Thar takes the smallest child and bting her up to his shoulders and follow the others to the Stonedog.   

Quote from Rynn_Elocin >>

 

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Bill looks up from his current task when Kalgren approaches. "The town's historical records? Well, unfortunately much of them were lost due to a fire many years ago, that was before even my time. If I recall, some were salvaged and kept in the library but most weren't anything to ancent. Hmmm, though the best place to look for that kind of thing is the Mayor's personal library. His family kept a lot of those old records safe. Why do you ask?"

(Feel free to RP some of your walk back if you wish. You'll make it back just as Kalgren answers Bill.)

'Overheard something and I want to check up on it.' Kalgren replied as he sat down. 'Withermore or something.' 

Though nonchalant in his reply Kalgren nonetheless kept a sharp eye on how people might react to the name.

'And would you be so kind to provide some breakfast? Whatever you have left is fine.'

As Kit walks back to the inn, she does some quick but painful calculations. If she can find a buyer, she could sell her armour and maybe replace it with some common leathers...or her longbow...certainly not her sword...she might be able to make enough performing to cover her own room and board but certainly nowhere near enough for herself and three children...

"We can make due with rations for a couple of days," she thinks to herself, "that might give me enough time to earn some funds."

"Maybe they would hold my wedding ring in collateral on a room," she thinks, he stomach souring at the thought.

As they make their way to the inn, Omen looks to Kit and gives a small frown, noticing her worry. he then reaches into his pocket and pulls out eight gold coins. "Here, make sure you and the kids are well cared for... It's just a little extra coin left over from my last job." The kenku says with a smile. "I've got more than enough left over for myself." he adds before handing the coins to Kit. 

There's no hiding the wave of relief that washes over the Half-Elf at the Kenku's offer, and yet stubborn pride immediately rears it's head.

"Omen, I couldn't possibly...you've already done so much..."

"Think of the children," Eila's voice chides.

"Thank you," she says, lowering her eyes in humility.

"It's a loan. I'll pay you back, with interest, as soon as we get the reward."

"Sure, sounds good." omen says with a nod. "Once we have our reward, I might even forget about you owning me a few measly coins." he adds with a wink before continuing on their way to the inn.

Thar simply takes Kit hand and puts his coin purse.

"That's 10 more gold. I'll talk to him with you we are old friends" 

Kit is moved nearly to tears by her companions' generosity.

"Thank you, Thar. I'll pay you back," she says as she tries to subtly wipe the corner of her eye.

"Let's go find these kids a place to stay."

As the group enters the Stonedog, Kit heads straight to the owner with gold in her hand and newfound hope in her heart.

Thar walks in, still with the kid over his shoulders.

"Hello Bill " he greets the innkeeper "as you can see our little party has a few new members that need some good food in their bellys and a bed. Can we do something about it? My friend Kit has some coins. Hope that buy us enough time to unravel what's going on here..."  

Bill pauses in what he is doing to look at Kalgren, "...Well you are in Withermore after all..." Glancing around the room, no one seems to take any notice to you stating the name of the town.

While Amery and Thar take turns carrying Daisy, Kit walks with Charlie and Sara while Omen leads the way back to the inn. As they walk, they discuss how they will pay for three children. Entering the Stonedog, the four of you note Cassian and Elenor's presents, and the absents of the drow. Just as Thar approaches Bill, Lilliana, who had been passing trays of food to some costumers stops her current task in surprise. Quickly delivering the food, she rushes over to Kit. "You found them! Oh thank goodness!" She exclaims delightedly while checking over the two older children. Then she looks between the rest of you, noting Daisy on Thar's shoulder. Then her face falls, "There were five..." She whispers, then covers her mouth and shakes her head. "I had hoped someone would bring these children back. They used to come around all the time to steal from the kitchen until I convinced them that I would just give them food. That red head...I hadn't seen them since the disappearances started....do not worry about these three. I will make sure they are taken care of." The plump halfling woman smiles at the children, though there is still sadness in her eyes.

Bill turns back to Thar, "As you can see, the children will be cared for. Lilliana's been worrying about those kids for a while. She's been begging for the mayor to make someone force them to come here. Don't worry about paying."

"Thank you," Kit says, again overcome by the generosity that she'd become unaccustomed to seeing back in Baldur's Gate.

"If you or the children are in need of anything..."

But the grief and the emotion are too much for her to force out anything more. She makes eye contact with Lilliana, hoping it conveys what's in her heart.

(At an appropriate moment she, of course, returns Omen and Thar's coins.)

Thar nods to Bill and thanks Lilliana with a nod. He pats Kit on the shoulder. 

" Thanks Bill we appreciate it. We should sit and I think we all would love a something hot for breakfast. "

Once they are seated the bugbear looks to the others.

"So... what's next... I've notice the absence of our drow friend..." 

Kit hadn't given the absence much thought but, spurred by Thar's comment, she furrows her brow.

"We should probably check that he made it back after the fight last night."

Omen tips his hat towards the halfling as she takes in the children before turning towards his companions. "Well... I think we get something to eat and then we head out into the woods..." The kenku says as he adjusts his tophat. "If we can find the drow before we head out, we can see if he wants to tag along... although I would rather not have to split our reward more ways than necessary." he adds as he finds an empty table and sits down in a chair. "When we followed those creatures last night, they fled towards the woods. I think that should be our next step... This town is their hunting grounds but we need to find their lair..." 

Completely blanked on the fact that the town is named Withermore...

Kalgren mentally kicked himself against the shins. That was what he got for sleeping in: his head was not yet in the right frame of mind.

'Right right. Withermore.' He muttered as he reached for some breakfast. 'Famed for its... roses, if I do recall correctly.' He stuffed his mouth. 'Mayor's personal library: thanks for the tip.'

He looked up in time to see his companions walk in and take a seat. They were going over the next course of action. 'I have a potential lead. Concerns the daughter of the town's founder. Witchcraft and all that. Wasn't that much liked. Might be worth looking into.' He wiped his lips clean with a napkin. 'But I concur that the creatures are a more pressing matter. If they have a lair, we'll have a better chance at finding it during the day.'

"Don't forget shopping. We'll want torches, oil, and whatever else we can find that's flammable and easy to transport."

"Good thinking Kit." Omen says with a nod. "We should all make sure we have torches at the very least."

Quote from Furujiru >>

'I have a potential lead. Concerns the daughter of the town's founder. Witchcraft and all that. Wasn't that much liked. Might be worth looking into.'

 "How long would it take to look in to? If it's connected to what's going on, then it might give us an edge once we find the lair."

She shudders

"Last night was a close call. If we're going to face those things on their home turf we need every advantage we can get, but not if it means we're stomping around in the woods after dark."

"What do you think," she says to the others, "can we spare an hour or two to investigate? Some of us can get supplies together while the rest follow up on Kalgren's lead"

Lilliana gives Kit a knowing nod, "Of course, and if you wish to visit them, don't be a stranger." Then looks to Thar, who is still holding Daisy, expectantly, "I'll take them now. I'm sure they could all use some food and a warm bath." Once the bugbear passes the child, the old halfling gives Kit a small smile before leading the children towards the rooms at the back of the inn.

"I'll get your breakfast taken care of soon enough." Bill replies then chuckles, "Though it may take a little longer since Lilliana is occupied now. The drow? Oh, he did come in last night, he was pretty late but he did come back. He made it back before Kalgren did actually. I believe he headed back out pretty early in the morning, he likes to start doing whatever he does when the sun is still low."

He shakes his head at Kalgren's reply, smiling slightly. "Roses you say? Hah! Now where'd you get that notion?" Without much to add, he steps out for a few minutes. Despite his earlier comment, he procures breakfast for the rest of you rather quickly. Passing out the plates he adds, "If you want to pay Mayor Herrenson a visit,  I can guarantee he's at his home right now. He barely leaves it these days. He's been a bit paranoid lately...though he has plenty of reason to be."

Amery takes a seat and wolfs down breakfast and in between mouthfuls he says, "I agree with Kit that if we are headed to the forest, we should deal with the plant fortress during daylight hours I have several torches, but some vials of oil should help spread the fire. My vote is to deal with the plant creatures first."