"Skritch must go to forest north. Get special wood. Leaves red of blood." Reaching into his pockets he pulls out two twigs that he picked up from who knows where. With his small clawed hands he begins dancing the bits of wood around the table in front of him. "Red tree guarded by angry sticks. Skritch friends help break mean sticks. Help bring back red wood and many dead sticks?" With that he looks around the table at his companions, beak slightly ajar in what may be some sort of avian grin.

Brand gives an apathetic shrug, "So long as it pays. Maybe I'll even harvest some lumber for a ship?"

"Pay?" Skritch squawks, blinking at the nearly foreign concept.

"Yes, Skritch, pay. Most people work for money, but since you're not getting paid I guess you have other motives for doing it, and that is fine. However.. I don't really have anything to gain from this unless there is some form of payment." Skabb explains to the perplexed kenku. 

Skritch nods along, listening to Skabb explain explain the basics of monetary commerce. "Friends need payment for help Skritch?" Thinking for a moment, Skritch begins digging through his sack until he finds the pouch he had tossed in there a few days ago. Retrieving it, he plops it on the table with a metallic clink. "Skritch have pay. Friends help Skritch get wood from angry sticks, yes?" The simple pouch sort of spills open to punctuate Skritch's question, revealing about 30 gold coins.

"Do you want to go right after Walpurgisnacht?" Skabb picks his teeth with one of his claws. "Because that is fine by me, as long as I get to witness the ceremony... Walking sticks sound intriguing enough to peak my interest." 

"Yes, after festival. Baba Aga say Skritch bring wood after." The excited aven nods emphatically. 

"Do you think we might get to meet Baba Aga if we help you?" Jiron asks tentatively while the question of payment was still in the air. Regardless, he seems satisfied with the gold presented. 

Garrl returns with vegetable stew for the bird. "There," he says rudely.

WHACK!

You see Grresh knock the back of Garrl's head, who nearly snarls at her until he sees his sister. His tail falls between his legs as his ears fold.

"You're lucky I don't tear out your throat, whelp! Never sass the customers, or you will be out on the streets!" The woman's teeth are bared as her brother yelps and mutters a quick 'sorry, sir' to Skritch before disappearing elsewhere. Just as easily as she dominated the gnoll, Grresh smiles pleasantly at you four. "Don't mind Garrl, he's such a rude boy. I hope you enjoy your meals. I'll bring a round of drinks on me, how's that?" She winks at Skabb. "The same again for you gentlemen?"

(Hey, finally back from vacation)

"After the festiva, you said?" Jiron asks as he eats. "I think that will work for me. I'm not sure what sure exactly what you mean by 'angry sticks,' but it sounds like some sort of animation magic that I might be able to study."

Skabb looks to his now empty tankard and back to Grresh with a smile on his face. "Why thank you, I won't say no to free drinks directly from the owner, that would be rude of me" Skabb looks over to Jiron. "Good point Jiron, there is probably something arcane about these walking twigs. All the more a reason for us interested in the strange and arcane to go."

"Angry sticks guard red wood." Skritch reiterates, dancing two little twigs about around his bowl of soup.

((Clearly Skritch's twiggy pantomimes have struck a sort of silent terror into the hearts of his companions.))

"Sounds like Jiron and I are in on the job. How about you, Brand? The coin enough for you?" Skabb dances his fork over to the twigs and knocks them out of Skritches hand. "Maybe well get an audience with the main hag herself. I have a few questions for her regarding the caves below the city." In fear of confusing his companions he adds. "You know, like the one we fought the rats in." 

((How would we acquire good seats for the ceremony?))

"So long as there's a payoff, fine." Brand seems ill at ease in the crowded room and hunches over his makeshift skull-mug.

((Looks like "Project Lumberjack" is a go! Now we just need to get through the festival.....))

((Just checking, would you like me to advance time?))

((I'm good.))

"I guess I'll see you all at the festival," Jiron says as he finishes off his meal his meal. A bit of green mixes with the dull red of his faces as he glances back at Brands skull mug while getting up. "I bid you all a good night."

Swinging the strap of the Thundercannon back over his shoulder, the hobgoblin shall retreat back to his room for a night's rest before tomorrow's festivities.

((I'm fine with advancing))

"Going home early might not be the worst idea, considering the festival and all. I too shall retire. Goodnight, hope to see you during the festival tomorrow."


((Ready for advancement!))

((I'll advance tomorrow. I need time to properly stage this next scene! Just wanted to let you know I am still here. :) ))