The brigands did this. There's fear in her voice, but also anger. They started coming out these parts four years ago. Saying people had to pay them, that they were acting for the crown. People laughed, but then they burned down a neighbour's house and the Crownsguard did nothing, so we paid. It got a bit more each year, but we paid. Everyone did. Until this year; she looks over in the direction of the houses, and seems about to say something but changes her mind.

Alton nods, "Someone decided not to pay and were made an example of, that about right? Does anyone know where these brigands hold up?"

Near Feltyr, or so they say. They come from that direction at least, and don't try to hide it. I... can you help? If you can't, just please don't tell anyone I said anything. They haven't killed anyone from around here yet, but people from... there's stories and... look, can you help or not?

Balassar just grits his teeth as she tells the story "Sounds like a job we should take on."

Is there any response from the rest of the group?

Alton nods, "We should at least try."

Thank you. My name is Ettra, she says. But I should go now. The others will miss me if I am gone too long. Take care, and please don't get yourselves killed over this. She hurries off to the farmhouse, and you all return to your camp - you can discuss on the way if you wish, and resume your rest.

Nothing further happens during the night - no attacks, no scouts, no wild animals. You wake in the morning having completed a long rest, rising just as the sun is rising.

Will you continue your journey to Feltyr? Stop in at the farmhouses again? Or do something else?

Alton stretches after packing up his gear and loading it on the cart. He looks around at his companions and says, “That was an interesting night. It sounded like the people have the cleanup from the fire covered, from what they said last night. We can go check on them if you’d all like, but I think we should keep heading towards Feltyr and keep an eye out for any signs of these brigands. What do y’all think?” 

“We should definitely find these bandits. Who knows, maybe they have something to do with our assassin. It’s the next best lead we’ve got!” Celica states, clearly fired up. “Even if it isn’t, we can’t just leave these people defenseless.” 

Balassar looks at his companions as they speak, putting on his armor "Agreed, even if it delays the investigation into the assassin the people come first." he says just lifting up his shield.

Alton climbs up into the back of the cart, "Lets get going then. Those bandits and assassins won't come to us." 

Balassar just climbs into the front grabbing the reins "That would make it to easy. Let's get going then."

(I'm going to interpret that to mean that you do actually leave.)

As expected, the journey to Feltyr takes less than the rest of the day, and you arrive shortly after midday.

Feltyr is a little town, a little bigger than a village but not much. There are no walls surrounding it; you get the feeling that it's grown a lot in the last few decades and this wasn't terribly well planned. At the centre of town are older and clearly better constructed buildings; surrounding it are more ramshackle homes, shops and other places of work that give the impression of having been erected in haste and then slowly firmed up and added to over the years. There's a single main street leading to a market square that is pretty busy for this time of day. You notice that many people, especially the younger ones, are wearing a dyed straw hat, coloured either dark red or light green; there are clusters of them here and there, especially around the market square.

You notice a few possible places of interest:

The inn, the Blue Rider, whose innkeeper sent Lord Tellatt the letter about the assassin. It's in the very centre of town and is the tallest building, reach to a third floor.

The blacksmith is opposite the inn, and the smith herself is working in a large area to the side of the building; she's a half-elf.

There's a general goods store, also off the market square, called Everything Feltyr!. The sign looks new; the shop does not.

The market has about a dozen round stalls with umbrellas over them; it's an unusual look, rather more like garden furniture than you're used to seeing. They are selling mostly mundane items such as clothing, furniture and other things of little interest to the adventurer; the vendors appear to be quite busy and the market is lively.

There is a very small Crownsguard building, with a young human guard standing rigidly to attention; that's some way down the street and in the newer part of town. There were no guards at the entrance to the town when you approached.

Celica takes in the town for a moment before looking to the rest of the crew. "Well, there's that inn that Lord Tellatt told us about. We should probably check in there to see what else the innkeeper may know about the killer, huh? I could also really go for a chance to sit down. My dogs are barking!" She exclaims, shifting from foot to weary foot.

Balassar just looks to the smithy as a small feeling of missing his family after their trip hits in. He just looks to Celica "Sounds like a good idea. Wouldn't mind stopping at the smithy and seeing what they have either."

Alton looks at Celica, "You could have said something about your feet hurting. We could have traded places in the cart." He points out the Crownsguard building, "We should swing by there too. The Crownsguard might know something about the brigands that are supposedly near by."

Sally, for the moment, seems happy to follow whatever the rest of the party decides. 

What will you do?

Balassar just stops the cart in front of the inn "Should we split up then? I'll go park the cart and check on what the blacksmith has to say. They might have sold some stuff to people needing weapons or repairs."

Alton hops out of the cart with his things, "Sounds like a good plan. I'll get us some rooms at the inn and check the place out."

Balassar just nods as Alton gets off "Sounds good. I can go talk to the blacksmith and the Crownsguard." he just turns to Sally and Ceclia "Think you two can cover the story and market?"