Daventry plops down from the wagon, walking alongside it. "Let's at least board the horses for a few hours, get a meal and ask some of the locals if they know the path to the mine. If it's still early enough by the time we're done, we can think about hitting the road again tonight, but it might be best to stay at the inn if we're only going to gain an hour or two before dark." She eyes the Bored Weasel as a starting point.

"I kind of like this place,"  Triäsa says as she observes the bustle of activity while hopping out of the cart.  "Daventry, I think you are right about boarding the horses. We ought to consider staying though. I will say it again, it gives us time to gather information."  She continues scanning the place and notes the general goods store. "The Challenging Boulder - that might be the place to find warmer clothing and supplies."

She seems to be mainly speaking with Daventry, though the question encompasses the entire group.  "Lunch first and then supplies? Though if we are going to enjoy a glass of wine like those folks..."  She indicates those sitting on the porch of The Bored Weasel. "... I need to know if we are hitting the road or hitting the town."  She chuckles lightly, an easy smile on her face. 

(If the horses still don't have names, what about Astral and Ethereal?) 

"Happy to hit the town tonight, Ms. Boozy." Daventry laughs. "I'll admit, is more than I expected here, and always nice to enjoy the touch of civilization." 

"Yes, I think we are in no hurry. Surely we can afford to stay the night here in Maerin. It may be a while until we can sleep in a comfortable bed again." Ludolf says looking between Daventry and Triäsa. "Let's get the horses and our cart boarded before we have that lunch at the Bored Weasel then."

Assuming we take care of the horses and the cart without incident (Ludolf pays 2 gp for the boarding until tomorrow). Ludolf would then join the others at the Bored Weasel and order something good from the menu, drinking water for now. While at the bar he would try to strike up a conversation with the barkeep about who could tell them more about Vermeillon and Chalet Brantifax. You might notice that Ludolf often quickly and discreetly consults his black tome for Guidance.
Persuasion if needed: 13 + 3 Investigation if needed: 15 + 4

The Bored Weasel is a comfortable and welcoming tavern. The inside has the same homely charm as the rest of the village and looks like it seat about 40 people comfortably. There are a number of patrons inside enjoying a variety of foods and drink. As you find a table a older dark skin man whose hair is kept in a very neat white, mohawk comes round to serve you. He appears to be the only one working.

With a comforting smile he says, "Welcome to the Bored Weasel. My name is Lukas Grosvenor, owner and your humble servant during your stay here in Maerin. We are running a special on our famous Salty Fish Surprise but if you are in the mood for something more hearty we have an excellent elk steak with potatoes.  Can I get you some ale or wine while you are deciding?"

Ludolf, when you question him about Vermeillon you see him go a little white and the hint of a tear wells up in the old mans eye. He blinks quickly and he returns to his initial jovial demeanor. "I know Vermeillon, thats where I was born though I was just babe when the mine collapsed that's how I lost both my parents.... Merchant brought me here and the old tavernkeep and his wife took me in. Why in the Nine Hells would you be wantin' to go there? I am sure it is nothing but a ruin."

Ludolf orders the elk steak with potatoes before questioning Mr. Grosvenor about Vermeillon. "I am so sorry for your loss Mr. Grosvenor." Ludolf starts in a serious tone, doing his best to be delicate about the matter. "We are going there to find out what happened all those years ago. Perhaps we will be able to return to you with answers." 
Persuasion to try to comfort Mr. Grosvenor and get his help: 20 assuming help from someone with this.

Triäsa goes with everyone to The Bored Weasel.  "I will try the fish," she tells Lukas. "Hopefully the surprise will be pleasant!" she says with a grin.

She lends a sympathetic voice to Ludolf's condolences.  "That does sound like a terrible loss.  It seems you were quite fortunate to end up here though." (HELP to Ludolf)

Daventry orders the fish, hoping it's the "freshwater mountain stream" kind and not the "five days removed from the sea" kind, along with the most 'summer-y' ale on tap. She nods along with Ludolf and Triäsa's comments. "From what we've heard, it sounded like a tragic fate for the town. Maybe there's more to it, but we plan on being respectful of what remains. Has anyone made the trek up to Vermeillon in recent times? What's the path like to get there?"

I thank y'all for your kind words but all that was a lifetime ago and as ya said I have been blessed by me life and this ol' Tavern here." A smile crosses the old mans wrinkled face. "The road to the mountain still stands, what it is like in the mountains itself is impossible to say. If you travel east for about a half day you find a worn road that leads into the peaks. That's the ol' road to Vermeillon, ya can't really miss it. The only one that might know more than this is Thavol over at the Challenging Boulder. He is a strange one but if he's in his right mind he might be able to tell you more. He's the only one crazy enough to maybe travel that high into the peaks." He is about to walk away to get your food and drink when he slowly turns back to your table. "If you do go there I don't want or need any answers but maybe ya could find me parents' grave and leave them some flowers? This old soul would appreciate the kindness" He then turns back toward the kitchen.

15 minutes or so later he comes back with your food and drink. The Fish Surprise is a simple but flavorful stew with vegetables and large chunks of a fish you can not identify. The broth is thin but surprisingly very spicy and you're very happy you have some drink to wash away the heat.  The steak is a large piece of meat about 10 ounces served with the bone-in. It's cooked rare and bleeds as you cut into it. It's well salted and simply falls apart as you bite it.

Daventry is mid spoonful of her stew, seeming to appreciate the spice. She looks at Klin.

"Alright, you're bein' mopey." She finishes swallowing her bite, and points her spoon at him. "Spill. What's up?" She takes another spoonful of stew. 

(How old is Klin, again? I don't know if you ever specified) 

Triäsa slowly eats her Fish Surprise which she quite enjoys.  "Unexpectedly good," she says. "I like this place more and more."  She seems to mostly chat with Ludolf, asking how his meal is and his thoughts on Maerin so far.  When Daventry addresses Klin though she turns to pay attention to their conversation. 

"Of course we will put flowers on your parents grave Mr. Grosvenor. Thank you for your kind help." Ludolf responds. He enjoys his rare tender steak and decides to order an ale along with it. He then politely listens to whatever troubles Klin before venturing over to the Challenging Boulder to purchase cold weather clothing, and to interview Thavol about Vermeillon and Chalet Brantifax.

Persuasion if needed to get Thavol talking: 21 (assuming someone comes along and Helps)

"Kiln, I see as an opportunity to study a portal to other planes. Such a rare thing to find!"  Triäsa speaks with a great deal of excitement. "Think of the knowledge we might gain.  Really, what risk is there?  While the rewards are huge!"

She pauses, looking at Klin a moment.  Her tone a bit more subdued she says, "There is also the mystery of Vermeillon. Something must have happened to them.  Perhaps our Investigation will somehow help them."

After the meal and conversation with Klin ends, she accompanies Ludolf to the Challenging Boulder. Triäsa helps him in taking to Thavol. She will also look for cold-weather clothes. 

Daventry nods at Triäsa's response. "And besides... if this portal that ol' Malcer Crowley wrote of is just... sittin' there, open to any and all, who knows what sort of strange weirdness is creeping through? These things are not best left to their own devices. Look at it this way, if we do nothing, then maybe what happened to Vermeillon happens to Maerin, or Nashkel, or Candlekeep... So we go, we check it out. Maybe it's nothing and we had a nice jaunt to the Cloud Peaks."

Enjoying his fish soup, Pardot was listening and thinking about the travel ahead of them, and nods in agreement with Daventry, adding, “Another plane sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore. But also think about the stars we could see from the peaks!” 

You all finish your dinner and conversations. The tavern is getting more crowded and louder as afternoon wears on. If there is nothing else you make your way down toward the street after paying your for your food, 2gp each. The Challenging Boulder is another simple wooden structure though you can see it is full of items for mountaineering and exploring. There are ropes of varying length and color along the walls, packs of different shapes and sizes as well as pitons, gloves as well as anything else you could imagine needing for a cold mountainous adventure. 

As you enter you are immediately hit by strange acrid smell that you have not encountered before. While not unpleasant it makes you feel a bit floaty and some of the stress and worries seem a little less troublesome, for those of you with a constitution less than 12 you also feel a bit nauseated. At first the shop looks empty but as you look a little closer you see a young dwarf sleeping on a cot in the corner. He is very strange in appearance, he has no beard but his long black hair is braided into thick, dirty dreadlocks. He is wearing a strange leather armor on dyed bright, vibrant blues, orange and yellows in a swirling pattern. Around him you see some pipes as well as plates of half eaten food. He snores loudly.

If Daventry's eyes weren't already a bit watery from the spicy soup, the pungent smell certainly finishes the job.

She taps the dwarf on the boot to wake him up. "'Ello, there. Are you Thavol? If so, we're lookin' to perhaps spend some coin and ask you about one of the paths up into the mountains."