"Does this Quentin live nearby?" Owin asks... 

(Does Owin trust Deke's portrayal of the events?? INSIGHT: 3 )

Valhik listens as Deke and Selecha tell their stories. Noting the shiftiness with which the farmhands agree with everything, he waits until everyone else's questions have been answered.

"And you two, have you tongues? Have you seen anything else apart from your good employers here? So far we've learned nothing more here than we were told in town but every person's story contains a unique perspective which might add up to something, even if you don't realize its something."

Erbert starts walking around the room, rubbing his chin, and musing out loud.  "A distillery you say?  Interesting, I might like to have a small taste of your whiskey if it is so good, perhaps a nightcap for this most odd evening.  I would sure like to speak with this Quentin chap as well.  Do you know where he might be?  Also, does Almeah know anything about this, has she seen anyone lurking about?"

Erbert stops his pacing suddenly and looks straight at Deke.  "I heard you at the Hearth and Plow loudly talking about the war and the Empire, what do you mean "this war shite is propaganda?  Any thoughts you have about how that may relate to what is going on here?"

As he is pacing through the room and spouting off questions, musings, he's subtly looking throughout the house for signs of arson, or anything that doesn't belong.  

Investigation : 19

Deke sighs. "Quentin is the Stumps' kid. Young'un, maybe 14 or 15. His sister got caught up in the war propaganda and enlisted in the Imperial Army when the war broke out. I'd be a right little bastard if that happened to me, too. The only other place that went up other than our farm, so far, is the Lord Wrigley Dapperton's spread on the other side of Felderwin. Dapperton is some bigshot muckety-muck at King Dwendil's Court. He relies on local folks to run the place for him. His place went up after Rhea's, but before mine. Three days back. Doubt he even knows. Or cares."

Owin, as you watch Deke, you conclude he's either a great actor or he believes what he told you -- he's making eye contact, his story doesn't sound rehearsed or pat. He's drunk so that might explain the garbling of at least some of the details

The two farmhands start and look at each other as Valhik addresses them. Finally, Wilber, a tall, lanky dark-skinned man with long black hair tied up into a topknot, speaks. "We're from here. We grew up with Selencha, and we were only too happy to help her and Deke here when they arrived. The pay's good, we get a roof over our heads, and all we can drink. Not many folk who don't own their own place can say that."

Thom, who's short, squat and has blonde hair that is so pale that its almost white nods his agreement. Even though he's human, he's almost dwarven in size. "Folks is getting suspicious of one another. Ain't seen nothing like it in Felderwin afore. If your fixin' to ask me, I don't think its one of us anyway. There's this halfling bumming around town spewing some garbage about The Traveler and the joy of chaos. This sure as hell is chaotic to me, brother."

As soon as Erbert asks his questions about Almeah and Deke's previous comments, the big farmer stands up. "Now, now, we answered your questions. You ain't talking to my daughter, and my opinions are my own. Unless you're here investigating that, I think its time the lot of you go on and git." His fingers drum the top of his large two-handed club menacingly.

The room smells strongly of smoke and is colder than normal, as though someone had been trying to air the smell out. As you look a little closer at the kitchen table you all are huddled around, you do see a strange document poking out from under some farm equipment catalogs. It is a piece of parchment with a crudely drawn lock on it and a key floating next to the lock, as though its about to undo the lock.

Selencha stands up and bows her head gratefully to Noachi. "Thank ye, love. If you could just...keep Deke's drunken ramblings about the Empire and the war to yerselves, it would be much appreciated. He's a good man. The past year, between poor poor Bryn, our home in Alfield, and now the farm..." She sighs. "It's been a hard year."

A look of tenderness passes between husband and wife. "Yeah...I don't mean nothing by it.I'm just drunk." Deke seems to be turning more and more morose.

The two farmhands come over to support the swaying Deke. "We'll get him to bed, Selencha." Thom says, draping the big farmer's arm over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help. Whoever is doing this, sowing this fear and discord in this little town, is truly wicked."

"Sorry again for the trouble this evening. I thank you for patching me up, and for the information. Good evening to you" Owin says to the couple... 

"I'll meet the rest of you outside, and we can discuss where we are heading from here. Let's give these people some rest... " he says to his companions as he moves towards the door... 

"Indeed. We are sorry to have disturbed your evening fine folk. If it be any consolation, know that although it is true those in power often care little for those they wield that power over, we ourselves work solely for the purpose of aiding those poor unfortunates to the best of our ability. May the gods and goddesses see you better in the days to come."

As he leaves the room, headed back out into the eerie dark the gnome turns to Noachi and says "Yes, this strange priest is the only truly new bit of knowledge we have found this evening. I agree it warrants a closer look. The people back in town should be able to direct us to their whereabouts."

"I , for one, wouldn't turn down a good night's rest." Owin says, over hearing their conversation just outside the door...

Hurmfar nods his farewells and sings a couple of notes of a dwarven lullaby to Deke as he's helped away.

"You are me gemstone; me only gemstone. You make me happy through dreary days; You'll never know how much I love you, Please, don't take me gemstone away."

Then he heads off to join the others outside.

"Aye, the wee halfling might know something," Hurmfar says then pauses. "Any of you know anything about shapeshifters? Ain't no one putting eyes on the same suspect."

Hurmfar must be next to say his goodbyes, Erbert waits and tries to time it perfectly.  When he starts to speak, unless he obviously recognizes a thing such as this parchment, lock and key, he waits until Hurmfar is talking and they are distracted, he then reaches out to the key, pushes it down into the lock, and turns it.  He can’t help himself, there is no hope of containing his curiosity.

He does this while he is still in the room (sorry for simulpost).

(Erbert -- its a drawing of a lock and key. You can make a history check to see if you recognize it.)

History check of lock and key :  10

Erbert -- you recall rumors that a group of nobles in Rexxentrum had recently been suspected of secretly funding an underground intelligence network known as "The Locksmiths" that has long been associated with unrest through the capital of the Dwendalian Empire. This group supposedly seeks to curb the power of the Cereberus Assembly and instead replace it with a democratically elected advisory council that would in effect transform the Empire into a sort of Parliamentary Monarchy. Since so many rebellions against the Empire have already been crushed, details are scare on the ground, but you do recall news from a few months ago that Righteous Brand soldiers had claimed to "break the back" of the Locksmiths after a series of arrests in the nearby city of Zadash.

Erbert says “Pardon me a minute.” to no one in particular in the room.  He shouts out to Owin, Hurmfar, Noachi and Valhik, in a fairly loud voice (with minor illusion if needed) - “Hey guys, hold up, please come back in the house, there is something we need to talk about in here, something you need to see.”

He stands with his body in between the letter on the table and the Jaltrims.

Hurmfar looks back to the house. 

"What's that toaty bastard up to now?" Hurmfar asks. "Gnomes and their curiosity."

He sticks his head back in to see what Erbert is on about. 

Selencha looks at Erbert politely, uncomprehending. "Are ye be needing anything else? Ye can see me in my office in town tomorrow. We already told ye all we know about the fires."

Wilber and Thom come back into the living area. Wilber looks at the woman, then back at Erbert. "Everything okay, Selencha?" He says cautiously.

Owin comes back into the house, standing inside the door way... "Erbert, we've put these fine people out enough for one evening, I'm sure it'd be best if we were on our way."