No one in the bar was prepared for the second Joren to appear suddenly, woven together instantaneously from misty strands. The approaching orc stops in his tracks and backsteps, bumping into his two pals. The off-duty guards jump to their feet, looking to each other as if unsure how to react. Naeve nervously pipes up, "You know what it is? I got the days mixed up. That meal was yesterday, I just had one of those long nights where it never really feels like the day ended, you know? Hahaha..."

The other bartender walks over, "Hehehe yeah, oh yeah. I mean, we've all been there, right? I know you guys have." He gestures at the three angry patrons. "In this bar, no less, haha. And yes, those prices were in reference to our overnight package. So with today's menu, food, water, and a bed for the five of you, plus breakfast in the morning will 6 gold and 5 silver, or 5 gold even if you just want to split 2 rooms."

Ashley can sense Joren relax slightly at her words, but he does not take his eyes of the orc and his cronies until they have retreated, also staying vigilant of the off-duty guards.  His broad, amiable smile widens further.  "So glad you are seeing things our way.  Always such a pleasure, making new friends."

If and when the threat has receded fully, he and his echo both sit down at the bar.  He turns his grin at the bartenders and guards.  "Oh yes, I am knowing how it is.  Getting the days mixed up.  Just as I was merely reaching for a dagger to cut my meat, but instead my greatsword came right out!"

He gives Ashley and Malachi a little nod, indicating:  These new prices are still expensive but seem sincere.  Just make sure no one spits in our food.

Malachi leans against the bar, looking bored as Joren and Ashley confront the local toughs.  He was well aware of the abilities of his companions at this point and while he knew they would not need help, he was prepared if necessary.  

As the bartender defuses the situation, Malachi leans over. “We do apologize for any confusion, we are just over tired from travel.  We are not looking for any trouble, just a place to rest.”  He slides 6 gold coins across the bar “We will split the room, and here is a little extra for your troubles.”   He takes the tankards of ale and leads the others back to the table Samir has claimed.  He nods to the echo and asks Joren “Should we get a drink for your friend?”

Joren's grin widens yet further.

"Drink for my friend?  For six gold pieces, I am thinking so.  Not talking much, him.  Nor drinking much, but I can always be helping finish it."

When he can speak privately with the others, he does share a worry:

"If Andra is escaping here, cultist eyes and ears will know we are arriving.  I was thinking of that after summoning my echo.  They will be looking for that, but also a half-dwarf, a half-elf, a half-orc, a fire genasi and a paladin of the Blue Lady, if not our missing goliath.  Being a distinctive group, we."

There are some disappointed sighs as the tension abates, and even one small "Oh booo," as the orc and his buddies back down and hunch back over their drinks. True to Joren's worry, interested eyes do flit over to them from time to time, though they are given their space.

Ashley visibly relaxes and her hair becomes a soft glow as things are sorted out and the orcs go back to sitting.  She turns to Naeve and smiles, "So tell me, obviously we are new to town, what's the good word?  And yes, I can completely understand getting days mixed up.  Though if you do ever have a dinner with some seasonings from my home, please let me know." and she winks at her for good measure.  

Though the patrons had been rooting for a fight, the bartenders seem more than happy for things to settle. Naeve smiles and responds, "Very understanding of you all. As for what's going on, not much besides imports and exports getting more expensive because of the new port tariffs, but I'm sure that's no news to you. I can't image how much you must have had to fork over to get all of you aboard a passenger vessel. Or are you traders?" She gives side glances to the echo from time to time, nervous to address him, or it. The male bartender comes out from a back room with several bowls perched precariously on his arms while Naeve pours drinks. A savoury smell of rich broth and pork rises from the steaming bowls.

Malachi digs into the stew hungerly, savoring the taste regardless of whether or not the spices came from the Smoking Sands.  He looks up as Naeve speaks “New Port Tariffs? Why, are they trying to tighten trade?  That would be troublesome, there are those among us that aspire to be traders, if we kind find a market here.”  He gives the bartender a wink “But we did not come by ship, we arrived overland. Hoping to find an audience with the council if we can.”

Quietly once the party are speaking privately to each other, Joren wonders aloud:  "In Tensmith, Andra was keeping the mining operation shut down on the pretense of security risk to the mining technology being stolen, when in fact it was for keeping the cultists' tunnels secret - and in the end, Andra's cronies themselves were the ones stealing the mining rigs.  I am wondering what reasons councilor Marigold, I am assuming, has for the port tariffs? "

At an opportune moment when no one but his companions are looking, Joren allows his echo to vanish.  If asked about it afterwards, he growls something unintelligible in a thicker than usual accent to the effect that his 'friend' had to get up to relieve himself.

"Oh mean, it could be for any number of reasons," Naeve explains. "Some of the councilors are citing security concerns in the wake of the Tensmith lockdown, some want a higher budget for city projects..." 

One of the finely dressed patrons seated a the bar on the other side of the group chimes in, "I mean, I think it's mainly to keep out foreign riff-raff who are trying to snap up our jobs."

As time passes and the sun gets lower, patrons come and go. The atmosphere starts to become livelier than before. An argument breaks out at a table behind the group. Something about sleeping with another man's wife. Or mother. The speech is too slurred to be sure.

(Samir make a dex saving throw.)

(Eep! 16!)

Using reflexes he didn't know he had developed, Samir ducks in time for a tankard to fly through the air where his head was, keeping himself clear of spilled ale in the process. The tankard instead crashes into the the back of a large man sitting at the bar. He slams back the rest of his drink, stands up heavily, and launches his own tankard back at the first thrower.

The sound of stool legs scraping against the floor fills the room as rowdy clientele rise to their feet all around. The writing on the wall is clear. Sticking around will likely mean getting roped into a messy bar fight. With their food and drink finished, and the sun getting low, it may be time to move on.

Ashley looks over to the finely dressed patron, her eyes a light with mischief, "Foreign riff-raff eh?  Is that what you think of us?"  she says this in a jovial way, enjoying the back and forth with a slight bit of tension in the air.

As the tankard flies, it takes her by surprise.  She breathes a sigh of relief when she sees that Samir has dodged it.  As the stools start scraping, Ashley leans back towards Naeve and asks, "So which side should we be on?" the idea of just leaving not entering her mind as the excitement unfolds in front of her.

Unlike the excited gleam in Ashley's eye, the look in Samir's is pure anxiety. His head turns quickly from one direction to another as rowdy patrons begin surging to their feet, and then he is doing the same. Within seconds he is hurrying towards their housing for the night, clutching his belongings tightly. 

With a broad grin across her face, she says to Naeve without looking at her, "Better duck and cover, this could get ugly."

Then she brings her hands together, closes her eyes for the briefest moment and in a monotone "I summon magic to aid and protect, armor of steel to help deflect." and as a purplish shimmer starts to appear, she touches herself on the forehead.  Then with a sly look on her face, she steps closer to Malachi and touches him on the forehead as well.  Twinning her mage armor.  "I know you can do this too, but thought you could save that spell for something else." and she winks at him.

Naeve nods in agreement and ducks behind the counter, just in time for a bottle to fly over it and crash into the shelf behind her. One drunk man (6) walks up to a large orc behind Ashley and gives him an aggressive shove, only to wind up on his own ass with the furious bargoer looking down at him.

Joren looks over at Ashley and his other companions with an expression that says:  are we really doing this?  No one is attacking us yet.  We could just leave as Samir is clearly wanting... but when he sees Ashley begin to weave magic on herself and Malachi, he shrugs philosophically.

Deciding that the big orc who rebuffed the shove by the drunk man is a better ally than foe, Joren stands between them and his friends and summons his echo on the other side of the prone man.  With an apologetic look, he attacks non-lethally from his echo's position with the flat of his greatsword.

To Hit (at advantage due to prone target):  24
Damage (non-lethal):  9

His voice is conversational and laconic.  "Suggesting you stay down my friend.  Continuing to fight is no good for anyone, especially you."

The man slumps back down on to the ground and starts trying to crawl away from the action.

Seeing Joren and the large orc as fair game, two goliaths (D10,D4) come up behind each of them, swinging bottles against the backs of both of their heads. With a *thunk* the orc stumbles forward, blood trickling down the back of his head. He roars in pain. The other bottle, though, smashes harmlessly to pieces on the back of Joren's sturdy neck, not eliciting so much as a flinch from the half-dwarf. The goliath looks down at the remains of the shattered bottle still in his hand in disbelief. Suddenly nervous, he holds the pointed glass in front of him as a weapon.

A young, rich-looking man (D3) follows behind the goliath he had been sitting with, seeming eager for the excitement of a fight. He carefully steers around the most dangerous looking man at the bar though, and finds himself face to face with Ashley. But not having expected to be facing a woman, he hesitates. 

Behind Mal, another rich kid (D9) throws his chest over the bar, reaching for some free bottles and, accidentally or not, ends up grabbing Naeve's wrist. She shrieks in surprise

Malachi sighs as the fight erupts around him.  He is usually a little more dignified than to participate in a barroom brawl, but the others seem into it and Naeve’s shriek spurs him into action.  He drains his drink and brings his mug down on the head of the spoiled kid reaching across the bar and with a flick of his rest pushes him five feet away from the bar. He turns back to the others "Are you sure you want to stay and play?  Shouldn't we leave before the authorities arrive?" 

Improvised Attack against D9: 2 Damage: 2.

Bonus action: Telekinetic shove against D9.  DC14 strength save or pushed away 5 feet. 

The spoiled kid yelps in pain, and his hand is flung from Naeve's wrist by Malachi's power. Naeve herself rises up from her hiding spot and smashes a bottle on the bar right next to his head.

Two gnomes from the bar to the right leap out of their seats to join the fun. One (D2) hops down to grab onto the leg of the goliath facing down Joren (D4) while the other (D1) hops onto the bar and leaps onto the back of the rich snob (D3) staring down Elthana.

One patron (D7) runs up to the man crawling away (D6) and tries to kick him in the gut, but trips and stubs his toe instead.

The large orc (D5) turns his back to Joren, grabs a barstool, and smashes it against the goliath who'd hit him with a bottle (D10)

A quick look over at the "authorities" reveals they are just as entertained by the fight as everyone else, laughing as they down their drinks and place bets.