Sarűmir sighs, seemingly losing a bit of patience.

"That tabaxi was hired for some sort of bounty job. I needed to know more about it, but when I chased her she cast a spell on me that immobilized me. She agreed to a deal in which whoever gets to the place first and takes care of this man named Yoren gets the bounty. Now, are you coming?"

"Yes, I will go with you though I think we need more information and to figure out why this Yoren has a bounty on their head and who put up the bounty in the first place" says Sanimar as she walks with Sarumir. 

@Sarűmir and Sanimar

Walking around through the merchant tents, you see Emma who was just looking for you. "THERE YOU GUYS ARE!" She crosses her arms. "Why were you messing around with Veo? OH! Did you see my brother? He said he was gonna get me something cool from the ruins. You know they like to go in there all the time. Haha they once convinced a rat man that he was their prophet."

"Oh right anyways. I forgot. If you needed a place to stay I've heard that the Bark and Buzzard's got spare rooms! Let me show youuu!"

Nestled amongst the residential cottages of Emberwood Village, this small one-level public house is a popular spot for locals and adventurers seeking a peaceful and laid back place to unwind. The sign hanging above the door depicts a cartoonish vulture feasting on the entrails of a bloodhound, both smiling pleasantly. The public house has a cozy and familial character: there’s no proper bar, nor any walls separating the kitchen from the dining room.

"This is the place! The Bark, as you can see, is the dog, and the Buzzard... that's the buzzard BUZZZ." A blonde haired woman serves some drinks to a group of halflings in the dining room while in the corner a purple tiefling is seen reading a book, sipping on some coffee. The woman looks up to with a smile, "Well, howdy. Are are you doing? Do you two need anything, sugarcube?"

@Twinkleblossum

Despite the fact you were hiding, you were actually found. Someone taps you on the shoulder. "E-excuse me, ma'm." It is a winged tiefling dressed in shabby dark purple robes. A hastily made paper brochure is in his hands. The logo on top has a red comet surrounding by yellow flame. "Hello- uh sorry. My, you are fascinating. Um, uh sorry. Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I- I am Cosmos. Would you like to hear of the Faith of the Falling Fire? The good news just awaits us-"

His eyes just go wide and he waves his arms around. He can't help but babble. "I'm sorry, but you're just the first fairy I've ever seen. Are- Are you from the Feywild?" He squeals. "How can I get there? I just have to know! Is there a portal around here?"

Sarűmir looks taken aback at being called 'sugarcube' by the blonde haired woman.

"You can refer to me as Sarűmir or Mr. d'Łeifph, or not at all. And do you happen to have any ale or beer?"

"I am told this would be an accommodating place to find rooms for rest. Are you by chance the owner of this establishment. If you are I ask how much for a room and does any of these rooms have multiple beds?" asks Sanimar

Feeling a little surprised herself Twinkleblossum quickly recovers, "Ah, hello Cosmos, my name is Twinkleblossum. I'm sorry to say I haven't heard of your faith before."

She abandons her hiding spot and fully engages with Cosmos, "Yes, I am from the Feywild but have not been back there in years. I am new to Emberwood Village and therefore don't know of any fey portals nearby, sorry."

"Did you see where my friends have gotten off to?" she will fly up again to 30 feet and look around for Sarumir and Sanimar.

@Twinkleblossum

"Twinkleblossum? Oh what a lovely name! I couldn't have said it better myself." His face gets a bit flushed. Cosmos goes out to shake your hand only just to stick a brochure in it. It is a small piece of paper that leads you to a small map of Emberwood Village with the name 'Hendrix Farm' circled on it in blue. He points at said spot. "This is were we gather before our pilgrimage to the center. Come tonight and I can led you to learn more of it. It truly has opened my eyes on what's out there.... They also have yoga on Sundays."

Trying to stifle his own disappointment, he puts his hands away in his pockets, "Oh. That's okay. Well I hope you'll be staying for a while."  He looks up hopeful at you. He then shrugs at the mention of your friends, "I'm not sure, sorry."

Flying up, you are able to see your friends just before they walk into the a one-story establishment called the Bark and Buzzard as seen on the sign. Emma sits outside and starts drawing in the dirt.

@Sanimar and Sarűmir

The woman just frowns, "Sorry, sugar. I don't make the rules, but everyone under this house is by nickname basis only." She pats you on the back, "Sure coming right up. One Ember Aleeee!" She hollers over to the man working in the kitchen. Everyone in the room stop and turns and also repeats it like a preacher's call. "EMBER ALEEEE!"

She turns back to Sarűmir, "2 silver."

"As for you sweetheart, we do have some rooms available. Only 2 gold per room unlike that snotty Mr. Kravos who charges 25. Who he thinks he is? Some REEVE?" The tavern seems to share this as an in-joke and laugh. "Yes, and of course, it is one room each. A whole cottage. Two queen sized beds."

"That sounds like a fair price, but I need to chat with my comrade here." says Sanimar and gestures Sarumir to an empty table "Do you have any leads as to where Yoren may be hiding?" 

@Sanimar and Sarűmir

The waitress just shrugs and lets you at it. The empty table is in the center corner of the room, but given with the ruckus that the halfing quartet are making it seems unlikely that someone would hear you unless...

Right in the middle of your conversation someone cuts in. "Was this... Yoren you speak of? As in Oscar Yoren?"

It is that purple-clothed tiefling. Her tail swishes side by side on the floor. Her hands are by her side as a black cat strolls up from behind her and begins nestling at her feet.

 "Whatever they are paying you I can offer you something better." She is a short woman in her late twenties. Her attire is practical and professional. Her said hip-length purple jacket with a high collar, and belted at her waist are several pouches and pockets. She wears five rings on her right hand. Two oddly-shaped dark brown horns sprout backwards from her flowing blue hair, creating almost the impression of two boats at sea. "Now, tell me. Who hired you? Who is interested... in his works?" 

Sarűmir growled at being called sugar again, as well as being touched without consent by the woman.

Sarűmir glances at the tiefling, then back at Sanimar, as if to say, Should we tell her?

"Take a seat so that we may learn more about you. Who are you? Please tell us about Yoren and your interests in him." asks Sanimar. She gives the signal to not spill the beans yet to Sarumir. 

@Sanimar and Sarűmir

She takes a chair and flips it over frontside backwards as if trying way to hard to be cool. "I can see you are apprehensive." She puts her hands down in front of her. "Worry not, this is a standard investigative procedure." 

"I am River of the Amethyst Academy. You may have likely have heard of me from the small-minded rumors that run amok these types of joints. I am the overseer of what happens in this town and informal fact-checker, especially when those rumors concerning former Academy members." She opens up the notebook she had been carrying, holds her quill out, and stiffly looks up at you.

"Oscar Yoren was once a trusted wizard and colleague within our faculties. Ten years ago he decided to disparage all we have done and sought fictitious fortunes for his own, and, as of recent, has using his own personal team of malfeasant dropouts and defuncts to attend to him."

"He is a man who cries 'sour grapes' when he in fact had wrought exactly what he had begotten."

She smiles with teeth so sharp you can barely guess how it fits her face when her mouth is closed. 

"Now it is time to hold up your end of the bargain. Now tell me. Who is it that told you to go find him? Then I will make an offer."

Sarűmir looks at Sanimar with a face that says, Well? Are you going to tell her? He quietly sips his ale.

Sanimar mulls over what to do and decides to spill the beans "We know there is a bounty on Yoren and we learned of it by a magic wielding Tabaxi. Currently we have no leads." 

@Sanimar and Sarűmir

"... Interesting." She gives a polite smile. The light in her eyes seem to shine. She whispers to herself but also you two as well. "That dropout and his crazy friends. Yes, I know of them way too well. The 'Drakkenforce' as they called themselves."

"I want you to be there first. No games. No shenanigans. And they are known to pull shenanigans. Do not let yourselves be fooled. I have a hunch I know who they are working for and I can not afford to be blind-sided this time around." She taps her fingers on the book she is holding. "Yoren lives before the city walls. Just off College Road. The upper-class residential neighborhood in Drakkenheim. Reed Manor. It is not his own. He has moved in there since after he resigned." 

She puts her book away and stands up. "I offer you 250 gold for your acquaintance and also a pearl of power for your reward. I understand you understand the severity of this assignment."

“The Amethyst Academy thanks you in your efforts. We don’t care what you have to do to obtain Oscar's information, but you must bring back something tangible or I will not pay you: a spellbook, his journals, or samples of his work." She bites her lower lip in thought, her fangs piercing the skin a little. "In the worst case scenario… all we require is his brain.”

"Do I make myself clear?" She sticks out her hand roughly in front of you both.

Sarűmir nearly spits out his drink when she mentions the reward, but manages to keep it down. He quickly shakes her hand and gives her a wolfish smile. "Done."

"The reward is definitely agreeable, and you have a deal, River. Now if we need to find you will you be staying here at the Bark and Buzzard?" asks Sanimar as she shakes River's hand. 

@Sanimar and Sarűmir

"Then it is settled." She shakes each of your hands firmly. River turns to Sanimar, "No. I will be staying at the Red Lion Hotel as I do always. Bring it to me there once it is done." She moves to leave you to at it, but then turns around midway to explain herself. "The Ember Ale here is just my guilty pleasure." Then she goes down to sit in the corner seat, taking notes in her book and sipping on her aforementioned drink.

Her cat watches you two with piercing eyes. 

Sarűmir growls at the cat, seemingly to say, Go on. Leave.

"Well Sarumir lets gather everyone together as it sounds like this job will be a challenge. I will head to the Chapel of Ardena and tell everyone to meet back here at the Bark and Buzzard" says Sanimar as she stands and heads out of the Inn. She then walks towards the Chapel of Ardenna. 

"Alright. I'll see if I can find Twinkleblossum and some of the others." He stands up, chugs the rest of his ale, then sets the two silver pieces on the table, as well as the mug. He walks out of the inn.