Tas laughs when Avaria mentions lizardfolk.

"This isn't exactly their happy place, especially this time of year," Tas says. "I haven't seen any of their kind since I was done south."

She thinks for a couple of moments then snaps her fingers.

"Does your bald guy dress like a priest?" Tas asks. "I saw someone like a couple of days ago on the Great Road. They wouldn't stop to share any information about the road or just to chat. A really icy bastard I would guess, surrounded by mercenaries."

Despite follow up questions, that's all Tas can remember about the encounter given it was little more than two groups passing on the road.

Soren bids Marrin goodnight and says his offer as guide still stands. He's also staying in the Captain's Loft and will be around for breakfast, though not too early.

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

Anyone have anything else they want to do in the Captain's Loft? There's plenty of room in Marrin's suite for the party to be comfortable or you can always head back to the Wish to sleep. If nothing else, we can jump to a visit to the harbour master or whatever else the group wants to do the next day?

((Marrin hasn't mentioned her suite as of yet, so... I don't think I have anything in particular that Jan needs to pursue, she'd have joined in the info finding, but the others seem to have done quite well there.))

Ava chuckles, "Yeah, that sounds like him.  On the Great Road, do you know which way he was heading?"

((I don't have anything else, if Marrin lets them know about the suite, she'd happily join - otherwise go back to the Wish to sleep))

Marrin, after sharing her information, brings the keys out to her suite,

"Who wants to sleep in a real bed tonight? Jenny knows how to bring talent back in!"

If no one is heading back to the Wish, she'll ask Jan,

"Can your dirt pixie let Bigge and the rest know we'll be staying here tonight and heading out tomorrow morning?"

When Soren repeats his offer she'll say,

"I'll catch you tomorrow morning, but it's probably going to be a no."

((A hop over to the harbor master sounds good early the next day. From there maybe horses?))

Tas smiles at Avaria's question.

"You've really never been up here before have you," she says kindly. "The Great Road only heads east and west. So baldy was headed east."

Hearing talk of horses and transportation, Tas also adds that if the group comes with her caravan as guard and entertainment, they've a couple of horses that can be used by outriders and they can hitch up an extra wagon.

Barring any objection from Jan, dusty K' is able to take a note to Bigge and return without incident.

Soren nods his understanding to Marrin and wishes her well on her journey.

True to Jenny Mauberg's word, the top floor suite does require climbing four flights of narrow, creaky stairs. But the room at the top is worth the climb. You suspect at one time this may have been the owner's suite, but Jenny may not be inclined to take her very large firbolg frame up and down those stairs regularly.

From the windows in the common room of the suite, the party can actually see the Wish down at the docks, as well as a handful of other ships, plus a few more larger ones anchored in the bay. Off of the common room are three bedrooms, each with a pair of comfortable beds.

The night passes quickly an uneventfully.

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

Come morning, the smell of coffee and breakfast entice the group down the stairs only to find Geffroi already there with a map rolled out across one of the tables.

"Ms Mauberg asked where we were headed and had this lying around," he says gesturing at the map. "It doesn't show us the north but does let us see what the next couple of days entail."

Looking around the tavern main room, the group can see one of the merchants that was with Tas last night sitting quietly in a corner sipping coffee. Otherwise the room is empty. But what is striking is how clean the room is. With the enthusiastic crowd last night and your experience in other taverns, it's a surprise. Even Ula mentions her parents place never looks this clean.

In a swirl of haphazard, but somehow at the same time graceful, energy, Jenny Mauberg comes swaying into the main room from the kitchen bearing plates and mugs for the group. Did she hear you coming down the stairs?

"Eat, eat." she says and barrels back to the kitchen after putting plates down.

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

Tas and her caravan are headed from Uthmere (west on the Reach) to Kront (far east along the Great Road). Soren had mentioned getting off the road in Bezentil and cutting through the forest there as the fastest route - otherwise you'll need to head to Kront and head north up the Cold Road).

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

Everyone agreed on heading to the harbour to meet the harbour master (Gorik Highhead)?

"'Dirt pixie' ... they're an elemental from the Elemental Plane of Earth, but yes, I can send K'oshash to the Wish. I'll wait until we're up in the room so I can write a letter for them to deliver." 

She will pen a note once they are up there, letting K depart through the window so they can easily find the room again when done. She'll make sure to let them know that they have done a fine job when they return with mental images of handing the letter over (any return message from Bigge? If she hasn't already told Bigge about K, she'll add a post script just to let the Captain know that little elemental serves her).

"I'm going to opt to rest in a bed tonight... not sure I could easily trance next to that chest without knowing what is going on with it, and I don't want the temptation to open it. But I could pop in quickly if you all think I should check on it?"

((Going to assume we decide to leave it be for tonight, and Jan will do her trancing in one of the beds.))

In the morning, after Ula remarks about how clean the place is, Jan peers in some of the cracks and crevices that tend to hold grime. Having the ability herself, she wonders if Jenny or someone in her employ is able to work minor cleaning magics. It would certainly be a useful ability for a tavern, or any sort of business!

Arcana (if it is Investigation instead, -3): 20

"I don't think there is any need to worry about the chest.  Its unfair that its your sole burden to carry for now, but with luck that won't last much longer."

[Ethel would return to the Wish.  While the thought of a real bed on dry land is tempting, her books and scrolls are back on the ship and she doesn't want to be away from them for long.  She will work on getting all of that packed up for the upcoming overland leg of their journey.]

In the morning, she returns, laden with her worldly possessions in case there is no opportunity to return to the boat.

"Everyone look sharp and keep your wits about you.  While it seems unlikely the Harbormaster would be in league with Godrick, we have already seen far stranger things in our time together.  If anything seems amiss when we go to meet him, be ready."

Marrin waves off Jan's concern's,

"Whatever is in the box will keep, have you seen this room?"

Marrin luxuriates in the room,

"My gods I missed this!"

She'll enjoy every thread in the high thread count sheets.

The next morning she is happier than she's ever been.

"Jenny, I guarantee you will be seeing me again! That room was the best I've stayed in for... longer than I care to think about."

She gushes, thoroughly appreciating a clean breakfast area.

She is only mildly interested in the map, actively ignoring it when she can.

After breakfast she is ready to visit the harbormaster.

"I doubt he is directly working with Ricky but may be taking a bribe to keep his visit quiet."

As they walk over she'll ask,

"Should we get our own horses? Tas is nice and all but we aren't stopping where she is."

Jan's eyes flick in Ethel's direction before returning to Marrin. 

"Perhaps a small cart or wagon as well? You get a sense from your fellow artist how rough the overland is? I'd prefer not to walk, at least."

"I got the sense the shortcut would be through a forest without much in the way of roads. Carts and wagons are probably out, but potentially horses would work."

Ethel nods slowly.  "If we could secure horses - our own horses, that we were free to take with us when we depart the caravan - then perhaps the forest would not be so hopeless a shortcut."

"I'm no trick rider, but I can keep myself upright on a horse.  And treacherous though a forest path may be, a horse would handle it much better and faster than I ever could."

Jan might not be fully aware of the how, but it's clear that there is either an army of housekeepers at work in this inn, or someone has the magical ability to clean. Try as she might, she can't find any grime, grease, dirt or dust, even in the crevices in some of the larger timber. It should be impossible to clean this well, so there must be magic at work.

Jenny Mauberg natural smile gets even larger when Marrin compliments the room.

"Your performance last night more than earned it. You had the crowd so happy and joyful that we very nearly ran out of ale and wine." Jenny says.

Later as she bustles in and out of the kitchen and other guests make their way downstairs, she can't help but over hear your plans.

"If you're really set on heading out today, I can send Olaf out to pick up some horses for you and have them waiting for you here," Jenny says.

She looks at the group and notes Ula and Hammerdasher's heights and Geffroi's slim frame. "Three ponies perhaps, and four horses, saddles and bags. That will probably run you close to 500 gold. But they'll be reliable."

 Marrin looks to her companions,

"Should I ask Soren about the guiding again or no?"

Then to Jenny,

"Do people cut through the woods to Denderdale? Soren said he could guide us."

"You trust him, beyond his ability to sing and play?"

Jan tots up the cost of seven mounts and gets close to what Jenny quoted. A lot of coin, to be sure.

Marrin looks at Jan and says in her most serious voice and with a matching expression,

"Jan, Soren and I have made beautiful music together. There is no greater bond. I trust him implicitly."

After a long pause she busts up laughing.

Wiping away a tear she'll say,

"I just met the guy. I haven't a clue if he's trustworthy, hence checking with Jenny. Same goes for Tas, we're just winging it."

She does look thoughtful after saying that

"I guess I could magic him, and Tas, up a bit to suss them out, but that might sour our relationship."

Ava turns to Hammerdasher and Geffroi, "Are you two planning on coming with us or staying with the Wish?  I don't know what we're going to run across, but wanted to know your thoughts on the matter."

Turning back to her friends, "Are we in a hurry?  I feel we are?  Though I don't know for sure..." she runs her hand through her fur on her head, obviously not used to trying to decide what to do.  "I don't think we should use magic, we just got to figure out if we need to take the road through the woods with the horses or go the way to the road, and chance the snow as well.  I'll do either, we just need to make a decision."

Jenny, responding to Marrin's question about cutting through the woods, causes the innkeeper to stop for a moment and look at the group carefully, sizing each of you up. For the first time she looks almost stern.

"If you mean cutting as a shortcut, some do. It's not winter quite yet so the game trails should still be visible, and messengers do brave the woods sometimes," Jenny says but then she gets even sterner. "But I wouldn't do any actual cutting in there. Woodcutters who go deep into the Rawlins have a habit of not returning."

Then she smiles and bustles off.

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

Hammerdasher puffs up his chest and gets a bit blustery when Avaria asks if he's coming.

"Of course I am lass. That traitor stole from my clan. What ever those Hargroves are up to, I'm pushing on to Revel's End. I'll get the location of where she hid everything if it's the last thing I do." Hammerdasher says.

Geffroi on the other hand doesn't really answer at first. Staying here obviously has some appeal to him. "You're all the adventurers. I don't know what help I can be until you know where this Glintstone person has hidden the djed keystone."

Marrin nods and then laughs at Jenny's suggestion they might actually be cutting trees.

After Hammerdasher and Geff have answered she nods and says,

"Well, I think that answers it for us. Geffroi will stay with Bigge while the rest of us take the shortcut through the Rawlins. Honestly, I would guess that Rod did the same if he was surrounded by a pack of mercenaries."

She will then say more quietly to Ava and the rest,

"Should I ask Soren though? And as far as magic goes, I can be very persuasive and make a suggestion that he let us know if he is ]planning on betraying us."

"Perhaps. I think the rest of us should meet and get a feel for him at least. If we get any whiff that he may know Ricky, I can do a fair impression of him and see if he flinches."

Ethel very much likes the idea of obtaining horses and wagons.  It has been a long time since she rode with a caravan, and it stirs up warm memories in her heart.  Still, she has to ask, "Can we afford that?  I admit I've been more focused on other matters.  Perhaps I should take a more responsible interest in our finances.  Will we need to liquidate anything?"

With regard to the bard, she suggests caution.  "If you seriously wish to travel with this person, I recommend up front communication vs. magical compulsion.  He may detect you have ensorcelled him, and most folk I know don't react positively to having mind altering magics cast upon them without consent.  If you insist on the spell, I would think you should ask his permission, first.  Otherwise, you may confirm he is trustworthy, whilst simultaneously driving him to never trust us again."