When Tarja introduces Carp, Horton reaches out and touches him on top of the head and then tickles his neck with his trunk.  The young man laughs and pets Horton in return.

Horton trumpets just a bit in confirmation of enjoying the stream and a meal of grass and greenery.  When she asks if he saw anything else interesting  the elephant tips his head back a bit and looks up at the stars and the moon on this clear night, gazing back and forth a bit.

Lowering his head again, Horton lets out another small trumpeting sound, reaches out, and pulls Carp in for a gentle hug.

Zeke steps out of the gathered darkness of the evening and addresses the Redbrands.  'Well then gentlemen, I'm sure we're more than capable of giving you the accommodations you crave. Why don't you continue your walk towards town and I'll follow a reasonable distance behind. I recommend you make a suitable amount of noise as you approach and that you keep your hands empty and in clear view.'

The barbarian continues to cast his voice using thaumaturgy to both overwhelm the Redbrands and try to alert his comrades to the approaching ruffians.

The redbrands nod and follow Zeke's commands.  They are quiet at first but then one starts elbowing another and finally there are calls of "hello, we don't want to cause any trouble" and other such warnings as Zeke had suggested.

Seeing a sudden urgency in several members of the party, Sildar and Daran look at one another and decide to follow the others out into the street.  The two veterans watch as the young redbrands approach.

Hearing Zeke's voice and his directions to the Redbrand, Ethan relaxes a little.

Ethan holds his Programmable Caster at the ready, watching the three Redbrand approach.

When they are close enough to hear him, Ethan asks them.

"Do you have any weapons on you? If you do, I think maybe you should drop them on the ground before you come any closer."

Elra smiles when she sees the young Redbrands, "Oh, that's good. Everything will be okay, you're going to be okay." She tries to reassure them, considering their age and wondering herself just how involved they were in actual Redbrand events besides being extra bodies.

"Mes ami! I am Maximillion du Champris, great-nephew to zee Duc du Champris, please call me Maxie. My friends and I will be more zan 'appy to escort you back into town. As long as you stay calm, my friends will stay calm, oui? Zere's no reason anyone else needs to be in dangair today."

Hehe I guess I was hanging out with Carp and Horton, who are both being absolutely adorable.

Tarja hears the horn, excuses herself from Carp and Horton, but rushes off to find the source.

Something's going on! I'll be right back!

She finds the Redbrands being escorted back to town by the party and relaxes.

Oh, these boys are back. Well, hopefully they won't be making any more trouble around here, maybe they've learned their lesson! Don't go meddling with wizards and elementals and dark powers, it's not natural and not healthy.

Zeke relaxes imperceptibly as they reach town and his comrades are there to greet the young Redbrands.  Elra will calm them down and Arvel will figure out what to do with them. Which is good because if the boys had tried anything or hadn't willingly walked back to town, well the barbarian really only had one set of skills.

 Approaching Ethan he casts his voice low so it doesn't carry to any bystanders 'I'm sorry to disturb your evening Master Artificer, but given the day's excitement, I thought prudence the better part of valor as I came across intruders making their way under cover of darkness into our little town.  I fear we may have struck a hornet's nest today and are likely to see more trouble rather than less because of it.'

Looking about, the tiefling takes note of both his party and the townspeople who came at his call.  Pleased to see such readiness and discipline, Zeke allows the barest hint of a smile to creep onto his face.  

'I think we should set up a formal watch for the evening, and in the morning have a conversation with the town about replacing the security the Redbrands provided with something a little less predatory.  Perhaps you'd be willing to take the first watch while I work up a rotation with the others?'

Fae would have arrived winded and very confused. Her chest would rise and fall a little from the exertion of her dash over. The wizards eyes would flash concern at the beginning but eventually blink away slightly embarrassed. She’d simply stand quietly off to the side and readjust her robe, awaiting her instructions for watch.

The young Redbrands follow all instructions and seem pretty nervous regarding what might happen to them at the hands of Zeke and the others.  As you draw close to the Inn once again Sildar and Daran are waiting and the elf suggests "we can put them up at the Townmaster's hall as well."  "There are some beds free there, and I can't imagine you boys would be looking to cause any more trouble here tonight, eh?"  Looking to Zeke, Daran asks "care to come with us and remind them of that one last time?"

(Sure just let me know about a watch rotation and I'll ask for rolls as needed.)

Seeing Fae's state, Zeke would look slightly sheepish as he approached the Wizard. 'I'm sorry my friend, I didn't mean to alarm you.  Given the day's excitement, I thought prudence the best course of action.'

“No. It’s okay...” Fae would shake her head a little to his apology. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t of defaulted to the worst case scenario...” Her eyes would glance down at the ground. She was ultimately very relieved nothing was wrong and that Zeke was taking the extra precautions. The wizard would look back up to him opening her mouth to say something when Daran would speak up. Instead she’d offer the tiefling a smile, gesturing with her chin to Daran who had requested his company. “First watch then?” Fae would simply confirm her assignment.

Zeke would nod a simple assent to Fae and then fall in behind Daran to make sure the young Redbrands didn't cause any more trouble.

Sildar and Daran join Zeke in leading the three young men to the Townmaster's hall.

"So what's your story, son?" asks the retired elf.  "You seem like quite the vigilant one, always looking out for everyone else, I gather?"

The trio leads the three boys to a room on the first floor of the hall that appears to have been set up as a makeshift hospital.  A half dozen single person beds are evenly spaced and pans for water, bandages, clean white cloth and other supplies are neatly organized and ready, perhaps for the next mining accident or to aid anyone else in town as needed.  "We trust you didn't come back looking for more trouble from the likes of him" says Sildar, gesturing towards Zeke.  "Someone will come by to get you in the morning, you'll be fed, and I think some of the townsfolk have some ideas for how you can make up for your prior poor choices."  He looks to Daran, who nods in approval.

Fae, much more calmly this time, will make her way through to the town square. With the inn in sight, she’d send Edgar out to scout from the skies as she’d find a spot to perch herself for their watch. 

"Monsieur Sildar? May I 'ave a word wiz you in private? It regards Monsieur Rockseeker."

"Of course..." replies Sildar, stepping out into the town square area with Arvel.

((Is Arvel still holding Elra's hand?))

With a wink to Elra, the charlatan lets go of her hand and joins Sildar in the square.

Once alone,

"If it's alright with you, I'll drop the accent for the moment. But I'll be keeping Maxie's appearance for the sake of...appearances.

Sorry, awkward sentence.

The crux of the matter is this: I've come into knowledge about one of the factors at work against our patron and the venture he and his brothers are endeavoring upon. I have reason to believe that this particular factor may be swayed, if not onto our side, but at least to a position of neutrality if our patron were to make certain...financial concessions...regarding the endeavor. I believe I can make an effort, in earnest, on the Rockseekers' behalf but I'll need his permission to do so.

So I turn to you and ask: Is Gundren of sound mind? Can he comprehend the issues I will explain to him and can he give informed consent for me to negotiate on his behalf?"

Ethan relaxes fully, retracting his shield back into his gauntlet and holstering his Programmable Caster.

Seeing Sildar stepping aside to talk with Maxie, Ethan remembers something and approaches to interrupt them for a moment.

"Um, sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to give Sildar back his things. We found them when we rescued Gundren."

Ethan pulls out a longsword and some nicely folded-up armour from his gauntlet and hands them to Sildar.

"Sorry I did give them back earlier, I kind of forgot them. Anyway I got things I need to work on."

Ethan turns and heads back to his room.