Oak, aware that he stands out, tries to stand as neutrally as possible, not threatening yet not submissive.

He had noticed the guard appearing from nowhere and wonders how many others are hidden around them right now, or ready to appear or teleport in. They have been invited though, so he’s not too concerned just yet.

He was about to speak when Caelynn put it better than he would have done anyway. He watches the exchange closely...

Trill is flanking the much larger minotaur, glaring protectively at anyone giving her friend the side eye.

The guard nods his head, and then he gestures for you to follow him. He leads you into the huge doorway of the Keep and then turns left. He goes down a spiral staircase that descends for a decent 100ish feet before coming to a dark tunnel. It's cold down here, and he heads down the tunnel. You come to an iron gate and then right at it to enter a small chamber. Beyond the gets you saw outside the room you are now in, you saw prison cells. The chamber you are now in is 30 foot by 30 foot. The ceiling reaches about ten feet. The room has an iron table in the its center that has a single chair in one side and enough chairs for the party to sit in on the other. The chairs are also iron. A single torch set into the far wall sputters, and its feeble light barely illuminates and warms the room. The shadows deepen and retreat as the light wavers. The stone is a cold, harsh gray, and the air is stale and slightly moist. You can faintly hear chattering and moans of anguish coming from the cells. The guard who led you says, "Captain Blackskull will be with you in a moment." He stands at the doorway to the room.

 I'm giving you a moment to prepare anything if necessary. I'll continue in the morning.

Aimon looks around the room and it’s very Spartan decor.

”I’m thinking we’re not here for a banquet in our honor.” he says to the others. “Looks more like an interrogation room or a cell.”

He scans the room for panels/doors/holes that someone could watch them from, and out of curiosity, he tries the sort they came through to see if it’s locked.

You don't find anything like a viewing window or secret compartments.

After a few minutes, you see Captain Blackskull enters the room and moves to the west across from you. She gestures for the other guard to close the door. She sits down and removes her helmet, revealing her stern countenance. She takes a moment to gather thoughts before saying, "I would like to thank you in the behalf of Gracklestugh for what you did yesterday. That took some serious balls." She reaches into a bag she carried in and pulls out some papers. As she does, she continues, "Recently, we've been tracking a Derro named Drokki." She pushes a paper across the table showing the profile of a crazed Derro man (which will be shown in the Discord shortly). "Despite his presents in the Darklake District, the derro has a managed to avoid capture, as if he somehow knows in advance where we will be, invisible or otherwise. We know that he currently resides in the West Cleft district, a place where we only enter in force and where are presence would likely provoke a chaotic uprising. If just a small number of us went in, we would be murdered before we could take 3 steps.I would like you to find this Drokki and either capture and being him in, or kill him and being evidence of his activities."

 Her tone darkens conspiratorially as she speaks quietly, "We have reason to believe he has connections to the Council of Savants, a ring of elite and unofficial rulers of the Derro in the city. I suspect that they might be part of cultist group, but I have no official evidence of yet. I fear there is a conspiracy to overthrow the King, and it might even have some of the lords of the city under its influence. This Drokki is somehow tied to it all. I just know it." She pounds the table with a fist for emphasis.

He volume becomes normal as she continues, "I don't know if you've notice this yet, but something is wrong in the city. There is some sort of... corruption spreading everywhere. While your out and about, I would like you to find examples of this corruption so I can convince my higher ups that I need to form an investigation team to find out why. If you'll do these things for me, I can guarantee safe exit from the city and equipment. Any questions?"

Aimon pauses for a moment, contemplating what Captain Blackskull has said.

"That is quite the proposal," Aimon pauses, "We risk going into a part of the city that your size changing soldiers are scared to enter, take on an cult that wants to overthrow your king, and capture this lunatic," he says as he gestures to the picture," and in return we get to leave the city. Is that about right?"

Aimon looks around at the others.

"How could we say no to that?"

He turns back to Captain Blackskull.

"I think you could sweeten the reward a little though. We have friends and family that may be enslaved in this city. We do what you ask, you get them freed. And, you toss in some information on the whereabouts of a visiting drow noble into the mix. That seems a fairer trade."

As the party get led deeper into the keep, Oak’s mild sense of foreboding only increases. And by the time they are left by themselves, to say he’s uncomfortable (being so deep, and in this dank room near the prisons), would be an understatement for sure. He tries not to show it, but he’s definitely on his guard.

He sits with the others and listens to Captain Blackskull. As she describes what she needs help with, he relaxes a little. But he agrees with Aimon’s assessment of the situation, that the deal seems a little one-sided.

Before the Captain can answer Aimon, he interjects, “That’s right... We have a small list of slaves we want. We can provide you with names. And I would ask that you retrieve them immediately, and hold them for us, in pleasant quarters for our return”. He looks briefly at Trill then back at the captain, “I ask this because I don’t want them sold or mistreated while we’re on this mission for you. We would need confirmation that these people are safe before we could start I’m afraid“. He looks her square in they eye with his practiced, neutral (but determined) expression.

She ponders a moment, and then she sighs as she shakes her head just before saying, "I can get you one, maybe two slaves. If I reward much more than that, I'll lose my job. Also, I can't give you a slave if they have already been purchased. We hold no authority over the properties of others. As for the drow, I can probably find the information you seek. Just give me a couple of days."

"Anything you can provide is much appreciated. Trill will give you a list of their names. I understand that there are rules to what you can and cannot do, but I hope you also acknowledge that we have already done this city a great service, and will likely soon do it another."

Caelynn, like the others, is noticeably uncomfortable with the environment. This room feels less like an office and more like another cell, albeit one with furniture and no bars. She already has her suspicions about what's causing the corruption and madness the Captain described, and she doesn't like it.

Aimon listens as the others speak with the Captain.

"Perhaps if you can not free someone who has already been purchased, you could still let us know who bought them and where they live so that me may, um," he pauses, "negotiate directly with the new owner."

As Oak is getting a bit on edge, Trill takes his hand.

She nods when Aimon lays out their case, but seems conflicted after the reply. She scratches out a quick reply in her journal and shows it to Caelynn.

Should I give them ALL of the names? If we end up resorting to alternate means of springing them, having given a list of names of all the slaves freed is going to point straight back to us...

“Captain, I’ll ask you straight, since we’re speaking privately... You already know we have an interest in slaves... How put out would you be if we went about liberating a handful of slaves on our own time? Buying, negotiating, or otherwise?.... Would you help, turn a blind eye, recommend we don’t, or come after us for it?”. Again with Oak’s practiced, neutral, what-will-be-will-be look...

Caelynn reads Trill's note, considering for a moment before writing a reply and passing it back.

That’s a good point. Maybe just a couple, then.

Of course, if they know they're all from the same crew, someone would piece it together anyway.

Trill winces a bit at Oak's question, but pays careful attention to the Captain's response.

She levels her gaze coolly at Oak's as she says, "I have no issue with you "negotiating" with buyers to see if they will sell their slaves, but if you free them without permission, I will hunt you down personally. I do not tolerate crime and chaos." Her steely gaze is cold and harsh.

Oak gladly holds Trills hand. He feels her stiffen up as he asks his question and is worried he has spoken out of turn. When the captain gives her answer he gives her a slight nod that looks like the start of a bow and says simply, “Understood”. 

She leans back in her chair and says, "If that's all the questions you have, you are dismissed."

Oak looks to Till, and in a quiet voice he asks her, “What do you think?... ..We give the Captain a list of names. She frees two, and lets us know the whereabouts of the others.... ..Maybe if more than two are still not sold, she may even buy those on credit for us as well. We can pay for those ourselves remember...”. He looks at her with kind eyes.

Aimon doesn't wait for a second invitation to leave. He jumps up out of his chair and is out the door before Captain Blackskull finishes saying dismissed. He looks around to find their escort back out of the building.

By the time the others join him, he's a little calmer.

"That one is liable to lock us up just because she doesn't like how long it takes us to find this Drokki character." he says. "Seemed pretty much a threat to me. Don't find Drokki and we don't get to leave this city."

He paces a moment.

"Remind me not to get involved with rampaging possessed giants in the future," Aimon says. "Maybe the meeting with the giant will go better than this one."

Trill considers a bit, then writes down two names on a fresh page, and tears it out and hands it over.

Lillia Benefice

Tallis Smyth