“Such good kitties,” Arabella whispers, scratching the tabby under the chin. “You have both been very helpful today. You’ve earned a reward.”

Arabella reaches into her pack and pulls out a piece of salted fish from her rations. She gives it to the cats, giving the tabby the larger portion. “Eat up. I may have more fish to share if you bring me more helpful information.”

She heads into the inn, looking for a woman matching Lailah’s description. She nods when the boy directs her to the private room. She raps on the door with her staff and heads straight inside.

“I am Arabella. I was told to seek Lailah. Is that you?” 

Knowing this to be the woman he was looking for, Fallows them  from a distance. He sees a strange short woman in furs walk in as well. "Oh how interesting" he thinks to himself. As he makes his way to the inn, he subtly cast Detect Magic and See Invisibility then enters. The boy address him, a smile comes across Falhorn's face. He always had a bit of a soft spot for children. "Oh yes boy, I'll take some of that delicious sounding roast fish! Before you get that though, I'm supposed to meet a group of folks here. Which room would they be in?" he says with a joyful demeanor. The boy takes him to the private room where he makes sure that his ears are properly covered before he enters. Once he enters he scans the group with his magically enhanced vision (you know my passive perception and investigation lol) until his eyes lock with that of Lailah. He takes a deep bow, his left hand over his heart and right swings far out with his head tilted a bit in conjunction with his right arm. The display is fluid and graceful, practiced and used millions of times. As he bows he says "Falhorn at your service." he raisers and continues "You're even more beautiful than the sketch given to me, and equally as popular I see, Lailah." He pauses after saying her name to see the confirmation in her eyes that he was speaking to the right one, even though he knew beyond a doubt who he was addressing. "It is a pleasure to finally meet...." he pauses and scans the room again "....all of you". Falhorn's face is placid and nonthreatening, with a genuine peaceful smile on his face. He was enjoying himself after all.

Falhorn steadily and purposefully steps around the room. The tempo and timing akin to an apex predator feline that knows no fear but is still alert and ready to act at any moment. He knew this could be a bit intimidating to some but couldn't much help himself, his smile never really fading. He needed to check the room and people for any kind of scrying magic and for any items that may used to the same effect. He could see the doubt in some of their eyes as they witnessed him. He could practically smell the distrust in the air and knew that some of them may already know his true profession  Perfect. This was his element and deep down he reveled in this tension. (see what I did there? reveled? like my name? RevelTheMad?) Thrived in it as it what made him who he is today. This display was not only for the effect, but to get better angles as he scrutinized each one along with the rest of the room. Once he got all the visual information he needed from the beings he continues to passively perceive the rest of the room, making sure to check under objects and behind paintings. Anything magical or invisible would shine in his arcane vision. If he found anything he would pretend as though he didn't (Deception 12 / using inspiration 23) and continue searching. He will would note any aura he saw around anyone here and any object close by. 

Once this display and task was done, Falhorn takes a seat and waits to speak until spoken to. He will let the spells end of their own accord. All the while, he secretly enjoyed every minute of anyone squirming in discomfort with him.

The room is clean of magic, as is the first floor and outside.

((Lailah: where is the tome?))

James continues to smile as Cobalt talks about keeping his mouth shut, seeming not to react to the silent pause.

James nods as Cobalt continues,

"Interesting, a blacksmith and an informed source on dragons. I will be very interested to know what we will be required to do now, given that revelation."

James seems to be considering the new information thoughtfully, when Arabella enters the room.

James smiles broadly as Arabella introduces herself to Lailah,

"Nice to see you again Arabella. It seems fate has been playing with us."

James motions for Arabella to take a seat and join the group.

As Falhorn enters the room and gives his practiced bow, James smirks, his smile broadening, but his eyes stay keen upon the newcomer.

James watches Falhorn check the room and its occupants over, making no comment, but assessing him none the less

As Falhorn takes a seat, James looks to Lailah, 

"So, just the dwarf remaining then? Does he know to come here, or should we head back outside to find him?"

James looks around the table,

"Well, maybe not all of us at once, and together. We are a group to draw attention, and perhaps we should construct a cover story as to why we are all together, to divert attention."

Thuldor looks about, having seen many different things walking to and from the ocean side while waiting under this tree. No one noticeable though. 

He looks up, sun has gone down a little, he'll walk back to the docks. Maybe there would be a better place to wait. 

Once there, he walks to a pier with no ships. Preferably one in the shadow of a larger ship's sails a few docks down, but he won't spend too much time looking. He'll then pull out his Fishing Tackle and throw a line in the water. He's not really intending to catch anything, so much as keep his attention light, while remaining noticeable. He doesn't want to miss anything.  

Survival: 11

Falhorn perks up. "A dwarf you say? Could anyone describe him in anyway? If so I can have him here in a few minutes if not sooner."  he says

Lailah finishes her fish as the two in her company carry on their conversation, setting down her utensils as Arabella entered the private room. She wiped her mouth and raised her hand to greet the halfing, and then Falhorn swept in with a grandiose motion. The Aasimar's eyes narrowed at the spy's display. Rather than being intimidated, she seemed a bit annoyed. Falhorn would sense a magical presence emanating from Lailah's side, an aura of divine magic filtering from some item within her satchel "It would appear that we will have to go in search of our dwarven friend...Thuldor, is his name, by the by." She thought for a moment, her fingers tapping on the table "Maybe not we...James and Falhorn, from what I know about your skills, you two would be the most adept at finding someone."

She had the growing suspicion that she was the one with the most information on their task in their group, which would make her the defacto leader. Which made her slightly uncomfortable. She wasn't one for leading, she had worked alone for years after leaving her father's side. She was deep in thought, paying no mind to the silence or words of those around her, debating whether or not to go forward with filling them all in without the dwarf in attendance. After five minutes she decided it was best for them all to be here "Yes, definitely need to find him. Falhorn? Would you mind going in search of him? I know you just arrived, but the quicker we come together the sooner we can begin in earnest. I have to admit I don't know what he looks like, but a dwarven blacksmith might stand out a bit here. Try the guild?"

"As for a cover story, deception isn't my strong suite. I don't think anything I could come up with would be 'convincing' by any stretch of the imagination. Someone who's better at subterfuge should handle that." She looked to Midnight for a moment and then moved her eyes to the others, waiting for suggestions.

((The tome is in the satchel at her waist. Edit: I didn't see Revel had posted! Added a little bit more dialogue))

Arabella cocks her head and gives James a confused look. "Cover story?" she asks. "Why should people care if we are together? If we are a pack, we are a pack."

She moves over to the table and takes a seat, her legs dangling awkwardly about a foot from the floor. Curse this city and whoever designed it for over-tall humans. Still, there is little she can do about that at the moment. She pulls out her pipe, packs it with tobacco, lights it, and begins to smoke. The whole day has made her irritable. She supposes she will have to find a den now, too. She has coins, but she is reluctant to spend them frivolously. Who knows how long they will have to last.

"Why must we wait on this dwarf?" Arabella asks Lailah. "I am eager to finish this task and return home. I have already been away far too long."

Cobalt coolly watches the others arrive, putting together their identities from their words and appearance.  The short woman would be the witch, presumably.  Falhorn was the spy.  The dwarf, presumably, was, well, the dwarf.

If he thought James was laying it on thick, Falhorn was intolerable.  He recognizes the faint aura around the man's eyes as a detect magic spell - having recently had to deal with a similar inspection not too long ago.  It was an understandable precaution, but still rankled him nonetheless.  Cobalt's whole body gives off a mixture of several magics, including enchantment and transmutation.  Also in his possession is a magic tome, glowing from within his backpack.

"Lailah is right.  Most  of us should stay here, and we can trade more information when the last person gets here."

Thuldor looks about, feeling the cool sea breeze in the shade of a ship. As he looks about, a tall, black haired, middle aged male human with a sharp, shaven jaw and business vest approaches Thuldor. In a hand, he holds a roll of hemp, slowly burning. The man looks out over the sea, waiting a moment for Thuldor to notice him stopping there. "It's a lucky day." Just as he says so, the line tugs heavily. Thuldor grips it, just in time before the tug becomes a struggle. The man leans over the edge, looking into the water. "That's a large tuna!" Thuldor tugs on it a few times, taking to his feet. With a sudden, powerful pull from the fish, Thuldor slacks a little before pulling, but the fish fights even harder and the line snaps.

"That one won't go without a good fight." He leans back and draws from the roll of hemp, taking a deep breath. He holds it out to Thuldor, silently offering it. He has no escort or weapons, but his suit is sharp, well pressed- impeccable. The aroma from the hemp smells rich and soft. "To persistence."

Falhorn chuckles, " Seeing as we are all trades people and some of us already know each other, why don't we call this what it is. A business meeting between trade guild friends. A social mixer by invite only."
He offers an open hand. Then brings the hand up to the right corner of his mouth in a wiping motion indicating some fish flakes had stubbornly held on her mouth. Then turns around and audibly holds in a laugh. "I guess you all should just get to know each other more to solidify that while Thuldor if found. Well O'l Thuldor the blacksmith dwarf could be in 1 of 3 places." He holds up and outstretched hand and holds up fingers as he counts off
"The Blacksmith guild, an inn with a bar, or waiting for someone to contact him around the same spot he arrived in. An open public place with moderate travel. Seeing as we are currently in the inn," he giggles "that is ruled out, and I'm sure his guild business is most likely over by now. I'm sure the last of the three options is most likely."
He realizes he had rambled a bit. He notices he had relaxed and then remembered he had to find Thuldor. "Still wanna come with James?" He says invitingly "We can take the time to get to know each other too. It's important if we are going to trust each other and support each other." Falhorn  had known a few Dwarves an knew the older ones had lived a while and could take their time.

Thuldor gratefully accepts the proposal with a quick shake of his head downward and an upward gesture of his hand towards the smoke and takes a puff. Passing it back, he thanks him and enjoys the cool weather. 

"Persistence" 

oops

With or without James, Falhorn heads out in search of Thuldor, heading toward the marketplace once again, now looking in likely places to make oneself found.

In Thuldor's company, the wealthy man contentedly draws another breath. After a few moments looking out to the ocean, despite standing straight, he seems at ease, again offering the hemp. It's flavor brings greater calm, the movement of ships and people distant in the moment, even as Thuldor watches for Lailah. "You know what makes a person highly valuable?" He puts one hand into a pocket, turning his head in Thuldor's direction, speaking as if his audience's attention were incidental.

"Most would say it's being number one. They think if they don't even try, they're worthless. Their eyes go dead. The good ones hardly notice if they are the best, because they're too busy trying to be the most they can be. So- who's most worthwhile? They're the ones who make the world the most it can be." He offers the hemp again.

"I don't get to say my thoughts on it most of the time. My business looks to the worth of people and how much they think they're worth. It's less impersonal than it sounds. My best customers are the ones who think they're worth more than they really are." He looks to Thuldor. "Now, I'm not a slaver. My trade focuses on pleasures. Slaves are inferior workers in the business." He then looks away as if his attention were being called elsewhere, but continues.

"Good to have someone let me bend an ear a little. Someone's looking for you? I don't know him." He points to the road. "Come by Banquo's in the Golden District sometime when you're thirsty. My luck has a way of rubbing off more on the well dressed. Bring a friend." With that, he turns the way he came, leaving the hemp to Thuldor.

Falhorn spots the dwarf at the dock. While assessing the likelihood of this being Thuldor, the man next to him in the suit turns. Locking eyes, the man grins, and then points to Falhorn. Thuldor doesn't recognize you. The man walks away to the east.

Thuldor smoked and spoke with a businessman,

 As the man walks out of sight, Thuldor speaks in affirmation to the Sky. 

“Worth.”

Unfortunately, Thuldor was too distracted by inner thoughts to notice the man point to Falhorn, or maybe he just didn't see him. Either way, he was in a state of bewilderment at himself. He was acting strange. He'd nearly landed that Tuna, maybe that's what's got him off. 

He sees a half elf looking at him, but waves them off staring into the water.

“Fish.”

James smiles and nods agreement with Lailah, and stands to go with Falhorn.

At Arabella's question, James responds,

"Lailah has informed us..."

James indicates Cobalt,

"...that we have opposition that is attempting to track us down and stop us."

"If they come here and start asking question of the locals, we want our group to blend in and not stick out, in their memories."

"If we keep our business a secret, people will remember the eclectic group of individuals who were hush hush about their business."

"On the other hand, if we give a reasonable explanation for our gathering, people will not think it strange and we are less likely to stand out in their memories."

At Falhorn suggestion of a cover story, James frowns.

"I'm not sure that would work, why do you believe we are all trades people?"

"I'm am an adventurer, a scout, by trade."

James smiles and winks at that comment.

"And if Lailah isn't a warrior of some kind, I would be very surprised. Sorry Lailah, but your size, posture and the way you handle yourself screams trained fighter, perhaps a mercenary?"

"And Arrabella, my guess is you don't create goods for trade as your primary activities?"

"My idea would be that we are planning an expedition, an adventure."

"Those of us who are trained craftsmen, have hired the rest of us, to get you to an old ruin that you believe has a magic item that will greatly enhance your capabilities."

"Adventurers are a dime a dozen, always boasting of their plans, but few succeeded or even return from their adventures."

"Most people wilfully forget adventurers, knowing they are unlikely to ever see them again."

James joins Falforn as he heads out to go find Thuldor.

James nods as Falhorn spots the dwarf and the two of them approach him.

"Hello good dwarf, you wouldn't by chance be Thuldor would you?"

Thuldor nods in confirmation at the two. 

Arabella snorts in answer to James' question. After he and Falhorn leave, she looks at Lailah and Cobalt. She takes a long drag on her pipe and blows out a large smoke ring.

"The two of you really stand out, don't you?" she asks. "I'm going to have to teach you about not attracting attention, aren't I?"

James smiles,

"We are with Lailah. We where sent out to find you. The rest of the group has already gathered at the inn over there."

James points back towards the inn on the far side of the market.

"Shell we go? My name is James by the way, James Fathomear and this is Falhorn."

James gives a short bow and then indicates Falhorn, before starting to head back the way they came.

Cobalt shrugs.

"You've never seen a gearforged and tall woman before?"

He shoots Lailah the best semblance of a bewildered glance as he folds his hands on the table.  He leans forward to get a better look at the 'witch'.  He didn't have an issue with her yet, but it sounded like she was looking for one.

"You may be more inclined to like the handsome men, but they have shown they have loose lips.  We may be conspicious, but we watch our words."