"Maybe we could ask them for help with something? We need directions? Our wagon broke? We want to know where to buy the best fish?" Gale glances at the fishermen out of the corner of her eye to see one of them watching the group, but quickly looks back to her party. She doesn't want to be openly staring at them. "We could mention in passing that we're delivering a valuable package. We try to lure them over and get them to attack us so we aren't throwing the first blow."

"I like that idea - tell them we're delivering something valuable. Would you be able to make an illusion of something, Malcom?" He glances at Malcom before continuing. "Saying we need directions might be good but would they buy it? I think we say something's wrong with the cart."  

“Needing help with the cart is a bit more plausible too. There’s really only two directions to go out here.“ Gale crouches down and pretends to inspect one of the wheels for some non-existent damage, continuing to speak as she does so. ”Malcom, I might need you to take point on the talking here. I don’t know how well I could deceive them. I’ll come with you to help if you’d like, though.”

“Yeah, sure I can help with that...” Malcom says distractedly. “Something is wrong with our wheel... might they be able to help. Stay close Gale,” he continues. “If we get into a sticky situation, I will be needing your help.”

Without any further planning, Malcom then begins to make his way over to the fisherman. As he reaches them, Malcom gives a small wave and begins to speak, sounding a tad timid. 

“Um, hello there. Uh, hi. We’ve been traveling and a wheel of ours appears to have broken. I will admit that we don’t um have the... skills to deal with it— fix it. Would you fine folk be able to help us?” He would ask, then waiting for a response. In this time, he would take a good look at the two men, sizing them up as well.

Deception: 12 (let me know if I need to roll anything else as well)

Edit: 2nd Roll for Help: 19

Gale follows next to him and gives the ‘fishermen’ an apologetic smile. “We have an important delivery to make and we really can’t afford much of a delay. I know you two are probably busy, but if you could at least take a look?”

((Help action for advantage))

She also tries to gauge the men’s reactions to them approaching and their request.

Insight: 9

"I'll just stay back to 'guard' the cart." Sef says as Malcolm and Gayle heard towards the fisherman. He keeps a close eye on the fisherman, but also scans the surroundings now and then to keep aware of anything else is going on.  (Perception: 27)

The two men seem to look at Malcom closely as well as Gale. Both look at one another then back at Gale.

"I can take a look," the shorter man says as the taller man turns back to the water as if not wanting to engage of be bothered. "Delivery to where?" The stouter man asks.

He's human with a bald head beneath his hood and dirty somewhat shabby peasant clothing.

From Gale's assessment of the man who isn't speaking or moving to the man whose following them, the two men are hard to read. They are stone faced and are giving nothing away.

At the cart... 40ft away

Sef notices a raven come to rest on the bigger figures shoulder who remains at the shoreline of the lake. The man turns to it looking for a moment and the bird takes flight again. It then flys towards a thick line of trees ahead on the road about 60ft away from the figures but 100ft from Sef hugging the bank of the lake. There Sef notices movement, at least three distinctive shapes in the trees, after the raven flew in. He's too far away to make out anymore detail than that.

Gale drops the tension in her shoulders, smiling gratefully. "Thank you so much. We're heading to Ararosa, to some noble's villa. Owens, I think?" She looks to Malcom as if for confirmation, then chuckles lightly. "I have no idea what's in the package, but it must be important with how well he's paying."

"Right," the bald man says nodding as he moves towards the cart. "Can't say I've ever heard of an Owens," he adds.

Gale is going to need a deception check, please.

Gale simply shrugs, following him back towards the cart. "Neither had we, but hey, a job's a job. We might not get to finish it, though, if we can't get this damned wagon going again."

Deception: 18

When he notes the shapes in the trees,  Sef tries to make a mental note of the locations.  As the others head back, he kneels down near the wheel of the cart - the same Gale 'inspected' earlier.  He continues to keep an eye on the larger figure until the others are close by. (Perception: 15)

“Yeah, Owens sounds right.” Malcom adds. “Agreed, we just do what they tell us if y’know what I mean.” He says with a chuckle too. As they walk back to the cart he gives a nod of thanks to the two men. “Thank you... really. If we ever happen to come back this way, we will look for you. There will surely be enough coin to go around as thanks.”

(offers any help that is needed.)

Coming to the cart the man looks over the perfectly good wheels and then looks at the group bewildered.

"Looks fine to me," he adds making a series of hand gestures as if to bat away a bug no one else can see before his hands fall to his sides.

Sef can see the figures in the tree line moving but remain in the trees while the man at the lake turns to face the group pulling his hood back to reveal a thin but gray-skinned goliath.

"So, the reason you pulled me away from my fishing is what exactly? Even the novice with a wagon could see the wheels are sound," the stout man asks his bald head shining in the sunlight but as he grins it glints off a set of gold canines!

His hands are on his hips and as of yet, he hasn't made a hostile move.

Sef stands as the man comes near with Gale and Malcolm.  "Very sorry we bothered you. I think it was just one of the spokes loose. I think I got it fixed." (Deception: 9)

He takes a step away from the wheel, staying close to the cart. He tries to figure the gestures the bald man made, presuming them to be some sort of communication. (Insight: 7)

(OOC - not fully sure what to roll.  Thinking insight is closest to interpret intention?  Let me know if it should be something else.

The bald man nods. "What's your cargo," he asks next looking in tbe empty wagon a arched eyebrow looking over the party.

Sef can't read the man.

Gale crouches down next to the 'broken' wheel and fiddles with one of the spokes. When it stays in place, she stands and looks to Sef with raised eyebrows. "Huh. Guess it was." To the man, she shrugs. "Like I said, small package. Haven't actually opened it yet. Don't know why it's so important that he hired three of us to go with it."

"How about you let me look. I'll tell you if it's worth your hide or not," the bald man says hands still on his hips as a raven settles abruptly on his shoulder and the goliath starts making his way towards the wagon too. "Just a peek. I won't tell you uf you don't want to know," he grins his gold canines still glinting in the sunlight!

He's seems very cordial, friendly even making his statement.

Malcom looks to the others with a small frown. “I mean... I’m not sure if we should. We uh don’t know what’s in there’s and it’s probably just best to leave it alone. Thank you for your help— and the offer though. It um really does mean a lot.” He finishes with a soft smile towards the man. 

Malcom roll persuasion check with disadvantage.

The goliath is now half way to the wagon. The bald man seems expectant that his request be granted.

"You've wasted my time friends. I think my request is fair for my trouble," the bald man says before the raven takes off from his shoulder soaring away back towards the trees. "Come on. Give us a look," he adds. "I'm a simple fisherman. This things are curious to me as well as my friend," he gestures over his shoulder as the goliath approaches. "It's been a rough morning. We haven't caught a single fish," he adds scratching the side of his stubbly face. "You seem like generous people eh? Give a man a story to tell tonight over a pint. No need to fuss eh?" He says grinning.

Sef the bird is heading back to the trees where you saw the figures.

"I'm sorry - we didn't think we could get the cart fixed, but luckily we did.   We didn't mean to disrupt your fishing. But I think we should be going now." Sef tries to keep his voice calm as he speaks.  "The package we've been entrusted with will have to remain a mystery."

He takes a glance towards the trees to see if he sees anything.  (Perception:19) Then he makes as though readying himself to climb into the cart.