Bral continues heading east through the town. As he moves, he keeps an eye out for anyone who might be following him.

(Perception: 13)

"It is a toymaker, so no I don't think we need to wait for Bral." Robin says with a shrug.

DM, what time of day is it?

It's about the early evening and folks are going about their daily business. 

Bral as you travel to your destination, you do sense that someone is following you and catch a glimpse of the half-elf Rictavio as you approach the yard.

You also see a wagon as it suddenly lurches, as though something big has thrown itself against the inside wall. You hear the cracking of wood, the scraping of metal, and the snarl of something inhuman. Upon closer inspection, you see that the sides of the wagon are spattered with dry blood. You also see an inscription on the wagon’s door frame that reads, “I bring you from Shadow into Light!”

Just as you approach, Rictavio approaches. "Careful friend, you don't want to get yourself hurt." 

He unlocks the wagon and it reveals a sabertooth tiger in plate armor. It eyes Bral for a moment before Rictavio scratches it's ears. 

Bral tenses as he sees the sabre-toothed tiger.

"And just who are you, friend?"

Rictavio nods as he removes his hat and he reveals himself. "Dr. Rudolpho Van Richten at your service." 

Bral relaxes again, "Ah, Doctor Rudolpho Van Richten, I have been looking for you. My master gave me a message to pass on to you."

He then reaches into his pocket pulling out the message. He then steps forward toward Richten, wary of the sabre-toothed tiger, to pass over the note.

"I have not read it. So I'm not sure of its importance, but I thought I should pass it on to you regardless."

Van Richten takes the note and reads it. "Interesting. Thank you for handing me this. My boy, tell me what brought you out this way?"

Back at the inn, is everyone going to the toy shop or staying put? 

Baudric sighs and stands up to move to the inn, "The sooner we get done the better. I'll feel much more comfortable when one of us has that sword in hand."

bRobin is ready to move on to the toy store.

Robin, Baudric, Keldon, Ez and Thorn all go to a toy store. As you approach, you see a little monkey sitting outside near the doorway. He appears desperate to get inside and looks at you, as if to ask for help. 

Amelia also accompanies them to the toy store.

Seeing the monkey outside, are you going to go in? 

"What's wrong little one?" Robin asks, approaching the monkey. She will move on to the door, as long as there is no adverse reaction from the monkey, and head on inside. If the monkey wishes inside she will let it come with her. Buddy pads at her heels.

Keldon tries to scoop up the monkey. “It’s like a little person! Hairy though.” 

"It's a monkey, Keldon," Amelia deadpans, "Put down the monkey."

Keldon will cease his attempt to pick it up. “It looks funny, trying to get inside, like people.”

The monkey is glad that you're there willing to help. He doesn't notice Keldon trying to scoop him up. 

Thorn and Ez arrive. Thorn points to the monkey "That's Piccolo, Blinksy's friend. I'm surprised he's outside."

Ez steps forward and unlocks Blinsky's door. "Let's help him," she says as he steps inside. 

Those who follow inside will notice various toys on the walls, ranging from a headless doll, a ventriloquist dummy that looks like Strahd, a doll wearing a purple dress and red hair, a figurine of a knight wielding a sewing needle like a sword, and a model of a silver dragon. 

Those with a Passive Perception of 13 or higher 

 As you walk through the shop, you see Piccolo point to the back room and a man - Blinsky - emerges, leaving the door open just a crack. He glares at Piccolo and says," I thought I told you to leave." 

He regards the rest of you. "What do you want? I'm not open. I have a big delivery to make and I can't be disturbed!"

Baudric looks really confused at the monkey's presence, and slightly suspicious at Blinsky's reaction after what Thorn'd said about being surprised he was outside. Turning to Blinsky, "You told the creature to go outside? Why?" 

Insight: 16

"I'm busy, that's why," is all Blinksy says as he reaches behind the desk and takes out a box.

Baudric, you don't Blinsky, but you gather that being a toymaker he'd be more jolly and he wouldn't leave his friend outside. Something might be wrong with this guy. 

Everyone roll a Perception check. 

Robin perception: 12 Buddy perception: 4