"The offer is appreciated, but... hmm...  I do not believe the additional 'service' will be necessary this time around." Obsben chimed in before anyone so much as put a hand to their pouches. "Wouldn't want to ruin the mystery too soon now would we?" She looks to Neya, and with her head canted to the side just enough so that the brim of her hat would mask a motion to the dragonborn, she'd give Neya a wink. 

Utar smiles at her second attempt to tempt him but shakes his head again. "Still too much for me. Maybe next time when I've deeper pockets."

Graxx nods a “No” with his black beard moving from side to side.

”Till next time.” says Graxx with a half bow.

Graxx turns to the others.

”I’ll see you all outside.” says Graxx

Graxx will turn and go to leave.  His eyes setting once more on the saddle.

Graxx exits the shop and goes to Glory.  He pats her on her right shoulder then approaches and puts his forehead to hers.  He scratches her under her chin and nuzzles his head back and forth.

”Girl… I have found you something that will make you very happy.  You will be the best looking steed in the land.  I’ll get it for you soon.”

Graxx will then lean up against Glory, lightly scratching her until he is joined by the party.

”Well… Shall we see about securing mountain climbing and cold weather clothing?” Asks Graxx.

"Thank you for the offer, but I am fine with not having all of the answers right away," Neya politely refuses the identification services. "But I will pay that down payment and will return with the rest for that beautiful piece."

(300pp and 750 gp to deduct)

(@Drache: It should be 200pp and 750gp, right? Also, please make sure to note in your sheet somewhere that you made this down payment.)

Her transaction completed, Obsben quickly moves to help out one of her new companions. She wouldn't want Neya to waste money or services that can be attained in other manners. Nonetheless, the monk still shells out another 750gp as a deposit on the magical necklace, aiming to return at a later date with the other half of the total amount. 

Utar wraps up his back-and-forth with the dragonborn lady, leaving Graxx as the last one to suggest he'll have to come back for the goods he has been eyeing. Farewells at the Dockside Treasures are business-like. Outside, Glory nuzzles the barbarian right back, Basil sniffs around for no particular reason, and the two riding horses swing their tails from side to side, swatting at flies.

Graxx suggests another shopping stop but is quickly reminded that the Dockside Treasures shop is quite close to the Laughing Goblin. Utar had suggested killing these two birds with a single stone, so the group agrees to make a quick stop.

(OOC: I know @Grx is suggesting a different way forward here but I'm sticking with the previous suggestion for now. It can be as short a stop as you'd like.)

CRAP is welcomed by both Imizael and Markoth. The party has quickly become one of the Goblin's best patrons, and even Sagin seems to find his way back to this tavern's kitchen with some regularity to pick up on any tips he can. They don't recognize Obsben, but do not confront that realization outwardly. "Come, sit. Is it late breakfast or early lunch for y'all today?" Markoth says with open arms, which only serve to make him look even bigger. You can't help but wonder the damage Mar would be able to deal with a hefty weapon on his hands.

@Obsben: Imizael is the human hostess and bartender at The Laughing Goblin (tavern and inn), although it is clear from the very start that she takes a managerial role as well. Her name strikes you as particularly Elven in nature, but she does not appear to have such a lineage upon first glance. She is quite busy but attentive to her patrons' needs. You see her talking to other clients and notices that she responds to questions curtly, nodding when it is polite and directing those with a fondness for gossip to Markoth Hasselpond instead. Her attitude toward the overweight server and sometimes cook is quite different. She acts more bossy toward him but he takes it all in good nature. Mar, for short, is a rotund man who sweats profusely and is sometimes referred to as 'Fat Mar', a nickname he dislikes but has learned to wear as a badge of honor, robbing it of all of its stinging power. He has a sharp tongue and a foul mouth, and is quick to make friends. Although you have not been to The Laughing Goblin before, you have heard of it as soon as you arrived in town. This is one of Phlan’s oldest and most famous inns. The quality of the food is second to none, it has no less than 3 different brews on tap at any given time and, of course, they always have a vat of their famous cabbage soup on the fire. At any given point, there is at least three or four other servers/cooks walking between the tavern floor and the kitchen, but it is clear that Mar always ensures he is the one serving CRAP.

Utar shakes his head. "Doubt we'll be staying for a meal unfortunately, although we still need to get you up to the house for one. Hopefully we'll get that sorted out soon enough."

Pausing, he considers the feed he purchased from the livery for Glühoof the Second, "Some of us might need to stock up on rations though, we're in a job that will take us outside the city for a few days. Sagin might pop in while we're gone though. Speaking of this job, I wondered if we could ask about a couple of patrons here? Names are Tibeem and Spernik. They're scribes over at the library. Know them?"

Graxx quickly at Utar’s words scans the room looking to see if speaking the names caused anyone to perk up and look their way.

Perception:  9

While Obsben had certainly taken to breaking out book, pen, and portable ink (somehow managing to not stain her robe during the brief juggle of setting up) for some impromptu note taking, the lightling had otherwise been content again to let Utar and the rest take center on conversation. She would at least hold a hand up at the mentions of rations, signaling her desire for as much, before again setting about scribbling away in her book. 

"Of course," Mar says regarding rations. "We'll pack some travel food for you from our pantry and larder, standard price. And Sagin is more than welcome to help out in the kitchen from time to time. We'll be sure to send him home with a lesson learned and some spending money."

Despite not being here for a meal, your mouth waters as the smell of roast duck, flowing ale, and pipe smoke wafts from multiple corners of the brightly lit tavern. It is almost as if the grinning goblin’s head on the woodblock sign hanging over the entry outside is playing a mischievous prank on you, knowing you were not coming in to partake on the deliciously smelling food. Every table, bench and stool is crowded with boisterous patrons and covered in flagons of ale. You could hear merry pipes and thumping drums a block away from the tall timber-framed building. It seems many of the dockworkers are taking their lunch early today, or perhaps this is the end of the overnight shift for many. One thing is clear, it is too loud to talk properly in here. In this mess, Graxx finds it difficult to spot anyone reacting to the dropped names. He is unsure whether anyone else even heard them.

Once the initial bit of small talk is out of the way, Utar sees that Mar's eyes begin to sparkle: If CRAP is not here for a meal, then they are here to gossip. "I'm taking a quick break" Mar says while pointing to a back door and looking at Imizael. The manager just clicks her tongue in response. Mar then leads CRAP back outside after making sure someone else is preparing the ordered rations. Once outside, he begins: "Aye, I remember those two, and so should most of you," he alludes to the fateful night when CRAP engaged in a bar brawl that also lured the scribes. "Always stained with ink, those two, and sometimes there was a third one too, but I don't fully recall his name. He was a male human, and I haven't seen him in at least a couple of weeks... E-something, I think. Anyhow, Tibeem and Spernik ate at the inn often and generally kept to themselves. They weren't the most social folks and even that night of the brawl, I think it was their companion who egged them on to join the fight. Overall, I really don't think they liked other folk talking to them." (You may assume there is some use of foul language in Mar's words. I am choosing not to right it down.)

(OOC: If your passive investigation score is higher than 10, then you deduce that Mar is referring to the scribe Ellison, with whom you have already spoken last evening.)

Mar pauses here, clearly hoping to get some juicy information from you. He might have more to say, but has momentarily shifted to the receiving end of the gossip now. This is Mar's price, as you are well aware by now.

(OOC: You can buy up to ten rations per character from The Laughing Goblin. They each go for 5sp)

Following Mar outside, Utar casts an eye about conspiratorially and waits until CRAP is gathered around. A bit of theatre, sure, but a bit of theatre Mar is likely to enjoy. In hushed tones he starts and let's the other members of the group give their own details and ask their own questions.

"It's Tibeem and Spernik we're interested in. Did you see them drinking with anyone else recently? Not Ellison. Maybe someone in purple? Did they maybe Lett any juicy tidbits of gossip drop about leaving Phlan for a few days?"

Graxx ponders for a moment on what to divulge to Mar.  What part could he share that would satisfy Mar’s urges but not enough to cause a threat to anything

Graxx looks over his shoulder to ensure no one else is listening then places his hand if welcomed on Mar’s shoulder.

”Mar, I’m going to trust you with some mighty important information that you cannot tell anyone else.” says Graxx in a low tone.

Graxx looks over his shoulder one more time then exhales.

”We’re hunting Spernik.  We think he has been part of a local crime here in town and we need to find him and bring him to justice.  Anything you can share is of dire importance.” says Graxx with a serious look on his face to show Mar how important this information he has shared is.

"Even if you didn't hear any major details. Anything, no matter how small, you may have overheard from them in passing would be helpful," Neya says.

Persuasion: 5 (16)

There are some "hmms" and nods thrown in here or there by Obsben as conversation continued both in and out of the establishment. But again, apart from clarifying -- when the opportunity presented itself of course -- a desire for at least 10 days worth of the Laughing Goblins rationable stock(preferably of the meat variety she'd add to boot), the halfling kept her nose largely buried in her book... For the most part. "If know of someone from the Dragonspine Mountain region or familiar with the area, we'd also be interested in maybe meeting them as well." 

(OOC: Deducted another plat for obsben's rations for that sweet, sweet 5 more gold pieces.)

Reading the man's anticipation on his sweaty face, Graxx gets really close to Mar and serves him a juicy plate of "classified intel". The gesturing and overacting by Graxx, and Utar after him, help sell the need for fresh information even further. The server/cook is tingling with excitement. When he tells this tale years from now, he might take some liberties with how much active participation he engaged in the capture of one of the worst villains Phlan has ever seen: Spernik, the Sly!

He turns to Utar, "Someone in purple?" He turns to Graxx: "We have to bring him to justice." Neya is next: "Anything I can remember." Some of the excitement leaves Mar's face as he slowly realizes that he doesn't have much else to say: "They were the quiet type, you see. The type that doesn't welcome my jolly self at their table. I can't say I know much else. I thought the third companion information was a good tidbit..." Mar begins to shake his head and sweaty even more profusely. "There has to be something else... I can remember more." This delving for deeper memories goes on for a little while until the man snaps his fingers: "Hold on... there was that one time. I remember another detail. I overheard them referring back to when they first arrived in Phlan. That's it, they arrived in town some four months ago!" He finally says, as if this was a bigger piece of intel than it should be. "This is good, right? You didn't know that, right?" He raises his eyebrow: "They also mentioned 'kobolds', but I didn't think much of it. Oh... Oh... They never paid up their tab! Ask Imizael and she'll confirm it!" A new realization comes to Mar: "Oh no, that means they aren't coming back to pay up. They stole from us too. Imizael will be furious!" With that, Mar's concerns turn back to the tavern's business. The man is visually tired of trying to remember details about people he saw somewhat often but rarely spoke to. You doubt Mar is able to share anything else at this point.

Meanwhile, Obsben is taking notes and making sure some other poor soul is properly preparing the party's rations.

Utar puts a hand on Mar's shoulder. "The unpaid bill is just one more thing to add to list of things they need to answer for. How much do they owe you? If I can, I'll make you whole."

History - 8 Utar assumes the thing that drew them here was the work on the library, is there anything else he remembers that might be even tangentially linked?

Graxx will also purchase 10 days worth of rations.

Graxx puts his hand to his chin.

”Kobolds… Kobolds…” says Graxx

Graxx squints in an almost look of pain.

”You don’t think we messed up by not asking Sagin more about any of this do you all?” asks Graxx.

"I don't think so... While Sagin has some agency over his actions, he seems more task-oriented."

Obsben paused in her writings and perked up at the connection to Sagin. "He certainly seemed as much from what little I've seen of the fellow." She adds, agreeing with Neya. "He also did not strike me as particularly arrogant or high and mighty, suggesting any former ties of his to any other kobold kinsman meant his own standing would be too low to have had any noteworthy part -- directly or otherwise -- with our current business." She further asserts, if albeit somewhat languidly so. Her gaze then drifted towards Mar, still seeming expectant of an answer into her query about visiting locals from their destination. 

@Utar: Your assumption on that regard is all you have to go by.

Mar says a few more words before he starts heading back inside. First, and before he forgets, he turns to Obsben with an apologetic look on his face: "I can't say I know of anyone who makes a habit of trekking into the mountains." Perhaps it is the man's mental state after an intense gossiping session, but it seems he has little to offer Obsben in the way of a practical answer. Then, in response to Utar, the large man adds: "And thank you for that but if you want an exact amount, you'll have to ask Imizael inside."

The group walks back into the tavern, mostly to collect their rations before departing. Utar manages to catch Imizael's attention and, after a few shared words, learns that the scribes' tavern tab was nearing some 12gp. "That's a considerable amount for the average patron who is not hosting catered events several nights in a row," she attempts to joke. While the group moves and says their goodbyes, Graxx and Neya discuss whether or not it might be worth asking Sagin a few questions. Obby leans toward a 'no'.

(OOC: Let me know if you'd like to make a stop by the Leadstopper residence.)

From The Laughing Goblin, CRAP continues on to their next planned stop. The grocer has been in business for quite awhile. Most of you have already shopped at Cockburn's Grocery in the past but never paid too much attention to it, seeing the store as nothing more than your average gear shop. This time, your interest here takes a more investigative accent, though some of you had mentioned interest in buying winterwear and climbing equipment as well. This is a good place for that too.

The sign over the entrance of this building says simply "Grocery", which helped form your original view on this shop being 'just another standard store'. Inside, exposed framing buttresses the high ceiling. The walls are stacked with shipping crates, sundry equipage, and milling clients. A middle-aged man with thinning grey hair beams a wide smile as you move further into the shop. You recognize this man as the owner but can't remember his name. He never made a big impression on you. In turn, you don't really expect him to remember your names either. He is a portly man with a habit of keeping his mouth busy. He is always chewing on something or at least on his way to get something to chew on. Apart from that, he has always been a pleasant enough person. Today, he is chewing on some straw.  "Welcome to Cockburn's Grocery," he says as to initiate a sale. "Name's Tad Staslep. What can I help you find?"

Utar doesn't hesitate and pays the tab the two scribes have left behind them. "We'll catch up again once we're back in town. Take care until then."

(Deducted 12gp.)