(BOBDUR, you can roll with advantage given your amazing wagon-fixing exploits.)

As we walk away from Rhea to join the others, Erbert says quietly to Valhik "I think before we turn in for the evening perhaps we try to do a little more investigative work.  Perhaps we can trail Jaltrim or see if he is meeting up with any of his cronies.  But it appears Noachi is making some progress with Henk, let's see if the well in this room hasn't gone dry just yet.."

Erbert sits down at the table.  "Roslin, could I have another one of those black ales as well?  Time to beat up the liver a little more, although mine processes it threefold."  He comes in on the end of the question from Noachi to Henk "Oh, I was wondering that myself Noachi, seemed unusual to me too."

(Help persuasion : 11 )

Owin endures being manhandled as he is careful not to let his glass of rye spill...

"I see, well yes I'll let you know. Checking on the intact farms would actually be a good idea....Are you thinking we should do this in the morning, then? " as Owin takes another drink ... 

Henk grins broadly and looks around, leaning in real close to Noachi, Owin, Erbert and Hurmfar. "Once you lot find the bastard that burned up on these fields, Baronness Irensor is gonna name Mister Cathwaite the new Starosta on account of the old guy's incontinence...imcotent..he's doing a bad job, Mister Cathwaite says. I'm here to sort of be the boss's right hand man and make sure these folks is listening." He whispers, winking at Noachi and placing a finger at the side of his nose. "Yup, things are sure gonna be different around here soon enough."

Roslin brings another black ale for Erbert and she raises an eyebrow as she sees Henk whispering, but she moves on quickly, busying herself with all the other farmers, flush from Hurmfar's song, who are getting another round in.

Erbert looks at Roslin and observes her actions, thinks to himself,  Was she eavesdropping on us, is she hiding something?

 He shakes this off and focuses back on Henk.  "Wow, that's got to make you feel good Henk, things are moving up for you.  Is he planning to make this change tomorrow?"

Joining the rest of the party at the bar. Valhik recognizes that most of his new companions do not appear to be in the mood for turning in early. Offering the rest of the Feolin Red to any who so desire it, he announces his decision to retire. "I am thinking that our given deadline of one day does not lend itself well to a late night beforehand and regrets tomorrow. At least not for me."

(Would like to see if as part of taking a long rest for the evening, can Valhik attempt to use his alchemist's supplies to make one dose of acid, which could then be applied to the tip of a crossbow bolt?)

(Valhik -- if you're turning in now,  you can absolutely take the time to brew up a dose of acid for a bolt. Give me an INT roll + proficiency for the alchemical supply.)

Henk shrugs at Erbert. "I don't know. That's up to the boss. I think he wants the firebug wrapped up before he makes it official like. People still like the old guy and we got to make a splash."

You can't really tell what Roslin heard or if she was actively eavesdropping. She's been busy with most of the locals, and right now, she's over at Rhea's booth, helping the ailing human stand and starting to guide her towards the door.

Henk giggles a little and you see his unique pinkish-purple complexion turns a bright violet as Noachi winks at him. He looks down at his cider and bobs his head. "Its nice. Everything is nice here. I...I never been in a place this small and quiet. Rexxentrum is always so loud, and big, and so...much. But I guess there's just as much bad here as there is there, right? Otherwise, someone wouldn't be burning the fields. Meh, I don't like thinking too much about stuff like this. Makes my head hurt." He drains his cider and scraps a few stray pieces of lettuce onto his fork and eats them, finishing his plate.

Noachi -- you have Henk's number pretty well. He seems to be totally honest about the Empire's plans for Felderwin and Cathwaite's leading role. You do notice that the half-orc, as scrupulous and open he has been about almost everything, he pointedly did not share many thoughts about Senior Agronomist Cathwaite  or his opinions on the man.

Erbert remains quiet, thinks about Baroness Jenna Irensor, has been mentioned a couple of times during our conversations.  He searches the filing cabinet of his brain and using his skills as a sage as well tries to recall all that he can about the Baroness and her motivations in light of the information from Henk.  

History :  26

Erbert -- You would know a fair amount about Baronness Irensor since she is one of the most powerful mages in the Empire and basically the equivalent of a Minister of Trade/Secretary of Commerce, serving as the Assembly's Archmage of Industry. She is the youngest member of the Assembly by decades and seems to have come out of nowhere -- not having attended Soltryce Academy --typically considered a pipeline for the most gifted wizards and sorcerers in the Empire. She has a reputation for being very eccentric and often distracted, but she also has an unparalleled brilliance for keeping track of all manner of production throughout the Empire. You've also heard rumors that she is bristling at her limited portfolio as the Archmage of Industry and is trying to position herself as a replacement for Doolan Tversky, the Archmage of Dysology, whose portfolio involves studying magical creatures and other arcane magic that may threaten the Empire. A powerful, if erratic, person to have as a superior.

Hurmfar shakes his head at all the intrigue and subterfuge in the politics of this area.

"This is too complicated. Back home if someone up to high doh and acting all dafty," he begins, "the clan laird just tells them to get away and boil their head and if that don't work a couple smacks around the noggin settles things down."

He stands and rolls his shoulders and shakes out his arms, flexing his fingers at the end.

"If we're short on time let's get started. Hey love," Hurmfar calls over to Roslin, "that Jaltrim fellow that was in here before, where can we find him."

 (Ouch. Looks like I had too much wine.)

Valhik, you spend about an hour tinkering and just as you go to apply the acid to the bolt, your hand slips and you accidentally drip the acid to far down, burning and singeing the tip of the bolt and leaving a distinct chemical acidic odor that is very familiar to you but will be very unpleasant to Owin, your roommate when he makes his way upstairs.

Downstairs, the night is winding down a bit and some of the farmers are beginning to clear out. Rhea has already left, and there are maybe a half-dozen or so others still hanging about. Roslin comes over to you all.

"Depends love. His wife is the town doctor, so he's either there or he's on his way back to his place. He's got a spread just under an hour from here. Go back the way y'all came and when y'all come to the first crossroads, go right. Can't miss it. Across the Stump Ranch. That place caught the first fire too." She looks at you all and sighs, putting down a glass. "Listen, I didn't want to mention it to y'all, being representatives of the government and all, but... We've been having a wolf problem lately. No one knows why, but there's a pack that's attacking livestock in the Tillage. We haven't had a wolf problem in decades, but...well, this pack is different. Kind of seems spooked by something, you know?" She mops the heavy oaken bar in front of you all, without looking at you. "If'n you're all fixing to travel through the Tillage tonight, just be careful, is all."

"Perhaps it was something in that leek-and-cod stew or just some itch that I can't seem to scratch, but I still feel wide awake"  Erbert says, in a low voice to his companions.  "Why don't we go rouse Valhik and Owin out of bed and take a trip to the Jaltrim farm, we might uncover more at night, if we are all careful and quiet.  No bagpipes please on this trip, Hurmfar.  What do you say?  Are you ready to hunt down some more clues?"  Erbert readies his pack and straightens his gear, and looks each of you in the eye to gauge your thoughts.

"I could stretch me legs if you want to go nosing about," Hurmfar says to Erbert. "I'll stow the pipes first."

He looks over to Roslin.

"His nibs mentioned we'd have somewhere here to lay our heads down. Could you point me the way, love, so I can stow a few things?"

Owin gives an exaggerated "Ahem" and stands up from his spot at the end of the bar...

"Wolves are usually out in a pack hunting wild animals, and leave folk alone. If they've been attacking people, it's never a good sign. Let's find out what that's about, and who knows what else we might glean?" 

Roslin jerks her thumb to the stairs. "All your rooms are upstairs, love. First door at the top of the stairs is the bridal suite. Ginger nuts has that one. Your man there has the second room" she indicates Henk, "The lady is room 3, Hurmfar, you and the weird gnome, she looks at Erbert "no offense love, are in room 4, and the cute gnome and the human are at the end of the hall."

At this point, its probably between seven and eight at night. The rain has stopped, leaving the roads muddy, but probably more passable in person than via wagon. The moon of Catha is currently waning, while Ruidus, the second moon is full tonight, its ruddy glow giving Felderwin and the night a slightly reddish hue that makes it seem a little otherworldly.

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