(I mean, worst case, we can guide the group.  Lizard child and barbarian lead the way!)

(Ok that’s really good to hear, I was worried I was losing interest. Don’t feel pressured to post more than once a day, if you’re busy with life I totally understand. We’ll carry on as a three person crew for now, I don’t want to introduce a new player out of nowhere)

Tikak looks at Celia, "I have some food!  But I'm more than willing to share yours!    Thank you!"  Tikak starts scarfing the food Celia offered him, and through mouthfuls of food, "So, why did you want to help out these people?"

"Um..." Celia looks back to the group, "I just got caught up in it, you know?"

Rianath, sitting nearby and pulling rations out of his own pack, snorts in amusement. "The whole thing did happen fast, dinnit." He looks over the people they're escorting, falling quiet as his face becomes frowned in thought.

Tikak, unusually pensive, thinks about the decisions that led him to this cave.  "Yeah.  Sometimes...  Sometimes things move quickly and get out of control."

"What brought you here?"

Tikak looks down at his feet, and he stands up, starting to bounce.  He paces for a few seconds, wondering how much he should trust his new friends.  "I... uh... well.  I was raised in a group of performers.  They are my family, and I ...  I ran away from them because I wanted to get paid more and I wasn't getting paid more and I realized my family members weren't getting paid enough either and I want to help them escape!"  He takes a deep breath after spitting everything out in one breath.  "I needed to get out of the city.  They were looking for me.  I can't go back."  Tikak flips upsidedown, walking a little bit on his hands.  He flips up and says "At least not until I can save them!"

"Save them?"

"They... aren't free to leave.  If they try, Odan calls in some contract or another.  When I ran away, he got the guards to start looking for me.  Odan runs the troupe.  He keeps most of our earnings, feeding us, and that's about it.  He talks about how we are all a family, but whenever we start asking for more, he reminds us that we work for him.  One time, one of our singers got a job elsewhere, and he got the guards to bring her back, saying she had a contract with him.  I want them to be able to be free.  Or at least... I don't know.  Better treated."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Who's Odan, if you don't mind me asking. What he's doing doesn't seem fair at all," Celia says, scratching Gwenlyn on the snout as she curls around her neck to sleep.

"Odan Tumbleflap.  He's a dwarf who runs the troupe.  You're right.  It's not fair. But we only stay in town long enough to perform for a while, and then before we can try to talk to the local rulers about getting us free... We'd move on to the next city.  It's been like that for my whole life."

Celia doesn't answer at first, but does make a note of Tikak's words. "Do you know where you were heading next?"

(I'm sorry guys. I will post. I had to pull doubles at work. Texas just opened their economy.)

I follow the others in settling with the travelers. I remain just outside of the cave. I pray to Pelor for the successful day today. 

"I can't believe so much has happened for a day. I thank you for the guidance you have given me. Thank you for quieting the whispers. I hope my work for you helps maintain their distance." 

After my prayer, I head inside where I see the others talking over food. He walks over and joins them. He bows, smiles, and takes a seat, taking out his rations for the evening.

Tikak climbs up onto a largeish rock, then hangs his feet off of it.  "I don't know.  I... hadn't thought things through that far.  Maybe I can stay with these people?  Maybe once the Marauders have moved on, I can head back to the city? I just want money and fame so I can help my family!"  He starts kicking his feet as he finishes his food.  "Besides!  It'll be nice to see more of the world!"

Celia smiles, "I know that feeling."

At this moment Varic walks over and you can hear him chuckling slightly. "Money and fame...we have similar aspirations my friend. When I first started my trading company we had high hopes of becoming the best in Wildemount. Not all dreams have a happy ending I'm afraid." His mood darkens slightly as he takes a drink. He smiles once more and says, "Anyone know any stories with happy endings?"

Rianath looks up at Tikak, before looking to Af and Celia, and then back to Tikak. "I'm leavin' the city to become an adventurer. I want t'see the world, make my mark, an' make a name for m'self. Ya know? Maybe... I dunno, maybe we can jus' do that together? Become big famous adventurers, make lots of gold and get real famous, an' then you could make him set your family free. An' pay him good if they want to keep doin' the job an' jus' want better workin' conditions." He looks over at Varric. "That'd be a happy endin', yeah?"

The elf shrugs, looking back down at his rations in case the others thought his idea was a bad suggestion, and focuses on his rations instead.

"I want others to have a happy life. I want them to experience their own happy ending. That's my goal." I say with a strong demeanor. "Even helping those who needs safe passage." I bow to Varic.

"Yeah, that's a great goal!  We will make sure everyone knows who we are!  It's going to be very exciting!  I know lots of stories with happy endings!  My favorite is one where the man meets a sphinx and tricks her by making her realize that her questions all have different answers!  OOH or the one where an orc realizes that he's been hurting people and starts trying to make their lives better afterwards.  OOH or the one where..."  Tikak keeps rambling on with various stories he'd been told growing up.  Then he sees a mouse and starts watching where it is going.  Once he loses sight of it, he pays attention to the rest of the crowd.  "So where are we going?  And why are we going there?"