Penley takes the rope and begins to tie the bandit to a chair. Then, he holds out the rope to the barmaid, asking if he can tie her up. He's found that people respond better when you ask permission first. Well, not to kill them, but for most other things. When you're killing someone, you just gotta do it.

Once both are tied up, he looks at the bandit, then turns to the group "Okay, here's how this is going to go. Bridgette, I want you to play good guard. I'll be the bad guard. Bok'shir, stand there with your sword and look scary. And Muck..." he turns to the plasmoid and squats down to whisper directly to the ooze "I need you to a very important job. It's crucial to our success. Do you understand?"

Muck nods like an eager toddler.

The barkeep (she is more than just a maid :p) allows herself to be tied up

Bok'Shir waits for the barkeep to answer his questions.

(OOC: Not sure if DM missed Bok'Shirs questions before, after the barkeep said they knew what the redbrand did)

(The DM did not miss them. The DM thought he replied but clearly never hit send) "I don't know how many. But I know there are more than 10 of them, and others I have likely not seen. I know they have an entrance to their hideout under Tresendar Manor, something about a catacombs, and I also know their leader is someone called "Glasstaff" and that someone else called "The Spider" is the one who told them to cause trouble here, even sending some bugbears to help, but they don't come in here. They have helped with bullying and even kidnapping others. They hold people in makeshift cells near the crypt."

OOC: I find it funny that this ladies just answering the questions while in the process of being tied up. At one point during her monologue, Penley grabs a dish towel to use as a gag and is just annoyed waiting for the lady to finish.

"Interesting. Anything else you can tell us before we wake this idiot up" Penley asks, gesturing with one claw to the knocked out Red-Cloak.

"Okay, I can do that," Bridgette says, accepting her role as 'good guard.'

She pauses, glancing at the now bound and gagged bartender. She can't help but giggle as a thought occurs to her.

"You know... we probably could have just had her wait in the back of the bar and said we overpowered her if the thug asked for whatever reason..."

"This good. We use this", Bok'Shir says happily regarding the bartenders information drop, even as he draws his sword and tries on a few scary expressions.

"Which look scary most?", he asks the others as he alternates between a few.

As Bridgette mentions not tying up the bartender, he frowns, "But now can help selves to drinks", he says with a throaty giggle before getting back to the business of looking scary.

He will also practice wreath his sword in green flames for as long as possible to add to the effect.

[How long is this all taking... Long enough for a short rest? <clasped hands, doe-eyed emoji>]

If Muck is not getting involved in the interrogation, they can have a short rest, Anyone getting involved is not having a rest.

The barkeep has told all she knows. (and to save time, you don't get anything additional in your interrogation either. It is amazing how much people talk about when they think no one is listening or when they have had enough liquor to loosen their lips)

"What waste time", Bok'Shir complains as no new information comes to light. "This minion no use. Should dead it", he says pointing at the Redbrand and giving a chuckle at mimicking Muck's terminology.

He looks to the others, "Now hungry. We eat?". 

Bridgette is a bit perturbed by the idea of murdering a helpless captive... even if he would probably be more than happy to do so to any of them if the situations were reversed.

"Maybe he'll learn a lesson from this...?" she says, glancing at the captive.

She sighs. She knows she's probably going to be voted down and her companions are going to murder the thug... but something else has occurred to her as she sits down on one of the stools.

"You know... if this is one of the places that these Redbrands frequent, maybe it would be best if we set a trap and let them come to us instead of marching into their lair. We could at least thin their numbers a bit before storming their manor. I can take over the barmaid's job... I wouldn't be too surprised if all orcs look the same to these jerks, and if they do notice something's up then I can just say I'm a relative of hers."

While this occurs, Muck snoozes in full puddle form, snores emerging as occasional small bubbles.

"Yes, yes", Bok'Shir agrees. "You be her", he says looking at Bridgette and pointing to the bar keep. "I sit. Eat food. When they come, we surprise".

With that he goes and takes a seat at one of the tables with a higher chair for one of short stature, needing to pretty much clamber up it.

"Ready for food now".

Penley, deep in thought as he studies the Red-Brand, looks up. At the realization that the plan has changed, he stands, straightening his vestments, and looks around. His mouth opens, revealing as fangs as almost protests, then realizes the intelligence of Bridgette's plan, the intelligence surprising coming from the oft silent orc. Instead, he straightens and nods his ascent at the plan. Very well. This seems to be what we're doing now. 

Once some time has passed for the slime to look rejuvanated, the Tabaxi lightly pokes the amorphous blob and wakes him. He speaks to Muck, and tells him what he should do "Use your powers of disguise to appear as if a beer puddle on the floor. Then, when fighting breaks out, you can sneak attack!" Penley says with malicious glee as he makes eye contact with Bok'shir, flicking his gaze to the thug to indicate that he should take the Red-Brand and dispose of him.

Bok'Shir gives Penley a thumbs up, assuming Penley was indicating they would take care of the redbrand, seeing as how Bok'Shir himself was already sat waiting for food.

"Best disappear bodies", he says to Penley whilst pointing out the front door. "No surprise if see bodies".

He stays seated waiting for Bridgette to play barkeep and cook.

Bridgette beckons to the barmaid to follow her.

"I think you're going to get a little bit of a vacation," she says with a friendly smile. "Come on, let's get you set up somewhere in the back of the tavern where you can wait this out..."

Once the barmaid is situated comfortably, Bridgette does her best to feed the kobold... she's not an especially good cook, but she does her best to make a satisfying meal for the little guy, frying up a steak for him and filling a mug with beer.

"Just remember... as a customer, you still need to pay for your dinner," she chuckles as she sets the food and drink on the counter for him.

After she's fed Bok'Shir, Bridgette would like to take a short rest while we wait for the Redbrands to show up.

Muck flips colors from neon orange to black light purple to plaid and polka dot before landing on an appropriately beer-seeming color and consistency.

"How's this?" it asks. "Oh, and can someone please keep my stuff safe while I'm like this?"

You all prepare (I assume that between you all, you sort out disposing the bodies even if there is some argument over who), and sure enough, a few hours later (everyone can do a short rest) three more Redbrands turn up at the bar. They go up to get drinks, and immediately see that the bartender is different. "You aren't Greska!" and then they look around and see Bok'shir (and maybe Penley. I am not sure what Penley is up to). "And you are an outsider too. You must be the ones the boss told us to remove!" and they draw their weapons.

Party init: 3
Enemies init: 23

If the party are higher, you may all take your turns. Muck can have advantage on their first attack, as can Penley if he was hidden somewhere.

Bridgette doesn't need to hear anything else... with her bonus action she'll hex the guy who blew her cover (if it matters, she hexes his Strength). Then she zaps him with an eldritch blast

EB vs. Loudmouth Redbrand:

Attack: 22; Damage: 6 (force) + 2 (necrotic).

Bridgette is behind the counter; will that provide her with half-cover?