Caine looks at Karl, smiles, nods pats the hand on his shoulder, and says " nothing to tell.  Too small to mention., But your stories are great and very informative and entertaining."

Karl motions for another gallon of beer to be brought over. Determined to, in a friendly way, to get something out of Caine he pours more into the dwarf's mug. Am I about to try out-drinking a dwarf? he thinks to himself. He then speaks, "Me sure you have something. You fight goblins? Kobolds? Maybe you go in cave and punch giant rats?" He waits with anticipation.

While chatting and sharing your stories, one of you notices a tall, rotund man making the rounds to all the tables and guests. Clearly intoxicated,  it in a joyful sort of way. He adds his own stories to those being told at each table, sometimes even adding himself into their adventure. As he makes his way towards your table you realize something very strange about this fellow. He is an elf. A morbidly obese, some might say straight up fat elf. Its a shocking discovery, because to your knowledge elves dont get fat. Never has any heard of an elf this large, yet here he is. About to enter your conversation with a smile and a new pitcher of mead.

Caine looks at Karl, "no goblins or kobalds. No caves, and no rats to punch, just rats roasted on a spit for dinner."

"Look Karl, mead to drink me under the table is coming."

"Well perhaps not going under will be your big triumph. Dwarves have high fortitude, no?"

Looking at the incoming elf, Karl is not a fan with him trying to steal the glory of others' tales. "You live in rotunda? Way you go 'round and 'round?" he asks, trying to get a jab at both the elf's weight and glory-theft.

Caine, just shakes his head at Karl's quips.

The elf laughs heartily at your insult, “ Indeed, my friend Indeed i do. Rounding round all around…..I am Din Timaeus, and I am here to share some spirits with you fine gentlemen.”

he offers to fill your cups.

[[ I feel like there's probably some sleeping drug in the mead or something. (Probably since that's part of the hook in a one-shot I'll be running soon.) But hey, to QUESTING!!! Besides, don't think free booze would get rejected. ]]

"Then share away!" Karl downs what's left in his mug and then offers it up for filling.

Caine also offers his mug to be refilled.

Din Timaeus fills your mugs as well as his own. He raises his cup and says, “ to adventure and the folks that find them may they be successful or not so …”

for a second, a flash of sobriety strikes his face, before the drunkenness returns in all its red faced glory

( each roll con check dc15)

Karl CON Save: 19+5 = 24
//or just 22 if not a save so no proficiency bonus

"You not drunk yet?" he asks Din, noticing the sobriety. Could the drunkeness be a trick? Perhaps an illusion? He takes a gander.

Investigation: 11+4 = 15

4+4=8

If this is poison/alcohol I get advantage so 2nd roll

15+4=19

Not on platform that can roll in the reply box.

 Investigation roll 6+2=failed 

You both can tell this mead is particularly strong, and very good. Likely very expensive.

looking him over carefully, you can see he is fairly drunk and that the momentary lapse was likely a speck of reality, a strong memory that invaded his merriment for the briefest of moments. He begins to tell you something that he seems reluctant to say aloud, but can’t help himself in this moment. 
“ you know, fellas..i think the people leaving are not making it out…they are not getting past the western fork. Maybe not even past O’mallery farmstead west of town….i thinks there be conspiracy afoot in the town of Knockon Wood” he quickly looks about to ensure nobody else was listening to his loud, drunken whispering.

Caine nods like he is emphatic with the elf.

Did a CHA roll (performance/persuasion/??) 1+3=failed 

[[ How far away is the Western Fork and O'Mallery farmstead? Wondering how much of a journey that is. ]]

"Oooh that is some strong drink!" Karl laughs as it almost overcomes him. His jovial spirits then dampen as Din speaks of a conspiracy. Dropping the dumb brute act he furrows his eyebrows, "What makes you say that? We've a lot of mighty adventurers here."

A bit of lightning flashes in that moment, a few moments later the low rumble of thunder. Seems a storm is approaching. Most of the marionettes have been placed in the containers and hung from the rafters. The spotty firelight creating deep, almost sinister shadows on  their forms. Many of the others guests begin to filter out, some heading to their rooms on the tavern’s 2nd floor and others heading out into the night, towards home or camp. The town Druid and Mayor Saargugi had foretold the first storm of winter would hit within a 10 day or so. The clock was ticking for all who wished to not be trapped here the full winter.

( O’Mallery’s is just about a mile or so out of town on the west road depicted on the map. The western fork on the same road is about an hour or so. That would be the same you were going to take when you depart)

Karl goes over to the fire to see if there's some wood to stoke it with. If a storm was coming, may as well keep things warms. Plus perhaps a brighter flame would make the marionettes' shadows less creepy. 

[[ Side note, derped out earlier when mentioning 2am / 1am Mountain. Forgot which way the hours were. So would adjust that to hitting the hay around 12-1 am Mountain. ]]