She shakes her head as if the question is absurd, "No, the fort is far too small for that. If word got out about this betrayal it would be total chaos."

"Can you show us, on a map, where we can find these pirates?  We would know where their hideouts are."  He stops and ponders a moment.  "Why have the Flaming Fist set up two camps in the Jungle?"

"Of course! I would be happy to show you." She politely waits while a map is produced and then indicates an area on the far western side of the peninsula that she identifies as Jahaka Anchorage. Her brow furrows before adding, "You'll want to go by foot though. That bay is riddle with rocks just under the surface. It's dangerous to go by boat if you don't know how to navigate the waters. The Fist has a great deal of interest in the treasures that can be found in the ruins lost to the jungle. With multiple camps, we can more efficiently accomplish this task."

Nenne looks on, arms crossed, from across the room. Her skin is practically burgundy, though there's obvious pewter in her hair. "Please write a list of every man under your command who has died or been injured as a result of your fraternizing with the pirates, and indicate whether they have surviving kin. Have any of these men or their families received recompense?"

"If any of my men have died to pirate influence, it was well hidden from me. I would never endanger the lives of my own men."

"If I may," Funderburk begins, figuring out once more another question to ask the commander, "I will like to ask about the father, the head priest. Has something happened to his memory by chance? It so happens that he has gaps of thoughts and events that have happened. Any ideas?" 

Funderburk slides the stone into his pocket wondering what would happen if the pirate who held the other stone happened to call upon them. How would they respond?

"Another question if you will," he says after Liara had responded with the other one. "Where can we find this pirate... base, so to say? And what is the best way to get in while... avoiding everybody else."

@DM

"The priest here is just a scatter-brain. I can't say if he has ever had brain damage due to a spell or injury. The best way to go about assaulting Jahaka Anchorage is by land. Navigating the waters will take too long and they will have fired cannons on you before you could even get close. Laskilar is one of three captains that hold control over Jahaka Anchorage."

"Tell me," Nenne says, still chilly, "since none of your men were injured from the pirate raids you enabled - how many people died because you feigned ignorance of pirate activity? How many ships went down?"

"It's easier for me if I don't count those lives lost. If I had to guess, I would say dozens of ships and scores of lives."

“I cannot help but think that, as outlanders, you are not entitled to artifacts from our home. I would be most interested in hearing what you know about a man named Artus, and his flower-scented, scaled friend—and if you know of anything about an artifact known as Soulmonger.” Sthara then motions to Liara’s fort-mate to invite her to ask questions as well.

"I know of a man they say to be flower scented that travels with a green skinned creature, but I know him to be named Aerin and have only smelled ham around them. I don't know about this Soulmonger."

Burgundy grows darker. "Ease is not permitted to those whose hands shed blood," the eladrin intones, utterly expressionless. "The fact that you try to escape this is proof you know it to be true. It also proves that you do not deserve your rank. No leader of any worth would close her eyes to the consequences of her actions. It is her burden to shoulder, and hers alone."

Nenne takes a fortifying breath before continuing. "Think carefully on this before you answer. Do you have any remorse for the souls you've damned to the deep? And would you make restitution if you could?"

"I didn't personally send them to their graves, so I lose little sleep over it. If I could profit somehow from this restitution, I would attempt it."

Upon hearing the commander's lack of remorse, Nenne's skin turns garnet red, and streaks - not highlights - of gold shoot through her white locks. She whips her mace free and slams it into the wall with one hand. A tongue of holy fire streaks out of her other hand, shooting over Liara's head. It misses her by two handspans, barely. 

Nenne turns her back on the woman, mace still in hand, and holds her holy symbol for a silent, fuming moment before speaking. "There is yet time to change your path," she says, low and a little raw. "I pray you do so before Kelemvor 's final judgement." With that, she leaves the room.

Gruta follows directly after saying that she cannot take any more of this. Her pale face is flushed and even tear streaked, but she carries with her documentation of Liara's own words.

Sadness, not anger, fills Funderburk's body. He looks at the woman's eyes hoping for it to be false... but knowing it was not. Not while she was under the spell. He gave a slight sigh in the end, knowing it would be fruitless to try and change her. Especially with what Gruta now leaving to more than likely form a jury to judge Liara's actions. "I believe..." Funderburk began, before Nenne left, "that we should not forget about the soldiers deaths, and leave them in vain. Our best course of action now is to track this pirate Laskilar, and to then from there track this temple." He looked at Sthara, "You are more... connected to the god's, or at least your own, please ask him for guidance along our quest. and for those souls to be judged fairly." he looked at the commander, new found discus on his blue hairless face, "Even you."

As soon as Nenne left the room with Gruta, Funderburk joined them also. Deciding that the best option for him to cool down was to spend some time with Dunk; even in this light rain. With a lot on his mind, it was the first time he would try not to crease out any folds on his robes, instead to think about their journey tomorrow. After today, a good rest, his friends and himself are more than likely headed towards the pirate base. he left his friends to whatever they decided to do with the lady. he knew that Allister and Boosey are fuming, so leaving them to their... business was probably the best for himself. He cared not about her. He only cared on what was to come.

And of course, his book. How was he supposed to put this in? Maybe talking to Dunk will help. Even talking out loud can help sometimes.

As Liara gives her answers the fixed smile on Boosey's face becomes darker and darker until it replaced with a look of utter venom.  He remains calm though, for the moment.  "At least you are finally being honest", he tells her.  "You are vile, and your fate....well, let us see what happens.  I still have several questions before I leave you to the tender mercies of Allister."  He takes a deep breath and sighs.  

"Is there anyone else that has betrayed the Flaming Fist that we should know about, here or anywhere else?  What is the name of the merchant here who sold you the sending stone, and is he still in the Fort?"  Again the final question seems completely unrelated to the others.  "What do you know of a statue of a man with a crocodile on his back?"

He waits for her answers to these questions before asking his last.

"Why are you so keen for us to leave the Fort today?  Have you an arranged meeting with anyone?"  With his final question his voice becomes low and menacing.  "What do you think you punishment should be for your crimes, you traitorous piece of scum?  The blood on your hands runs nearly all the way to your shoulders, you've dipped them so deeply into the barrel for a few gold pieces. Tell me why we shouldn't have you hanged right now for a pirate?"

When Allister takes his turns questioning Liara he remains standing. "Hello, my good friend." Disgust is dripping from his words like poison. "This sending stone... has the recipient of the message any means to tell who sends the message? Can you recognize the voice? Any secret phrases to insure no one is using it illegitimately? Is there a regular interval you use it or just when you are passing on a friendly reminder of who they can murder? What happens when you don´t send a message in... say, the next tendays? What can you tell me about their strenghts? How many ships? How many men? Are their positions fortified? Do they patrol the area around the bay or do they only act when yours truly sends an invitation? And why are they so far off the trade routes? That must be at least 10 days to the Bay of Chult and maybe double that time back, depending on currents and wind."

Liara yawns and shrugs, still swaying gently in tune with Sthara before answering Boosey, "There have been numerous Flaming Fist traitors all over Faerun; I can't possibly know them all. I do know of three merchants and a dockhand in Port Nyanzaru who are active participants in this ring of piracy though." She gives you their names and claims that they aren't in any real positions of power before continuing.

She scrunches up her face and says, "How am I supposed to know one merchant from the rest out there? He was Chultan and probably had a hard-to-pronounce name. I can't say whether the merchant is even still alive much less in the fort still - this was over a year ago. The statue represents some old wives tale that the Chultans believe in. It was an easy landmark for the Fist to set up camp around. The only real value there is that it's harder to get lost with such a big statue right on the river."

During the break in questions, she smiles and comments that she rather enjoys present company and that it should happen again all too soon. "If you left the Fort today, I could see about convincing Gruta to let me continue my stead as commander and sweep this whole mess under the rug. The only meeting arranged is this one, and it was quite impromptu. I have things to do, you know? I have always said 'One must respect the chain of command. You follow my orders or die.' Death is the only real punishment fitting here, wouldn't you agree? I can't think of any reason not to do it right now."