Quinn notices a change in Boona as they roll into town. He attempts to cut through the tension with some small talk. He takes deep breath and lets out a loud burp and rubs his belly.

"Boona, I can't thank you enough for that breakfast! The bacon was amazing. Sure beats the hardtack and jerky I've been busting my teeth on the past few days."

....

Quinn moves to follow Gundren into Barthen's, but he thinks twice to go against the orders of the boss. Instead he positions himself to block the entrance to the store so he can give Gundren some time alone to settle his business. He scans the area looking for any Redbrands or any more bounty hunters looking to earn 25 gp.

Perception check: 23

Quote from richgonehiking >>

Quinn breaks camp and heads out with the crew. He walks alongside Syzygy for a bit and asks to take a look at the wanted poster.

"Can I see that wanted poster?" His eyes dart back and forth from the poster to Syzygy. He purses his limps, furrows his brow and subtly shakes his head. "Horrible drawing. Ugly to be quite honest. But it's definitely you, my friend. Curious, why does it look like the Spider is only looking for you? Don't get me wrong, I don't like the idea of having a bounty on my head, but I would think that we'd all be on the hit list, not just you."

Quote from GR_Mustang >>

Jurgen hands Syzygy the parchment and says "Hey, you're worth 25gp." 

Between Draco and Jurgen they are able to make quick work of the burial detail and having said a solemn prayer they make their way with the group towards town. 

 
Syzygy had never thought of himself in terms of monetary lump sum. Whilst a sharp cold fear of his old relatively humble life in the shadowfell might have come back to haunt him, wanted posted weren’t really a raven’s cultists usual method. 
“To be honest, I’m not sure why me. Perhaps it was my little wizardly impersonation has pissed the spider off. Though they caught onto my act I didn’t think my visage was revealed.”

Watching the crowd closely, Quinn sees nobody wearing a red cloak. Nor does there seem to be anyone watching them or paying them much interest. There are plenty of new faces in town, even a few vagrants clearly looking for opportunities, but nothing obviously criminal.

Gundren eventually reappears. "Alright. I'm a little shorter on funds than I thought I'd be. My apologies. But here is eighty gold to split..." He hands a bag of 80 gold coins to Quinn "...And I'll pay you all the rest with interest once we get established. That's a promise. Elmina's getting a mule ready with our supplies. You guys need anything while we're in town? I want to head out within the hour. We'll need to keep a close eye out for spies – we'll take a circuitous route in, to make sure we aren't followed. Any of you have sharp eyes for tails? Obviously, don't breathe a word to anyone in town. I fear we're being sought. It may already be a race. We have no time to waste. Let's get what we need and go. We can rest when we get there."

"I'm ready when you are." Jurgen says.

Then Quinn does spot one disheveled individual that catches his interest– a tall, white-haired, angry-looking elven man wearing dirty leather armor, bleeding from a number of fresh wounds, walking uncertainly down the middle of the road. That in itself doesn't stand out particularly, but what piques Quinn's curiosity is the fancy light crossbow slung across his back, with woodwork inlaid with silver – an identical match to the one Quinn liberated from the Redbrand's armory some days ago.

Boona smiled at Quinn, a little more at ease though obviously a bit lost on what her place was and what she was supposed to do....usually people just told her......or yelled at her.

“Thank you, Gundren. I know you’re good for the money. And I agree, we best get moving.  We’ll move out shortly after we purchase some provisions.” Quinn continues to scan the area and spots the elf with the fancy crossbow. “Give me a moment...”

Quinn motions for Boona and Jurgen to join him as he steps out into the street towards the elf. 

“You there. Nice fancy crossbow you got there. Would you like a matching set?” Quinn pauses for a bit to gauge their reaction. “If ya do, I know where you can find another. Someplace a bit safer than where you found that one, I might add.”

Insight check: 20

Bryony hung back with Syzygy. She watched Quinn head toward an elven man with a crossbow. He looked a little worse for wear, covered in blood and dirt. The halfling frowned.

"I wouldn't mind stopping by to let Auntie Qelline know that I'm all right," Bryony tells the others. "We could get a nice meal there too, I'm sure."

I have no use for crossbows. The elf eyes the giant companion he has with him, then turns his attention back to the questioner. Why were you watching me? I am in no mood for another fight, and I must return to the town master to explain how foolish he is. Under his breath there is some muttering that includes the phrase “self taught indeed”.

(Ruven: Make a DC20 Persuasion or Deception check as Quinn tries to read Ruven's reaction.)

"Make it quick," Gundren cautions Bryony, uneasily. "And discreet. And mind what you talk about. No sense endangering others."

"And one of you stop Quinn from starting something with these transients," he continues, gesturing toward the exchange in the street. "Less'n this guy can swing a pick or something - we're gonna need some more miners. But nobody should be chatting anyone up, let alone picking fights in the middle of main street. The longer we stay here, the more likely a spy will find us. Maybe they already have..."

Check: 16

Boona frowns.....this is normally the point where Ratsy would threaten the person who stole the thing he wanted so he could give it back to the person it belonged to........it hadn't really occured to her that the person it belonged to always seemed to work in a shop full of secondhand goods.

But she sensed that wasn't what Quinn was doing...though she couldn't work out what it WAS that Quinn was doing.

She settled for trying to look grumpy....

Quinn does not sense that the stranger is being deceptive in his response. But he does seem cranky.

That bit about the Townmaster caught Quinn's attention.

"I see. Well, if you'd like to cut your losses with that thing, I'd sell it at Barthen's. And I'm not looking for a fight either, that crossbow jumped out at me that's all. I myself just stumbled upon one exactly like it a few days ago."

This fella is clearly not in a good mood, so Quinn relaxes his posture hoping to deescalate the situation before proceeding.

"I don't mean to hold you up, but what was that about the Townmaster? Did he send you on a fools errand poking around somewhere you shouldn't be? We've had some run ins with the Townmaster ourselves." 

Yes, I...a light seems to dawn behind his eyes suddenly, and he looks at his questioner with renewed interest. An identical bow, you say? You weren't below that mansion over there by chance? He vaguely motions toward Tresendar Manor. Did you find any books by chance? That belonged to that Red Hand fellow?

Quinn cracks a subtle grin.

"Perhaps. We found lots of things in all sorts of places. But I'm not very bookish so I couldn't be bothered. My friend over there on the other hand..."

Quinn turns to Jurgen and waves him over.

"You skipped the bit about the Townmaster. What's your business with that spineless good for nothing dolt?"

He sent me to that place with the promise of that brigand's books he says, his eyes narrowing slightly. I found no books, but did find a veritable army of skeletons that accosted me therein. As you can see he wipes some of the blood off his armor one of them got a lucky hit. If your friend found these books, however, I'd be happy to pay you for them. There could be information on the lost mine in there!

"Sounds about right in regards to the Townmaster. Interesting that he sent you up there as his errand boy after we cleaned out the place the best we could. I'd be ticked off if I were you. Sounds like he deserves a good swift kick in the bum." Quinn looks back at Gundren before focusing again on this elf. "We have business with someone in the Townmaster's office. I'd happily hold him while you do the kicking."

Yes, I feel I will have to question him much more extensively. I don’t hold out much hope for satisfactory answers, however. Do you know this Sildar fellow? I was hoping to question him regarding some dwarven brothers supposedly in town. Two of them have left and one poor fool got himself captured or killed, but I still hold hope I can speak with one of them as well.

"That name rings a bell. Shall we go get some answers? Lead the way. We can walk and talk."

Quinn looks back to the rest of the group to announce his plans.

"I'll be heading to the Townmaster's to secure payment for our last job. Might be best to stick together. We can get some provisions and check on Auntie Quillene before leaving town."