Trinlena bustles out of the kitchen with a couple large platters of food.  She sets them down on a nearby large table, huffing as if she couldn't possibly carry them all the way to the table or the coffee table by the fire. 

"You can all get your dinner and snacks from here.  Rooms are set up."  She drops labeled room keys for the party onto the table before heading upstairs with a wink.  "No trouble-making boys, we know where you live, or at least where you're sleeping tonight!"

Tolbren is tidying up behind the bar, and glances fondly at his wife as she makes her way upstairs.

"Last call for you all." Tobren calls, and comes out from around the bar with a good bottle of red wine.  Perhaps Gabriel knows the year and vintage.

The innkeeper also places down a pitcher of water, alongside the platters of food left by his wife.  "I best be getting upstairs.  I don't want to see any of you walking the streets at this time, so Mr. Wester, Daran, Lanar, be free to kick up on a couch, not sure if we have spare rooms with this lot showing up, but..." he grimaces, and shakes his head.  "Shame, shame it is, state of affairs here that I fear for a man walking to his own home."

Mr. Harbin Wester seems about to take offence, but by the time he has managed to get up, the Innkeeper has disappeared up the stairs.

Sildar chuckles.  "Mr. Wester nowadays is it?  Let us have some meat and wine.  It may be high time for me to take a post of this sort myself.  The Lord's Alliance is not pleased with the way this new and promising outpost seems to be constantly overrun, goods stolen.  But please, enjoy this feast and a glass of wine, on the the Lord's tab."

Sildar smiles unpleasantly at the Townmaster.

"So, Daran is it, what is this other issue." Kathrine asks as she looks to the half-elf. "We are around for a bit, though we need to look into seeking out a certain dwarf that might have been kidnapped to a place called Cragmaw Castle, but there should be time to look into multiple things I would think." She keeps her voice polite and respectful, even when Sildar speaks roughly to the town master.

Cringer frowns as the halfling leaves. "Cringer not know safe..." He mutters to himself, but stays put as he hears more about the bully-men who are causing problems for the town.

Daran also glances over when the halfling leaves.  "Q knows to keep to the shadows and outwit them I trust."

"Yes Lady.  I believe I can answer any questions you have." Daran murmurs to her.

As the Townmaster struggles to his feet, Daran gives a tilt of his head towards the so-called Mayor of Phandalin.  He offerers a hand as Katherine rises. 

"I am retired now." He speaks loudly, for all to hear.  "Visit my orchard tomorrow if you wish.  I have a small cottage there."

"I do hope you visit me Lady." Daran says in a quieter tone.  "We may have things to discuss."  He raises the hand he has helped her up with and gives a quick brush of lips, before turning to the door.

"Don't worry about me, my fellow adventures."  His voice resonates.  "The bandits out there have had a few beatings and now give me a wide berth." The half-elf winks as he exits the Inn.

"Stuff and such!" blusters the Townmaster as he makes his way to the table of food.  "Getting above himself, that one, making rumours.  Just a mercenary guild in town."

Harbin makes it to the platters of food, sits himself down loudly, and begins to eat your food.

"Well Townmaster Harbin, I presume you won't have any issues walking back to your home after eating some food with us." Kathrine says sweetly, taking a seat near the town master. "If it is just a mercenary guild, then shouldn't prove any danger to such an important man as yourself, right."

"And if you would prefer to stay here tonight, I would be happy to sleep downstairs and let you use my room. I can't count the number of times I've fallen asleep in an armchair next to a fire, a book in my hand." Alarion offers, his smile completely genuine.

Katherine's kind sentiment seems to make no dent in the man's voracious wolfing of the cheese, meats, and pickled things on the platter.

Alarion's comment takes him aback.  "Well, Sir, I could never..."  the large man stands up and moves faster than you've seen before now to pick up a key, saying "If you insist, really, no need..." his voice fades away as he disappears up the stairs.

At least there's some food left.

Grzak finally makes his way to the table to pick over the left-overs. He’s been listening in but hasn’t felt the need to interject, to this point. As he fills a plate, he still looks back to his belongings, not wanting to be caught off-guard should trouble burst through the door. He will fill a glass/mug with water and carry his meal back to his seat, in silence.

If he catches Sildar’s attention, he will thank him for the meal.

Alarion sits back and pulls out his book. It is a thick book with black cover and gilded pages, and the spine declares the book to be The Night's Embrace by Ergil Emberwhirl. He opens it to about a third of the way in and begins reading. (OOC: If anyone wants to chat with him, especially about the book, he would be happy to chat.)

In the silence that follows, you hear the soft snoring of Lanar, the young man, who has curled up by the fire wrapped in his cloak.

The fire pops and crackles, and then subsides to a low flame.  Eat, drink, discuss, sleep.  No wandering monster checks tonight ;)

Recap of Inn characters:

Toblen Stonehill:  Innkeeper
Trilena Stonehill:  his wife (and manager? lol)
Daran Edermath:  half-elf who invited you to visit his orchard
Harbin Wester:  'Townmaster'
Narth:  farmer who has slid to the floor, still dead to the world but breathing
Lanar:  nice young miner
Qelline Alderleaf:  halfling who said something about his son having seen something, but then rushed home.

...and read, of course.  Never was there a greater author than Ergil Emberwhirl, I'm sure.

Sildar must have slipped away, there are only four keys left on the table for the six guest rooms.

Kathrine sits down and has some food, then would retire to her room. Cringer would curl up in a ball outside of Kathrine's room, sleeping on the floor and keepingn guard of the 'Pretty Lady's' door.

Gabriel opens the bottle, slowly inhaling the scent, "Cormyrian 1453 a good year, you can tell by the sweetness of the Suzail grapes." He looks a glass for himself, and then one for Cringer, Sildar, Grazk and Alarion. "Have a glass my friends."

"So Redbrands? Do they have a place they frequent, or any place we can find them?"

Alarion politely declines the glass.

(I think only Gabriel, Alarion and Grzak are still downstairs)

(Woops missed the post of Katherine and Cringer heading up stair, thanks for the catch, and saving Gabriel two glasses of wine hehe.)

Grzak tries but mostly fails to appreciate the body and bouquet of the wine. Perhaps his pallet wasn't sufficiently cleansed.

Alarion says "I believe Mr. Alderleaf knows more than he's letting on about the Redbrands. Tomorrow, we should, despite the common saying, split up and investigate the various problems around town. (OOC: Assuming we compared information before Kathrine and Cringer went upstairs.) 

Kathrine and Cringer can go speak with Mr. Edermath, you two can investigate the orcish threat, and I can speak to the Alderleafs and, if I have time, go try to find this sister Garaele. I do not think that the Redbrands would be so bold as to attack any of us in broad daylight, and, even if they do, I have my magic to protect myself, and the rest of you are all capable in combat. Is that a sound plan? Do you have any suggestions?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me. We can sleep on it and discuss is at breakfast." Gabriel will finish his glass of wine grab one of the reaming keys and head upstairs to bed.