T'chal'fronack'zcinicker pulls out a piece of paper, reading it carefully, then tucks it back away. He looks around the room suspiciously, seemingly have come out of a reverie. He shakes his head and then gets up and start wandering around the place. 

He sits down at the bar, glancing around, he adopts a drawl style of talking, "So, who can tell me about the trouble over at them there quarry? I heard there have been some strange sightings about there...and...other weird stuff going on? We took care of those bandits quick enough, maybe we can solve a few more problems round here."

Taking that as permission, Reghys grabs a stool, sets it down in the middle of the room, and starts blowing a haunting tune. Then, with a low, rumbling voice, Reghys starts the verse, slowly picking up steam and emotion, as they go on with the song.

"Bury all your secrets in my skin
Come away with innocence and leave me with my sins
The air around me still feels like a cage
And love is just a camouflage for what resembles rage again

 Finishing the song with a rapid-fire solo blown on their pan flute, Reghys slowly pulls the flute away from their lips, blinking some tears out of existence. Then, slowly and deliberately, Reghys lifts their head, looking straight at the oh so tormented tiefling with the same bright smile that he'd had all day. Hopping down from the stool and pushing it back to the bar, Reghys makes his way over to the table, and cheerily asks T: "Hope that hit the spot. I'd love to learn those other songs though, if you have the time and inclination. Always happy to expand my repertoire." Reghys gladly takes a sip from the second mug of mulled cider, thirtsty after that performance.

a group of workers sit at a table next to you,   then you notice a large individual wearing what appears to be a knit cap, and leather breaches enter and is waved over

"not working tonight?

"Naw Mal gave me the night off so i can be round when that delegation comes through

one hearing T'chal turns towards him

"we'll none of us will go there after dark, always feel like being watched, freaky like, just out of the corner of your eye or at the edge of light,  figures in stone masks..

"you still spreading that nonsense, Ted  no one will bother you s'long as me an Velma are with ye"   the large figure pats the long club at his side

"well the young'uns wont go berry picking in the hills neither, not the small game hunters,  somethings up I say 

Despite himself, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker is pulled in by Regyys performance. As he approaches after, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker gives him a begrudging nod, "Well played. Usually there's a lot of drum, and several chanters doing a throat chant. Interesting take on it with the flute....well done."   He points his thumb back to the bar, "Did you hear those folk? They mentioned stone masks at the quarry at night."  He looks meaningfully out at the darkness. "Stone masks. The bandits. Quarry. Night.  I mean, we should probably go check it out. Now that we're a valiant group of adventurers, even without a contract with anyone we should probably check it out. Though..." he looks at his red swollen hands, "...after pushing that cart around all day I can barely feel my legs....still though...no time better than the present, am I right?" 

He holds up a contract, "I have a contract with the stable keeper regarding the safety of our wagon and unsold goods, so we don't need to worry about that tonight at least." 

The bard happily takes the praise, but does note the traditional way the song is played- might give the drum a whirl.

Reghys can't help but give T another smile: "Did I hear that right? You're willing to be swept up in the moment? Without any contracts or previously made plans? If you hadn't just proposed to go and potentially hunt shadowy dangers, I would be willing to pay another round.!" Then looking at the others around them, they ask: "So how about it? I'm all for adventure, but if it's just T and I, we're probably not going to ever come together and share a meal like this again..."

Kerric:

"That definitely sounds worthy of investigation, especially with the mention of the stone masks, but we should see what the proprietress of this fine establishment would like first," suggests Kerric.  "Speaking of these 'Stone Masks', does anyone know anything about a group which so adorns themselves?" he asks.

Kerric is met by a bunch of shrugs and downward glances

Ebele would simply lean back in her chair and put her feet up on the now empty chair next to her. She’d listen intently through the satyr’s performance, feet bobbing along to the beat.

As a group piled into the seats at the table next to them, the monk would tilt her head to listen with open ears.

”I heard berry picking too.” She’d add, it being an important detail her companions forgot.

After speaking with T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, regarding his wanting a dagger and first look at any and all arcane objects Xalkas tags along just behind Kerric on the way to the Swinging Sword. He enjoys the craftsmanship of the sign and noticing the stables “That would be a good place to keep our wagon safe tonight”

He overhears Kaylessa’s conversation with Reghys and once it is complete steps up “I am part of that group. May I have a key for one of the rooms please?” After being given a key, Xalkas heads over (or up if that’s more appropriate, I don’t see any mention of what story the rooms are on) and sets his belongings in the room and heads back down to join the others in the large dining room with his staff and book in hand.

“Thank you miss” Xalkas says to the serving girl dropping of the drinks. Xalkas grabs one and before he realizes it, he’s consumed over half of it already. Nodding in agreement with Kerric’s words “Yes, we shall be here when she is ready to speak with us.”

“Excuse me miss! This chair is occupied!” Xalkas would say rather forcefully as Ebele nearly sits on him. Then politely directs her to the empty seat next to himself. Xalkas applauds loudly at the conclusion of the performance. With cries of “Bravo!” “Magnificent” and “Encore” are heard from the diminutive gnome. After the performance, Xalkas turns his attention to his book and pays little attention to the nearby conversations, focusing all of his … energy … on recovering his magical energy.

Kerric:

Swaying slowly in time with the music, Kerric is well-pleased with Reghys' power ballad, joining the chorus of accolades at its conclusion.  Finishing his dinner and drinking some rather good ale--one of the few things non-elves brewed passingly well--the soldier made conversation with the others at his table.  As Xalkas agreed with him about waiting for the proprietress, he starts to ask the Gnome a question, then notices the spellcaster's long nose is deeply buried in a book.  Instead, he says to Ebele, "You did well today, and your ruse got us close enough to catch the bandits unaware.  You seem to be quite aware of your surroundings even given what appears to be lack of sight.  Tell me, if you will, how you accomplish such remarkable perception."

Earlier :

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks to Xalkas while on the street. He gives him an exaggerated wink in response to mystic items.  He hands over a requested dagger, noting it on a sheet. "The cost for the dagger will be calculated based on what we're able to sell them for and taken away from your share of the rest of the treasure. That essentially gets you wholesale price which is a pretty sweet deal."

"If you need coin, let me know and I'll distribute you some early, otherwise I prefer to wait until all the sales of other gear are done before handing out coin, it makes bookkeeping easier."  He smiles sweetly. 

---------------------

To Reghys, "What can I say, your spontaneous mood must be catchy." He doesn't sound convincing but there doesn't seem to be any other outward reason for his uncharacteristic rashness. 

"By they way, speaking of contracts, I've written up a rather short and boring contract that just lays out the terms of our spoken agreement. As previously mentioned, the reason to write it down is the same reason there are books. Because people forget things, and worse, their memories change over time until no one can agree what the color of the dress was on that cute farm girl that left five minutes ago. It was blue by the way."  (Everyone seems quite certain it was green....but arguing about it would just play into T'chal'fronack'zcinicker hands, and you're all each to clever to do that.)  "So, anyway, I've written down our agreement regarding my rather paltry 1% for logistics, even split of treasure with a......ugh...democratic....method for splitting up unique items in a temporary fashion, with the party retaining overall ownership.  Seems all quite above board and as I mentioned...boring.  However, what is NOT boring, is that if we seek to spend some time together in this region, we need a name. So that the locals don't just refer to us as 'those folks that hang out with Kerric.' Any suggestions for us to write into the contract?"

Xalkas is too busy with his book to take notice of the tieflings talk about contracts. (And will be until the dm says I’ve done it for an hour)

Overhearing the mention of stone masks for a second time, Reghys is wracking their brains to figure out whether they remember mention of any tales or myths about such an order or group:

History: 23

Then, smiling at the received praise, they turn to T: "Nooo, you had such a good run being spontaneuous, and just when I thought you had freed yourself of the shackles of humdrum procedure, there you go again. Promise me, if we agree on a name for our group here tonight, you will seize with this talk of contracts for the rest of the night?"

Taking a swig of ale, the satyr theatrically places their head on their hand, affecting a person deep in thought: "I have it! How about the Fantastic Five?"

Reghys recalls fragments of old tunes  something about the earth and a cult

Finally after about an hour Kaylessa Irkell the owner of the Sword approaches,  First she goes to the big individual with the knit cap  "Glad to see you have a night off Jayne, just take it easy eh"

then to your table,   May i sit?  without waiting for an answer she pulls a chair and sits with you all

"nice work with the bandits, Harburk even said you managed to bring some back alive,  two of course are idiots and say then were just hired for the job. the third is being tight lipped but we'll see.  have you had a chance to look around the town at all, im sure you have heard at least some of the rumors and gossip

Kerric:

”Among my people, I am known for my silver blade,” says Kerric, “so perhaps a group name related to silver would be appropriate if the rest of you wouldn’t mind sporting a silver item of some kind.”

...and once the owner arrives...

Nodding solemnly at Kaylessa, Kerric says, “I have heard a few disturbing rumors, but perhaps my companions have heard more,” he finishes looking to those who have talked up some of the locals.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker holds his hand out to the Satyr. "I will agree to such an accord if we shake on it." 

---------------

When Kaylessa sits he looks to her, "My name is T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, this here is Reghys, and Kerric, and Xalkas. Ebele seems to have wandered off somewhere. We're not sure if she's blind, but she covers her eyes with cloth, so either way the result is the same. A lot of bruising on her shins. We appreciate your kind offer of rooms for the night for the party. It seems you and the constable share some responsibility in managing the town? Regardless, yes, we have heard rumors of strange events, something watching from the shadows, something about masks, but not much else to be honest. Everything is all very vague and mysterious." 

a Pleasure Mater T is it? and the rest, and do you mean the lady sitting next to you?  She bows her head  "a pleasure Sister, yes i am part of the council, and yes strange things have been happening, but with the delegation supposed to pass through no one has had time to investigate.   but if they ask my opinion which of course they dont.  she huffs  i believe it centers around Lance Rock

Kerric:

”Now that you mention it, I think the bandits said something about a ‘delegation’ too,” says Kerric, adding, “What is this delegation that will be visiting?  And what does this ‘Lance Rock’ location have to do with these dark rumors?”

"T'chal'fronack'zcinicker if you don't mind ma'am. T...chal....fron...ack....shin...ick...er.  It's not that difficult.  T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.  It has less syllables than indecipherability." 

"Many weird things have been rumored to happen there thats all, i think thats where all this stuff might be coming from.  as for the Delegation, We've gotten advance word as is per custom, that a delegation from Miribar is going to be passing through in the next few days on their way for business down south

She then motions Kaylee for another round