Karl discretely tells Vondal and Nif that Bron is willing to explain his strange behavior, but he'd like a little privacy, so they're going to head downstairs to the basement. At the same time, Einar approaches Tess and quietly asks permission to use the storeroom to have a little private powwow. Tess distractedly agrees, not answering his question about bringing anything back up, and Einar leads the way through the door at the back of the tavern and down the stairs.

The basement storeroom is the same size as the tavern above, but with no bar and no fireplace. It has gray stone walls, a dirt floor, and the floorboards of the tavern above are its ceiling. As heavy-footed individuals stomp across the floor, dirt rains down in tiny showers. Shelves line two walls, and more create islands around the room. In one wall are several hollowed nooks dug into the wall that are only about a foot in diameter, three feet deep, and have wooden porthole doors. All the doors are currently closed, but you've seen these opened before. Meat and other foodstuffs that need to be kept cold are piled within. Kegs and crates are gathered in small clusters in a few places around the room. There are a few chairs piled in one corner. A few are broken, but three are whole and look sound. The lighting is low, but with your dwarven eyes, it is more than sufficient to have a conversation by.

Bron waits in the room for the others to arrive.

Einar unstacks the usable chairs, but does not take a seat himself. The day has been rather less strenuous than normal, and he has far too much energy to be able to sit still. 

Vondal grumbles having been enjoying the song with the other patrons, but does follow after Karl with some hesitation. He eagerly plops down in the last chair to be set. But seeing Einar stay standing does elicit a look of concern. "So, what's this all about?" He asks in the process of stretching. "The cut wasn't infected or something, right?"

 Seeing the rest of the group head downstairs, Nif doesn't really see any of his other friends around the Bard, so decides to follow the group. Knowing what it's like to have secrets, he decides not to push Bron and will let him speak what he wants when ready.

Bron looks around at the others, then takes out his sack. He places it on the table.

"Alright, 'ere it is. Th' big reveal."

He opens up the bag and allows the others to peer in. Inside is a fancy lamp.

Well... What used to be a fancy lamp.

It's smashed in half, and the lampshade is torn. On one of the jagged edges is a small bloodstain

"This's th' last lamp I made. Right after that half-elf went aheid an' fired us, I yoinked it an' kept it. Thought I coold git some coin fer it. However, I accidentally broked it, soo it's guid as useless. When I reached me hand in t' grab it, tha's when I slashed me hand on it. I didnae tell ye 'cos I thought ye'd be angry at me fer stealin'."

Bron closes the bag and grabs it, heading back upstairs.

"There it is. See ye!"

Einar appears dumbfounded at the revelation and explanation.

Vondal crosses his arms over his chest, and shakes his head disapprovingly. "Bron." Vondal pauses and sighs softly. "I... I am not angry with you, Bron. Just disappointed." He admits as he starts rubbing his forehead. "I know how we parted from the company wasn't on that best of terms. But to steal for a bit of coin? I know things were looking grim for a moment there given immediate future prospects, but there was no need to that sort of thing yet. And besides, how would think Mr. Stillwell's spirit would feel knowing that the one of the men he placed his faith in for quality work was petty enough to steal from his company? A company he and his kin spent over a century building up." 

Vondal quickly raises his hands in defense. "I know, I know. A drop of the ocean compared to fine dwarven efforts, sure. But for a humans? That is speaks of respectable dedication." 

"It weren't Steilwell's factory nae muir. It were tha' haughty half-elf b- er, unpleasant person's company. I've nae qualms with stealin' from a person like her."

After a few seconds, Einar forcefully shakes his head as though trying to clear it.

"While I can't approve of such actions, I fault ya less for them than fer trying to threaten us and avoid explainin'." 

Einar fixes Bron with a hard stare.

"Next time, jus be honest and come clean, a'right?"

Einar then addresses the whole group.

"Well now tha's out of the way, what say we get back upstairs, finish the night off right, and get some sleep before tomorrow, eh?"

Karl turns to Bron and says "the pointy-ear didn't owe us anything Bron so I aint got not issues stealing from her!" He turns to the group and says "Old Man Stillwell was dead so 'e wasn't gunna complain so I got no issues wit' what Bron done". He turns back to Bron and says "wish you hadn't tried to hide it from us though!"

Having already enjoyed his fish and chips earlier, Einar doesn't eat anything else that night. He does however have a couple more drinks. With a morning start on his mind, and knowing he won't be able to sleep unless he burns off some energy, he takes the dance floor by storm when Trianna strikes the right tune. 

Karl says to anybody who is listening  "well I'll be! that Einar is as light on his feet on the dance floor as he is in the ring." He lifts his tankard to Einar and says "well done mate but you ain't gettin me up there!"

After a couple of hours, Einar heads back to the Ironarm Forge where he has "rented" a room for the past few years, probably getting there a bit before midnight. He falls straight to sleep.

Come morning, he will quickly wash up, grab his previously packed gear, and make his way to Three Picks.

re: Vondal

After the supper crowd clears out, leaving a number of patrons Tess can easily manage herself, those still in the tavern hear Tess and Yemmi begin making good-bye noises. Vondal approaches the halfling and hands over the note a bit timidly. Used to Vondal's demeanor, Yemmi takes the note with a curious and gracious grin. "What's this?" he asks, his eyes reading the pregnancy tips. The two exchange a little explanation about Vondal's concern over Jaymee's pregnancy. "Yep," he says, reading down the list. "Uh-huh," he says. "Tell her that all the time," he nods. About halfway through the list, Yemmi stops reading. His eyes seem to glaze over. Even as he slowly lowers the note, his eyes do not move. He licks his lips and swallows. "Uh ... good night," he says through a dry throat. He looks at the list one more time as he turns and then walks out of the tavern in a daze, ignoring everything around him.