into becoming their puppets over the years. I do hope that you can continue to ward yourself from their wiles." He hands Arlayna an amulet emblazoned with the emblem of the morning sun upon it and she passes it to Joy. "Geren Alkis, quick of wit and wiles, aren't you? You speak like a fey trickster yourself, but I sense no lack of sincerity..****y lack of caution perhaps. Your skills could come in handy in the long nights ahead of you. You will find yourself in need of many skills in the days ahead...and perhaps a bit of luck." He reaches for a final item in the chest and tosses it to Geren - a polished agate with a myriad of colors swirled within its depths. "I pray this stone brings you more luck than it did its last wielder." Haelviird gives his constable a nod indicating her to finalize their business here.

Arlayna motions for all to return before the mayor and she before giving the party a final bit of information, "You may do as you please, but I would suggest not entering the Ravenswood at this hour. It is best to avoid as many shadows in those trees as you can and first light would be a better companion to you than moonlight.  The mayor will cover the cost of this night's stay at The Olde Crow. You should get some rest and be prepared to set out at first light. Here is a rough map of the area should you find yourself turned around in the wood or mountains. The Cragsmoot are not endearing to interlopers upon her peaks. The climate is harsh in the higher altitudes and one can never tell what lives in the heights nor the depths there." She passes the map over to one of you and turns to take her place beside the mayor once more. "If there's nothing further, you may take your leave. To prove your success, return with the location of The Court in the mountains, their hearts, or both. You will be compensated if these terms are fulfilled. One final word of caution, things are not always as they appear in this valley. Be on guard and keep your wits about you. I truly have little desire to track your progress and gather your belongings for the next band of brave adventurers. Should you have questions about that map, I can make an attempt to inform you, but the barkeep's son is the one who drew it up.  The lad's quite handy with more than an axe, I suppose."

"Kesh has concerns." The Dragonborn pipes up with a rather chilly cadence. The truth spell still holds him, so he has no motivation to retain any sort of geniality. "You have spoken of grave dangers in the dark, yet give few examples. What might one be inclined to expect from nightfall? Surely you have an idea, and are not so blind as you pretend to be. Information is power, and sending their people into complete unknowns without knowledge you possess does nothing to aid them, or Kesh."

The Alchemist is already a suspicious man by default. The more he knows, the better he can plan. "One will of course ask the barman's child as well, but one wishes to hear what information the highest law in the land has to offer in the way of ecology; shall they face bears, wolves, are there wild elves in these woods, were-beasts, perhaps?" He knows his logic is sound, and as such there'd be no need for persuasion. 

Shae steps forward, accepting the silver emblem from Arlayna with a nod. She listens intently to the mayor’s words, his laughter still echoing in her ears. The emblem feels cool in her hand, its dark design intriguing. After a moment, she meets the mayor’s gaze and speaks with measured calm. "Thank you for the trust you’ve shown in us, Mayor Haelviird, by offering this considerable upfront payment." It’s a trust that stands in stark contrast to the truth spell he had used to extract their intentions, she notes. 

She waits until Kesh's questions have been answered, glancing at her companions before continuing. "We’ll need to stock up on supplies and equipment for the journey ahead. The Cragsmoot will be harsh, and we may be away from any civilized place for quite some time, especially if our path leads us into the Feywild as it was suggested."

Joy takes the amulet gratefully, feeling faint warmth from it that reminds her of the first rays of dawn. She listens to the constable's warnings attentively and then heads over to peer at the map in Geren's hands. There are a lot of landmarks that she finds intriguing, but she will wait to ask the innkeeper's son for details. The drawings' 'style' makes her wonder how old he is.

"Yes, and there is the matter of communicating our findings back to you...at least while we remain in this realm. Do you have carrier pigeons perhaps, or another spell? I do have...something, but the range isn't great, and it would only work one way." Not to mention it is a bit gross. "Also, did any of our predecessors leave behind a journal or notes on their mission? Even if it doesn't seem to make sense, it may provide some insight. Fey are known for confusing their victims."

Persuasion (in case they do have a journal/notes but are withholding it): 21

Quote from Lambastard_13 >>

"Kesh has concerns." The Dragonborn pipes up with a rather chilly cadence. The truth spell still holds him, so he has no motivation to retain any sort of geniality. "You have spoken of grave dangers in the dark, yet give few examples. What might one be inclined to expect from nightfall? Surely you have an idea, and are not so blind as you pretend to be. Information is power, and sending their people into complete unknowns without knowledge you possess does nothing to aid them, or Kesh."

The Alchemist is already a suspicious man by default. The more he knows, the better he can plan. "One will of course ask the barman's child as well, but one wishes to hear what information the highest law in the land has to offer in the way of ecology; shall they face bears, wolves, are there wild elves in these woods, were-beasts, perhaps?" He knows his logic is sound, and as such there'd be no need for persuasion. 

Arlayna rests a thin hand on the hilt of her weapon as she walks closer to Kesh and into what you'd likely note is the area of the zone of truth. Her expression remains stoic and rather dour, "I have been in these woods since well before Jaekin, when Oldtown stood as a beacon against the natural dangers the wilderness can present. The beasts you mention dwell here still, though many do well to avoid the grip of malady brought on by The Murder Court. Things now are twisted...changed by the influence of the Jae...by even their presence. One might face a Lycan, sure, only to discover that it is undead. A wolf may sprout tentacles as it sniffs about your camp. A raven...well, you should be wary when the black birds caw as they are the messengers of the Jae. They seem to be the couriers of their will and whim. Daylight is your ally, but the shadows are long in Ravenswood and Cragsmoot alike." She pauses as the mayor stands from his seat.