{well not that intelligence lol}

"Lance Rock is only about a day's journey away from here.  And about the plague, all we know is some dwarven prospector came through town the other day.  Said he saw a sign by the caverns that said something about "Beware the disfiguring plague that has afflicted me."  Said it was signed "The Lord of Lance Rock."  No one really knows what's happening there."

Arvam has not heard of Lance Rock. (Intelligence does work for this, yes.  Usually I would assign a skill though, like History or Religion or Arcana.)  If you ask, the woman tells you that Lance Rock is merely a pillar of rock, with a cave system nearby.

Hansel bows to Avram, Nessie and X'rax. "Perhaps this plague is rooted in something evil. We should investigate. I'm Hansel by the way." 

"Straight to evil? You've got an... exciting take on things," Arvam says, tone dry. "And the Lord of Lance Rock is an actual Lord, or someone with a sense of humor? Either way, it would be very helpful to know where to find him. And the constable."

{thank you!}

X'rax

"The X'rax is not sure he understands your question, hooded one. The X'rax is not a title, it's the X'rax's name. And since the X'rax is an individual the X'rax finds the use of a X'rax absurd."

Returning the bow towards Hansel. "No blood spilled." 

Turning towards the woman he seems eager to get into action  "The X'rax understands you have a lot of problem which in itself is good news. However will there be a bounty or payment for solving these issues?"

"Very apt. I am a bird, I am a girl. My race is Aarakocra." She says, stonely. Her speech may seem abbraisive at first but you may get the idea that she is just kind of new to or lacking skill in social interaction.

She chirps at the mention of bandits, "Bandits.What about the bandits? What are they doing?"

Realizing everyone has now introduced herself Nessie remembers what she learned as a child, it is polite to introduce yourself and if other introduce themselves to introduce yourself back. She seems pained at remembering this but not embarrassed in her misstep in socialization. She taps her head lightly with a wing and blurts out, "NESSIE!"

"And if you are not the person to speak with, miss, we'd be happy to speak with the sources of concerns ourselves. Mangobarl, I think I forgot to mention, if you'd point us in the right direction?"

X'rax

"No blood spilled, NESSIE. Are you a NESSIE or the NESSIE?" he responds. "The X'rax supports NESSIEs plan to confront the bandits. There is likely to be claimed loot in addition to any bounty." X'rax paces around. With the prospect of loot he seems impatient to get going.

Nessie tries to remember the correct way to introduce herself. But along her travels she's found that there are many different ways. She does a very formal bow lay one wing over her chest and extending the other. "My name is Nessie. Hello."

The woman says that there was indeed mention of a bounty.  The bandit camp is only about a day's journey away, she tells you.

"Where do we find the constable, Mangobarl, and the Lord of Lance Rock, if he exists and isn't some kind of jest?"

Hansel nods at the woman. "Other than the bandits, are there any other folks on the road?"

For Arvam:

"Mangobarl's the town baker, he should be in his shop.  The constable's probably at the Helm.  Lance Rock is about a day's journey away, out near where the bandit camp is."

For Hansel:

"There are always travelers.  Other than that, I couldn't say."

"Thank you, miss. I'll trouble you no further. Your advice, like your wares has been priceless," Arvam says, nodding towards the storekeeper before turning back to face the rest of the group. His stance remains easy, eyes darting only briefly towards Hansel before he addresses them as a whole.

"It seems we all share similar goals, but I could be wrong. Should anyone here wish to walk into battle alone against a group bandits or - as this one put it," he nods towards Hansel. "Evil, good luck and more fool for you."

Turning towards the Gith, he adds, "And I suppose one such as yourself, X'rax, will be going where the bounty is fullest first?"

X'rax

"You are mistaken. The X'rax is in need of money but not foolish. Don't you even have a saying 'A bird killed with a stone is better than fish swimming away'? Going against a group of bandits alone will get the X'rax killed instead of closer to his goals." He looks around the group of gathered strangers. "The X'rax would like to be part of an at least temporary alliance of like minded individuals. And if a party is formed the party will decide further actions however that deciding process will be implemented. Should an occurance such as the forming of such a party come true than if asked the X'rax's vote will be towards where the bounty is fullest, that's true. And it's also true if there seems to be no bottom line to be gained in the long run the X'rax won't join or leave such party. But local optimisation of profit doesn't necessary equate to global optimisation so the X'rax is willing to take detours as long as there a vision for the direction of such a party the X'rax likes."

Taking a deep breath after his lengthy monologue X'rax once again turns towards each individual nodding encouragingly then continues "And if a longer engagement is sought it will be in the best interest of the party that the X'rax will be able to aquire a certain item he seeks anyway. Once done there can be other priorities."

Nessie flinches into a defensive stance at the remark about killing a bird with a stone. She then nods after X'rax finishes, flies up in the air and says, "We go now then." and begins looking for a place called "The Helm"

Nessie, you see a sign on a nearby building that reads, "The Helm at Highsun."  It appears to be some sort of inn or tavern.

Hansel nods at Avram and the rest of the group. "It is easier to battle evil alongside others than it is by yourself." He shrugs lightly as he looks at the rest of the group. "Besides, it has been some time since I have had friends." 

((When you say nearby I'm going to imagine its like 3 stalls down or something lol))

Nessie with a flourish, swoops up into the air and lands right outside of The Helm at Highsun. "Here it is."

"While I do appreciate a pragmatist, let's not get ahead of ourselves." Arvam scoffs. "No one said anything about staying - but I would like to speak with the constable. After all, someone has to know about who's claiming that, wait- Ne! Where is she going!?"

He spun around just in time to watch the Aarakocra take to the skies, the air around her rushing to fill an absent void. He turned towards the other two, mouth hanging open, before taking a step after Nessie, then another.

He kept going until he spotted the tips of a sign just above what looked like an inn. He jogged the rest of the way.