"Uh. Can you slow down?" A beat. "by a lot."

Creach tilts his head a little;

"Thisisslow. Keepup."

Hand slowly reaching for a fifth cup of coffee.

Olaerys reaches his hand forward and pats Creach on the hand, says “Easy, easy, maybe you want to lighten up on the coffee or switch to decaf.  You think you found where we should go?  By all means, we will follow you!”

"let's stop by the Temple of Tymora first! We can get some handy items."

“Good I’m glad you found a lead,” says the professor, “we need to be careful. I had a chat with Durnan last night before bed. He more or less said that this Xanathar guild is going to be gunning for us.” He turns and looks at the Erek.

”We were hired to find Floon by his friend Volo. The rest of us,” he nods to the others at the table, “were involved in a scuffle last night. We interrupted some guild members assaulting a Zhent and despite a lot of work to not kill anyone, we were interrupted by a troll who managed to kill and eat one. I expect the guild failures will be blamed on us and we are likely to be hunted. So you’re welcome to join us but you will be traveling with and making yourself a target for this guild. I’m be of our member has already disappeared, I assume he made a break for it. If anyone else wants to make a break for it and run, be my guest. I for one am going to try to stick together for safety. I am not much good on my own, but am pretty good at helping others release their true potential.”

”Now, we need a gameplan. We have a lead to follow up on but do we have supplies needed for what may happen? I’m out of crossbow bolts and it’s always a good idea to have some healer kits to help treat injuries.”

”We also should check in with the half-orc from last night. I don’t trust her much more than the guild members but she at least owes us a bit so may be able to help us.”

“Amen to that Professor!  And praise be to Helm!  Let’s be careful with this thing since we are likely now a target as you say.  I would be in favor of a cautious, subtle approach if possible.”  

"Yes. I saw the whole debacle with the gang and the troll and overheard the conversation with Volo. No need to give me a recap." Erek quickly cuts in. He glances around as he studies those at the table with him. Tilting his head in thought. "So where to first. My home or the shops? I suggest my home, that way we know what we're getting for free and don't overspend."

At the mention of subtlety, Erek grins. "With Tymora's blessing, I can help with a subtle approach."

Zimm raises an eyebrow at the suggestion the X men will be gunning for them.

Hunting us?  As far as I’m concerned, I SAVED four of their junior members.  I should have let them be troll food... he thinks to himself.  But he does not interrupt the Professor who is on a roll.

“Well then where to first?” He looks to the group at the table, awaiting their decision.

As proof of his (and Tymora's) ability to help, Erek reaches  over to the Paladin of Helm. Slapping him across the chest. And in that instance- the rattling of his armor has stopped as he feels divine energy rush through his body.

Blessing of the Trickster

Starting when you choose this domain at 1st level, you can use your action to touch a willing creature other than yourself to give it advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. This blessing lasts for 1 hour or until you use this feature again.

“Whoa, thanks Erek!  This is amazing!  The links on my chain mail are silent, that’s great.  I could do all sorts of things with this, like tie shoelaces together in a bar - I love it!”  Olaerys is happy with his new stealthy movement, which is foreign to him.  

"Tymora's gift, to all of you." Erek does a grand gesture. A beat. "one at a time though."

Caix listens to the mix of conversation with interest and slight amusement at the tremendous effect caffeine seems to have on its new imbiber.  "Creach, coffee contains something that can overwhelm the senses if you're not used to it.  Please, here, have some bread and fruit."  She says passing him some.  Then to the others, "I definitely need to get some supplies, oil for sure should be on hand in case we run into one of those again." Tilting her head towards the shaft, indicating the downed troll.    

"Erek, you say the the Temple will give gifts of magical items to us just for the asking?  This Floon fellow was only a devote.  Why would they be so generous with obviously valuable items?  Is there more to him that we need to know?"  

Face now getting stuffed with fruit, Creach manages to say in between bites;

”Well, I would imagine that it’s not Floon they’re trying to save, it’s their image. Imagine if a devotee of the goddess of luck went missing and had a long string of misfortune. Very bad indeed for the temple’s image.”

"I already told you. Keep up." Says Erek in Creach's voice. "It's not just for us. It's for -all- adventurers. Anyone that comes and asks that is brave and daring receives minor magical items. Creach, if you're not careful about what you say about my home, you might get a fist to the face." this is  the first time he's been upset about anything- at least that the group has seen- his cheerful smile faltering. "These people found me as a baby on their doorstep and took me in. Do you know how many people would take in a "demon or a devil's child"- at the cost of their 'image?'"

Zimm rubs his forehead between his eyes, the coffee having helped his headache... but the tension at the table bringing it back with a vengeance.

Is everyone in this town a slave to their ego? he ponders. The magical academies, the arch-mages, even down to the temple initiates and... owl people.  None can get out of their own way, their own need to dominate and insist upon their own views being superimposed overtop of reality.  Why, if I were in charge.... He shakes his head and focuses his attention back on the matter at hand.

"I have no need to shop but recognize some of you may have different requirements and I support taking the time to see that all of our needs are filled before we step out into unknown danger."  He looks to Erek.  "This 'free magic item' offer is intriguing, though please do not take offense when I say I remain a touch skeptical.  Nothing in this world comes without a price.  Let me guess... since it is the church of Lady Luck we are speaking about, there must be some chance or risk involved?  Perhaps, 'flip a coin.  Heads: you win a magic prize!  Tails: you enter into indentured servitude to the faith for a predetermined period of time.'  Is that about right?"

"This isn't the church of Beshaba. I literally said what happens. We give out free items, albeit minor, to adventurers. You're all making me regret making the offer. Let's just buy some stuff and go."

There is a deep intake of breath as he repeats to himself. "this isn't the church of Beshaba. We help all that come for help." This is more to himself than anything, making it clear that the tiefling wrestles with something dark within. 

"Forgive me. Once again. They raised me. Most people would have stepped around me. The offer is still good."

“Wherever we decide to go we should stick together now. Last night they were licking their wounds but from now on going out alone or splitting up into smaller groups is too risky. They’re looking for us. I won’t lie and say I’m not worried about the guild. I’m scared, and if you have half a brain you should be scared too. We’re on their turf, they know these streets and these people better than we do.” He pauses to let that sink in.

“But we all also have a certain set of skills that will help us. A set of skills that when used together will make us much stronger than if we split apart. Our bird person friend Creach seems to be a hunter and tracker. Zimm there Is an aspiring wizard and we all saw some of his magical abilities last night. Caix is nimble, stealthy, and good with the dagger, she also knows the streets well. Olaerys there has the muscle and the armor. I have a way with words and can help everyone be better. Erek I assume you have the favor of your god?”

”Together, we are much stronger. We each have strengths that cover and support the weaknesses of the others. Remember your training and abilities and you’ll do fine.”

He will continue with his speech like this, encouraging you all and giving general advice to stick together for 10 minutes in order to enact the inspiring leader feat. Everyone gets 4 temporary hit points.

Zimm prepares a dismissive retort for Erek... but catches himself.  He rubs his forehead a bit more.

"Forgive me, advocate of Tymora.  It occurs to me that I asked you not to take offense, and then immediately said something objectively offensive.  My time in Waterdeep has left me more... cynical than usual.  I will refrain from questioning your motivations further.  Again, my sincere apologies."