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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RedTonic" data-source="post: 5712818" data-attributes="member: 98994">Everyone was able to sleep well and refreshed themselves as necessary. With the combination of healing skills available to the party, everyone quickly returned to full health, including the mounts. The patrol overheard a lot of talk about the various misfortunes befalling travelers and farmers since the Thaw.  Excepting the monk, who was unable to suss out the relevance of any particular bit of gossip, each heard that, besides the troubles with wolves, there had been a fair deal of trouble with bandits east of the village. They had been charging a toll to travelers in small groups and generally making a nuisance of themselves. More even headed folk thought that the bandits had set up a base in a ruined fort northeast of the highway.That morning it raining heavily, but the captain was ready to set out regardless. He indicated that anyone wanting to pursue business should do so now. Mikealus departed to take care of the headstone. Agniprava went out to do his morning meditation in the rain in the village green. Cael made sure his belongings were packed and ready to leave. Then he headed to meet al'Mirra, the barkeep to see if he could tell him about this tinkerer he mentioned last night. Belsea simply waited for the group to be ready to leave.Very few people were out on the green that morning. Agni saw the tinkerer at his wagon, but otherwise no one was interested in staying out in the weather. He greeting to the tinkerer as he found a spot to sit and meditate.Al'Mirra hailed Cael cheerfully. "What can I do for you, freeman?" Khader, Ravi, and Borche joined Belsea in waiting after they completed their varying morning rituals."Ah, lovely morning, eh? Is rain plentiful this time of year?" Cael said as he sat on a stool. "What word do you have on this tinkerer you mentioned last night? You mentioned he was a curious fellow." Belsea nodded a greeting to the others but remained silent."Rains like love crying," al'Mirra agreed. "As for him--yes, curious like any tinker. Seen him years past; he's an old-timer, sells mainly fripperies here since we have our own smithy.""I see. Perhaps I will meet him before we part. I shall be back to gather my things. You have been most helpful for our stay." Cael bowed to the man and headed to the tinkerer's wagon. The tinkerer was puttering about his wagon; he had opened the shutters on the side facing the inn, and had a covered lantern lit. "Greetings!" Cael bid the man as he approached the wagon. "I was told you have various wares for sale by the barkeep. Mind if I take a look, or are you closing down due to the weather?""Nay, son, I be open every day, any day," the old man said. His face wa as wrinkly as a dried fig. "I have many fine wares from which to choose--things sweet, things for your sweet, blessings, luck, and joy.""Cael Akbar, sir. Allow me to peruse your wares," Cael said as he extends his hand for a hearty shake. The tinkerer clasped Cael's forearm. He had a surprisingly strong grip for an old man. "Sugar, salt, and spices; beautiful ribbons, brilliant cloth, bits and bobs, northern wool and southern linen! Nails, glue, and what-have-you." Inside the old man's wagon, Cael saw very fine bolts of fabric, a chest of valuable make with a complex locking mechanism, and among other things a stand bearing what he was fairly certain were valuable alchemical ingredients. Some were almost certain to be useful potions and unguents. The wagon is redolent of spices which Cael knew to be rather valuable trade goods."What manner of potions are those?" Cael asked the man."This and that!" He beamed. "They can make you strong like an ox, sly as a fox, or as silver-tongued as the serpent. And, of course, if you've been," he coughed, "Indiscreet... Well, I have salves for that, too!"Cael nodded. "And how did a fellow like yourself end up here? Just passing through?"The tinker hemmed. "Yea; came from the east, after payin' the highwaymen off, and plan to go inland a ways--my daughter's family lives south of Ceteran by the river'n it's time I see her.""I see. Well, I pray your journey be safe, my friend. I hear news of bandits on the roads and we were accosted by a pack of wild animals," Cael said with a grimace of remembrance. "How much are you willing to part with these potions for?""Depends!" he chuckles. "Which're you thinkin of?"The two haggled, but Cael quickly realized he was too broke to buy any of the interesting potions. Instead, he made a few small purchases. He pocketed his goods and said, "It was great to meet your acquaintance, if we meet again, I shall remember your service today.""And you, young'un. Be careful on the roads.” Cael returned to the inn and met with the others.Mikealus returned from the smithy wet but pleased that he'd been able to take care of his business quickly.  He saluted his brethren of the Order with a genial raised-hand, and joined them all in the dry. "Captain?"  Mikealus took a seat by the man.  He glanced up at the ceiling, wondering how long the rain would continue. The remains of the earlier breakfast had already been carted off for washing. The innkeep was puttering around with his wife and young son at various morning chores."Mikealus," he responded. "I believe we'll head out soon. I have no doubt that the bandits will avoid an eight-man mounted troop. What are your thoughts?" He looked to Belsea and the others to solicit their opinions as well."I suppose that depends on the number of bandits and the ambitions of their leaders," Belsea reflected."That's rather what I'd thought to ask, Captain. Are we intending to pursue the rumors of an encampment?" Mikealus asked."Do you intend to?" al'Pacem replied, watching him and the others."Do I?"  Mikealus was puzzled.  "It’s not my patrol to command.  The rumors seemed rather constant, though - and it’s not the first place we've heard these complaints."  Indeed, what point is the patrol for if not to have the Order keep an eye on such issues?"It is very much your control--all of yours. I'm interested to know what you think we should do," the captain replied amiably. "It is indeed the purpose of patrols to discourage banditry, among other goals.""Cael," Khader greeted the cleric. "We're thinking on the bandits. The captain asked our thoughts."Agniprava finished his mantras and returned to the inn. "Good morning, all."Mikealus nodded to the monk, but kept his attention on Cael.  This would be an interesting answer."Morning," Khader said. Ravi grunted. Borche was busy polishing something. Belsea looked over and then back to the group as a whole."Our job is keep these parts safe, is it not? From what I gather, these men are actively engaging in unlawful activity. Right now it is just collecting tolls, but later...? Better to stop a problem before it gets out of hand, is my opinion," said Cael."But we don't know where, or how many.  Is it worth stopping our current pursuit?  Shuj said we'd have a few days...  and we are at present... a day's ride to our destination? A day and a half?"  Mikealus looked at Al'Pacem to confirm."A worthy goal," the captain replied. "With this weather, a day and a half at best, I would say. We can easily reach the next village before evening, rain notwithstanding." He scratched his dark beard. "Not certain if they'll be up to their usual with this weather, unless a caravan will be along that they'd know about. At any rate, this can be discussed while mounted.""True, I had not considered that. I suppose it must be determined which is the more heinous crime. Plus, bandits tend to remain until rooted out. This man my slip into shadows out of our grasp entirely. I agree with the paladin," Cael said as he went to grab his belongings.Mikealus smirked as Cael left.  "Funny.  I was not disagreeing with the notion.  I'm the one that brought it up... I was just weighing the options out loud."  He looked at the monk.  "What do you think?""I think he meant he was agreeing with you," Khader laughed.Al'Pacem departed to the stables, seemingly in a good mood. Borche followed. Ravi and Khader lingered; they had already loaded most of the beasts this morning. Cael returned with his bags and thanked the barkeep with a small tip for the hospitality.Agniprava looked up to Mikealus, having been listening to what little of the conversation he was present for.  "Not to be repetitive but I do believe that the pursuit of this man who would pursue the dead for whatever reason is somehow of greater significance I feel."  He paused then, "You should fear by far the bear as it strikes, then the grip of old age."  A saying he had always liked that the ascetics repeated with reliable consistency.Belsea noted how the priest who wa short of money handed it out freely.Mikealus nodded.  "Well.  We'll see what the road brings."  --and went to don his armor. With that, everyone finished their preparations. Agniprava also checked on the tied up wolf. The wounded and bound wolf was not exactly thrilled to see Agni, but as it remained disabled, it could do little but growl weakly.At the stable, Cael saw Khader. "Hello my friend, " Cael said as he secured the last of his goods. "You were away for some time yesterday. Did you do anything interesting?"Khader smiled. "Nothing worth singing about, I'd say."  He led his horse out of the stable. Ravi was grumbling. That day, he would ride the last spare pack mule. It didn't care for him."I see. Are you from around these parts? You had mentioned this town having sweets you liked as well as talked to those villagers about the wolves.""Just north of here," he says over his shoulder. "Haven't been here in a while.""Ravi,"  Agniprava asked, "Why do you grumble so?"Belsea watched Ravi for a moment."Because," he gritted, "This hells-beast wants to kill me.""Do you think you might get on better with my mule here? If so, you may ride him today....I'm not so put out by angry beasts." Agniprava gestured to his mule, which was standing stock still, awkwardly burdened by one of the wolves which had attacked it."All mules are hells-beasts," Ravi replied sagely.Belsea gave Mikealus a questioning look as he rode up beside her. "You didn't tell us what you thought.  "Everything I'd thought to mention was. I don't hold any part much more valuable than any other."The troop started east through the pouring rain. The road swiftly turned into muck. The farmers were, nevertheless, out in the fields. Al'Pacem hung back to join Mikealus and Belsea. "With the weather what it is, I've decided it's likely not worth asking you to scout. I don't believe we should expect trouble today, but, as always, be on your guard."Belsea nodded. Before she had heard the rain on the inn's roof, she'd hoped to scout, or at least go hunting. Tracking in this mess, however, would not be very productive. Though uncomfortable, the morning was otherwise easy. The cold rain lessened to a constant drizzle by noon. Borche was riding point and Al'Pacem  drifted to the rear. Agniprava was also near the back, to avoid people feeling uncomfortable with the wolf... Or at least to soften the blow.  Mikealus rode in silence, wondering who was most uncomfortable right then: the monk carrying a wet wolf, the wolf being held up in the rain by a wet monk, or the wet mule carrying both of them.At noon, the highway wound out of the farmlands and entered the woodlands. Cael noticed that the area they were coming upon opened to a small clearing; to the north, he saw a very narrow dirt track leading deeper into the woods. He pointed out the path to the captain as well as Belsea. The clearing looked regularly used; there were patches of bare, packed earth, and even a half-rotten barrel. Another  stream cut through here as well, and a crumbling stone bridge that the team had to pass over. Khader noted that the bridge was really only barely wide enough for a wagon... So it was probably the choke point.“Which means, you'd think, we'd have been spotted before now...  or they simply aren't home," Mikealus observed."We can pause for a look," said al'Pacem. "But I'm sure Mikealus is right.""Perhaps the rain drove them to shelter. But now that it is letting up, we best be on guard." Cael gazed around.Belsea dismounted to look about, but could find neither tracks nor anything terribly interesting to eat beyond lichen... She resisted the urge to point it out to the monk, and returned to Sage. They saw a small pit full of muddy ashes in the clearing, with some fallen logs rolled by it for seating. Nothing indicated that it had been used very recently. By all appearances, the site had been abandoned; if anyone  had been there earlier that day, they had left no sign, and if they were still here, they were very, very quiet."Anything?" al'Pacem inquired, still astride his horse.The monk shook his head. "Nothing it seems...""Not a very large camp either, for there to be constant reports of bandits in three different towns," said Mikealus.“Just an old campfire. We should be safe to proceed. The sooner we get out of here, the better. I do not wish to be here when the owners return." Cael’s gaze lingered on the narrow trail."Well, let's press on for now. At the least, we have information for a report," al'Pacem encouraged them."I agree with Cael," decided the monk.Mikealus shook his head, displeased.  At least they had not lost the whole day on an empty chase. The party pressed on, variously disappointed and relieved to not encounter highwaymen. The rain picked back up in a few hours. The rest of the ride was spent under a dark and often grumbling sky.At the next village, al'Pacem solicited opinions on whether to continue to the next town, where Shuj's buyer should be, or to stop for the night."If we continue on now, we can arrive in advance of his buyer," Agniprava suggested hopefully. Ravi preferred to stop, but Borche agreed with Agniprava.Mikealus pointed out the biggest trouble seemed to no longer be how to lure him out, but how to catch him without raising a ruckus.  The patrol was not accustomed to skulking around in the dark and kidnapping a man...  But at least getting there earlier gave them more time to scout out the area - even if just a quick glance at night.Cael concurred, “I agree, getting there first will allow us time to setup and gather information.""It will certainly benefit us if we have to cut off his escape," said Agniprava."So," al'Pacem announced, "Agniprava, Cael, Borche, Mikealus--you say yes? Yes, Ravi, we know you're sore. And Belsea?" Khader had been ambivalent.Cael turns to Belsea and asked, "How dangerous are these paths at night?""With wolves and bandits?" Belsea shrugged, "It is raining.""The main benefit of staying is that our mounts can rest and dry out overnight," al'Pacem added. "Hoof rot is a problem in this season."Agniprava conceded the point, having heard of the condition from his parents.Belsea said, "I would prefer to stay."Mikealus nodded.  "We aren't all riding the strongest animals anymore."  The wolf-carrying mule came immediately to mind.  "Shall we rest then?"This was smaller village than the last, but there was a main gathering hall; usually travelers could rest and stable mounts there. Al'Pacem said as much."Fine, but an early start tomorrow,” Cael allowed.“Very,” droned Agniprava. After some discussion with the headman within the wooden longhouse, everyone had the opportunity to care for mounts and stable them under a dry shed. Straw pads were provided to rest on and though dinner is simple, no one went hungry. Al'Pacem awoke everyone before dawn. The rain had ended, but the road was still obscured by fog when the patrol set out.  The muddy highway made for some slow going out of the woods.They emerged without incident late in the afternoon. They had reached hill country, where more of the land was devoted to pasture and orchards. Off in the distance, the hills were dotted with settlements. The nearest one and closest to the highway looked reachable before dark. During the trip, Belsea kept an eye out for food that did not come out of a farmer's hard work. Soon enough, she had found sufficient forage to feed herself and 5 others for a day; plenty of mushrooms had sprung up after the rain, and there were many edible tubers and buds around.While they road, Agniprava doted on the wolf on the mule behind him. The wolf was bored and hostile, but helpless; the mule was touchy, but bore the burden with amazing patience. Utilizing some strips of cloth, Agniprava muzzled the wolf in case it decided to get antsy, and removed some of its other bonds, fashioning a leash out of cloth. The wolf wasn’t yet in shape to walk. As the patrol went on, the monk inspected the wolf’s wounds. They were slowly knitting, but still hobbled the beast.After a brief break, the party continued on its way east. They reach the village before dusk.  This village was busier than the last, at least partially because the weather had let up since yesterday. Near the center of the village was a longhouse, many thatched huts and cottages, a wooden watchtower, a tavern, and a small shrine near a small graveyard. There was also a well in the town, and on the outskirts, a large enclosure where some sheep and a pair of lowing cows were kept. A few village dogs bounded up to you all, sparking a growling contest with the wounded wolf."Well," al'Pacem said. "Here we are.""Here we are indeed."  Mikealus looked at his companions.  "So now we decide.""How soon until the man of the hour is to arrive?" asked Agniprava."I don't think we know," Khader answered."Not anymore.  I say we keep an eye out - quietly - and take our rooms for the night.  We'll discuss what we're doing once we're settled in."“Agreed.” "Onward, then." Al'Pacem dismounted and led his horse into the village, shooing away some of the mongrels. After tying off his horse in front of the inn, he paused. "I'll get us rooms--Ravi, watch the mounts." He then went in. The other three also tied off their mounts. Ravi leaned against the post and surveyed the scene. Borche and Khader discussed a dice game. Cael wandered in to inn and started chatting up the locals.At one table was a knot of orcish folk, and a mixed group of humans, half-elves, and dark kobolds elsewhere. They seemed friendly enough.  Cael asked about the weather, local people of importance, any bandit or animal attacks, and anything that came to mind. The innkeeper was a half-orc woman with long, black braids and light green skin. She was currently passing a large number of ales to a young human woman. The initiate heard more gossip about bandits and the usual depredation on stock, but nothing particularly new or useful. He excused himself after a while and went to the barkeep. "Hello, my name is Cael. My companions and I just arrived in town. I was wondering if you could help me locate a person?"She glanced at him. "It's kinda busy--if you need me to get ya something, let me know, but talk must wait."Cael could see that she wa definitely very busy, and the inn's patrons were very thirsty. "Fair enough. Can I lend a hand?"At that, she barked out a laugh. "I ain't hirin, kid, so order or get offa the bar."Belsea stared at the wolf. Agniprava tied off his mule, then, without taking the wolf of the mule, examined its wound a bit more thoroughly. As Belsea stared at the wolf, the wolf also stared into her.Was the wolf eating the monk worth that unknowable but all too possible risk that it would devour others? She didn’t break eye contact with the beast. The wolf growled softly at her.Mikealus stabled Khon, paying a few coppers, then walked the length of the to observe the village’s layout. The place wasn’t rich, but it was orderly. He saw a communal baker, a potter, and what he thought was a thatcher. The houses often shared walls, so there were only a few side alleys. The whole place barely put a dent on east Ceteran, for all that. He sighed.  This whole mess of looking for someone who might not be there, but if he was, they needed to find without him finding them first....  It was not adventurous and exciting, it was all becoming rather frustrating.  He gave up - time for a beer.Cael put down a few coppers. "A drink then. Beer or wine is fine." He took his drink to the most populated table and tried to work the name Tamahsbi into the conversation. Khader and Borche joined him at the bar, ordering beers and the evening’s supper."The Tamahsbi are my cousins," one thick farmer said. "Bit wester here though. Say, are we related?" he asked Cael.Mikealus bellied up to the bar and ordered a few ales for himself and his companions."I believe not. If you are truly, cousins, I'm afraid I have bad news. We had a run in where we met your kin, Shuj. While traveling, he was killed by wolves in the night. We took his body to be tended to to the next town over," Cael said as he sipped his beer. "I tried my best to save him, but..." His voice trailed off a bit. After a long pause, he continued. "Before he died, I was told of a sister. I would like to inform her as well." The barkeep passes a round of dark beers to Mikealus and company. She seemed friendlier now that more money was going across the bar.Mikealus thanked the woman with only a nod, and sat himself in a corner with the Silver Horn members, passing out the drinks."Eh," the farmer said, "Don't know too much about that side of the family--spot of bad luck for him, though." He made a sign to ward off bad luck himself. "Good luck that he had someone there to give him proper rites, anyway. If'n you want to find more of them, you'd have to head norther a ways."Agniprava found that the wolf had become somewhat dehydrated. Belsea wasn't sure how long the wound would take to heal on its own enough for the wolf to become truly dangerous to the settlements; perhaps a week, perhaps never. She bared her teeth for the wolf and walked forward, then grabbed the animal around the muzzle and twisted the animal's head so it was forced to break eye contact.Agniprava roared at Belsea, "What do you think you're doing!?" The wolf struggled weakly and its growls became whimpers.She released the animal once the whimpers completely replaced the growls. "I would ask the same of you monk. Caring for a man eater.""Touch him again in that fashion and we will have words. Is he not wounded enough, you must treat him that way?"  After hearing her words, "If hunger is a crime I am guilty many times over.  Now leave him be.""You truly have no idea how wolves work." The wolf eyed them both balefully but was now quiet. A few mongrels were slinking around several paces away, not-looking-but-looking. A few children gathered to toss sticks at them."I do understand that pack animals hunt to eat.  And hunger is powerful motivation...that I know.""Aye, and if they'd won, I would not begrudge them the meat on our bones." Belsea stared at him. "But will you feel the responsibility for letting the man eater go so it can devour such people as them?"  She gestured to the children.Al'Pacem joined Mikealus and the others at the table, squeezing in beside a kobold whose feet didn't reach the floor. "Busy," he commented."I thank you." Cael said. "He also spoke of a job he had lined up. He was feverish, and most of it was jumbled, but he mentioned some kind of delivery and a man. Have any strangers been to town in the past few weeks seeking people for work?""Very.  Do all of these look like locals?"  Mikealus was used to this kind of variety in Ceteran, but a small village with such a varied populace was different.  More to the point that they'd all be in the tavern tonight...  He shrugged and then tested the beer."We've had some travelers lately," the man agreed. "A few been staying here until something's done about the bandits. We sent word to Shushtar but they ain't got here yet, if the messenger made it.""There is a kobold clan around here somewhere," al'Pacem mused."Blackfoot!" the one beside him piped up. "We are a mighty people! Our herds more than the stars!" Mikealus raised his horn to the kobold. "How far do yours range, you of the Blackfoot?” "We keep them on both sides of the river! Miles and miles," he bragged. "Biggest herds in five villages! Even humans don't have so many nor so fat."Mikealus grinned.  "I don't know about fat.  You should see my brother.  He lives in the Capital - I've no doubt he's bloated as a hog by now.""Nature takes its course,  whether they eat me or them, or each other."  Agniprava paused then, taking a measured breath, "The cycle continues as it does, on and on.  But no creature deserves to die for being what it is...a hunter or otherwise."Belsea grinned sharply.  "You say 'nature takes its course’ as you stay it. How typical.""Have you no respect for the cycle of nature?  Have you, a ranger, no respect for the cycle of life and death?  For as surely as they could kill us or the children, we may do the same to them could we not?  Is there nothing of this in your training, as it was taught to me by my parents, druids, devotees to the cycle?"Belsea laughed, "You pervert the cycle and call me the disrespectful? Tell me, monk, oh child of druids, which hunters won that night? Or does nature have the elk care for the wolf that night killed it?"Does the rabbit that struck the hawk ask for apologies?"Take it into its home and at the risk of its kittens?"Does nature burden another animal to carry its natural predator?" Her questions shot out straight and true, penetrating the monk’s rationale. "Pervert the cycle?  Life is to be respected in all its forms - mine, yours, the wolf's, the children - you seek to use the cycle to justify death - because death happens does not mean we should deal it out without remorse.  Speak not to me of perversion Belsea - if you seek to kill do it elsewhere.""Bah!" the kobold replied, waving off Mikealus. "Bloated with bloodflies! Our sheep have wool so fine that the shahbanu wipes her baby's tears with it!" Some of the other inn patrons were starting to listen in on this budding bragging contest. Even Borche was actually grinning.Mikealus nodded.  "Sheep I cannot speak to.  But my clan raise horses which dance better than your most nimble - which fight as desperately as your hardiest - and which breed like wild hares!""A dancing horse!" the kobold was overcome with laughter. "I cannot say that ours dance!""We've two rooms for the evening," al'Pacem cut in quietly. "Sounds like a full house tonight."Mikealus nodded to al'Pacem.  If it was a full house would it be better to stay in the common to keep an eye on who left?  Or to assume that one of the rooms upstairs may already shelter the occupant they were hunting for?  "At least none of us are sleeping in the stables,"  he said to the Captain, optimistically.  He glanced back at the kobold.  "Our horses dance - but they snore, too."Cael finished his drink and nodded to the man. He then joined al'Pacem and Mikealus. "No news of any mystery man so far," he whispered, "A few people are staying, but it seems like our mystery man is not staying here at the very least. I'll keep my eyes and ears open.""You seek to stop a death that would have happened. Again, which hunters won? What animal in nature would preserve its attacker? Or force another animal to carry its predator?""To care for the wounded is the natural impulse of all creatures.  Should we have let you die, Belsea, rent as you were by wolves that assailed you?  Or any of our other fellows who had suffered so?  No, we should not - and it was right to do so.  Or perhaps you would prefer that we let you bleed to death in the field.  Would that be the natural way for you, Belsea?""In all my time living in the woods, I've yet to seen animals care for each other in such a way as you for the wolf. Even for their own, which they extend much more courtesy, or even the parents to their offspring," Belsea stated, "As for my own bleeding, us 'intelligent beings are the only ones with such a developed sense of empathy."Ravi interrupted the tense discussion. "That thing and its pack killed my horse," he pointed out, "So while you two decide who eats it, I'm going in to drink." He ditched Belsea and Agniprava."Too right, Belsea - Because it is natural for me, as an intelligent being, to do so.  And I would like to get back to it."  Agniprava paused, fuming, but rapidly running through a mantra to calm him. "Not of all of life and nature is what kills what, and what deserves to die.  Much of life is living - and not exacting the hand of death upon creatures that offend you or attack you.  There is more to life than you see Belsea....I pity you."She made an amused sound, "For seeing only what you see, I know why you didn't take on your parents' calling." She shook her head and headed into the inn. What a human.The kobold seemed taken by this notion of snoring, dancing horses. "Alas, no horses in our warrens," it sighed wistfully... Despite being much too small to ride a horse."Aye, but you've your sheep to keep you warm at night,"  Mikealus opined, almost completely serious."But they kick," the kobold rebutted. "They kick hard enough to put any of the people through a wall!""Friend of the Blackfoot,"  Mikealus shook his head mournfully.  "Have you ever been kicked by a horse?""Naaay," it replied.Mikealus chuckled.  "Neigh indeed!  It is a good thing.  My clan raises horses which kick so hard, if one struck you, your neighbors would be complaining about the bruises!"The kobold snorted. "If one of our rams headbutted you, your mother's mother would know it!Mikealus winked.  "If one of our -mothers- headbutted you, every kobold in the kingdom would have a headache for months!""Is that a challenge?" the kobold asked. "You may not be a female, but I'm no hatchling!" It seemed high-spirited."That depends, friend.  Do you want me to ride back home and find my mother?  It will be late at night, and she will be bothered by the discourtesy, but I promise she'd be happy to ram-heads, sheep-kick, or horse-dance her way into your legends!""Ha! If she looks like a horse, has a head like a ram's, and feet like a sheep's, then I am surprised she is not already in yours!" This little impromptu contest had sparked a good deal of interest.Mikealus started laughing!  He signaled for another beer - it appeared his mirth had already emptied his first horn.Outside, the monk still wrestled with his irritation at the ranger’s impertinence. "You know even less than you think, Belsea..."  Agniprava said under his breath, pondering the fact that she was more wrong than she knew... He continued tending to the wolf.Cael was scanning the crowd for anyone who stuck out or behave oddly. He noted a few, but couldn't decide which, if any, was their man. One was a tall, fair man in clothes just nice enough to be noticeable by contrast. The second was a somewhat grimy man who looked to have a touch of orc about him. He was paying more attention to the table than to the argument. The last was a weedy fellow who had been watching the door intently. Cael had seen the first at the bar earlier; the  third entered a while ago, after Cael. As Belsea neared the bar, he rose to greet her, approaching her as if greeting an old friend. "Belsea! Come, sit with me. I will buy you a drink!" As he gets closer he said in a close whisper, "Play along. I think our man may be mixed in this crowd.""Is it Soju?"The young serving woman came around and poured Mikealus a fresh beer. It was so hearty that it was practically liquid bread. He smiled charmingly at the woman, and resolved to drink this one more slowly. "So, friend of the Blackfoot.  I've insulted your clan, you my mother, and yet I've still not had your name.  I am Mikealus.""I am Nikud the Shearer of the Wide Waters Blackfoot," the kobold says proudly. "It has been good to trade words with you!"Mikealus bowed his head deeply.  "And with you Nikud of the Blackfoot.  You have made a dark night into a cheery one."The barkeep overheard, since the crowd had settled. "We've soju.""It can be for you!" he said as he led them to the corner of the bar with the best vantage point. He quickly asked for two pours and sat down. "You have the best eyes among us. Watch these three people," he said quietly. Cael discreetly pointed out the three men. The barkeep quickly passed over two masu of soju. "Keep an eye on them. I want to alert our monk companion," Cael whispers as he sips his glass. He throws down a few more coppers on the table to cover the tab."The monk is outside caring for the man-eater." Belsea's mouth quirked oddly. "Thank you for the drink."Cael bowed to the barkeep and heads outside to find Agniprava. He just outside. "Friend, I may have found our culprit. There are three men that are a bit suspicious in the inn. I was hoping you would assist me." Cael said as he came closer. He described the men and roughly where they were sitting when he left the inn.Agniprava listened intently.  Deciding the wolf was safe for now, he shifted his attention to the matter of the graverobbers. "Of course friend, lead on.""Plus our young paladin friend is getting rowdy inside. Makes for a good distraction, nonetheless." "Fair enough."</blockquote>

Verification