The wind in her hair (RP)

- Albert -

The casual mention of 'tailor-unavailability' seems to confirm your wealth and access to gold. Those with wealth are never considered 'dirty', 'untidy', or 'uncouth', but are instead viewed as 'eccentric', which fits with giving up ownership of a bar to go adventuring. Such people can not be faulted for bringing in a little dirt.

At the talk of giant centipedes and undead the kids eyes are wide, but with enthusiasm rather than fear. The mayor seems to dismiss this talk as harmless exaggeration and make-believe. The mention of Raynor has no impact on the mayor, but his kids share a look, like you just confirmed something important to them.

Compliments about the food are met with wordless demurring, but the mayor pays these no mind, and talks over his wife's attempts at explanation.

Your 'promise to solve' receives a nod, though you talk of ongoing hospitality seems to have come as a surprise. "Of course." The mayor rallies. "The inn is at your disposal. And, once you have news to report we can sit down again."

- Roald -

At the mention of riding the horse-sized centipede, and then the undead touch, the kid's and their mom's eyes go even wider, their mouths adding an extra O to the pattern.

If you were paying close attention you may hear some muttered complaints from the servant after refilling your bowl, but the mayor does not appear to notice or care if his servant goes hungry.

"Hard to tell for sure." He answers as best he can. "The families themselves are at least a few dozen each? Though I can't say how many are around right now.

"They have many servants, but I don't know about their actual loyalty. Most are co-opted from the various steadings that were overtaken.

"As to the boys in charge, I can not speak. I knew both their fathers --to my detriment-- and this latest batch seem to be cut from the ragged edge of the same cloth. Things are worse than before, what with them both coming into power, after the untimely deaths of both their fathers, at roughly the same time, the lack of steadying influence may have contributed. Who can say."

- Albert -

Mrs. mayor blushes at your compliment, but does not say anything.

"Arrogant blowhards the both of them." The mayor responds. "I would not even know how to tell them apart, neither by appearance nor my personality, though they will be quick to tell you their lineage when you meet them." He shrugs, not being able to provide guidance about who to start with.

After some further discussion you learn that neither of their territories extend out to the temple, and that it is pretty much equally distant from both --sorta in line with the disputed border-- but that the unmaintained logging track you followed to here passed through one of their lands.

Night has almost fallen by the time you are done with dinner, the evening light is fading fast as you arrive back at the healer's.

At you knock you hear slow, uneven footfalls from inside, and the captain answers the door. "Ah, it's you." She says, and you can see she has her sword in hand behind the door. "I must admit, I find myself unusually fearful of the coming dark, and every strange sound makes me jump." She is talking quietly, and you can see that the house is in darkness except for the candle she has kept burning in the otherwise-empty front room.

There has been a lot of interested in the newly-arrived adventurers --everyone wanted to have words with you as you left the packed inn to go to the mayor-- and some heads popped out of doors or windows to watch you as you make you way to the healer...

But someone is definitely following you, at a distance. When Roald stops and looks around, you can both spot a hulking figure darting away down an ally. From Roald's low position he can see the silhouette appears armed and armoured. It would be unusual to be wearing such an outfit in one's own village, but, by the time you make it to the healer, there is no sign of whoever was following you.

The captain's words breed paranoia. Maybe it is just that that makes the figure seem threatening? If it meant you harm, there were opportunities --before your eyes adjusted to the outside dark-- for it to waylay you, after all.

What do you do?

"Asha woke for a bit and asked for food, which the healer says is good news. But they are both sleeping now." The captain whispers quietly, so as not to disturb them.

"There are only two beds." She points out. "And both are already taken. So I am 'sleeping' in the chair." She motions to an very uncomfortable looking wooden chair. "But a combination of that, plus nerves and nightmares, means I will probably 'stand guard', and then catch a few winks tomorrow once the healer vacates her bed."

The talk of someone threatening you is making the captain even more nervous, meaning she is now even less likely to sleep tonight. She is curious about the task the mayor set you, but has no significant advice to add (if you give her the details you have).

"Surely you will be safe at the inn?" She speculates. "With other people around no one would try anything." You probably suspect she is right, and that the inn will also still be more crowded than normal due to the local interest in your presence.

What do you do?

- Roald -

"That's very generous." The captain says in reply to your offer to stay here. "But not very practical, what with my hurt leg and all. Anyway, I can sleep tomorrow, you have work to do." She also needs to be here so the healer can see to her injuries anyway.

"My friends --and I count you among them-- call me 'Bimi'." She admits, smiling shyly --and very prettily. "But almost everyone calls me 'captain'." Which says something about the number of friends she has.

Watching closely as you are, you can see something is bothering her at the mention of the caravan and her duties. It has only been a few days, but you all did run off and abandon them right after they were ambushed by bandits, which is not very professional. She can't travel just yet, but you get the impression she is thinking about getting back there.

"Larinia..." The captain says thoughtfully. "Hmm... I have a vague memory of my aunt speaking about her, a long time ago." She has a similar expression on her face as when you found her studying the sign or the wolf and horn in the temple that morning.

"Well, safe travels, and sleep well, my friends." She says, shaking off the pensive mood as best she can.

---

As you approach the door of the inn, a hulking figure clad all in armour steps out from the shadows and raises a gauntletted hand to stop you. "Erm? Excuse me?" He says in a stammering voice.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Your staff clangs into the armoured shins. Too late figure tries to jump backwards, flails his arms and topple over into the vegetable patch.

"Don't hit me." He pleads pathetically --and, you suspect, habitually.

What do you do?