If Anachain hears Deniz talk to Togar about the coins she doesn't let on.  Truth is she's never nor wanted for them much... But nor is she one to look a gift horse in the mouth or look to give away a found blessing.  Her mind does, briefly, go to the thought of just who should get a share of this haul...  Deniz perhaps earned some through his ordeal when they found him but he also seems uninterested.  Gimrin, on the other hand, is surely interested but could still be one of the bandit group for all she's seen.  She doesn't really think so but she knows she could be wrong...

     No bother though.  She quickly allows such greedy thoughts to fall from her head.  Not that she is beyond such things but even if they did an equal sharing amongst all it would be more than she's ever had all at once.

Kulloda laughs loudly and points at Grimrin.

"Kulloda say thief and is thief," the barbarian says through the laughing.

He doesn't wait and takes his share of the coins, pushing an equal share on the amusing elf.

"Maybe in woods no coins," Kulloda says gesturing absently at the trees. "But in not woods, want to eat, want bed, want new sword, need coins."

Kulloda then sits down in front of the cook and bandit and waits for them to answer Anachain's questions.

When Kulloda wakes up the sleeping bandit, he screams.  and screams and screams until someone shuts him up.  He obviously has had some past trauma as he stares at his friend that was recently beheaded.  

At first the cook tries to be belligerent, but is weak in his constitution about it and when Mother Anachain notes Kulloda he hangs his head and makes up some easy fare for the group.

There are no other bandits around as most of you check.  Myrth notes nothing out of sort as the cook slowly finishes the meal with manacles on.  When MA asks if there are other bandits, the remaining one shakes his head no.

Kulloda eats without worrying about what the cook might have put in the food and then looks over at Anachain.

"Still easier take only head back," Kulloda says around bites of food. "But want whole bandit, take whole bandit."

Insight check to see if truthful about other bandits:  10.  Anachain surely can't really tell if he is truthful or not but she figured the group got the majority of them if nothing else...

     "Nothing personal," Anachain says to the bandit and the cook, "but you were making life hard on the townfolk and they hired us.  I'd just assume bring you back to town and let them decide what to do with you two.  Kulloda has other ideas.  I'll win out unless you make trouble on the way back, yeah?" 

     After the meal she suggests they at least start heading back to town to the others.  "We don't want to get caught in the bandit's area just in case there are more... Or in case others come looking for revenge.  Best it obvious we are not them, eh?"

     She also takes her share of the profits...  She is hesitant to give over a full share to Grimrin but eventually decides it's the easiest solution.  "Coin won't always be this easy," she tells him, "But when we have it we'll share it.  That goes for you as well, if you stick with us.  We all pitch in, we don't screw one another over, and as a team we'll succeed, eh?"  It's not the best motto or sales pitch but she hadn't been expecting to need one.

The elf notes also with fascination how the sight of the coins excites Grimrin and Anachain as well as Kulloda, and ponders what makes them different from the bandits. Togar however seems unmoved so far. After helping the others to count the coins (apparently there are 200 gold coins) Deniz speaks with the owlin...

I have observed how the humans perceive Coins as a solution to their problems. However I have also observed that Coins appear to be the cause of their problems. My experience is limited in this thing, and it confuses me. Coins do not appear to stimulate your emotions in the same way... 

It is not exactly a question, but an invitation to respond.

Togar looks up at the elf and cocks his head, considering.  “Well, I have to say, growing up in our house in Thune, because of the textile company my father founded and the occasional magical properties of his rugs, I never had want for coins.  Pengo and Priscilla took good care of me.  I was on my way to the Thunian Observatory in Cylic Ferdeth when I got mixed up in this mess.  Father saw to it that I was to be given a spot in their class, so that I could further my studies in the arcane arts, I am so fascinated with conjuration!"  At that point, Togar conjures a wooden stirring spoon for the cook to use that he seems to be looking for around the now broken campsite.  "I would rather learn more ways to alter matter and arcane ways to achieve means than with shiny golden circles that become heavy in the pocket.  Though, to be honest, they do have their place, they do accomplish things, that is for certain."  He looks over to Mother Anachain and Kulloda, smiling.  "Coins are a means to an end.  But people get so caught up in them, so focused that they lose sight of everything else.  But that is what tends to happen when you don't have them.. and you need them to eat!"  He turns over and looks at Grimrin, smiling "Isn't that right?"  He makes a clucking sound in his throat.  

Togar pauses for a moment, watching the cook continue, then looks back to the elf, curiosity stirred as the stew is by his conjured spoon.  "So, where do you come from, where you don't pay attention to coins?  What are the many steps that led you to .. here?  Where were you headed?"

The elf listens closely to Togar, his face expressionless as always except for the eyes, which show the spark of sincere curiosity, absorbing every word and storing it away for later contemplation. He takes a few silent moments in contemplation, his thoughts also stirred as if by the motion of the spoon in the stew, before summarising: What was intended as a convenient means of exchange has become a necessity and goal in itself. I must think on this.

Finally as Togar makes his inquiry, Deniz looks away from the cooking pot and toward the west.

Beyond the far shore, on an isle that is called Shonethor in the common tongue, is where I was sired. My people are one people - I had heard mention of humans and dwarves, but tales of their strange ways were rare... and discouraged. There we live at one with the earth and sea - it provides all we need, and we in turn provide for it. There is no word in my language for 'own' or 'possess', and none want for anything. Deniz pauses for a moment, before quieting his voice down. Yet we are not free from hardship. Some seasons are lean, and some winters long and fierce. Fang and claw do not distinguish elf from animal. At times we perish, and while others are birthed to take their place, still we mourn their loss. "Such is the way of balance", we are told.

Turning his eyes away from the east and back toward the camp, Deniz continues: It came into my heart that there was another way - that food-plants could be multiplied, that fruits and grains could be stored for lean seasons. Some agreed, and we altered our manner of living accordingly. Death was stayed, and yet the elders were troubled, for they said that as the waves herald the storm, the stirrings of civilization would precede the tempest of disharmony, and forever upset the way of balance. I would neither gainsay their counsel nor abandon my ideas, which are to my mind as the rain of Eldrioth. And so I took my leave - the first of my people to do so in ages uncounted - to seek wisdom from the human world, and to aid in restoring the balance where I may. Thus I came to Eldershore and learned of their plight, and also of you. At this, Deniz turns back to face Togar directly. Much imbalance have I seen. To kill and not for food - not even the beasts of the forest do this. And to kill for Coins... these are strange ways.

You all finish up the meager stew and get the two prisoners walking back towards the road.  Looking through the rest of the tents, there is nothing else to find.  The two keep silent as they morn for their friends, occasionally looking up towards Kulloda as they both worry about him.

Once back to the road, you all load back into the wagon once the horses are calmed down and get it turned around back towards Rivermark.  

Feel free to continue your conversation on the way back, I don't want to hurry things along as you're getting to know your new companions.

"True that is, Togar. Kulloda names me thief, but I take the label of survivor." Grimrin slurps down his stew hungrily before patting his belly with satisfaction. Then his eyes grow distant. "But there are greater challenges to survival than mere hunger. I don't skulk and steal because I want to be a burden to society. It's because being gainfully employed typically requires staying in one place for longer than is safe. That's a mistake no one in my family will make again..."

He trails off, but his brooding silence is interrupted by a large insect landing on his neck. "Ack!" He slaps at it noisily.

Kulloda tries to follow what Deniz says about where he’s from and what life was like. He thinks about his own life. Something he does his best to avoid doing most of the time.

”Wait til learn about gladiator slaves and fighting pits. Then see what think.” Kulloda says, rubbing his wrists, though whatever was there no longer confines him.

Then he watches the halfling and laughs.

”What wrong with be thief. You small but you quick. Quiet. Not survive in arena. But not need to. Thief good.”

Deniz nods silently as he tries to make sense of the conversations, and ponder all this new information:

Does Grimrin want to be a burden to society, or doesn't he?
If his family were fortunate to have learned from mistakes, why did he appear sad?
Why the requirement to wait before learning about slaves and pits?

The elf reminds himself that he must be patient with learning from these humans.

     "I don't know a person alive who wouldn't change something out of their past if they had the option," Anachain chimes in kind of low key addressing everything without commenting on anything specifically.  "Alas, few ever have that chance.  Mostly we react to the world around us without having much power to actually impact it.  Perhaps as a group we will be able to have more of an effect...  Be it finding the Pearl or just helping one another."  It's probably a lofty and idealistic sentiment, she'd hardly call the original trio a real group yet not to mention the newcomers...  But combined they did manage against what, for a few moments, seemed insurmountable odds, so she if feeling a bit philosophical, she supposes.

     She makes sure the prisoner bandits are secured in the back of the cart and that there is someone watching them at all times.  She sees to it that the manacles are changed so they they each hand a hand and foot manacled to the other and that they are then further bound by rope.  She doesn't want them getting away or trying anything dangerous.  "Someone needs have eyes on these two at all times.  Understood?" she instructs the others.

     "And no killing them unless absolutely necessary!" she adds, eyes on Kulloda specifically.

     On the way back to Rivermark she ensures that everyone got a fair cut of the gold from the bandits (Was it 20 each?  Did everyone note that down?) and makes a schedule for keeping watch over the prisoners as well as a watch at night.  "One of us should be awake when Deniz or Grimrin are," she whispers to Togar and Kulloda.  "We've only just met them.  They seem true enough but only time will tell for sure..."

     Myrth is dismissed to his pocket dimension for a good portion of each daytime so that the familiar can rest and relax however it is that they do.  That way they are fully refreshed to keep an extra pair of invisible eyes on the prisoners and just things in general in the trickier overnight hours.  This bugs Anachain, she is always more comfortable when the little guy is a constant presence near her, but she has found over the time she has him that he is more attentive after being shunted away to his own plane for a while...

Kulloda settles into the back of the cart and watches the two prisoners.

"Kill when necessary," Kulloda says, nodding, not taking eyes off of either of the two.

When Anachain mentions keeping an eye on Deniz and Grimrin, Kulloda grunts.

"Don't know true or false but amuse Kulloda," he finally adds, implying that as long as they amuse Kulloda he's not too bothered either way.

Togar makes himself a cushy seat in the wagon for the ride back, every now and again taking off to scout their surroundings, but feeling that they have vanquished the last of the renegade band of bandits.  He listens on the ride back, preening himself and straightening his vest and garments, worrying over the damage and holes that were made.  “Need some proper thread and needle.  Where does one find the equipment here in the middle of, well, wherever the hell we are.  Can’t wait to get back to some semblance of civilization…”

Please, allow me, says Deniz in response to Togars work over his clothing, and extracts a small roll from his net-bag. Unrolling it reveals a number of pins and needles, spools of thread, and scraps of fabric and yarn. If I cannot repair it entirely, I may at least prevent it from becoming worse.

Deniz has Weavers Tools in his inventory, and proficiency with them.

Togar’s eyes widen and his mouth clicks open then shut for a moment.  He moves his head and stands up, straightening himself and seems very appreciative.  “Why.. thank you.  How kind of you.  I did not know that you knew of the woven arts.  Such a kindness.  Yes, you can travel with us, anytime.”  Togar is clearly pleased and beams at the elf, appreciative of his help.  He takes a couple of small items out of his pockets and hands the vest over to Deniz, watching how the repair is made.   

     "Wait.  What?  You come from a family in textiles but you know nothing about it?" Anachain asks, confused.  

     "Did you keep Keeblers as slaves and make them do all the manual labor?" she adds teasingly.

Togar’s head turns around on a swivel.  His beak opens and closes.  “Rawk!  No, silly!  Of course I know how to sew and mend, I just appreciate a fellow devotee to the fiber arts.  And no, we have no “slave” labor, we only hire devoted workers who know their craft.  Hrrrmmphh!”  He turns his head back around, dismissively and watches Deniz begin his work.  

I am no master of the craft, admits Deniz impassively to Togar as he sews. From my fiftieth year, my focus turned to the Earth-Weave of the elders, and I have paid scant attention to the working of cloth and leather since that time. The elf pricks his finger with the needle, but displays only the slightest grimace of pain as he shakes his hand and continues. Shortly after, holding up the finished product, he says: There! That should suffice. then returning the vest to the owlin, he adds: It is a fine garment.

Kulloda at first listens to the conversation but once he realizes all they're talking about is mending clothes, he loses interest. Instead he turns his attention back to the bandits, occasionally shifting his body position quickly just to see them flinch.

"Bandits not smart," Kulloda says, talking to the cook and bandit. "Steal, rob but stay in same place. Make easy to find you."