"Please don't misunderstand." The Marquis spoke up, her voice turning as hard as steel as she took control of the conversation right now. "These cultists are in no way harmless. This is not some political movement, or a group of people striving for religious freedom. These people worship beings that exist outside of existence itself, ideas that are incomprehensible to rational minds. They are not rioting in the streets, but the damage they do is far more insidious. They spread corrupting ideas, thoughts that bring madness to the people and turn them to their cause. They pervert the land, bending all that is natural into an unnatural state."<br/><br/>She pauses for a moment, sweeping her gaze across the room. "This is not the harmless madness you see among the old and the vagrants. This is not the madness you see on stages, performed by fools for the entertainment of others. This is the kind of madness that turns hardened soldiers into gibbering lunatics, bent on ritualistically sacrificing their own families. These people wish for the end of our kingdom, if not the world itself, and we need to know how they are going to do it. They have networks, plans, entire conspiracies set up already that have stymied our attempts at making progress so far. This cannot be allowed to continue."<br/><br/>"Thank you, Elspeth, that's enough. I'm certain you've gotten your point across." The Lady interjects, causing the woman to bow and take a step back. "The wage applies to each of you. 10,000 gold for each of you accepting the mission, and another 90,000 for completing it. I cannot stress how important this is, and we will not spare expenses in dealing with this threat. This cult must be uprooted, at the very least crippled enough that they cannot enact their plans. But your job, first and foremost, will be finding them. The full military might of the kingdom is ready, but we need to know where to strike."<br/><br/>"They make a good point though." The larger gentleman with a mustache points out. "They'll stick out something fierce if we try and send them in to mingle with the nobles. Best select carefully for the ones we send there. Hastow seems like the best pick for this lot. Won't stand out nearly as much in a place like that."<br/><br/>"I'm still not sure that's the best plan," The Lady mentioned slowly, gazing down at the map. "We don't have nearly as much information as I'd like, given everything."<br/><br/>"With respect, m'Lady, that is the purpose of their mission. We can always redeploy them if they find a valid lead to follow up on." Mustache points out.