((Crosspoint, thought I'd refreshed but guess not!

Also, presuming she was told about the events in the basement -))

With a bow to Noon to start,

"The Mayor is a dragon cultist and tried to kidnap and indefinitely detain one of our friends. He was quite upset when they were liberated."

She pauses to let that settle and continues,

"We are leaving, but as we were here last, you should expect the mayor's guards to be around. They are not above kidnapping or violence."

Noon sighs and offers Marrin and Jan a drink as he pours one for himself from a bottle he pulls from a cupboard. It smells like whiskey of some sort to you.

"We've noticed more activity from their kind around the Sea of Fallen Stars lately. It's been growing for a couple of years now. For them to now be so brazen though is reaffirming what I've been worried about." Noon says then takes a sip of his drink before finishing all of it. "Something else out there has them rattled and they're getting desperate. Before they were merely a nuisance. They may be crossing over into dangerous now." 

Then he chuckles softly.

"Mayor Klein, whatever rank he holds, should know better than to come at the Lintoll directly. At least not with however many followers he has here." Noon say before looking to the ceiling of his wagon. "Still, it might be best if we don't linger here. Maybe it's time to try Escalant again. The Thayan wizards have been quiet lately."

--------------------------------------------

Bigge is still wondering where Jan and Marrin are.

"Right," Ethel says to Bigge.  "Our missing number had to address something urgent with the master of the Lintoll.  We agreed to send a small boat to pick them up from the shore as we passed them on the way out of town.  I hope that's nothing that will be too difficult to pull off?"

Jan takes a small splash and has enough of a sip to be polite, but after spending a good portion of her day too drunk to function, has no wish to repeat that just now.

"Klein had a hand in hiring 'Gary', or at least shared interests. Good bet he's aware of the... capabilities of other members of the Lintoll as well."

She considers a moment, exchanging a glance with Marrin before continuing. 

"He's interested in a book... Chronicles of Years to Come... does that title mean anything to you?"

Dwarrin takes the drink offered and sips it while she listens,

"I'm truly sorry for involving the Lintoll in this, even if we were completely unaware we were targets. I would be... Devastated if something would happen to all this utterly amazing work you've all done."

She says completely honestly but does think, after at glance at Jan,

<But I would have liked a shot at becoming Queen for a night!>

Finishing her drink she'll continue,

"We've a boat to catch. Be safe Headmaster Noon."

She'll give another bow and waits for Noon's answer to Jan's question.

Avaria nods to Ethel's explanation and then tries to help out wherever she can onboard.

Aboard the Xanthe's Wish:

Ethel and Avaria see the crew spring into life as soon as Ethel explains what's going on. Bigge begins calling out orders.

Kriox and Brash, the two goblins, holding hands emerge up onto deck. They help where they can before heading back down to the galley to get a late meal going.

Lun and Bukril, the two humans that escaped Hargrove’s Grotto with you, move about the ship, seeming to be Bigge’s senior crew. Another four new faces scramble about the deck, helping get the ship out of harbor.

Bigge sets Avaria to the bow. “I don’t think the harbor is dangerous but I’ve never done this at night. Holler if you see anything.”

Without incident, Xanthe's Wish cuts through the black water of the port and heads west along the coast.

"Avaria, help Lun drop anchor." Bigge calls when they see the lights of the Lintoll not far from them on shore.

Lun points out a wooden stake that needs to be removed from a slot (Avaria, STR check please DC 15 w/ help from Lun  )

---------------------------------------------------------

At the Lintoll:

Noon absorbs everything Jan and Marrin have said for a few moments before speaking.

"He might be aware but lacks the means or courage to do anything about it," Noon says but after a pause adds. "For now. Chronicles of Years to Come? No. Books are not my purview. But we do have a wonderful bookstore. Our resident bookworm would be the one to ask about that. Though I suspect they've called it an evening already."

"But more importantly," he says, looking at Jan. "Queen for a night is for the one who will never taste such power in their real lives; the poor patron of the Lintoll looking for an evening of amusement and fantasy. That will not be you. But there will always be a place for you here. Keep an eye out for us. I'm sure we'll see you again."

He looks outside the wagon to make sure no one is around.

"Now, where are you catching this boat of yours?"

((He's looking at Jan rather than Marrin when explaining the reasoning behind the crowning? Jan's going to be befuddled!))

((All these disguises, aliases and thoughts are leaving your DM befuddled))

Jan nods, speaking tersely, "'Queen for a Night' indeed sounds like a fleeting brush with fame and renown. I'm sure it's a big deal for children and housewives in small backwater towns, the sort of thing to tell their dozens of grandchildren decades later, their one night of magic and triumph... but if there's a new Queen every night, it is but a passing honor."

"Ethel and I visited the book shop, but such a tome as that is not something to be mentioned lightly, and nothing they would have for sale if they had it in inventory. If they have heard of it, they may be able to provide context on the scope of what the Mayor is involved in. I have an associate of mine..." Jan thinks a clear image of K'oshash in his bird and dusty elemental form, "that is currently observing the Mayor. We are leaving town, once we're out and I get a report from them, I may send them to you with any additional information that may be of use. Should you get a chance to speak to your bookworm in the meantime, anything more your vendor might be able to impart would be appreciated."

While all of that is happening, Ethel investigates the bunking situation on the Xanthe's Wish. 

[Absent the refugees but + a crew, what are the bedrooms shaping up like?  Will there be private rooms, doubles, or 3+ sleeping arrangements?  Do we have a map for the ship?]

Dwarrin raises her eyebrows at the talk about this book. She wasn't really thinking it was that important.

Once Jan is done, Dwarrin will head with her to the assigned meeting point.

(Str check from Avaria still please).

STR check: 18

Sorry about that!

On board the Xanthe's Wish:

Avaria helps out the crew and gets the anchor dropped right where Bigge wanted it. The chain races through the slot in the railing and a loud splash can be heard below as the anchor breaks the water. The ship comes to a halt as the sails are tied off.

"Prepare the port side jolly boat," Bigge calls. Even before he's finished speaking, Bukril and one of the new comers is loosening the ropes securing the jolly boat. It's quickly lowered over the side.

With Ula still invisible and Ethel off checking on the cabins, Bigge comes over to Avaria. "Are you going in for the others? Take Bukril with you. He's turning out to be pretty capable and can handle the jolly boat."

As Ethel investigates cabins, she notes that the entire ship is clean and orderly, and pleasant aromas are wafting out of the galley, followed by goblin laughter.

At the Lintoll:

Noon leads Marrin and Jan through a lane behind the main tents, two brigade guards fall into step behind the trio as they quickly navigate through the Lintoll, coming to a hedge on the opposite side of the fair from the main entrance.

"Safe travels. I suspect that whoever or whatever is spooking the mayor is going to be bad news for everyone. Be careful who you trust."

With that he steps on a small rock near the base of the hedge and a piece the size of a small doorway opens. Through the opening in the hedge, Jan and Marrin can see the beach and water in a small cove not far away from the Lintoll; probably only 100' away.

"Thank you. I hope that next time we visit the Lintoll, the excitement is coming from your shows, and less from subterfuge and conflict.", Jan gives him a bow, smiling at the convenience of a hedge that leads them to the beach.

"Handy, that."

Dwarrin gives the exit a smile,

"Thank you again sir and I hope to see you, and the Lintoll, again."

She will head down to the beach and rendezvous point.

Avaria nods at Bigge's request.  "Sounds good, we should get moving, I don't want them sitting ducks on the beach."

Perception rolls from those on the beach and from Avaria in the jolly boat.

Perception: 14 (10)

"Any word from your dusty friend on what the mayor is up to?"

Marrin asks Jan as they walk on the beach looking for their ride.