Jambiya laughs at the joke about dwarves, but stays at the bar. She speaks to Tassel, loud enough to make it a conversation, but not loud enough to include the whole bar. "This is a pretty small place for it to have as many staff as it does. Is it just you, Mara, Munchy and his owner out front? Not that we had too many ourselves, mostly me and my dads, Ruby, Jo, and some seasonal help. But out in the country, we don't get much but regulars, and they almost serve themselves they come so often. I suppose it might be the same here, if you've a standing game room."

Erric turns to Maldorn after he learns the Piffernackles are in the next room. "Maybe they just don't like talking to her!" he says with a grin. He keeps playing music, and enjoys then ambiance, and the drinks, not making any decision about where to stay the night yet.

Maldorn lets Ebokk and the tavern owner discuss the Lockforges uninterrupted for now, although he listens attentively. When the old man is distracted by Erric, he responds: "Everyone seems to like talking to you, though. Maybe you should knock on the door."

Tassel's eyes widen just a little bit. "Oh, Geth's not the owner. Sergor and Mara are." Her eyes fall to the floor as she smiles and tucks some of her scruffy blond hair behind an ear. "Geth's just the muscle." She looks back at Jambiya, seeming a little more relaxed, but still speaking quietly. "We're busy pretty much all day. The road is pretty busy, so people stop in until about this time. Only the locals come in this time of night. Where are you from?" she asks politely.

“Seldom Spring, my dads own the inn there, and I grew up working the common room, the kitchen, the door, whatever was needed.”

Jambiya did not miss Tassel’s reaction when she mentions Geth, and she’s immediately more invested than she should be. “Munchy’s cute, isn’t he?”

Maldorn waits for Erric's response but continues to nudge his head and raise his eyebrows toward the door behind which the gnomes are supposedly playing a game.

"She said they don't like to be disturbed.... oh okay," Erric says. He points to the doors and looks at Tassel and says, "so would you mind if I go ask them a question? It should be pretty simple. An acquaintance of ours has been trying to get in touch with them and she's worried, she's related to them. If we can just confirm they're okay, maybe ask why they're out of touch, we can leave them be and satisfy our curiosity. You said they don't like to be disturbed, but maybe it'd be okay for this?"

Persuasion: 15 (adv if help allowed 29 )

“Erric is very inspiring,” Jambiya adds, by way of trying to Help.

Tassel hums her agreement to Jambiya's question.

In response to Erric, Mara shrugs while saying with her face, "Don't blame me if they take your head off."

"Maybe mention Her name right away, Erric," Jambiya suggests. "Before they get a wrong idea."

"Or even before opening the door..." Maldorn adds.

Erric shrugs, wondering if her name will just set them off like it does him. But he trusts his companions. He goes to the door and knocks, peering in if it's ajar at all. "Hello, I think you know Eilikasys? I believe she was worried for you. Can I bring her back a message? She might even listen to me when I tell it to her. Or she'll step on my foot and walk out of the room. Never can tell..."

Erric walks to the first of the two doors, glancing over his shoulder to check with Mara that he's headed the right way. When she doesn't indicate that he should continue to the second door, he knocks (the door is closed). "Hello," he says with his mouth very close to the door, "I think you know Eilikasys? I believe she was worried for you. Can I bring her back a message? She might even listen to me when I tell it to her. Or she'll step on my foot and walk out of the room. Never can tell ..."

There is a slight pause, and then a voice calls in a rush from within, "Go away!"

There is a rumble of thunder in the distance.

Maldorn turns to the kind lady that had been talking to them: "Yara, please do tell. How many folks are in that room?" he points at the door to which Erric is talking.

"Maybe we should sleep here in the common room," Erric turns and whispers to Maldorn and Jambiya. "Maybe we'll learn something, but even if we don't, I don't think we really need to push this too far. Jambiya was it supposed to storm tonight?"

He asks if there is another exit from that room, offers enough coin for the group to stay in the common room for the night, and takes a look at the bracelet.

Jambiya speaks quietly and holds her hand out, palm up, and a small weather feature pops into existence (a stormy cloud, or a little sun, or a cloud wreathed sun, etc.).

"Six," Mara responds. "Largo and his five sons. Every night, they get two pints of ale and lock themselves in that room all night."

Jambiya's magic conjures a dark storm cloud with tiny lightning bolts flashing.

Ebokk gets to his feet. "I think I'd like to call on my cousin, and if it's going to storm, I'd better leave now. If he's got any family honor, he'll insist I sleep on the couch, so I'll see you all in the morning." He takes the last swig of his mug and leans in to whisper to Maldorn, "Don't let these youngin's get into too much trouble while I'm gone." Smiling, he picks up his new shield and nods a thanks to Mara before walking to an outside door and opening it. Before he can step out, the dwarf takes a step backward, and a halfling steps in, holding his hat. He says a confused thank you to Ebokk who then leaves. The newcomer looks up and scowls at Maldorn and then Ebokk and Jambiya.

"There he is," the man with the beard says. The three locals are immediately in better spirits. "We thought you'd never get here."

The halfling smiles. "Did someone brings friends?"

"No, these folks are passing through," Mara says brightly. "The usual, Milo?"

The halfling answers in the affirmative and takes the fourth chair at the table with the other three locals.

Feeling the mood in the room lift, Ebokk begins playing again, this time a little more jauntily, and the conversation becomes more raucous. Feeling more hospitable, the locals engage the party in conversation. The man with the beard is named Darstedd. Darstedd owns the bakery. The woman with the long, black hair is named Katernar — Kat for short. She is the sign-maker. Milo lives in the house across the way, which is not a shop. The dragonborn is named Kavilar, or Lara. She owns the apothecary.

Darstedd is quite the gossip and talks about twice as much as everyone else. Lara speaks very little, though she seems very observant. Kat is a bit of a klutz, knocking over at least two drinks. Everyone just laughs and acts like it's nothing out of the ordinary.

About 30 minutes after Milo arrives, everyone has to raise their voices as the sound of very heavy rain hitting the roof fills the room. Ebokk switches to songs about the sea and even adds a little percussion with his feet and hands, cheering when the thunder rolls overhead. Thirty minutes into the storm, one of the two outside doors opens again, and a very wet man enters, his head of dark hair ducked. The din quiets as everyone pauses to see who the newest newcomer is. He throws his head back — droplets of water flying — and looks around.

While the locals remain curious, the three party members are all dumbfounded. It's Aseid from Seldom Spring!

Before anyone can say anything, Geth and Muchy march in behind Aseid. Munchy immediately begins shaking like crazy, sending water everywhere. "Woo!" Geth says, flicking water from his big hands. "It's really coming down out there."

We don't have to skip any conversation that could have taken place during the time before Aseid showed up. I can answer questions and/or enjoy your additions.

Aseid did not comment on the obvious - he never did - but kind of "took in" the scenery with that quick but attentive look all people used to danger eventually get. Or maybe he was just looking for the place closer to the fire - you never could tell with this young man.

He lived in Seldom Spring for a year now. Barely twenty years old, the lad definitely had his share of a hard life, working as a caravan guard, and was mostly known for his very exotic weapon (that he used surprisingly well) and unwavering honesty. The last quality compelled Kul'ra to offer Aseid a more stable job and the boy agreed. Eventually, everyone in the town got used to the quiet polite (if not overly cheerful) Kul'ra's "right hand", with his soot-black hair, somewhat dusky features, and impenetrable expression of dark monolid eyes. The dragonborn trusted him, which was enough for most. Definitely for Dirk and Brunthor - who Aseid seemed to keep in particular regards (never explaining why). He was not especially close with anyone in the group of adventuring Seldom-Springers, but familiar enough to say hello.

Aseid did it himself, in fact, getting straight to the company bowing his head in greetings. "An unexpected meeting. I hoped only for a warm drink but was fortunate to find good company too. Your fathers will be happy to hear you are doing well, Miss Jambiya." He ordered warm wine and sat with the group.

Before Aseid shows up, Jambiya sticks to the bar and Tassel's company. She even unconsciously does a few bar tasks, taking a drink over, or wiping up a spill, without really meaning to. As the locals warm up to the party, she does interact with them, but doesn't move over to their table, what with Erric and Tassel still near the bar. She's very pleasant and charming as the evening wears on, and when Aseid shows up...

"Aseid!" Jambiya jumps off the bar stool, "Well met! What brings you here? Is Kul'ra here?" She skips up to the man and gives him a big hug (as she is prone to do to many people). "Come in, you must be drenched. And who's the best dog, is it you, Munchy? It is! It is you!" She gives the dog a hug, too. "Oh you poor man," she grabs Geth by the hand and bodily drags him over near Tassel. "Come over here... no, over *here*, there you go, and dry off. Tassel, you can help him off with his wet coat." Then she leaves them with no other choice and goes back to the bar to get her drink and take it over to Maldorn's table. She settles at a chair with a view of her handiwork, and hides her smile behind her mug.