Cloud leaps and catches Nine (Acrobatics nat 20), and glares outside, to where she can hear the Gate. Are you all right? Want me to go after him? I usually do my utmost to promote peace in here, but I think I'd make an exception for him. My first action would be to throw him far away from this village, don't worry Thekla.

Hearing the clap of thunder from WITHIN the tavern, Morgan immediately forgets about Dusk and the strange vagabond and rushes back inside.  Upon seeing the damage at Nine's table, and Nine himself struggling back to his feet, she quickly rushes over to him to help him up.

*What happened here?* she mentally demands, broadcasting so that everyone within 30 feet of her can hear it.

Nine grips Cloud gratefully before pulling away with a shake of his head. He struggles for a moment, trying to find a way to communicate the dangers of following Nim. He digs deep and remembers Avery’s words to him when he made a similar offer long ago, and her voice brings tears to his eyes when it issues from his throat, “ Nim is not for you, little one. Promise me , if he comes for you Nine, run and live.”

Just as Yerandell passes by Hob's table, the old man looks over to see a member of the kitchen staff holding out a steaming bowl over the bar toward the dwarf as if they were about to give it to him. With no visible movement from the ancient halfling, a translucent hand the size of a goliath's appears and floats over to the bar, scooping up the bowl. It floats over to the table and deposits the bowl before Hob. Then, enlarging to the size of a giant's, the mage hand moves below his chair and lifts it a foot. Hob picks up the bowl with his bony hands and brings it to his mouth, slurping. "Mmmm," he says, completely ignoring the situation at the next table.

Nine searches for a moment, through the wreckage of his broken arrows and tattered satchels, then searches more frantically as his hands touch a tiny smear of blood..

 Cloud turns to Morgan, a dark look on her face. Some kobold came in here and started threatening Nine. Then he created some sort of explosion and vanished. I think he went through a portal outside, it might still be here. But Nine is saying that he doesn't want us to chase Nim-the kobold-I think.

Nine looks up as Morgan enters and his hand shakes. He clutches a scrap of bloody red fur and a low keening whine leaves his beak.

Hearing the woman's voice issue from Nine's beak, and seeing the anguish it brings him, she immediately focuses her attention on Cloud, a look of fierce anger in her eyes.

*Who is this Nim, and where is he now?*

Cloud, remembering the fox kit from earlier, drops down and begins rapidly and methodically searching under the wreckage of the table. As she pokes her head into the shadows, her eyes become hard and reflective, suddenly turning into glowing yellow moons (darkvision). Sadly, she is all too used to searching for lost friends.

The blood drains from Morgan's face as she recognizes the fox kit in Nine's hands.

*No...*

Perception check to see if Morgan spots the stone: 6

I think he ran, or teleported outside. She grips Morgan's arm before she can leave. But stay. Nim's likely long gone, and Nine needs you right now. Cloud sets the stone on the nearest flat surface. I'm sorry, Nine. I didn't find anything.

Nine’s free hand closes on the Eladrin bowstave. Still holding the scrap of bloody fur, he bends and strings the bow so swiftly that his movement is a blur, and the heavy feel of magic rings as the string snaps taut. He holds it tightly, fox blood smearing across the runes as he methodically gathers every unbroken arrow he can find in the wreckage of his belongings.

Spotting the stone on the floor, Morgan reaches out to pick it up, trying to analyze the runes on its surface as she does.

Arcana: 16

Nine looks at Cloud fiercely, still crying. He nods appreciation, and lays each unbroken arrow across the tabletop , clever fingers checking each for damage or flaws.

Nine, wait. Cloud meets Nine's eyes. Don't go rushing off. At least stay and be healed.