"Easy," Ari flashes a grin, "trust nobody."
"I've been in that kind of situation before. I still almost lost my mind."
Whatever situation Kiley is talking about must have been a really bad one. There's a note of bitter hatred in her voice, despite her attempts to hide it, and for just a moment, something dark and ugly flashes in her eyes.
"Haven't we all?" Ari replies, though she assumes that Kiley isn't being wholly serious.
Sasha nods along with Ari's arguments, though she doesn't look confident or happy about their options. "Well, for now, let's tell Lysandra about things and go from there. It's too easy to get crazy and paranoid if you assume everyone is lying to you all the time - that's not the way I'd like to live, if I have the choice..." she says, sounding a bit sad and not at all mentioning her own hidden heritage.
The temple above has been cleaned up of most of the signs of violence, the blood having been scrubbed by someone or another and the bodies moved elsewhere. A handful of the less unfortunate victims are in various side rooms receiving treatment for smaller wounds.
The storm outside has slowed but not completely stopped, a slight drizzle covering you in a coat of droplets before you make it inside the inn once more. The tavern itself is full of patrons hiding from the horror of the nights' events, but Lysandra is nowhere to be found.
The bartender catches your eyes and waves you over before telling you Lysandra is waiting for you in the rooms she rented on the second floor.
"You guys look like you've had better nights. Want a drink? On me this time." he says, pulling out some glasses for the group.
"Oh you are a sweetheart," Ari coos, slipping easily back into Aamina's shoes. "Be a dear and let me take you up on that later - business before pleasure, you know." She pushes her fingers through her hair, trying to maximise its volume, though the trials below. Leaning in closer to the bartender, she asks in a concerned voice. "Tell me, do I look ever so frightful? Be honest now." In an exaggerated manner she makes a show of patting her clothes, looking at the various scuffs and cuts she has collected. "Oh, blow," she says, largely to herself, before continuing to the group. "Let's just do it - the sooner we're done, the sooner we can have that bath."
"Can we take it upstairs with us," Kiley asks, feeling like she's going to need one before this night is through.
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"I would comb my hair upstairs before a drink." You have a fleeting image of the wild-furred gnoll with a side-part or a horrible comb-over.
Sasha accepts an ale and asks for something to feed Pheliks before going upstairs. "He won't be comfortable inside, and I don't want the patrons frightened," she explains to her companions after she confirms her companion is safely - and contentedly - settled downstairs. Then she follows the others upstairs, her drink in hand.
After getting the best mead the inn has to offer and heading upstairs to the rooms Lysandra picked out, Kiley relays what happened with the bear on the road and what they found underneath the temple.
"So there you have it," Kiley says some time and half her drink later. "There's definitely something rotten going on, and it's possible someone's posing as Selunite or has become a heretic."
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All the talk of deception and who to trust makes Lisyil very anxious. She's never had to consider any of these things before. It's not that Lisyil has never lied or been lied to, she's a bit familiar with minor deceptions. But something like this, which might mean turning on or selling out one's entire community, is a massive thing in her mind. Such a deed is very different than gossip about who's secretly boinking who, or who might have a grudge or feud against another that leads to some underhanded trickery.
Lisyil takes a mead with thanks and waits for an opportune moment to ask Ari a question without being overheard.
"What is blackmail?"
Shaggar watches and listens.
Seeing Lisyil hovering, Ari hangs back as it looks like the half-elf is looking to speak to her. She is surprised by the question, assuming that it is the word that is unfamiliar rather than the course of action itself. "It's using information - usually something compromising or damaging - against someone by demanding payment of some kind in return for not revealing it," she whispers. "Suppose I discover that Lady Highnose of Iriaebor has been having an ill-judged affair with some lowcoin boy twenty years her junior. I could demand she keeps me in gold and wine for a few months or I'll arrange for her husband to catch her in the act. Or perhaps I'd let slip to her sworn rival Lady Snotnose, who will naturally be delighted to hear such juicy gossip that could be deployed to deal maximum damage to her reputation," she adds by way of illustration. "Of course in reality of course that example would be a big risk. Nobles have a lot of resources and can be quite ruthless in employing them to protect themselves."
Ari can't help but wonder though, perhaps Lisyil is just more naive than she realised. From what she knows of her youth, the elves of the Wealdath are very insular and she doesn't have the impression that the Fair Folk are particularly given to such schemes.
Well, I don't suppose that's necessarily a bad thing, she considers. Certainly growing up in the Church of Cyric it was just one of several unsavoury currencies used as a way of life to survive and bring oneself power. Ari recalls being on the receiving end of blackmail when another child had discovered that the tiefling's clever fingers were good at pilfering extra food. Forced to give over almost all of her ill-gotten gains in order to avoid the inevitable beating that would result from being snitched upon. It turned out to be a doubly painful lesson as her torturer then simply sold her out anyway. So yes, Ari hopes that others are luckier than she was and able to grow up in happier and more carefree circumstances. She pushes the thought away - no point dwelling on the past and feeling sorry for herself over something she had no control over.
* * * * *
With everyone else taking up the offer of a drink, Ari is regretting turning it down for the moment - delayed gratification isn't usually her thing. Still, on balance given the stakes she would prefer to keep her wits about her.
As Kiley explains the situation and what they have uncovered so far, the tiefling scrutinises Lysandra for any sign that she may be in on the plot.
Lisyil considers Ari's explanation of blackmail as she gives it. It makes her uncomfortable immediately, almost instinctively. But, before she can articulate why she finds the idea so dangerous, even scary, she has to roll it around in her head a little. When she thinks she has a coherent reply, she states it mostly as a question.
"But how could the two people ever continue to live around, or even see each other? Surely this would cause a feud between them? But by its own nature, the blackmail could never be spoken of by them. It would be like a poison then, without a way to extract it. Others around them would surely notice something amiss between them, and the uneasy feelings would spread through the whole community with time."
"If the two people have a feud because of what one of them has done to cause the other harm, why would this not be announced by the harmed party to all. Then the harm can be rectified if it should be, and the thoughts and feelings of the two parties can be repaired. That is one of the many reasons why the community exists, to correct such breaches among individuals who would otherwise have to pursue the dispute for the rest of their lives, or until it results in the deaths of one or both of them."
"But, perhaps blackmail is not about wrongs done to one by the other? It is about gaining wealth instead? Your examples imply no harm being done to the one who blackmails, only desire to take from their victim. Would that not also be noticed by others, as one grew poor and the other rich through no means visible to those who live around them? Would that not also be an invisible poison?"
With Pheliks safely settled, Sasha helps the others tell the story, intent on their hostess' response.
Ari ponders Lisyil's words. Perhaps elven communities do things differently and the Tel'Quessir are above such pettiness, ambition and grasping opportunism. Cynic that she is, she has grave doubts about that, though part of her hopes that better things are possible than the much messier versions of society that she has lived in. But neither does she want to shatter Lisyil's illusions - after all, maintaining illusions is doing Leira's work.
"Perhaps," she says, hedging. "But, at least in my experience, things tend to be more complicated than that. Indeed it could create a feud between them and others may notice something is off, but I don't think either is thinking in terms of community. So yes, both parties are probably motivated by self-interest, whether that's wealth or protecting their reputation or whatever it is." She runs a hand through her hair.
"And the blackmailed party usually wouldn't want to air their grievance because they want to keep whatever it is quiet - otherwise there wouldn't be any leverage to blackmail them in the first place. I'm not saying it's right," Ari adds, "but that doesn't prevent it happening."
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Shaggar listens, but does not contribute, to the conversation. Gnolls rarely bothered with blackmail. Such matters mostly exploded into violence where one party and their family were eviscerated and eaten... generally in that order. But there were exceptions.
Lisyil again muses on what Ari says. Then she makes a couple of half-concessions.
"Perhaps part of it is there's so little one person might have that another does not where I am from. There is not much to gain by blackmail."
"Also, it is difficult for secrets to exist where everyone knows everyone else, at least to some extent. I wouldn't say there are no secrets where I come from of course, but where one is kept there is a toll to be paid in anxiety and guilt by it's keeper that might be greater than elsewhere."
Lysyil speaks from experience because it is one of the reasons she has left home, at least for a while. Ironically though she keeps this a secret.
Ari nods, happy enough to Lisyil somewhere in the middle as she certainly wasn't looking to cause problems. "That makes sense." She grins. "Of course, the thing about secrets is that unless you're in on them you never really know about them. But yes, they can certainly take their toll and that in turn makes them more likely to come out, one way or another." She gestures towards the stairs where the others disappeared some time ago. "Shall we? They're probably wondering where we've got to."
Lysandra is obviously disturbed by the story, and you can tell she's giving it her full attention. She stands from her chair after Kiley finishes retelling the entire series of events, stepping over to the window of the room to look out upon the moon thoughtfully.
You don't detect any hint of her secretly being aware of the smugglers or the liquid, and she seems seriously surprised by what you have told her.
"These are dark events, to be sure. I don't know what's going on inside the village, but it is even more clear that we have to get there as soon as possible. You didn't mention any names, do you have any idea of who we should be suspicious of? And who we can trust?"
She says, turning back to you with a questioning look.
"Or any idea as to how deep the corruption goes? I can't imagine whatever this substance is to be a good thing for any of us."
The gnoll chuffs, "That is simple - we trust no one. We suspect everyone."
"I'm afraid we didn't find anything else. You know everything that we do, now," Kiley says.
Sasha nods at Shaggar's words. "Until we know more, I think we have to assume everyone could be a traitor to the village and our goddess.
Though Pheliks and I would like some time to rest, I see best at night - a blessing of sorts from Selûne - so if we wish to leave tonight I can lead the way," Sasha says, earnestly looking at the others for their votes.
Though she's trying to make it seem casual, Kiley's pretty clearly avoiding the spots where moonlight filters through the windows.
Kiley seems to be rather insistent about not wanting to travel at night, even though the moon's almost full and would make it fairly easy to see, even for a human, especially one that was being aided by others that could see well at night.
"Sasha, we're tired and I can't see that well at night," Kiley says. "I know time's of the essence, but we'll do no one any good if we show up exhausted and with sprained ankles."
The gnoll rubs at his muzzle. "I believe we are a two day walk from the village. Leaving now gains us little. Also, there are still goblins at the other end of that tunnel. We must decide, with the townsfolk, what to do about that. I expect they will decide, and act, during daylight. I think we should rest now. But if you wish to press on, I will as well."
"I'd prefer to rest up and get some these wounds treated," Ari says, but like Shaggar I can press on if need be. "Like you, Sasha, I have also been blessed with eyes that can see in the dark but not everyone can. Most humans famously struggle, which is why orcs, drow and the like will often attack under cover of darkness." She looks over at Kiley, wondering if that's why the woman seems so vehement about not doing so - blundering around at night with limited vision admittedly doesn't seem like a smart idea. But she wonders too if it has something to do with the path that Kiley is picking across the room where she is noticeably avoiding the patches of moonlight shining through the windows. She adds it to her mental file of things to find about at a suitable opportunity.
While Lisyil does notice a bit of oddness somehow in Kiley's behavior, it doesn't alarm her. Everyone is tired so maybe she's angling for rest before doing anything else? Lisyil can certainly understand such a desire.
"I agree that we should rest the night before anything else."
"That's unfortunate, was hoping you had found something to get you started once we reach the Glade. Ah well, we'll figure something out when we get there or on the way."
She motions her arms wide towards the beds in the room before taking her leave.
"Best you get as much rest as we can, we'll leave at sunrise tomorrow morning. If there is anything you need, feel free to let the barkeep below know, the church has left some payment ahead of time for any small expenses you may have need of."
If no one has any other questions or requests, she retires to her room across the hall and leaves you in peace for the night.
Accommodating his companion's eccentricities, Shaggar takes the bed struck by beams of moonlight. "A most odd day."
Sasha doesn't hide her disappointment, but doesn't argue either. "Alright, to bed then. Sleep well, everyone..." she says as she steps out of the room to check on Pheliks and spend some time in the moonlight outside, praying.
,
Shaking her head Sasha wonders about Kiley's odd behavior, especially given the conversations about spies and betrayal. With an unhappy expression she tries to dispel the thoughts from her mind.
With Pheliks by her side, dry and well-fed, Sasha kneels in a particularly clear moonbeam and gazes into the night sky. With a calming breath and smile she enjoys looking at the constellations, the moon ("Selûne") and her tears, and then around at the buildings and wall nearby. She prays silently for several minutes before escorting Pheliks to the edge of the woods. "Be careful out there tonight, and don't go near anyone or anything that looks like silver ooze," she directs the cat, confident that he understands her well enough. Once he has disappeared into the trees she turns back inside, has a small nightcap, and then sneaks into the room she shares with the other party members. Slipping into a bed she tries to sleep, confident that the day tomorrow will be less restful than she prefers...
"It has been, and tomorrow looks to be equally eventful," Kiley agrees as she gets ready for bed. She would love to take a bath, especially after fighting goblins, but she feels that she doesn't have the time, nor the privacy to do so. She slips into the other bed and yawns as the day catches up to her.
"Good night, Shaggar. I hope your dreams are pleasant ones," she mumbles before drifting off to sleep.
After the meeting Ari heads back down the stairs to take up the barkeep on his offer of a drink. She shoots the breeze for a while before exhaustion threatens to overcome her.
When she is preparing for bed she does the best she can to clean the cuts she's picked up but there are a couple of large bruises already starting to show that feel like they are going to turn very colourful before long.
She isn't keen to ask but if the others are expecting her to perform to her capacity tomorrow they probably ought to be aware. "Beauty sleep can do wonders," she drawls, "but even that has its limits. I don't suppose anybody has any healing magic at their disposal? I can still feel that almighty whack I took to the ribs from earlier."
Kiley's sleep is, thankfully, uninterrupted by dreams or nightmares.
Somewhat reluctantly - not because she is ashamed of her body, but because she dislikes the fact it makes her vulnerable - Ari rolls up her top to reveal her wounds. As Sasha carefully treats them with divine energy, the tiefling reflects on the power to heal like that. Having seen the worst of what gods and their worshippers can do, she remains slightly in awe of those who choose to use their gifts for more selfless deeds. "Thank you, Sasha," she says seriously. "Selûne must really smile upon you to bless you with such powers."
Lisyil sleeps through the night very well.
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Shaggar dreams of a regal human woman in a grey silk robe. She is attractive, for a human... but then he notices she has a tail that moves sinuously, sensually beneath her robe. Then her skin somehow sprouts fine fur. Tiger stripes appear across her face. She growls at him, showing tiny fangs. The gnoll is intrigued. Aroused, he wonders do those stripes go all the way down her body?
Someone moving in the room jars him awake. Bah! That was getting... interesting.
Whatever dreams you may or may not have had the previous night, dawn arrives unfortunately quickly to interrupt them.
Shortly before the sun rises there is a knock at the door. It's Lysandra, of course, and she greets you warmly when you open the door to let her in.
"I hope you had a good rest; we have a little time before the sun comes up and we need to leave. The storm abated right after midnight, so if you wish to bathe and get the last full meal until we reach the Glade you might want to gather your things and get downstairs."
Kiley decides that a bath is higher priority than breakfast, and scurries downstairs.
Shaggar rolls off the pallet, a bed that was at least 6" too short for him, grabs his pack and gear, and heads to breakfast.
The baths have their own protector walls that can be brought up around the tub if need be, there's plenty of privacy for those who wish it.
Breakfast turns out to be already purchased, and consists of pork sausages and fresh scrambled eggs, with a side of toast and a glass of orange juice.
"Enjoy, my treat. I got up early, you see, and had them prepare breakfast for us." Lysandra says.
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Shaggar enjoys the familiar items - sausages and eggs. He eyes the orange liquid curiously, dipping a claw in it and noting its viscosity.
He takes a speculative sip and his eyes widen in delight. He holds his cup to show Ari. "Have you tried this orange syrup? It is delicious!"
Lisyil opts for a bath as well. Better than than breakfast if she must choose. Eating on the go is a thing, bathing on the go not so much.
Lisyil feels no need to bother with a screens. After she's undressed Kiley, should she happen to see her after undressing and before getting into the tub, notices the elf's extensive tattooing. Aside from those on her face, hands, and forearms, which are readily apparent, tattoos run all the way up her arms to her shoulders, and up her legs to the top of her thighs.
Kiley is far too busy setting up the privacy screens around her tub to pay much attention to Lisyil. Only after she has some privacy does Kiley begin undressing for the bath. As much as she would love to have a long soak, she knows that time is short, and focuses on getting clean over relaxing. Even as quickly as she tries to bathes, it still takes her over twenty minutes to wash and dry off thanks to her long hair. Once she's done and dressed, she rushes back upstairs to enjoy some breakfast before they leave.
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"It is," Ari agrees, picking up a glass and necking the whole thing in one. "Have another glass for me, Shaggar." she adds. She grabs a couple of sausages, inserts them between a pair of toast slices, and saunters off. "Bath time," she calls over her shoulder, in case the towel draped over her arm wasn't enough of a clue.
Ari, too, has no concerns regarding modesty. If anyone was curious enough to know what this tiefling looked like disrobed, they would see that she looks very much like a human woman only rather bluer of skin. And with a tail. Still chewing on the last of her sausage sandwich, she removes the sole dagger she currently has on her person and puts it on a chair along with her clothes and towel. "Bad time to be caught defenceless," she says by way of explanation. She picks up a bar of soap with her tail and slides into the tub.
"Are you alright there, Lady Kiley?" she calls teasingly to the woman behind the screen. "I'm sure it's nothing we haven't seen before countless times before."
Shaggar is comically gob-smacked, "I can have more?" He looks to the server, "I would like some more of this beverage, please... and another sausage, two sausages."