The Forgotten Wish

"I'm not against talking to the village leader in person, but if it doesn't work out there will be very little doubt as to who was responsible for the report, being that the guard captain has seen me with the others and centaurs are not exactly common.  Still, would anyone else rather do it?"

"Rick is pretty sure that the Captain can track it back to Boss Pallen's group no matter who goes. Rick thinks a letter is safer but probably less effective. Boss Pallen's call!"

Pallen sighs, clearly hoping it wouldn't come back to him, but gives his opinion after a second more of thought.

"I would simply talk in person. It feels like we don't really have enough to succinctly put our suspicion to paper, so while there's a chance they'd be vigilant over anything Vanstrom may do to his captives, it may as well be ignored too. After talking, we can still make a quick exit if that is what needed."

"But it really shouldn't be my decision. It's not my hand being stuck in the fire..."

"I can see if Erzel has an info that may be of use.", Breldo says by way of excusing himself, and will go find the innkeeper.

"Good day! We had a brief matter we wanted to consult with the town leader on, is it still ol'... ah, I can't recall. Just wondering how much sway they hold in town, how well regarded they are and the like, if they are particularly tight with the Captain and the guard here..."

After Breldo heads to get some information, Oren finally comes up with his idea, after thinking for a while.  "I think we should do something, but this could boil into a mess.   SO....Let us first finish the task we were hired for, and then we can backtrack here and speak up for the prisoners.  Let's however, see what Breldo digs up."

Breldo decides to take some time to run back to the boot and tack, to get an acquaintance opinion on the situation. Erzel scoffs a bit at the situation as he leans in over the counter, and starts spilling- After asking if Breldo wants breakfast, of course.

"Odd questions to be asking, but I'm gathering you're having issues with Vanstrom, right? Overheard a few things last night, you didn't come into your room. I won't pry, Vanstrom is a right *******- Been here for only a few months and I don't think he's earned any favors. It's just, like," Erzel trails off for a moment, rubbing his chin as he thinks it over, then continues.

"Take a step back first- Sure, mayor Dormund isn't the biggest powerhouse, but here he's got authority. You could argue that Braston is the one really pulling the shots, but you know how things go with fancy folk and nobles. Gotta be nice to each other, lend each other favors in turn, Braston gets to do what he wants with his guild and Dormund mysteriously gets a new room on his estate," he shrugs, nonverbally repeating an "That's just how it is."

"Vanstrom though... Most elite know that all the talking fancy and being polite and stuff is all but a show to do business, rarely sincere. But I think our latest self-assigned captain never got that wake up call. Dormund would probably love a chance to do something, if he had anything concrete. Braston too, but I don't think he's the type to act on only a grudge."

---

Oren shares his own thoughts - Thinking that while they should act, it really should be only when they get back to Passley. Pallen manages a shrug.

"At best, it'd take three days for all of you to get where we have to go, then back here. It's your decision to make."

"Three days may be too long for those being targeted."

Sylvera sniffs, "Talking in person may be the most efficient, but I gave my word that we would leave immediately, so that is what I intend to do..." then her eyes go wide as Breldo makes his way back into town. "I am not going back into town. If you want to risk your skin go ahead, but I think a letter would have been suitable enough. If you get caught, I'll just say that you ran off because you weren't content with how things turned out." She crosses her arms, already thinking about what could happen if the captain catches Breldo talking to the town leader, and wondering whether or not it would damage her own reputation. Perhaps getting involved could actually boost her reputation, assuming things go their way, but she isn't betting on it. Besides, right now they have their own problems to worry about... 

((I'd assumed we were at the inn picking up Pallen.))

((it had not been clearly defined, so I've taken the middle ground of "still in the city") 

((I'll assume that everything that Breldo had sent back with the others when he was put in the slammer was brought along when they picked him up then, if he wasn't able to go back to the inn previously to get his things or have breakfast.))

((It wouldn't be an unfair assumption to say breldo demands breakfast if no one thought to take it with!)) 

((Ah, I’d  made the assumption we were at the gate already as I thought we were meeting Slick and the others at the gate after picking up Breldo. But since we are still in the city Sylvera will just be trying to get everyone to keep going instead of taking a detour.))

((Is Braston a name I/Breldo should recognize?))

((To Breldo? Probably not.))

Rick nods along with the bird elf lady,

"Boss Pallen, Rick agrees with... Bird lady. Rick is here to help Boss Pallen with whatever Boss Pallen needs but maybe send a letter then when Rick comes back Rick can see how things are like Oren suggests?"

((Rick is casting his lot with Sylvera, letter then go. He'll nod along to anything that moves in that direction.))

"Who's this Braston? Guildmaster?"

With Slick chipping in too, it seems likely that Pallen is about ready to say one of them should pen up something that'd hopefully do the job, before continuing back on the road.

---

"Yeah, Braston's the local merchant's guildmaster. Passley itself isn't that big in the grand scope of things, but it is the stopping point between Mezzra and Mhurgot, so the man's got a nice amount of influence still."

Breldo nods his thanks and departs, preferably after being able to exchange a few coins for some breakfast to go.

He'll return to the others. "Dormund is the village leader, but Braston may be the one to talk to. Merchant guildmaster who may have sway over the village leader, and false accusations against merchants, and stories of travelers and traders getting murdered can't be good for business. Of course, always a risk that he sanctioned it, but Erzel didn't seem to think there was any love between either of them and the Captain."

Oren nods to all of Breldo's comments thoughtfully.  "It was a great idea to find that out."  He then glances concernedly towards Pallen and after a moment continues, "but we have an obligation to finish our first job her with Pallen.  Then let's work on helping the other falsely imprisoned after that."  Knowing which others of the group already probably agree with him, he looks impassionedly at Khond, hoping to sway him.