As the group enters, Kazri patiently waits outside. Perhaps the Speaker was busy making sure everyone is taken care of, and she did not hear Kazri. She waits until Nimsy answers Krom's question. "Humm... My deepest apology Speaker Huddle. May I bring our Owlbear into your home? I am responsible for him, and I can guarantee that he will behave."

(If Kazri is allowed entrance.) Kazri enters the house with Oli. "Nice to meet you ma'am. Name's is Kazri, and this litt... Well, my friend here is called Oli." Kazri checks out a cookie that everyone seems to be raving about. She eats half then crouches down, and gives the other half to Oli.

"A moose eh, and white?   I'm pretty sure that shouldn't be too much of a problem to find.  Kazri here has been dying to find a beast to talk to.   I'm sure this is something we can take care of." 

Chill answers confidently. 

So long as the cookie train keeps rolling, so too would the little blue psuedodragon would happily play just about anything the kids had in mind! Rhogar watches for however long the kids are in sight, smirking in amusement up until the Speaker's comment. At that point he'd turn her look with such a look of concern, that even an absent-minded bite at the cookie he'd currently had in hand did little to raise the Dragonborn's spirit.

"A white moose is the problem? Hm... Both Concerning and very, very interesting." He looks to the party. "Perhaps it is tied as well to our renegade druid? And if so, perhaps will finally be able to close the book on that one, if it should be able to provide clues." He expressed.

Nimsy looks back to Kazri.  "I, uh, well thought you were not serious.  An owlbear?  A real owlbear that is tame?  Are you sure?"

Seeing that Kazri is serious she looks at the ball of fur.  

"Ah well, if you are sure its safe then ok."

The small owlbear is allowed inside out of the cold and is soon joining the fun with Gorrah and the halfling children.

Turning back to the subject at hand

"Hunters have been dispatched to kill the moose, but it has eluded them so far. From what the hunters have seen, their prey is smarter than the average moose, and its white hide makes it hard to spot in the snow.  If you can help we would be most appreciative.  I can pay you 100 gold for the moose’s head."

Krom nods to Rhogar "Yes, it may be possible that this white moose is another creature linked to that renegade druid." He turns towards the Speaker "We will do our best to find and deal with this moose. It may be useful to know where your hunters have spotted the creature in the forest. We may be able to gather information and pick up its tracks."

The dwarf eats another cookie before saying to the rest of the group "We still have several hours of daylight left, we should start exploring the forest."

Before leaving the house, Krom asks to the Speaker "We will need a place to stay for tonight, could you please point us towards the nearest Inn?"

"I thank you Speaker Huddle, for allowing Olie to enter your home." After Kazri and Oli eats the cookies. "The cookies are indeed very good, and Oli enjoyed it very much as well." She crouches down, and speaks with the owlbear. "Perhaps you would like to go and play with Gorrah. Of you go, but please do be careful not to hurt anyone."

Kazri stands back up and addresses the Speaker. "Madam Speaker. You mentioned that this white moose is terrorizing the loggers of your town. Could you be more specific regarding what it is doing with the town's folks?"

Rhogar just about nods in agreement to Krom. Yet just as he's turning to focus his thoughts on recalling Gorrah, Kazri's question gives him both pause and cause to look curiously in the Speaker's direction. "My compatriot here raises a good question. It would behoove us to know this, so that when we find the beast, and we will, rest assured; but, when we do, going in with the right mindset will be key. Also, if we could perhaps speak to one of these hunters, or really any woodsman that knows it well, that would be appreciated. Their knowledge may not help in seeking the beast out per say, but may be invaluable all the same."

Rekuberk moves to watch over the owl bear cub incase Oli gets a little to rambunctious. He stays quiet but tries to look normal even as he makes sure to sneak a few cookies for himself.

Nimsy answers Krom, "The only inn in town was the Ramshackle but it has been closed a couple of years now.   Its last owner, a retired sawyer named DeGrootz, hanged himself in the common room two years ago. Some locals believe that DeGrootz’s hanging was staged to conceal his murder at the hands of some old “friends” of his. Townsfolk are currently using the vacant building for lumber storage, but if you are interested in refurbishing and reopening the old inn you are welcome to try.  I do have a spacious, heated attic that can accommodate you if you are looking for a night’s rest.  People around here value their privacy and are much less inclined to welcome strangers into their meager dwellings."

Answering Kazri and Rhogar "The white moose is attacking loggers in the forest.  The town’s logging industry is essential to the growth and survival of Ten-Towns so the moose must be stopped.  As for speaking to a hunter or woodsman they are all out in the Lonelywood Forest.  They are either logging, guarding the workers, or hunting the moose. You will be able to find several at the tavern The Lucky Liar later this evening if you wish to wait.  Only about 100 souls live in Lonleywood so people are hard at work.  Just be warned; Most folk in Lonelywood came here trying to forget about something . . . or trying to be forgotten. Folks here mind their own business, and they expect you to do the same. Surest way to find trouble is to start asking questions.”

"We'll find this moose ma'am, I assure you of that.  I'm an expert tracker, this will not be a problem."

Turning to the others.  "I suggest we start right now.  We will lose a whole day if we wait till this evening to speak to the loggers or hunters.   Maybe we'll find some out in the woods".

"Thank you for your hospitality Speaker, if for you it's not a problem, I think that taking a night's rest in your heated attic will be welcomed by all of us." replies Krom "If you all agree of course" says to the others.

"I agree with Chill, we should start our hunt right now, we can question the loggers and hunters later if necessary."

“Agreed, we should start as soon as we are able. Perhaps Oli may aid us in tracking this beast.” Says Kazri as she grabs another cookie. “Thank you ma’am. The cookies are delicious indeed.”

(OOC: Are owlbears proficient in Survival? :-)

Rhogar grimaced at the news from Nimsy. Yet following the reassurances of the other, the Dragonborn at least faintly smiled, and made ready to get up and leave. "If nothing else, Kazri, it would be good training for him." He would say to her, then look back to Nimsy. "Again, thank you for the hospitality. May we return swiftly with good news, mn?" Rhogar smiled toothless at that, before with a thought, Gorrah relunctantly comes fluttering back into the room to crawl into his hood.

"I will be here with a warm hearth and freshly baked cookies if you return this evening, the attic will be warm and ready for you to rest.  Thank you and good luck on the hunt." Nimsy replies, her face hopeful at the confidence Chill exudes in his ability to handle the task at hand.

You head outside and into the Lonelywood Forest in search of the moose.  Kazri ponders if perhaps Oli has the skills needed.  He has been eating well the last few days and is growing quickly.  He isn't as small as he was and is nearly a young owlbear.  But she ultimately guesses the the cub doesn't have the skills as he was so young when taken from his nest and likely never learned the skill as its parents would have taken care of its needs.  And how would she communicate the plan to hunt a moose to the creature that she couldn't communicate with.  The owlbear had clearly bonded with her and followed her easily enough, its curiosity and young age making it friendly and playful.  But direct communication had so far eluded the two of them.

Fortunately for Rhogar his concern over not being able to speak to one of the hunters or loggers was quickly dispelled as they traveled into the forest.  Even those of you with the least amount of woodcraft could see a well worn path into the woods has been made and signs of logging and wood cutting grow more as you move deeper into the woods.  After about an hour of following the path the sound wood cutting could be heard and they soon came across a group of woodcutters, 4 men and 2 women, as well as a man with a both watching over them.

They pause in their work as the group of strangers all wearing matching white cloaks and accompanied by an owlbear approached.  They eye you curiously.  You can tell these are hard people, living hard lives, wary of strangers.  But none draw a weapon or challenge you in anyway.

Krom waves at the woodcutters "Greetings" he pauses a moment before continuing trying to be as much persuasive as possible"Sorry to bother you, we heard that a white moose is causing some problems in this forest. Have you seen it recently?"

(OOC if required Persuasion 19 )

As Krom has stepped forward and already engaged the woodcutters Chill watches them as the conversation unfolds.  He doubts it will be so easy as to find the moose this early in the hunt but he sees how they react Krom's question. 

Insight 11

The woodcutters, for their part, get back to work though they continue to watch you as they do.  The hunter who was watching over them pulls his hood down as he approaches.  You see him to be a tiefling with pale blue skin, silver hair and short horns.  

"We haven't, no attacks for a couple of days now.  Its been eerily quiet to be honest.  Most of the loggers stay closer to town now so you won't find many if any further out.  Everyone is on edge.  Did the speaker send you out?  She hire some adventurers to help us? I could use the 100 gold pieces she's offering as a bounty myself but I'll be honest in saying I'd like to see the thing killed by whoever.  I've tried tracking the moose a couple times myself but no luck.  Seems to me this one is more intelligent than most."

Chill

"Maybe the lack of recent attacks means another is coming sooner than later.   Who knows? Best to remain vigilante.   Fear not though, the White Cloaks are on the job now.  We'll get this cleared up in no time so you folks can get back to some normalcy."

Chill responds with a grin. 

Without saying a word, Kazri tries to keep her distance from the workers, respecting their desire for privacy. She makes sure that Oli is by her side at all time, and she looks around for any moose tracks.

Kazri Survival: 18

Beyond the sea or other great bodies of water, neither Rhogar or Gorrah had much insight to offer or inquiry to make that wouldn't doubtlessly be answered in due time. So, with arms crossed, Rhogar quietly observed from just behind the group as a whole.Though the longer he looked at the tiefling, the more often he seemed intent on trying to study their figure.