Doozey again, if but for a brief moment, considers stopping by Brother Keefe's grave. And yet, his response to Villonah is a smile of his own alongside a nod, before following after Villonah. There would be time enough another day and with the Redfoot more prepared to leave behind something while at it.

If Villonah took Doozey hand again along the way, he would certainly not complain! But, without her taking that initiative, several minutes passes into the journey before the halfling facepalms out of nowhere, before with a prominent blush staining his cheeks, he makes dismissive mumbled excuses if Villionah took any notice.

When at last the pair return to the Leadstopper Manor, Biscuit is the first to greet the pair with doggy kisses for both halfling and gnome, before bounding inside ahead of them and announce their arrival. That is, if the door wasn't locked. And if it was, then he pad at it until Doozey wrestles the mastiff away, laughing and urging Villonah to quickly get the door open! Such antics aside, Doozey lets out a relieved sigh once finally inside the building prior to meeting up with everyone else. "So, how things go? He take it well? Oh, and, uhh, Utar? Mind getting message out to Dornal? I mean, I guess it could technically wait until we've actually collected the bounties, but... well, me and Villie were talking, and even if only as a stop gap measure, he'd have the better connections we'd need to start getting word out on the road being more or less cleared up."

(OOC: If you'd like, we can retroactively get the message to Dornal. For now, let's move on to the evening meeting.)

(@Ori: I'll leave it up to you whether Villonah took Doozey's hand again.)

Harper and Sirge arrived punctually at the agreed time. Sagin opened the door for them, invited them in, and proceeded to direct them to another door. This second door stood right in the middle of the room, not attached to any walls or thresholds. From within, Raist opens it and invites the two faction agents inside his fantastical mansion. Giving Sagin the night off, Raist has ordered his many invisible servants in the mansion to prepare a meal for CRAP and their Harpers guests.

(@Red: Please feel free to describe the offered meal here if you'd like.)

During dinner, the older half-elf, whose name matches that of the faction he represents, speaks up: "It is always a pleasure visiting you and exchanging pleasantries, especially when you level up your wizard game and whip up such a marvelous abode. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with your quaint residence, but this... this is just marvelous!" Sirge agrees with a nod. The younger half-elf has been bandaged up and certainly has taken a bath since the last time you saw him.

After offering a sincere and quite handsome smile, Harper invites you to speak next: "Now, don't be shy. Why don't you tell us the reason for inviting us over. Sirge here shared what he has seen and experienced at King's Pyre, but I understand he left the party a bit early... such a bore." Harper smiles, Sirge scowls.

REFRESHERS:

- Sirge Wintermelt is a half-elf agent of the Harpers. He is young-ish but experience, and wears the leathers and fabrics of someone who spends most of his working hours scouting outside. He also wears an outdoors cloak which is held together by a silver pin fashioned in the shape of the Harpers' crest. For those who are familiar with the secretive but benign society, his alliagence is plain to see.

- Harper (last name unknown; is that even his real first name?) is also a half-elf, but he is clearly older than Sirge. His clothes are those of someone who spends most of their time schmoozing in an urban setting. He wears a hood over his head that always obscures part of his face, making it difficult to garner his facial features and expressions in full. That said, CRAP has met and collaborated with Harper enough times so that a friendship has formed (especially with Utar) and a trusting relationship has evolved. You can certainly recognize Harper by now. He is the more senior Harper agent among the two currently in this meeting, but you know he takes orders from another: Olisara Lightsong. 

"A bore perhaps, but a wise one in this particular case. As things got hectic pretty darn quickly after he left." Doozey replied to Harper from the comfort of whatever seating arrangement had been provided by the mystical mansion, then looked to Sirge with a soft smile. "Good to see you made it back alright. And sorry as well. For as much as I'd have liked to have left ya to recover after your ordeal, the longer we sit on things, the more opportunity we'd be giving Jerella to stir up trouble later. So..." He gives the rest of C.R.A.P a look as if asking for permission to continue, and upon receiving any response, let out a tired sigh. "We'd been hoping to find out what you learned from that captive ya brought back. Namely, where Jerella might've gone to ground in the event things went, well, as pear shaped as they did. 'cause unfortunately during the battle, Raist here tried to stop her, but she apparently teleported away... Of course, if there's anything you'd like to know from us about what happened after Sirge left in turn in exchange, we'd be more than happy to furbish it."

"Party pooper..." Harper says jokingly to Doozey.

"Yes..." Sirge agrees with the halfling's comment on making back alright. "Still nursing some bruises and general pain though..."

On learning about the info the captive may have shared, Harper responds: "Of course we'll share with you, and we are happy to hear that you'll do the same. I can't wait to hear more about what transpired at King's Pyre after Sirge's departure."

He starts sharing: "Our two-headed kobold friend shared that he was a member of the Cult of the Dragon tasked with infiltrating Jeralla's group. The sorceress believed herself to be a Chosen of Tiamat and called her group the Claws of Tiamat. According to Sharrak, the Claw had no affiliation to the Cult of the Dragon. The Cult considers the Claw's claim heretical, and Sharrak's job was to spy on them for the Cult. He apparently performed so well that Jeralla would eventually promote him to become the group's second-in-command... Well, according to the winged-kobold himself, that is." At this point, Harper takes a pause to drink some wine and gestures to Sirge to continue the story.

Sirge obliges: "When the Claw decided to have a meeting with the Gray Patriots in order to negotiate an alliance, Sharrak decided that the time was right to kill the heretic Jeralla and her minions. He arranged a raid by an orcish warband allied to the Cult of the Dragon, but didn't count on a fourth faction, one called CRAP, to also arrive to take advantage of that same meeting."

"As for the Harpers," Harper continues, "We had learned that the Cult of the Dragon was mustering orcs in the wilds of Thar, were this orcish band presumably comes from. Sirge was sent to gather information and confirm this new alliance and also to hunt down the agent behind these deals. Thanks to you, he completed both of these goals." He clears he throat and adds: "I think our joint efforts over time have disrupted the Cult's alliances well enough that they are having to travel farther and farther out to reestablish connection and bolster their numbers." Optimistically, he concludes: "Our efforts are paying off!"

Retroactive

"Sagin. You are more than welcome to enter and have something else cook for you for a change"

Inside the mansion same layout as before except the stable is.gone. and the table is larger.

"Everyone just let the servants know what you would like and it will be prepared for you. Benefits of this mansion. (If he comes.in) yes even you Sagin. (Smiling) im sure they are more than capable of whipping you up a special treat.

During meeting.  "So there's a split in the cult is there" he pulls out the book. "Tell me friend, if you can was Jeralla aware of the infiltrator?"

"During our time at the King's Pyre, we were, indeed set upon by a warband of orcs led by one Narle Shieldbiter. While we were unable to fell Jeralla, herself. Her faction was destroyed by an unintended collaboration with said warband. After the last kobold fell, they then turned their attention toward us. I suppose to try and remove any witnesses."

Doozey's expression immediately brightened at the last bit of news. Though just as quickly as hope and optimism began to surge forth in his being, his shoulders sag and brows furrowed with renewed worry. "Even still, she remains out there, and still quite capable of twisting the hearts and mind and bodies of other kobolds if given half the chance. Though the exact how's she went about it is... well... I don't s'pose that came up in yer conversation with the twins by any chance, did it?"

Sagin absolutely accepts the invitation. When told that he can asked for whatever he wants, the kobold cannot contain his excitement: “Sugared beetles!”

Harper to Raist: “We can’t confirm whether Jerald’s ever was part of the Cult. If so, then yes, it sounds like the Cult might have warring factions. It would not be the first time. Just ask your fellow CRApers. But there is also a chance that she is an independent follower of Tiamat at the wrong place and time.”

Sirge to Neya: “Narle Shieldbiter. Thank you for sharing what happens after my departure. If Jeralla is alive, and Krulec remains, what has become of the Shieldbiter?”

Harper to Doozey: “The how? I imagine it is not too hard for a charismatic sorceress of dragon blood to amass a horde of kobolds around her. Perhaps your cook can shed some light on the kobolds’ aptitude to follow such leader in a general sense?”

To Sirge.."that one at least is off the tally...Shieldbiter and his band are carrion food. Unless a necromancer came by recently.  Their arms for the most part are in possession of the watch"

Despite having been served leftovers of breakfast earlier, hearing the words "Sugared Beetles" made Doozey's mouth water. But, he kept quiet, knowing there would be plenty of time to dive into the stash once all meetings were concluded. 'But soon, my precious, soooon...' He thought.

"Or right place, but wrong time from her perspective, considering she got herself a good following... for a time." The halfling later chimed in following Harper's response to Raist. Of the fate of Shieldbiter, Doozey left that to Neya to answer. But when it came to readdressing his own question, he jumps a little in his seat in surprise, then promptly shook his head and hands in denial. "N-n-not what I meant! I was moreso referring to the fact that many of the kobolds -- our two headed friend included, believed themselves to be 'blessed' by Tiamat through whatever magic Jeralla called upon. Even though by and large if they ever took a moment to really study themselves after the transformation, that was certainly not the case." Doozey clarified. "So, I was wondering if he knew more exact details, such a particular spot filled with chaos magic being where she drew these 'blessings' from, or was inherit to her somehow."