Debriefing

You head back to the Hajja's new base, with Thera in tow. The base has moved quite a bit in the week and a half you've been gone, so Leyre acts as your guide. Thera, understandably, is downtrodden that she can't even say goodbye to her village and friends, but eventually accepts it, not wanting to potentially bring them any more harm.

The Combat Corps trainees swarm you as you find your way back to the barracks, pleading to hear tales of your escapades in Salil. Once you've shaken them off and shown Thera around, you give her a tour of the Medical Corps' lodgings and introduce her to Jovan, one of their Captains. They joined the Hajja in similar circumstances to Thera's years ago, so before you head off to debriefing, you entrust the girl to them in hopes they can provide some comfort. Leyre volunteers to stay behind as well; she already knows the mission, and figures it might ease Thera's mind if there's someone she's at least met around.

You're greeted in the Commanders' Tent by Sarasa and Araceli, who relay your next destination. Rumors have it that Langweng, a town in the Dragon's Fang(the peninsula of Splintered Crown territory that bites into Salil), managed to drive off the Land in Shadow's attempt at claiming their territory. The attack itself was only possible because of Shirai, a Splintered Crown city that's allied with the Land in Shadow. They want you to pass through there on the way to Langweng, and gather any intel you can.

Jiahao, the commander of Shirai's troops, ultimately supports the Land in Shadow, he seems to have a rocky relationship with the City of Eyes tactician sent to oversee the city. Sarasa wants to know if it's possible to deepen that rift and potentially shift Shirai's position; if not back to an ally, then perhaps a neutral party. One city may not make a huge difference, but the fewer cracks in the Splintered Crown, the better.

Once resolving that one way or the other, you're to head to Langweng and find out how they repelled Shirai, if you couldn't unearth anything there. Langweng's guardian was thought to have died years ago, but there's always the chance our information was wrong, and the Land in Shadow must have had SOME incentive to attack this town in particular.

After the debriefing, Sarasa rewards you with Aravind's bounty, a total of 1000 gp. She also returns the magical items you sent along - the Midnight Chalice and Teetering Coin.

The mission isn't as time-sensitive as your last, so Sarasa advises you to spend a couple of weeks decompressing at the base. You spend some time with Thera, who looks a lot better once it comes time for you to leave. She's gotten to know a few people, and the extra downtime with you must have helped. She seems to have had a new wave of resolve the past couple of days, as well.

You're told you'll be on this mission alone; Leyre was initially meant to come with you, but something apparently came up last minute, so she'll be staying behind. Araceli outfits you with some basic supplies: Three Healing Potions, two Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds, and a restock of anything mundane you'd used up.