Brin huffs in resignation. "Wasting half the day then it is." He grumbles as they move towards the center of town. "Going to be just sitting around the taverns fer most of the day, when we could have been out checking about this critter that be causing problems." His muttering is loud enough for the others to hear, but he continues trudging through the snow with them.

"Surely Hlin will not have expected us to go fishing though" Gonly responded to Brin, hoping to appeal to Brin's sense of honor in the agreement. 

At the moment, it was the only thing keeping him trudging through the snow as well. The monster did require attention, and that Berylbore would need seeing-to as well. 

"We went to the docks for the information." He gritted his teeth, "they didn't have any, so now we've to find more" He exhaled letting a rough breath out. "Let's hope nobody tries to kill us again, or if they do, at least be upfront about it." He finished deadpan, looking forward and stretching out his shoulders. 

Fahana follows along crunching through the snow as the frigid wind blows through her hair.  She was quite taken by Tali and the reward of magic that she offered.... I mean anything of arcane substance was of interest to her so naturally she was a bit saddened by the fact that the group wanted to go back to the taverns... but all is not lost she thinks, she can still question others at the tavern about the lake monster while they fulfill the original agreement with Hlin.  Honor was important so Hlin should naturally come first but after that, she would come back to help Tali even if it was on her own.

"Do we know where the taverns are?" she asks quietly as they trudge through the snow. "Do we really expect folks to be there at 1 or 2 in the afternoon?"

The four of you wander aimlessly around for a couple of minutes eventually landing at the center of the town. There are five different taverns built right next to each other in a semicircle. Starting from the left, they are named: Stones, Even Keel, the River’s Mouth, the Grumpy Moose, and the Black-Bearded Brother.

As the group closes in on the taverns, Fahana notices the names and in an attempt to lighten the mood a bit sh mentions "We should start at Stones.... since it's just a stones throw away..." Right after the words get out, she realizes that the humor may be lost but it was worth a try.  "Well, I'm going to start at Stones Tavern simply because it's the first one in the row."  She trudges over to the door and enters the tavern.  She looks around to see what patrons are currently there.

Waylin smirked at her joke and followed her lead, "Shall we get this one and you two can investigate the next inn over?  We can cover more ground this way, put out for feelers for what we want to learn."  Waylin glanced beyond the group, seeming to see a familiar face, his skin going flush.  He turned his head slightly, studying the frost covered door as to hide his features.  A brief moment passed before he glanced back, the figure seemingly vanished.

"Seems like be a good use of time." Brin says with a shrug. He nods to the next tavern in the line and trudges towards it.

Gonly nodded in approval before following behind Brin.

Fahana and Waylin, the two of you enter the Stones tavern and see a few patrons inside. A pair of, presumably, off duty guards. A trio consisting of a gray-skinned orc, a human with with orange hair and beard, and a halfling with brown hair swept to the left side of her head.The tavern is decent looking, clean, quiet. At the opposite end of where you came in from is a bar. A dwarf with an eyepatch is tending to it and looks up as he hears you two come in. He nods at the both of you. 

Gonly and Brin, the two of you enter Even keel. You spot a duo sitting in a circular table and a blonde bearded dwarf manning a bar at the opposite end of the tavern. The duo’s clothes are quite peculiar, almost matching. They also both have their hoods up. The place could use some tidying up as you spot bits of food underneath some of the tables. The warmth makes up for the mess though. 

Waylin gives the barkeep a slight friendly nod as he walks over to the group of three, "Mind if I have a seat with you fine gentlemen?" Waylin holds up a few fingers to catch the barkeep's attention, "A round for my friends, good sir."  He studies the group with a friendly smile, hoping the offer of a free drink would endear him to them and that they would be more inclined to answering the questions of an nosy adventurer, his hand coming to rest on the back of a vacant chair.

Waylin, as soon as you as you try to sit down, the halfling with the sideswept hair snarls at you. "Gentlemen? Get lost, buddy." She says.

Waylin paused and took a breath, turning his head to the side, muttering softy a brief phrase, casting Thalmaturgy once more upon himself. His eyes taking on a waxy appearance, akin to cataracts.  His face turning rosey as he turned back, "My apologies, my vision wasn't what it was since the accident, if any offense was taken, I mean none. Please, let me make this mistake up by buying the next around." 

Deception: 20

Waylin, The halfling relaxes a bit and rolls her eyes. “Whatever, sure. Buy us drinks.” She leans back on her chair and crosses her arms. The human with the orange beard leans forward, head resting on both hands. “It’s been a long time since someone bought me a drink, what do you need from us?” He asks.

Waylin takes a seat, "I've been looking for a merchant's caravan, goes by the name of Torrga or the sort. They're somewhere within Ten Towns, but I haven't had much luck in finding them thus far." 

Before walking too far in, Gonly looked to Brin, and said low, "I trust you won't let me make any more promises?"

He grinned and followed with, "I'm serious-we're just here to find Torrga-If they don't know, or try to put us out somewhere else, we leave, right?"

"Be seeing what they be knowing." Brin says with a nod. He moves to the dwarf and gives the other dwarf a nod of greeting. "Be seeking a merchant that be around these parts some. Do ye be knowing where Torrga be going off to recently?"

Waylin, the orange-haired man leans back and says, “Oh! Torg’s yeah we just-.” The halfling puts up a gloved hand and stops him from continuing his words. She then rubs her fingers together and grins. The human looks confused for a second then starts to smile slowly as he catches on. “Ah. Right you are, Eleanor.” The halfling, Eleanor, speaks up, “How much is this information worth to you exactly?” The dwarf with an eyepatch, the bartender, walks to your quartet and serves you all the drinks. He extends a hand out to you and says, “Eight copper.”

Brin and Gonly, the dwarf acknowledges you both and says, “Hello.” flatly in response to Brin’s nod. “Torrga? Hm. I’ve no idea.”

Brin turns to the identically dressed two. "Ye there, ye be knowing anything about Torrga, or where they be leaving town towards?" He is quite abrupt and likely just calls across the common room at the two.

Waylin hands the dwarf a silver piece, "Keep the change." He smiled softly at the dwarf, taking the tankard in hand, drinking a long drought from it. Foam coating his beard and mustache, a small trickle running down his chin. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve then turned to the trio, humming slightly, "I see you have heard of them and perhaps purchased their wares." Waylin set the tankard down, a soft thud emanated from the table. He crossed his hands, leaning forward slightly, "As for what it might be worth to me? Well how about ten coppers?" His tail flicked in slight annoyance.

Bryn and Gonly roll a perception check. 

Waylin, the halfling laughs loudly with her high pitched voice. She clutches her sides and gets up from the table. “Ha! You hear that you two!? Ten coppers!” The orange-haired man starts to laugh as well and the orc simply grunts. She looks up at you and stops laughing. “Hm. Counter offer, six gold pieces. Take it or leave it.” Waylin the effects of your thaumaturgy have mere seconds left on it.