((All right, then the party follows through on our intent to chill and relax until Elron shows up.))

Shaking his head to kind of snap himself out of it "Well all... that was crazy. I need a drink..." and orders a draught of the strong stuff. Duncan continues "Any idea what the hell was going on there? It feels kind of half finished. Though perhaps we should focus on The Scorpion for now."

((and yeah, I'm also down to jump ahead to the meeting with Elron. Though Duncan does still want his drink after that :P ))

The dwarf innkeeper slams some drinks on your table and tosses you a set of keys, presumably to your rooms. In a flash she has scurried off to serve your fellow patrons. The man with the wide-brimmed hat remains, but most of the patrons you saw earlier have been replaced by characters no less dirty or unscrupulous-looking than their predecessors.

Elber shrugs and grabs his drink. "If that book translates into new clues we follow up at that time, but we be triumphant for now."

Kai, noting the man in the hat (not a yellow hat I hope), sits with his glass of fruit juice (or foul tasting city water.  Why, oh why, have I left the clean streams and lakes behind) and watches the man.

Perception: 10

Taking some time to reflect on the past few hours events whilst she cleans up and changes clothes, Landrae is relieved to be back in familiar surroundings. The intensity of the experience at Fosa's lab gave her a first real taste of something out of the ordinary, and whilst it tested her sorely, she was glad to have had such solid companions to see it through. Soon she heads back down to the common room, nods to her compatriots as she spies them already here, and spends a coin to furnish herself with a drink at the bar. Seeing the man with the hat still resident in the bar, Landrae asks the barkeep "Is that man with the lavish hat a regular in here? I just remember him from earlier, and am surprised to see him still here and drinking." 

She nods thanks for the answer, saunters over in his direction and tries to listen in on any conversation around the man.

Perception 17

Jack has a drink with Duncan to wash away his anxiety from the days events. “Duncan, I don’t even know how to...what in the hell happened back there?” Jack says low enough to not be overheard. “I have never had my mind go so chaotic like that before. I chose this life to be my own person and to be in control of my own destiny, but I’ve never felt in less control. I was proud of the way we handled those things back there as a team. Less proud of the way I reacted afterwards.” He hopes the tension in his voice does not make him look weak in front of his warrior friend as he finishes his drink quickly. “I am going to lay down for a bit, my mind feels exhausted. Come fetch me if you need me.” 

Jack walks over and hands Elber a gold piece. “I’m heading to the room to lie down. This should cover my portion and then some. If you all get some more food, be a good man and bring some to the room for me.” As he turns and walks toward the room he gives Landrae a quick wink and forced smile and Kai a quick nod.

The dwarf chuckles humorlessly. "If ye call that bundle of twigs and moldy straw lavish then I'm a queen. Anyways, he comes in here every once in a while, looking for necromancers. He doesn't have much luck, I can tell you."

"A wonderful evening to you sir, my name is Landrae." Landrae says with a flourish, "I am sure that your time is precious to you, as mine is oft to me, and so I shall cut straight to the point good sir. I hear that you have some interest in necromancers." The statement is delivered bluntly, with no bias or inflection to suggest an opinion on the matter. "I work with some very competent people and we try to solve little matters for folk who are predisposed in that manner. Would you be of an inclination to divulge the nature of your interest? There may be an opportunity here for us to help you."

Landrae listens intently to his answer, trying to pick up on any details that might seem omitted, or statements that are less than sincere, as well as any body language that might give a hint to the credibility of the man.

Insight: 19

Perception: 15

((Just rolling to see if Elber notices all this talk about necromancers. 10))

Since it's no use getting Duncan agitated in a game of cards or dice just now, Elber leans back to rest. He notices Landrae introduces herself to one of the patrons, pleased to see that she is feeling better but not quite making out what the topic of her discussion is about. He thinks nothing of it and turns his attention back to the entrance.

((Madness has passed, but Duncan is getting into his cups currently from the stress))

Kai looks around for Hosvi.  Sees him, he will go over.  If not he will ask the server if he has been since the left.

Hosvi is no longer present.

The man nearly leaps out of his chair at Landrae's introduction. "I've been looking for someone like you nigh on three years!" He exclaims excitedly. "I 'm looking for a necromancer to apprentice under. It's been my dream ever since old Grubble showed me a few of his tricks. "

Landrae, you recognize that the man has hidden intent.

"Three years you say? All spent looking for a necromancer within Thithladroth, or have you ventured further afield in your search?" Landrae strokes her chin as if pondering something, "Perhaps you'd like to tell me a story, start when you met this Grubble, and don't leave out anything that might be important" The last is said with a mildly accusatory tone.

"Or perhaps you find another calling. Necromancy be a fool's business, but a fool you must be since no master would take you in three years. Let the dead be dead." Elber looms over the man, his moustache still dripping with the drink he nearly choked on on when he heard the excited declaration by the wannabe-necromancer.

Intimidation 22

Landrae is somewhat shocked by Elber's forceful entry into the conversation, and grimaces slightly at his hammer blow to her line of inquiry. Though if she were a necromancer, she would certainly be rethinking that career! She looks at Elber, trying to judge if this is another topic that has some emotional tie to his past...

Insight: 8 ((@Twoo - up to you if I get anything there))

Judging by Elber's disposition towards burial traditions in his tribe, and recalling now those passing conversations from the road, she realises her folly of seeming helpful towards this man, and the likelihood that Elber would never assist in such work. Knowing better than to try and divert the conversation now, she turns back to the man and simply adds, "Well? Perhaps you might take this fellow's suggestion, and perhaps if you tell us what you know about this Grubble, he may find a way to vent his anger elsewhere."

((Edit based on Twoo's response below))

From what Elber has told around the campfire or when otherwise relaxed, his tribe is in near-constant war with the surrounding orc clans and this struggle continues into the fields of the dead, where the venerated ancestors take arms against the eternal horde of Gruumsh. The ancestors are known to be stronger when they are honored and their graves kept intact, so much like the civilized worshippers of Kelemvor he objects to graverobbing and disturbing the dead.

As for emotional ties, he has mentioned that nearly all of the mercenary company he was with ended up lost in a cave-in, and after the encounter with Fosa's demons the visions that tormented him were that the demons were in fact the unburied remains of those mercenaries.

The man cowers in his seat and regards you with suspicion. "What is it you do, anyway?" He asks Landrae in an accusatory tone.

"We do what needs doing, though we have differing approaches..." Landrae smiles at Elber and then winks at the man, "Some more agreeable that others. I suggest you tell us more rather than wasting time with questions."

Jack, not able to sleep comes out of his room and goes back into the tavern. He sees Elber and Landrae talking with a man. It looks like a fairly intense conversation so he finds Duncan and Kai. “Too noisy for a nap, but I can tell you I will sleep well later tonight.” He glances over towards Landrae and Elber table, “What kind of trouble them two getting us into?”