Quivering Corruption (DM Lerus)

Utar walks at the rear of the group, casting looks over his shoulder at the rooftops and shadows behind them, making sure no-one is following along behind them.

As he trudges through the streets back to the temple his thoughts arrange themselves into two competing groups. One formed of the questions he has for Neya, the other trying to figure out how he's going to convince Aleyd to meet them.

Perception 18

Though more than happy to see Taters, banged up though he clearly was, Doozey would still level a speculative look Neya's direction after receiving the poor creature. As much as he trusted the others, telling a hunter to break off pursuit for mysterious causes... it just didn't sit right. But whether or not he gleamed something in the moment, the stoutling kept his mouth shut for now and would follow along just ahead of Utar but behind anyone else. Short legs aside, treating Taters on the fly was not gonna be an easy enough task to reliable lead anyone.

Insight: 18.

Healer's Healing on Tatertot: 10.
(@Lerus: I assume I use the beasts stat block for this. Unless otherwise able to go by ranger level or total character level in regards to at least Taters?)

Neya feels the air of suspicion and confusion from the rest of CRAP.

(@Grx: We'll call it an insight check instead, which is the same modifier for you.)

@Graxx: As far as you can tell, Neya looks like she is indeed in charge of her own faculties. She is a serious woman most of the time, and it is no different right now.

@Doozey: To you, your monk companion seems a bit worried. Your best guess is that it is just the burden of carrying a sour tale whose telling has not come to pass just yet.

After being reunited, the group begins to make their way to the House of the Hand, hoping that Moneus and Litta are already there. On the way, Utar makes sure to drag his feet a bit, as to be the last one in the marching order. From the rearguard, the half-orc keeps an eye out for anyone following the group. No one seems suspicious, no one is watching from the roofs.

Doozey busies himself by patching up Taters while he walks. The halfling's skill shines and the furry animal begins to heal. (Taters heals for 10 HP, as per OCC conversation.)

Silence shrouds mostly of the rest of the walk, and eventually CRAP makes it back to the temple. It is late now and most priests and acolytes are asleep, but right there, in the main hall, Brother Manas leads a praying session. Moneus and Litta are both on their knees, with their heads bowed, in communion.

Feeling drawn to the prayer being led by Brother Manas, Utar passes by the other members of CRAP and settles on his knees next to Moneus and Litta. Taking his amulet from around his neck he holds it flat in his hands, fingers tracing over the symbols etched into its surface. Closing his eyes, he lets the words of his brother wash over him and provide a focus for his own jumbled thoughts.

Graxx stands with his arms crossed anxiously waiting to hear what has transpired.

Neya goes to a secluded corner for a few purposes: to think of how to explain, to mentally prepare herself for any reactions that may arise (as much as one cane be prepared), and to consider the ramifications of what she will reveal, both immediate and in the future.

All the assurances in the world wouldn't be enough for Doozey in the end. Not enough to lower his guard after a failed 'hunt'. So, both he and Taters -- following a bit of bribery in the form of treats -- would excuse himself from the others, and watch the outer perimeter of the temple, as much as an outsider is free to do so. In a whisper word to Graxx, the tribesman is entrusted with coming to get him once the proceedings are done, and conversations are to be had.

Utar sees his fellow Tormites engaged in deep prayer and joins in after taking a knee. Neya finds a corner to think, Graxx crosses his arms and waits, and Doozey steps outside and goes for some fresh air.

Several minutes pass before Brother Manas finally brings the prayer to an end: "...May the Hand guide to you The True meaning of Duty. May You lead those who are lost to Righteousness. May We battle injustice with The Loyal Fury by our side. May the wise Gauntlet forever keep our Loyalty."

Once all is done, Brother Manas shares a few quiet words with Litta, and a nod with the other Tormites. The leading priest of the temple then excuses himself, leaving CRAP and the Tormites alone in the main hall at this late hour. Graxx takes this as the signal to recall Doozey inside. 

Moneus is the first to speak: "Utar, that potion was essential in giving Litta the necessary strength to reach the temple. Thank you." Litta herself rises arduously, clearly signaling her weakness after going through a magical resuscitation. She speaks softly and with difficulty: "Utar... It is so nice to finally see you after all these years. I could only hope it would have been under different circumstances."

The two take seats at one of many benches set up by the cold stony walls, clearly expecting some sort of retelling of recent developments.

As Brother Manas finishes the prayer, Utar slowly opens his eyes blinking into the light and lets go a long rattling breath as if a great weight were lifted from him.

Turning to look at Moneus and Litta, Utar embraces them both before releasing them and following them to the pews.

"It is good to see you both together again. Very good."

Taking a seat himself, he turns and faces Neya. Waiting.

Neya sees the three friends seat at the table and take Utar's action as her cue to begin, "After we went our separate ways, we gave chase after the assassin. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances, I was the only one who remained on the roofs."

"I was able to intercept the assassin and discovered something as soon as we met face-to-face. She and I hail from the same clan, the People of the Silent Wood. More than that, we have gone through training together and she's of my oldest friends."

Neya turns to Moneus and Litta, "Before I continue, I want to ask if you have, at the very least, heard of us?"

As Utar joins his fellow Tormites at the pew, Neya begins her tale.

Moneus' initial reaction is somewhat hard to read. The tiefling has good control of his emotions and knows how to use them to his advantage. He remains silent except when directly asked a question. "No" is all that he says.

Litta seems more understanding, if not wiser. The old dragonborn looks at Neya with pity in her eyes and says: "If you are friends with Utar, I have no reason to doubt you. Tell me straight, child. Who are the People of the Silent Wood and what do they have against my now-disbanded small military unit?"

Neya cocks her head a bit, "Oddly enough, that makes it easier to provide context."

"The People of the Silent Wood live under the protection of a strange specimen of a tree in a forest far from Phlan. Well, protection may be the wrong term as it has a natural glamour to it that make it exceedingly difficult to find without knowledge of how to overcome it. Since that is the case, very few from outside are able to deliver supplies so we needed to adapt to a different way of providing for ourselves. Over time, we've come to offer a number of services to many persons of influence. Including, but not limited to: investigation, espionage, counter-intelligence and, well, assassinations."

"Returning to tonight. Upon questioning, she did not deny what her role was tonight, nor was she surprised that there were a number of prior assassinations. Evidently, there has been a surge of demand for our various specialties in the Moonsea area. She didn't show it, but she seemed surprised to learn that a number of them were part of your unit. I think that even raised some suspicions in her, as well. In fact, she did not protest when I suggested that those of us here investigate whomever is commissioning these attacks after she reported her contract was complete."

"Regarding that, I only told her we had arrived at the safehouse seconds too late. But, omitted what happened in the room afterwards." She says as an aside.

"We then parted ways and I called off the pursuit."

"Those are my recounting of the events after the attack. If there are any questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability."

Doozey continued to remain quiet in his corner of the room, but would ponder the clan's name. As unlikely as it was he knew anything at all, the fact that Neya belonged to something that could produce assassin's....

He frowned, and mentally chided himself for the assumption. But all the same he muse over the name while keeping a close eye out for any subterfuge out of the main three;Neya, Moneus, and Litta. At least he had meant to, but couldn't keep his eyes on Litta for long without looking away seeming pensive.

History: 6.

Graxx keeping his arms crossed he silently squeezes his forearms as Neya delivers the news.  He watches Moneus, Utar, and Litta to see how they respond.

Moneus and Litta listen to the story. Their reactions are once again quite distinct.

Moneus: "A society of assassins and spies. That is not quite a respectful and just way to make a leaving, but I guess neither is mine. Say, Neya, do you have a way to contact this compatriot of yours? If so, how long you gather would it be before she reports her mission and we are given the permission to act?" His fangs show up a bit as he adds a third question: "And what do you think happens when she finds out Litta lives?"

Litta: "Calm down, Moneus. They are only a tool used by whomever our true enemy is." She looks at Neya: "No offense meant, of course." She smiles softly, her old scales looking brittle: "Say... Neya, was it? How does one go about hiring your colleagues? Could we perhaps hire this specific childhood friend of yours? If your village specializes in information gathering, I ponder if she'd have some information to share about a completed mission..."

Both Moneus and Litta look at Utar, expecting the Tormite to share his own thoughts. Graxx seems similarly interested in his friend's response.

Apart from brief passing mentions by Neya, this is the first time Doozey has ever heard of the People of the Silent Wood.

Utar looks over to Neya, taking the monk in again as if seeing her with fresh eyes. Having seen her in combat, her command of shadow and the deadly precision with which her blows land, he can well appreciate how those skills might transfer to more unsavoury tasks. Privately he wonders whether Neya had been given such tasks in the past and would their friendship be a hindrance or a boon should a contact be issued for him?

Taking a moment to mull his thoughts, when he speaks his voice is small, almost a mumble and perhaps meant for only himself.

"Are any of our hands truly clean?" 

Clearing his throat, he continues, louder now speaking as his thoughts come to him and evolve in his mind, facing Neya first.

"Thank you for trusting us with this, I imagine secrecy is paramount to your people given their trade... Presumably it was the People of the Silent Wood that reached out and snuffed out the others? Grewalt, Burga, Ilim and Abet? I want to know how they killed, why they were killed and who had them killed. I wasn't there for their deaths, but I will see to it that there are no more. Presumably the services of your people do not come cheap, Neya? Eight assassinations. We must be dealing with someone of means."

Turning to Moneus and Litta, he poses a query, "Who hates us all that much? Who hates us that much and has the means reach out on this manner? It has to be connected to the unit, otherwise it is only our faith that unite us and there have been no attacks on the brothers and sisters at the temple to speak of... Perhaps we best contact Aleyd? Warn her, pick her brains?"

Turning back to Neya he adds, "Once we tell her. You and your people should avoid the Black Fist. I imagine Aleyd's first act will be to find someone to interrogate and lock up and we know her lackeys have no qualms with torture. If your people are to help us, we likely have to extend something the other way too, this seems like a start."

Finally looking to Doozey and Graxx, he brings his speech to a close, "Both of you are welcome to aid us in this, you already have in some respects, but both of you could avoid further conflict and avoid bringing the gaze of whoever is behind this upon you. I wouldn't think any less of either of you, stout warriors both and fine friends."

Graxx smiles a bit.

"I haven't come this far to abandon my friends now in their time of need."

Graxx smiles drop a bit.

"While we may have no need to worry about an immediate attack on you Utar since Neya's people have been called off as you said others will be coming."

Graxx raps his pike on the ground twice.

"And I will be waiting..."

Neya responds to each of the Tormites in turn.

To Moneus: "There are a number of people in Phlan and the surrounding area that are capable of passing a message to the Silent Wood. Some may surprise you. As for how long until the contract is complete, we use a system of dead drops when a job is complete. One is made within 24 hours, and it is understood that as soon as it is made, the contract is complete and the loyalty to the one who made it ends. After the drop is made, as an assassin, she is required to be inactive for a few days. Not only to be out of the public eye, but also to come to terms with her actions. As for Litta's safety, typically, there aren't clerics showing up at just the right moment and happen to be prepared to undo an assassin's work. If she does learn of her survival after the contract is fulfilled and there is no new contract of the same order - as unlikely as that is, her hands are tied and she cannot attack."

To Litta: "No offense taken, it's not rare that I think roughly the same thing. When it comes to hiring one of us for a job, it's a much more complicated. We have a select number of individuals we trust to make contracts with. Unfortunately, that list may include whoever is calling for these attacks. However, Utar, Graxx, Doozey and I do have enough a rapport with one of them to, at the very least, have them consider making a case for commissioning her on your behalf. Keep in mind, even if we succeed at that point, - as I said my friend had told me before - we have had a quite a surg-"

"Wait... That almost seems too much like a coincidence..."

To Utar: "A sudden change in behavior in some Black Fist in such a way may force a temporary suspension in Silent Wood activity regardless. However, I'll see what I can do in terms of aid."

Doozey is almost the exact opposite of Graxx, as he frowns a bit and crosses his arms. "We still have other business to eventually be getting back to regarding the owners of a certain ship. And I don't imagine they appreciated that stunt by much, considering their leader jumped ship. So, I'm not exactly all that concerned about new eyes on us, as it changes nothing." He says dryly, then made a low wave of dismissal. "But I get ya, and the concern is appreciated."

He quiets for a time to listen as Taters quietly chews on some treat at his side. Neya's pause elicits a lofted brow from the stoutling. The stoutling soon shrugged it off though to plainly ask, "So, the plan so far is to make contact with Neya's kin and hire one to root out this culprit, at least notify your Blackfist friend about the recent break-ins having been taken care of, if not the whole other business here as far as... Litta here being safe. Supply ourselves properly in the morning, and... then what exactly are the rest of us to do again?"