Ran sighs deeply at Ronegan’s news, then slowly gets to his feet.

“Well done. And at least that settles whether it was the other kingdoms or a third party. Dark Wanderer sounds a name intentionally meant to challenge the Lightbringer.” He says.

He raises a hand to knock on the door to the royal suite. But stops and looks back to Ronegan.

”You may be right about adding to their worries, but I served under a number of commanders and the bad ones all had one thing in common. Secrets. They thought they held more power if they kept secrets and didn’t share everything they knew. Unfortunately all that got us were soldiers who didn’t have a clue what was going on when an officer wasn’t around. I know you want to spare them, but her majesty is strong. And she needs to know Opal can’t wander freely.” 

He guides Ronegan towards the room he can sleep in before going back to the royal suite. But then he stops and looks to Ronegan again.

”Finding those boats may save us tomorrow. And solving that cipher gives us knowledge we needed. Remember that and remember your value. Especially if Kiran tries to question you tomorrow. You owe him no answers.”

Ran then goes to the royal’s door and knocks lightly. He will let the queen know about the cipher, that Opal may have been targeted, but they have the watches set for the night, the inn appears safe and they will leave at first light. And that the boats should give them protection that the open road would not.

Kiran did head to their room to rest and would have been sleeping on his bedroll on the floor of the room when Ronnegan entered (All 4 males ended up sharing the one room). He tosses and turns slightly, mumbling in his sleep, but wakes quickly when its his turn for watch and waits for Varen to join him, carefully thinking over how to phrase what he has to say.

 (Waiting to see how SpiderPetal resolves, then I'm happy to go to our watch)

Elavor doesn't notice anyone out of place for a sleepy tavern in a harvest time. There's plenty of joyous folk and music starts a little while later in the evening but nothing sets off alarm bells.

Spiderpetal is completely undetectable making her way through the desk where she notices the leftover wrappings of the package Barrin wrapped in plain brown paper then handed off. On another sheet, his blotting paper for spare ink she sees half of an address:

Amber Isles Ospel

But nothing else can be deciphered however from it. The scattered papers she sees are like bills with a myriad of correspondence from the Marshfields but it's their crest Petal recognizes. All the letters are written in Halfling. Nothing remotely nefarious however jumps out at the druid.

Petal scuttles back to her room and transforms back into a gnome before getting into bed. She lies there wide eyed, waiting for Varen to come up, excited to share what she found out. 

When Varen arrives, Petal sits bolt upright excited to share her news.

”Y’know how the priest was eyeing up that door after the innkeep send a package? Well... I guess now we know something he wants to know!” She grins, “The package is going to the Amber Isles in Ospel, you know it? Maybe we can check it out if we get some free time from the tournament! Also, I think I saw the Halfling lords crest! You know the ones... the Marsh..fields! That’s it! Do you think maybe they’re plotting something?” 

Petal leans back against the bed frame, putting her hands behind her head and crossing her legs, with a confident smile. 

After leaving the taproom and entering the bedroom, Varen gives the gnome a broad smile, with Petal's excitement being a bit contagious. "Hah, seems like you have plenty of tricks up your sleeves, Petal! It definitely should be something worth investigating when we get to Ospel..."

She sits down on her bed, across from Petal. "Ronegan and Elavor figured out the cipher. We were definitely targeted." Her eyes turn dour, "They wanted to kidnap Opal specifically. They were sent by someone called the 'Dark Wanderer'. I don't know if the big houses are involved or if is an independent effort, but anything could be possible. We just need to get the Royals to safety in Ospel and proceed from there."

A few hour passes, and Varen emerges from her room for her watch. She gives Kiran a quick nod as he gets an update from Ran, and heads to the privy. In the dim light, she takes out one of her polished knives, looking at her reflection in the blade. The amber glow in her irises is just bright enough to be noticeable when it's so dark... Especially when close up. It wasn't a factor down in the inn where bright torchlight reflects enough that it looks like a trick of the light.

I hate this part. And such a waste of a good potion. 

Varen forces the mutagen up and out of her system, using some of the clean water to wash away the foul taste of bile, blood, and metal. She checks her eyes again, seeing the familiar green that belonged to her father.

She joins Kiran, setting a stool from her room across from him in the narrow hallway, setting the saber and small round shield resting against the wall behind her within easy reach. She has retied her hair into a tight braid.

As Varen sits down, Kiran pulls out a fist sized lump of wood and begins to slowly carve it, shaping it absentmindedly occupying his hands as he focuses his mind on the conversation ahead. Still looking at the wood, he speaks up quietly, just enough for her to hear him, "There is something important we must discuss... These users of heretical magics, what do you think of them? Both the people and the magics themselves. Please, be honest with me." 

Insight: 8

Elavor would stay up for a bit longer, ( but seeing as the evening progressed normally for an inn) he would then inquire about which room was set up for them and find his way there.

When no one is looking in the room, he would put his items and gear close to him, making sure the potions he has are nicely tucked in his pack. There's a small flap on the side he's used before for potions and things he needed quickly, and he places the two, newly acquired goodies in there. He grins again while looking at the potion of growth, thinking "Oh, this I'll be saving for something VERY special. And gods know, I'll need it with this lot" 

And then, placing one of his daggers under his pillow, he falls asleep for the evening. 

Varen is taken back a moment by the directness of the question.

"There is much darkness in this world, Kiran. I have seen more than my fair share of threats to those I care about, both with the Firstforges and back home in Deephallow. But, where there is darkness, there will also be light."

She pauses a moment, contemplating. "A tool like a hammer can be used to build or destroy. It is the one who wields it that makes the difference, not the tool itself."

"And if people use the tools they have available to protect others or bring some joy into this world, well, is that not noble?"

She looks back at Kiran, maintaining eye contact.

Kiran continues to focus on the wood as it takes shape, Never looking up, "Have you ever noticed that longer you stare into the light the darker the darkness looks, and yet, the longer you stand in darkness, the brighter it seems?" He has smoothed the block into a thick disk, about four inches across and one deep, and begins to etch one side of it, "So you think magic no different from a tool, and heresy akin to using the wrong hammer? But what of those who use it, Petal and Ronegan for example, do you feel they will know when to use the right 'tool'?"

"Ah, but if you stare into the sun, and are you not blinded to all else around you? You will miss both things of beauty and things that bring danger."

"Many tools can be used, what is important is the intent and results. Could I use a knife and whittle away at a block of wood, much like you do with that chisel there? It may be a different tool, and even one intended for a different purpose, but we could both create something with it..."

"And if it comes to guiding the intent of a person, friendship and mentorship can go a long way. When I was learning swordplay from my father, he would not simply beat me on the head with a practice blade and hope I got better. He would teach, demonstrate the best footwork, and help me find my own path there."

OOC: Kiran insight into Varen with an 8 what does he glean Varen? We'll move on unless someone else has shenanigans for the evening?

The tavern is quiet while Varen and Kiran speak. Wynora and Elinor are deep on conversation but still keeping wary eyes out for trouble downstairs but none seems to be amiss. Walking up stairs Barrin pauses at the head of the steps seeing Varen and Kiran seated outside the doors.

"Just hoping to inquire about the family. I am locking up soon and the tavern is nearly empty," Barrin says with a nod.

Kiran looks up at him as he finally finishes his carving, "I believe they're sleeping, or should be, and we'll need plenty of rest for tomorrow, perhaps a late breakfast before our long day of travel?" And he'll hand over a well carved, but poorly painted, wooden symbol of The Lightbringer, firmly placing it in the man's hands. 

OOC: With an 8, I'd say he doesn't pick up any particular tells, though with his passive he can tell she's approaching the conversation as more a high-level discussion, and is observing him as much as he is observing her.

Barrin looks at the totem and smirks.

"I'll prepare the parting meal myself," Barrin replies nodding at Kiran and holding the carving at his side having given very little care or notice of the likeness. "You've chosen to take the canal well those who journey that way will have an easy time. It's high season so plenty of traffic and the high kings guard frequent the canal sides between Grambler and the grand city itself. Hopefully less trouble eh? I meant to mention..." he pauses to glance at the totem then back to Varen. "Those guards spoke to me of a bit of bother on the road here as much as I saw by the state of the Firstforges. There was a bit of a hassle for the Marshfields as well as tbe Turco's too a day or so ago. Rumors aside I haven't heard who else got hassled when they made their journey through but It seems like the trouble on the road to the grand city isn't just your own," the handsome halfling says with a nod of his head towards the watch party. "Good evening," he adds taking his leave.

OOC: We good for next day then?

Varen looks at the halfling as he finishes speaking and departs, then turns to Kiran. "Perhaps this group has attacked all parties headed to Ospel. Maybe there are more clues to be had. Regardless, we can pick up this conversation at another time, Kiran."

She looks at him, gauging whatever reaction he might have had to the conversation, or if any of the points she brought up took purchase.

Counter-Insight: 17

Good for the morning. Varen will stay behind a few minutes after Petal leaves the room for breakfast, to make her next mutagen.

Kiran nods and remains silent  until the end of their watch where he speaks quietly again, this time looking Varen directly in the eye, "I am well aware that most of you fear, if not hate, me. I would prefer this not to be the case, do you have any advice?" 

(From her insight she would be able to tell he is being honest and seems to respect her opinion, but looking for answers to questions he is not asking.)

"People fear what they do not understand, Kiran. It's nature, it's why the hair stands up on the back of your neck when you hear something unknown in the middle of the night." Her eyes soften upon seeing his honesty, though she still looks at him with a curious glance. "And fear is easily corrupted to hate when someone thinks that the thing they fear wants to harm them or their way of life."

She levels her eyes at Kiran, looking at the monk carefully over the course of a moment.

"Perhaps you need to help the others understand who you are, so that their fears are lessened. Perhaps you should become Kiran, a trusted friend who is willing to offer guidance and a helping hand, and not Master Hallowedsworn, unassailable and unshakable bastion of the Faith. My father always told me, the best judge of a person's character is by their actions, so prove yourself more than the mysterious unknown that the others might see you as."

Everyone gets a long rest and the night passes without incident. From attaining passage to Ospel on the canal Elavor, Petal, and Ronegan now there's limited comforts but they can hold the retinue, horses, and carriage. When the party rises they find the canal boat's captain and crew have secured the horses and carriage already. Barrin, as promised, has risen and created an elaborate breakfast for the party. Everyone tucks in including the royal twins but their parents are decidedly absent. Posey graceful movements serves the party catching the eye of Onyx but the young prince says nothing to the young woman who seems pleased enough by the attention!

Outside the inn Grambler is bustling with morning business. As several loads of food stuffs: vegetables and milled grains as well as livestock: pigs, geese, and cattle are being loaded on other canal barges headed north. A fleet it looks like the royal family will be traveling amongst heading to Ospel.

What is the party up too?

Kiran listens to her advice with a thoughtful frown on his face, then gives a brief chuckle, "Perhaps, but perhaps if they knew who I am and what I have done, their fears would only grow. Thank you for your advice, see you early, don't forget we leave at first light." And he'll head to bed, waking the next person for their shift on watch.

(Good to move to morning here.)