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."

Ylis wanders through the building nearly getting distracted by food when she hears the voice of the Taskmaster.

tsk tsk naughty boy

When she sees him she waggles a finger in his direction, "Did you know there is a grouchy woman looking for you?"

Verin shifts uncomfortably. "You must be referring to Bautha. I'm fine." He says and begins to sway on unsteady feet. "I am probably doing better than anyone else in history that has had 70% of their skin shorn from their body."

Though he speaks with confidence, Thelyss avoids Ylis' eyes. 

"I'll go get her and tell her you're not coming. She's gonna lock you up and have her way with you." Ylis giggles and goes in search of the master priest.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

Verin shifts uncomfortably. "You must be referring to Bautha. I'm fine." He says and begins to sway on unsteady feet. "I am probably doing better than anyone else in history that has had 70% of their skin shorn from their body."

Though he speaks with confidence, Thelyss avoids Ylis' eyes. 

"She literally said, and I quote: 'if he doesn’t get back into an Infirmary bed within the hour, I'll will have him relieved of duty by his own guards and placed in soft restraints until he actually heals to my satisfaction'. If I were you, I would do as she says. I belive she is not bluffing.” said with a smile before leaving with the party.

Nivi does not know Bautha by name, but surmises that she must be the healer they had spoken with just earlier.  She cracks a grin at Ylis' admonishment.

"Not for nothing, Dawnrabbit's got a point, Taskhand.  Might be feelin' better than other flayed guys, dunno, but speakin' as the one that pulled you off that crucifix,  you're still looking like if I gave you a little kick, it'd be like droppin' an open burlap sack full of chicken soup on the street."

Her pale green eyes regard him more seriously for a moment.  "How DID Desu get to you anyway?  I mean... don't know her, but know her line of work.  She's got a reputation, yeah?  And after all the shit the Clasp's pulled here in Bazzoxan, you sure these new recruits from Rosohna... ones that just got here... you sure these ain't more Clasp plants?  Infiltrating your Watch now that the sewers and demon-pact fell through?"

Nivi pauses, realizing that Verin had not answered her original question.  "So yeah, we go, take out Aloysia and bring back these six she conned into backing her up.  Any scouting report you got for us on Betrayer's Rise would be nice.  I mean other than saying we die if we go."

As for the gold, Nivi seems almost... awkward... accepting it.  Not that she does not want (and need!) the gold or that she thinks it is undeserved, but she is clearly unaccustomed to being rewarded monetarily for good deeds.  And my family?  Pretty sure my lord mother and father never took gold for all the shitload of good works they were always doing.  Sister or brother either.  Course, it's easier to say no to gold if you're already a rich noble house...