Fastolph: "I guess traveling is magical to a shut in," the half-orc laughs heartily at his own joke then responses to his companion waking from the elf's questions.

Keira: You can approach the tavern but can not get in as an argument over an unpaid bill is trying to be settled is blocking the entrance hence the crowd of thirsty travelers and locals alike lining up outside. Two young human boys rush passed you as you approach the crowd you over hear one of them say, "I wonder if they'll get the lawbringer," they ask looking nervously at one another not once glancing at you. As you get closer you can see it's an elderly halfling with two large humans holding a half-elf who's wearing, to you, very fine clothing. Both is arms are being held now as if to prevent him from moving. "I assure you my good man those coins were gold and as real as I am standing here now," he says his tone loud and annoyed. "I can't say whether it's you who's dishonest or your staff but they were gold when I gave them to you last night and why they shouldn't be gold this morning is not my affair," he says trying to wrestle free from the human's but they're holding him rather tightly now.

Lisalyth: The old woman chuckles at the young elf's display of naivety and shakes her head. "Just old," the crone replies with a sigh shifting again on the stone ledge of the well. "I also have learned that it's best to have selective hearing," she adds in a whisper to you but then looks at the half-orc. "So come now deary what are you looking for? Magic you say," she asks next with a wink. "Maybe my cards can help," she then says getting out a deck of tattered but exquisite looking black tarot cards written in what looks like gold shimmering ink. "Just two silver for today's card read but a one gold for your past, present, and future," she adds looking at you with a soft smile.

Lisalyth's mouth formed a firm 'o' shape as she watched the woman pull out the tarot cards. She had no knowledge of what a tarot card was, or it's purpose, but the woman was so exquisite to her! There was no chance that Lisalyth was going to miss out on the opportunity being presented to her on a silver platter. 

"Okay!" She agreed, an arm ducking out of the armhole of the too-big cloak and drifting down to her side-satchel where the few coins she'd brought were secured. Some might have wondered if they were being taken advantage of, but Lisalyth had already decided that this old woman was super-duper cool, and very charming. So, she went with it. "I only have a gold, so I guess I can do the second one! I didn't know cards could read! I've only ever played solitaire with them before--"

Aerlian had just planned to enter the tavern behind a young human woman with unusual hair which had caught his eye but then his attention was drawn back to the well. The elven woman with the blue skin was speaking unusually loudly to the old lady. She seemed reluctant to finish her sentence for some reason but there was definitely something going on, Aerlian decided to do a little detecting of his own, moving to the side of the tavern where nobody can see him, he casts a spell on the old lady, using his talent to read her surface thoughts.

Casts Detect Thoughts first at the old lady then moving it over to the half orc, without holding it for long enough that they would feel my presence, if possible he will then use the same power on the half elf accused of not paying his bill

Lisalyth: The old woman chuckles at Lisalyth taking the gold piece and shuffles the cards three times but before she can lay them out in front you you ...

Party: The wailing of the half-elf takes over the immediate surroundings. He is now being taken from the tavern and dragged away. First passed the well towards the road to Feirm with a few of the crowd following to jeer at him. The half-elf is pleading now for the men to stop. "It's ALL a big misunderstanding," you hear him pleading. They however continue to carry him as the the elderly halfling returns to the tavern and the rest of the crowd disperses some going into the tavern while others go back to their business through the village.

The yelling and pleading gets Lisalyth's attention, and she tears her eyes away from the cards to look at the man. She's reminded of when her parents would give her punishments, and she would cry and scream as they dragged her to her room... She can't let this happen! "Be right back!" She tells the old woman before she dashes away and stands in front of the men dragging the half-elf, holding her arms out and taking a wide stance.

"Stop! What in the world are you planning to do with this man?!"

"He's going to the stocks to await the lawbringer," one of the human men reply looking at you curiously as the other just groans.

"Come on Caleb this thief is heavy," the other man complains to the human helping pull the half-elf who's still struggling.

"Yes, an elf! My people," the half-elven man calls out to you pleading in his voice. "Help me," he calls out but before you can response the man called Caleb speaks up.

"Wait are you with this scoundrel," Caleb asks giving you a hard look.

"Me? No, I--" Lisalyth frowns and shakes her head, "It doesn't matter! Don't you hear his pleas for help? If you truly think he has done something wrong, why not talk to him yourselves? Or why not await this Lawbringer in kindness! Sir, what is your name sir? What do they say you have done?"

Kiera watches the half elf being dragged away. She understands the tavern wanting its money but something about him makes her feel sorry for him. She wonders if she should help him. As she watches them taking him past the well she notices the blue elf following him. Now she knows she must go and see what she can do to help. 

Kiera walks quickly to catch up with the men dragging the half elf. She reaches to two men and asks,"Umm, excuse me sir? Excuse me, what are you planning to do with him?" 

"He's a conjurer and tried to use magic on us to get out of paying his bill," the stouter man calls out with a sneer.

"Magic sir," the half-elf begins to protest, "I paid in gold! I did not cheat anyone! It's you who have cheated me! Claiming I didn't pay you in the right coin! They were gold I tell you GOLD," he bellows. "Please," he then says looking to the both Lisalyth and Keira , "they mean to lock me up but I've done nothing wrong," he adds pleading. "My name is Finneus Lamb," he answers Lisalyth. "Please I am a simple pendler of fine elvish wine," he adds sobbing. 

Keira: "He's going to the stocks until the lawbringer is fetched," Caleb, the larger of the two men, explains as he and the other man continue to drag him. He then takes a dirty cloth form his belt and stuffs it into the half-elf's mouth. "Shut up," he adds. 

"Best leave it to us ladies. The lawbringer doesn't take kindly to interference from travelers unless you wish to share his fate," Caleb calls out to you as he and his companion pull the half-elf now sobbing further away towards the stocks outside the tower.

Oh, no way in the planes were they leaving with the half-elf. Lisalyth did not want to use magic so publicly, but she was sorely tempted right about now. She could make the men fall asleep, but here in front of everyone she had to worry that she would face the same fate as the half-elf.

No, there would be no one facing the stocks today! She was happy there was another woman helping her stand up to these cruel men.

"Wait, wait! How much money does he owe? Perhaps I can settle his tab?"

Kiera has never faced such a thing before, such cruelty. Her parents would make the nonpaying patrons work off their tab. She felt so bad for the half elf. Then She hears the blue elf offer to pay his tab. She turns to the blue elf, "Hi! I'm Kiera." She calls out to the men dragging the half elf away, "Please allow us to help him!"

"That's six gold then," Caleb says to you both in a hard tone. "He still goes in the stocks. The conjuring charges are for the lawbringer to decide," he explains holding a hand out for payment to either of you.

Kiera meet Lisalyth.

"Lisalyth," She responds quietly to the other woman before turning and shaking her head at the men. 

"Now now, Caleb... What if we said seven gold, and you give this man a chance at redemption? No Lawbringer needs to get involved in this. Just us."

Persuasion 8

"Lawbringer has been summoned. But by all means keep trying to bribe us and end up with him," Caleb says motioning with his head towards the sobbing muffled half-elf As Caleb still holds out his hand for his employer's gold.

During all this commotion with a loud sigh the old woman rises from her seat and the half-orc as well moves with her to approach the foursome deep in negations.

"They don't mean no harm," the elderly woman calls out. "Soft hearted is all," she adds. "Shame that's not a common trait with the folk of Windstaff any longer," the old woman adds glaring at Caleb and the other man as the half-orc bard sneers at her side. "If they pay the gentlemen's bill what's that harm in letting him go? If he conjured anything it might bring more trouble on this town than the lawbringer's worth calling for," she adds her tone a warning. She walks with a plain wooden staff, leaning on it for support. At the top of the smooth dark wood is a gnarl of stunted branches curled like flames. "Come now man," she then exclaims at Caleb. "Turn him loose and I'll make sure his debt is paid and these kind ladies move on to wherever it is their meant to be going," she adds giving both Kiera and Lisalyth a wink as she dabs her nose with a dirty, stained hanky with a symbol embroidered on the edge, the symbol of Legerdemain's all-seeing eye.

At first Caleb seems stunned before his friend is also making the same stupid face. "Turn him loose," the old woman says again. "Go on," she adds before both men comply. "Now the money dearies," she says to Kiera and Lisalyth turning to them and leaning in close, she smells but not bad. Its more an earthy-floral scent. "The lawbringer is in another village just over the ridge to Caorthann and although he's old, older than me he knows a trick when he sees one," she whispers ushering the girls to pay as the half-orc looms nearby not uttering a word.

Lisalyth's face drops as the men threaten to have her join the half-elf, and she wonders if maybe the world is a cruel place after all. Then again, she reminds herself as she falters in her defense of the man, she's only been in the world for a handful of days. 

Just as Lisalyth is about to back down from the men, her faith in humanity is restored by the half-orc and the old woman. Not only that but-- the symbol! The symbol is on her handkerchief! To keep herself from shouting out excitedly, Lisalyth's arm instinctively reaches out and grasps Kiera's, and a quiet and high-pitched 'eee' sounds out under her breath.

She manages to gather herself just enough to follow the old woman's instructions, stepping forward purposefully and dipping a hand into her cloak to pull out the coins. One, two, three, four, five, six -- She pulls them out one by one, and places them in Caleb's outstretched hand. 

"Now go," the crone replies. "Tell your master you were mistaken about the coin," she adds ushering the two human off before turning on the half-elf and jerking the gag from his mouth. Then without saying a word out loud to the half-elf the crone stares at him as he nods, begins to speak then sputters out again exasperated. "Leave now," she then says out loud as the half-elf stands there dumbfounded at first.

"Well run," the half-orc bard exclaims waving his arms as the half-elf who then turns and sprints away down the road to Feirm passing the stocks without pausing once to look back.

"Shall we see what's on the menu today," the drone asks moving passed all of you going into the tavern with a heavy limp using the staff now more than you've seen her. 

She doesn't wait to see if you follow but the half-orc follows too.

Mind made up Aerlian enters the tavern after the old woman and her companions, the look the old woman gave him as she approached the tavern was penetrating, but she couldn't be certain. He was; this woman knew about magic and was determined to protect those that used it, she had to be the one he was looking for. He moves up to her, warily due to the big half orc and quietly says

"Lady, I would like to join your table if I may, I owe you an apology, I think you know why"

Lisalyth's jaw is wide as she watches the woman and the half-orc scare off the two enforcers, and turns to Kiera to mouth the words: 'That was so cool!'  Before hurrying after her new best friend the Super Amazing Old Lady From the Legerdemain.