Cheddar shies away from the giant woman and her wink.
"I didn't know people grew to such size." he thinks to himself. 
Cheddar pats his vest pocket gently and looks down to it. "Yes, I know you are hungry. I will get you something momentarily."  
Anyone paying attention would see the head of a small mouse peek out them dart back into the pocket. 
Seeing the man head for the door and the raised voices, Cheddar, a curious sort, will move over to near the door in hopes to find a spot where he can see and listen without being in anyone's way.
As he moves that way he will attempt to "nick" food off of an open plate and place it into his vest pocket. 
Sleight of hand: 17
Hoping that with all that is going on he can do this without raising any alarms in folks.

     Finn nods and tosses a "No problem," to Janeese then sets about immediately shooing a couple people away from her table.  Ones who she ate or drank with on a previous night and who she had found annoying or boring or just there for a freebie.  She really has been here too long, she thinks to herself.  Need to be finding greener pastures soon...

     "Tylaerys!  Welcome!" Finn says, doing her best to properly pronounce the name.  She's usually quite good at such but giving her love of words and sounds and such she puts extra pressure on herself to get such things right.  "You are most definitely welcome at my table." Finn gives the Half-Elf a bit of a nod as she sits and a genuinely warm smile.

     "My name is Finn Ol'Gren...  And it really should not be a challenge to not be a dullard, though some of the usuals around this place make me wonder," she adds with a wink.  "A local?  Me?  No. No, no, no.  Not excepting in the complete opposite meaning of the word.  About halfway between Tribal and Westbridge.  A little village even the villagers never heard of.  Since my departure from there I've mostly been traveling here there and everywhere.  Honestly, not been many places long enough to be able to tell someone anything except what their inns and taverns look like... I'm a bit of an entertainer, I suppose.  Bit storyteller, bit musician, bit whatever earns me coin...  Cards and such," she clarifies quickly suddenly realizing that could give a totally wrong impression.  "But no matter how entertaining people eventually want something new, yes?  So then it is on to the next and the next and the next..."

     "But what of yourself, Tylaerys?  How is it that Greenest, of which you know nothing, draws you there thusly?"

     Finn, engaged with ensuring an adequately interesting round table for her meal, does not notice the Tabaxi or their small companion.  Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths, however, has her green eyes glued to them both.  Ready to pounce, just in case the mouse should escape...  But for now respecting the larger creatures claim to the morsel...

A low chuckle would slip from Jirel when the blonde half-elf would ask if she could prepare the sandwich for her. “My style of cooking’s much more rustic…” A self-amused smirk tugged at her lips. She was no trained chef, but she can make do in a pinch. “But I’ll see what I can do for ya.” Jirel would offer. Honey eyes meet the woman’s when she turns back to give her name, Tylaerys. “Jirel.” She returns with a dip of her head before having to dodge one of the scurrying halfling servers. Jill. And as Jirel returns to her tasks, Tylaerys would not only notice the scars along her arms, but a deep garish one at the base of her abdomen would be revealed when the goliath would stretch out, like reaching her arms over her head. 

Jill’s question hung in the air, buzzing in the Goliath’s ear as she does the ‘dance’ of working in a space too small for her. Things were easily within Jirel’s reach allowing her to pass things off to save the littles unnecessary steps. She’d have to duck to avoid bumping her head from time to time and would often have to side step to give room for the others but, they gave her work, a place to lay her head, and kept her fed. Though was this the purpose for a Blade? For her?

“I go where my blade is needed.” Jirel would finally break her silence to Jill once all meals were prepared and ready to go out. She’d offer to take them out to the table since she was easily able to line the dishes up along the length of her arms. Besides, why wouldn’t she take the invite to sit at the table to enjoy some food and drink?

Out of the corner of her eyes, Jirel catches sight of the Tabaxi sneaking food to a teeny tiny companion. She’d hold her expression as to not tip off the real proprietors, but there was a smile tugging at the corner of her eyes. To see a cat with a mouse had it’s own charm.

Cheddar is able to, by either design or destiny, snatch the goat cheese out from a middle-aged wagoneer's sandwich as he is engaged listening to his tablemate finishing a crude joke about a kenku's first word.  Almost immediately the man reaches for his meal, to discover he is left holding only a tomato sandwich.  Though he looks around in confusion and sees the tabaxi walking away, he fails to put the pieces together of the heist that has just been perpetrated against him.

Jararaka narrows her eyes at the minor commotion outside, that's probably not enough, not by herself anyway.

As soon as she hears someone giving out free food and drink, she peels herself away from the front window and invites herself to the large round table, flashing a toothy grin and bowing sloppily, "generous, aren't ya? Don't mind if I do. Name's Jararaka." She sits herself down in one of the chairs, arms behind her head. Having caught the end of Finn's sentence, she asks nonchalantly, "you all play? How about a song, a round of games or whatever while we wait? Haven't had much fun travelling with those boring bastards, what with me being a casual 'n all." She rolls her eyes a little at the caravans outside. As she does, she notices the tabaxi's movement and a little rodent snout poking out of his pocket for a split second. Isn't this like the cute stories grandmama told the kids?

Not addressing anyone in particular, she adds to the conversation, "not a local, can't tell you a thing about this place, but I gotta say, it has an unexpected fun crowd."

"Well, nice to meet you Jirel. And I don't mind rustic." Tylaerys said with a warm smile to tall blonde woman with the scars, noticing yet another one as she reached for a small crate, this one filled with fresh and sweet-smelling tomatoes. Yes, a lot of battle indeed, Tylaerys thought as she moved over to the round table, feeling both fascinated by, and a bit wary of the woman that was called Jirel, glancing back quickly at her before taking her seat.

Finn's clarifying about what earns her money elicits a soft laugh from the half-elf. "Yes I noticed you seemed to do good at the table this afternoon." Tylaerys says with a warm smile. "So you are something of a restless soul then, I can certainly see something of myself in that." She continues, taking another sip of her apple juice, realizing her mug is almost empty now, glancing over at the bar to see if the barmaids were still busy before turning back to Finn. "I'm...I'm meeting someone." She says, seeming unsure of what to say. She was not bad at lying, she never was, but she didn't really enjoy it either, she should really come up with a good cover story about why she's here at all, oh well. "So where are you headed next then Finn?" She says with a warm smile, tilting her head, trying to shift back attention to the roguish looking woman.

Tylaerys eyes widen at first as they are joined by the lizardfolk, but then she smiles politely at her, a bit grateful for the shift of focus. "I'm not a gambler, but I'll be happy to watch. " She says politely at the lizardfolks suggestion. "I think perhaps Finn would be prepared to play another game of cards or two though, just to keep her restless hands occupied." She adds, giving Finn a quick wink. "And I'll have to agree, this place certainly has an interesting crowd." She continues, glancing over at the small tabaxi seemingly sneaking away, and the exotic silver-haired woman with the unusual accent, reminding her of draconic.

     “Jararaka, a pleasure,” Finn says with a greeting smile and a wave to indicate the new guest should sit.  “Personally I prefer conversation during dinner rather than play, I hope you don’t mind.  It leaves the hands free to tend the meal as well as keeps the instruments clear of grease…”  Finn gives an apologetic smile and a small shrug…

     “But after, I’m sure music or games or mischief of one kind or another could be wrung out of me.”

     Finn Ol’Gren is happy to have the Lizard Person join but hadn’t intended to offer free meals as well, just drinks.  Running a hand through her dark green and white hair she mentally sighs and decides Easy Come, Easy Go.  When she gets the chance she discusses with one of the halflings about perhaps getting several oversized portions of everything brought to the table so all could eat ‘Family Style’.  She also resigns herself to an empty coin purse…

     “I’m heading the same place I always am, Tylaerys - nowhere in particular but wherever strikes my fancy,” Finn answers.  “Where would you suggest?”  
     Finn notices the avoidance and does have her curiosity piqued about just who this half-elf was meeting and why, but it was early yet and it’s always best to let people get comfortable before pressing them…

     “You are not a Halfling!” Finn declares with force and surety as the Goliath brings some dishes to the table.  “Five or six, perhaps…  Sit!  Sit!  Before we are out of seats, you must sit and join us…”  The Goliath was striking so of course Finn would want to meet them but she was also huge and battle scarred and as Finn, as is her wont, is often in trouble she finds it best to be on friendly term with the local bruiser.  Sometimes the friendlier the better.

     “No refusing, sit and join us and tell us how we are surely the most motley but gorgeous group of riff-raff you ever did dine with!” 

“A halfling amongst my clan maybe…” Jirel grumbles beneath her breath as she’s pointed out by Finn as she makes her way over with the entrées. The Goliath lifts the dishes high for a moment to allow Jill to cut by while the woman insisted, inviting Jirel to sit at the table with them.

First, Jirel would do her due diligence and deliver the silverhaired woman’s meal first. “If your preference isn’t to dine alone, I believe it’s an open invitation to join.” The blonde would gesture with her chin to Finn’s table filling up with guests as she delivers her food. She’d dip her head to excuse herself to continue serving the rest of the food.

Jirel comes around the corner, picking out a plate. “Someone specific?” She’d blurt as she begins placing down a Tomato and Goat Cheese Sandwhich in front of Tylaerys. While the Goliath would lean in, it’d reveal a clasp holding her fur cloak. It’s ornate and delicate design stands out from her wild leathers. It’s a white stag with emerald eyes. “Maybe myself or the staff has seen them…” She’d add with an apologetic look, realizing she could be prying. 

Clearing her throat, Jirel would stand back upright. Glancing at her larger plates of food she had strategically lined up for herself, the Goliath would eventually exhale. Begrudgingly she’d resign, deciding to ultimately share her meal, family style, with this new group of strangers. One by one, Jirel would begin laying out the plates in the centre of the table. “How ‘bout a song?” Honey brown eyes would look up to Finn from placing down an extra large helping of ribs. “Don’t think I’ve heard ya sing.” She only caught sight of her gambling and playing cards.

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel has been pondering over the details of her field work, obsessively ruminating on the intention of her visit again and again like a mantra. As a result she seems occupied with her own thoughts for awhile and remains disassociated.

When someone (Jirel) arrives at the table to serve her meals, she seems too much absorbed in deep thought as if she had forgotten about the existence of her surrounding. Since she's a bit distracted and withdrawn from reality, she fails to contemplate the meaning of Jirel's advice. "No!" She yells harshly but immediately realizes her mistake. "Pardon my ill-manner, I hope you're not offended. I'd like to dine alone, at least for now." She removes a pair of hair-pins out of her carefully decorated bun and uses them as chopsticks to pick the smaller pieces of meat and dipping it into the bowl of radish soup. She doesn't want to use a spoon to devour the delicious soup, but she will directly drink from the bowl.

Tylaerys had been on the road for a long time now, travelling alone, and she realized she really appreciated the company at the table, finding herself relaxing even. "Well if you're heading nowhere in particular perhaps you'd care to join me to Greenest then?" She says to Finn, smiling and tilting her head. "I'd appreciate someone to talk to on my way there, even if it's supposed to be close by, and you seem like someone who'd be an entertaining company Finn."

Tylaerys stifles a laugh as Finn, very observantly, points out that Jirel is in fact not a halfling, quite the opposite really. They were a motley group indeed at the table now, which made it all the more interesting to her. She jumps in her chair as Jirel a moment later appears by her side, placing a plate with her Tomato and Goat Cheese Sandwhich in front of her. "Oh...um...yes...someone specific." She says, trying to quickly collect herself again, noticing the white stag with emerald eyes on her cloak clasp. A tribal or family symbol perhaps, quickly goes through her mind as she turns to face the tall blonde woman. "I'm supposed to meet him in Greenest." She says with an apologetic smile. "It was kind of you to offer your help with finding him though." She adds quickly, looking up into the tall blonde woman's honey brown eyes.

As Jirel hands out more plates on the table Tylaerys starts to eat her sandwich, briefly closing her eyes to focus on the taste and texture, opening her eyes with a pleased smile. "Yes, a song, please." Tylaerys chimes in. She was quite used to the baudy songs and shanties of the taverns of Sword Coast, and was a bit curious now what Finn would pick up to entertain them all with.

     Finn Ol'Gren finds herself leaning towards Tylaerys and smiling at her words.  "A trip to Greenest with you?  I'm not sure anyone could refuse such an offer," she replies with a small laugh but when the Goliath leans in Finn finds herself altogether distracted.  Soon though it seems as if everyone is demanding a song and though Finn really would have preferred to eat first she did have a little something she'd been working on since arriving at this particular crossroads...

     "Alright, alright," Finn says in reply to yet another request, holding her hands up in mock surrender.  Getting up from her chair Finn walks over to the now deserted poker table, stepping up on a chair and then still stretching to reach up into the rafters to pull down the lute she had secured up there so it didn't get banged up or walk away.  

     "Stories are really my specialty, I must admit.  Verbal and written...  Chronicling history and adventure.  Recording it for history.  Enhancing it for fun and profit," she says with a wink as she tunes the lute. "But I am well rounded so I can, of course, entertain in a multitude of ways..." This time a saucier wink.

     "This is rough... I have just started it in the last two days or so.  Forgive any roughness but please, feel free to clap along or join in on the chorus once you pick it up..." And with that Finn starts out a quick, upbeat, almost hillbilly type rhythm before lending her voice to the performance...

🎶🎶Oh, there's no fire in the fireplace

There's no carpet on the floor

Don't try to order dinner

There's no kitchen anymore

But if the road's been kinda bumpy

And you need to rest a spell

Well, welcome home to Noah’s Mill Hotel

🎶🎶If you've got luggage keep it handy

But you're running out of luck

'Cause the bellhops ain't too organized

And the stairs’re covered in muck

Still if you don't mind friendly animals

And can learn to stand the smell

Well, welcome home to Noah’s Mill Hotel

🎶🎶Welcome home

Oh, welcome home

No matter where you wander

You will never do as well

Okay the lobby's looking shabby

And it's got the wrong address

And the whole dern thing has been condemned by Gov’ner’s Inspectress

Still the management is cheerful though the whole joint's gone to hell

Well welcome home to Noah’s Mill Hotel

🎶🎶Oh there are bugs

There are bugs

And there are lice

There are lice

Sure we have our little problems

But you'll never beat the price

You've got every kind of critter

You've got ev'ry kind of pest

But we treat 'em all as equals

Jes' like any other guest

Though you're cleaner than the others

Still as far as we can tell

You'll fit right in to Noah’s Mill Hotel

We'd fit right in to Noah’s Mill Hotel🎶🎶

((Performance: 14 ))

     At the completion of the tune Finn Ol'Gren bows.  Then bows again, wether the audience appreciation demands it of not.  "Thank you, thank you...  I just hope our proprietor Aaric Felcorin appreciates the song in the spirit it is intended!"  Finn looks around the room for a bit before spying Aaric and grandly pointing to where he is for all to see.  "What say you, Aaric? Surely my tune is at least as good as the Apricot Brandy they pawned off on you... Am I right??  Please everyone...  A hand for our fine host, Aaric Felcorin!!!"

     And with the crowd hopefully clapping and hooting and looking towards Aaric, Finn will side back to her spot at the table and try to finally get a taste of those ribs...

Tylaerys' grey, almost silvery eyes, curiously follows Finn as she leaves the table and enters her stage with confidence. The half-elf turns in her chair to face the bard, smiling with anticipation during the introduction. As Gren starts to sing Tylaerys quickly joins in, clapping her hands and laughing, soon also singing along with the Well welcome home to Noah’s Mill Hotel , but at least one octave above most of the others (Performance: 5 ) As the song ends she keeps laughing, but also showing her appreciation for the host with a short applause. "That was great Finn, you're a really funny person, you know that?" Tylaerys says enthusiastically as Finn takes her seat at the table again.

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel has devoured most of the meals except a small piece of quail meat. The soaked meat remains on top of the table to serve a greater purpose. The tiny leftover is quickly picked up when the aasimar woman bends downwards so that she can place it on the floor. While placing it on the ground she starts blowing whistle by puckering her mouth, then makes clicking noise with her tongue. To disinterested observers, her actions might seem weird, and the sounds wouldn't make any sense at all. But these particular tunes are nothing but the mimicry of the 'sqweaking' noises made by mouses or rodents.

Her intention is crystal clear, she's trying to lure in the mouse that's been accompanying the talking feline creature (Cheddar). She perhaps wishes that the larger companion will follow the mouse too and will be ultimately led to her table.

Animal Handling

[Cheddar, the little mouse is most interested in investigating what is going on at Jenviel's table.]

Finn's performance draws appreciation from the crowd.  While they did not know the words, Tylaerys enticed a few to join her in trying to sing along with the chorus.  The two halfling serving women roll their eyes at some of the more outlandish descriptions of the place, but the young bugbear busboy laughs riotously.  When it is over, nearby patrons toss a total of 17cp to Finn for the show.

Just as it is wrapping up, Aaric comes back in from outside, reading the fine print on an IOU he obtained from the wagoneer.  He misses most of the song, just catching the shoutout to him and some cheers and toasts from the crowd.  He looks around, confused, for a moment, before playing along as though he understands what is happening.  He smiles and gives a brief bow before returning to the kitchen behind the bar.

What was that saying about ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’? Jirel felt defensive hairs raise at the unexpected burst from the silverhaired woman. Though, her immediate apology was enough for the Goliath to shrug it off with a soft chuff. She was fine respecting her space.

Those familiar with the factions could recognize Jirel’s clasp as a symbol of the Emerald Enclave. And with Tylaeris informing her that her meeting is actually in Greenest, she’d scratch the back of her head feeling a little silly for poking her nose in business that wasn’t hers. She wasn’t good at this small talk with ‘tourists’ thing, but at least she tried. Jirel would dip her head in response to Tylaeris’ polite thanks. “I wish you and your travelling companions a safe journey.” She’d try her hand at giving a warm smile, though could come off as more of a ‘sneer’ with how her toothy fangs would poke out.

Perfect. With Finn ‘reluctantly’ giving in to the performance, it allowed Jirel to fall back into silence. She was good at that. But most importantly… The Goliath’s stomach grumbles. She could take a seat and finally dig into her meal. A dinner and an impromptu show. A great distraction. While Finn gets up onto stage, Jirel sits back, tossing her feet up onto a spare chair to enjoy herself. And she did. Every, last, bite. Oh, the music too of course… She’d clap.

When Finn would sit back down, honey brown eyes watch the performer eye around the table for the ribs. CLANK. Jirel just finished sucking off the last bone from the table’s racks of ribs and dropped it onto the plate. She’d wipe the corner of her mouth with her thumb. “That was fantastic Finn.” A smirk would tug playfully on her lips. 

(Meanwhile there would be a fresh set of ribs scheduled to come out for Finn shortly after her performance.)

Aaric reenters and Cheddar moves back into the tavern once the gnome passes him.
"Thought there might be trouble for our host." he gently tells Cicero the pocket mouse. 
Seeing Cicero take and interest in the table of the boisterous guests, Cheddar becomes concerned,especially seeing one of the strangers taking and interest in his companion.
"We do not know these people." he tells Cicero cautiously. "And they might be mouse eaters." 
If Cicero seems insistent, Cheddar will take him close to the table but keep Cicero in his pocket home.

[With an 18 Animal Handling roll, Jenviel has really piqued Cicero's curiosity.]

The meals are served and the establishment settles in to quiet conversations as patrons dig into their meals or sink into their cups.  It is the pleasant nightcap to a long day on the road.

Yet...

Cheddar:

 Jararaka:

 Tylaerys:

 Finn:

 Jenviel:

 Jeril:

The six of you are not alone in this.  All around the room, patrons set down their cups with queasy looks on their faces, or hold their bellies as if in sudden indigestion.  None can put a name to the feeling, but all feel it just the same.  Husbands and wives absentmindedly reach for each other's hands, while those whose true love is money place a protective hand on their coin purses.   The bold laugh uncomfortably, while the anxious look to pay their tab and head home, uncertain of what fear drives them.

No two react quite the same, yet a similar thought touches every soul here:  Something is terribly wrong.

Cheddar looks around quickly as he slips Cicero into his protective pocket. 
"What was that?" he asks out loud as his hand slips to his dagger. 

Tylaerys gives the tall blonde woman beside her a nod and a warm smile, biting her lip as she notices her toothy fangs. "Thank you Jirel, I don't really have any travelling companions, yet, but I would be surprised if the last stretch to Greenest would hold any dangers for me." She says politely, still pondering the white stag with emerald eye, where had she seen it before?

Tylaerys continues to slowly eat her Tomato and Goat Cheese Sandwhich with as much dignity as you can eat a sandwich, enjoying the unusual but pleasant company at the table and even helping herself to some of the food in the middle of it, realizing it is getting late and considering changing her plans to staying at Noah's Mill for the night as she hasn't had this good company since she left Waterdeep.

Suddenly the blonde half-elf puts down her mug of apple juice and pales, her silvery eyes going wide and her hand going up to her chest, her breathing stopping for a moment. She quickly glances around the inn, searching for an explanation to her reaction. Something definitely happened, something...terrible.

Perception: 22

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel has been waiting for her little guest to arrive and introduce the larger companion to her. But, when she notices the feline creature (Cheddar) whispering something to the mouse, she loses all hope of finding a pair of acquaintances. Earlier, she has reconsidered the suggestion of the goliath maid (Jirel) and found that dining alone has brought nothing but misery. 

When she attempts to reclaim her seat she senses some sort of disturbance. Did an electrically charged area form around her? Why would the wind suddenly warm up? Her bandages that are carefully hiding arcane sigils starts to glow as if they're failing to conceal the scars underneath whilst she feels a surge of magical aura. Not now!

Does she recall any magical tradition related to such kind of effect?

Arcana 15