Khaelan let out a sigh when she saw the burned piece of paper but pocketed it anyway. Maybe she could figure out what it was later. Rising up back to her full height (which isn't very high...) she turned back to the old man and the 2 half orcs "This summer has left many villages starving and barely surviving." she said and looked around for a moment. The man said he couldn't offer them anything except his gratitude and Khaelan smiled "Gratitude is more then enough reward friend." turning to the half orc brothers she bowed her head again "Nice to meet you. I'm from the capital and not headed anywhere in particular to be honest. Kind of just wondering around looking for some adventure." Grinning slightly she looked at the edge of the forest and wondered how many creatures roamed there, waiting for their moment to pounce on the innocent villagers. "Is there a tavern nearby? Let me buy you guys a drink for helping out with these orcs. I'm not sure I could've handled it on my own." 

(Not two half orc brothers, Hugh is a half orc while Fred is a half elf, still brothers. The quiet girl is the other half orc in the character list.)

Hugh turns to Fred “It’s fate. A tavern? Adventure? Free drink?? We’re on our way!”

Fred will sigh, "I suppose it is. Thank you for your offer Miss Evermore, the tavern is over this way." And Fred will lead her to the best (only?) tavern in town.

(It is indeed the only tavern)

As you enter the tavern, you're rather surprised to see it in a state not too dissimilar to the village square outside. Splinters of broken furniture are scattered over the floor, accompanied by shard of shattered glass. Even in the dim light, you can make out the bloodstains on the stone floor and the mess of food splattered up the walls.

Towards the back of the Tavern, a solitary table and 4 chairs have survived whatever had occurred in the space, though they seem rickety and unsteady. You notice a woman (Known to locals as Estelle) trying to clean up the mess, an expression of irritation plastered on her face as an unknown man follows her around, prattling away.

"You won't find another one like this my dear, I can promise you that" He says to her "Expertly crafted from the finest metal in the lands. Ideal for keeping trouble at bay in this here tavern o' yours"

"I couldn't give a hoot about your damn blade" Estelle sighs without halting her efforts to clean, though a glance informs you she has noticed your arrival "The price you're asking is ridiculous, even with the copper shortage. Now if you'll excuse me, I have patrons to attend to"

With that she walks away from the man, wiping her hands down the front of her apron as she approaches you with a smile "Welcome back boys. And I see you bought a friend with you"

(Im assuming she probably knows them if they're local)

Fred enters and waves cheerfully, "Nice to see you again Estelle! This is our new friend Miss Evermore, she helped us kill those orcs. Were they in here too?"

Moving over to the sole remaining table, he'll hold a chair for Khaelan before ordering a round of drinks. Gesturing to the stranger, "Trouble with a traveling salesman?"

Khaelan walked into the tavern and smiled at the woman named Estelle. It looked like there had been a pretty serious bar fight, or the Orcs had made it through the tavern before wrecking havoc in the rest of the village. Following Fred to the sole surviving table she sat down when he pulled her a chair "Thank you." drinks were ordered and Fred asked Estelle if the Orcs had been here as well before looking at the stranger holding a sword. Khaelan starts looking around better to see if she could see any indication of the orcs having gone through here or if there was another reason for the tavern to be in such bad shape.

Investigation: 22

OOC: really...a natural one ... my god Khaelan is blind or something 

Khealan

 "The brutes dispatched to gather our share of the tax payment drained my liquor supply and started brawling amongst themselves like animals" Estelle tuts, shaking her head as she spoke. "And then when I asked if they'd be paying for the repairs they had the gall to laugh in my face! They helped themselves to the rest of the food and scarpered. And as for that one" She inclined her head towards the salesman "He came wandering in shortly afterwards and tried to sell me that sword. What use do I have for a damn sword? I run a Tavern, not a weapons store"

Fred will sigh and mutter to himself, "Orcs and tax collectors, I wonder what they're trying to tell me?"

Shaking his head and turning to Estelle, "I'm sorry, but I don't think we can do much about the tax collectors, but Hugh can certainly run that rascal off if you'd like."

Hugh looks up, brightly. “It’d be no problem! Really!”

Khaelan raised her eyebrows as Estelle was talking, higher and higher until she was finished and Khaelans gaze turned to the stranger. It appeared that their lovely queen was demanding taxes more frequently lately. She didn't know why since the woman had more than enough money and food to last 10 lifetimes. "Did they manage to inn the taxes or is the reason why they decided to drink and eat you dry because you couldn't afford it?" she asked bluntly but with the face of someone who wanted to murder the ones responsible...and who knew, maybe she'd track down the men responsible and have a little 'chat' with them about how a Royal Guard should behave and what their job actually is... 

"He'll be on his way soon enough but thank you" Estelle said with a smile "One of them ushered them along shortly before the orcs attacked, something to do with needing to begin making their way back to Lord Broynn's estate for the regions taxes to be confirmed"

"So brother, becoming adventurers was your idea, so whats the plan? And Miss Evermore, would you care to join us? I'd appreciate the additional company and I'd love to hear how you learned your fireslinging."

“Keep wandering until work finds us. My plan could not be better or simpler.”

"Alright, so it sounds like we have no plan of places to go, Miss Evermore, if you have anywhere you'd like to go, mind if we follow around?"

Khaelan thought for a second and looked at the boys before making a decision. Mostly for herself and if the brothers wanted to come along that would be their choice "I think I'm going to go after those lovely tax collectors and see what their boss has to say. Treating perfectly nice tavern owners like nothing more then trash doesn't sit well with me. You're more than welcome to join me. I'm curious as to why you decided to become 'adventurers' " after that Khaelan turned back to Estelle "Is there anywhere where we could get some horses and provisions? And it would be great if you could tell us the general direction of the asshats destination." Khaelan reached into the pouch that hang from the belt around her hip, where she also had tucked away a pair of daggers. She took out 5 gold pieces and handed them to Estelle before getting up.

"The stables on the other side of the courtyard should have some good steads for you to use, though I can't promise the owners will be willing to lend them to you. As for provisions, you're welcome to take anything you find in my lodgings upstairs" Estelle offered with a smile, taking the gold and holding it tightly in her hand as if it would suddenly vanish if she let go. "Lord Broynn's lands are 2 days North-West of here, up in the hills"

"I guess thats what it meant then..." Fred will mutter to himself, "Yes Miss Evermore, we'd be happy to go with you." Fred will start to say something else, then stop himself before, "Adventuring was his idea, don't ask."

“For glory! And women! And riches!” Hugh raises a clenched fist. “It is destiny!”

He is perhaps, overexcited.

Fred will smile and wink at Khaelan, "Well, you're a third of the way there."