"Never forget your roots, Petal. It's what makes you grow strong."

Pleased with her terrible pun, Varen takes a drink from her tankard.

At this point, waiting for the others to return to discuss IMPORTANT THINGS.

Varen will flag down Elavor, and seriously doubts they will escape Kiran's gaze should he come back, so will put on a welcoming face, hoping that the important task of "solving who is behind this" will override any "burn the heretics at the stake" potential.

Varen remembers THOSE stories far too well.

Varen sees a motley crew of farmers, laborers, and travelers less than half a dozen in total. It's odd to her the inn and tavern is well cared for yet the clientele looks sparse. She also notices a royal courier in a table at the back as she selects the largest table centered in the tavern for the group. The courier however looks nervous as well as battered by some sort of violence! They are keeping to themselves however their eyes flick around the room but never fall on Varen for longer than a few seconds!

Across Gambler at the temple Elavor finds the apothecary while Kiran speaks and the robe figure.

Elavor enters the rickety little clapboard shop with its crooked sign, Wallace Whitestone's Wonders, that looks as if it's seen better days since his last visit. Entering the shop he finds the small cluttered room well light with a bore halfling youth seated behind the counter that's decidedly not Wallace Whitestone.

"Welcome to Whitestone Wonder where we strive to meet the wanderers whims," the teen grumbles not even looking up from whatever they are reading!

In the temple down the street from Whiteston's Wonders the robed figure finishes their prayers and rise at Kiran's introduction. The figure is tall, taller than most of the town's inhabitants, and when they turn to face Kiran he finds a beautiful woman of otherness. The rare sort. Am aasimar he thinks her people are called. She has pupiless golden eyes and a mane of silvery white hair as she removes her hood to greet him.

"May the Light shine on you as well Kiran Hallowedsworn. I am Sayer Solaris keeper of the Light here in Grambler," she nods but gives no impression she knows him. Her expression is pretty inscrutable. "How may I be of service," she asks moving around to light candles spread thorough the temple in calm graceful movements as the sunsets outside.

Back at the inn the Queen nods to Ronegan but says very little. She's at the king's bedside as are the twins. Opal has her father's hand and is praying fervently not even looking up as the gnome and Ran enter. Ronegan knows it's the wasting sickness effecting the king but nothing else.

"Please rest and take care of yourselves. The boat is fine. Tge sooner we are to Ospel the better," she adds holding Onyx back when he tries to join tbe party.

Onyx nods at Ronegan and Ran but remains behind as they exits joining the others downstairs.

OOC: Let's pause at the inn until the party reconnects with Elavor and Kiran. Juggling three locales is my limit. LOL.

Kiran remains standing near the door as he speaks, "I was traveling the road from Bhil Dural to here and  was set upon by bandits, I'm afraid there were a number of casualties, and it was not safe to remain long enough to make appropriate arrangements. Would you be able to contact those in town who might be capable of such things? You would have my thanks." He turns to leave before stopping and looking curiously over his shoulder, "Out of curiosity, are you the only member of the temple here in town?"

Varen notices the courier, but keeps her apparent attention on her companions, acting as if she HADN'T yet noticed him looking over.

So inn room on pause til Elavor and Kiran return? Otherwise Varen's gonna go surprise that dude.

OOC: Yes, please. We'll say Elavor and Kiran's trip is happening while y'all sleep/gey settled in room etc... until y'all reassemble ok?

Sayer nods to Kiran looking concerned.

"I am afraid bandits are a plague in this kingdom. The Marshfield's do what they can but with most of their fighting folk sent to Ospel the problem only increases during harvest time while others capable of fighting are busy in the fields," she explains. "I will collect these fallen you speak of. We're they bathed in the Light you think," she asks curiously hitching up her robes again to move towards the back of the temple. She doesn't wait for Kiran's answer it's almost as if she's asking the question aloud to herself! "Myself and a few acolytes....tend the temple," she answers. "Some prefer the old Gods here and some no at all," she adds waving her hands as if to dismiss her words. "I shall see about wagons or carts as well as horses to retrieve these people. Most are busy with the harvest but I am sure I can find a few," she adds lingering near a back alcove that looks like the entrance to a hallway. "Good luck to you and may the Lightbringer aid your work," she adds before leaving Kiran in the temple.

It's well kept but not maintain as well as it could be, am outpost in a savage land his mentor would have said. The farther from Ospel the longer the shadow grows....

Kiran faces the altar for a long moment after she leaves, his eyes staring blankly into space, lost in thought. Then he turns and makes his way back to the inn.

Seeing the others gathered in the main room, he'll pick up a plate from the innkeeper before joining the others and being eating quietly. 

(And will wait for Elavor)

Petal nods solemnly at Rans points and tries to reassure him that she will be careful, thanking him for not judging her. 

She laughs at Varens fantastic pun, and smiles, admiring the woman for her defiance, compassion and taste in wine.

When Kiran arrives, Petal sinks into her chair wishing she could disappear - “no no that would only make things worse!” She thinks to herself

Elavor runs his fingers through his hair before entering the small shop... A haircut and a shave might be in order soon, he thinks. 

After the boy speaks; a small, short laugh escapes Elavor's lips before he can stop it "Ha!   er...   Sorry, I mean, Hello. I'm looking for something that can aid with wounds and healing. Also, any remedies or antidotes, or the such." 

Elavor scans the joint, looking for anything he might "acquire" that might be laying about... anything easily picked up and forgotten... an excuse to stretch his fingers without notice. "All right," he thinks to himself, "anything I can snag from here? "

Investigation: 10

Perception: 7

"Hello, Kiran. Find what you were seeking out in the city? Please, join us." Varen motions to an empty chair around the table. She gives Petal a reassuring glance as the gnome squirms in her chair, and takes a calm sip from her tankard.

Ronegan descends the staircase after his audience with the Queen, more troubled than he had been previously. However, the delicious smells wafting from the inn's kitchen soon distracted him. If there was one thing his people did well, it was hospitality, so by the time he arrived at the table Varen secured, he was already in much better spirits.

Taking the bitter that Varen purchased for him, he gives him a wide, grateful smile. "I hate imbibing when there's a possibility I'll be seen by the Royal Household, but I think I shall make a rather large exception tonight." He takes a large drink of the draft just as Kiran enters and as the monk sits, Ronegan will at least fill in the others about the details of the boats he, Elavor, and Petal procured and the Firstforges' determination to leave as soon as possible in the morning.

(Leaving off here for Elavor on my part.)

Elavor is saddened by the shop's state. It looks more like a lot of junk than it's a former state stocked with actual potions, tinctures, and tonics he knows the actual Wallace Whitestone would have prepared. He doesn't immediately see anything of real use.

"Aye, we have some herbalism kits if you'd be inclined. Anything...," the teen's eyes dart to the door, "anything more powerful than that," they lower their voice, "it pretty rare," they add their expression firm as they point to the kits Elavor now sees beside the counter that's halfling height and would come to about Elavor's tights.

OOC: To speed things up at the shop Elavor either can roll persuasion with advantage offering up some GP to ease the way OR can make a flat persuasion/intimidation roll with RP to gain possible secret stores at Whitestone's.

Back at the inn Barrin sees to the royal family himself as he instructs his daughter Posey to attend the party. She's a bright-eyed halfling girl with a pretty face and fleet feet. She has brought the party their orders a hearty range of stews and soups from a meat-heavy dark gravy base to a vegetable medley that's just as filling along with enough seed bread to make anyone doze off! There's plenty of ale, wine, and harder spirits flow too while Posey Cutgrass keeps an attentive eye on the party whilst helping the smallish crowd around them. Posey keeps giving Petal and Ronegan curious glances but seems utterly fascinated by swordswoman Varen.

Everyone roll perception, please.

Kiran only and anyone who rolls or has a passive perception higher than a DC 15.

Perception 16

Oof. Should have made the "advantage on wis checks" mutagen.

Petal perception 19

Petal notices something happening out back but elects to keep quiet and enjoy the delicious vegetables.

Ronnie Perception: 2

(I'm assuming Kiran doesn't need to actually roll then.)

Kiran seats himself heating a meaty stew with a few pieces of the bread and drinking plain water. He fixes Petal with his calm stare as she fidgets in her chair, "Are you nervous about something?" 

He listens to Ronegan's description of the boat they hired while he curiously watches Barrin's actions. When Ronegan takes a breath for a moment, he'll signal Posey over, "Could you ask your father to stop by for a moment?"

“Me... nervous... no sir.. not at all..” Petal struggles to remember her table manners as she tries to get a carrot on her fork, hands shaking.

Perception for Ran: 23  

With only a few rooms upstairs and Barrin saying he was going to see to the royal family himself, he is instantly on alert to what just happened in the back of the inn.

He leans quickly to Varen and tells her what he just saw and then adds “it may be nothing, he could be making a delivery for the royal family or it’s something much worse. Someone may want to make the guards are still in place.”

He then stands up and quickly exits after the man with the hood.

OOC: Kiran's passive is enough Barrin isn't being shifty but careful. The man Kiran doesn't know but if you're metagaming. Varen does, it's the courier, but she didn't notice or share... The canal boats are multiple-powered horse-drawn and poles depending on the area. You'll have space for livestock it's a flatboat. Think of a trash barge but on a smaller scale.

Petal, Ronegan, and Ran notice Barrin and a stranger exchange words as well as give them a package before the man rushes out of the tavern as if determined to be quick.

"Yes, of course, sir," Posey replies to Kiran but when she goes over to her father however they look like their arguing before Barrin walks off from the party without giving them a backward glance disappearing into an area marked 'private' as Posey returns to the table slightly red face. "Father is busy but he'll come over when he can," she adds refilling goblets and tankards from a tray she's balancing two pitchers expertly without spilling a drop!

To be fair, I thought the courier I spotted with my 24 prior was a completely separate dude from the guy doing the shady deals. Sorry! I'll keep my hands out of DM spoilers.

Anything I toss up in Italics is OOC Viper anyway. Varen didn't notice, and only reacts after Ran mentions something.

Kiran nods to Posey, "Thank you miss." And he'll stand up and go to follow Barrin without another word, ignoring any attempt to stop him.