Khan still looked skeptical at Gnator's assurance on the meat. But then, prior to coming up with more to ask, she finds herself startled into snapping her arms up into a defensive stance until the young gnome fully revealed himself. After breathing a sigh of relief, followed by looking at Gnator quizzical around the same time 'fellow gnome' got mentioned, Khan eventually set herself towards actually looking around the shop.

Every now and then she grumbles to herself or mutters something about, "No Moony blades", but didn't truly seem or sound as upset as some of her mutters imply. Eventually she grows tired of searching the space and plainly ask the shopkeep, "You. You sell, Acids, maybe? Or.. hammers? And, hm... Oil, Lantern, and, uh... Flask? If so, how much?"

Ang approaches the gnome. "This is quite a shop! I love it. But what I am looking for is information. I'm sure that a person like you is aware of what is going on in the town. We are looking for missing friends: a bird,more presisely a kenku, and a couple of young frogglin that disapeared 4 or 5 days ago. Any information of them ?"

Ang take two shiny gold pieces form her bag and flip them to the gnome. "I am always gratefull for good informant"

Balick to Saros: "What do you mean? You want a nice conversation? Sure, I like conversations. No charge, but please do buy something, yes. I'm giving you a discount after all."

Balick to Ghee: "Oh, yes of course." He exits the barrel and Ghee notices he is indeed wearing pants. Quite comfortable ones too. The monk then peeks inside the barrel and spots a small pillow and a blanket. "As I said, counting my inventory!" Balick says unapologetically. He then points the albino dwarf to some citronella and lemongrass candles: "The smoke repels insects to some degree."

Balick to Bleep: "Of course! We buy them from outside merchants. They are right over there, inisde the buckets. Many colors too."

Balick to Khan: "Yes, all of the above... except acid. I don't know how to make that. You can find them there, there, and there." He points to several shelves.

Balick to Ang: "Oooh.. thank you." He grabs the two coins. "Well, yes, I saw some green froglings a few days back. They asked for healing liquids, of the magical kind, but I do not sell them here. I sent them to the tavern instead, to maybe buy some alcohol to pour on their wounds. I haven't seen them since."

(OOC: You can buy any mundane items in Balick's store except healing potions, other common magical items, and highly specialized tools. Balick has a monopoly in town and normally charges 1.5x PHB prices. With the discount, though, it all goes back down to normal PHB prices.)

Darrik pokes around the shelves curiously.

"Ye got any vittles?  The good kind, not some shitty travel bread?"

Bleep goes to the bucket and picks up 10 pieces of white chalk.

When he hears of the "green froglings" being at the tavern recently, he does a double-take.

Khan does a double take as well, as all thoughts of supplies completely flees her mind. The moment the shock is gone, the orange frogling gets right up into Gnome's face, looking as if she might grab him. Thankfully, she does no more than get uncomfortably close, and said with forced calm in her voice, "How many greens? Did they say looking for others? Say maybe where from or where want go even in passing?"

Balick to Darrik: "Well, food is not my specialty but I do have raw grain for sale. That'll last you a while. Also some salted nutts and dried fruit, if you'd like a snack." (same price as a ration.)

Balick to Khan: "Two or three... I can't recall exactly. They didn't say much, and I can't be sure if they actually followed my advice and went to the tavern. They left my store just as quickly as they came in. Now, please step back, you are too close to my face. That is not nice."

OOC#1: So, Bleep is buying some chalk, Ghee is buying some candles, and Darrik is buying the equivalent of one ration. Please go ahead and deduct the appropriate amount of money from your inventories (PHB prices after the discount). And don't forget to add the items themselves.

OOC#2: Is anyone else buying anything?

"The ones that were here. You say they looking for magic healing liquid. Did any look hurt?" Bleep asks with concern.

Balick to Bleep: "Well, yes.. they looked exhausted and beaten... It all happened so fast. They came in, asked for remedies I don't have and when I turned around again, they were gone."

Balick to Ang: "And you said you are also looking for a birdman? I also saw one of those. Black feathers. He came through five days ago and bought my entire stock of sunflower seeds. Then, he left my shop like any other customer. I had never seen a birdman before."

@Saros & @Darrik: You would know that Cawkrin Jones had a weakness for sunflower seeds.

 Khan scowled, but at least relented after a few tense moments and stalked back a ways. For a while yet, she paced behind the others, forgetting all about doing any purchasing of goods, and just idly rubbed at her knuckles. Eventually she comes to a stop however, and following a sigh, Khan turned to the others. "At least right track. Only days behind. Should confirm elsewhere in town. Not just tavern. But good place to go still. Maybe-..."

She trailed off from a moment seeming deep in thought, and then asked of Balick, "You. No healers in town? Potion makers?"

Selecting couple of candles Ghee gives them a quick sniff and is pleasantly surprised by their scent. Passing some coin across the countertop to Balick.

"This toon hae any shady underworld types might a taken notice o three green grung and a birdman? Might be interested in trading information or might a taken some exotic passers by for a wee visit at their pleasure? Y'ken anyone like that?"

Saros eyes light up at the first mention of the lost kenku they have had "Five days you say....was he hurt.....did he say anything else.....did you see which direction he was heading.....perhaps the guards will know?" he blurts out

Darrik frowns faintly.

"That . . .that sounds like a lot of sunflower seeds.  Maybe he overate and fell asleep somewhere?"

Ang feels like there's not much else information she can get from this merchant. "So, they were here, but disappeared without a trace ? Something is strange..." she thinks.
While everybody is busy chatting with the gnome, she steps outside and search for a better informant. As a master thief, she knows that the best information is usually in the hands of children, orphan passing their time in the street. "Nobody usually bother about children and for a gold piece of two they could tell me where my my fellow grungs went..."

Gnator to Ghee: "Underground types? Our town is too small for organized crime. Gregor Forskog and his group of thugs are the closest thing to that, but they are nothing but a small group of tough guys. During the day, they work on the mines like everybody else.... Don't tell him I said that!"

Balick to Saros and Darrik "The black feathered one did not look hurt. He bought all my sunflower seeds, though I had no more than a couple of small bags at the time. Then he left, heading away from the main gate. That is all I know."

Balick to Khan and Bleep: "Healers? I'm afraid not. Wise women at best, but they have no powers, just wives' tales. But, well, as for potion makers, I guess you could try the wizard at the manor. He is not much of a healer, as far as I know, but I guess he could whip up a potion if you were to persuade him. I mean, that's the kind of things wizards do, right?"

@Ang: You walk back outside and take a look around. Over at the residential district, just outside a few homes, a few kids are running around and chasing chickens. Do you approach them? If so, do you do it alone while the others are still in the shop?

 Ang notices the children and walks slowly towards them, alone. When close enough, she sits on the side and nods at them. She reaches for a bag and grabs a dozen of small metallic balls. Ang throws one a couple of meter away and then focusses on throwing another ball at the target.  Every so often, two balls collide in a loud metallic *cling*.
"Good morning young ones, I am glad to met you. Wanna play ? It is just a marble game, best of 10 throws. If you win i'll leave the balls to you." she says in common with a smile

"That secret stays wi me, nae worries about that one. As oor learned guide tae this fine berg, is there anyplace else ye recommend we make ourselves familiar with? Apart fer the boozer an' this fine establishment?"

Persuasion Ang: 14

Apart from the Shamans of home and rare sorcerer blooded golds and oranges, Khan can only shrug at the question. 'No, there's one other' She thought, looking to Saros for a brief moment. "We see them soon. Maybe Kin go there. Maybe Ken.. ku too." She nods, reaffirming her point, and then with much less enthusiasm set about purchasing some oil(10) and a lantern(hooded).

"Either see Frogling or these one's friends later. You tell us. Soon as possible... Also, Manor?." She request, before heading outside herself, meaning to spend the first few moments just trying to recenter herself with some deep breathing exercises. 

Can Saros get an Insight check on the responses around the Kenku, just to see whether there is any deception, paticularly in whether the Kenku headed out the main gate again, it would seem odd that he would not leave some sort of message for us.

Insight 18