Bleep gets a look of determination on his face and says, "Somewhere in there... We find clues to where everybody is... Question is how?"

Darrik will hang back with Saros, trampling an awfully large amount of greenery for someone attuned to the forces of nature.

JUST BEFORE AND DURING THE REST

Those who need to tend to their wounds do so, be it through potions, Ang's healer abilities, or their natural constitutions:

• Khan heals for 47 HP.
• Ang heals for 16 HP.
• Ghee heals for 18 HP.
• Darrik heals for 10 HP. (@Shadow: I updated your character sheet for you.)

A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM THE TOWN

Once at the outskirts of town, Ghee considers sending scouts ahead, but Khan suspects the town will be safe enough as long as the non-grungs do most of the talking. Saros sighs and encourages Darrik to lead the pack. In response, the dwarf only encourages the others to lead instead, and in the end, the two Watchers bring the rear of the marching order for these last few minutes of walking that lead up to the outpost of Weirding.

Before arriving, Bleep reminds all why they are here.

The Outpost of Weirding

Weirding is a tiny village outpost protected by tall 12’ stone walls. The village consists of a small residential district, a core mining district, a simplistic commercial district, and the Manor of Weirding which gives the outpost its name. The main entrance is nothing but a double gate built out of sharpened logs, and they swing open as soon as the party approaches. A human male guard holding a spear and wearing a leather cap yells from atop the wall: "Come on in travelers, it is not safe out there in the jungle." His manner of speech is a bit slurred, and he seems to pay little mind to the frogfolk.

Right on the other side of the wall, you pass through a handful of single family homes, little gardens, and small to medium sized livestock. Judging by the size and simplicity of this residential district, none of the folk who live here do so in opulence or even comfort. Seeing very little of interest in this area, the party continues to travel deeper into town. The residential district morphs somewhat abruptly into an area clearly dedicated to commerce. As you walk up the main beaten dirt street, you notice a few buildings of interest in what is now, clearly, the commercial district:

• A building of many windows but only one level has a sign atop its entrance that read: "Balick's Goods: General Supplies and Sundries." Just outside it, you can see barrels filled with animal feed, crates filled with pick axes, and a few caged canaries.
• Across the street, another single level storefront displays the words "Nard's Meat Shop" painted on the front wall. A female human seems to be in the process of closing down the shop for the day as it is now almost sundown.
• Down the road, you see the largest building in the commercial district, which you surmise to be the the tavern/inn. It is two stories high, and plenty of conversational noises and musical notes are spewing out of the place. A fancy-letter sign adorns the roof: "Bucket's Bottom."

Down the road, past the inn, you can also see a group of three men just standing beneath a street lamp and having a conversation. All three carry a miner's pick either slung over a shoulder or looped onto a belt.

WHERE DO YOU GO?

Darrik looks to Ghee to see if they're both thinking the same thing, then makes a beeline straight for the inn.

(Whoops, thanks.)

Ang decides that she will follow Darrik and Ghee to the Inn and signals Bleep her intentions. From her limited experience with human encampment, she always found that this was where you could find information.
Shopping will have to wait until tomorrow. But before visiting the Inn, Ang silently approaches the three miners and listen to them from the shadows.

Stealth: 11

Ghee doesn't need telling twice, seeing the green bearded dwarf start to dash towards the inn he follows suit calling back to the others as he goes.

"There'll be ale and beer and spiced wines a'plenty in there. Might be a hot meal and a warm bed too. Wait for meeeee!"

"Or maybe do bother." Khan had muttered mysteriously under breath after the group was a good few feet past the guard. Her grim expression is quick to fade as the group carried on. But whereas the others were quick to head to the probable Inn, Khan actually hangs back for a few moments, seeming curious about the three miners.

"Ang-..." She started to say, only to realize the Grung was neither with the Inn group or elsewhere. Yet even if the same went for B'leep, believing the purple at least to be on the same page, she followed after Darrik and Ghee with a half-smile on her face.

Bleep follows Ang's lead and also tries sneak to a hard-to-see location and eavesdrop on the miners.

Stealth: 21

Perception: 22

(@MuggsHill: I'll assume Saros follows Darrik.)

Darrik and Ghee have no doubt about where they want to go. Khan hesitates for a moment but, after noticing her team is already following the orders she didn't even have to give, she follows the dwarves. 

Ang and Bleep walk along with the rest of the party up until they make a turn to enter the inn. The two of them seem to simply disappear after that point. Ang finds a shady spot just around the corner from the miners, while Bleep finds his way up the pole holding the street lamp. This is the conversation they hear:

The Bucket's Bottom Inn & Tavern

The large tavern is filled with locals relaxing and working off steam from a long day at the mine. Just by looking around, it becomes quite clear that the mine is the main source of income for most of the patrons. They all look dirty from their day in the mines, though you can see that there is a dedicated area in the tavern for people to leave their soiled boots and their picks. A staff member even keeps tabs of each patron's belonging, almost like they worked at a coat check in a much fancier establishment. 

 On the stage, a trio of elven instrumentalist entertains the crowd, each of them with a few tankards by their feet serving as evidence of just how well liked these artist are. There is also a small boxing/wrestling ring in the tavern where the locals gamble on fights. Decorations and furniture pieces are more functional than ornamental, and a long staircase leads to rooms upstairs.

A dwarf with a pleasantly simple face catches the party's attention as they enter the tavern (sans Ang and Bleep.) He points to an empty table and asks loudly: "Watcha havin', folk?" He seems undisturbed by the sight of an orange grung in the premise, though some patrons are definitely giving Khan, as well as Saros, a strange look. Other than waiting for your answer, the dwarf simply looks onward, looking a bit strange and oddly distant while quietly tending the bar.

Saros sits back in his seat and tries to casually take in all of the patron and staff to try to gauge the reaction to the group's arrival, looking for signs in body language or the change in posture (Insight 21.

He also turns to Darrik and says, "It would seem that I am as much a novelty as the Grung, perhaps you should do the talking here...I don't know if we will find out much to help us in our search, or the search of the grungs, but if you find someone of significant interest give me a sign and I will probe their thoughts as you talk to them"

Saros will reach into his coin purse and pull out a copper, absently twirling it through his fingers as the Darrik and Ghee engage with the locals.

Darrik belches contendedly.

"Ahhh.  Ale, barkeep, if ye would."

"Ah, well met stout yeoman o' the bar. An ale for me n' all and," gesturing to Saros, "something for the gnomish gentleman?"

Giving pause to allow Saros' answer, Ghee presses the bar-dwarf on a few more points. "We also be in need o' some lodgings for the night n' all. Maybe six beds in all? That something you can help us with boyo?"

(OOC That red and orange grung from before aren't with us are they?)

Apart from eyeing the all too pleasant dwarf suspiciously, Khan tried to stay quiet and close to Ghee. Wherever he went, she would follow; and surprisingly, considering her high born attitude, she took to any cues from the albino dwarf without much of a fuss. Yet, when it looks as if he might content with just arranging for room and board, she chimes with the barkeep in with faux sense calm, "You see Grung? People like me? Come recently?"

Insight: 10.

(@Lerus: She's less searching for signs of deceit, and moreso for if his behavior seems more the byproduct of a drug or special Grung poison. So if an intelligence check of any kind, then the bonus is a +1 instead.)

Ang regroups with his party at the Inn. After a few minutes to get a feeling on the patrons, she chooses a table with what looks like the most friendly ones. She pays up a handfull of ale to the Innkeeper and brings them to the miners. She starts in common;  "Good evening, fellow villagers. I am Ang. It is a fine Inn that you have here. These are for you as a thank for welcoming our kind  in your village" she said, handing over the ales.

"I saw that the village is quite fortified. Any problem these days ? Do you have any problems with goblins in particular ? I hate these creature..."

Persuasion if needed (can the ales gives me advantage? if not just use the first roll): 13
OOC: how much for 4 Ales ?

Bleep returns to the tavern with Ang. As soon as he enters the establishemt, he moves to an unoccupied corner (or wall if none exist) and tries to keep an eye on everything.

Perception: 5

Darrik, Saros, Ghee, and Khan sit on the table the dwarf bartender pointed to. Meanwhile, he slowly pours four mugs of ale, as requested by the the party's dwarves. The bartender either ignores or doesn't hear Ghee's polite suggestion that Saros might prefer to drink something other than ale. While the bartender pours, Saros tries to read the room, focusing exclusively on the staff.

@Saros:

Once the bartender reaches your table, he sets down four mugs of ale. The dwarf speaks slower than most, and what he says sounds almost formulaic: "Four mugs of ale will cost you 2 silver pieces, or 5 copper pieces per mug. Let me know if you need anything else. My name is Tonk Hammertoes. Just call me and I'll come over."

Before he leaves, Ghee asks about rooms. The dwarf slowly moves his head, so his eyes meet with Ghee's, and responds: "Six beds will cost you 3 gold pieces, or 5 silver pieces per bed per night. I'll come back with keys shortly, but..." he pauses and looks intelligent for a moment, "... I'll have to charge extra for frogfolk, on account of their poisonous skin on the bed sheets. Frogfolk need to pay double. How many frogfolk will make use of the beds?" he asks, seemingly no longer intent on returning to his position behind the bar. 

Khan uses the pause that follows to ask her questions. At the risk of forgetting his own questions, Tonk Hammertoes obliges: "Yes, frogfolk tend to stop by every now and then. Well, maybe only rarely. They are mostly looking for temporary shelter or to barter. I trade when I can. As for how recently..." He tries to think, looking at the ceiling and opening his mouth "...I can't recall." Khan tries to read the man while he speaks.

@Khan:

A few minutes later, Ang and Bleep walk into the tavern. Ang orders four more mugs of ale and asks Tonk Hammertoes to deliver it to a table in the middle of the tavern, where two human men and a female halfling are having a laugh. The purple grung waits for the bartender to slowly move back to the bar, pour the ale, and begin walking to the designated table. Ang then jumps forward and join them. Tonk charges Ang exactly 2 silver pieces.

At first, the three patrons seem a bit put off by the short but much-larger-than-a-frog purple warrior. The free ale, though, brings whatever barriers they planned to put up right back down. The halfling woman jokes a bit: "If the frog is payin', then I'll call her a friend!" The two man laugh loudly and agree with her sentiment. They don't share their names, despite Ang sharing hers, but that's most likely because they are already a few cups in and forgot their manners. They are quick to make fun of Ang's formality too, but not in a mean way. Once she asks her question, one of the human men responds: "You never know what will jump out of the jungle, but most beasts'll steer away from a wall they can't easily climb. We'll get the odd monkey or panther every now and then, though." At the mentions of goblins, the other man speaks up: "Aye. At least once a season we get some of these Batiri goblins at our doorstep... or so I hear. I'm quite new in town and haven't seen them yet, but I hear they show up with a new invention each time. Always tryin' to break a wall with some wacky siege engine. They have yet to succeed."

Meanwhile, Bleep skips the drinking and quickly finds a nook from which to observe the tavern floor. He notices a few things worth his attention:

• A bulky half-orc male and his thugs are taking bets and collecting debts among the crowd around the fighting ring.
• A nearly bald male gnome (not a deep gnome like Saros) watches the current bout in a worried and anxious manner; it doesn't look like the fight is going his way.
• A young elven woman is drinking wine at a quiet corner table, silently watching the patrons of the tavern. If you had to guess, she is likely not associated with the elven instrumentalists on stage.

@Bleep:

Quote from Lerus17 >>

"Aye. At least once a season we get some of these Batiri goblins at our doorstep... or so I hear. I'm quite new in town and haven't seen them yet, but I hear they show up with a new invention each time. Always tryin' to break a wall with some wacky siege engine. They have yet to succeed."

 
Ang will continue to do small small talk for a while and eventually will ask "I'm curious, these goblins, do you know from which direction they are coming from? I'm just trying to know which area we need to avoid."