Looking to Tail Feathers ‘Would you recognize those two from the stables if you ran into them again? From the sounds of it, they could be in cahoots or even the go between. I’d love to get them away from here and have a serious discussion about saving their souls. When I get thru with them, that’ll be about all that’s left…’

’Vee-I assume we need to gather up young Wil and bring him along tonite? I think we shud if his parents are agreeable. Give Amber someone she knows and trusts besides us to see if the restoring can be done. Maybe you and Mill shud head over there, gather him up and meet us at Emilees place.  Well, I gather it’s an ‘us’-I shudnt speak for everyone, especially if you have other ideas or concerns.’  Sorrow speaks softly, trying to keep her voice from carrying to other tables, but it’s evident by the tone and hardness in it that she’ll carry on even if the rest decide otherwise.

"I'll speak on my thoughts about the matter, they're in line with yours. If there's a reward for helpin' these folks get their property back, I'd be happy to accept it, but to my mind, knowing what these girls are going thru, the unbridled slavery and while it's only a pinky mutilation is mutilation, it wouldn't sit well with me knowing they're in this plight and there's something we could have done about it."

Making himself busy by fetching food and drinks for his companions, Millwater's ears perk up at the mention of his name. He nods in agreement to Sorrow's words. "I'll be ready in a moment." He says as he heads back to the kitchen.

He checks the oven and pulls out the bread that is done and warns the chef. "I gotta an errand to run, keep an eye on the loaves of bread!" He quickly makes a sandwich, cutting the loaf lengthwise and soaking the inside with the stew. Topping it off with a generous heap of thinly sliced mutton. Slicing it in half and wrapping with paper, it's placed in the big pocket of his apron. (component pouch filled with spices) Satisfied he is ready, he heads out to meet with Veeshal. 

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 2 I 13hp 

Vee-his mouth full of food-bobs his head to let Sorrows know he heard and agrees with the plan. Swallowing the food and quaffing his drink, he’ll make a quick trip upstairs, returning with an empty backpack. Stuffing the box from Sorrow into it, he’ll frown at the weight but says nothing. Once Mill returns from the kitchen, he’ll check his hammer is at hand then head for the door. ‘Let’s go visit the Chandlers. I promised young Wil I’d bring you along tonight when we were free.’  He grins at Mill and ruffles his head.

Festoon goes along for the ride, unconcerned about anything discussed, although he does say "When will we get to those caves and clear that nest of ugly slavers out, do you think?"

Tail Feathers smiled, “I might be able to. There was a feeling of recognition, but it was quick on them heading out.” Eating slowly as she took in everything around her with the group. 

Vee shrugs nonchalantly at Festoon. ‘I'd say we’ll find out more during the meeting, but no promises. I’m guessing Sorrow has some kind of plan-or at least the start of one-rolling around in her head but thinks she’s missing pieces parts to form it up enough to tell us.’ He shivers, then turns quickly around walking backwards as he checks for followers, then back forward again. ‘I’ve seen her do some-interesting?-things in the past to get people to talk. That roasting spit was pretty tame-for her. But after the childhood she had, I’m surprised she’s not more bloodthirsty than she is-or that she can control herself in that kind of situation…’

Sorrow drums her fingers on the table a minute. ‘ Did you happen to take note of entrances, exits, alleyways close to the stables, or any way we can get to the meet tonight unobtrusively? It’s not a problem if you didn’t, just trying to keep our business ours and not get anyone in any more trouble.’ While Tail and J’han finish their meal she casually examines the room, trying to discern if anyone is showing more than a casual interest in them. Once they’re finished, she heads for the door, waving a farewell to Karie as she weaves thru the taproom. Once outside she gestured for Tail lead on.

First thing Millwater does stepping outside is looking up into the sky. (Are the early evening planets visible yet? Sundown? Moon(s)?) Twisting around looking for familiar objects. "Been waiting for night to check the sky. I figured I would be able to tell what direction the Dionysus monastery is at." He says to Veeshal. 

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 2 I 13HP

As they head towards the midwifes place, Sorrow stops suddenly, eyes darting all strings. ‘Quick-in here.’ She ducks into an alley where she proceeds to unlock the box she’s carrying and cautiously open it from behind the hinge side of v the top. When nothing manifests, she’ll wipe her brow then look to J’han. ‘You know-you have the movements of what my teacher called a ‘procurement specialist’. Think you can turn your skills towards finding out what makes this box so heavy? The only thing in it are some pinky fingers, and the metal of the box isn’t dense enough to make it this heavy. Care to have a go at looking it over for secrets?’

"Ohhh!  A magic storage box? How interesting! Can I see it, too, once you've looked it over, because my Uncle TrickCarver had all sorts of special boxes with secret compartments. He used to sell a lot of them to wives of nobles, apparently for letters. I don't know why letters were so popular to hide, but whatever." Festoon says, peering at the finger-box. 

"I'd let Festoon have first crack at it. As for myself, while I am crafty, it's mostly wood stuffs, not metalwork."

Festoon digs out 95 gold coins from the recesses of the box, after pushing the fingers aside. After those coins were pulled out, he looks at it curiously , hefting it and looking deeper inside. "I think there's even more secrets in here. Let's see..."

"Way to go Festoon," J'nah takes and stacks the coins, then looks at Sorrow, "Was this the only, odd, box?"

Everyone heads towards the Midwife's house with the chest containing the fingers.  About half way there Sorrow ducks into a side alley and proceeds to cautiouly open the chest once again to reveal to everyone the chest seemingly full of fingers.  Sorrow expresses her opinion that something is not quite right with the chest.  Festoon examines the chest and announces that it is just a normal chest.  He moves the fingers aside with a dagger and finds 95 gold coins underneath the fingers.  He examines the chest some more and finds a false bottom  Opening it he finds a note. 

What are your next actions?

With a click and and a grin, the halfling reaches his nimble fingers further into the box and pulls out two small potion vials, a ring, and a letter. "Looks like more than gold in them thar tricky box! Who wants these?"

"Lemee see the letter." J'nah reaches out for the paper. "I wouldn't trust myself to figure out if the rest are magical. Knowing my luck, I'd try to drink one thinkin' it's fir healin' and poison myself."

"Whah? Either this isn't common or the people around here are using code. Maybe these aren't even the same letters... " he looks at Sorrow and Festoon, "Or this person just writes weird and in code." Then J'nah offers it to the others to look at.

Abandoning his look up to the sky, his attention is distracted when Festoon breaks out his tools. He climbs up Sorrow's back to get a good view,  peeking over her shoulder. Trying to figure out how Festoon's tools work, he is in awe. (He's like a surgeon operating on a patient!) He thinks noting how the position of Festoon's fingers are used like a fulcrum of a lever to manipulate a mechanism. "That's neat!" He says

"Sorry bout that!" He apologizes to Sorrow as he drops down off her shoulder. "Master always shielded me from unlawful carnel knowledge. Nothing quite like the forbidden to pique curiosity."

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 2 I 13hp

Festoons fingers tighten as the ring is taken, and he says, almost to himself, "That rings got a powerful lure on it. Definately magical, but I'd be thinking thrice before putting it on."