Nene keeps eyeing Grimm as she whispers back: "All the women back home were chatty, but then none of them were fighters either... I just hope she won't chop off our heads if we accidentally eat the last fried egg or something!" Thinking of eggs seems to take her mind back home and she continues more cheerfully: "But then people have always told me I talk too much! It's always 'Nene, pay attention in class, don't chitter chatter!' " I was never a very good student, not like Puck! She laughs, not at all embarrassed by her lack of academic skill. "You were probably really studious, since you work with priests and nuns and other smart people?"

"Who? Me? Well..." Kara offers a small grin. "I do fancy myself a scholar of sorts... on the matters of forgiveness and my dear lord, Ilmater. You see, I understand it is easier to simply fight, maim, and kill, but, through Ilmater all things are possible. Using our words, our voice, to understand our enemies, why, maybe one day we will all coexist peacefully..." Kara then goes on a lecture about such matters at length, throwing in some verses from the [Book of Ilmater].

Zanigur chuckles. "I'm sorry...but look, peace only comes in death, Kara. And even then, only sometimes. One thing you're guaranteed in this life is conflict. Never-ending conflict. You just make the best of it."

Kara shakes her head, but maintains her friendly demeanor. "Peace is a difficult path full of hard choices. The hardest step... is forgiveness."

"You do that, then. I'll start working on forgiveness once I've had vengeance." Zanigur glances around the parts of town he can see from here, as if he's looking for someone.

"Hard to reason with someone in this state. Just know that revenge begets revenge until the whole world suffers. I may try to convince you to stray from this path, but we must all be allowed to make our own mistakes." Kara tilts her head. "I will walk with you, friend, as long as your vengeance brings no pain to the innocent."

“I thought that Illmater likes pain?” Zanigur cocks his head and smiles roguishly, but doesn’t pursue the matter further.

"All paths, at some point, converge at the same crossroads," Grimm offers. 

Nene tries hard to listen, but midway through Kara's lecture, she gets distracted by a butterfly that lands on her shoulder and stops paying attention as she examines it. When Zannigur interrupts Kara's monologue, she looks back up. A little lost on how they got there, she asks: "Who likes pain? Ah right, Grimm, we were looking for the path to the secret entrance! I don't think it's near a crossroads, Pip said his friend found it in the woods." The words are out of her mouth before she can think. Nene quickly adds a shy smile, just in case Grimm might rip her head off for correcting her... you never know. Maybe I should have stashed some bacon from breakfast to appease her in case I say more stupid things, I tend to do that a lot.

Grimm stops, turns slowly towards Nene, reaches out and pats her head gently. Then she turns around and continues her way to the [Carp's family names]'s farm. 

Zanigur tucks his lyre under his arm and follows Grimm, plucking away quietly at a specific tune that seems to be eluding him.

"Carp? Yeah, he and his ma, Qelline, run the Alderleaf farm on the outskirts of town just 'round the corner. Qelline knows all sorts of things. She's a nice gal."

The group leaves behind the comforts of the Stonehill Inn and come to the main intersection of Phandalin; southeast leads to the Alderleaf farm and information from Carp while northeast leads back to Barthen's Provisions. Just southwest of the Inn you also see the sigil of Lionshield Coster....

Those that journey towards the southwest find themselves with a lot of wide-eyed stares as this very colorful group meanders down the dirt roads of the small town. As you close upon the farm, you notice a young halfling lad and a middle-aged halfling woman working the field in the summer heat... She stops a moment to wipe some sweat streaming from beneath the large, straw hat upon her head with a cloth from her back pocket. As she does, she notices you all and stops a moment to watch you, squinting her eyes against the bright sun.

Zanigur approaches some people near the center of town, with Puck alongside.

He adopts a genial manner, and politely asks around with variances on the following: "Excuse me ma'am (or sir, as the situation warrants), we don't mean to trouble you...but we're new here, and we are looking for a friend of ours, a Mr. Sildar Hallwinter." Zanigur offers a description of Sildar, smiling and offering compliments on the general surroundings and atmosphere of the "charming" village.

Charisma (Persuasion/Performance): 13 

Grimm approaches the halfling with her palms open, and, very calmly says quietly, "Good evening, ma'am. We found out from Toblen that the town is having bandit trouble. From his son, Nene here (she gestures to Nene), found out that your son might have discovered a secret path into their hideout."

She pauses before continuing, "We'd like to speak to your son Carp, with you present, of course, about this path."

Nene's ears twitch nervously when Grimm pats her head, but then she relaxes. Hm, that was nice. Maybe next time she'll scratch behind my ears.

As they approach the farm, Nene spots the young boy and waves. She smiles at the mum: "Worse working the fields in this sun than in the rain, isn't it? You must be Qelline, right? Pip said you are a wise woman and know a lot of things!" Then she looks at Carp: "So you take after your mum and know all about this area? and its secret tunnels? That's quite something!" Nene waits a second, before adding with a wink: "I know Grimm looks really scary and she's a good fighter, but she only fights bad people, so you don't need to be scared."

While Zanigur asks around for information about Sildar, Puck sits nearby cross-legged on the ground, working on a sketch of the Shrine of Luck. He briefly raises his thumb to the shrine and places it in his eye-line to better estimate the shrine's dimensions. He then approaches the shrine to take a closer look at its detailing, keeping an ear open to hear if Zanigur's conversations with the locals proves fruitful.

Religion Check: 20

Zanigur finds an older couple as they move through town and approaches them. Despite the polite smiles, they are timid and hesitant at the strangers’ approach, casting looks at the strange cat-like man with him. Even so, their suspicions seem to soften as Zanigur speaks about Sildar. The man and woman look to one another to see if either recognizes the description, but shake their heads. “Sorry, son, don’t know any Sildar. If he’s been around Phandalin ‘afore I don’t know ‘I’m. Ye should check with Toblen at the Stonehill if ye haven’t already. He’s pretty good with learnin’ about new folk. If we see this Sildar, should we let him know you was lookin fer him? And where should we send him?”

While Zanigur chats up the townsfolk, Puck turns his attention towards what appears to be a small shrine built up from stones that look to have once been part of another structure based on their shape. As he approaches to get a better look for his sketches you notice that the shrine is dedicated to Tymora the goddess of Luck. He can also hear faint humming coming from within and spots a young female elf lounging about the inner portion of the shrine reading a tome of some sort. She doesn’t seem to have noticed your approach…

As Grimm, Kara, and Nene approach the halfling farmer and her son, the woman watches you warily and ushers the boy behind her as she holds the farming tool up in a defensive posture. As you speak, you notice the stance relax, but as mention of Carp’s adventures come to light she turns to glare at Carp. “Oh he has, has he?” Carp winces and turns to look back at the field. “Don’t even think it, boy. Let’s all step inside for a cool drink and a story. I’d love to hear all about my boy’s adventures with these ruffians.”

She gestures towards the farmhouse, allowing you to les the way and keeping an eye on Carp in case he tries to sneak away again...

Quote from Lyrel >>

As Grimm, Kara, and Nene approach the halfling farmer and her son, the woman watches you warily and ushers the boy behind her as she holds the farming tool up in a defensive posture. As you speak, you notice the stance relax, but as mention of Carp’s adventures come to light she turns to glare at Carp. “Oh he has, has he?” Carp winces and turns to look back at the field. “Don’t even think it, boy. Let’s all step inside for a cool drink and a story. I’d love to hear all about my boy’s adventures with these ruffians.” She gestures towards the farmhouse, allowing you to les the way and keeping an eye on Carp in case he tries to sneak away again...

 Grimm does as asked and enters the home, she turns to young carp and mouths, "Sorry."

"A cold drink sounds great, thank you for your hospitality!" Nene says demurely, afraid she might also get scolded if she does not remember her manners. She follows Grimm into the farmhouse, happy to find somewhere shady and cool.

Zanigur starts to explain that he just came from there, but thinks better of it and goes to see what Puck is up to.