Saros didn't think it was possible, but Gnator is now trembling even more than before. He replies: "Thirty... gold... pieces." Saros knows that this is no meager amount of gold for a simple villager or laborer, which also explains the allure and popularity of the fighting ring bets. Gregor and his lackeys continue to confront the local gnome, and it looks like they may act at any second now.

Khan observes the bullying session from a few yards away, she looks lost in thought for a few seconds but is then interrupted by Ghee, who raises her arm in some sort of victory cheer. One day, far into the future, maybe Ghee will learn his lesson (he is now poisoned; roll below.)

-> Ghee's CON saving throw {DC 12}: 6 

Showing the social-butterfly side of her personality, and keeping her word, Ang then orders a round of ale for every patron in the tavern. She drops a way-too-large-amount of coin on the counter, to which Tonk Hammertoes responds: "A third of that will do, and even then some will get two mugs. The ale here is not that good, despite of what your friend says, and so it is cheap." (referring to Ghee's earlier comments on the ale.) Despite this being quite a large sale, Tonk does not seem particularly happy. He maintains his neutral expression while he pours mug after mug. Ang begins to asks question as the patrons form a line to get their mugs refilled. Tonk responds slowly, accepting the extra two golden coins as a tip: "A kenku... dark-feathered birdman... yes, I have seen one recently... or have I? I don't quite remember. Was it here in the tavern... or maybe in my youth... I can't quite place it. And more froglings, you say? Yes, yes... I have seen a couple. Four days back, I think... Or was it four years. Time is so hard to keep track of..." He then points to large linen wooden tubs piled behind him: "I can have some of the staff fill the laundry tubs with hot water for you. One for each room?" He continues to fill mugs: "Hurt myself? Scars? No... there is nothing wrong. I'm a healthy dwarf. Thanks for offering, Doctor Frogling.." he adds naively, noticing he doesn't know Ang's name.

Separately, Bleep notices that the young elven woman he spotted at a table drinking wine by herself earlier is making her way out of the tavern. Darrik catches the green grung looking in that direction and turns to also notice the elf girl leaving, though the dwarf had not noticed her before now. The only three other elves in the tavern, the band on stage, continue to play on. Their feet are now surrounded by even more free mugs of ale.

« These will be perfect. Yes one in each room please. Much appreciated Tonk. The name is Ang by the way. » Ang then bows her head as a salutation, before rejoining her group and shares the information. 

Ghee shakes his head, "No a peep o' anything yet. But I'll keep an ear out. Drink lubricates the tongue. Maybes Ang or B'leep know something."

Darrik frowns at the elf, then shakes his head and shrugs.  He throws back yet another mug of ale, content to just watch the proceedings.

"Think Same. But-...." She looks over to Saros and the 'Gnome'. "Time not right yet. Speak soon with them. I go now. See that Go-... Other Watcher not be causing trouble." With a sharp nod, and a tentative pat to Ghee's shoulder, Khan walks her way over to Saros. Initially, she meant to only watch and be ready to intercede once closer at hand. But after reading the situation more....

Insight: 15.
(Or if a specific target is necessary, lets make it Mr. Nervous... which probably doesn't tell her much more than the obvious.)

She picked up the pace, and croaked just loudly enough to catch everyone near the gnome and Saros attention. And while she almost flinched seeing the lizardfolk's attention on her, even if only for a moment, Khan stood her ground and kept her expression neutral. "Debt owed?" She asked plainly, pointing over to the nervous one. "Hn. Debt Paid. I give. Maybe you hire better than toothless. Better fighters in future. Extra coin if know more about Grung passing through." She glances back at Saros, and then rolls her eyes before looking back up to Gregor. "Or... Ken.. ku. Anything you know, I hear for even more pay. You agree?"

Bleep will go out of the tavern to follow the elf, making sure he does not alert her to his presence.

Stealth: 20

DM's Screen:

Ang thanks the bartender and turns around to allow him to return to his task. She notices her party members are now a bit scattered across the tavern floor but realizes that Darrik, in particular, is drinking alone at the moment. She approaches the dwarf and entertains him with the tale of what she found out from Tonk Hammertoes.

Away from everyone's eyes, Bleep waits for the young elf woman to exit the tavern and then follows her quietly.

@Bleep:

(OOC: Waiting on @Ori's roll to determine what happens with Gregor and Gnator.)

Persuasion: 22.

Ghee answers Khan's question but then stays behind as the orange grung approaches Saros. 

Khan observes at first and soon realizes how tense the situation is. She decides to interfere even before Saros is given a chance to do so himself. She croaks and tries to calm Gregor's nerves with an offer. The half-orc listens and ponders for a moment, then says: "This is awfully nice of you, frogling. Do you even know this gnome? I'm pretty sure you don't, and yet you are willing to pay all of his gambling debt out of the kindness of your little, cold-blooded heart?" He raises a finger: "You see, that makes me think you know something I don't. Perhaps this gnome is valuable to you in a way, but until his debts are paid, he belongs to me. And, as his creditor, I have now decided that he is worth more. I won't say no to your coin, but if you want to buy his debt off my hands, I'll say it is now worth 40... no 45 shiny gold pieces. Call it a bookie's fee if you want, or compensation for poor old Tooth over here." The tall Lizardfolk lackey passes his tongue over his fangs to signalize that he will be left hungry if not given a chace to eat Gnator's fingers. "But, gold is gold. Pay up, and he is all yours."

Gregor then turns to his muscly goliath lackey but says nothing to her. Turning to face Khan again, he says: "I'd love to take even more of your money, perhaps give Toothless a proper treatment after that whooping, and by Cat Keeper here another cat... but, I have seen no other froglings here in a long time, and I have no idea what a kenku is." Finally, he extends his hand, palm up, expecting a good-sized pouch of golden coins to be placed on it.

Ghee is not at Gnator's table, around which all of this is happening, but he is close enough to hear this entire exchange.

Positioning himself behind the bookie and his lackeys, Ghee cracks his knuckles and gives Khan a look, hoping to let her know he's ready to back whatever play she chooses to run with these bampots.

Khan tries to avoid making eye contact with Ghee, but signaled in a slow nod her acknowledgement of it. "Drive hard bargain. Perhaps Khan makes poor investment." She said, side-eyeing Gnator and likely making him squirm. "But always keep word. Maybe if see any others. Other froglings. Or strange people come. You pass along to Khan while here. Maybe more shines then." As that's being said, the short would-be future ruler of a Grung tribe pulls out a secondary pouch.

This one containing at least 50gp worth of coin. But, Khan was no misery. Mostly. She would accept the loss, if only to expedite Gregor and his lackeys removal from the scene. Yet at the same time she found herself thinking back to his words, tone, and so forth to determine if there were any lies present there.

Insight: 11.

And if so, with a far too pleasant smile pass over the coin still, knowing that later it would be 'returned' to her. Though if there was no lies, she stayed neutral in expression, and watched them hopefully walk off without further issues for a good few seconds. After which, her steely-eyed eyes are upon the gnome and 'goblin', and a single word is asked, "Useful?" She then looks more meaningful towards Gnator before settling back upon Saros.

(Edit: Money deducted as of this edit.)

Darrik grunts to himself at the interaction between Khan and the goons, and takes out his dilapidated notebook and begins laboriously writing in it.

Bleep, not comfortable going into an unknown situation so far from his hunting party, returns to the tavern. He slinks back in, hoping nobody noticed his absence.

Stealth: 27

Separately, both Ghee and Darrik notice the conversation that is going on between Khan and Gregor. Ghee decides to approach and provide silent support, if not brawling insurance. Conversely, Darrik begin taking notes but keeps his distance. Ang is now sitting in the party's original table with Darrik.

Gregor is flanked by his two main lackeys: Tooth (Lizadfolk male) and Cat Keeper (Goliath female). His third main man, Toothless, is still unconscious on the fighting ring's floor. Other thugs still walk about the tavern, collect gambling dues. Opposed to Gregor in this conversation, stands Khan. To her left, a still silent Saros continues to observe and study the situation, perhaps remaining seated so that Gnator, the fellow gnome, keeps as calm as his nervous nature permits him. To Khan's other side, just behind Gregor, Ghee provides additional assurances.

Khan then agrees to Gregor's price, and offers him even a bit more in the name of good faith. The half-orc gang leader accepts the pouch and releases a tusky grin. "You know how to do business, orange frogling, and I will continue accepting your coin if you are willing to share more of it. I can't promise I'll go out looking for them, but should I hear anything about other froglings in town, I'll let you know. For the right price, of course. You said you are looking for green ones?"

Speaking of green grungs, at this exact moment, Bleep makes his way back into the tavern, though no one ever really realized he was gone.

Khan narrows her eyes and pays close attention to Gregor's mannerisms as he talks.

@Khan:

Gregor whistles and walks away. His two bulky "shadows" follow him closer than his actual one. Khan turns to Saros and ponders if saving Gnator was indeed the right choice. To her "Useful?" question, the local gnome replies: "I... I... can be. You saved my hide so I can be useful in return, yes. Let's see... Do you perhaps require a guide in Weirding? You are all new here and I can share what I know. Or maybe you need to buy some supplies? The store owner is Balick, a gnomish old friend. I can argue in favor of a discount if you visit his storefront tomorrow. Useful, yes?"

Saros can only passively take in the exchange as Khan comes to the rescue of the gnome, and as Gregor departs he turns to Khan and says "You have my thanks Khan....I did not care for treatment Gnator was receiving but I confess I had little to offer then and there.  I hope Gnator can indeed be of some help in tracing down your lost grungs...."

Turning to Gnator he contues "You owe Khan a debt now...be sure that you remain out of trouble so that you can repay it....no more gambling until we have what we need...deal?"

(I see... smile and wave it is then...)

Khan nods. "Green ones. Trust keep eye out. Look like that one." She had said with a nod, and then went about her business with Gnator. Soon after, her eyes somewhat narrow at Saros, confirming the uncertainty of of Gnator's help, before her attention is stolen back by the forest gnome. "Hmm... Guide... Useful... Discount... Useful...." She thumbs her nearly none existent chin. "This one... useful And like he-..." Khan gestures over to Saros. "Spoken. No more gambling. No more trouble. Not until repaid in full." With that reaffirmation made, Khan sighs and rubbed at their head a few times.

"Evening Eventful. Not good for heart... But you... Welcome, I guess." She said while looking to Saros. "But no trouble too. Need rest for morning. Not need tricksy tough guy or anyone interrupt 'cause any 'object lessons'.... done unsafely." Khan gives Saros a meaningful look, and then went back to rubbing  and softly shaking her head. "Khan goes bathe now. Rest now. See later." With that said, the frogling only lingers long enough for a few final words, gives Ghee another appreciative nod, and then made her way back over to Tonk to get a reminder about the room and bath situation prior to seeing her way out of the main tavern area.

Darrik finishes making his notes, and proceeds to slump forward and start snoring on his stool.

Bleep goes to confirm which room he is assigned and retires for the night.

Gnator agrees with both Saros and Khan: "Yes, deal. I will try to stay away form the fight pits while guiding you around, at least." Once the group starts saying "good night," the local gnome says his farewells as well and adds: "I'll return in the morning, and we can stop by Balick's shop first. I'll convince him to give you the best price he can." With that, the still nervous and shaking gnome hops off his seat and heads outside.

Over at the party's original table, Ang hears a thud and turns to realize that Darrik has fallen asleep right there. She can't help but conclude that Darrik's choice will lead to one of the other five party members being the lucky one to get a room for themselves for the night.

Both Khan and Bleep then head upstairs. They find a tub of hot water in each of their rooms and enjoy an evening bath before calling it a night. The water will be cool in the morning, but it should still be good for another bath then.

(@All: Any other preparations before rest? At a minimum, before we go into full "rest mode," I'll wait to hear from @MB, @MuggsHill, and @Grimnir if their characters are doing anything special before calling it a night.)

No more action for Saros this evening.

He will prepare Locate Object and drop Mind Spike, and he will also cast Alarm, allowing Omen and Darrik to come and go, and he will send the raven out (the window?) to do a scout and he will join the birds vision once secure in his room with Alarm active.  He will trail Gnator to see where he lives and to make sure that the thugs are true to their promise to leave him alone for now.