"No, but if the devil is a cultist it might have info that I want." Shautha says, brandishing her sickle. "We were hired to investigate weird stuff happening: A caravan disappearing, necromancy, weird stuff. We had an encounter with one of these cults when trying to do our job. They got away. If he's one of them..." She points at the tiefling once again. "...he might know a thing or two."

She points her sickle at Nalaskur. "The cult might be hiding here somewhere, and that fiend could be our only clue towards them. Want to kill him? Let him get away? Go ahead, but don't come back crying when there's more cultists like him doing even worse things around this land."

Nalaskur rubs his chin. He had more or less believed she wasn't lying before but had to wait to see her answer before making a final judgement. The others in the small crowd, as many still weren't inside like before seemed to mumble excitedly at the thought, though before any of them could speak, Nalaskur spoke what they were all thinking.

So you're some problem solvers eh? I knew there was something different about you, especially when you and the other two there all seemed to know eachother. Adventurers or belong to some faction or other? Either way, I'll let you folks take him. I believe you're not lying to me. But it's on the condition you either tell me truely what he said, or bring him back so I can ask him myself.

Those bloody cults have been a thorn in everyone's side, and it's effecting my business, as well as everyone elses business here. A very loud, affirmative cry is let out by the others in the room, and they all seem to be more or less nodding in the affirmative, which makes sense based on wat you've all heard since coming to Redlarch and making your way here. That travellers, but especially merchants or other travelling grouns are being harassed by the cults.

We don't know if it's just one cult or multiple but we do have a lead. So I might have two job offers if you keep your end of this exchange. What do you say?

Ulf remains tight-lipped, looking to Shautha to finish what she has started. At least the poor tiefling would not be summarily executed like it's partner. He looks at the innkeep as he speaks: the respect the townsfolk show clearly suggest he's much more than a mere innkeeper. So...he suspects more than one cult eh? In just the last day, we've seen evidence of at least three, and I'd wager there's four. Mustn't get out much. As he waits, he watches the orc with new eyes. Not stupid, not impulsive -- a schemer and thinker. Can't hold her liquor. Definitely a strange one.

His gazer emains fixed on Shautha, clearly waiting for her response, and apparently willing to go with whatever decision she makes.

(Sorry on the delay - weekends are usually tough on time for me.)

Ylnira watches Shautha speak with Nalaskur, debating on whether or not to involve herself in the conversation. Nalaskur's question on the party's allegiance to any sort of guild or another only reaffirms Ylnira's assumption about this town being guild-run - whatever guild Nalaskur belonged to must hold a tight hand over the town's dealings if such a question would be openly posed. And if Nalaskur was affiliated with one guild or another, these townsfolk were certainly in line with whatever organization the tavern upheld. Ylnira wonders if Shautha's relatively calm demeanor compared to her previous interactions was due to the intimidating presence and sights within the bar or out of Shautha's own ability to read the situation at hand. In the case of the latter, Ylnira would need to respect the Half-Orc more. 

She throws an apologetic look at Ulf, guessing the hunter would prefer to stay out of direct confrontations. She composes her breathing, rises, and calmly walks to stand near Shautha. She gives a firm, respectful nod towards Nalaskur. "My friend speaks the truth. We were hired to investigate rumors of necromancy and disappearing caravans nearby. The cults are a likely culprit, and I would enjoy using any opportunity to end the threat the cults pose swiftly. I am sure we will not disagree there," Ylnira speaks, calm and collected. Her eyes sweep across the members of the tavern who cheered for Nalaskur. "As a healer and member of the All-Faiths shrine, I assure you we will uphold our end of the bargain. There is a possibility the missions you have for offer may be in direct alignment with our own." 

Shautha nods, relieved of not having to be the speaker anymore. She wasn't very good with words. 

"What she said." She drops down the hand holding the sickle, relaxing her posture. "We want these cults gone. So... What are these job offers of yours? We are listening."

Nalaskur smiles a broad confident smile as the three of you well.. two of you put in your pieces, and he seems satisfied -even if not wholly- at the answers, especially once affiliation has been noted in regards to the allfaiths. His eyes scan over Yin, Shautha, and even Ulf, as if somehow connecting the three of you as a group even if such a connection wouldn't normally be logical. He sizes you up, leaving a tension in the air from all around though none of it seemed threatening nor ominous. Nalaskur flares his nostrils wide, sucking in air, before exhaling heavily, leaning further down on the bar in such a way that his forearms were now flush with the wood, and he was all but bent over entirely. 

If you can manage this one, you'll save me a mighty bit of effort. I was plannin' to head to Watersdeep to have some friends look into this but you're already here, and already planning to do it it seems. May as well let you take a crack at it before I risk wasting my time, and my resources. We already have a general location where we think this business is going down, that's effecting myself and these poor travelers and merchants. If you succeed, I'll pay a three hunnert gold bounty. And as you've seen already, I pay my dues.

Accept this and I'll let you sleep with the devil scum if you wanna.

With that it's clear that once one of you agree's he'll allow you to remove the teifling from his current captors, to do wit as you needed, otherwise, it seemed like the teifling was going to be dragged into the kitchen.

Ulf nods thoughtfully at the man's words, "As the lady says, we are open to offers...but what -- exactly -- is the job offer? Our interest at the moment is discovering what is behind the attacks. Dealing with them by whatever means is a likely a separate -- and bigger -- task."

Nalaskur looks baffled  for a moment. His eyes honing in on the ranger and his smile from before all but disappears, the general expression on his face changing from someone who see's a highly beneficial deal to be made, to one of utter disappointment.

And here i thought you lot were intelligent... Do I need to hold your hand, and spell it out for you slowly? his head tilts a bit in comical fashion. Give ya a warm bottle of milk and a pat on the back if you get it right? Your friend Just stated that you're after the cults, you just watched us ... especially myself mention to this crowd gathered here murmurs of mocking laughter from the merchants that a cult, or some cults are ******* with our merchants, our business, and our way of life. Makin' it impossible to do anything without worrying that they'll lose their cargo... the other end won't get their cargo, and that we'll never get our payment OR our cargo! the man puts his hands out as one usually does to gain the attention or response of the crowd in a wide, sweeping motion as he chuckles to himself.

Well since we got a mentally invalid 'ere. You're after the cult(s), your orc friend just said so. We're after the cults. I just got done explaining in rather plain terms that I believe I know where the ones attacking the caravans and other travelers might be and made you a job offer. So, to make sure there's no misunderstanding, because I know connecting the dots is hard fer you ranger-types as tonight has just proven... I know a location where what you're probably looking for most likely is and  I want you to check it out, and 'deal with it' since its almost definately what's causing the attacks.... is that a bloody simple enough explanation for you? Or, are you still daft as a baby in the crib what fell on their head but were left alive out of pity?

at this point, everyone sans maybe Shautha and Yin are laughing, hard, at Ulf's expense.

Ulf just stares at the man for a time before responding, contempt plain on his face. The fool actually thinks he's funny, and his lackeys lap it up. Typical of his sort. "So...humour this imbecile a little longer then...the deal is: you give us a location and we investigate this one location and 'deal with it' as you so precisely end eloquently put it -- I presume you mean stop them attacking merchants? -- and we are done? There are likely multiple cults, but you will be satisfied with the one being ... dealt with?

Shautha glances at the crowd around them before speaking once again. "...For what's worth, I'll be happy to kill all cultists I can find here. It might be a difficult task if it turns out to be more than one cult here... but nothin' is ever easy. I'm in!"

She gives Ulf a sideglance before continuing. "Elf here just likes to have everything loud and clear before he starts to work, that's all, don' get mad at him. Give us the location, answer his little question and we'll be on our way."

If they can leave after that is done, she'll walk to where the tiefling is and carry him on her shoulder like a bag of potatoes till they are away from Nalaskur and his crowd's view.

Does everyone here assume licentious intentions are the norm? Ylnira wonders. Nalaskur's willingness to hand over the tiefling to the party only confirms Ylnira's suspicions that Nalaskur's primary intentions lied in elevating his position in the eyes of the townsfolk rather than actually solve the issue with the cults, but she wasn't complaining - she could only hazard a guess as to why they were headed for the kitchen area. Ylnira opens her mouth to accept Nalaskur's offer - three hundred gold was three hundred gold - before Ulf interjects.

Playing the fool is a very good way to get on someone's side, especially if Nalaskur feels he gains more traction with the town, Ylnira thinks. Another pounding headache flashes through her mind as the former disguise she let develop for too long resurfaces in her mind. Let's hope Ulf understands that! it jeers, laughing along with the other patrons. 

Ylnira momentarily closes her eyes with an irritated sigh. "Forgive me for my companions, Nalaskur. Perhaps they have wandered the wilderness for too long to properly understand your implications. If you provide the location for us to investigate, we will see that the threat to your merchants are 'dealt with'." Ylnira bows her head in respect. These people probably meant kill first, ask questions later. Whoever killed the tiefling certainly did. If Nalaskur does as asked, Ylnira will follow Shautha towards the exit. 

Nalaskur nods, perhaps a slight bit over-dramatically, but not so much as to invoke the word flagrant. Why yes, Ranger. It is good enough, so long as it solves my problems. And it solves my friends problems. Almost everyone here is a merchant of some degree or another. And all of us are negatively effected by this. All the attacks have taken place along this road, and this river. Now sure, they could take the long way round, but that eats into their costs enough to put all but the most wealthy merchants into the red. And I believe that all merchants, even seashell peddlers, should be able to peddle their wares and make a livin without worrying they're going to be sacrificed to some pagan slut. To which most of the merchants nodded with some accompanying heavy sighs -likely ones who had already lost someone or something- An' if it turns out they weren't the only group, we'll pay ya some more. I have a decent savings, and I'm willing to use some of it to make sure I keep it that way, as well as my patrons here. I'm looking out for my peoples best interest in the end, even if it benefits me too.

As Shautha interjects , the crowd looks between her and the elf, with hundreds of expressions from shock, curiosity, and other similar emotions playing across the minds and faces of those gathered. One of the merchants says just loud enough to be heard, though it was clearly unintentional... I never heard of an elf n an orc shaggin.... Strange times, these.... and laughter erupted from the general area where it was said though not as raucous as the one after Nalaskurs taunt.

Well bein' clear on the instructions is how I like it but atleast don't come across as daft when you do it! he says in response both to Shautha and Yins comments But good, you're all in then? Good. Hopefully you'll solve our problem and let the Dessarim get back to normal. And hopefully your ranger friends better at firin his bow than 'e is at figuring out simple things. 

If you allow Nalaskur to show you where on the map:

 Regardless, you are allowed to remove the still living Teifling from the premises.

Without confirming where it is on the map, you all leave the Inn itself, which is now abuzz with gossip and curiosity, as Nalaskur puts away his own map as no one had seemed to come anyway. Shrugging since they'd get the gold if they succeeded, and if they didn't? He'd know soon enough anyway.

As you all head out, you see that the town has mostly returned to normal, aside from a bloody trail that led from where you all assumed the female teifling had been 'dragged' in, a few curious onlookers, who spit on the teifling as it came out, but none of the townsfolk accosted you in any way, if anything they seemed to cheer you on, though for what reasons you couldn't tell. 

As you went out, you drug the teifling to one of the paddocks at the edge of town, if only to avoid prying eyes. The paddock was simply a large area, walled in aside from the front entrance to it with very high walls, almost comparable with the towns outer walls, but otherwise barren of detail. Like a plot of farmland that had yet to be tilled, surrounded by walls. Some grass grew in patches here and there, and a single young tree was in the corner area.

No one else was here but you all as far as you could tell.

If attempting to leave a social scenario like that, try to give an 'if able, I want to head to X' so I have a better idea of what to describe, otherwise I have to guess. THis isn't criticism, but me explaining what will help me get your intentions and actions right!

Busy with carrying the tiefling, Shautha had assumed that Ulf, who had been the one asking, would be the one to look at the map and so she didn't. She had wanted to be out of the public's eye as soon as possible.

Upon reaching the paddock, she slowly lays the tiefling on the ground to avoid harming him further. "This better not have been all for nothing..." She grumbles to herself, before putting a hand over the guy's chest, to verify that his heart is still beating, but also to keep him from trying to run away or doing anything drastic as soon as he's fully awake. "Heal" She says, softly but firmly, as if it was an order. (Healing Word)

Ylnira reaffirmed Nalaskur that the three are capable of and willing to complete the task. Nalaskur seemed like a man of business - he was honest enough to reward the gold if the task was completed, and since the party knew a general location to investigate, it didn't seem wise to linger in the tavern longer than they already were. Ylnira didn't enjoy being the center of attention, especially with an injured tiefling slung across Shautha's back. Besides, Ylnira possessed knowledge of a more specific area to being their investigation. 

Upon stumbling across the paddock, Ylnira asks Shautha to place the tiefling softly on the ground. To Ylnira, the man was simply another person to cure. She reaches downwards and runs a hand over his wounds (Healing Hands) to ease the pain of any bruises or injuries sustained while he was being dragged in. 

Regardless, she turns towards her two companions, arms loosely crossed. This town was too shady for Ylnira to feel comfortable disclosing the information she witnessed - the time for that would come in the wilderness. "I'm not keen on spending time in this town, honestly. We have a general direction to head in. If we are prepared, should we continue on our way?" 

Ulf is startled to see the Orc carrying the tiefling out the door. So much for renting rooms! After a final swig of his ale, he hurriedly gathers his things, then pauses to linger for a few moments before following her out into the night. He keeps his distance and keeps to the shadows, while doing his best to keep them in sight, aware that there may be others looking to finish what was started, or friends of the tieflings out for revenge.

When they finally stop moving and lay the body down he moves in slowly, clearing his throats and making a and little noise so as not to startle them. With a brief glance at the injured tiefling he nods to Shautha, "I'll keep watch". With that he moves off, melding once more into the darkness.

1

The teifling was still gasping for air when out of the haze of his mind he thought he heard the gruff word 'heal' and as the spell hit him, he coughed up a small fountain of blood that had apparently been collecting in his throat as some of his wounds mended, and his bruises lessened. Followed soon by the deft touch of a precise hand that touched various points of the body freeing up.. for lack of a better term, the mans 'chakra' or 'life flow' increased his ability to 'feel' and 'move' at all, though at the moment, he was still delirious from what had happened to him.

Ulf moves towards the entrance of the paddock, taking full advantage of the plentiful shadows at night, but especially behind the walls blocking out most of the towns light made it so that Ulf barely even had to try with his naturally manifested skills. Most of the people by now seemed to finally be retiring, especially after the excitement had gone down, and seeking solace in the comfort of their beds, or whatever lodgings they did or didn't have. A few curious stares where the party had gone, but everyone seemed content to leave it as it was. Seemingly trusting in Nalaskurs decisions as word spread fast in the small town.

Back with the teifling, as he seemed to regain his senses fully or atleast enough to register that he was no longer unconscious, and he let out a garbled, pitiful scream as his arms weakly shot up to his face to shield it as he scrabbled against the wall trying to .. run/crawl away from the two 'women' It wabsntt bmee it wasbnet me!

Ulf roll perc

While the ruthless life philosophy she had been raised in included not having compassion for the weak, Shautha had to admit to herself that the tiefling looked quite pitiable. 

She grabs one of his arms with one hand and moves her other hand's finger to her lips to signal him to keep quiet. "Shut up, devil man. We are trying to help you." She says in a warning tone.

Seeing that he seems to still be delirious even after Yil and her tried to heal him, she beckons nature to heal this poor bastard once again. This would all be for nothing if he wasn't stable enough to talk. 

Ylnira clicks her tongue at Shautha's words. Calling the man a devil would only further the man's fear in his current situation. She shoots a disapproving look in Shautha's direction before soothingly speaking in the Tiefling's direction, arms held in an unthreatening manner. "I am a healer, Tiefling. For the moment, you are safe," Ylnira calmly begins, kneeling on the ground nearby. 

"Savages. If you're going to kill someone, make it quick," Interjects the voice in Ylnira's mind. Viewing the helpless man was difficult for Ylnira, for she felt responsible for the pain she caused to the man. "Yeah? He's alive. And can be healed. Would you rather he be killed?" "If it means he wouldn't suffer through what he is now and likely will go through in the future? I'd rather end his anguish now. These people don't forget, Ylnira. They just want someone to belittle and hurt to feel better about their miserable lives. You know how I was treated, Ylnira. I was you once, back where it all began. But the torment I endured caused me to split away from your control, you see? You see what anger can do? I became the very thing Tieflings are rumored to be. Isn't it funny, Ylnira? Can't you see? This man's life is over. He'll only grow bitter and cause more suffering out of spite." 

Ylnira sighs as Dalasinn rants in her mind. The smile on her features tighten as she offers more aid to the Tiefling. "You are still injured, and I can heal your wounds. Calm down, allow me to tend to them, and in response, all I ask is for any knowledge you have on what happened. You have already claimed innocence for the issue that occurred not long ago. I ask for any other information you may have in regards to the cults or other threats to the town."