Poinki looks at Kevin searchingly. "Can we trust? You brave and smart enough to maybe find others who not support archbishop, maybe start start rumors people listen to?"

He tries to decide whether Kevin is honest, and strong enough not to be easily talked into changing his mind again. (Insight 18 )

“I believe we can trust him. Would you be willing to be our contact person in the church? I understand if you say no, It would be a dangerous job.” she looks pleadingly at Kevin. 

Kevin looks to each of you in turn, carefully weighing his words: "I won't be coming with you to tussle with the Brand, but I am happy to try and speak to some of the acolytes, get their take on what's going on. If you make it back alive, find me at my place off Fishmonger Place."

Poinki, as far as you can tell, he seems extremely relieved to have managed to survive and ensure his own freedom. You're not entirely sure whether he will actually help you in the future though, and that might depend on how successful you are in gathering other allies.

“Thank you, Kevin. We need all the help we can get with this.” She waits for a little while then she stand up and open the door. “You are free to go.” 

"May Ilmater watch over you, Kevin," says Poinki. "When you are uncertain, trust yourself to him."

"So, do we wait til morning or use the quiet of the night?"

Si'Juul asks as he opens the window again, letting the breeze flow in his feathers again.

Before Kevin steps out completely, Elhanna turns to the rest of you all: "I actually reconsidered. I'm a follower of Ilmater too, and what's going on here affects me as well. I won't be too much help in convincing the Brand, but I can try and worked with Kevin to convince some inside the church to question their current leadership. I'll go with him and start to lay the groundwork for us."

"Be careful, Elhanna," Poinki says. "Must meet again. You Poinki's best friend."

Paren nods. "We will see you on the other side, when hopefully we are all in a good position to stop anything bad from happening. Stay safe."

"Don't take any unnecessary risks."

Elhanna thanks you all and is about to head out, when she finds a letter in front of your door. Opening it, you see that it dates back two days and it says:

"Dear friends

I wanted to take the opportunity to write you a few lines. My voyage to the Wayward Isles was not too ardous, but the merchant wasn't willing to get closer than ten miles, so I had to buy one of the rowboats off him and make landfall myself. The reports were right, the islands have been invaded by drow marines, though most of them didn't stay, at least not on Arram, my home island. But without any merchants coming here, the folks are completely cut off and left to their own devices , and for the small bands of drow. I'm still looking for my grandfather, but I wanted to let you knw that I am reasonably safe. I hope the fisherman I gave this too actually delivered it, rather than just fleecing me.

WIth my best wishes,

Twitch"

"Ah," says Poinki. "So many good friends gone. Hope we meet again soon. What we do now?"

"Now we confront the Black Brand. Hoping, essentially, there's infighting in the ranks. Others like me who rejected those ridiculous contracts but I guess felt too scared to speak up about it for fear of what they might do. At least, after seeing the price that was put on my head, I don't think I could blame them. Now the immediate question is, do we utilize the cover of night or rest and go in the morning?"

"I want to go back to that warehouse and talk to them. Because they were so quick to raise defenses as I heard them, that makes me think they were not expecting me, but rather preparing for another person or group. And who else could that be? Considering the Brand basically has run of the town, they don't have many people to go against them here, politically or physically. But if there's a divide in the group, one side happy with getting thos contracts like those men we fought before, and the other side are like me, then it would make sense for them to be so jumpy."

Si'Juul hangs his head a little.

"This is something I feel I have to try. I have to know if there are still some good men in the group. I sunk my life into the Black Brand, so I can't just throw it away so easily, you know?"

Si'Juul raises his head to look the group in the eye.

"I've always said you didn't have to get involved. That if you wanted out, I would understand. This isn't your fight, I get that. If I have to go to the warehouse alone, then I will. But I'm not after blood. If it turns out they are all consumed by greed and not a good man among them, then screw 'em. But that gnome's story made me think there might be some good men left. But if I am wrong, then we figure out another way to fight this demon worshipping archbishop, or whoever is behind that whole business with that guy we fought in the lighthouse. And if it turns out we can't do anything here, much as the mayor wants us to, then we just leave and figure out something else to do."

Si'Juul ends with a shrug.

Paren nods. "I mean, I'm not going to let you walk in there alone but I think there might be another option that you're not considering. Rather than division in the ranks the folks may have just been startled by someone trying to break into their warehouse. I'll admit I wasn't the most stealthy person ever. I don't think it matters who you are, if someone tries to break in you're going to prepare to defend yourself."

"It was how quick they were to defend, not that they defended at all, that got me thinking. But that's not to say you're wrong. Things will hinge on what they say or do. After that, we will either have gained some powerful allies or.... well, at least I know I will have one less thing to waste my time on."

As Si'Juul stares off into space you can clearly see how much he does not want the latter to be true.

"But we can't possibly know until we try."

Night falls. You see from your windowsill seat, that some of the mercenaries are patrolling the street, but you can't make out any members of the Black Brand among them. Do you want to head to the warehouse now, or are you staying in for the night?

"It might be best if we wait til morning, use back alleys to make our way there."

Night falls, and you try to get as much rest as you can. As the new morning dawns, you all find Si'Juul sitting by the window, seemingly having gotten up a little bit before and getting ready for a dreaded confrontation. As if to match the foreboding events, thick rain clouds are gathering on the horizon.

After Si'Juul gives everyone a few minutes after waking, Si'Juul stands up and heads for the door.

"Alright, I am going to go get my armor. Poinki, we can stop at a Smith's to get you equipped as well. After that, if nobody has anything else they need to do......"

Si'Juul lets the words trail off, looking at everyone for their reaction.