Fin pulls his weapons close, but stays low in the wagon to avoid being seen. Only his head peaks over the low wall to see what approaches.

((Perception: 8...how we'regoing great right now...))

“This might be a good opportunity to ask how things are going in Beres. Let’s offer them a taste of ale,” suggest Effulgyn. 

Arc agrees with Effulgyn’s approach and hops up front. 

"These creatures look like walking rabbits, there are four of them"  Ferg looks into his memory to try and understand the nature of these creatures: history 20

Ferg unless Parson's keen eyes are deceiving you, these are Rabbitfolk. You don't have much of a personal history with them as a race--like Goblins, they live and work in the Commons, but are mostly found outside of the city. And like any creature in this land, race doesn't much have anything to do with motivation or alignment. But you know for a fact that your family has had dealings with them in the past and you don't think any of those dealings have been unpleasant. In other words, nothing about their race is giving you cause for alarm. 

That said, I can maybe provide you some additional context with a perception check...

Ferg relays the information to the team and continues to consider options: perception 4

Ferg squints into the distance, alternating between what he is seeing with his own eyes, and what Parson is showing him telepathically, but after a moment resigns himself to the fact that the figures in the distance are not providing any additional clues he can share with his silent companions. And so, they continue down the road toward the Rabbitfolk armed with a ruse in case one is needed. 

As you continue up the road, you notice before Parson does that the Rabbitfolk are not actually walking toward you.  In fact, they seem to be standing on the road, caught in conversation, periodically looking in your direction. 

OOC is anyone in the cart with Fin? I am envisioning that Effulgyn is steering, Fin is in the cart, and the rest of you are walking but do let me know.

(I was thinking that Arc could be riding up front with Fin but not sure there's enough room. Being that the case,) Arc will be walking along with the cart. Smiling and carrying on a conversation with whom ever wants to join in (or talking to myself) about needing better water for the next brew and where to get said water and why the water here is better than there. 

Ferg is walking beside and sometimes slightly ahead of the cart

Effulgyn would sometimes ride in the drivers seat, sometimes walk beside the mule holding the reins. 

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

Effulgyn would sometimes ride in the drivers seat, sometimes walk beside the mule holding the reins. 

 How do you see Effulgyn in this moment? Leading Asterix or on the wagon?

In this moment he’s sitting on the driver’s bench, swatting flies with a fly swatter which materialized in his hand from nowhere.

When Ferg alerts them to the rabbit folk, the swatter disappears, and in its place appears a spyglass. Effulgyn stands on the drivers bench and looks through it to examine the rabbit folk more closely.

Perception 8

https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/spyglass

It seems Effulgyn conjured a spyglass with its lens cover still on. “I really can’t see anything, lads.” With a shrug, he tosses it over his shoulder where it disappears without a sound. 

Increasing proximity clarifies a few things. First off--and not sure how many of you have direct experience with Rabbitfolk--but these appear to be young. Teenaged, you'd guess. They appear to be unarmed. They also appear to be wearing various shades of blue such that at first, in a different context maybe, you would have assumed they were part of a Batball league or something. (Batball is the most popular sport in Stoacia. It's like baseball, except there are only 5 innings (called 'attacks"), and runners are supposed to knock the basemen off their mats. Basemen have bats (hence Batball) but can't use magic. Everyone else (pitcher, outfield, runners) are allowed to use magic. It can be very dramatic.)

Before the rabbitfolk are close enough to hear Ferg says "I think these are just passers by who we can be kind to but ignore.  Keep on guard but this feels safe enough."  He hopes he is right

OOC You can continue to walk by without acknowledging them, or you can stop to say hi. By all accounts, while they seem to be watching you with interest but you don't get the sense they will necessarily say anything to them. 

“Steady as we go, lads,” says Effulgyn. He stops the cart 15’ short of the rabbit folk and offers a smile and a greeting.

“Hello there. We’re about to pass through Beres aren’t we, lads? What’s the good word about the town? Anything goin’ on we should know about beforehand?”

As soon as you stop the cart in greeting, three of the four of them break out in questions that they ask the fourth, tallest, in rapid succession. 

"Why didn't they say May the Kord?"

"Why are they on the main road?"

"They don't seem like the Guard. Do you think they're from the north?"

"Do you think they know the disturbance?"

"Are they magic? I bet they're magic"

"Where are they going?"

The tallest Rabbit doesn't seem fazed by this questioning in the least but he does eventually shush them, touching two of his companions on their shoulders. The one to his right is the shortest. The one to his left is widest and has an empty wagon by his feet. 

"Shhhh,' the tall one says. Addressing Effulgyn now curiously, he says "May the magic of Kord n all that. You say you're on your way to Beres. Why's that?"

Effulgyn before you can answer another chorus of questions from the smaller Rabbits. 

"Yeah why are you going to Beres?"

"Where are you coming from then?"

"What's in your cart?"

"Yeah what's in the cart?"

Ferg steps forward "Where are my manners,  May the Magic of Kord serve us as we serve the Magic of Kord”  He makes a slight bow.  "We are on our way to (OOC: I forget what story we created for ourselves and I don't have time to look it up.  I'll insert later if I get time) "  After his brief explaination Ferg says "We are curious to know of the disturbance.  Can you tell us more?"

Ferg's explanation of their expedition to find new beer ingredients is met with a chorus of interruptions in the form of questions and reactions from the Rabbitfolk kids. 

"Formal aren't they?" 

"Bet they're magical"

"What kinds of ingredients would you put in ale, Buck?"

"Wonder what's in the wagon"

"Wonder what's in their pockets"

"Cony can we check their pockets"

This last question is asked of the smallest one to the tallest one. It's his cue to shhh them again. "Juveniles!" he says sternly. They quiet immediately but you can tell they have many things they wish to say. 

To you Ferg he says:

"We sure don't know much about beer n that but I spose the adults might do. We also don't know much bout a disturbance but we did hear some adults talking bout one maybe, in the great plains. But then we arent spose to talk bout things that we don't know." he says, a little moodily. 

"Yeah specially to people we don't know." the littlest one says.

"Yeah specially" the rounder one to Cony's left says.

"Yeah, specially," Cony says to you, Ferg. 

"What ingredients have you found so far?" the rounder one asks.

"yeah what ingredients?" the younger one says. 

"Like anise seed n that?" the rounder one speculates.

"Maybe persimmon" the younger one offers.

"Maybe molasses"

"Maybe something magical, I bet" 

"Yeah magical molasses n that"

This can go on indefinitely, it seems.