Edge thinks about what the mayor has just said. He knows himself and he knows he is a planner and is happy to get lost in the intricacies of careful plots, but he also knows that he gets bored once everything is set in motion and that he would make a terrible guard or member of the watch.

"Edge like challenge. This big challenge. Does mayor have horse? Have six horse," Edge says, but pauses when he sees Garcis. "Maybe five horse and one pony? Walk only cover small ground. But ride cover big ground."

In Edge's mind there is little use in setting up watch in town as by then it's too late. The enemy would already be upon them. But if they can ride out from town and get the lay of the land, they may be able to find the obvious points where the enemy would come through and keep an eye on those or maybe even build some traps; elaborate traps.

Senna will take the gold and potions, she will not ask but wonder about what kind of jobs the mayor has in mind. 

We will do what we can to help find out how to cure the ill. She says to the mayor. 

Eager to investigate more on their illness she will order an ale and stay quiet most of the evening pondering if they could be poisoned somehow. Trying to determine if she can recall the Order ever speaking of such an illness inflicted upon an enemy. 

History check for recalling if she every heard the Order speak of inflicting an illness on an enemy 18

Mayor Hulmar begins fielding questions as they come in, beginning with Garcis. "Thus far there hasn't been a need, the positioning of the town was for a reason. We are midways north and south of the borders seeing any action, we are quite far to the west of the majority of the other towns and Lake Ashane is to our backs. The borders have been getting hit harder lately from reports I get, and small groups are beginning to slip through. The town was not fortified enough if we are attacked by a big enough force, or several small ones back to back, which is why you are here."

The mayor turns to Kanithar next. "So far, the biggest group we know of was seven barbarians of the horde attacking Mulptan, but that's quite a distance away, but then we have the three that made it in as far as to the west of Taporan, those were the three that attacked Ridley's carriage as she came in. That's a lot further in than I'm confortable with."

Next turning to Edge, "I'm afraid we only have a few donkeys that we use for plowing the fields currently, the plans for putting in a stables were next on the list, but we haven't started on it yet. Perhaps in time I can get some horses requisitioned from Immilmar. I'll have to get back to you on that."

The mayor turns and thanks Senna for offering to help figure out the Illness issue, "Thank you, We'll work together to solve this issue."

Kaseon: Mellinae gives you a wink as she departs, mouthing the words, "We'll see." After you turn and ask your questions, Mayor Hulmar turns his attention to you. "For the moment, we have watches covered with day and night shift guards, but that may change. We'll just have to see what the future holds. As for talking to their friends and family..." He pauses and ponders for several moments before looking back to you. "Your question brings another clue to light now that I think about it. The first case was a fisherman by the name of Madenal, which was a couple of weeks ago, the second was a guard by the name of Vergut, which was last week, and then one of the gardeners, Tanner went to Imzel last night claiming to not feel well. None of these men came here with families and pretty much kept to themselves. I'm sure we can dig up a friend here or there, but it strikes me as odd."

Senna: Thinking back to all your teachings, you remember several instances of enemies attempting to poison others to gain an easy victory, illness such as disease are rarer cases, but not unheard of in the grand scheme of things.

Eve: As you stare into the fire, you hear nothing at first..... then you make out the faint sounds of what sounds like a young child giggling but then distorts growing more adult-like before dissipating. Strangely, you can never quite make out if the voice is male or female as it often flips back and forth from one to the other. As the fire dies away, you see a small humanoid shape in the fire that seems to shrivel up and a rat quickly scurries out of the fire and attempts to crawl up into your lap and lie down.

---

As you are standing around talking to the Mayor, you begin to hear distant peals of thunder as the wind begins to kick up slightly. Moments later you distinctly hear the slowly building sounds of raindrops striking the roof of the building and the awning over the windows and door. Mayor Hulmar stands up and announces it to the crowd by saying, "Heads up people, sounds like a rainstorm coming in, can't say as we don't need it for the crops." 

Kaseon frowns at the thought that the sick people are all loners, “Thank you, you honor, I guess we’ll just have to talk to the patients themselves. I think that’s all I can think of, anyone else?”

Eve watches the flames for a while, her hopeful smile slowly disappearing as the seconds tick by...

Just as she’s about to turn back to the room, a little dejected, she hears something in her mind. A quiet giggle, then a laugh. And she sees something faint in the flames. Then a small rat scurries out of the fireplace!...

Her whole face breaks into a smile and she welcomes the little rat onto her lap where it lies down. She makes a quiet, little fuss of it, thinking: ‘Ipkiss? You found me?... I was so worried!... hmm... ...It might be dangerous here... ...We have to look after each other!.. Can you help me take care of this town? They need our help!... ...Aww...it’s so nice to see you!...”.

Eve pats her own tummy, and chest, and shoulder to see if the rat might come up and join her: maybe hiding inside her lapel; or under her hair on her shoulder; or in her hood like a hammock on her back;... ... ...Or whether it might disappear again for now...

Edge listens to everything the mayor says. He turns to the group.

”Edge think start at start. Fisherman. Maybe Edge hear wrong but think different fisherman see red light on river.” he says then thinks for a moment. “Maybe different here but Edge think red light in trees not normal.”

He appears about to say more but when he notices the sound of the rain hitting the roof he looks to the ceiling. His big smile saga and the corners of his mouth turn down. Even his shoulders slump. 

“Edge is not like get wet. Fur stay wet for long time.”

Kaseon shrugs, "I'm better with people than things, so I may nose around here a little more, get a feel for the people. And get them used to us, as well. I'd like to get them comfortable with us being strangers and trusting us with their problems so we can safeguard the town."

Garcis nods and keeps his thoughts to himself as he listens to the mayor, crossing his arms. "Perhaps we should wait for the rain to pass and then go in the morning. It would not be wise to attempt traveling in heavy rain."

"Yes. Stay inside. No need rain," says Edge. 

Then he claps his two fur covered hands together.

"Three loners sick. Why loners?" he asks. "Sick because loner or loner because sick?"

While he talks, Edge's eyes continuously scan the bar. He's not looking for anything in particular, but is always on the look out for an unusual face, odd clothing, someone very tall, someone very short. He loves what sticks out in a crowd.

Eve takes whatever brief time she may have with her imaginary friend and relishes it. She listens to the discussions around the room behind her. But at the same time she takes comfort from the thought that the wider world-unseen might not have turned it's back on her or forgotten her completely.

Senna will get another drink but will make sure she does not drink to much taking small sips. She watches the room and glances outside from time to time to see if the rain has stopped. 

She will try to get an early night, pondering about the next day and what they might find. 

The rain outside comes in waves, getting rougher one minute and then calming down the next, each wave getting progressively worse outside. The atmosphere inside stays pretty much the same, though several people are watching outside and waiting for each lull to head out in the rain for home. After a few times of this happening the crowd begins to slim down significantly as more and more of the patrons head for home to seek refuge from the coming storm until the barkeep gives a shout for the last call of the night. 

The Mayor heads up towards the door as the rain begins to calm down again for the moment and he looks over, "Remember to check in sometime tomorrow with Imzel and get yourself acquainted with the situation in the infirmary, I'd like you to check back with me some time after noon tomorrow in case of job assignments. Until then." With a nod at your party, he opens the door and heads out into the night.

Eve: Ipkiss glances back at the fire momentarily before climbing quickly up to your shoulders and hiding in your hair. You feel it shake, almost as if it were afraid before it's whiskers tickle your neck and ear as it whispers to you softly before climbing back down and disappearing into the fire once again.

Eve gets up as the Mayor makes his goodbyes, and the barkeep calls last orders. She looks around her, a little surprised that the crowds have thinned out and the evening is coming to an end already. ((who's left here? Is it just us? Any stragglers? Are Ridley and her wolf still around?))...

'Careful'... she mouths silently to no one...

She shakes her head, and quickly comes back to the present. She darts the short way from the fire to the table where Kanithar sits with his drinks (the newcomer she maybe feels safest with right now). She steps on a chair, up onto the chair-back, hops up onto the table he's at, and slides on her knees over to him. She slides very close and stops herself with both hands on his chest. Even kneeling on the table she's small compared to him, and needs to look up into his face. She looks up into his eyes ((is he drunk?)). "Kanithar, 'Be. On. Your. Guard.'...", she says earnestly... breathlessly. "Protector of Protectors, ..rally the others... keep watch!!".

And with that she stands on the table and points around the room in a big sweeping arc with one hand, over everybody's heads, muttering and pointing at the windows and doors as she does so... ((Using thaumaturgy, she makes sure any glass windows are shut; any doors are shut; and if there are any wooden shutters on the windows she pulls them almost shut leaving just arrow-slits to look out of. Or if she can only slam them she slams every other one. She dims any lights in the bar slightly)).

Kneeling back down to Kanithar, "Keep watch!", she insists again. Then she dashes to the barkeep. "We need your bar.... we are protectors of this town, arrived today. We don't have a base of operations. Can we use your bar? Now?!" ((Persuasion if needed: 24 )) "Rrruh! Gods damned it.." she growls, not waiting for a response...

From the bar she calls back to the group, "Friends, 'be on your guard and careful this very night'... 'be on your guard and careful this very night'..." she repeats........

Kaseon would spend the evening telling rousing tales, mostly fictional, of the founding of the great cities of the world, attempting to help build the confidence and determination of the townsfolk. Between tales, he’ll continue to flirt with Mellinae and press her for tales and gossip of the town.

"Yes!!.. I'm okay!" Eve says too loudly and spins at Kanithar's touch, to face him. Holding on to him slightly to steady herself.

Then quieter, "I can't explain... It's....".... She senses something from him and responds to it, leaning in and speaking more quietly still, "Maybe I'm just... 'superstitious'.... ..." she confides in him... "I see omens, see signs, I hear whispers in dark places..." Then more to everyone "I've got a strange feeling, you have to believe me! 'Tonight'... It's not just chance that we're here tonight. We have to protect the people......".

"Loners", she says, "they were all 'loners' in town.... no family, no connections..... We're all loners here. I don't know. I can't explain.... we have to stick together. Believe me.... something.... tonight...", she trails off confused... ... ...

Eve stagers a little, not really believing that Kanithar accepted her words so willingly. All the strength goes out of her and she is barely standing aside for Kanithar's arm around her. She did it, she warned them.... A tear forms in her eye and she sniffs it away, gritting her teeth... They believed her. He believed her.

She whispers over again: 'be on your guard and careful this very night'... 'be on your guard and careful this very night'...".

She looks up at Kanithar taking charge, taking her at her word... She shakes her head again as the strength comes back into her little by little.