Barthen beams at you all as he gathers the requested supplies from his goods. "Of course! I appreciate the business!"

During the interactions with Barthen, Ink does what he can to determine if Barthen knows more than he is letting on (1) about what has transpired with Sildar and Gundren and (2) about the location of Castle Cragmaw. (Insight 8) 

"Will this cover the oil and arrows?" Crom slides 1 gold and 2 silver across the counter and then picks up the rest of his pouch. "Oh, and do you have any maps of the area?"

Once negotiations are concluded, Crom says, "Alright, I'll be waiting outside"

"Ah yes, the brothers leave town to the southeast as they head up towards the mountains. That should cover it, thanks!"
Barthen nods and slides across a map while he says, "This ones on the house, hopefully you can find Gundren!"

Calantha hands Barthen five gold pieces for the healer's kit. "This should be enough," she says, taking the kit Barthen provides her. "Thank you for all your help. I promise we'll do what we can to find Gundren and his brothers."

After the transaction is concluded, she follows Crom back outside. She hopes that Klurch has prepared what he needed for the ceremony so they can lay their friends to rest. 

Calantha finds Crom standing outside studying the map and looking off to the southeast to get a lay of the land.

Crom looks to the southeast and sees the rising hills leading up into the Sword mountains, from their point just at the rise from the valley he can see mostly trees in the forest.

Ink joins the others and says, "Calantha, Crom, Klurch--hey, that's a nice bit of alliteration, eh?--are we ready to face what might be out there?"

The wizard then draws his familiar from his robe pocket and adds, "Master Po is ready!"

Calantha smiles down at Ink and Master Po. "Yes, we should go quickly. There is no telling what sort of trouble Gundren and his brothers are in. Time is of the essence! Where is Klurch? Is his ceremony ready?"

"Agreed, let's be off" Crom says, folding the map and stowing it.

When the gang find Klurch he is in the tavern, a simple mug of water and a seemingly empty coin pouch by his side as he sits hunched over a heavy pestle and mortar, he methodically grinds what looks like a glittery powder and slows to a stop as he notices you all approach, "ready for the ceremony" he chirps happily in stark contrast to the deep and timbered tones of the older voice he has used before, as he gets up he pours the powder into the empty coin sack and pockets it, wipes out the residue from the mortar and returns it to the bar gratefully.

"Lead the way, TO YOUR, Former companions, friends!"

Calantha takes the lead as they return to the cart where the bodies of their fallen companions still rest. She turns to look at the others.

"Do we have time to bury them?"

She's not sure what the little kenku's ceremony entails, but she hopes it involves disposing of Mal and Ragnarok's remains. Perhaps some form of cremation? That might be quicker...

As Klurch approaches the cart he looks toward Calantha, "Friends missing sister, Gone for, Months... missing, BUT, hasn't turned up dead. ALAS! Always no time, but, make time for the important things" the bird's stolen words trail off toward the end as he looks past Calantha to the bodies, a look of recognition washes over his face and he points toward Calantha's new shield with a sadness "...Your friend, Blacksmith?"  His words move from the recognisable tones of Calantha's own voice to another voice, instantly recognisable to the entire party.

Ink momentarily freezes and looks at Klurch. "That's odd. I'd swear on my spellbook you just used Mal's voice. Is that possible? Did you know the old fellow?"

Calantha startles and stares at the kenku. "Yes, he was a blacksmith! His name is...was Mal." She looks sadly down at the body of the fallen genasi warrior. "That was his voice!"

Crom hangs his head sadly too. "A noble man, and a fine companion. We go now to finish the work we started together. How did you know him?"

"Maybe not, know him, LIKE YOU DO. Klurch, travel, a long time, alone, back then. Blacksmith, MAL, said, 'I can help ya fix yer shield there', ... a good man, told stories of days long past, LIKE, 'Fortunate sons they called us, but I'm not sure who was the most fortunate in the end'. was quiet after, sad."  During the parts where he quotes Mal's words directly he takes on a slightly animated approach to affect Mals mannerism slightly, but then stops when he sees that now is neither the time nor the place.

Klurch helps haul the bodies to their resting places and waits for anyone to say any words of rememberance or farewell of their own before he begins the ceremony.

Ink feels compelled to speak in honor of Mal, and he spends a few minutes reflecting on the pleasant hours he whiled away in the genasi's company: playing cards, rolling dice, winning and losing money, drinking ale, and telling stories. He holds Mal's old deck of playing cards in his hand while he speaks.

"Friendship," Ink concludes, "is one of life's greatest gifts. It can bring the unlikely together, and it can spring from the simple things. Farewell, Mal!"

Calantha smiles sadly at the kenku and holds Mal's shield in her hands. Still studying the shield, she begins to talk about growing up in the village, training under her father as a blacksmith, looking up to and spending time with Mal whenever he visited her father. The old genasi had been a master blacksmith and taught her father several new tricks. Not only that but he had always been patient with her, even when she was just a clumsy kid who was prone to getting into trouble a little too often. 

"Mal, you were more than a friend. You were a mentor to me. I will dearly miss you, your wisdom, your experience. You were a peerless warrior who died defending us. May your memory serve as an example of honor and valor to all."