"Yes, tea sounds lovely, Utar," Neya says. "Denae, care for some?"

After allowing for a response, she then continues.

"Yes, I admit what I did was to catch the eyes of those on both sides of the debate. But, that was towards my own motivation, not the true purpose of the event."

Neya waves her hands and weaves a smaller representation of Rythnax on the table as he appeared in the swamps, complete with his pouch and brooch.

"What was never revealed to the public was the fact that the dragon we presented was working under orders. Before we fought it, it had even boasted its allegiance to the Cult of the Dragon. Since their flying messenger never returned, then they, too, were very likely interested eyes among that crowd. The Cult is not well-known for their capacity to forgive and forget."

She looks at Denae in the eyes with a look of conviction, "Now, as for my reason for being on that stage. I intend to put my life on the line to be the justification for either side: tradition or integration."

Utar, Doozey, and Neya's insistence on tea finally gets the better of Denae. She nods silently in acceptance.

"Either side?" Denae asks. "It seems there is still some convincing to be done then." She shifts on the table, making herself more comfortable. "That is indeed a mighty dragon, and it proves to me that I was right in coming to you now, even though it looks like you have chosen to throw your lot from the Black Fist of late." She turns her head, showing once more the prominent red feather on her head among others of distinct colors. "The problem with the Fist is that they think the world ends at Phlan's city limits. Well, that's one of their many faults. There are plenty of folk suffering just outside these walls. Folks suffering through no fault of their own. But the Fist claims no responsibility to serve beyond their self-appointed jurisdiction."

She takes a moment to observe reactions, and then resumes. "It sounds like you have your hands full with intrigue and Cult-chasing. In the meantime, The Red Plumes have picked up the Fist's slack. Joining them allows us to deliver our services openly, faster, and for just as much coin." She waves her hand. "I know I am not going to convince you with spoken claims only. So what say you to taking on one of the Plumes' jobs for a change. Step outside the city and deliver relief to those who need it but happen to live just outside the Fist's precious walls? A chance to see and experience the good that the freedom to act beyond city walls or sisterhood veils can truly deliver?" 

Only then does Denae turn to Utar and responds to his request for an introduction: "My name is Denae, as Neya just mentioned. I am not surprised she has never mentioned me, but I hear you already met the third member of our little childhood trio quite closely." She brings a finger to her own neck, mimicking the slicing motion of a dagger. "Used to be quite close, the three of us, but life has its way of sending people away. Olida hides behind the veil of the Sisterhood, I embrace our newfound freedom, and Neya here... well, it seems she is in the middle."

Finally, she spares a glance at Berry: "Hmmm... You keep company with a talking mastiff. I guess our intel gatherers were not as thorough as they should have been."

His hand reaches unbidden for the dull, purple scar on his neck.  Clearly startled a little, Utar tries to keep a hold of himself and focus on helping Doozey make some tea.

Quickly mumbling something about just bringing extra cups for Danae and Graxx should they want to partake, Utar leaves the room and goes straight for the kitchen.  Once there, he closes the door, leans against it and sinks down to his knees.  It is only then that he realises, his hand has not left his scar.

Neya gets a perplexed look on her face, "Why are you comparing the Fist and the Plumes all of a sudden? It almost seems like you are under the impression that we are employed by the Fist. Yes, we have met with Capt-"

Realization hits her, "Wait... don't tell me you've seen us meeting with one Black FIst captain a number of times as the only notable circumstance? Has anybody told of any other contacts? Or any of the number of times we left the city for any of our quests? I fear you may be greatly under-informed. We're an independent adventuring party; and the Black Fist is only one of our sources of work."

"Because, Neya, the Sisterhood's association with the Fist represents the old ways. Or do you think you are the first member of the Silent Wood to ever work for the Black Fist?" Denae stands up. "If Olida has her way, we'll continue to linger in the shadows, working for organizations whose scopes and jurisdictions are limited, and who wield us as political weapons."

She takes a few steps around the room as she monologues: "By joining the Red Plumes, we come out of hiding, albeit gradually. We get to choose what contracts and organizations we work with. We get to judge by ourselves if their mission is worthy of our services. We get to help those in need whether or not their need has political significance."

She turns on her heels: "Perhaps you are not as attached to the Fist as I thought. Whether this is due to a lapse in my intel gathering efforts or to your counter-spying abilities, it still means that the time has come to make you an offer. Come with me, Neya. Let me send you in one such Plume mission so you can see it for yourself. If it is indeed just one more good deed you are doing outside of the Fist's influence, then you'll have proven it to me."

Raising a finger, she adds: "And if that is not enough to convince you to take the job, then let me add this: the mission would take you close to where you conquered that dragon. Wouldn't you want to see the non-Phlan locals that you helped by defeating this Rythnax? Would you deny them a second helping of your deliverance?"

She opens her arms and pleads: "Will you at least hear me out?"

Graxx peeks into the house at this point. Only seeing the ladies and noticing the closed kitchen door, he asks: "Where are Utar and Doozey?"

"Perhaps the others might be interested, as well? I'm sure a few more hands would be only a boon. Just one moment," Neya excuses herself and turns to Graxx. "They're in the kitchen making the tea, I'll go see if they need any assistance. I know you will be leaving soon. But, would you like to listen in?"

She tries to go into the kitchen, but finds the door to be more solid sue to Utar on the other side.

"Oof! Everything alright in here?"

 Not sure whether to perk up at being acknowledged or somehow insulted for the remark about 'talking mastiff' (as if mastiffs didn't already talk in their own language! The Nerve!), Berry shrugged off the mark with a chuckle, and might've proceeded to launch into one of his tales were it not for Neya's questioning. At which point, even as tipsy as he was, Berry manages to hold his tongue, and instead made his way around and into a seat at the table, self-assured of tea being also delivered to him.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Doozey absentmindedly went about his work of getting going the kettle, or try at first, before quickly realizing how little he'd spent actually preparing things in the kitchen up to that point. This led to much grumbling from the stoutling as more focused than he'd like would go into searching cabinets and so forth up until  he hears the door open and a familiar sounding gait enter the room, only... to rest against the door? Confused, he'd glance back and give Utar a worrying look, but with the semi-arrival of Neya to ask the question on his mind as well, Doozey subtly nods and goes back to his work in eventually getting a kettle boiling.

"Right enough with some of us, I suppose. Though Utar may need a moment." Doozey calls out as much, what with Utar blocking the door. "As for the job your friend was mentioning outside -- and yes, I did hear her well enough from here -- I'd prefer we finally see to the Archfey business 'fore we spoil his mood any further personally. But... this other business of your friend sounds important, so I'm fine with whatever you decide, Ms. Neya. Though we might want to rustle up a bit of extra help with Mr. Graxx stepping aside fer a bit."

"I am your sworn sword and shield as you are mine. I shall not fear death, for my duty does not end there. I shall carry your light against the darkness for acts of justice kindle hope."

After a few deep breaths and the muttered recital of Torm's third litany of bondage, Utar wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and pushes himself to his feet.

Inspecting Doozey's handiwork so far, Utar waits for the familiar whistle of a boiling kettle before carefully pouring the last of his chamomile tea into it and taking the kettle off the heat. He doubts he's ever going to get another batch of it, but something to soothe his mind against the memory of Yalek's attack would be nice, especially if some of Neya's other friends would happily try again to permanently silence him and his former comrades.

Collecting up some cups and planning then on a tray with the kettle, Utar heads back in, setting the test down and offering out cups.

"Now I'd wait a few minutes more for my cup, but the tea is ready if anyone wants to partake."

Denae nods in agreement with Neya: "Perhaps we'll make Plumes out of all of you yet." While she waits for CRAP to gather around her, Denae observes Berry with curiosity: "Quite the eloquent and well-mannered mastiff, I should add."

Graxx also agrees: "Yes, I'll listen in. And I agree with Doozey. If I'm not going to be around for this one, you might want to hire some temporary muscle, just to be on the safe side."

In the kitchen, Utar and Doozey finish up the tea and bring it out, but not before the halfling gets a chance to point out at least one other quest the group has been tasked with. Denae doesn't react much to the choice laid out among the CRAPers, focusing instead on the tea for a moment. "Camomile," she says pleasingly upon sniffing the liquid. Once the temperature of the cup that Utar handed her is manageable, she speaks up again: "Well, here's my offer: Some common folk have gone missing just outside of Phlan. A few hours away, to be more precise. The Crossing Inn sits on the east bank of the Trank River, on the south side of the Phlan Path, next to the Trank River Bridge. The inn hosts travelers from the road and the river, making it a popular spot to meet and learn the latest news from across the northern shores of the Moonsea. Travelers between Phlan and Melvaunt are common. Folk around that area have gone missing, and the inn's proprietor, Romsan Kal, tried to request aid from the Black Fist. As you surely guessed, they refused to help him, relying on their excuse about city walls and jurisdiction."

Graxx interrupts at this point: "Yes, I have seen them say something like that before. When I first met Utar, we went east of Phlan to rescue some peat farmers in that boggy area. One of them had come into town to ask the Black Fist for help. They refused it, but offered some 50gp for proto-CRAP to look into it, and we did."

Denae continues: "They didn't even give this innkeeper the benefit of offering to pay for adventurers. They just send him away. Lucky for him, he decided to contact the Red Plume. And now, here I am, hoping to subcontract you to make a point to my dear Neya here. So, are you ready to travel east again?"

Utar takes his seat at the table but appears to spend more of his focus on his tea than the conversation going on. Cradling his cup in his hands, he lets the warmth of the ceramic spread deep into his hands. He chooses his eyes as he smells the tea before his first sip.

"I agree with Doozey on the other item pressing for our attention right now, but it might be better if Graxx were there to accompany us. Might I suggest that becomes property number one on his safe return to Phlan?"

Utar recalls Derannos' fate and hopes CRAP aren't about to lose another ally to their tardiness.

"If we're to press ahead with Danae's offer, we know Throkk is in town and have worked with him before. He's a capable fighter and we've worked with him before. However, if we're on Red Plume business then why not let one of them fill the slot in our skillset?"

"I think this may be the very point she's trying to make," Neya says. "We're prioritizing things we think are more important to the exclusion of nearly everything else. While I do agree we should move to the Quivering Forest soon, these disappearances along the roads to the east might be just as important. I'm not just saying that based on Denae's request, I also recall think of that fishing village over in the Stormy Bay. While we were far too late to do something at even our first visit, something could have been done."

"While I hope these disappearances not another the work coven of fiendish casters, there is a possibility of it being something just as dire. We should nip it in the bud before it festers. Perhaps after we take care of this, Denae could take a peek at our world as well?"

Persuasion: 20

Persuasion re-roll (courtesy of Doozey): 20

Berry turned his chin up in pride at the compliment, though just as quickly tried to hide the expression once Utar and Doozey finally stepped back into the picture. The latter of the pair dutifully sees to tea being handed out to all on a prepared tray, before finding his seat to listen and nurse his cup; his expression all but neutral during the exchange until the repeated mentions of tardiness. At which point the stoutling had begun to look away with a sad air about him; but, following a clenching of the jaws, his expression hardens once more.

...Yet no matter how disciplined a hunter as he may be, even he was not immune to the occasional tickle in the back of the throat the needed clearing. Unfortunately, this meant either interrupting a floundering Neya or distracting Danea for just a moment. However, as 'luck' would have it, the momentary distraction would be just enough for either Neya to recenter herself and better present her case, or Danea to somewhat overlook in failings on her sister's part in delivering her speech.

-As previously discussed, used Bountiful Luck to have Neya re-roll her persuasion.

(OOC: Forgot to have it mentioned, but Gravy would've flown inside and followed Biscuit.)

After Utar proposes a list of priorities to his group, the half-orc begins searching for a possible candidate to fill the temporary Graxx-shaeped void in CRAP. Neya picks up the thread and suggests that Denae should allow CRAP to give her a chance to experience their world, much like Denae is asking CRAP to experience hers. Denae remains silent at first, and it doesn't look like the argument landed successfully initially, but a glance at Doozey proves to push the half-elf over the edge: "Very well. It is only fair. Once you have completed this mission and are ready to move on to your next engagement, I shall "peek into your world," as you put it, so I may better understand your take on all that surrounds and regards Phlan."

She taps her index finger on her lower lip a few times before suggesting: "And if you need a temporary replacement for the big guy there, perhaps we could firm up this CRAP/Silent Wood/Red Plume partnership by letting me be the candidate you seek. I will, obviously, leave this decision up to you. My skills are likely not very far from what Neya already brings to the table, and this... Throkk?... Thokk?... sounds like like a capable fighter too. I am sure there are others you might be considering as well..."

Her eyes dart to the side: "Oh, you have a brown raven too... What an animal-friendly house you keep!" She smiles. "Anyway, let me know if I'm the girl for the job." She laughs at the irony of coming here to recruit you and ending up being the one applying for a position.

Utar mulls over the offer as he drains his cup of tea.

"I've no objections to that.  We've been into the field with my friends a few times. Why not one of Neya's?"

"Well, most of them aren't entirely your typical beast. Case in point being Berry over there." Doozey says nonchalanty, gesturing with his thumb over to the mastiff somehow daintily lapping at his tea. "Now as far as you coming along, I... do not... have any particularly qualms about it." He said with some initial hesitance, before then shrugging halfway through and carrying on in a more self-assured manner.

"I think those were effectively two votes in your favor. Or at least two 'not nos'," Neya says. "So, to give you a more concrete answer, I would like to ask you to come with us on both journeys."

"Very well. We have a deal," Denae responds while performing a slight bow. "I wasn't expecting this but it may suit me just as well as it suits you."

She goes to the corner and collects her longbow and quiver. "Now, you surely are looking forward to a restful night following your delightful evening. I shall excuse myself and return upon first light. We have a trek ahead of us that may take just about the entire morning. With some luck, Romsan Kal will be willing to serve us lunch upon arrival at The Crossing Inn."

Denae's long red curls flow behind her as she exits the Leadstopper Residence. Mud tracks are left behind in her wake. "I'll bring the mug back with me in the morning."

(OOC: Feel free to interrupt her exit should you wish to say something else to her at this point.)

Graxx waits until she leaves to make his next comment: "How deeply do you trust this sister of yours, Neya? Is she your actual sister? If I am leaving you, I would rather know that I am not letting a dangerous or untrustworthy person take my stop, even if just temporarily."

(OOC: At this point, feel free to narrate how the rest of the evening goes for your characters. Is there anything you'd like to do before taking a long rest?)

Utar follows Graxx's lead and asks a few questions of his own, keen to push Neya for detail rather than retire to bed.  Once again, when he mentioned Olida, his hand moves towards his scar, almost covering it from view.

"And what about the other sister the Danae mentioned? Olida? And what is all this about some kind of schism within the Silent Wood?"

"Mn. See that ya do, and 'till the morning." Doozey said pleasantly enough, and bid Denae a casual salute goodbye. As soon as she departs he'd then breathe a sigh of relief and run a hand through his hair in brushing them back. "Well that was far more pleasant than I expected." He mutters, before slipping out of his seat to go grab some utensils to clean up the mess. Yet still, he idly continues to listen, and if regarded at all at any length, seemed to share a small but worried look about him that seemed deeper than any grim left behind. But his council is one he keeps to himself... unless asked of course.

But before long, Doozey would bid every good night and leave them to discussion, except to catch some snippets still while spending a few minutes investigating the house and making sure nothing of their guest had been left behind before bed.

-Investigation: 17.