Alaris walks up behind Caio and Astrid, leaning against their glaive and gazing between them - over Astrid mostly - at the dusty elf. "Do not despair. The librarians here are quite efficient and I believe they'll be able to find some record. A century isn't all that long to librarians." They offer a smile to Nimue and turn sideways to allow the others to pass.

"She has a stick up her arse, that's for sure. My lady." Ling likes to provoke and tests once again how Elodia will react. It seems the pretty rich girl isn't entirely empty upstairs, but has she ever left her castle? Do I offend her? "She kept pretending to know about us, but she didn't actually say anything. I don't know what their deal is. But I guess you do? And you're willing to share it for the noble aim of making the world a better place?" The sarcasm is heavy in her last question; she's remains undecided about whether Elodia is stupid to meddle with someone clearly well connected in the underworld, or dangerous. "You have me at a disadvantage. We have a reputation, you heard of us, of me. I know nothing about you. Who's to say you're not working for her?" Ling's eyes sparkle dangerously as she challenges Elodia. Her posture appears entirely relaxed, but her gaze has the intensity of a snake coiled to strike.

"A fair assumption, though I can give you my word I am not," Elodia responds calmly. Working for her - it's insult enough to make her skin crawl, but she can't be that frank just yet. Not without knowing first where they stand. "I understand that likely doesn't comfort you. We are going to have to trust one another at some point, so I suppose I will start: there is a reason you know nothing about me, and that reason is those we're discussing. I've been here over a year, and can count on one hand the people in this city who know that." She smiles with a subtly raised eyebrow. "Now, perhaps, I'll need two." 

Ling's edge doesn't go unnoticed, and Elodia leans away from her, straightening again in her chair, drink long-forgotten. "I'm not here to lie to you. I'm here to protect my family, and freedom for us is out of the question so long as this family remains." She studies Ling for a reaction to that. The brother - what of the brother? He's truly caught in the middle, if he's intimately involved. "I do believe that their removal would make the world a better place for many, yes. But it is hardly the reason I am here, at a tavern, on a Friggsday, sitting across from a famed bounty hunter. Pretty though she may be."

Raising her head, Ling nods, grinning appreciatively. With one quick move, she learns forward and into Elodia's personal space. "If you're looking to kill Clarissa, we are with you." As for trusting, no way. Once the others get here, we'll have her easily outnumbered in case she tries anything. Ling smiles more openly now. Alaris won't just let us rob her, but she has to sleep at some point...  She speaks quickly and quietly, so they won't be overheard. "I met him at Temnitsa, the club. He asked for our help, against his sister and we think his father. She's looking for him, but we don't know why. She was at the club the other night, lording over the bull like she owns the place. Tsk. Trying to get information... can she really see things?" Her voice is a little tighter as she asks this last question.

Elodia’s expression darkens, and her lips set into a hard line. “As I said. A penchant for things that don’t belong to her.” She inclines towards Ling to ensure she’s heard. “It’s likely. Which makes it wise to only have this conversation once. Perhaps we should go get your friends.”

"Used to be your family's club, I imagine?" Ling asks, assuming some territorial disputes between the two families. She begins to chew her lower lip, thoughtful. Could Clarissa really know something about us? What do the weird images mean?  "Things far away? What about the future... or the past?" Nodding, she gestures towards the stairs. "I'm sure they'll be down soon. Nikolai will want to hear what you have to say." She emphasises his name, showing Elodia who she will have to convince to gain the group's cooperation. Then a new thought occurs to her: "Who told someone like you to look for us?"

“It was my idea. The club wasn’t my family’s, it is. It’s high time they remember that.” She takes the stressed name, thinking back on what she knows. Nikolai. The male tiefling, then; evidently the Trio Infernale’s leader. They were always bound to have one.

“I believe you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my husband.” Elodia smiles. “Francesc.”

In the process of taking another sip from her drink, Ling almost chokes on it and coughs. "Your what?" Things click into place, but there are more questions than answers. "You mean the guy who played down the job he wanted done just so he could get a lower price? I see. Does this run in the family?" The look she gives Elodia now is decidedly less warm than it was a moment ago. "It didn't seem like his club while she was there. They must have something good on you." Ling taps her fingers on the table, thinking. "Shiva won't like this. I hope your story is convincing. For your sake. Rich people don't always make it out of this district all intact and you're much too pretty to get cut up." She smiles again, but it is mocking rather than menacing. Or is it?

"I believe in making friends to achieve a goal. He does not. I would apologize for him for it, but he wouldn't wish me to." Elodia hadn't been entirely certain what reaction to expect to the inevitable news, but the group's recent altercation with her husband was always going to be an obstacle she'd have to overcome. More tactful to clear it now. She pulls her hands to her lap, studying Ling and gauging the tangible threat. "I'm...hopeful it won't come to that." As you all should be. "Your friend is the reason I tell you this at all; I'm aware I'll need your help to overcome it. I've been warned she'll be a difficult sell, and the chips were always going to be quick to fall once she hears me speak."

She shrugs faintly. "It would have been easier on me to let them fall when they fall, but as I said, I am willing to be the first person to trust between the two of us." The last thing she needs is to make progress with them only to have the news come out and Ling resent her later for making her look foolish in front of her friends. Elodia chooses not to think of her father as a general rule, but one adage is hard to ignore while sitting at this table – the importance of moves and countermoves.

Nikolai steps up at this point to address the elven woman. “They are called fleder and they are not something you ever want to meet alone in the dark. They nearly killed one of us in the process of clearing this nest. There was something else in here too, something... different... These creatures were being bred, which should not be able to happen.”

Nimue nods, contemplating the tiefling's response. "I did get the sense there was something unnatural at work." She looks into his eyes, a faint smile on her lips. "Best to have friends, then. Isn't it?" 

Nikolai holds the elven woman's gaze for a moment, smiling at what he sees there. "It is indeed." He offers his hand. "Nikolai. This is Alaris, Caio, Astrid, and Shiva. What is your name, miss?"

Nimue smiles back, and takes his hand. She has a delicate, but firm grip. It's clear she's well versed in melee combat, the sword on her belt a testamemt to that. "Nimue. Nimue Undómiel. Monster Hunter. At your service, Nikolai." She places a slight emphasis on his name, widening her smile. For the moment, it seems they can be friends.  We'll just have to wait and see.

Quietly lingering at the back of the group, hearing her name snaps Shiva back to the present. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm Shiva. Nice to meet you, you said your name is Nimue?" She does her best to play off her lack of attention to the conversation. 

Nikolai smirks a bit at Nimue's inflection and arches his eyebrows in respect as she grasps his hand. He takes a moment to look her over and nods at what he finds there. "Monster hunter, eh? Then you're in good company, but... I suspect you may already know that." He tilts his head slightly, the tips of his fanglike canine teeth peaking out ever so slightly. "Come! Let us retire to The Black Sheep for drinks with our new 'friend', as Caio already suggested. And then perhaps what we find there..." He trails off to look back inquiringly at Alaris. "Perhaps that could led to an invitation tomorrow?"

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Nikolai smirks a bit at Nimue's inflection and arches his eyebrows in respect as she grasps his hand. He takes a moment to look her over and nods at what he finds there. "Monster hunter, eh? Then you're in good company, but... I suspect you may already know that." He tilts his head slightly, the tips of his fanglike canine teeth peaking out ever so slightly. "Come! Let us retire to The Black Sheep for drinks with our new 'friend', as Caio already suggested. And then perhaps what we find there..." He trails off to look back inquiringly at Alaris. "Perhaps that could led to an invitation tomorrow?"

"Indeed," Alaris replies with a smile. "If we can make it easier for someone to fulfill such a quest, why not? Ling will probably fuss at us for not charging a facilitation fee, though!" The paladin walks towards Nikolai and extends a hand. When Nikolai grabs their arm, Alaris pulls him in for a fierce hug. "Should've handled that better, my friend. I'm sorry," they murmur. "I will hear your story and safeguard it."

After they let Nik go, as the group begins to meander towards the Black Sheep, the paladin throws companionable arms around Shiva and Caio's shoulders - one of each side - and pulls them in. "I owe you apologies, dear friends. I did not handle things well with the orcs... I made things worse instead of better for us, and I'm sorry. You too, Astrid - you haven't really seen the best of us... the best of ME."

Shiva startles as Alaris brings a friendly arm around her shoulder, and though they are apologetic and amiable, she avoids making eye contact. "You aren't the only one Ari....we should've....I should've torn those orcs to pieces." Her jaw tenses as she speaks, the words laced with anger and shame.

     Astrid waves off Alaris's apology and provides a faint smile. "No need. I don't think any of us were prepared for what we discovered..." She nods to acknowledge Shiva's remarks but decides to leave it unsaid that she agrees that they went easy on the orcs. 

Nikolai squares off awkwardly as Alaris approaches, frowning. The concern dissipates as the hand extends and Nik reaches out to grasp their arm, but he goes rigid as he is abruptly pulled into a bear hug by the larger paladin. The whispered words alleviate any concerns and he returns the embrace. "We all should have." He whispers back. Following the hug he looks Alaris in the eyes and nods.

He hangs back a few paces from Alaris as they address their other companions, gesturing for Nimue to do the same. "As you can see, we are a...temperamental lot who feel their emotions strongly. I hope this is not too off-putting."

Nimue gives a soft, wry laugh. "This? Emotion is part of living. And pain. At least you're all alive to feel it." She throws a quizzical look at Nikolai. "Trouble with orcs recently?"