Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

"We talked with Prolix," Morgan says, absentmindedly rolling a gold coin across his knuckles. "He didn't tell us much, but he was very passionate about the fact that Aloysia must be stopped, and that she leaves a trail of death wherever she goes."

He pauses, catching the coin before sending it spinning again.
"Then he spent a while explaining that she's part of the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream—'a genuine cult hells-bent on power,' as he put it." A grin creeps onto his face. "We don't have much more than that as evidence."

The grin fades.
"But our friends are in danger. That much seems clear. And I think it's safe to say that taking a closer look won't be a waste of time."

Morgan slips the coin away and tilts his head.
"So... do you have any advice for a group of crazy people who want to get close to Betrayers' Rise and still live to see another couple of sunsets?"

Verin looks down at his arms, specifically the cuts on his arms where he was skinned. Those incisions are still barely visible, but they are fading. Thanks to magical healing, when he fully recovers there will be no sign at all that he was skinned alive. He looks at the fading scars for an extended time in silence. 

"Yes, my advice is to not go at all. But your friends apparently already went. The guards I stationed there report back every shift; they are fine. That means Aloysia found a way past them..." He pauses again, considering the likeliness of Aloysia's benevolence. "We have overlapping interests. I want the threat of Aloysia eliminated and you want your friends back. Your investigation mission has become a kill and recovery mission. Find your friends and take out Aloysia. If you can find actual evidence that Aloysia means my people no harm, fine, but otherwise, bring me her head. I will match what I have already paid you, so you stand to become rather wealthy.

"Your investigation, admittedly, has turned out to be rather disappointing. Though, I can't blame you for diverting from that investigation to save my skin... literally. I will put someone on Prolix. I have people I have not used yet who have a reputation of getting answers. One way or another."