"Our 'replacements', right? I...wonder what they're like." Joy heads inside, studying the room and those occupying it with curiosity. Is the Mayor any more friendly to them? She remains silent at first, just looking on as she waits for them to finish their conversation.

Perception: 9, Insight: 19

Shae eyes the guards with growing suspicion, her patience thin from exhaustion. Replacements? The word hangs in her mind, fueling her tired paranoia. Why send more groups into the woods unless he wants us gone? She narrows her gaze, a sharp thought cutting through the fog of her fatigue. It’s too perfect. Send adventurers into the woods, let the forest or the creatures take care of them, and no one questions why they never return. The Mayor’s probably pocketing their gear and gold...

She keeps these thoughts to herself but shoots a wary glance at the others. With a low grumble under her breath, she follows them inside, her mind churning with distrust.

As you enter the hall you see a figure talking to the mayor, standing tall and graceful, with the unmistakable elegance of a wood elf. 

His hair, long and brown with faint silvery streaks, falls loosely to his shoulders, framing his sharp, angular features and dark skin. His high cheekbones and pointed ears lend him an ageless quality, though there is a quiet wisdom in the way his gold eyes catch the light. These eyes—piercing yet kind—are the most striking part of his appearance, glowing softly like molten gold, as if they carry the light of the gods within them.  It seems that, judging by his candor, that he has been snared by the Zone of Truth in the hall.

"I am a soldier, first and foremost, Sir, and a healer a close second.  It has been my calling and my duty to save lives, not just of my own people, but those of my enemies as well when the occasion has arisen.  Though a soldier, I have no desire to go to war once again, but will do my duty if it is asked of me.  My people suffered gravely at the hands of orcs and goblins and harsh lessons were learned."  He straightens as he speaks, and he becomes perceptibly taller.  "That is not to say I will shirk from killing those who need to be slain.  It is often the only option left, is it not, when all other avenues have been explored?"

"Though I have no attachment or history with this town; I have never been here; I have been drawn here; guided, in fact.  Selune, the Goddess of the Moon has seen fit to be my guiding light."  He chuckles.  "Before you ask, fear not that I am a Lycan.  Though I follow Selune and the Moon, I am not of that Ilk."  He lets his words settle a moment.  "I have been drawn here because I sense people in need.  How or why, I do not know.  Perhaps you have answered some of the why, but I fear that there is much more than meets the eye to this town and its people.  Know only this, that I am here, and I will do as you ask to help this town, and if....if...." he looks the Mayor directly in the eye, "there is something or someone responsible in the end, I will not hesitate to do my duty.  I will pray to my God that it is as you and the constable here say, and that you are not complicit in this in any way.  If it turns out you are, then...well, I have given you my word, here and now."

Mayor Brodenbuck returns to his seat and cuts his cold blue eyes towards the constable. A sigh is caught by Joy just as he also notices the larger party enter. Clearly the mayor had not expected to see them again, at least so soon as this.  "Surely you've not given up this quickly?" He looks to Strife as he shifts on the makeshift throne and shrugs. "It is fortuitous, actually, as the others we've awaited to join you seem to have not made the trek at night. It may prove useful for the two of you to join these. They are either capable or have come to offer their resignations..." He allows the last statement to linger with a Hint of threat at the potential for the party to break with the contract they'd made. "Well, for what have you returned, brave adventurers?"

Shae’s eyes narrow as she listens to the wood elf speak, her weariness feeding into her already cautious nature. Guided here by Selune? Drawn by a sense of duty? It all sounds too convenient. Her instincts bristle at the words, and though there’s no evidence to support her suspicions, her mind begins to spin a darker narrative.

She glances at the Mayor and constable, shooting them a look that borders on accusation. First replacements, now this? The whole situation feels like a setup, a trap hidden beneath layers of well-crafted words. She can almost feel the weight of deceit in the air, or maybe it's just her exhaustion clouding her judgment.

Still, she listens, arms crossed, her sharp gaze flicking between the two strangers and the town officials, her mind racing with possibilities. What game is being played here? she wonders, keeping her suspicions to herself but not bothering to hide her growing distrust.

The elf turns and studies the group calmly, his curiosity obvious.  He frowns at the mayor's tone and returns his attention to the man.  "How many adventurers have you sent from this place?" he asks, some surprise in his voice.  "More importantly how many have returned?"  He gives his Tiefling companion a sideways glance then leans forward a little towards the mayor.  "Trust is a delicate thing.  It is earned slowly and carefully, Sir, and at this time it is the smallest and most fragile of things."  He glances back towards the others filtering into the hall and continues, obviously still under the influence of the spell. 

"Perception is a curious thing, and it could well be perceived that you are recruiting adventurers as willing sacrifices; if one were inclined to jump to such a conclusion, of course.  I am as yet undecided but consider it a possibility."

The strange feeling that something is not quite right remains with him, but it is in his nature to give the benefit of the doubt.  Actions speak louder than words, of course, and while this is an odd, even uncomfortable situation, there has yet been nothing done or said that would prove the Mayor and his Constable false.

He gives a smile to the Tiefling and his tone softens sounding almost relieved. "It seems though, that we will not have to remain here, idle, until others arrive.  That is," and he addresses the arriving party directly, "if you have no objections to us joining you?"

Sacrifices...Joy cannot say that the thought hasn't occurred to her, though she had consigned it to the back of her mind. It comes dangerously close to the forefront now as the wood elf speaks. How many are lined up to replace us? Even if it isn't for such a cruel purpose, is it worth sending so many brave souls to their deaths to preserve this little town? Surely the people could move elsewhere, using the reward coin to hire adventurers to guard them along the way. She forces her eyes closed for a moment to steel her resolve yet again. She is simply tired and discouraged from the difficult battle, she assures herself. Showing weakness here might discourage the others as well or make them doubt her commitment to seeing this through.

"Ah, of course not! We welcome you both! Especially after the battle we had tonight, we will take all the help we can get. I'm Joy, a Paladin of Lathander." She approaches, giving as enthusiastic of a wave to both of them as she can muster in spite of her exhaustion.

Persuasion: 23, to be friendly though tired.

"Although, we did emerge victorious, Hael." Turning to the Mayor, she can only manage a small smile, doing her best to channel the Morning Lord's grace. Sunrise shines on all, offering cleansing and redemption. "We figured you'd want to take a look at the remains of the creatures who attacked us along the way to the Lumber Yard. The main one called itself a 'Selang' and claimed not to be a Jae...Sadly, it would not listen to reason. Ah, it was like this!"

Perhaps a bit delirious, Joy uses her innate Hexblood magic to cast Disguise Self, changing her appearance into what she remembers of the selang, staff and all. It is faintly empowering, taking on the role of the being she has come to dread so much. "It said things like...'The Jae are discarded artifacts' and 'the long, dark gaze says we can do this'."

Performance: 9 to act like Selang

 Geren lets his companions talk while he scopes out the newcomers.

A wood elf and a tiefling. Well, if they were allies then the more the merrier.

Walking up them he offers his hand to shake.

Mindful of the Zone of Truth he avoids any insincere comments.

"Well, it's good to have more help on this at least. Me and my companions are in fact still among the living and have achieved more of a victory against the fey than anyone else here that I've heard of. My name's Geren, what should I call the two of you?"

Shae's suspicion doesn't fade entirely, but as the conversation unfolds, she begins to wonder if perhaps this isn't some elaborate trap. Maybe the mayor's just an arrogant fool, she muses, though she still keeps an eye on him. He could be a good actor, or just oblivious to the risks he's sending people into. Her attention shifts to the wood elf and tiefling. They seem genuine enough, though she knows better than to trust appearances. The wood elf's eloquent words stir a small sense of familiarity, but it’s quickly pushed aside by her natural skepticism. The tiefling, on the other hand, seems nervous, maybe even inexperienced. For the major they are just more bodies to throw into the forest, I guess, she thinks, giving the two newcomers a measured look. Despite her fatigue and wariness, she remains calm, her expression unreadable. In the back of her mind, she wonders how long it’ll be before they're all tested by whatever dangers the Ravenswood holds next.

Shae watches Joy's attempt at imitating the Selang with a raised eyebrow, her lips pressing into a thin line as the paladin's performance falls short. The sight of her friend casting the illusion—while stumbling over the creature's mannerisms—draws out a brief sigh. "Not exactly how it went down," she mutters quietly, glancing between the disguised Joy and the mayor. Despite her fatigue, a trace of amusement flickers in her eyes. It’s a poor performance, but it’s Joy's way of dealing with the tension, and Shae can appreciate that. Still, her gaze returns to the mayor and constable, waiting to gauge their reaction. Joy’s attempt may have been awkward, but the truth of their encounter in the forest remains. Let’s see if they’re actually paying attention, she thinks.

The elf takes Geren's hand and shakes it warmly waving back to Joy in acknowledgement.  "My name is Elyndor.  My friends call me Ely, for short...".  He tails off as Joy begins her performance, mouth open for a moment then, suppressing a smile behind a cough.  It fades as he sees the remains of the creature.  "I have never seen such a beast before; it was a creature of the fey?  You fought this thing?"  He stares at the dead Selang, worry and curiosity on his face.  

"Forgive me," and his face turns to one of concern.  "Are any of you hurt?  I may be able to heal any wounds you have taken from the fight."

Kesh listens at the back, eyeing over the new arrivals. Two more to account for. Hm. Not fantastic when considering resource distribution, but far from inadequate, given the apparent strength of the enemy. However, he's not as eager to greet them as the others. He's far too busy, thinking. More food, more subjects, proper study, the young who possesses vital information -- there's more to account for.

Instead, he merely dips his head, a subtle nod in the newcomers' direction, before turning to listen to the Hexblood finish her... "retelling."

Arlayna nearly chuckles herself at the hexblood's display. Joy's visual display had been spot on, but the performance was mediocre at best. The constable tilts her head as she watches and cooks her hip sideways. "The Selang are outcasts themselves. Apparently too wild and too prone to violence for even the Feywild. They've haunted the Ravenswood for decades and I am honestly impressed you were able to down one. It must have been alone with its bugs?" She nearly sneers speaking of the fey creature, "You should have headed our warning and stayed out of the woods as much as possible when the night is as dark as this one. What took you out there already? Do you so despise a good night's rest?"

Mayor Brodenbuck waves a hand almost dismissively, "They think they know best...just like all the others. The elf, Elyndor, speaks all of your suspicions. Do you not think we've faced them before? I see your looks," He stands once again with a scowl plastered upon his face and his icy blue eyes staring daggers into each of you in turn, "Whatever our motivations may be are irrelevant to you now. We have entered a binding contract, one you now must uphold. You have all accepted the gifts we have given you to perform the duty for which you will be paid upon success. You'll find that such binding agreements are not so easily cast off in this valley. Stop dragging back corpses and FIND THE BLOODY COURT!!" Haelviird slams his boot into the floor to accentuate each raised syllable punctuating the last of his sentence. The man appears to be swelling with anger at the thought of the party not following his direction.

"Oh, you've met them..." Joy sounds a little disappointed as she realizes that the presence of such a creature is no shock to the Mayor and Constable. "Yes...with the bugs. We were trying to gather more information for the mission. Geren received word from his dice that we should go there. I...suppose we were a bit overconfident. I was, at least, and nearly died because of it." Damned Zone of Truth. Joy shrinks back to her original form as the Mayor berates them, backing up sheepishly so she isn't at the front anymore. 'Binding'...'contract'...The wording bothers her, sounding like something a fiend or hag might say. She uses Divine Sense just to put her own mind at ease.

Elyndor senses the frustration within the mayor mingled with a sense of him being a tad unhinged. Perhaps it's the less-than-regal appearance of the man, perhaps the wild look in his eyes as he shouts at the party members, whichever, Elyndor feels the tension wafting from the man. It's not easy to tell exactly what, but the mayor is very vested in the party getting back to their task, almost beyond normal.

Shae remains silent, her sharp eyes narrowing as the mayor's voice rises in anger. She doesn’t trust herself to speak—Zone of Truth still lingers, and she has no intention of revealing more than necessary. The mayor’s talk of a binding contract troubles her deeply, gnawing at the back of her mind. What exactly does he mean by that? she muses. Contracts with vague, ominous terms were too familiar to her kin. She wonders if they’ve unwittingly entered into some sort of otherworldly agreement, one they can't simply walk away from. Could the items they accepted have sealed their fate in some way? Pre-payments are odd, that's for sure.

As her thoughts spiral, she glances at her companions, particularly the newcomers, Elyndor and Strife. Perhaps they might have insight, she thinks. But discussing it here would be reckless. It will have to wait until they leave this town, away from prying eyes and ears. For now, she stays quiet, studying the mayor, the constable, and the odd tension that permeates the room. There's more at play here than what they've been told, and Shae resolves to keep her guard up until they figure out what exactly doesn't add up.

"It may be wise to leave this place, for the moment.  The Mayor seems a little...over excited," Elyandor says quietly.  He clears his throat and addresses the Mayor once again.  "Forgive me, Sir, but perhaps you could spell out the exact terms of this binding contract to us.  We have accepted these gifts as part payment in kind, but your words suggest that there are things in this contract we may not be aware of or understand."   He gives the Mayor a bow.  "I do not wish to distress you further, but only clarify what is fully expected and required of us.  Beyond the Murder Court, of course."  He remains in a bowed position, awaiting an answer from the Mayor.

Joy, feeling nothing from her Divine Sense, is relieved that Mayor isn't some fiend in disguise. Her attempts at explaining things to him went poorly, so she decides to follow Ely's lead, mimicking his respectful bow in silence.

Performance: 23

The Mayor takes a few steps forward and hooks his arms behind his back. He's silent for just a few moments as he looks over the party clearly trying to regain his composure. "I know that none of you are entirely familiar with this valley so you'll forgive my uncouth manner. This situation needs a remedy and I have lived my life long enough here to wish it so in my lifetime. Only the old citizens wish for things to remain as they are but that is unacceptable. This valley is a spillover of sorts. The veil is thin between this realm and the Feywild, but it is a dark corner of the latter that seeps through. Unseen things govern here unlike many other places, and those seem tied to laws that govern some of the Fey. Mind your words and your promises while here, they cannot be doled out flippantly." He pauses his speech once more as he paces closer to one of the hearths, "We have called upon you with the full intention of you meeting success, but you must heed our warnings. Go, get yourselves some rest and set out when the moon has faded and the sun's rays attempt to reach the valley floor once again. You'll not find The Murder Court in this hall I assure you."

Elyndor rises from his bow and brings his right fist to his chest in a salute to the Mayor.  He nods to the man and to the constable.  "Then I have nothing further to add here.  I cannot speak for the others however, and will retire."  He bows quickly and moves towards the door, but doesn't exit.  He scans the room thoughtfully.  The Mayor certainly avoided his question, but there seemed to be veiled truths in his words.  Well, it seems only time will reveal the bargain struck.  For now, pursuing this further looked like it would lead to more anger and conflict.  He shuts his eyes and takes some deep breaths, allowing a wave of calm to wash over himself.

Shae listens intently, still not speaking, as the mayor reveals more about the valley’s connection to the Feywild. His vague warnings about words and promises only heighten her suspicions. Thin veils, fey laws, and unseen forces... It’s enough to make her uneasy, but she keeps her expression neutral. She’s more than ready to leave. The day’s events have worn her down, and her mind craves clarity. The mayor’s cryptic answers provide none. Instead, they leave her with more questions, and she knows they won’t find the answers tonight. Best to rest and prepare for what's ahead, she thinks, glancing at her companions before stepping towards the exit, eager to retreat to the tavern and finally get some sleep.