As far as you know, he’s being truthful.

Surprised to have this person interrupt a private conversation, Kethra stops, stares the refugee in the eyes, trying to search their motives. After a moment, she gives the refugee a slight smile. "I guess you're alright...how long have you been serving this keep, and where are you from? And are you capable of defending yourself?"

To Mr. Tyde, she asks, "So, where did you want to go next?"

"We won't force you to go anywhere you don't wish." Rubin speaks up. "Do you know of a safe place we can rest for a bit though?"

He shrugs.

"I’m from Womford.  Been captured fer . . .a month or so?  I’m not from these parts, can’t help ye there."

Kethra raises an eyebrow at the man.

"Well, that's really strange. We captured one of those 'brigands' who was hired to defend the keep and he said that they were recruiting mercenaries in Womford...just what is going on in that town?"

She thinks for a moment, gives Xanranzan a nudge and starts chatting up to cheer him up for running ahead by himself, only for everyone else to hang back and chat.

"Come to think of it we never asked where you came from, are you also from Womford? Mr. Tyde was thinking of going to Womford if we couldn't find this keep, you know. It actually might do us some good, because it'll actually cheer up Rubin a bit. You see, Rubin doesn't really talk so much unless we hit up a tavern."

She laughs, steals a glance over her shoulder and her voice drops to a whisper as she continues, "He's kind of quiet like that, but I for one, appreciate him all the same."

(An fyi, which people can clear me up if I'm off about it, is my original interpretation was to get some distance away from the keep. Good distance, before we start casually chatting/interrogating people. But, I guess we don't give as much of a care about pursuers, or its assume by everyone but me the whole talking bit came about because reached a safe enough distance. Because fire distraction aside, its probably not a good idea to be seen as distant figures from the keep... likely with at least a torch lit, if the moon isn't bright enough to see at least each other by)

If people had started truly lagging behind for convos, Xanranzan jogging slows to a more a fast paced walk. Although he shoots the occasional look back in concern either which way, every leery of pursuers. As a result, any nudging to start chatting is likely to be more one-side, as Xan can hardly do more than answer with brief response or perhaps a chuckle bit without paranoia having him sidetracked with looking elsewhere again.

It's only when talk turns to about an actual destination that he slows a bit more to let someone else take a point after saying, "Right. Probably gonna one have at least destination in mind. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly the Desserin Valley area, so, uh, I'll follow ya'll lead."

(OOC: I agree with this decision too! My vote is to head towards Womford because it's supposed to be close by, we can drop these refugees off to their families and find out what's going on with the cult recruitment there.)

"I think getting to a town is our first order, once we have time to rest up a bit." Rubin agrees. "Or is this town we are heading towards close enough we can reach there in a couple of hours?"

"Then I guess that's where we're going. Lead on, boss man." Xanranzan says while pumping a fist near the end. "The sooner we get there the better. I'm used to walking for long periods of time 'n all, but my bulet's are already killing me." He jokes before picking up the pace again to better match whatever one the group decides to stick for the remainder of the journey. Throughout which he kept up a brave face. But for those who can see between the cracks, more than fatigue would dog his steps, and leave him half-distracted for most of the trip.

(I am trying to figure out how long we are going to be allowed to go before the exhaustion checks start coming from the DM. rubin is wishing to find a place to rest, unless the town is close by. If it is a half day, or more, away, then we need to rest closer to the keep than not. Not sure we want to risk exhaustion at this point, with possible reprisals maybe coming sooner or later.)

(Sorry, must have forgotten to hit post.  Should have made this clearer as I contradicted myself, the servant isn’t from Womford—his caravan was.  That’s on me.)

(To avoid exhaustion, you would have to rest before the town.)

Quote from Mehmen >>

Throughout which he kept up a brave face. But for those who can see between the cracks, more than fatigue would dog his steps, and leave him half-distracted for most of the trip.

The pale eyed girl will offer Xanranzan some food from their bounty at the Keep. But if he reaches for it, she pulls it away, takes a bite out of it, and sticks her tongue at him.

"So? When do you plan on answering my question, hmm? So are you going to tell me your story?"

After this, she'll grab Xanranzan a different, fresh loaf from the bag and apologetically gives it to him.

"Sorry," the little barbarian confesses as she devours her own morsel of food, "If why you're here is a secret, you can just tell me this a secret. I'll understand.

"And I'm not actually angry, it's more like I can't think straight when I'm hungry...I guess you can say I'm hangry! I want to stop and take a break but part of me also wants to keep moving because I'm also worried about the Water cult finding us out here!"

Kethra pulls her hood over her own face and screams a little into it.

Quote from DragonDenn >>

rubin is wishing to find a place to rest, unless the town is close by. If it is a half day, or more, away, then we need to rest closer to the keep than not. Not sure we want to risk exhaustion at this point, with possible reprisals maybe coming sooner or later.

"We just kicked down an angry hornets nest and killed their "queen". We slowed them down by smoking them out, but that won't last for long... Rubin! Can we trust you to find a hidden place to rest?"

(OOC: Sorry! I remembered reading that Womford was nearby, but I didn't realize we had to exhaust ourselves to do it. If Rubin needs to roll anything for camping, Kethra will offer to Help if he wants any help.)

Rubin shrugs and melts into the shadows, off to find a good place for the group to rest.

(Rubin, please roll survival for me.)

It takes almost a full minute for Xanranzan to even recognize the offer, even if its waved in his face. And afterwards, it less he intentionally tried to reach out for it, but by happenstance a hand raised a bit further out on its course to scratch his own hand comes close enough to likely encourage the same reaction. "Huh?" He respond dumbly, appearing genuinely confused at the question; only to raise brow in growing bewilderment.

Unfortunately, whether out of politeness, hesitation, or something else altogether, he failed to answer before the littler barbarian is continues speaking of secrets, hangriness, and more. But a few seconds after Kethra has pulled her hood over her face, a small smile worms its way into being while the genasi reached out to pet her head. "Sorry 'bout all that. Sometimes I have these, uh... moments, I guess you can call them. Timez my brain gets a little stuck on the one thought or other, and I might miss important bitz. And I've gotten kind of used to just catching up wherever I 'come to' at, and uh... mn... well, hope what I missed weren't nuthin' too important." He smiled sheepishly. "But uh, I could'a sworn I mentioned where when yaw'll first found me. But looks not. So, to, uh... answer yer question. Technically I'm from Phandalin, which is a ways south and west from here, I think. But more than that, uh... I'm sorry. I can hardly think straight right now. Mind if hold this off 'til the morning?"  

Rubin survival: 8

(To DragonDenn: Kethra was helping you, so you should have advantage. Unless Rubin is going the lone wolf route of ignoring it.)

Thought you were just asking Rubin to do it, did not realize you were helping as well. In that case, here is the second survival check... 18

(Going to have to put this on hold for 2-3 days.  I’m having to use my phone and it’s just too annoying to DM with its tiny ass keyboard.  Should be back off mobile the 7th or 8th.)

Quote from Mehmen >>

It takes almost a full minute for Xanranzan to even recognize the offer, even if its waved in his face. And afterwards, it less he intentionally tried to reach out for it, but by happenstance a hand raised a bit further out on its course to scratch his own hand comes close enough to likely encourage the same reaction. "Huh?" He respond dumbly, appearing genuinely confused at the question; only to raise brow in growing bewilderment.

(Sorry, but can you explain what happens here? Was Xanranzan oblivious to what Kethra was doing? I've had to read it, walk away and read it again but I still don't think I've got it. I'm so dumb sometimes.)

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

(Going to have to put this on hold for 2-3 days.  I’m having to use my phone and it’s just too annoying to DM with its tiny ass keyboard.  Should be back off mobile the 7th or 8th.)

(Yeah, I've found formatting on mobile to be *such* a pain too. Have a nice relaxing weekend, DM)