Chapter 2: Voices in the Dark

Killi stands at the back of the group, glaring at the Justice with defiant, ash grey eyes. Every so often, she engages in a behavioral tic, snapping her fingers and sending out a tiny shower of sparks. She didn't like how the Justice acted like her approval *mattered*... as if her acquiescing to allowing her and the others to do as they pleased was somehow her giving them her blessing.

The little mage clicks her teeth and scowls. It doesn't matter. She gets to do what she wants. She gets to help out someone... maybe deal some pain to whoever these "Xanathar" people were. Were they in league with her family? It wouldn't be surprising. It'd be an added bonus if they were. Killi liked the idea of meddling with the Rosznars a little. She smiles.

Being a newcomer to the group, she remains silent and waits for one of the other members suggest a course of action.

Trig barely suppresses a smile at the explicit permission, and dips into the best formal, deep curtsy she can manage (which isn't saying much).

Crow was conflicted, his chagrin showed on his face. Why had they made him a weapon? Isn't goodness about forgiveness? He wondered as Justice Darkhaven addressed them.

"Anwyn, should be kept here. Safe with the novices. We are going to fight and she doesn't need to see that."

"Agreed, Anwyn needs to be kept safely under watch or we will only be bringing her straight into danger."

He pauses to smile at the girl, "Of course, I'm hoping we'll be able to pop in here and there to visit."

"Tarna, what would you suggest for our next steps?"

"Fine by me," Killi says with a sadistic smile. "Maybe we can find more thugs who've come looking for you guys," she says, looking at the others. "Someone else to beat some answers out of."

Crow raised an eyebrow and crosses his arms looking to the others for their input. He wanted to know where everyone stood before speaking. So he listened.

"She did seem disinclined to leave until they, er, finished their job. " Tom stutters out, with an awkward glance at Anwyn. "Now that we know Anywn is safe, returning to search the warehouse seems a worthwhile risk as they may have left some clue behind. Didn't their original message asked us to meet them within the grave quarter? I also wonder if we may find any signs of them being active there. "

Fen steps up to her companions and shrugs as she suggests, "Maybe find smell again?" Clearly she is unsure of herself but would like to help. The previous success of Oshgal finding a scent aligns with Fen’s usual methods of solving problems in the wilds; find a trail and follow it.

Crow nodded along with Tom posture stiffend a bit as he bristled at the notion of fighting without the advantage. But his body posture also indicated, as well as his earlier lethaloty proved violence was not something he was against.

Fen and Oshgal could track far better than he could. He liked the odds of picking up the trail. Wherever they went. He relaxed visibly at the notion of subterfugue.

He turned to scrutinize Trig who had kept his peace. Trig could see Crow's mind was working out a plan already. There was a dreadful confidence the young Inquisitor exuded, it was clear whatever training he recieved in The Halls of Justice relied on gathering information, though his uniform was very similar to Tarna's, better cloth and cape. His gaze open and honest, but deep cunning. "And you Trig?" He asked in perfect Gnomish, he even was able to enunciate and emphasize the sibilance of Undercommon, someone from Menzoberranzan had taught him the deep languages if his accent was to be judged.

Crow retrieved the accounts ledger he had left some hours before and clasped it back on his belt. He took a fresh quill and a stoppered bottle of blue and red ink from Justice Darkhaven's desk, it was so casually it wad obvious he had done this before. He replaced the ink with two well uses bottles. He was showing initiative to his superior and strategic thinking. He knew Darkhaven knew whatever decision transpired needed to be codified.

Trig bows her head in gratitude, acknowledging the effort that Crow is demonstrating at speaking her people's language. "From what you all have told me," Trig replies in Common, shifting her hat to scratch an itch, "It makes sense to go back to the warehouse where she disappeared. That seems like the best lead on finding this 'Aristina' woman." Trig's hat twitches, extends some legs, and settles itself back more firmly on her head. "Actually, that's the only lead. Unless any of us have any contacts that know more about the Xanathar?"

Crow nods emphatically at the notion of returning to the warehouse. "It got very chaotic, I bet with the haste of her flight mistakes were made. And it seems the surer course to seek a trail rather than walk into a certain trap." Blanching when he recalled how utterly helpless he felt when the thugs had attacked with a crossbow at the food carts. "But I bet our trail will lead us to the grave quarter anyway. These guys aren't playing around - and we killed... I killed one of them." Crow switched tack and took accountability for the act. "That ups the ante, and no offense, but we aren't exactly formiddable warriors all." He nodded to Tarna who was a formidable fighter, and his own prodigious athleticism which had lent itself to his ambush. "Eager is good, but discretion is the better part of valor."

Tom squints at Trig's hat, tilting his head quizzically.

"I didn't recall the Watch ever mentioning the Xanathar when that name first came up, though I suppose it's possible they know something but they thought it was too dangerous to share it with me."

Tom wracks his memory again trying to remember that name having come up in his father's prior cases or if he's overhead it as being linked to potential suspects.

Tom slaps his head. "Wait, I did hear that name before! I just thought it was someone having me on because I was a kid asking questions and dismissed it. Are you telling me the stories are real? Even so, nothing that gives us an actionable lead-- if the Xanathar exists, they are too well protected for the Watch to have more than suspicions about who works for them directly. So, I still say we go back and search the warehouse more closely. "

Crow tries to not let the bloodstains bother him as he searches for clues and context. The reminder of them keeps him too distracted to search effectively and he mostly meanders around, looking at the bloodstains periodicaly.