Aldin grimaces severely as the floor creaks under his weight. He holds his breath and chides himself as he hears the inquiries. He quick steps to try and make it out of the room in time.

Stealth: 16

Aldin, whoever was interested in the sound, seems to dismiss the idea after quickly viewing the area, and not finding you. You and Black Cat are both safely in the room, which seems to be a small display room for the antique shop--old heirlooms and items and trinkets that seem quite dated. There is a hallway that extends along the side of the small room, at the other end of it, opposite of the entrance you came through. The antique shop didn't look large from the outside, but it is surely full on the inside.

Jorel will also turn to Smoke and hand over the 20 gold he received, "Here, you earned this with your little performance. Should we claim our potions first, before they're gone, or go looking for our missing friends?"

Smoke accepts the gold from Jorel, already thinking about what to buy with it as he looks around the market. 

We will go to Zyn-dar first. Im sure the others will come back here soon. 

He will then look for Zyn-dar's stand and walk there to see how business is going. 

Aldin gives a cursory glance about before heading to the hallway across the room. He keeps an eye out for anything to link the place to either the red cloaked people or the silver ones. His primary goal for being here was to see about the group and that large amount of money that was being funneled here but he has no idea what he truly walked into.

Stealth: 10

Perception: 25

Black Cat will also give the room a cursory glance before heading to the hallway to see where it leads to. If anything of particular note catches his eye and that can easily be hidden on his person he will examine it a bit closer and check for any traps before grabbing it.

Stealth: 26 Perception: 5 Dex check: 18

Smoke, Zyn-dar seems overjoyed with happiness as he gives potions in return for coin to the large crowd that has gathered. Apparently the group that came from the tavern also brought in some others walking about the main forum. Many of the potions are gone now, but Zyn-dar has restocked them, clearly having a wealth of reserves, when it comes to potion resources. He turns to Smoke when he arrives. "Thank you, my friend. Thank you," Zyn-dar gets out a large satin bag, showing it to Smoke. "All types of my potions are in this bag. Pick and choose, a deal's a deal. Ask me any questions you'd like. I can find you whatever kind of healing potion you want."

Aldin and Black Cat, you see multiple rare artifacts before you, but most are so dated they don't seem of use. Black Cat, you see two bracelets that seem to shine and gleam, perhaps worth something. There is also a small crest that glimmers a bit. Nothing seems to connect the silver-cloaked figures and the red-cloaked. Black Cat, you see no traps, and can obtain them if you'd like.

Aldin, again, your feet strain the floorboards beneath you, and there are yet again a few curious noises in the room regarding the sound. Make another Stealth check.

(We may have to cut bait here Jonpawl. To quote Luke Skywalker, "I'm endangering the missions, I shouldn't have come.")

Aldin shakes his head at himself yet again, his feet betraying him once again. It must be the small panic attack he had earlier still throwing him off.

Stealth: 16

[OOC: It does kind of seem that way, we shall see what happens when the DM is able to post next and we will go from there.  DM - Black Cat will totally grab the bracelets}

Black Cat, you are able to grab both bracelets and slip them discreetly on your person. They seem of worth, perhaps someone in town can specify the value.

Aldin, you try to silence the noise, and you somewhat succeed, but as you shift your weight, the floorboards creak yet again. You hear someone yell, "What in the Abyss of Demons is that?" and storm over to the room. You see before you someone who looks exactly like Ester Lynchar, staring at you with frustration and confusion. He doesn't move, and is somewhat blocking the way out of the room. "Who are you, and why are you in here?" What will you do?

Smoke will browse through the potions and ask questions about them (assuming he gets about the same info as provided in private chat).

He will gather the following potions:

• 2x Potion of greater healing
• 1x a potion that relieves head pain and heightens senses (+2 to Wisdom and Perception for an hour) 
• 1x Ointment of Wounds

Smoke will also use some of his newly received money to buy a potion that cures the effect blindness (10gp). 

He will hold up the potions to Zyn-Dar asking Is this ok? and hand him the gold for the additional potion. 

Smoke will then turn to the others and give:

Nirug and Jorel will each get a Potion of greater healing handed to them. Smoke will hand the potion of heightend senses to Weylin (for temp boost to wisdom mods). He will keep the Ointment of Wounds and the potion that cures blindness for now. 

Thank you Zyn-Dar, we should get going now. Good travels to you and perhaps till next time! Smoke raises his hand for a single wave and then starts walking with the group to go find Aldin and Black Cat. 

Speaking to the group, We should try to find the others now. 

"Hey, aren't you that gambling guy at the tavern? My friend wanted to talk to you about something.," Aldin said as he stood up straight. He ran a hand over his bald dark head as he look awkwardly at the man.

Zyn-dar smiles to Smoke. "Thank you, my good sir. Thank you."

Aldin, the man who seems to be like the Ester Lynchar you may have observed in the tavern--he doesn't seem to have the exact same characteristics. Considering you've never formally met the man, it doesn't seem like a large difference, but noticeable. What you saw of Ester in the tavern portrayed an extremely large ego, bent on winning. Here, he seems more agitated, worried, and calculating. More reserved. More than a simple mood change, is what it appears. It is as if he is embodying an entirely different personality here, which is honestly not too far off from what you've heard about the infamous gambling lord bard, but it's still...strange. Yet, the bard is still quick on his feet, replying, "Do you know what about? Is he a gambler?"

"Aye he is a tabaxi and he gambles quite often, though usually with his and our lives," Aldin says as he slightly shifts toward the exit. He knows what he is saying is complete rubbish but he was never a talker. Stick to the facts, he repeated to himself.

"I believe he wanted an endorsement for a local vendor. Here, let me go and get him." Aldin gestures to the exit and takes a tentative step in that direction.

Black Cat will just sit motionless waiting to see what happens next.

 Ester slowly nods, extending his leg out to slightly block Aldin's escape route. "Answer my other question. Why are you in here?"

Aldin internally sighed. His body sagged just slightly as he realized that he had been caught. Sure he could lie, he could try and talk his way out of this some more but it seemed a futile effort. The man looked at Ester and squared his shoulders, tilting his head just slightly, "Listen, I really do not want any trouble. You caught me in here because I was curious about why this antique shop was so popular. You have large sums of money coming here and even a tunnel under the town from the tavern. So I came in for a look."

Black Cat will slowly pull out his hand crossbow and load a bolt, aiming it at Ester, waiting to see what happens next.

Stealth: 18

[OOC: Could have been a worse roll]

Ester does not notice Black Cat raise the arrow, instead of focusing all his attention on Aldin, perhaps not expecting the response Aldin provided. "Interesting. You seem to have a lot of ...knowledge. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing, my friend. Very dangerous." Ester seems to be working hard to keep his composure, and snaps, making an overexaggerated attempt at egotistical motion, but failing a bit. It still has the effect, as a silver-cloaked man walks over within seconds, a half-orc trailing him. The owner of the shop, a short grey-haired halfling with old clothing that contrasts greatly to those around him. Ester takes a step forward. "So, are you a...spy? A traitor?" They have not directly closed the exit, but they are at that point. Black Cat, you have an oppurunity to fire your arrow whenever you'd like, but the level of aggressiveness that the newly formed group is unclear.

[OOC: So if I am reading this right, there are 4 enemies(?) and then just Aldin and myself. With the layout of the room the exits are the doorway we came in (the one that Ester is now in backed by his friends and then a hallway that goes somewhere further into the building. Are there any windows of any kind?]