The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford

Quinn's facial expressions range widely in the moments after the whole crew gets back together. Emotions surge in the man -- outrage at the compliments the Fox gets, anguish at the notion of these five travelers only staying one night, disappointment at the trip to the tavern across the street yielding few clues... and finally absolute jubilation at the possibility of these capable folk helping him to solve the problem that he believes is tanking his business.

"Yes!" the bearded man fairly bellows, dancing in place for a moment, and then he's suddenly shaking hands, clapping shoulders, and testing the arm and shoulder muscles of the two men who have volunteered to stand guard!

"Gods yes, I'm so glad you'll help! No refunds! But this is worth one hundred gold to me if you can find out who is stealing my alcohol, and put a stop to it! The cellar is through here, the entrance is in the kitchen. Come, come you two, let me show you!"

Quinn pats Gann on the chest and shoulder rapidly as he laughs. "Ha! Ha! No, no, how could you have been the ones stealing from my stash!? It's been happening for days! Maybe more than a week!"

When Gann just looks at him, the innkeeper adds, "Alright, alright, fine! You have my word!"

Then, when Nessa mentions a lock, and the reward, the older man makes a strangled sound in his throat. "What?! Ah! Girl, you come along too. Look -- just look!"

Leading whoever comes along into his kitchen, the man points to a heavy trap door in the corner set into the floor. And sure enough, there's a hasp that is locked firmly with beefy-looking bronze padlock. Quinn fishes the key out of his shirt, where he wears it on a leather thong about his neck.

"See?! You see?! Now, you just have to discover how Bentley and his wicked girls are doing it!"

Perhaps notably, the man doesn't answer Nessa about having that much coin on hand.

"That there's the mystery, girl, that's the mystery!" Quinn says, taking Nessa by the hand for emphasis. "And course I tried keeping watch! Now I'll admit, I did fall asleep most nights on account of how hard I have to work, but one night I stayed up the whole time! And no thief got their hands on the goods that night!"

When Nessa comments again about the gold, Quinn snorts. "Well I don't have it, per say, but I'll offer it in credit! All of you could stay and eat and drink for days and weeks for that offer!"

Sable snoops around the kitchen a bit, looking for anything that might help to start to unravel the mystery, even a little. There is not much to note -- nothing as obvious as footprints or the like -- but the man does see a small, simple wooden chair against the wall that has quite a few crumbs on it. Bread, cheese perhaps?

"Just be careful with that thing down there!" Quinn says when Gann declares he'll be bringing his sword...