Quivering Corruption (DM Lerus)

"Remember that you and your group started this whole search for the mysterious mask. It's is a good thing if we can intercept the fanatics." Aleyd says, sensing some reluctant agreement on the cleric's words. "Rest for the night. Prepare during the day, and join the meeting by tomorrow evening."

She then changes the focus of the conversation: "Now that dinner plans are settled, shall we discuss the other tasks that require our attention? Litta, Moneus, do you have any other leads on the person behind the murders?"

Moneus: "I can ask around my contacts. Check if anyone has heard anything about someone wealthy requesting shady services." 

Aleyd: "Still too broad of a net to cast... If that is our best option, this search may take quite some time. Perhaps I can ask my contacts within nobility as well, though that will be a delicate conversation..."

Litta: "I can ask around as well. I am tired of staying hidden."

Aleyd sighs, showing dissatisfaction with the lack of detail in the plan.

You all realize that Moneus and Litta are speaking in general terms since the group has not given Aleyds many details. They are avoiding speaking about specifics and spilling the beans themselves.

"There is the Tormite connection to explore as well and the fact that we all served together. I wonder if finding the motive behind this might not serve to focus our search for a culprit."

Either not noting or caring about the sigh, Doozey instead looked to Litta first and said, "Not alone, I would hope, or at least not without some kind of disguise." He then gives a once over, and looks away with a grimace. "Not that is exactly easy for one of your, uhm, stature, to mask yourself I imagine." He said as kicked at the ground lightly a few times. The stoutling then suddenly perks up and asks, "On a more, uhm, different note as well, how is Villy-er-Villonah? What is the official verdict and so forth there?"

"I have some friends who are able to gather information for us, as well. One comes to mind who specializes in these sorts of matters. As long as she's not busy, she could give us some insight." Neya says.

"Before we called you over, we were making plans to contact her through a middleman. But, have yet to settle on a concrete time.”

Hearing Utar talk about possible motives, she adds to the conversation, "Perhaps, but for a motive to be viable, we should deal more in specifics. For example, it could be that whoever is calling for these murders are possibly looking for a particular person. However, the question that follows that supposition is why would they go after everyone else in your unit? This also asks two more: Why specifically everyone else in your unit? Why weren't they targeting anyone anybody here knows who was not part of your unit?"

"Questions such as these could give us some insight into, at the very least, what they might do."

Forgetting for a moment that she is no longer in a position to issue direct orders to the other Tormites in the room, Aleyd turns to Litta and Moneus and speaks again: "Utar and Doozey raise good points. Litta, Moneus, you two should do your asking and searching as a duo, and should focus on the Tormite/Military connection we all share. It is safer that way. And if anyone in this room, or perhaps someone else you trust, knows how to work a disguise kit, the two of you should make good use of that too. Keep us informed of what you find, and let us plan to meet right here in a few days. Agreed?" Moneus and Litta both nod, but also look at Utar and the rest of CRAP for their approval.

Neya jumps in with her own claims of having useful contacts, and Aleyd welcomes the proposition; "Very good. If you think you can reach out in the morrow, you should do that. Otherwise, it might have to wait until after the dinner. Your follow up questions are good ones as well, but I'm not sure we can answer them without asking the culprit themselves. Or... do you have any ideas?" 

As for Doozey's question, Aleyd lets out a small grin and says: "Funny you should ask. She has been invited to dinner as well, so I'm granting her a temporary release under my supervision. As previously agreed, Her full pardon will be considered should you help me investigate the wave of crime in the city and these murders."

Utar looks first to Doozey, then Moneus. Hoping one of the two might pick up with a bit more detail than the cleric could muster.

"Actually, we might have partly aided in stopping some of this crime wave. Some burglaries anyway."

Tater kind of... nods.. in place of Doozey? At least that was sort of what it looked like to Moneus and Litta, as the stoutling had either been lost in thought at the time or purely focused with rapt attention upon hearing Aleyd's reply. To which, he bowed his head into a light facepalm. "Right that... " He muttered just prior to Utar's statement. And after which, he whispers again something that sounded more like leaves lightly rustling, and then looked up to the woman with a drawn expression.

"Hardly partly. You had a bit of a werebeast problem in the city. T'is how they were slipping under so many folks noses. Managed to get a hold of a pair of them even, and learned the whole fire starting business had been their way of covering tracks since they lost their informant... a member of your guard." He states simply. "A 'former' one at that. Unfortunately, they got away-..." Doozey added while giving Neya a sidelong look.

"With time pressing, what with your friend Moneus being reasonably flighty, I tried hunting them down, only to have tables somewhat turned upon reaching the square. I would at this point complain about some of your citizenry being more daft than my Brother Biscuit about the difference between a chew toy and sister's head, considering they even boldly attacked me on the streets. But, I'm sure you have your own complaints regarding are not managing to reach out sooner... even though one of us apparently has the means to others through the gods." He gives Utar an unamused look.

"Be all THAT as it may. Long story short, I wound up captured, my brother left for dead, and my blood taken because the fools were trying to skirt the rules of lycanthropy. Did I already mention the town was lazy with the brood? Because they had a whole extend family thing going on. Some were even masquerading as performers, presumably to case places, assuming you were wondering why your favorite jaguar tamer is no longer around."

Doozey pauses for a moment to catch his breath, and holds up a finger for patience. "... Right.. anyways, I more or less escaped thanks in part to the distraction the rest of these fine men and women here -- minus Litta and yourself of course -- when they found their own way to me. Whereby we proceeded to slaughter every, single, one of them. There may yet be a mutt on the loose, but if they haven't run out of town, rest assured, they will die as painfully as the rest." He added with a cold cheeriness towards the end. Doozey looked wistfully off to the side after and adds, "They even had the audacity to set their own base on fire just to try and stop us. Unfortunately, they only succeeded in the former part."

"And of course, you don't have to believe any of this. But I would hope any eye witness accounts regarding the one I slain dying and reverting in the town square, or the subsequent days of peace will speak for itself."

Graxx gets excited at Doozey’s telling of the battle.

”What a battle it was!!!  Doozey here speaks the truth.  We paid them back good for the deeds they had done.”

Graxx thumps his chest with his fist.

”A Sky Pony doesn’t lie and by Tempus you’ll find the corpses of those defeated in battle!”

Neya sighs and replies to Aleyd, "Very well, I won't dance around the subject anymore, I know precisely who is tonight's assassin. She and I are both part of the same clan, the People of the Silent Wood, and are old friends. But, we have evidently trained for different specialties. Sometime in the next 24 hours, she will report a successful contract via dead drop - she is unaware of Litta's survival. At which point, her relationship with whomever called for this attack ends. She is the one we are hoping to contact in hopes of finding out who made the contract or, at the very least, point us in the right direction."

Neya ignores Doozeys glare.

Utar modestly begins retelling the group's most recent conquest and Doozey fills in the details. Graxx swears by the story's veracity. Aleyd assures her fellow human that she does not doubt the tale, though she seems to purposefully ignore the accusation that one of her own ranks was involved in it: "Your story indeed matches with the reports of the arson at the Leadstopper home and the bloody assault at the square. I should have know you were involved, but that is a good thing. It looks like most of you survived the ordeal" She looks around confirming that Biscuit is not among the group.

She continues: "I must admit that this search and confrontation you describe were a lot more involved than what I had expected for an otherwise simple rise in burglary cases. If apprehended, under our current state of martial law, these lycanthropes would have been sent to the gallows, so you also saved us that extra display of gore. I must thank you for seeing it through and ask that you do not spread this tale any further. It is better if the populace thinks the problem just went away without knowing they missed out on several public executions. Unfortunately, these things pass for entertainment these days."

She thinks for a bit more: "For going above and beyond, I shall reward you with the expedited release and pardon of your companion, Villonah Leadstopper. Her imprisonment to date and loss of family property are punishment enough. You have my word that she'll be free to go after she attends tomorrow's dinner and does her part in the hunting party to be discussed therein."

Finally, Aleyd turns to Litta and Moneus and says: "I expect you both to carry your information gathering mission starting in the morrow. Our lives may depend on it." They both nod and move as if they were ready to find their cots deeper within the House of the Hand. Aleyd lingers a bit more, in case you have more to share.

At this moment, Neya drops the bombshell connection. The captain grips her sword as some sort of wrath takes over the otherwise commonly well-poised woman. For a moment, it looks like she will strike Neya, though that moment passes as quickly as it came. "And you've been holding that information until now?! That is the most promising lead of all." She exhales to calm herself down further: "I demand to be part of the meeting with this assassin, and that such a meeting occurs within Black Fist premises."

Utar's eyes go wide as Neya addresses Burral, although he reminds himself it is her secret to share. Still... Affecting a placating tone, Utar approaches Burral, hands open.

"You'd be there when we meet Neya's contact, that's not in doubt. But on Black First ground? Might be harder to swing, I'm not sure many assassin's would submit to that..."

Pointing to the floor, his outstretched finger tracing a circle, he goes on.

"If you want to ask us any questions, draw your circle, I'll submit to it, just like last time."

There is very little hesitation on Doozey's part, as he too at least had a hand snap close to the hilt of shortsword in response to the captain. Once it was however, the hardened expression he adopted quickly cracks and crumbles in place, revealing relunctance as the reality of the action came closer into focus. Even so, until the tense moment pass he held a ready pose along with Tater; ready to spring forth at a moment's notice to strike. Doozey softly sighed in relief at that point, and at least had the decency to look almost apologetic for the reaction after.

But following the close call, he found a wall to lean against and crossed his arms. "I imagine much the same. It's not exactly a scenario in which demands will get anyone anywhere. But if its your prerogative..." He shrugged, and settled in more to be more listerner than participant.

While not entirely surprised at the captain's immediate reaction, but still taken aback, Neya responds. "Utar is right, your guarantee of being part of the meeting is the easy part. But second demand will be immensely more difficult."

"Merely questioning her would not be the point of the meeting, anyway. By all indications, this was her only involvement in this case so asking her about what we already know will yield just that and the gap of knowledge between her and is likely very small, as well. Furthermore, using your circle seems to only compel truthful responses, but only if those within choose to speak. She will not respond to questions that broach the subject of secrets of our clan. Even me speaking of her is comes very close to doing just that."

"The plan was to hire her to be a participant in the investigation. By our own rules, she must do it to the best of her ability. This would be out of my own purse, of course."

DM's Screen:

A calmer Aleyd Burral listens to the three pleas. She takes some moment to think in silence while others in the chamber stare at her (except Doozey.) She then concludes: "There is no need for such a circle now, but rest assured I will summon one when we meet this assassin." She raises her nose a bit more before adding: "I concede. Indeed the best strategy would be to have the assassin as an ally rather than a reluctant informant. Be it through some sense of fraternity to Neya, or duty to the coin, or respect for the code of the Silent Wood people, we should hope she'll be loyal to us. Pick a place and time and I will join you. Be sure to pick a time that does not conflict with our other duties, would you?"

With that, the captain begins to signal with non-verbal language that she has had enough of this conversation for the evening. She approaches Litta and Moneus one more time to ensures that they still plan to ask about other potential leads into wealthy people in Phlan with vengeful connections to their old military troop, or someone who has contracted an assassin. With some luck, ears on the streets have picked up a word or two on either subject. The tiefling and dragonborn duo agrees to leave in the morning to do just that. Then, they both leave the main hall and call it a night.

Aleyd waits until the two Tormites have left and looks at CRAP one more time: "This was an exhausting conversation. Is there anything else you need to tell me? If not, I leave you with one more important detail. This dinner is happening under secrecy. It is to be held at a place no one will be visiting tomorrow evening. Are you familiar with Madame Freona's Tea Kettle?"

Utar furrows his brow, "We know the Tea Kettle, but it burnt down...I thought Madame Freona left town with her daughters?"

A flash of hope crosses his features as he remembers an empty pouch that once contained tea leaves and now only holds dust.

"Has it reopened or does it have new premises?"

Graxx claps his hands...

"The Tea Kettle!  Why that's our old stomping grounds where many of us met in the first place.."

Graxx smiles..

"Madame Freona, Briez, Reece, and the rest of them.  It will be great to see them again."

Graxx looks to Utar.

"Right, yes I thought they left after the incident at Evenfeast.... Good folk, good folk."

Graxx looks to Aleyd.

"We can't cause them any trouble.  They have been through enough."

Doozey merely cocked his head to the side in brief thought before shaking it. It was more than possible he at least heard by now what happened to it, or perhaps even been there at some point since coming to Phlan. But frankly, he couldn't be bothered putting any real thought to it; especially after seeing at least two of the party were familiar with it.

"Of course." Neya answer's Aleyd's request wit a nod.

After hearing of the location of this secret dinner, "Ah, I see... It has been closed since the incident at Evenfest, yes? That does sound like the ideal place for more sensitive matters."

"Burned down?" Aleyd asks Utar somewhat surprised. "Your memory is failing you, old friend. It has simply been boarded out. Graxx and Neya have the right of it." She begins to walk toward the exit. "As for the owner of the establishment, I know very little of her whereabouts, but someone will surely be working the kitchen. See you then."

With that, the captain is off and CRAP is left alone in the main hall of the House of the Hand.

(OOC: It is now late in the evening. Anything you want to do before calling it a night?)

(OOC: I'm basing this post on our OOC chat plus some assumptions. Let me know if you disagree with anything.)

DM's Screen:

The party watches Captain Burral leave the temple and wait a few moments to make sure they are alone. They decide it is a good idea for them to call it a night as well, though Doozey expresses his preference for sleeping in a room of his own this time. Neya agrees, at least for this one night, and leaves the House of the Hand with the stoutling.

Utar insists on staying at the temple, and a protective Graxx decides to keep him company. The cots are not as comfortable as inn beds, and the coughing of some of the other people making use of the common room is somewhat annoying, but Graxx knows he is in good company with Utar, Litta, and Moneus all nearby.

At the Laughing Goblin, Imizael, the elf-named human barkeep/innkeep recognizes Doozey's and Neya's faces and gladly accepts their coin. Neya pays for one night (1gp) while Doozey rents a room for the next three tendays (30gp). She gives them the keys, knowing the adventurers will be able to find their own rooms, and wishes them a goodnight. Fat Mar, the loud but charismatic waiter, must be back in the kitchen as he doesn't seem to be around the tavern floor. Doozey takes his precautions, but the spell never warns him of any overnight dangers.

In the morning, the ranger and the monk eat a hearty breakfast of biscuits, soft cheese, and eggs-three-ways (another 1gp each) and head over to the House of the Hand. They meet Utar and Graxx outside, who broke their fast with a much more meager combination of bread and lard (no charge.)

(OOC: The day is yours. What would you like to shop/do? By the way, Biscuit is still recovering in the temple.)