Tex glances over the room if there is anyone who appears to be overly interested in them and their meeting with Jarsali. When they move to her room, he follows.

Rel hesitates, sensing a rat but wondering if she is being overly paranoid.  Seeking Guidance to help her see the truth.

Well that was an abrupt change, was it not?  Suddenly Jarsali Firahel wants to meet us in private, asking who else knows.  Almost as if she would like to get rid of everyone privy to this information.  Cleaning up loose ends... if she is in league with whoever is at the Briarwood manor...

As Jarsali waits for a further explanation before the invitation to her room, Rel does not provide it.  "There are others involved, but I will not divulge who they all are yet - to anyone until we know we can trust them.  We have only just met and we are already trusting you a great deal with our lives."

Rel Insight plus Guidance on Jarsali:  12 + 3 = 15

(Looking for any clues that this is a trap).

Rel and Bellamy

Jarsali escorts you upstairs to a very large room with dark hardwood floors. More of a suite than any sort of standard room of an inn. A sitting area near a large bay window overlooking this area of The Beaded Alley, she gestures to and says,  "Please have a seat." Once you are situated and comfortable she says "The Briarwood name is a very sensitive subject in Port Damali, especially for the Marquis. So much so that she is having the manor demolished this week. One of my bees within the city also saw some activity at the Briarwood manor the other day. They infiltrated the manor and saw the same woman you have described. Is there anything else you can say about what you saw or who is involved. If something is happening, well, if you know the history of the name then you know that nothing good can come of what may be transpiring."

Rel

Rel casts Guidance on herself once more as she ascends the stairs, taking a deep breath.  She decides (again) to trust Jarsali.  Mostly.

"In addition to the crate looking and weighing like a coffin, we had a credible accusation from an apparent eyewitness that a human body, possibly alive or undead, was sealed into the crate by Lord Agustin and strange, subservient red-eyed associates before being loaded onto the Dragonfly at Port Zoon.  We detected magic emanating from within the crate, possibly some magical command or directive placed on the person within."

Rel breathes once more, trying to carefully leave out the part where the party temporarily opened the crate, and also masking Vale's identity for her own safety, while talking about everything else.

"I urge caution.  I described the human woman in violet and gold trim who took the delivery of the crate from us.  Another associate below, the half-elf below, has the archaic custom of kissing women's hands, but when he went to kiss hers, she showed extremely quick reflexes and smashed him in the chest with a mighty blow, calling it a warning.  She is not to be underestimated.  I think there is a decent chance that they may see the demolition coming and adjust their plans, whatever they are, accordingly.  We were paid quite well for the task of guarding the coffin, so these people have resources."

Jarsali thinks over this information for a moment, staring out the bay window at the city, she eventually speaks while still looking out the window, "What do you know of Lord Agustin? I do know the name, though I have never met him. Is there anything more you can tell me of him or perhaps any of these "unnamed" people you speak of that might know more about him?" She waits for a response while still staring out the window. 

Rel

"We don't know much about Lord Agustin. Rel has described everything we know so far. What we need is more information or a clue as to their plans. All we have are more questions" says Bellamy.

Rel nods as Bellamy speaks but stands, regarding Jarsali Firahel for a long moment.

"As my tabaxi friend has said, we know little of Lord Agustin.  Mysterious man.  Evidently pays well."  Rel pauses, then based on Insight, decides to go on.

"Told us no one was to open the crate, especially not us, which made no sense.  Our unnamed source is remaining so only for their protection.  They are allegedly a relative of the young man inside the crate.  They found his body after venturing beyond a secret door in Lord Agustin's study, in a secret passage under his manor.  This relative was then forced to hide and witnessed the motionless young man being sealed up by Lord Agustin and his red-eyed associates.  This was just after the young man had been searching for and found a lost family heirloom - a ring.  We further understand, and do not ask me how we know this for I will not answer, that the young man is not dead in the normal sense, and has two deep incisions in his throat."

Rel hooks her index and middle fingers opposite her curled thumb and stabs them towards her own throat like a vampire's bite.

“Zane,” Tex begins as they wait in the tavern for Belamy and Rel, “You seem to know a thing about authorities here. Have you been here before? What did you do before this job, if you don’t mind me asking?” He sips on his ale and keeps a keen eye on the tavern room and who comes and goes.

Zane is absentmindedly stirring a dollop of honey into his tea while waiting for his food. As Tex finishes the question Zane rubs his right shoulder a bit and winces for a moment.

"Ah, well, I've been through here a couple of times indeed. But I've never had time to explore the city, it was always arriving after sunset and leaving before first light."

He looks at Tex and says, "You make things - I don't. I'm not even much of a fixer, never been particularly good at putting anything back together. But I'm good at spotting details and patterns. Brushstrokes, color choices, chosen perspectives, even sometimes being able to tell apart which rhymes come from which quill. It's much more about people and their stories and motivations than it is about any specific technique."

He shifts his gaze and a thousand yard stare shapes his face. "I used to ... find things for others. Inanimate objects that seemingly had somehow grown legs and decided to live in a different collection, to be admired by a new set of eyes. Kidding aside, though... and maybe apart from one weird case, there was always a person doing the moving part and the objects remained inanimate."

Zane sighs and looks back at Text. "But I also have my own handwriting and patterns. A retrieval job turned real bad," and he closes his eyes for a moment as if overcoming a strong emotion, "and I barely escaped. After healing up a few weeks I was just drifting around and laying low until this job came up. I don't know what I'll do next, if and when I return to what I did before. I need time to process."

He nods thanks to the barkeep and cuts into his black pudding. "What about you?"

Jersali, looking increasingly worried, replies "Would you be willing to investigate the manor further? I can ask around for more information in the meantime but I believe time is of the essence here." She turns now form the window and faces you. "I believe you have been honest with me and I can trust you. The reason this is concerning to me is that there is a formal gala event tomorrow night. Nobles and politicians from across the Menagerie Coast come to this event to try and keep a good relationship between the city-states across the coast. It is the only time that all seven political leaders of The Clovis Concord are together. This might just be a coincidence, but Lord Agustin is on the guest list."

Bellamy arches his eyebrows at how the quest has just grown in importance from a lost brother to now the leaders of the Clovis Concord "Of course I will to investigate further, but do you have clue as to where we should start. Not so long ago I considered breaking into the manor in hopes of find some information." says Bellamy.

Seeing Zane enjoying honey, Tex offers him a few honey-glaced nuts that he had prepared on the Dragonfly a day or two ago. He warms them up and adds a cinnamon type flavour with Prestidigitation before offering them. Then, he listens to Zane's story. 

"I can relate to objects growing legs. To me it happened more than once. Well, you see, the last thing that grew legs is still with us and waits outside," he says with a sheepish grin. "You're right, my thing has always been fixing things or creating things. It's easy really. Things are simple. They don't really want anything for themselves. You just decide what they are good for and they are fine with that, they rarely complaint. They can get tired and require rest and care but if you give them that, they are always there when you need them. People are quite different. There are as many opinions as there are people, each and everyone with their own ideas and plans and machinations. No, I prefer the simplicity of objects. Everything is clear, you lay out a work plan and get to it and you know that you can finish what you started. With people, you never know. Well, I never know." Tex falls silent for some moments pondering his words and wondering if he said too much and is driving Zane away. 

"You know, I've had several Masters before, finally, one set me free," he admits looking down. "I barely remember what life I lived before that and with who. I daresay, they wouldn't recognise me either. Well, this last master saw something in me. Generally, he punished less, I think. But, for me, it might have helped that I helped fix his things. He made quite a business out of me fixing pre-loved objects as he put it and reselling them in tweaked colours and forms. Pity that he had to leave running - or a stroke of luck - who knows. His last act was to send me on a quest to obtain my freedom, never heard from him again since I returned. Not directly that is. I've heard rumours that he started operating here on the coast but what business and where exactly I don't know. I know that he was the only friend I had for a long time and not knowing where else to go, I set out to find him," he shrugs. "I wonder if I will find him, and if that is even a good idea. I've never been on this coast before and I haven't got a clue what I'm looking for. I guess taking on odd jobs and helping someone like Vale and Zandir makes me feel less lost."

Zane chuckles at the connection to the moving creations of Tex.

He listens to the whole story thoughtfully.

"Do you have any family? Where are you from, originally? I'm asking about your roots because growing without roots is nigh impossible. If you don't have any then you can create new ones, even if just purposefully tying yourself to a location or a person. You have to your previous master, but that sounded somewhat of an abusive relationship."

He pulls back. "It's none of my business, I apologize. But if you wish help with finding information or people after our current situation is solved then I am available for assistance."

Quote from Drcornwallis >>

Jersali, looking increasingly worried, replies "Would you be willing to investigate the manor further? I can ask around for more information in the meantime but I believe time is of the essence here." She turns now form the window and faces you. "I believe you have been honest with me and I can trust you. The reason this is concerning to me is that there is a formal gala event tomorrow night. Nobles and politicians from across the Menagerie Coast come to this event to try and keep a good relationship between the city-states across the coast. It is the only time that all seven political leaders of The Clovis Concord are together. This might just be a coincidence, but Lord Agustin is on the guest list."

Rel is also taken aback at the talk of The Clovis Concord.  And that the party is being deputized to perform law enforcement yet again.  She muses aloud:

"I mentioned that we believe a magical command has been placed upon the body in the crate.  Of course, this command could be to carry out some deed, thereby giving the commander plausible deniability and casting the blame on others.  Still, that is only speculation."

Focusing back on Jarsali, she responds:  "As my tabaxi associate indicated, we considered investigating the Briarwood manor further but never did so, considering the danger.  The risk seems high but the urgency seems great for you given the impending meeting of The Clovis Concord."

"But let us be clear.  You are suggesting we incur all the additional risk here by investigating the manor in order to urgently benefit others: you, the Marquis, Port Damali and The Clovis Concord.  I think we are willing, but what resources or aid can you give us?  What reward?"

“We, I mean my tribe, used to live in a region called Xhorhas. I was taken by drow after they caught me, repurposing what I thought was their refuse. Apparently they were still quite attached to it or took me for sports. Who is to say? I haven’t seen my family for many years, they probably think me dead. I always did when someone was taken. Sometimes, I think I should return to them, that I abandoned them, that I did not do everything possible to return but I fear what they think of me, or, perhaps worse, that they do not think of me at all.” Tex looks at Zane with a serious expression, “Perhaps, when the time comes, I wouldn’t mind some help to locate my master, I never had the chance to thank him, he didn’t need to set my liberation into motion and I think he did take a risk to do so. But truly, I think, I long to see my tribe more, even though I’m trembling just at the idea to suddenly appear in their midst.”

Jersali, looks at you Rel as you request a reward, "I will say, that should this investigation prove to yield a result of the magnitude that is implied, the entire town would be in your debt. Though if that is not enough for you or if it does turn into nothing greater than a coincidence, I can offer each of you 100 gold for your time spent. Secondly, the individual who reported having seen a person enter the Briarwood Manor, I will have them accompany you. I will reach out to her to have you meet at the Manor within the hour. Lana is her name."

Rel looks at Jarsali Firahel wryly.  "Bellamy and I will strive to convince the group to risk becoming vampire food in return for the gratitude of Port Damali and one hundred gold each.  I am not attempting to extort you.  We too want to get to the bottom of this.  But between the dangerous woman who picked up the crate, the reputation of the Briarwoods, the magic and likely undead nature of the body within the crate, and the presence of Lord Agustin and the Clovis Concord within the city, you and I both know that the risk is likely to be great.  We will meet your contact Lana at the Briarwood Manor in an hour."

She makes sure to note down directions from Jarsali to the Briarwood Manor from The Bee and Bugle, since they may be different than the directions the party had taken yesterday from the docks and the Larboard Light.

Once downstairs, she maintains a casual demeanor, as if the conversation upstairs was of no import.  Approaching her other companions, she waits for a break in the conversation before reporting quietly:

"Jarsali Firahel asks us to do what we were considering doing anyway.  Investigating the manor where the crate went.  The best I could tell, she was sincere in her request and not setting us up.  Apparently Lord Agustin and The Clovis Concord are in Port Damali and meeting tomorrow.  Perhaps someone plans to use the magic placed on Vlad to have him carry out some deed while maintaining plausible deniability.  In any case, Jarsali has requested that we meet a contact named Lana outside the Manor in an hour.  This contact has seen someone entering the building recently."

Rel grins sardonically.  "And if we succeed, apparently our reward is the gratitude of Port Damali along with one hundred gold each.  But I say we do it, since we had a mind to investigate the manor even before being asked.  I have the directions."

She looks around to see if Bellamy (or anyone else) has anything to add.

Zane listens to this and puts his fork down back into the bowl and pushes it away, having lost all appetite.

"I guess we better get ready then. I'd like to scout a couple of blocks around the manor in all directions before we make our final approach."

"Yes I also agree we should investigate the manor as well. Lets see what the contact has the say and whether Lana has at least some information on the layout of the manor. I assume everyone knows the danger level will be high and we may not make it out, but I still believe its worth a try" says Bellamy

Once everyone is ready he will leave the Bee and Bugle and head for the contact.

Gathering yourselves, you head out of The Bee and Bugle to the Beaded Alley. The clouds have begun to fill the skies this early afternoon and helps a bit to give reprieve from the sun as you walk back to the Briarwood Manor. Arriving outside of the gates, you see leaning against a brick pillar, a tiefling woman.