Telias moves to the back of the room as well and gently touches the statue with his staff, looking around it for any clues.

Perception: 19

The statue looks very much like a person, probably too realistic to be real ice.  You can guess that this is the final stage of whatever killed Urgon Wenth and seems to have infected Tulgi as well.  If the employer of these elves is also infected, then this person brings the total count to four in this relatively small community.

Sunshine stays in the main room with the elf, her arms crossed over her chest and red eyes narrowed in a glare. Ya said your boss is sick, she says. Blue veins 'n all? 'Cause that's becomin' a real common theme here. Her tail flicks behind her, showcasing the uneasiness that her expression doesn't show.

Nalla will continue with her ritual as the rest of the groups question the elf, hoping that the spell will reveal something useful.

Telias steps back. "That's no statue, that's our shop owner. My guess is that that's what happens at the end. No one touch anything you aren't one hundred percent sure about."

Mr. Fists nods and repeats in Telias' voice "No one touch anything."

Verdan smirks. "You'll hear no contradiction from me on that front." He pointed puts his hand behind his back as the others investigate the strange statue.

I reckon there's nothing useful here anyways, the elf states.  Hulil robbed this place two months ago, her and her sister.  That's when this started.  She thought maybe Verla Pelc might have a cure, but I'm guessing not since it got her too, they nod in the general direction of the 'statue' of Pelc.  Look, I'll tell you where she is, and you let me go.  And that one too, they point at the unconscious elf.  Deal?

Nalla continues the spell as they talk to the elf, quietly waiting for the ritual to finish as she observes the statue.

"And just how are we s'posed to know if you're tellin' the truth or not?" Sunshine asks. She cocks an eyebrow at the elf. "Ya could be sendin' us on a wild chase while ya set up a trap with this 'boss' of yours. It ain't like we're gonna be trustin' ya much after ya and your friends attacked us."

The elf shrugs in response. Believe it or don't.  I got no reason to lie.  I need to get out of town before Hulil realises I talked to you, and sends someone to kill me.

If Sunshine or anyone else would like to make an Insight check, they can.

Nalla's spell takes 10 minutes, so the casting is still going on, I'm afraid.

Insight: 7

Mr. Fists Insight - 18

Mr. Fists, you can tell that this elf has little loyalty to their current, now former employer.  You can't be certain they're telling the truth, but they don't seem motivated to risk a lie.

Mr. Fists turns to everyone. "Not lying. Doesn't have loyalty to their employer."

Mr. Fists, the elf looks curiously at you, but doesn't speak.

You have a few options, including agreeing to the elf's deal, or reporting back to the village leader with what you've discovered.  There might be other things too...

Sunshine looks around at the others. Not that she particularly trusts any of them, but, well, now they've fought with her - and even healed her so she didn't die. They're alright in her book so far. So she looks back to the elf and shrugs. "Fine. Tell us where your employer is, then take your friend and get outta our sight. We'll take it from there."

Croaker Cave, the elf replies.  North of here.  Watch for the ice frogs, they're tougher than you think.  They give you a description of how to get to the cave and recognise the entrance - it's about two miles from Palebank Village, and easy to reach.

Unless there are any objections or further questions, the elf will pick up their friend and leave as soon as you let them, walking south out of the village.

Mr. Fists points to the north. "Croacker Cave," he says in the elf's voice. "Rest first, maybe?"