Eryn's attention having been caught by the nearby sounds, he uses his elfvish darkvision to check that there is no danger associated with the sounds. [Perception check: 9 ]

Although his appearance is openly calm, he does seem to be the anxious type.

[LOL. One extreme to the other.]

(LOL pfft)

Eryn can't tell what, exactly, is making the noise. He's not sure if it's dangerous, but some instinct in the back of his mind whines that it could be.

In one fluid movement, Eryn draws an arrow and nocks it to his bow that he had left strung, just in case. [Please tell me if this is not okay.]

He then steps quickly to one side so that none of the nearby people are in line of sight of the sounds he heard previously.

"Beware," he says in a harsh whisper to the others. "There could be danger."

[OOC: As he is in a city and doesn't know what danger he might be up against, he will then elect to use the Dodge Action, but will be ready to shoot next Round if combat ensues.]

(If anyone else would like to make a perception check, go ahead)

The sudden drawing of a weapon has Menodora taking a couple steps in the opposite direction -- clearly to move out of the line of fire for any potential, unseen danger. Her eyes trek in the direction of Eryn's attention.

[Perception Check: 13 ]

Menodora spots an older gnome fellow, someone she knows as Auby Shudderstone, whose open-air machinest's workstation she has often passed on her way to the Upper City in the few days she's been here. She knows him as a harmless, ornery old gnome, who has often grumbled and complained about the partying, and who often eyes her lute with suspicion when she treks forth past his shop. Currently, he's wielding a pair of tongs in a very frightened, defensive manner and peering at the group, and the arrow pointed at him, over a workbench with narrowed eyes. 

He followed the others for a few blocks, trusting in their, what he deemed, rather questionable navigation skills. Along the way he introduced himself to the rest of the group as Arthasis Loranas from Port Damali. "Well, you have a keen eye, my friend.", he responded to Eryn's question with the slightest hint of reluctancy. "I am to examine a few products being produced here on behalf of the trading guild I work for. I travel alone, hence my rather martial attire. One needs to protect himself in these tumultuous times."

A few minutes later the situation escalted quickly as the pale elf suddenly drew his bow. Oblivious of what might have happened around him, he began to look for potential dangers. Did he stumble into a trap like an idiot or was there something else going on. Perception 2

[OOC: I am going to be unavailable for a couple of hours. If there is any sign of danger, Eryn will definitely shoot first and asks questions later and the DM can roll for my to-hit and damage, if he wants to keep the action moving along. Here's an Initiative roll just in case: 22 ]

Keaton is jarred by the sudden display of force.  He must have missed something.  Everything seemed peaceful.

Perception: 21

(Dice roller hates us.  Got it :P ) 

"What is it?  What's happening?"

"I heard something over there," replies Eryn earnestly, gesturing with his nocked bow in the direction the sounds came from.

"But I can't see anything," adds Eryn.

[OOC: I'm about to go to sleep for the night. DM, previous directions still hold if you want to proceed.]

(OOC: Sorry which place are we heading to?  It seems like we're going to the Lodge but I wasn't sure.)

Aeros, who had been following along with the others as they headed towards their destination, munched on some preserved jerky he'd bought earlier in the day contentedly listening to the others conversation.  He became quickly alert though when he saw the elf draw his bow at some unknown target in the distance.

Perception: 14

Seeing the frightened gnome up ahead, Aeros steps cautiously towards Eryn. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there friend, there's no need to draw your weapon so quickly.  I think it's just a frightened gnome in the distance."  Are all people in the Empire like this?  I'll have to be more cautious in the future... he quickly thinks to himself as he hopes the elf will lower his bow.  

I(think we're going to the  Lodge, Keaton is just bringing up the Tavern because of who he is as a person more in depth response probably in the morning. Move on as you will and I will respond. I'm still working out Keaton's personality, so bear with me as I find his voice)

[OOC: Where we are going hasn't been decided, and we actually haven't moved away from the spot where we bumped into each other, as far as I can read. I believe Menodora was on her way up to the festivities going on above. Eryn and Arthasis have asked if they could follow and are hoping to get to the Blushing Tankard, a higher quality establishment than the Sootswallow Lodge. Then Eryn failed a Perception check badly and went all defensive.]

"A gnome?" says Eryn with surprise. He then lowers his bow slightly and calls out, "Show yourself, small one."

 [OOC: The weird thing about this of course is that Eryn is the one with the Keen Senses and Darkvision. He must have a blindspot for gnomes ;-)]

(ooc: That's right; y'all haven't actually moved much. The old gnome is not far down the street. Y'all seem to be debating the merits of the Lodge vs. the Blushing Tankard.)

"Hey! Who you callin' small, eh?" yells a voice from the darkness, followed by a very loud clanging as a gnome in a thick leather apron appears just in front of an open-air machinist's shop not far from the party's current location. "Here I am, mindin' me own business, closin' up me shop, when all a'sudden yer pointin' arrows at folk!" he accuses, pointing a gnarled, callused finger at Eryn, a fierce scowl on his face. "Ought to report ye to Watchmaster Gulchswattle, so I ought," he grouses, crossing his arms over his chest in a deeply surely manner. 

[OOC: You said the gnome was both far down the street and not far from the party's location above. I am going to assume that when the gnome appeared he just used a mundane method of movement to move into Eryn's view, otherwise the poor guy is going to freak out even more. 8-) ]

On seeing the gnome, Eryn immediately releases the tension on his bow and points the arrow at the ground.

However, he is still a little suspicious; he is very dependent on his senses and to his mind anyone who can keep themselves hidden from them is someone to be wary of.

"There is no need for the watch," he replies to the gnome without any concession of guilt in the tone of his voice. "It has just been a long day and you took me by surprise."

(ooc: Sorry, that was a typo on my account. I meant he is not far down the street.)

Menodora lets out a breath of relief at the sight of Auby. If one could be at all relieved to see a gnome who had generally seemed rather displeased with her overall existence in his part of the world. It was still a far better sight than whatever it might have been Eryn thought the danger to be.

 "I'm sure that won't be necessary," she offers, raising a brow at the gnome, raising her hands as though to offer that they were generally harmless. Brief drawn arrow aside. 

"We're just merely passing through, Auby.  And I'm certain my acquaintance meant no ill will -- he's merely as new to this place as myself. I'm sure you understand a bit of what it is to be uncomfortable around those you aren't familiar with."

She shrugs, "I mean, unless, or course, you'd prefer to take up all the time it would take to summon the watch, and then talk about this entire situation which was a mere misunderstanding. I would hate to keep you even longer, after what I presume has been another long day of work. We could just let this incident go, and carry on about our business. And you yours."

(Persuasion: 22 )

(OOC: welp, joined the bad roll party LOL  Also, Menodora was definitely headed to the festivities. But she's intrigued enough with this interesting motley crew, that anything is possible at this point...) 

The gnome narrows his eyes at both Eryn and Menodora, his scowl growing fiercer. "Don't tell me what I understand," he points an imperious finger at Menodora this time. "Lot 'o ye tall folk wanderin' about, disturbin' us as who are just tryin' to make an honest living," he rants, waving his tongs in the air. "I didn't take no one anywhere! Just closin' up me shop, nothin' surprising about it!" He has an obstinate set to his shoulders, but no real hostility that any of you can see. "The lot 'o ye ought take a page from me book and find honest work," he grumbles with a derisive look at Menodora's lute. "More reason for me to call the Watchmaster," he adds, though he doesn't seem too committed to the idea - more to just being ornery. You get the feeling you could probably just go on your way - Auby certainly doesn't seem inclined to offer any further insight into the city, given the arrow that's been pointed at him.

Insight check: 18 (I'm going to take that roll as good enough to have a general sense on Auby.  Let me know if that is not the case)

Taking a quick gauge of the gnome, Aeros got the sense that all he wanted was to be left alone rather than have a prolonged conversation with a group of random strangers, especially ones who point arrows at him out of nowhere.  "No reason for that as we're just about to leave."  He replies to Auby before turning towards Eryn and quietly whispering "And you should probably apologize as well (even if you don't truly mean it).  Having the City Watch chasing us is certainly not how I saw my evening going." And if the city watch starts asking him questions about where he's from and why he's in Hupperdook, he begins to thinks to himself...well...this night would get messy very quickly.