The hand on Utar's pauldron glows as does a circle on the ground around him. While the glow from his pauldron fades, the one on the ground remains, marking the edge of his zone of truth.

"Ekmong, the truth will out within this circle. Any within its confines will be compelled. Ask your questions."

(OOC On a DC15 charisma save, lies can be told within the circle. Utar is choosing to submit to the spell, so will be telling the truth.)

Graxx has already dropped his Pike and his Handaxe so he continues to drop his javelins, crossbow,  and halberd to the ground.  He turns to the guards behind him.

"Now if any of these weapons walk off by themselves I will not be too happy."

Graxx walks into the zone of truth and does not resist it's effects.

"Let's get to the bottom of this.  The truth will now come to light."

Doozey keeps an especially close eye on the Black Fist members even as he'd begun complying to Ekmong's request. When it came around to removing Apostle from his hip however, the stoutling furrowed brow for the moment. But after taking a deep breath as if girding himself, the weapon too is gently set down atop the rest alongside a murmured apology. He too steps follows everyone else into the safety circle, and refrains from resisting the magic.

After it washes over him though, Doozey asks with a strained politeness, "I don't suppose given the situation and previous mentioning of... Lieutenant Bolver, wasn't? Anyways, I don't suppose he'd have to join in on this too, no? Just to be thorough about all this."

Neya disentangles herself of her weapons, letting them drop to the ground. She then steps into Utar's spell's area and allows the magic to flow through her, suppressing any desire to speak falsehoods (not that she had any such intentions, anyway).

DM's Screen:

"Perhaps in a moment. We should focus on your group first." Ekmong responds to Doozey. The tiefling welcomes CRAP's willingness to agree to and follow the conditions he had set. In response, he undoes his meteor spell. He signals for the others to come in the circle and, with some shoving by the guards, Litta, Aleyd, and Moneus also enter the circle. None of them resist Utar's Zone of Truth.

Ekmong is the eighth, and last for now, individual to enter the spell's zone. He begins by turning to Utar: "I have seen this spell being used before and am thankful for you volunteering to use it. I can feel its effects taking hold of me and know that you were not lying about its availability and effects. This will make things much easier, and so, I thank you." He pauses for effect and then continues: "My first question is: Have all eight people within the circle at the moment fallen to its effect?"

He waits for Utar to confirm (does he?) before proceeding: "I know most of your names as I recognize you as hirelings. My lord contracted five of you to aid in his latest adventure. Your faces are not completely foreign to me and that is reassuring. Nonetheless, I do not know those two. What are your names and affiliations?"

Litta responds first: "I am Litta, a field priest of Torm." Moneus follows up: "And I am Moneus, also a Tormite."

Ekmong was perhaps expecting longer answers, but he moves on nonetheless. He turns to Doozey now: "Your fey-touched canine friend... you wasted no time sending him away. That makes it look like you have something to hide. Where have you sent him and for what purpose?"

Looking then at Graxx and Neya, he asks: "Why have the seven or eight of you broken into a noble family's estate? One that until last night was your patron and benefactor?"

Utar nods to confirm he is under the effects of the spell. "Everyone within the circle is compelled to speak truth."

Having seen the magic in play before, when Utar just nods in answer, Doozey quirked a brow at Utar just nodding in answer. But given his own limited understanding of divine magic, or at least those less tied to nature, the stoutling soon enough shrugged and focused his eyes on the blackfist guards. Without breaking that eye contact, the stoutling answers, "I sent him back to the place in which he first became 'fey-touched', as you put it, for his own safety... It is within the city. But, more than that... If you would allow it, I am not comfortable with speaking about until the good lieutenant here has a turn in the field, or at least is confirmed not to be in the pocket of the Zhentarim as I believe Senetir is." He expresses plainly, showing off that halfling fearlessness despite the Black Fist's reputation.

"But to elaborate on at least another point, as I'm sure it'll come up shortly, I had him take the rest of my things just for safekeeping... especially the Grey Hunter brew. Not sure you've heard the story or not, but I've already had dealt with one set of foolish thieves that thought to use my Orders works to strengthen themself one way, and I wasn't gonna let that possibly happen again."

Graxx nods.

"Yes, the spell has taken of me."

Graxx points in the direction of Yalek's corpse.

"That dead assassin is the reason we are here.  I came with the hopes of finding out why he killed our friend here."

Graxx turns to Utar.

"Utar show them your scar."

Graxx turns back to Ekmong.

"To be fully clear after finding out why he killed, not tried to kill, but in fact killed our friend here I planned on sticking my Pike through the assassin and killing him as well."

Graxx raises his eyebrow.

"As far as why we broke in here in the first place.  It's because we didn't know who to trust.  Still don't.  We used a spell which told us Yalek the assassin was here in the estate.  Senetir had originally told us about Yalek so we knew they had some type of connection.  We wanted to get the truth and find out who was behind sending Yalek to kill Utar.  We didn't know if you all were hiding Yalek or what the deal was."

Assuming Graxx or Neya might mention his new scars, Utar takes the initiative and loosens the clasps of his armour in order to expose his neck.

Once he's confident that Ekmong has seen them, he closes up his armour again.

"Yes, I am being affected by the spell." Neya confirms.

"It is very much as Graxx says." She begins.

"Aside from killing Utar, Yalek also stole two things from him. We don't know where one is, but the other is a distinctive mace that we magically tracked here. From what transpired up to this point, I suppose it's safe to say its theft was done to manufacture a reason to eliminate us."

Ekmong nods in appreciation of Utar and the others' confirmation that they are indeed under the effect of the spell. You can see that he is paying very close attention to the group when those words are uttered, as if trying to catch a potential lie.

The conversation moves on to Doozey's explanation concerning Biscuit. Ekmong hesitates a bit but agrees to the request to postpone elaboration on the matter: "I take your willingness to discuss it more once Lieutenant Cron joins us is truthful, given the spell and all... So be it. We'll get back to it soon enough." Cron is furious at the allegation against his morals: "Zhentarim! How dare you?!" For now though, he remains in the background. Regarding the Gray Brew and the gang of thieves, Ekmong seems confused and somewhat unable to place those topics within the current conversation. It looks like he is putting a pin on those topics for now.

Graxx then explains that the group was hunting for the half-orc assassin. Utar shows his scars. Neya mentions the stolen weapon used in a potential incriminating plot. You can all see Ekmong, clearly an intelligent person, putting the details together to form a narrative. "Undone murder..." he murmurs. "Torm must favor your party." Litta steps forward and reveals that she was also murdered and brought back to life. Ekmong's astonishment only grows. "Really favor your party."  

Aleyd spends a minute explaining that she believes that Yalek and the group he serves hold a grudge on this specific group of Tormites. She mentions that Moneus and herself were also on the hit-list. Graxx elaborates the reason behind the breaking and entering act.   

Ekmong thinks for a moment and then leads the conversation again: "So, in an attempt to out-maneuver the group than wants you dead you slowly sneaked your way into the property, giving the assassins enough time to carry out their next kill. You did this instead of approaching through the front door of an allied noble house and requesting for an audience that could have informed the noble lord in question of the danger he was in. You decided you could not trust a man who paid you thousands of platinum coins as recently as yesterday for a mission that was only partially successful. Your delay in sounding the warning bells resulted in a scenario ripe for the assassins to kill a noble. Is that what you are confessing to?"

"I am sorry that our inaction created the opportunity for others to carry out the assassination of your Lord. When we discovered Yalek was within the building we assumed that he was here planning with Senetir given their connection. Never did we think he was here for something more sinister."

Utar looks Ekmong in the eye. "Our mistrust likely created the opportunity for the assassin to strike, however, we did not deliver the blow. I recognise that I have done a disservice to you and your house, I would like to see that put right however long that might take. We can make a start on that paying that debt by questioning Senetir, Chaub and Caah within the circle to identify the guilty parties."

Graxx doesn't have much more to add than Utar but he does chime in.

"I think our mistrust was justified since Senetir just tried to kill us.  Ask the bird.  You'll see why we were cautious.  I want to know why.  What is the reasoning for this trickery?"

DM's Screen:

Ekmong listens to Utar and Graxx carefully and is rational is his response: "Very well. Negligent and self-centered, but if you able to say none of you delivered the blow, at least you are not assassins. What you did is not faultless and your debt to House Brokengulf is great. As you said, I expect you to pay it in full, no matter how many installments it takes." 

He stops to think for a dozen seconds and then requests: "Very well. Lets take advantage of this spell while we can. I still have questions for you but the priority is to get to the bottom of this." He turns to Cron: "Lieutenant, if you would." He turns to the soldiers: "Bring Senitir in." Another soldier shows up holding Lightbringer. 

Rapid fire questions (OOC: Jump in and answer whichever ones you wish/can):

• "Can you cast this spell again?"  
• "Are Cron and Senitir forced to speak only the truth?"
• "Can you use Torm's favor to revive Lord Valero?"
• "Who owns/wields the murder weapon?"
• "If hunting a group of Tormites, why assassinate the Lord? He is no Tormite. Are you suggesting they'd kill a lord to incriminate you?"
• "Do you know where the lordling was taken?"

Ekmong then adds: "You may ask Cron and Senitir whatever questions you'd like."

@Utar: You know that both Cron and Senitir are under the effect of the spell as well.

Doozey's eyes narrow a little at Ekmong's response. But, rather than point out some other obvious problems to counter Ekmong's point, poking deeper holes at that the failings of the guards at that, the stoutling just sighs and bit back the retort on his lips, least the situation become more inflamed. So instead, up until Cron left, he tried to get a read of Cron in particular, still not fully convinced clearly in the man's innocence all of it. At best, he was to be an unwitting pawn of the Zhents and Senetir in the event the party had tried to do things Ekmong's "preferred" and all too likely sluggish was, and at worse... at worse the Zhent's corruption went deeper than anticipated 

(If still able to roll in response to Cron's outburst to try and see if was done for show/panic, or genuine outrage. Ignore spoiler roll if n/a or the nat20 from before would still stand to some extent:)

 Apart from that, Doozey stayed tight lipped at least for the moment, and waited for the others to answer/make their questions first known in the circle of truth.

Utar responds to as many of Ekmong's questions as he can:

• "I cannot cast this spell again today. Litta or Aleyd both have the necessary skill but they would need to confirm if they would cast it themselves."
• "Both Cron and Senetir are under the effects of the spell. They cannot tell a direct lie although they could evade answering or tell a lie of omission."
• "We may be able to revive Lord Valero. The priests at the House of the Hand performed similar for me after I was killed. My injuries were more straightforward though, loss of organs or destruction of them may mean he cannot return. Have a healer you trust assess him. If he can be helped, I will help see to it."
• "The mace used in the attack is called Lightbringer. It is a relic of Torm and I wielded it until I was killed by Yalek. He took it along with an amulet when he left me bleeding on the floor of the Laughing Goblin."
• Taking a deep breath before proceeding with the penultimate question, Utar looks to Litta, Moneus and Aleyd. "Years ago, the four of us were soldiers. There were also eight of us. Four have been murdered in recent times. In looking into their deaths, we found a link to House Brokengulf in our past. My suspicion is that Lord Valero was killed with my weapon in order to implicate us and sour any relationship we might have before it could begin. I also suspect that in removing Lord Valero, it gives the opportunity to control House Brokengulf through the Lordling."
• "Senetir flew off with the Lordling. He was not gone long, but was likely able to cover more ground than if on foot."

Graxx growls and holds in his rage to tear Senetir apart.  However his anger does come out in his words.

"Your games are over bird!  Speak of your treachery!"

Graxx makes a fist a raises it mid level.

"Answer these questions... Was Yalek the true assassin that killed Lord Valero?  Where is the Lordling now?  What were you hoping to accomplish with the Lord's death?  What was the point of Utar's assassination?  Who all is involved in this plot?  Did you receive orders from someone or were you acting solely in your own interest?  If you received orders from someone who was it?"

 An audible smack as Neya's own hand is suddenly on her forehead, "Hindsight, you are a terrible teacher..." she says as she shakes her head.

"Utar, there may be more than your connection with House Brokengulf at play. Recall this morning, we had learned from Litta that the Zhentarim controlled this area in the past. Looking at the circumstances, it may very well be that assassination was a step to reclaim that lost power. It could be your unit was seen as a threat to this play at power, just as we potentially are. Only this time, we were also slated to be scapegoats."

@Doozey:

Utar takes the lead in answering Ekmong's many follow-up question. Litta jumps in when the topic regards the possibility of reviving Lord Valero: "It is as Utar said. The greatest obstacle to bringing the good lord back is the damage to and expulsion of vital organs. I do not know anyone in the Temple of the Hand who has the power to revert such damage, but perhaps there are ways of doing so with which I am not familiar. I am not even sure they path I am suggesting would work..."

Aleyd jumps in to confirm that she can indeed refresh the Zone of Truth when needed. Litta laments not having that specific spell prepared at the moment. Then, Litta can't help correcting Utar when he elaborates on Lightbringer: "My companion is not wrong. The mace is a relic of Torm, but it is also a relic of Lathander, Chauntea, and Tyr. It is a weapon blessed by many gods. There are no others like it to my knowledge. The fact that it was utilized in a murder plot is despicable."

Next, when Utar and Neya elaborate on the potential details of said murder plot, the one how reacts first is Senitir. Having apparently recovered enough to understand speech again, he doesn't say a word but instead reacts with a mixture of laughter and exhales. He looks at Utar and Neya with a hint of surprise and respect in his stare.

Noticing this, Graxx begins asking the aarakocra some questions. Senitir remains defiantly silent. Ekmong asks: "Where is the lordling?" The manacled Senitir remains silent.

Finally, noticing no one is putting pressure on Cron, Moneus takes a stab: "And you? Any prior knowledge of this assassination plan?" The look of disgust returns to the lieutenant's face as he answers: "No." 

Utar cocks an eyebrow at Senetir's response, unsure if the laughter is show of contempt, or whether Neya has hit the nail on the head.

Insight - 12

Swallowing his comtempt for the Aarakocra for a moment, Utar looks towards Cron. "How did you and your men arrive at House Brokengulf so quickly?"

(OOC Oof, that's a poor dice roll, with 2 to come off as well!)