Randy: You use your Invasive Thoughts ability to reinforce your words. Roll a Persuasion check.

Kevin: "Perfect! Enjoy your nut butter!" He collects his 2 gp.

Dewey: "Sure they are..." Xoblob says in a bemused tone as he accepts your 5 gp.

Sol Rhea: "Of course it does, it's still a knife, isn't it?" He seems to be honestly confused.

Randy's persuasion roll = 10

Randy: Xoblob meekly says, "Sorry sir, this is the best I can do."

But in your mind you hear a different voice reply to your Invasive Thoughts ability. It's high and screechy and sounds like fingers across a chalkboard. "Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine."

"Fine." Randy says in his monotone, as he gives over the 4g and takes the cloth.

"Ih, that's okay... I have a few knives already..."

After stuffing the cloth in his robe, Randy investigates Xoblob to find the source of that grating voice in his mind. Investigation = 20

Randy: You continue your mental connection to Xoblob and try to listen for the screechy voice. Instead, your eavesdropping picks up the mental voice of Xoblob. "Quiet! I have to sell some of our pretties or we'll lose our lair-- I mean shop."

The high voice responds, "They just want to take our treasures! We can't let them! Kill them!"

Xoblob's internal voice calmly says, "No no no, they're just customers. How many times do I have to explain to you how stores operate?"

Xoblob's exterior reflects none of the debate going on in his head. He takes a peaceful purple puff from his purple pipe and asks, "Was there anything else I can do for you all today?"

Randy decides that whatever is going on in Xoblob's mind is clearly a personal matter, and none of his business. He responds, "Yes. We will leave now."

Sol smiles warmly. "Thank you, sir..."

Having had your fill of browsing and having gotten your directions, you all leave for the Skewered Dragon. You head west a block until you reach an alley between Net Street and Fillet Lane.

Looking in the alley, you see what may have once been a nice tavern. But now the Skewered Dragon looks like a ruin. Both of its front-facing windows are smashed, and a ship's anchor is lodged in the roof. Through the windows, you can see a group of haggard patrons drinking from huge tankards.

What do you want to do?

"This place smells delicious!"  Dewey exclaims loudly as he deeply inhales in the fishy air.  "And let me tell you, a Krotchbottum nose... knows!"  

Dewey laughs uproariously at his own pun. 

"SolRhea gets it!"  He elbows her gently on the arm.  "I can spot a lass who is a connoisseur of the fragrant fish, I'd wager!"  

"Let's enter." Randy intones.

"I uh.... enjoy a good filet here and again...." she answered awkwardly. 

You all enter the Skewered Dragon.The place reeks of fish and stale ale, with just a hint of urine. A few gloomy heads raise from their tankards, take in the new strangers, grumble to themselves, and return to drinking. The rest of the patrons of the tavern ignore you.

A fat Half Orc barkeep eyes you all as he cleans a mug with a dirty rag. "What can I get ya?"

Randy says, "We are looking for a handsome human male in his early thirties with wavy red-blond hair. He was last seen here two nights ago dressed in princely garb. Do you remember him?"

Randy's persuasion = 18

Randy: The barkeep gives you a sympathetic look. "I wish I could help ya buddy, but I wasn't working two nights ago." He scans the tables and settles on one near the north wall. "But...I do know some regulars who could probably help ya." He points the party in the direction of the table. "Just a word of advice, they don't like strangers, so you probably buy them some drinks before asking them questions."

Randy turns to his companions, "Those men at the table near the North wall have the information we need." Turning back to the bartender Randy says, "My companions and I will buy those fellas over there drinks." Randy then leads his companions over to the table near the North wall and says to the people there, "We bought you drinks. They should be here shortly. We are looking for a handsome human male in his early thirties with wavy red-blond hair. He was last seen here two nights ago dressed in princely garb. Do you remember him?"

Persuasion = 12

“Yarr, as a fellow sailor be me, I can tell you me companions here hoist a straight jib. They ain’t trying to take a piss in yer scuttlebutt.”

Dewey says holding up a drink in toast. 

Kevin, at long last, joins in on the toast.  "Ahoy, new friends and old! Shall we drink to our newfound companionship?"

Sol smiles a touch awkwardly, unused to such rough-and-tumble environments. "Forgive us if we are a little straightforward, but any information you might have will be appreciated."

Sol attempts to help persuade them. 8