The badger snorts in her pretend sleep.

The other adventurers have entered the tavern, without the Road Enders questioning them about their early activities (like if they abducted a female Drow courier).

As the party moves away (to either head for the bridge or to get rest), a pair of cloaked figures appear nearby, emerging from hiding. "We'd like a word with you, if you would cooperate."

(From their height and thinness, you would guess elves or half-elves, but it is hard to know exactly as they remain covered up.)

For Hildigirm only:

The badger sniffs them, to try and perceive something about these two newcomers.

Perception with Advantage for badger nose: 22

Quote from Mingofaust >>

The badger sniffs them, to try and perceive something about these two newcomers.

Perception with Advantage for badger nose: 22

For Quillary only:

OOC: We could rest in the tavern if others are still interested in questioning the goons.

Hildigrim peeks around one of the bigs's legs. "'Cooperate' is a bit of an aggressive term," the halfling observes. "Is your intent peaceful or hostile?"

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

OOC: We could rest in the tavern if others are still interested in questioning the goons.

Hildigrim peeks around one of the bigs's legs. "'Cooperate' is a bit of an aggressive term," the halfling observes. "Is your intent peaceful or hostile?"

(Goons are gone. If you did find them again, it will be in the midst of a crowd sympathetic to that group and probably hostile to you.)

"Our intent depends on where your loyalties lie. We thought you were opposed to the Xanathar, but your friendliness to those mercenaries has raised doubts in our minds.

"Let me say this as simply as possible. If you are allied with the Xanathar, we have nothing else to talk about. You leave, we leave... no hostilities that would break the truce between the gangs.

"If you claim to be opposed to the Xanathar, then we might be able to help each other. If we all go to a less conspicuous location, and you perform a simple test that will prove you are not Xanathar, then we can talk freely."

The badger nods, cuffing Jorin gently on the head.

Pascal heaves a sigh of relief, “Phew. Was gettin’ tiring pretendin’ to be all scary-like.” Pascal will give a hearty laugh and throw an arm around the hooded figure, “Bonjour, mon effrayant ami à capuche! Name’s Pascal LaRoux, best chef in Waterdeep, lead the way to your spooky test! Way I see it, if y’all are tellin’ the truth, then we help each other, and if ya ain’t, I eat ya. Easy!”

It is not visible to the others, but Pascal can feel the figure shrinking inwards (figuratively) after he put his arm around the figure.

Assuming the party is willing to follow Pascal (and Drusk)... They circle around a number of buildings, checking if you are being observed or followed, then into an abandoned store. After everyone is inside, they state the test:

Drusk tries to do an elvish Riverdance-style tapping. Since he is wearing heavy armor, it is not a pleasant sight. Roll: 9

The two cloaked figures are not pleased at what they are seeing, but judge it acceptable enough. They now look at Hildigrim, Pascal, and Jorin. (Quillary-badger has the option of sitting this out on Jorin's head, or to participate.)

(Roll a Performance (DEX) check.)

The badger inelegantly chambers off of Jorin and does a four-footed imitation of “All Fall Down,” a somewhat grisly children’s dance (5).

The cloaked figures are aghast at the cave badger going into convulsions. At least for now, they assume it is a trained pet imitating the others. (Hopefully the other 3 will show more rhythm.)

Pascal does a (Performance: 19) fine little square dance with himself, and finishes with a flourished ‘Tada’ motion!

As the group makes their serpentine way to the abandoned store, Hildigrim is sure they are still being followed and watched, but he is too curious to find out what the strangers have to say to share his intuition. He telepathically asks Volo to keep an eye on the street they entered the store off of and to alert him if he sees anything suspicious.

At the command to dance, and as his friends begin gyrating, the halfling puts his hands on his hips. "What does dancing have to do with anything? How does it prove we are not Xanathar sympathizers?"

Pascal finishes his jig, “Simple, like the guy said, Xanathar can’t dance worth a dime. Ergo, we ain’t Xanathar. Plus if they’re lyin’, we kill em. Real simple!”

OOC: OK. I didn't know what I was reading in the spoiler, but now that it's been clarified a little more, Hildi won't fuss about the dancing. Let's see how he does.

Performance: 12

I am not at all surprised that Hildi can't dance. He thinks he's doing a great job, though!

Jorin thumps his chest and stamps his feet in a traditional war dance of the Bodt.

Performance: 20

It is...not good.

The two figures remain silent. Then they look at each other.

(Ugh... This was supposed to be easy.

Make some kind of an argument that will convince them you aren't Xanathar. In particular, why being chummy with those mercenaries wasn't what it looked like.

No check roll needed, but I need something to work with.)

(Wow, we were really not good. Some of you were worse than the badger!)

The badger covers its eyes in embarrassment and sits on its butt, watching to see if the others pull this off.

Hildigrim ends with a classic right-foot stomp and jazz hands. He looks at the group, expecting looks of pleasure, but what he sees are faces full of suspicion and perhaps anger. He assumes a normal stance. "You didn't like my dance? I did my best impression of Foxwell's third act dance in The Lilac and the Kuo-toa." He pauses, again, looking for some recognition. "Have you not seen it? I saw it last year at the Mime's Muse. You see, the kuo-toa protagonist is a gardener who grows the most beautiful lilac. As kuo-toa are wont to do, he decides it is his new deity. He begins to worship this lilac and suddenly, his flower garden is the most beautiful in his whole village. Foxwell is his halfling neighbor. His garden was previously heralded as the best, and when the kuo-toa's — whose name is Poolidib by the way — flowers become the best in the village, Foxwell plots to destroy the lilac. The storyline has a few plot holes where this plan comes to fruition, but it's a funny enough diversion with a good moral at the end." He puts a finger to his temple. "Now that I think about it, the dance is more of a stroll to accompany recitative. Perhaps I should have tried Poolidib's dance of worship from Act 2."

Pascal raises a hand, “Why’d the halfin’ live next to a kuo-toer? Seems like a poor livin’ situation.”