Ankita heads over to Randall and Melchor and sees the pain that Melchor is in.  "Please, let me," she says quietly and reaches over to the wounds the bolts made in Melchor and her hands have a blue glow as the magic flows from her large hands to the wounds.  She casts cure wounds and heals him 6 hp

Melchor nods to Ankita as his wounds close enough to stop the bleeding and close over. ‘Thank you, Ankita.’ he says, before standing to stretch out his newly healed shoulder.

Shrek approaches Shoalar, and rather excitedly adds "Shrek impressed with Mister Captain!  Ever thought of making extra coin by carrying mail up down river?  You'd be good at it!"

Having worked out the stiffness from his wounds, Melchor steps over to Shoalar. ‘A word is needed, I think. You shouldn’t trust Holger - he encouraged us to stiff you for your fare…’ he says quietly. ‘I suspect he sought to instigate some conflict between us…’

Quote from JorvikDave >>

Having worked out the stiffness from his wounds, Melchor steps over to Shoalar. ‘A word is needed, I think. You shouldn’t trust Holger - he encouraged us to stiff you for your fare…’ he says quietly. ‘I suspect he sought to instigate some conflict between us…’

 DM roll 6

Shoalar eyes you up, still unsure, then laughs "I bet he did. He doesn't like his place in the pecking order and thinks to one up me. You helped with the pirates so I offer you this. Stop asking questions about things you don't want answers to. You are lucky to have left Rivergard in one piece. The rest of Jolly's crew will not be as ... liberal ... as I am being. Regarding the fee, I hope you have seen enough of my abilities to know that short changing me would be a poor idea. I don't know if Holger tried to convince you I was easy meat but I assure you I am not! For the warning, and the help, I will call our passage square at 20 gp"

Shreak overhears the conversation, and secretly pulls out his coil purse, counting out 20 gold pieces (having to count and recount many times, resorting to pulling off his boots to have access to all 10 toes to add to his 10 fingers).  When satisfied, he turns and hands Shoalar the 20 gp.  "Deal" he meekly adds, before turning around and walking to a quiet corner of the boat and sitting down to relax for the rest of the trip.

Shoalar nods at Shrek and flashes a grin, pocketing the gold. It takes another hour or two before Beliard appears and the boat docks.

Orchards and large cattle ranches surround the little town of Beliard. Large stockyards lie on the east side of town, and stone warehouses along the Dessarin Road indicate the regular caravan traffic that passes through.

An inn, the Watchful Knight, is visible from the docks.

Randall watches silently as Melchor and Shrek work out a friendly deal with their captain.  Once that's complete, however, Randall tosses 20gp to Shrek.  "I've got this one.  My treat.  Besides... I didn't do much to ward off those pirates other than stand still and look pretty."

Looking around and taking in the sights, sounds and smells (I assume those stockyards must smell awesome) of Beliard, Randall sighs.  "I'm sorry.  With all the commotion with the pirates, I forget... did we have a lead here in Beliard or were we just planning to ask around and hope someone recalls the missing delegation?"

"Sure is good to stand on solid ground again.  Well, should we start with the Inn over there and see if we can find out any information on the missing delegation?" Ankita looks very relieved to be off the boat.  With her blue skin, it hides it, but she was getting a bit seasick.  

Shrek heartily slaps Shoalar on the back as he steps off the boat, palms him a gold coin, winks and says "Many thanks, Master Shoalar, for ride.  Have ale, on me!"

As the group congregates on shore, he stretches his arms and back, reaching higher than the overhanging rooftops.  "Aye!  Shrek no like cooped up on little boat for long time..."

Swiveling his head around, he ponders out loud "Where would delly-gashion go?  Talking heads like go to tavern...to....talk?"

“Yes, perhaps we should start there.  From there we may be able to pick up a trail or some information.”  Olaerys stands up and brushes himself off, ready to move on.

The Watchful Knight is decidedly more rustic than the Swinging Sun, and it's hard to ignore the overpowering smell of cattle. As you enter, the man behind the bar's face lights up at the sight of new customers. The common room does not appear very busy, although a few locals are drinking at the bar.

"Come in! Welcome to the Watchful Knight! Can I get you good? Ale? Beds perhaps? I'm Neshor. Neshor Fleurdin. Please make yourselves at home!"

"Why hello good sir, I am Ankita, nice to meet you.  I would love some food and ale, thank you."  she heads over to an open table, gesturing for the rest to follow her.  "And some for my friends as well, please."  She takes a sigh of relief after the adventure on the boat, she isn't used to much combat, and being confined to a boat during one is not something she wants to repeat any time soon.  

"Yessir.  Ale and a plate of food sounds mighty fine."  Randall is eager to sit down.  After that long boat ride in his armor, he can't shake the feeling that the ground should be rocking gently back and forth.

As he waits for his drink, he tries to recall if he knows of any smiths up this way.  If this was a large delegation, chances are they may have had to stop to shoe or horse or two.  Perhaps the local smith might have seen them.  That leads him to another thought.

"Say," he says to his assembled companions once they are all together at a table, "Do we know the purpose of this missing delegation?  'Delegation' sounds formal.  Were they headed to a royal wedding, or a peace summit or something?"

Between enormous gulps of room-temperature warm ale, Shrek manages to get out "Shrek not know what delly-gashion even is!  Some sort of rich bosses me thinks..." before belching, making room for further copious amounts of ale.

Shrek will casually looks at the sparse locals inhabiting the bar...do any of them look to be chatty (as in, the town gossip)?

Perception: 19

Olaerys is likewise glad to be on solid ground, away from pirates.  He enjoys the good mug of ale and ask Neshor “What word of these parts, Neshor?  Any strange happenings recently?”

Shrek notices that a man at the bar perked up and started paying attention when you mentioned the delegation.

Neshor frowns a bit, and turns to Olaerys. "Nervous times master. Lots of bandits and monsters these days, and you can see the weather for yourself. Can't remember the last rain. I did see the Mirabar delegation you mentioned. They stayed here! Took all my rooms they did. A bit stuffy, but paid well. Said they were headed to Summit Hall, south of here, by the Desserin road. Taking the corpse of a fallen knight there, a member of that fancy paladin group that lives there."

Shrek saunters up to the bar, pulls out a stool (if one is available that appears to be able to handle his enormous heft and girth), drops two gold coins on the bar and, from a wide grinning mouth calls out "Master bar man...a pint of your fine-erest for my new friend here <he points to the fellow he noticed who took interest when the delegation was mentioned> and me self!"  He then reaches over and offers his hand to the gentleman.  "Me Shrek!" he bellows in a friendly voice.  "Does new friend know any-ting about delly-gashion?  We's looking for them."

Ankita smiles as Shrek warms up to a random person at the bar, she leans over and says to Olaerys, "That one sure is friendly, isn't he?"  she then sits up a little taller and asks Neshor, "Thank you for that information, is there anything else we should know about them?  Did they see anyone else while they were in town?"