"Yeah?" the blonde puzzles at Gale's response. 

The boy returns with six sets of manacles. 

"The colors? Yeah," the other boy nods. "I'm an apprentice smith just like them for the law master and the guard," he explains. "That just says you're a bounty hunter at the Empire's behest. You aren't exactly the law if you know what I mean and plenty of people won't listen to you regardless of the color of your badge. Like I said wearing it means you are with the Empire. The bounty badges mean you can arrest folks and wield weapons with some authority of the Empire," he finishes. "Good luck," he then says smiling as another of the smith's call for the boys to get back to work.

As the boy returns with the manacles, Sef steps forward to grab one. "Half of us take one set, the other two take two sets?" he asks the others of his group.  As the boys get called away, he thanks them, before starting to head back out. "Perhaps we should find a quiet place to talk over our plans for going after those bandits?" 

Malcolm silently puts on the medallion and accepts a single pair of manacles. “I’ll take one pair.” He says. “Strength... and being up close and personal isn’t my strong suit. Best to go to Ruz... and Gale.” Malcolm then gives a nod to Sef’s suggestion. “Yes, let’s. We need to decide the best course of action and develop a plan. Somewhere quiet would be best...”

The party could go back to their rooms at the inn or find somewhere on the street to talk with a little looking around to find a more private spot.

OOC: Investigation rolls; anyone or someone can give the help action.

As he walks, Sef looks for a spot away from any crowd and they could likely notice anyone if they tried to listen in. 

(Investigation: 16.  2nd roll if someone provides HELP action: 26)

Ruz will help Sef, of course

Sef spots a place between buildings where the party can find privacy to discuss their business. It's sheltered from eyes and ears from the street with no windows in either building to look over them either.

Gale takes two sets of manacles, slipping them into an outer pocket of her pack where they'll be easily accessible. She follows where Sef leads, waiting until they're in private to speak.

"So, ideas for helping the family? I say we find them and tell them now. At least give them some time to prepare. If the kid doesn't have magic, great, we go deal with the bandits. If they do, we can look at a bait'n'switch like Ruz mentioned?"

“Yes...” Malcom murmurs. “But how to do that inconspicuously... how do we find out where this family lives without being suspicious. The government— the mages have eyes and ear everywhere. At this point it might even be safe to say we can really only trust each other.” He says quietly.

”Despite the fact that I doubt this girl shows signs of magic, I do agree that a backup plan is necessary. I like idea of a ‘bait’n’switch’ as Ruz said... but can be entirely sure how to pull something like that off. I... need to think.”

”For now the best course of action would be to explore the town... find the agricultural district. They were farmers, yes? Let’s just start with that.” Malcom says before stopping, realizing again he may have started to ramble. “Sorry.”

“We could be asking around about the bandits.” 

Sef listens to the others before speaking up. "I think we can find them easily.  They sell produce in the market.  And from what I overheard, the Owen's always have really good produce, even when everyone else does not. It's the reason the two officials were suspecting the daughter.  So, it shouldn't be hard to find them. And asking around about them shouldn't raise too many suspicions."  His words spill out rather quickly and he then pauses a brief moment, a bit of a more concerned expression crosses his face. "I also overheard that the officials here are really worried about how few candidates they've had. I felt like they might try to make the girl a candidate even if she isn't."  He shakes his head slowly. "And then there's the whole problem that they might put the whole town to trial if nobody is found."  He sighs, "It's kind of a complicated situation." 

"Oh, and I'm thinking if we approach the family we should maybe not be wearing our imperial badges.  And maybe make sure we're not too conspicuous," Sef adds quickly after it seems he already finished. 

"We have some time to work out the details of a plan," Gale reassures, noticing the others growing anxious. "For now, let's just go talk to the family. We can check the market first, and if that doesn't work, we can look for their farm."

She sighs, her tone growing resigned. "If we're trying to stay inconspicuous, it might be best for me to hang back a bit. I tend to draw stares, and a disguise spell probably isn't the best idea somewhere so populated, especially since the government is looking for someone to pick on. If anyone catches on, they might not care that it's the 'wrong' type of magic." 
As she's speaking, Gale removes her medallion, then takes her scarf and wraps it over her head, bunching her hair up underneath and tying it under her chin. It isn't much, but it keeps the hair under control and casts a small shadow over her face.

Gale give me a performance check.

The party are stood in the privacy of the alley while the streets grow busier with the business of the morning. They start seeing oxen pulled charts and hand pushed wheel barrows of items being brought in from the outer lands of the town to market. Soon the streets will be bustling with folks moving about their business.

Performance: 14

Gale creates a some what believable disguise of her hair and features with her scarf.

Ruz will lead the way to Market, looking for particularly successful looking stalls.

Finishing up the conversation,  Sef also heads off toward the market, several steps behind Ruz. At the first seller he sees as they get to the market he stops, allowing Ruz to continue on.  Finding the merchant there he says. "Hello. I was hoping to find the Owen family's produce stand.  Do you think you could point me in the right direction?"

(OOC: Assuming we are splitting up.  But this works even if not.)

Working together Sef and Ruz walk up to a textile merchant with a stall barely full of cloth. The cloth that is there looks dull in color and poorly woven. The merchant also looks a little weary too.

"Yes, yes the Owens family? They've got the farm stall on the end just there," the older human man says with a raspy voice pointing a boney figure towards a stall about 50ft away in the semi circle market that's bringing with green and colorful produce as well as a line of drab looking customers awaiting service.

There's a halfling family tending the stall as a golden haired halfling female, you're too far away to tell age, seems to be giving those waiting in line free samples. As the customers eat you can notice a distinct change in their appears however brief!

Gale heads off in a different direction to Sef and Ruz so it doesn't look like they're together, then eventually circles around to the section of the market closest to the road to Ararosa. She looks for any merchants or travelers with carts who seem to have arrived recently. If she can't find any, she'll go up to whichever stalls are nearest the road.

Regardless of who she's able to approach, she'll try to ask a few different people, "We're looking for information about bandits on the road to Ararosa. Have you heard or seen anything recently?"

((Assuming an investigation roll is needed: 5 Second roll if Sim provides help action: 9))

"Thank you. I really appreciate your help sir."  Sef says to the man.  He walks a bit closer to the Owen's stall keeping perhaps 25 ft. away.  He continues to watch for a moment,  especially focused on thr golden- haired halfling and the customers she is giving the samples to, trying to get a better idea of what is happening.  (Investigation: 13)