Bayard shrugs, "Can't speak for him, but I had most of what I needed on me, lost a few odds and ends personal items, but I don't care about those too much, and I'm wearing the only clothes I own. Other than that, all good."

Quote from Spoones >>

Quote from Ismenow >>

Bayard shakes his head, "Correction, my noble lord and leader here is buying, right?"

 Just shakes his head a little and gives a small laugh, "Only because you almost drowned. A round for these gentlemen if you please. Just remember, we have business to attend to this night. Speaking of tonight, Xarrut, Bayard, do either of you have supplies you need replaced before we start shaking the hornets nest? Considering what happened, I believe that my family would be willing to reimburse you for losses, especially since you are both helping to solve this mystery." 

 

 “My personal belongings are quite alright, but my family’s shipment of marble appears to be at the bottom of the ocean just now. I’d prefer the pirates pay, but I would be pleased to note to my father your willingness to act as guarantor when you ship our goods.” 
“That said... I did not come prepared to venture anywhere beyond port. No rations or bedroll like I see some of you lot have... Will we need anything like that?”

"Hard to say at this point Xarrut. I wanted to be prepared for anything when I left Stolitz because I knew this was not a normal trip. I do think that we should secure rooms here in town for a couple days while we start our investigation in case we need them."

Walking up to the bar- "Sir, two questions, do you have rooms or could you suggest a place? and do you have a helper in back that I could use to run a message to Baltak at the docks?"

If he does have a dishwasher or busboy- "Here's a copper, I want you to go to the docks and find old Baltak. You know him? Tell him that there are some folks here that want to talk about the lights he has been seeing and I have a bottle of whiskey for his trouble. If you get him back here I have another couple coppers for you."

((let me know how much money to mark off, I am assuming I have plenty for a joint like this but I don't want to lose track))

The bartender replies "We have plenty of rooms here, ranging from a common room to semi-private to private rooms. The semi-private rooms have from 4-6 beds, while the private rooms have one or two beds. The common room costs 1 sp per person, the semi-private rooms cost 5-8 sp per person, and the private rooms cost 2-3 gp per night. I can get our stable boy, Wilfer, to deliver a message for you."

A few minutes later, a young boy comes into the tavern, and listens to your instructions. Upon hearing about the copper pieces, he nods his head emphatically, before saying "I make sure that Baltak will talk wit' you. I know him," and, after taking the copper piece, dashes out the door.

Xarrut moves up to the bar and sets down 5 gold pieces. 
“A private room. Two nights.”

"Same here." Tandal says as he puts down two more gold.

Bayard will shake his head at the big spenders, "Common room is good for me. Unless my lord here feels like paying?" 

Lucien   heads back over to the bar “ Since I’ll be staying for a few days, a  private room for me as well.”  He sets down 5 gold pieces.

Caliban informs the group, "I can hang here till later but I will take my leave at the local church when I am ready for sleep."  

"Friends, I have a small stipend from my family to assist with room and board and general supplies. Please keep your gold for now and I will pay for 3 semi-private rooms that we can split as we see fit. Does that work for everyone? I always find it better when sleeping in a strange place to have another person in the room who can help out just in case. We are going to be stirring things up and it would make me feel safer. Aside from that I consider us equal partners in this endeavor. This is not just about my family, what is happening is affecting every family and merchant along the coast. So from here on out I see us as a private group with equal profit-sharing as it were. Is this acceptable for the foreseeable future?"

It is easy to see that being from a merchant family Allorian always feels more comfortable having some type of contract in place. In his eyes verbal being just as binding as written. 

Pulls Bayard aside- "Save that my Lord business for when my father is around. We can pull the 'noble' card if we need it but for now let's keep it informal." Claps him on the shoulder in a way that shows that out here we are just two friends. 

Caliban ponders Allorian's words and then a big beaming smile plays across his face "Well I guess it would be better if I stayed around and helped you." He stretches out his arms and flexes "I can handle anything that comes up." 

The barkeep accepts Allorian’s payment (2 gp and 4 sp total) for the three rooms. Wilfer returns to the inn shortly and somewhat breathlessly tells you “Baltak will head here, soon as ‘es dun on the docks. I’ll make sure that he comes straight ‘ere.”

Late in the afternoon, true to his word, Wilfer pulls Baltak through the door, and points at Allorian and says “That there is the man that wants to talk to you.” And, in a loud whisper to the dock worker adds “Look at those clothes, don’t they speak to money, just as I said.”

Allorian smiles and tosses Wilfer a silver piece. "Well done lad."

"Baltak, please join us. My friends and I would like to ask you a few questions concerning some rumors about Old Town." Allorian gestures for him to sit and for the bartender to bring the promised whiskey. As Baltak reaches for the whiskey Allorian will pull it back slightly and then pour him a shot. "Let's make sure we have our talk before we indulge too much, hmm. Okay then, tell us of Old Town." *slides the shot over to Baltak* 

Allorian sits back with a shot of whiskey for himself and just barely sips it as he keeps his full attention focused on Baltak. 

Bayard will pour himself a generous glass and start sipping at it with every sign of enjoyment, "Perhaps with a little more information, we can solve this mystery. We're not just chasing ghosts stories for no reason."

Wilfer takes the silver piece with wide eyes, almost like he’s expecting Allorian to take it back at any minute. Once it is clear that Allorian is really giving it to him, he replies “Thank, thank you SIR! If you need anything else while you’re here, let me know. If you have a horse, tell me which one it is, and I’ll give him extra special care. An apple twice a day, and a good brushing down, particularly before you need to ride him.” The young boy then turns and runs out of the room.

Baltak sits down and looks around the table, slightly nervous about sitting down with these wealthy men are interested in him. The human looks to be about 60 years old and shows the signs of having been engaged in physical labor his whole life, as well as a red nose that might be attributed to too much booze. “The, the Old Town? We’ll, I’m not much of an expert on that place. I mean no more than anyone else whose lived in Alderey their whole life. If you really want to know about Old Town, you should talk to Kevril, the priest at the Temple of Valkur (the god of storms, sailors and fishermen). He’s been collecting stories and information on Old Town, and even a few artifacts people have brought back from there.

You should know that part of Alderey is built upon Old Town, and we find stuff from the Old Town in our gardens from time to time. But, most people think Old Town only refers to the ruins north of Town.”

When interrupted by Allorian who asks specifically about the lights, the old man replies “I’ve seen them twice, both times leaving the . .” at this point he lowers his voice, and glances around to see where the bartender is at before saying “Laughing Mermaid." and then continues in his normal voice. "My brother, Alverto, has seen the lights more. He says that if he’s late comin’ in from the fishin’ grounds, there are lights present north of the river. They are movin’ around from the river bank north for a quarter mile or so. If you’re at the (again the lowered voice) Mermaid, the lights can be seen, but, not much more than that. They appear to be about a 1/4 mile up the river from shore."

“It sounds like it’s interesting. Maybe even related to our pirate troubles. I’m game if it means more than cooling our heels and getting drunk.” Xarrut stands up and stretches before throwing his pack over his shoulders, and picking up his cane.

Caliban stands up with Xarrut, he takes his warhammer and pounds the pommel into the floor in front of him and continues to lean on it like a walking cane. "I'm up for a walk in the fresh air.  Shall we investigate? It is probably nothing but it can't hurt to take a look." 

Lucien goes back to the table he had been sitting at previously  and picks up his backpack  “I think it's worth looking into  maybe  we’ll find the pirates you gentlemen were talking about,  the missing people, or perhaps both.”

Bayard stands a little unsteadily, but its hard to tell if its drunkeness or the normal walk of someone too long at sea, and moves over to the bar. Pulling a few torches out of his pack and tying them together to his back, he hands his pack to the server boy from earlier, "Would you be able to put this in my room? If it's there undisturbed in the morning, there'll be a couple coins in it for you." He'll then pick up his hammer and shield and join the others, ready to leave.

"Agreed Lucien. Lights at night near the river? Sounds like smugglers or pirates to me. We should head out."

((ooc- is it dark outside yet?)) (if not I would ask everyone if they think we should wait or go now)

Allorian shoulders his pack, checks the string on his bow and follows the others out. "We can use the woods for cover."