Utar extends a hand to the dwarf, "Utar Hammerhand, I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. How badly are you hurt?"

Euripanee stands up, patting her own biceps: "I'll be fine, do not worry. I'm ready to protect this little safe-house of ours." She gives Utar a little smile of reassurance. Pointing to Farvnik's body, she adds: "Don't want any more of those priests coming out this way. Is that what he is, a priest? Looks like one to me. I saw him talk with a man with red skin, horns, a tail, and who wore a purple cloak. If he comes this way, I'll fight harder than I did before they took me."

Villonah laughs a little at Doozey catching his own badger form licking himself clean. After the ranger spells out a few alternative objectives, Aleyd responds: "All sensible considerations, and I am fond of the idea of gathering whatever allies we can, but we need not decide within the next few seconds." She looks around the tavern floor while explaining: "These folks here were all witnesses to what has happened too. We shouldn't dally, but perhaps we should collect whatever scraps of information they might have heard or seen to aid us in our decision."

Villonah stands up from her sitting position atop a table, understanding the assignment. She walks over to the halfing family and introduces herself. CRAP hears them responding in kind: "I am Alphus and this is my wife, Etty. Our dauthers are Imogee, Oylen, and Ulvona. We are bakers just a few blocks away from the Laughing Goblin. Thank you for rescuing us." Villonah proceeds to ask them if they have seen anything that might be helpful. You all hear Etty describing how she saw the hobgoblins come off a boat in the harbor moments before they started raiding the neighborhood. The resurfacing of this recent memory is enough to visibly frighten the daughters. Both parents move in closer into a protective family hug, politely but non-verbally telling Villonah that it is probably best that they don't say anything else. Villonah doubts they would know anything else of use at this point. She turns back to CRAP and says: "This is the second mention of the docks that we hear over the last minute or two. It might be worth going that way and investigating. The harbor is a stone's throw from the Laughing Goblin." 

"I will pray that Torm strengthens your arm, this place is dear to me, so does me good to know it is stoutly defended by a formidable warrior.  You have my thanks."

Doozey crosses his arms and frowns. "You know I got half a mind to ask 'to what end'? But then again, if they haven't put any strong defense there, we could maybe secure an escape route for folks. Or failing that, at least scout it out, and redirect any poor souls that might've thought to flee there." A sudden thought leaves the ranger going wide-eye, and then muttering a curse.

"We almost forgot about Sagin! But... Mmn... between Berry, that wand, and the gear I left, he has to be-..." Doozey trails off into a sigh and shakes his head. "One thing at time. Neya? Raist? Utar? We need to get a move on to check out the docks. But Utar, I hate to ask, but if you can afford one last sending, reach out to whoever you think might be the most mobile right now. Let'em know we're alright, and.. I-I dunno, ask'em what they plan to do next so we can maybe coordinate."

"Thank you. This place is now important to me too." She winces in pain and reaches for her arm once more, before resuming her conversation with Utar. "And if the priest's friend, the infernal-looking man, comes looking for him here, I'll be ready for him. He said something about going to the Stojanow Gate to check on their friends. If he returns here with reinforcements, I'll be ready for them too!"

Hearing Doozey mention the docks repeatedly, one of the shirtless men walks closer to the group. His speech is slurred: "You going to the docks? I work there. I am docks. No, I am docksman. No, I am longman. I mean, I am longshoreman. Yeah, yeah, That's it. I am longshoreman. I am longshoreman Maff." Another shirtless man approaches the first and says: "Shut up, Blurn. I am Maff. You are too drunk. No, I am too drunk. AHHAHAHAHAHAAH. We are so drunk!" The one man who wears a shirt in this trio yelps at Doozey from the background: "I wouldn' t go to the docks if I were you. We came from there. We saw some folks, and small lizard men, and large lizards come out of the sewers just as all the chaos began. Stay away form the lizards, man!" He then starts to have uncontrollable hiccups.  

At this point, the elf lady that you all now recognize to be Aya Glenmiir, approaches the more quite half of CRAP, that is, Neya and Raist. With her gentle voice, she says: "Your friends are speaking of escaping town, and I agree with that plan." She then looks at both Raist and Neya with a bit more nervousness in her voice. "Do you know who that was? That was Claugiyliamatar. A true dragon—and not a young one at that. Our lives are forfeit if we remain here any longer! You’ve got to get everyone out!"

Neya agrees with Aya's suggestion, "Yes, the docks are currently the best option we have."

Aya looks at Neya slyly: "What if I told you that there might be another option? The Welcomers smuggle things in and out of the town all the time, likely through the sewers and catacombs beneath the streets. However, it appears the cultists are using the sewer tunnels as well..." She points to the mostly shirtless longshoremen that were just sharing their witness accounts. "...so we need a safer alternative. I happen to know a devilishly handsome Welcomer who has worked with the Harpers in the past, and so his heart is in the right place. He might be willing to help us. Last I knew, he frequented the Cracked Crown near Scholar’s Square, but where he is now, I have to admit that I don't know. But, if we are able to find him, I am confident he'll know how to get us out. We can always revert to the docks or the sewers if we can't find him, but those options would certainly be more dangerous." 

Raist nods ad Aya  "<> whatever route <wheeze> you think is best." Then to Doozy "<> I am as ready as I <><>am going to be"

Pulling a pearl out of his pocket he looks at it. "Faigg ar ais"   [Tooltip Not Found]    regaining a 3rd level spell slot. (Pearl of power)

Following a twitch of an ear, Doozey looks to the drunks with barely disguised disdain on his face. Yet the more the they voiced their experience, the more werebadger 's became genuinely interested in listening to their tale, with a few claws finding his chin to scratch at it while he pondered it all. "Well, that ain't good." He mumbled, scowled, and then eventually closed his eyes as if trying to concentrate on something. In truth, he'd been straining his ears to try and listen over the din of activity and make sure no signs of activity foretold another giant trundling its way down the streets. However, it is an effort soon abandon had he properly heard Aya, prompting him to look up at Raist and Neya.

"It's a bit of a trek outta of the way. But, if nothing else, it might give the fanatics enough time to disperse a bit, and make it easier to deal with any of'em we come across going forward." With that, he turned to Villonah and Captain Aleyd,if the too hadn't wandered off to tend to the people. "Regardless of our course, I hope you two don't mind holding down he fort here."

In response to Raist, Aya says: "Whatever route I think is best? Well, I say we go to the Cracked Crown in search of the Welcomer."

Replying to Doozey, Aleyd says: "I... I will not stay here. I have to hope that the Lord Regent still lives. I have to go search for him. You may go ahead and do your investigation in whichever direction you choose."

Aya replies to Aleyd with conviction: "Lord Regent Ector Brahms lives, or at least it is highly unlikely that he was slain when the dragon attacked. I and a few other scholars were meeting with him outside Stojanow Gate to discuss magical improvements to its security. I was sent to retrieve some documents from Mantor's Library that a colleague had forgotten." Hearing this, Raist and the others who are familiar Head Scribe Cassra Brandywine know that this could only refer to the messy halfling herself. Memories of her incredibly disorganized office flash in your minds, a moment that likely results in a collective sigh from CRAP. Aya concludes her tale: "I was on my way back when the attack occurred. The Lord Regent was quite unhappy about the delay that forgetting the papers caused, as he had other plans for the day (likely the meeting Farvnik alluded to), but wanted it done as soon as possible. It is quite likely that my friends and the Lord Regent were inside the Gate when the attack happened instead of at the top of Castle Valjevo." 

Aya's tale fills Aleyd with hope. She seems more determined now: "I will try to locate other allies and then I'll return here. If you haven't left town at that point, perhaps we can meet up with me back at the Laughing Goblin after your investigation and my recruiting mission are completed. Then, we can try to free the Lord Regent."

A moment of silent envelopes CRAP and allies as a plan begins to form, even if possible paths ahead still need to be narrowed. Villonah breaks the silence by agreeing to Doozey's request: "Yes, I can stay here in the Laughing Goblin and shore up the defenses of our temporary base of operations." A few feet away, Euripanee Thurdershiled yelps her support: "I shall be your second, my gnomish lady!" 

Aya speaks up once more: "I specialize in wards that utilize enchantment magic. Although I cannot protect this tavern for the long term, I could ward it to discourage anyone from investigating it too closely. This should buy you some time to investigate potential ways out of town and collect allies while the refugees hide in the Laughing Goblin. However, we cannot stay here forever. You will need to return eventually so you can lead us out of town through your chosen path."

Aleyd seems to almost agree with everything, but not quite: "Yes, reconvening here after some investigation and recruiting seems like a good plan, but I am not leaving without the Lord Regent."

Villonah tries to find common ground: "If we can agreed to the plan up to and including the reconvening at this tavern, then we can follow through with it up until that point and reexamine our situation then. What supplies we'll have, what allies we'll have gathered, how are defenses stand, which potential pathway is best in leading us and the refugees out of town, etc." She then looks at Doozey, Neya, Utar, and Raist and asks a decisive question: "If you agree, which path will you investigate: the docks, the sewers, or the Cracked Crown?"

"I am of the mind to track down Aya's lead on the Welcomer. Investigating the Cracked Crown might give us a clue to their whereabouts."

Though he'd expected such an answer, Doozey still looked a touch disappointed, before then closing his eyes and sighing in defeat, knowing the futility of trying to convince the good captain to do otherwise. Yet all wasn't as lost. He perked up as Aya spoke, and even shared a hopeful look with the Aleyd. He startles a little when Villonah eventually broke the silence but soon found himself smiling relief; especially as Euripanee steps up to join in the defense.

"On that point I agree, Neya. Could be any route the guy has in mind would have us trekking through the sewers or catacombs anyways, but at least we'll have an actual guide that might be able to get these folk outta here. Once we got that arranged, the rest of us can refocus on backing up Captain Aleyd. So, let's not waste any more time."

Neya and Doozey have a quick discussion, arriving at a shared preference. When the halfling concludes his statement with a desire to not waste any more time, the door leading to the kitchen opens. Imizael comes through it and back into the tavern floor. Instead of holding kitchen utensils or bar tools, she instead holds a letter. "This has just arrived in the hands of a grubby urchin," she explains. "She handed over the letter and mentioning the word "CRAP". She then ran off. I don't know what happened to the child. She had quite the peculiar smell, though... like that of a hog... or a goat. She said she followed this bird here..." Perched in her free hand's index finger, Gravy flaps his wings and returns to Doozey's shoulder.

Villonah sighs: "I guess we didn't barricade the backdoor in the kitchen..."

"Better that way for now," Aleyd exclaims. "We need a way to get in and out."

Imizael then hands the letter over to any CRAPer willing to take it. (OOC: You are all welcome to the spoilers below.)

Additional P.S. to the letter:

Utar takes the letter and as he reads it over, his face darkens, he hands it out to another member of CRAP to take.

"I think we have to head to the docks, these are dark times indeed. Aleyd, you should read this too." he pauses letting the others catch up with the letter before adding, "I feel the Inn is well protected for the time being, and I agree, we can use it as our base until we secure ourselves a safe route out of the city.  We could reach out to our contact in the Welcomer's to feel out this potential escape route, while we are at the docks. Aya, can you describe this devilishly handsome Welcomer?  Could be they are one in the same?"

Though both a touch surprised and confused, Doozey mostly pushed both feelings aside in favor of showering Gravy with affection in soft appreciative chirps and scritches for his work. He then gave Villonah a comforting pat on the shoulder and might've added a few words to further ease any guilt. However, he suddenly tenses up for a moment, before looking sharply to Imizael. "Wait a tick? What was that about a goat?"

Doozey doesn't have long to dwell on the implication of Imizael's words before Utar's own has the halfling doing a bit of a doubletake. "The docks? Then, I take it that's where Dornal is, huh?" He says even while accepting the letter once it's passed down to him. After a quick read some of the tension Doozey hadn't even noticed built up in his shoulders began to ease over seeing another glimmer of hope. "Well, that's certainly something worthy of redirecting efforts a bit, but-..." He trailed off from there, grumbling a little to himself, as more selfish desires began gnawing at the back of his head. At that point Biscuit lays a paw on Doozey's free shoulder, stopping the halfling from spiraling once again.

".... Right. One thing at a time. Just one thing at a time." Doozey smiles up at Biscuit. And then though he thought the effort to be futile, he took out a bit of copper wire, wrapped it about a hand, whispered a magical message.

@Lerus:

"Well..." Aya looks at the ceiling as she imagines her contact's face. "He's a tiefling and..." She then looks at Aleyd, wondering if it is a good idea to out her Welcomer connection in the presence of a Black Fist captain. Aleyd waves any worry away and adds some distance between her and the group in an offer of increased but not total privacy. Aya continues: "He has a pale pinkish skin tone, bright red hair and short forked beard, and horns that shoot up from the corners of his forehead and curve backward. He wears an earring on the one ear he still has, and his eyes are red dots on a sea of black." Utar has no doubt that he is right in the money with his hunch.

All Doozey hears in his mind in reply to his magical message is a mischievous tee-hee. 

(OOC: There are many possible next steps here. Time to discuss and choose your path.)

"So as im understanding the choices <wheeze> are the docks or the tunnels?" Raist shrugs, "or the regent.   Either of which save who we can and gather <wheeze> what forces we can"  looking to Aya "any idea if the library <wheeze> or any of its people are still free?"

Utar allows himself a wry smile depsite the dark times, "Looks like we have a friend in common, Aya, and you're right, he is a good looking boy." He even throws the elf a little wink.

"I'll get a message to him, arrange a meet here tonight with a view to get those we can out of Phlan," Utar pauses, "I should message Sagin too, get him to lock up the house and make his way here."

"I was on my way from the Library to the Gate when the attack happened," Aya replies to Raist. "It was safe when I left, but who can tell what has happened there since?"

Aya then blushes a little following Utar's comment. She then asks: "There is no guarantee that the situation at the Cracked Crown is any better than ours here at the Laughing Goblin, is there? If he is willing to come here, so be it, but the way I see it, we have good firepower. We can venture out. We don't know if he can, assuming he is safe as we speak." Utar can tell that she is worried for Moneus. 

"Same goes for Sagin," Villonah agrees.

"Good points well made.  I'll send some messages to them."

Utar takes himself to a quieter corner and preps his messages.

Moneus:

 Sagin:

Heading back once his spells are complete, Utar begins readying himself to venture out of the safety of the Inn.