“No. Nearly reaching out a hand. Lyrics seemed distressed at the mention of him and I wondered if I might help. I am Fenro. I have come to study under the guidance of the priests of Galor, but he has yet to arrive.”

"I see. Well, it seems to me that we have some time to kill. How about we mosey on over here and relax a bit?"

Aramae would put his arms over Lyrika's and Fenro's shoulders, ushering them over to a bench or something out of earshot of the dwarf at the temple and any passers-by, deliberately leaving Edgar to his own devices.

Leaning his head towards Lyrika, he says, "Don't worry, my dear. I will do my utmost to keep you from any unpleasantness with that man who shall arrive here. We shall keep out of sight."

Switching to Fenro, "And you, my friend, are also waiting for someone as well. Unless you are in a hurry to be somewhere, I do hope you keep us company. I too have somewhere I seek to see at some point, but have no need to rush off so quickly. So, let us take a moment to sit down and relax, have some wonderful conversation, and perhaps experience more of this festival before heading off to various places."

Lyrika sighed.  "Well, I may as well bore you with the whole story..." She starts strumming her lyre again.

"When the great Count Vaclav Jezek found a lady willing to be wed,
He planned an enormous wedding, and to his minions said,
'Gather each actor, juggler and bard
We're going to party, and party hard!
Send invitations! Clean up the guard!
"Now go do it!" and they all hopped to it.;

"Now one of the bards was Lyrika, a satyr of great reknown.
Her beauty and talent and modesty were known all the country round!
The messenger kicked her out of bed,
And the invitation loudly read,
"Sing at my wedding!" the parchment said.
"Now go do it!" and Lyrika hopped to it.

The wedding would be packed with guests, and with so many others,
Lyrika thought that nobody would notice her seven brothers!
"In the pantry you must hide,
Lyrika said, "And stay inside,
Till all those nobles are pie-eyed.
Now go do it!" and the brothers hopped to it.

In the pantry the brothers hid, behind the wine and gin.
Until a most enormous cart was wheeled and locked within.
On it stood an enormous cake.
"Would it hurt, a taste to take?"
"And a little wine our thirst to slake!"
"Brothers, let's do it!" and they hopped to it.

The wedding was a great event, of much magnificence
The Count called for his wedding cake, all waited in suspense.
The cooks, they stood in great dismay,
Staring at the giant tray.
"We must bring it out anyway!
Now let's do it!" and the cooks hopped to it.

The cooks wheeled out the giant plate, what a state of affairs!
On it lay seven satyr lads, drunk and snoring like bears!
The count turned white as fallen snow.
"Into the dungeon they must go,
Till they work off all they owe!
Now go do it!" and the guards hopped to it.

"Have mercy!" Lyrika cried "My lord, work really isn't their thing."
The count was in a temper, though, his wrath was unwavering!
"Someone must pay for the cake and wine,
And the humiliation that's been mine.
YOU may try to pay their fine!
Now go do it!" and Lyrika...is still hopping to it."

Lyrika lays down her harp. "Darn Ajax, Ambroos, Arastoo, Argus, Artyom, Atreo and Zaan, anyway! It's almost hard to feel sorry for them, working in the Count's fields. All they had to do was not eat the cake, at least not until later. But anyway, I really don't want to see the count until I'm closer to having the coin to bail my stupid brothers out."

"Ah, a rambunctious rabble of bombastic brothers. I see why you would wish to avoid the count. Perhaps your family shall learn a lesson now. But either way, I do enjoy your manner of telling a story. I assure you I will assist in any way I am able to aid in alleviating all of your undoubtedly astounding debts. I cannot say I know how to deal with such rowdy siblings, being an only child as I am."

" Wow. Ok. So that was quite a story. Though I must ask, if the brothers are in the dungeon, how does the count expect them to work off their debt? Does he march them out every day to the fields and then back again every night? Surely he knows that nothing works as well under duress as when it is an environment that nurtures it and encourages it to grow? How much is this debt anyway? Surely a few cakes can not be that much?"

"It may not so much be about the amount of coin as it is that the count feels wronged. I cannot imagine this man being so desperate for coin that he feels the need to impose a high debt. My theory is, if it is a high amount of coin, it is not to pay for some desserts but rather to satiate his ego."

"It was...a REALLY impressive cake," says Lyrika. "And they drank ten bottles of his best wine. And disrupted his wedding.  So, they owe 1500 gold. And yes, until it's paid, they are marched out to the fields to work every day. I'm not sure if they are in the actual dungeon, or more likely, locked up at the farm."

"And from the sound of things, their work is not taking any away from the total. Otherwise it would be merely a matter of time before they were released. A sizable amount of money, to be sure. I have not seen such wealth in all my time in the trade business."

"I've heard that bards and adventurers rake in the gold," Lyrika said. "That's why I'm out here. That and looking for the ultimate party, that is. If you are traders, maybe we could find some lucrative trade deals where less brave, clever and resourceful traders don't dare to tread."  She tuned a couple of strings on the lyre, thoughtfully. "Maybe you SHOULD talk to the count. It would be kind of amusing to pay him off with his own coin."

Aramae just grins.

"Indeed. Paying for the release of his own prisoners. Well, perhaps a conversation could be useful. But that's jumping ahead. The count has to arrive first."

The dwarf pipes in from behind you. "Well, if you're going to speak to him then the bard competition is the best place. And with stories like yours miss, I would say you should probably enter."

"I'm planning to," says Lyrika. "I have to figure out what to sing, though. That last song might be a poor choice, if we want the count in a good mood for business purposes."

Edgar come laughing out of the forge. “Who do we have here? Another member of our crew?” He put out a hand toward Fenor “Top of the morning to you or what ever you humans say to each other, I’m Shadow of a Star, but you can call me Edgar or Shadow but don’t call me ‘Cat’..” he give him a wide grin and his tail is whipping from side to side. “I don’t know what the others have told you but we’re a newly formed adventureing team. Me and Ara goes way back but we just met up with Lyrika today, she is a bard and will play forbidden stories for us on the road! We’ll try the group out for a while and then head down to Talgilak to follow up on a lead.”

Fenro takes the offered hand without any thought. "I'm sorry, top of the... I am Fenro. I just ran into your friend here after spending a bit of time in the service of Molkainen. I had actually hoped to consult the priests of Galor, but they wont be here until the morrow. For today, I guess I have some time to explore the city." Still holding his hand, he continues, "What exactly is an adventuring team?" 

"Ah, Edgar, always one to try to impress, but without the silver tongue to back it up. Talgilak, you say? Discussions for later! For now, we give our ears the treat of a lifetime by attending the bard's competition! And once Lyrika wins it, we celebrate like kings!"

Aramae once again puts his arms around Fenro and Lyrika, giving Edgar's rear end a slap with his tail before he does, casting message to him once more.

'As soon as you see the count, follow and listen. But keep yourself hidden, this man does not seem the friendliest fellow.'

As the day slips towards evening you all make your way back to the central square to see the tent is now fully set up. 

Lyrika finds the registration table and easily puts her name down after strumming a few chords to prove that she can actually play. You're ushered away from your friends to a back entrance. There you see a collection of others. There are four humans and a gnome that you don't recognize. There is also a halfling that you do recognize, Lord Halffield, quite a famous name in the area and stiff competition.

Edgar, Aramae, and Fenro: You all make your way to the front entrance, there more guards in brass armor seem to be searching everyone as they enter. You make your way up to a table with a young dwarf seated behind it. "Entrance is two copper and you need to surrender your weapons. You'll get a ticket and you can pick them up after the show." 

Lyrika waits for the event to start, nervously tinkering with her lyre to make sure it's in perfect tune, and scoping out the competition. She still has no idea which ballad she should sing.

"I understand, here you are. Good on you for diligent security."

Aramae places his daggers on the table and pockets his ticket.

Edgar follow Lyrika at a distance, watching where she enters, and try to sneak in the same way.

if the guard try to stop him “Oy I’m with that Satyr. We’re a duo, I’ll play viol to back her up.” And hold up a violin. 

stealth: 23

persuation or deception: 5

You quiet easily sneak past the guards who aren't looking for anyone at this entrance apparently. One of the other competitors gives you a glance but accepts your exploration easily enough.