Casting message once more to Edgar.

'We don't. We follow. Or rather, you do. Go post yourself in the shadows outside when you are ready. I would be horrible at tailing someone, I think we can agree. My attire alone makes me stand out everywhere.'

Aramae casts Message to Lyrika this time.

'At some point, Edgar is going to head outside and wait for the dark dwarven men currently sitting in the corner. Edgar feels they are shifty and I can't help but agree. You are able to respond to me once through this spell, in case you were not aware.'

Aramae then stands up and bids the barkeep a pleasant night and walks out the door to look for Oryxis and Fenro, heading to the tent if he doesn't see them nearby.

You see the two of them heading up the street towards you.

Edgar will continue to talk to the barkeep and Lyrika until the dwarves gets ready to leave. Then he will leave just before they do. 

Aramae quickly strides over to them.

He keeps his voice quiet, unusual for the boisterous man he usually is.

"Ah, hello. I am sure you have valuable information to give, but that can wait. At some point, Edgar is going to come out of that tavern there and hide. He had spotted two dwarven men who looked very peculiar. As the stealthiest fellow I know, I think he is perfect for silently pursuing them. Maybe those two do not know anything, but perhaps they can lead us to those that do. Lyrika and Edgar are still inside. I will head back inside now, but wait a few moments before you enter. Let's give the illusion of us not being together for the moment."

Aramae walks away from them with a smile and walks back into the tavern and takes his seat with Edgar and Lyrika.

Oryxis and Fenro make their way to the tavern as well. Talking to the guards was best done once they had gathered more evidence, and so far all that they'd gotten were some indications that pointed in many different directions. Nothing definitive to be sure.

At Aramae's request, Oryxis waited outside for a minute or two, before heading inside as well. Heading over to the bar, he puts his heavy forearms on the counter: "A glass of milk, if you don't mind. I know I'm new here, but let's cut to the chase... what've you heard about the events this afternoon?"

The dwarven bartender looks around under the bar for a moment before resurfacing with a clean glass and some milk which he pours into it. "One copper my large friend. And yes, it's hard not to hear about the attempted assassination of a member of royalty within your own city. It's all anyone's been talking about." 

Lyrika responds to the message. "Thanks for the warning, I won't ask where he's going." She continues alternately singing and trying to sweet talk the bartender out of free stuff.

Oryxis pays the bartender a silver: "The rest is for you, if you're willing to keep talking to me. What are people saying then? I've heard we weren't the only city that was attacked."

Insight, to try and read the dwarf's reaction at that bit of news: 10

He looks a bit shocked, turning from where he's mostly been letting Lyrika talk to herself. "Where'd you hear that? I've just been in the bar and all I know is that people said there was a bunch of folks who attacked the AEthling. People been saying that a couple of giants with some pet cats fought them off." 

Edgar, you notice the dwarf that you've been watching finish up his drink. He says goodbye to a couple of others at the bar and then him and a friend walk out the door.

When Edgar sees them getting ready to leave he will stand up and get ready. “Well if you are not going to keep open much longer there is no point in me waiting for the party to start. Thank you for the drink.” He say his good goodby to Lyrika and slinks out the door. 

When outside he will quickly climb a building and pull up his black hood and wait for the two dwarves to exit the building. 

stealth? 18

You perch up above the doorway of a nearby flower shop, quite confident that you're well hidden. The dwarves wander into the street, chatting a bit too loudly about how the festival is ruined and now all the pretty ladies who came to town will go home. They both stumble a bit as they walk, bumping into each other and laughing quite a bit. They head towards the western edge of the city.

Edgar will follow from the rooftops, listening to what the two drunkards are saying. 

Oryxis returns to his conversation with the barkeep after the dwarves leave: "Sharp fellow such as you probably figured it's no surprise then that a giant and several big cats come strolling in here then... Truth be told, I wasn't planning on saving the Æthling, when I got up this morning, but..." he takes a sip, waiting for his words to sink in: "My friends and I don't want the attention, you see? So if you could tell me who it was that told you we helped keep the Æthling safe, I can go and ask them to keep things under wraps, and instead buying my friends a drink, if they want to show their appreciation."

Oryxis is trying to come of as mildly boastful, and jovial. He's actually trying to find out which of the patrons here had been at the festival, as some of them might have additional information.

Persuasion: 7

The dwarf looks quite surprised at what you just said. "Well, whatever your reasons i have to say thank you for saving Lady Avena." He slides back your money. "You drink free in this bar my friends. As for who told me about it. Well her, him, her, her, him too. Well pretty much everyone. It's the talk of the city. Now what's this about other cities?" He points around to almost everyone in the bar. 

Edgar, you follow for quite a ways, still just hearing them complain about how the women will be leaving. Eventually they get to a small house near the city walls where the other dwarf  says goodbye and the tattooed fellow enters.

Aramae's ears twitch at the mention of eating free.

"Well I shall take advantage of your generosity and have one ale for the road, my good man. Thank you very much."

After he finishes his drink, he stands up and holds out his arm to Lyrika.

"Shall we go see another late night sight or would you rather go straight to our fancy lodgings?"

"Well, it might be worth seeing if there are any taverns NOT closing early," Lyrika says. "Those might be just the sorts of places  suspicious characters would hang out. Otherwise, I'm fine with starting my oversleeping early."

"Very well. But I do wish to check up on Edgar first. Sly and sleuthy fellow he is, it's not going to be easy to find him. Well, he does know where we are going to be so we can wait for him there."

Aramae walks with Lyrika towards the Knights Rest, stopping if something happens on the way.

Fenro follow his companions into the establishment but doesn't immediately make his way to the bar. Instead, he finds a seat near the door where he sits down to relax. In his mind he plays through the information they have heard so far and what he has seen, trying to piece together what to do from here. As he did so a few questions came to mind that he needed to have answered. First, if the attack had been successful, who would have stepped in to take over the void? Second, Why did those guards leave right before everything went down? Third, Was there some connection with the Count? Someone of his station being in the possession of magical items wasn't unheard of, but something, the bird in particular, still felt off. Hopefully, the others would have some information to add to the story, but the rest would have to be followed up in the morning.

As he looks around the room Fenro notices that some of the group are still missing. Strange, he thought they had headed this way.

As Aramae and Lyrika headed out, they would likely run into Fenro and inform him of everything.

"My apologies Fenro, but this tavern is nearly closing, so enjoy it while you can. We are heading to the Knight's Rest."

Those of you who wish to make your way to the Knights Rest. You find it nestled on the outside of the wall of the keep, next to the river that flows through the city. It's a three story building made entirely of a dark brown wood. Inside the common room is quiet, only a dwarven bartender who seems to be clearing up after a few stray tables. He looks up at you. "Hello. Can I help you? Bar's closed but we have some rooms available for rent."