Mala nods. "Of course sir. We'll be on our way. Corporal, your informative has been most helpful."

She turns, saying in Elvish, "Yes, let's speak to the Commander."  She then makes her way out, only waiting to see that her companions are with her.

Making your way back outside, you discover that a misty rain has set in. It's soft, but on your return to the Commander's House it settles on clothing and equipment, covering everything in a fine surface layer like morning dew.

On arriving at the House you are sent not to the conference room, but to a smaller office down the corridor. There you find the Commander, the Captain, and an older man, human, with long straggly hair. As you enter, the man and the Commander are face-to-face, and you hear the man hiss "This is it for you, Landgrave," with a leery smile. The Commander, on the other hand, has a face like thunder. They both turn to look at you, and the Commander growls to the man "You've said your piece, now get out of my house." But the man only smiles, "Ah, but I would like to meet your guests! Are they perhaps new recruits? You're going to need them, is it five you're down now, after this newest debacle?" He gives a little bow. "My name is Florian Highmoon, Seneschal to the Baron Housta. A pleasure to meet you, who have such misplaced optimism in this Guard and its Commander."

 “You are right, Friar.” Ilithir said to Nick, once again lowering his head in reverence to the man. “Just allow me to help the other patient before leaving.” The elf asked moving towards the man with the wounded leg. “Take Cure!” Once again his eyes glowed. “Please, stay close to the corporal until the Commander sends help. She will be a great ally for this city.”

The gentle tone of his voice hid cold calculation. If Singer was the only patient remaining then the Friar would have the leeway necessary to keep eyes on her. His words should be enough to hide his true worry, that the charm spell forced the woman to kill herself, behind simple kindness. That shouldn’t trigger any command planted on her mind, or at least he hoped it wouldn’t.  

Mala agreed with him and he was happy to make fast way back to the Commander’s house. He didn’t pay much attention when the guards sent them to a smaller office. Not even the fact that Landgrave was receiving someone surprised him. The man was the acting ruler of the city, after all.

“We are not recruits, Master Seneschal.” He said with a polite smile upon his lips. “We are here for a private audience with the Commander, gods help us…” The silver haired man said casting guidance on himself. “… to deal with particular matter.” Which to be fair, was not a lie. He then looked to Landgrave. “You are him, I presume?”

Ilithir believed Highmoon was an enemy of lieutenant or at very least not an ally. As such it was better to let the shaggy haired man know nothing about their quests and the best way to do so was act if they just met Rannulf.

Notes: Ilithir casts Cure Wounds on the guy with a hurt leg back at Valkur's temple. Should I roll the healing or is the guy's leg completely cured? Ilithir also casts Guidance on himself while talking with Florian.

Mala is content to listen silently to the exchange between Highmoon and the Commander until Highmoon turns to address her and Ilithir.   She returns the older man's bow. "Greetings Senescal Highmoon, Mala Fogwillow. A pleasure I'm sure."  She gives him a smile as she then turns her attention back to Commander Landgrave. 

In the interests of moving things forward let's say that having gently touched Tomos on his injured leg he says "It does feel better..." Slowly swinging out of bed he carefully puts weight on it, then laughs. "It's, it's healed! Thank you so much!"

Illithir, in attempting to convince Highmoon that you haven't met the Commander before, please make a Deception check.

However I think I have to be strict with the use of Guidance here. It is a spell with both verbal and somatic components - making hand gestures and saying magic words is very noticeable if you're doing it in someone's face in a small room. It can't be hidden in a regular sentence, otherwise something like the Sorcerer's Subtle Spell becomes pointless.

So there are two approaches in this situation - 1. Don't cast Guidance; 2. Cast Guidance but make a Sleight Of Hand or Stealth roll at disadvantage to disguise your casting. On a fail, Highmoon will realise you were trying to use magic to influence the conversation. I hope this sounds fair.

OOC:

I would say the stealth/sleight of hand is fair call only if Highmoon is familiar with magic and Highmoon perceiving the spell as an attempt to influence the conversation only fair if he is familiar specifically with Guidance. That said I have a third option: Ilithir does have Subtle Spell. Using it invalidate the requiriment of somatic components eliminates the necessity of a check?

I would say that someone in his position is certainly familiar with how casting a spell looks, and whether or not they know what spell it is, if someone you've just met starts casting in the middle of a conversation without warning they're going to be at the very least suspicious of you.

That said, Subtle Spell would completely negate that, the special power of Sorcerers to just do it in their head. So if you're happy to drop a Sorcery point on it, then please roll the Deception check with added Guidance.

OOC: Thank you for the confirmations. The SP was marked off on the sheet.

IC:

Deception Check - 14
Guidance - 4

(After all that the Guidance wasn't even necessary! But with a total of 30...)

"'A particular matter'!" crows the Seneschal. "How delightfully vague. I am glad to hear that such a well bred young man as yourself, and such lovely young ladies, have not tied yourselves to this sinking ship. You will not know this about the Commander, but you will soon learn that he has an inflated sentimentality about this obsolete organisation, and it has lead to his downfall and that of the Guard he so cherishes. I should conclude your business with him and take any money he owes you before he is no longer in a position to pay. Why, I have it on good authority that just this morning five of his guards were easily killed by harpies, who themselves were immediately dispatched by a group of mercenary adventurers! That is who we need more of, not pitiful pretend soldiers." 

Throughout this monologue, Landgrave has been getting more and more visibly angry. His jaw clenches, his fist tightens on the hilt of his sword. Now practically shaking with rage he roars at Highmoon "Those men and women gave their lives to protect the town you and your idler of a master pretend to govern! Now get! Out! Of my house!"

"Touchy," grins Highmoon, clearly pleased to have provoked the Commander so much. "I must be off in any case. I have a Manor to prepare. The Baron will wish to return here immediately when he hears the news." At this the Seneschal swishes his cloak around him and exits the room.

Mala watches with interest as Landgrave becomes aggravated by this Seneschal.  She finds it amusing but tries to suppress her grin at the situation.  She waits quietly while the man leaves the room, ensuring he is well out of hearing before speaking. "What a pleasant fellow," she begins sarcastically. "Commander Landgrave, we did uncover some information regarding our incident at the tower." 

As the Seneschal leaves the room, the Commander's hand unclenches from the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. He breaths deeply in through his nose, and slowly out through his mouth, composing himself. 

"You have no idea," he responds to Mala. "Him and the Baron have been working for years to undermine the Imma Guard. Spreading rumours in Whitebridge of..." he waves his hand vaguely, "incompetence. Corruption. Anything. And now they've got this attack to hold over us. Please tell me he's wrong that I've lost five guards? Is Corporal Singer alive?"

In the background Captain Crystalson wrings his hands nervously.

"The Corporal is alive. She was also the one that placed that strange box on the tower," Mala bluntly tells the Commander. "Given to her by a tall Tiefling man and hooded blonde woman." At this point she pauses, to give the Commander a chance to absorb the news.

“The tiefling’s skin was greyish in tone and he was at least sixt feet tall. Horns protruding from the forehead and directly upwards, used a black cloak. The blonde was between five-feet-and-six and five-feet-and-nine. Her hood was green and looked to be of high quality.” Ilithir said soon after Mala, trying to remember everything Singer had told them. “They handed the box at the Drums last night. Approached singing praises to the watch while the corporal and her group had already a few drinks on their system. Told them how to use the brooch, that it would attract harpies and that if the soldiers used it at a place like the market and then dispatched the creatures, people would recognize their value. Unless this particular group of soldiers have the discernment of a three-years old I believe they were charmed, forced to act through magic. Magic that I think is still affecting Singer. It took some persuasion to make her as much as notice that the two she met had done anything wrong. If I may suggest, send someone trustworthy that can both detect and dispel magic to look at her. And fast. The charmers may had given her an order to kill herself after some time. The others are already lost and we asked Friar Nick to pay special attention to her, but better safe than sorry.” The elf then hesitated, considering if he should say the next words. In the end he decided to. “If she was charmed then not only is she innocent, but her will to protect was strong enough through even a spell to notice and avoid the danger to common people. Please consider this when deciding if you will keep her as guard. She will carry the weight of the others’ death on her consciousness forever already.”

He then considered Landgrave’s words. Both Highmoon and the Baron could have the means to orchestrate the whole situation.

“It is strange that the seneschal knew the number of guards hurt on the incident and that they would die. The corporal herself would not have resisted if our healing had arrived later.” Ilithir looked at the commander, roping the man would understand the implication of his words. “I suppose it was the right call to hide the contract from him? Anyhow, be wary of having subordinates mind controlled and from the surveillance of a spy.”

Mala jumps back in once Ilithir has completed his comments. "It is just my opinion, but I've seen nothing to suggest anyone was charmed. A convenient theory that would excuse the corporal's actions, but I fear that this is just naivety and poor decision making." She pauses then, considering Ilithir's words regarding Landgrave. "It does seem though that the seneschal would have the most to gain from causing something like this to happen."  

At Mala's words, Crystalson bursts out "No! That can't be true!" The Commander holds up a calming hand, then gestures for the group to continue. After listening to Illithir's explanation and description of the two individuals, and Mala's assessment of the situation, Landgrave takes a moment, in silence. 

"She told you this?" he finally continues. "She admitted to placing the brooch on the rooftop?" He rubs his face with a hand, and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I don't have anyone to detect magic. Perhaps Longboot would do it. Until we find someone, Jakub, I need you and some others to watch Corporal Singer. And when she's recovered enough, escort her to the gaol." "But Sir," the Captain begins, before Landgrave yells in interruption "Just do it!" He sighs, and places a hand on the Captain's shoulder. "I'm sorry Jakub. I know she means a lot to you. But until we get all the way to the bottom of this thing, she could be a danger to herself or others. Please, just go." The Captain pauses, then nods, and leaves the room. 

The Commander turns back to the three of you. "I'm not surprised that Highmoon knows how many guards were caught up in the attack. He's very well connected. But you're right, him and the Baron will do very well out of this. It's going to take everything I have to keep the Guard afloat now. I would ask you to start tracking down this Tiefling and the human woman, but you're still needed in Soft's Rest. The damage here is done, but you can still prevent deaths there. All I can do right now is give their description to my Guards, tell them to keep an eye out. Hopefully once you're back I'll have some information for you." 

“Do you believe she was lying?” Ilithir asked Mala. If that was the case then Singer had a suicide mission and after unexpectedly surviving showed the performance to bring the best actors of the continent to shame. “If she was not, well, it’s just not normal for an adult to be so stupid as to not think that a stranger suggesting to use an item to call harpies in the midst of a crowded area of the city is normal. Specially on a group of five. Not to mention how eagerly she was to blame herself for the deaths but failure to notice any blame rested on the duo. She was already healed when we questioned her. This kind of confusion is not natural and against an enemy that uses spellcraft? If she didn’t lie, then you have to admit that either Singer and friends are the dumbest persons on the face on the Material Plane or everything they did and she said were huge signs that she was charmed.”

He looked at Landgrave, now rested on the man to discover one way or another. My problem, he though, lies on Soft’s Rest. The elf believed he would find enough to investigate there and fortunately, without having to deal with nobles. He did not envy Landgrave’s position.

“We got our information from Singer and good luck with everything.” Ilithir said turning to his companions. “To the gate?”

Notes: I am fine with us having a time-skip to the meeting of the group at the gate.

"Lying?" Mala says. "What would she be lying about? I just think she was easily duped.  It doesn't take magic to fool people. Someone knew of the guards' feeling of inferiority, then they find a few drinking, convince one of them this plan will make them heroes, and there you have it."  She shrugs, "I don't know what kind of people you hang around with, but you give them far too much credit!  Falling for this would not make Singer anywhere near the dumbest person I've met!"  

"Hopefully the Guard may redeem themselves and come up with some information by the time we're back.  Anyway, I agree, it's probably time we meet the others at the gate," Mala says, ready to move off in that direction. 

Having taken your leave of the Commander, you begin to travel towards the Fault Gate, along the top of the training yard this time, through the eastern gate of the old fort into the better kept middle ring of the town. All the while Illithir and Mala continue their discussion about the relative odds of Corporal Singer having been charmed or simply led astray, Heran remains strangely silent. As you approach the Fault Gate, she finally speaks out. 

"Guys, uh, I think I'm actually going to give this whole thing a miss. I just came here to find my brother, and not to say that nearly getting charmed into walking off a tower wasn't fun, but now there's a conspiracy maybe involving the Baron? Count me out thanks, that's not for me. You all seem great, and best of luck against who or whatever is in Soft's Rest, but I'm not coming." She reaches into her pack. "I think you all should have these. They're not going to help me any, so maybe they'll do you all some good." She holds out a piece of paper and a small wooden model of a travel trunk for whoever will take them. "Don't know why I've been holding onto them really. Anyway, have fun out there." She turns and continues through Fault Gate, and you see her wave to someone off to the right, but she turns left, and follows the road back into Imma. Passing through the Gate yourselves, you see Faera, Thurodim and Ghurr. The party reunited at last, though smaller.

Faera, you arrived at the gate first after Ghurr, who you saw sitting down waiting patiently, watching the road out along the cliffs. Thurodim is next to arrive, and the three of you wait together as the misty rain begins to settle on your hair and clothes. You've been there about half an hour before you see Heran pass through the gate. She waves to you cheerily, but doesn't join you. Instead she takes the left path back into town. She is very shortly followed by Illithir and Mala, who make their way over to you.

Ghurr smiles and waves to the others as he gets up, slowly rising to his feet.

"Ghurr make new friend while wait," Ghurr says. "Ghurr new friend name Shaun."

The bugbear gestures down the road out leading away from town.

"Shaun say harpies to east. Be careful."

He the leans down and gives Hoppy a scratch behind his ears.

"Go be safe, Hoppy." Ghurr says to the cat then he looks at the others before looking over at the fading figure of Heran. "Go Soft's Rest now?"

“You say I give them too much credit, I say you give them too little so for now let’s just agree to disagree.” Ilithir said doubting that guards would be innocent enough to be, as Mala put, easily duped on that regard. “Landgrave will find out if things happened one way or another and for now we have the village to deal with.”

And that made he think again about what could be behind the attacks. He was about to ask the other’s opinions when Heran spoke and made him genuinely surprised. Her worries were not unfounded. Maybe she was the wisest of the whole bunch for getting away from Rannulf.

“You have a strange idea of fun, you know that?” He said accepting the paper and the small trunk model. “Best of luck in your search.”

As Heran disappears back into Irma he noticed Faera, Ghurr and Thorodim by the gate. Wandering how much time they had waited, the elf and approach. He looks at the paper his former companion left, not knowing what to expect from it.

“Hope we are not too late.” Ilithir said just before Ghurr spoke. “I am fine with going now. We have some things to tell on the way to the village and Heran won’t be taking the contract anymore. And on this note, anyone want this?”

Notes: Who wants the paper and the model? Also, does Ilithir sees anything on the paper?