Togar stuffily pulls down the edges of his vest, straightening it with a Picard maneuver.  “Hrmmph.  Yes, more civilized, hmmm.  As in, we are the ones helping you, and so you are going to act kinder to us?  Or is this some hard ass persona that you’ve worked hard to cultivate here in town to garner some semblance of respect from your kowtowed electorate?  But we’re all professionals here, we can drop the charade.  It comes down to you need our help, and we can help you.  We just don’t want to do things for free, or for some worthless trinkets.  Things have to be interesting… and equitable.  Fair.  Yes?”  Togar pushes his bowl away and his conjured mega-straw disappears, he makes a show of dusting off his hands and blinking at the mayor with a blank expression.  He looks over at Anachain, saying “Perhaps I should let the two of you talk.”  

     "No," Anachain replies sharply.  "You do not get to shit all over someone and walk away and make me deal with them."  Anachain stands up, shakes her head, glares at Togar and then gives the mayor an apologetic grin.  "Sorry, Madam Mayor, but it seems you will need to negotiate with Togar here.  If he doesn't agree to the deal I'm afraid he'd chirp about it non-stop and create chaos for the group.  I'll be outside getting some air.  I'm sure one of you will let me know when a deal is struck..."  And with that, Anachain walks out.

The two elves at the table with Kulloda look at each other and then back at the formidable character that appears to have joined them.  Being part of the watch, they start getting control of themselves and sit up straighter in their chairs.  "Um, yes.  A bit south of the bridge, but nearby."

The Mayor sits in stunned silence.  She takes a small sip of her wine and slowly looks back up to Togar.  "It appears I pinned the wrong one as the rude one of the group.  You've been here what?  Not even a day and you assume to know how our beautiful town here works?  Kowtowed electorates?  Are you serious?  And I told you, I have no problem going to Taligbar for help if you all don't feel up to the deed.  It seemed you were looking for payment, I offered and I thought you accepted.  But if this is how it's going to be, I'd rather just hire people who know how to make and keep deals."

She runs her slender fingertip around the edge of the rim of her glass and waits for his rebuttal.  She looks to Grimrin and Deniz to see if they have anything to add.

Togar’s eyes blink, his head turns around to watch Anachain stand and leave the inn.  “Hrrrmm.  Interesting.  I think we have proven to be up to the task, ma’am.  Interesting even more to hear how you respond when I only ask for a deal that is fair and equitable.  Apparently my own companions do not believe in that idea?  Hrrmph!  Perhaps it’s just me being tired.  Need some rest, you see.  Maybe it’s those bandits trying to poke holes in my vest and my chest with their crossbow bolts, nearly killing us, and then coming here with evidence of their vanquished state due to my good friend Kulloda here and the way we are treated.  I don’t need your money, ma’am.  But rather than say anything else, I think I’ll get some rest.  And think on things a bit.  Good night, everyone.  And to those who wish to remain… opaque.”  He blinks and stares at the mayor, then stands and starts to head upstairs, done for the night.   

Deniz sits quietly and observes the entire exchange between the mayor, Anachain and Togar with little more than a raised eyebrow. As first Anachain and then Togar depart in frustration, Deniz glances briefly at Grimrin and then turns to the mayor. His manner of speech is calm and polite, but somewhat wooden, following the essential rules of civil conversation, but without any of the charm of a natural orator. (Persuasion roll = 5)

Good evening, your Honor. As you may have observed, my companions are passionate and dedicated. Patience and humility however seem to have their limits, and thus they have delegated these negotiations to myself and Grimrin. I am Deniz and am pleased to make your acquaintance. The elf briefly stands and makes a stiff bow, then sits once more. May I also state what a charming town this is that you represent.

As for the prior business arrangement, I confess I know only what I have deduced from limited conversation on the matter. If I am not mistaken, there is an unknown entity causing trouble near a bridge, and some aggressive pixies disrupting travel. You have kindly offered some magical items as reward, although some tangible assurance of their worth was requested prior to committing to the tasks. Does this agree with your understanding?

Deniz stares blankly at the mayor, and then as an afterthought, attempts to smile congenially. It's all mouth and no eyes.

Kulloda smiles and laughs once the two elf guards confirm the footprints were by the bridge.

”Ha. Good. Maybe is bridge troll,” Kulloda says, loudly enough so the table of his companions can hear, oblivious to the fact two of them have left. “You should show Kulloda and others where footprints are. We bring back whatever make them.”

     As Anachain stands outside, her back against the wall close to the entrance, she takes a moment to close her eyes and send her mind into the head of Myrth, her familiar, and momentarily see through his eyes as well as use his other senses...

     Myrth was directed to invisibly follow the elder elf who had been scribbling in a tome at the bar until things got too loud for their liking and they left.  Anachain is curious as to if they are heading home or elsewhere and whatever other minor information Myrth can obtain without being too intrusive.  Anachain doesn't stay in their head for long, however, not wanting to be vulnerable for long as she is effectively cut off from her own senses while she does this.

The Mayor raises a finger to attempt to stop Togar, but decides against it and lets the owlin head to his room.  She looks to Deniz as he starts talking, and shows a look of amusement as he stands and then sits again during his intro.  "Pleased to meet you as well, and thank you." she responds to his compliment of the town.

"Well yes.  Those are the problems we are having and at the time I didn't know the worth of the magic items, but I have taken the effort to get a list of what we have from the elders.  Just as I told the others I would.  Would you like to see the list or should we wait till the morning when everyone is back?  I do not want the list to leave my possession, call it being overly vigilant."

The two wood elves nod, "Sure, we can show you.  Might be better in the morning as the sun is about down?  Or did you want to go now?  Um... will one of your friends be coming too?"

Deniz suggests that allowing he and Grimrin to view the list now and inform the others may be more productive than arranging yet another meeting.

Mayor Windrider nods and pulls out the note from her pocket.  She opens it up and lays in front of Deniz and Grimrin.

Items within the treasury for payment:
2 healing potions
Sentinal shield
Cloak of protection
Javelin of lightning
Dust of disappearance
Feather token

Deniz reads the list, doing his best to memorise the items on it, and then asks:

The reward for completing the agreed tasks is the entirety of the items on this list, or a selection from it of their choice...

"Well it was for the whole list... but after all trouble you all are giving me.." she actually smiles a bit, "it is for the list, I don't back down on a deal."

     Hanging outside the Inn, Anachain starts regretting that she ever gave up smoking.  After all, what else is there to do when just loitering around the outside of an Inn waiting until you can go back inside?  Plus, let's face it, it just makes you look cool...  But she figures she needs to wait for the mayor to leave.  For good or for ill she wants to catch her when she leaves.  Anachain figures she can either give one last pitch on why the mayor should give the group a shot, despite their lack of... Social grace? Business decorum?  Whatever.  And if she can't salvage a deal she figures she can at least apologize and promise to get the gang out of her hair so that she can just make a deal with someone else.  Anachain would prefer not to entirely burn the bridge behind them in case they pass this way again sometime.

     Still, the fact that Anachain is getting so bored and bothered waiting outside is perhaps a good sign?  Maybe Togar was actually negotiating with the mayor?  Or maybe one of the new kids on the block stepped up?  Yeah, likely as not Kulloda beheaded the mayor and was making soup...  Anachain couldn't help but sigh at the thought... but also chuckle a little.  Patience, she told herself.  Whatever happens happens.  Yeah, obviously...

Kulloda looks across the room, about to yell loudly. He pauses when he only sees Deniz and Grimrin. He assumes Anachain and Togar couldn't have gotten far so he just makes sure to yell even louder, akin to the voice he'd use in the gladiator arena when he wanted the crowd's attention.

"Footprints by bridge. Want to see now or in morning?" Kulloda bellows.

Deniz refrains from pointing out that neither he nor Grimrin have yet given the mayor any trouble (unless the halfling has previous history), and simply says: I trust the outcome will be worth your trouble. 

He barely gets the words out before his long loose hair is blown backwards by Kulloda's booming question...

Togar stops at the top of the stairs when he hears the booming voice of Kulloda, suppressing a smile.  He takes his pack off his shoulder and reaches around inside of it, putting on a helm and straightening it on his head.  "Fine, fine, fine.  Better to catch the footprints than lose them...sheesh.  Though I'd love to sit in my room and read a good book..."   He turns slowly and starts to descend the stairs again, to check on Kulloda before he's shouted off any heads.  He reaches the bottom of the stairs and she's still sitting there.  For some reason, the word "Newman" comes to his head.  He walks forward, glaring at her with his helm on.  As he's walking, he uses a mage hand to bring his beer floating across the room to himself and he downs it in an awkward, choking way, then puts the mug down on the counter.  He walks over to the table and looks at Kulloda, saying "I think they heard you across the river and echoing past the encampment we attacked.  Perhaps all the way back to Wildwillow!"  He turns to Kulloda and says, "If you think the footprints will vanish and its better to go now, we can.  I'll put off my rest, reading, and relaxation.  I see that there is a list there.  Maybe this is on the up and up.  Does it say a glowworm and a magical beetle bug or something like that?  I guess we have to take it on faith that this is a true representation."  He twists his mouth and cheeks like he is thinking, then glares at the mayor's head with his helm on, "Or, I could rummage around to find out..."   He thinks better of it and turns to Kulloda, saying "If you think we should go, we'll go."  and nods.  He stands with hands on hips, waiting to see if they should be on the move or on the snooze.  

Kulloda listens to Togar but doesn't understand a lot of it as he goes on about lists and beetles.

"Yeah. Go now while fresh," Kulloda says before turning back to the two elves. He grunts and nods. "We go now. Show footprints before gone."

He stands, gathers his gear and calls over to the other table.

"We go look at footprints," Kulloda says as both a statement and invitation for the others to join.

     Lords Almighty, Anachain thinks to herself as she hears the voice of Kulloda yelling from inside the Inn.  She can't make out what he is saying but the volume doesn't sound good... And with the mayor still inside Anachain is suddenly worried that they all may be about to become enemies of the state.

     Anachain rushes back inside and does a quick scan of the interior.  Deniz and the mayor are pretty much where she left them.  And is that Grimrin with them?  He's partially hidden given his short stature so she can't be sure.  But there is no bloodshed so her immediate concern is a bit abated...  A bit.  Togar is on the steps, helmet on and saying something about going somewhere?  She isn't sure what to make of that but Kulloda is quick to follow up about footprints...  What footprints? she asks herself but then realizes that won't be much help.

     "What footprints?" she calls out to Kulloda before realizing he is still with the two Myrth had overheard earlier.  "You want to follow up on the clawed footprints?"  She does a quick look from Kulloda to the mayor and then to Deniz.  "We got a deal then?"

Kulloda nods then shrugs. 

“Footprints by bridge. Maybe creature cause bridge problem. But deal. No deal. Don’t know.”

Deniz faces the mayor and says, with a straight face but a twinkle in his eye: As I said, passionate and dedicated.

Then turning to face Anachain, the elf states: The honorable mayor has confirmed the deal as originally promised, and provided further details as requested.

Then to Togar on the steps, he adds: I expect that you will find the promised reward to be of adequate value and interest.

And once more to the mayor: I thank you for your time. We will pursue these commissions with immediate earnestness.

Deniz closes his eyes, places one hand on his chest, and bows once again...