Apart from a pleased noise from the Mastiff from Villonah's earlier attention, the beast remained by and large occupied devouring his meal no matter its content, and with an uncanny grace, as little slips off onto the table.

Even if Doozey couldn't be absolutely certain (or at least, hadn't dared to believe it whole heartedly) of what he saw Villonah, a simple question to Utar spoken volumes. He further capitalizes on her momentary distraction to look away grinning and pumping his fist off to the side in celebration... before coming back down to earth seeing a Biscuit side-eyeing him with a mischevious glint in his eyes. At which point, Doozey looks away and gently coughs into a raised fist.

"Well Sagin, looks like it's gonna be a busy day for ya. Speaking of lucky, after we're done we breakfast, I got a surprise for you back in the wagon buddy." He assured the Kobold, even if it meant calling out for him had Sagin returned to the kitchen at some point. Seeing Sabastian take off, Doozey looks to Raist with a raised brow and says while absentmindedly preparing his own plate with plenty of cabage. "Should we also expect a visit from, uhh, library representative?" He asks the elf, sounding more curious than anything.

Taking some fruit.  "I wouldn't expect more than a message back...or if it's more I doubt it would be an actual um...person delivering it"

"How about..." Villie thinks as Utar gives her a chance to send a message: "CRAP's Utar here on Villonah's behalf. Mission accomplished. High cost. Villagers safe. Sacrificing outlaws nearly exterminated. Gavriel fell. Villonah will report in a few days." .She seems too busy with this wordsmithing prospect to notice Doozey's reaction.

Raist takes care of his own message in the meantime, charging Sebastian with it. Unfortunately, replies to his messaging approach are not immediate. Both Doozey and Raist seem eager to hear back from Mantor's Library nonetheless, even if it is not delivered in person.

Sagin begins to make a comment about CRAP's personal food stores being in a better situation than most, but reminding his patrons that it is probably prudent not to abuse it, but Doozey's mention of a surprise derails that train of thought. "Perhaps more food, maybe..." he posits. 

From here, Villonah wonders if you need her for your next visit (lunch with Braden Yill) or if she could help by instead going to the Helm shrine to arrange for Gavriel's transportation. If you allow her to do the latter, she will gently remind you that she needs help funding such an endeavor.

Doozey feigns a shifty-eyed look, before motioning Sagin to move closer if he hadn't already been standing/seated at Doozey's side. "Eighteen Days... Nearly eighteen days worth of Sugared Beetles!" He says in a stage whisper before pulling away wearing a grin. "Some oxen milk too, but I'm figuring we either deliver that to the laughing goblin to share out as he pleases. But, the beetles we're keeping, if only 'cause most aren't usually too big into'em anyhow -- Oh! And some pretty darn good spices too" He admits before returns to his breakfast.

When the subject of Braden is broached, Doozey stares thoughtfully down at his breakfast for a time, before then looking to Villonah. "Having an air quotes 'outsider' further vouch fer us could help. 'specially on the off chance he wants to find out who the other captives that were rescued to further corroborate our story." He explained. "B-but if /you'd/ prefer to tackle Gavriel's transportation as soon as possible, then, uhm, here-..." Without missing a beat, Doozey goes into his backpack, and after only a little rooting around, pulls out a hefty money pouch and offers to her. "Here. It's been a long enough time that I don't remember what the standard rate for this sort of thing. But however much it cost, feel free to use all that's in there." He assured her. If Villonah looks inside the pouch, there's easily eight hundred gold worth coinage between platinum and gold pieces. Any silver or coppers Doozey might have yet remained on his person.

Utar smiles at the little gnome, "Done. Message sent, I'll let you know about any response I receive. If you need further contributions for Gavriel, come back to us. And let those at the shrine know if they need space to prepare the body for travel, I can see about getting space at the House of the Hand if that would be acceptable to them, or I can speak to the Doomguide if Valhingen would be better."

Sagin's jaw opens slowly. The kobold's salivary glands begin to work overtime. "Sugured bettles, you said?" His eyes begin to water. He speaks no more words for the next several minutes.

Utar hears a response:

Villonah accepts Doozey's pouch, trusting the halfling to the point she does not need to check its contents. She can't ignore its weight, however: "Thank you. This is much more I reckon will be needed. I'll be back once the arrangements are made." She turns to Utar and adds: "And thank you for the additional logistical offers. I'll bring it up and see what the shrine attendant prefers." Next, she silently nods her thanks to both Raist and Neya too. Before exiting the door, she lets her shoulders drop and releases a sigh. She gives Doozey a hug and pets Biscuit one more time. She opens the door. Sagin approaches reactively in an offer to hold it for her and close it after she is gone. She playfully punches the kobold on the should, her way to apologize. She nods to herself and leaves.

(OOC: Is there anything the party would like to do before lunchtime and Braden's planned arrival? If not, we'll fast-forward to that point.)

Doozey waved his hand in gentle dismissal of the thanks, yet it's clear in his smile that the initial thanks was appreciated all the same. As he started to return his attention to breakfast, from the corner of his eyes he catches sight of her seeming... defeated? Disappointed? Sadden? He couldn't quite be sure, but the air around as she stood before the door left him worried. Before he can muster the courage to speak however, he's too blindsided by the hug to even react. Biscuit, on the other hand, gave a muffled "Boof" happiness and even sort of waved goodbye.

Close to a minute pass by before Doozey, having spent the better part of that minute staring at the door and trying not to let his imagination get the better of him, looks to the rest of the party and says, "I... Think I'm gonna go catch up with her... Yeah, uhh... Y-yeah, W-we shouldn't be gone too long. Uhm... Yeah, uh, you guys'll be alright. Just, uhm, remember not to say more than ya need, and, uhh, make sure to bring in the sugared Beetles 'n all that. Biscuit, watch out for'em." The halfling is slipping out of his seat even before he has fully finished saying his piece, and unless called to wait is out the door in seconds aiming to catch up with Villonah. 

(@Ori: Is Biscuit also coming with Doozey?)

"Oh..." Villonah says surprised with Doozey by her side as he catches up to her. "I... Hmm... I'm on my way to the Helm shrine by the Stojanow Gate. Did you want to say something?" 

Not wanting to interupt what seems like what will be quite a tender moment between the gnome and halfling, Utar decides to hold onto Zern's reply until VIllanoh returns from the shrine to Helm.  Turning to Sagin, he offers to help the kobold find the sugared beetles from the wagon and then prepare for their next visitors.

(Happy to jump to the next meeting.  I'll post this in the Discord too, but is there anyone else that the party want to contact?  I think we were going to contact Aleyd Burrall and we might contact Moneus too but that might not be as important as meeting with House Cardona/the Harpers.)

(@Lerus: Nope, just Doozey. Biscuit is sticking around to eat the rest of Doozey's breakfast, listen in on the meeting, and generally help out as need be.)

(@MB: Apart from the additional duo you mentioned, the only other one I can think of is maybe Dornal, just to see if he heard/knows if any weird influx of things from Baldur's Gate. But, that's of course a long shot and maybe not really his department.)

Doozey opened his mouth to answer, only to hesitate at first, causing him to blush a little. But if left to his own devices for a moment more, he eventually recovers, clears his throat, then with a subdued smile finally answers. "I was just figuring you might want some company is all for... you know." He said with a shrug. "Plus, uhh, after hearing your story earlier, seems I owe'm a few words of thanks."

(Ready to go to the next one.) 

(OOC: The in-game timing here might be a bit off, but in the interest of keeping things moving, we'll say Doozey's and Villonah's stroll takes place around the same time as the next meeting comes up.)

IN THE CITY

Villonah smiles: "Company... Yes, I'd like you to come along. Thank you. It is not an easy thing to do to say goodbye to a companion. I am glad I don't have to do it alone... No, it is more than that. I'm am glad I get to do it with you by my side."

Doozey and Villonah make their way through the residential part of town. Many folks are outside, wasting the day away and trying to make their own days interesting amidst rationing and general unrest. It dawns on Doozey that, although the highwaymen strength on the Iron Route has been severely curtailed, it is probably still too soon for the benefits of that development to hit Phlan just yet. Moreover, the general public here has no idea that the Iron Route has been partially, if not mostly, liberated.

AT CRAP HQ

Utar memorizes the reply he received from Zern for now, intending to deliver it to Villonah upon her return. In the meantime, he lends a hand to Sagin in bringing in the goods in the wagon inside the residence. He can't help but notice a number of Phlan citizens just hanging about the HQ limits, looking in and mentally taking note of all the goods being moved from the wagon to the house.

A few moment pass after all that needs moving into the house is moved. Then, a knock on the door announces the arrival of one Braden Yil, the retainer of House Cadorna who employed CRAP to dismantle the Gray Patriots, recover whatever possible from their loot, and, if lucky enough to find it, also recover the Heart of Myth Drannor, an emerald necklace that Raist had remembered to serve as the symbol of the house’s loyalty to the Lords’ Alliance. CRAP remembers Braden to be a well-spoken but generally nervous and meticulous man. When Sagin opens the door, Braden is looking toward the sky, as he has done many a time in CRAP's presence before. "Oh, hello there, fellow. I am here for my lunch meeting with Utar, Neya, Doozey, and Raist." 

Doozey hadn't known what really to say in response, so nodded and smiled just a little more brightly from her words. As he later made his epiphany during the journey, the ranger cannot help but grimace, realizing that in his haste hadn't actually passed along his notes for things to ask Braden. Granted, most of it was half-formed or in no particular order, and some of the more sensitive aspect had been in short hand code. Yet the reminder remained cold comfort.

Thus, he aimed to push it out of the forefront of his mind with a curt shake of the head, before picking up the pace and recover whatever small bit of lost ground there had been from the momentary distraction. "... Say, Villie... Uhm... Question," He says just loud enough for Villonah's ears. "Phandalin has been your home for far longer than it has mine, so uhh... What do you think of, er... No, /who/ in town do you think might be better suited for telling folk the news bout the road? 'side from the Fist, maybe, though given how things gone so far, I'm not sure how well that'll go."

Back at the Manor...

If Utar and Sagin got to work after breakfast, then Biscuit happily joined them outside, if but to play guard while they did all the heavy lifting. As a result, a few onlookers get some serious meaning mugging from the mastiff, and there's at least one instance of him going from sitting and watching to standing and looking ready to run down a particularly overly attentive onlooker. It never comes to be of course. But if successful in punking the pedestrian, then Biscuit would be left panting and wagging his tail happily for a job well done! In fact, he would be so satisfied that even when Branden finally shows up, the mastiff contented himself with watching and wagging his tail excitedly at the sight of a familiar guest making an appearance.

Having busied himself with wahtever task Sagin had asked of him in preparation for more guests, Utar's ears prick up at the sound of the door and Braden Yil's voice.  He calls out to Sagin, "Sagin, he is expected.  Please show our guest in, we will join him in a moment."

Cleaning his hands, Utar then heads to greet their guest.

Raist arranges himself at the table.  Parchment out for note taking

IN THE CITY

Doozey's mind goes to the missed opportunity to share some input on the upcoming conversation with Braden, but the thought is quickly pushed aside when he is reminded of his present company. A question follows, and Villonah's answer hints at surprise at first. "Phandalin? Did the outlaws hit you hard on the head? Phlan has been my home, so I'll assume that this is what you meant." She clears her throat as the duo walks. "If you don't want to hand the information to the Black Fist, then the answer really depends on what angle you are going for. I reckon letting one of the noble houses make the announcement will serve you well in gaining favor with them. If you want to go with a covert word-of-mouth approach, I'd say the Welcomers are your best avenue. If you want recognition, I'd consider letting the Harpers find a way to spread the news and ensure you get the fame. If you just want to do the right thing, the Harpers are a good bet, but the Lords' Alliance is probably the better option."

The stroll continues...

AT CRAP HQ

Biscuit keeps guard outside and is the first CRAPer to welcome Braden. Sagin is next and then Utar, after the orc tells the kobold to invite their guest inside. Raist gets ready for the exchange of information, as Neya seems ready for the meeting to start.

Noticing Doozey's absence, Braden gasps: "Our dear halfling... don't tell me his mastiff is all that came back... Did the Gray Patriots claim his life?" Assuming a truthful explanation is given, the meeting proper soon begins.

"Very well, my dear adventurers. If you are all back and safe, I can only assume the mission was a success. Utar's message had me a bit worried, but a little sense of humor never hurt anyone, isn't that right?" He pulls his own notebook at this point and welcomes the tale: "Please do not spare me any details. How did you do Krulek in? Where are the goods you rescued? Please, will you bring the Heart of Myth Drannor out? I can hardly wait."

"R-right, sorry, y-yes. Phlan. I always.... n-nevermind, just go on." Doozey said, sounding every bit as flustered as he looked in the moment. Which is why he was left looking quite thankful from Villonah carrying on in answering his question but being thorough enough to give the halfling plenty of time to regain some composure. Some time passes well after Villonah is done. But eventually, the halfling stopped rubbing his chin to instead nod. "Guess we aughta talk to Dornal then about handling it. 'cause considering the job is technically half done, we prolly wouldn't be doing ourselves too many favors seeking recognition." Doozey looks to Villonah with an appreciative grin and adds, "THanks, Villie."