5 Within Phandalin

Tatiana stares at Alex for a bit. "You must be quite skilled as an urban tracker, then," she says with the appropriate gravitas.

Trakomak roll a perception or investigation check to look for a blue door.

Thinking back to various "procurement" missions he had performed, such as the time he has had to follow a loan shark back to her home in order to "liberate" the onerous loan documents for his client, Alex lightly blows on his fingernails, rubs them on his tunic, and responds There may be some who would say that, lady enchantress.

"Yes, well, hopefully there won't be a cave tunnel for you to navigate," says Tatiana. Turning her attention to Decklan, she says, "You've likely been seen in our company. What will you tell the Redbrands about your departure from our group? What information will you divulge if they should press you about our capabilities?"

Decklan smiles, another crack in the roadmap on his face. "I'll tell 'em the truth... more or less. I didn't have two copper to rub together, so I took the first job I could. Trying to help the boss get his eyesight back, because a merchant is a good man to know, but the group wasn't gonna cut it for my... needs.

Hoping there's at least some name recognition, but we'll see.

As for the lot o' ya... the more honest your lie is, the easier it is to tell. I tell 'em your brother has some rudimentary magical ability, but is a total bookworm. You are pretgy much useless without your brother, but you do have a strong personality -- if I needed someone to negotiate on my behalf you'd be my pick. I tell 'em the mouthy one has some skill with weapons, but his biggest threat is on your ears because it's just talk talk talk. The big guy -- wherever he got off to -- is exactly what he looks like: big, strong, kicks ass. Then I say the kid is too naive, but he's got a real knack with animals.

If they call me for being dishonest, I admit that I'm fond of the kid and I just didn't want to admit it."

Decklan shrugs. "I have to give 'em something. No way we escorted a caravan and rescued the others from those caves if you're all worthless. Can't pass you off like that."

Tatiana's expression is calculative; if there was offense taken at useless, it has either been ignored or perhaps accepted given the circumstances.

"I see no flaws in that, Decklan," she finally says. "I, for one, wish you well on your mission, and look forward to your reconnaissance."

Tatiana gathers her book and pen and secures them upon herself before looking down at her cold lunch. With a soft sigh, she pokes at the salted pork as though wondering if it's still worth the effort.

Raven thought about Decklan's question for a minute as the conversation continued. He smiled Decklan's comment, "I like you too Decklan. You remind me of this grumpy bear I know back home.

Yes, I understand them, always have. More than people actually."

He looked at the cat next to him, his brow crinkled in thought, "It depends on the animal and how much they are around people. My friend here, around the tavern all the time, probably knows every word for food there is and probably knows all of the regulars. Time and distance, are kind of human concepts. I imagine some would know. Color, like following the red guys, some animals cannot see that for some reason, I do not know why. Smell - if you have a smell - many animals can follow it for miles or tell you if they have ever smelled it before."

Raven shrugged, "I can ask around - cats and dogs are especially good in villages. Wolves are great in the woods - they cover a lot of ground and know where everything huntable can be found - that includes us.

Now, if the red cloth guys have a horse - he might be able to tell us everywhere they have been, but they tend to be noble and might not say nothing if he likes his owner."

"Never said it was true, kid," Decklan retorts. "Anyway, I was wondering if I could tell some random racoon or deer to give you a message, but it doesn't sound like that would work the way I hoped. That's fine. I can pass a message while I pass a beating."

The man stands. "Alright... time to take my shot." With that, he heads out to look for his new friends.

Tatiana considers replacing her cold lunch, but she is hungry enough that she will tolerate the fare.

She flags Elsa, and asks what selection of wine is available.

Raven shrugged at Decklan's last comment as he left. Once he had watched the man leave the inn he commented. "Just like that old bear..."

The farmer paused to consider Decklan's other comment, about him being naive. He supposed it was true from the perspective of a hardened person like Decklan. There was a lot about what was going on which he did not understand. People were difficult for him, while animals were simple.

"That reminds me, Lady Tatiana, now that we have gotten Gundren some help, shouldn't we inform the coster about their goods? Or perhaps we should ask out merchant employers upstairs for their suggested approach so as to maximize the probability of a reward?"

Tatiana shuffles the salted pork and bread bits around her plate. "If I were the proprietor of the Lionshield Coster, the only reward I would offer would be contingent on the safe return of the stolen merchandise," she says. "I see no harm in informing them of the status of their goods, but I should not expect any reward for simply telling them where it is, no matter how... fluently you might describe the location."

She nibbles on a piece of pork, then dabs her lips with a cloth that serves as her napkin. "I do wish to recover those supplies," Tatiana says, "but we must consider the logistics. We are short one of our company, two if Master Rockseeker requires more care. After we put the little cretins into the ground, we have no means of transporting those supplies beyond your slender frame."

Drumming her fingers impatiently for Elsa to deliver her wine, Tatiana continues, "I suppose we could secure Master Barthen's wagon and oxen again, but it would not be without cost. And while we are away at the goblin cave, the Redbrands are free to terrorize the town. I would prefer securing Phandalin before journeying outward for our revenge... er, reward."

Drow?!, Alex exclaimed, his voice all but cracking.

Raven glanced up at the word Drow. He had heard some tales of the dark elves, but he had never met one. Interesting that one was an adventurer and retired to the village.

Tatiana gives her glass a swirl and a sniff, then a quick sip. Appraising the taste, she seems satisfied that at least there's something palatable here, even though the availability of other options would be slim in such a remote location.

She appears unconcerned about the mention of Daran Edermath's race; Waterdeep's cosmopolitan mix of varying cultures was the heart of its claim as the City of Splendors, and Tatiana was no stranger to different ethnicities and personalities. "He sounds like an interesting fellow," she says to Elsa, attempting to further the discussion. "Are there other noteworthy individuals in town with similar histories?"

Trackomak it takes you about two hours, with the Townmasters description to guide you, to find a house with a blue door. The early spring growth is tall and the small kitchen garden is overgrown.

---

Elsa nods to Alex’s exclamation, but to Tatiana’s question she taps her chin. "Well I suppose Halia Thornton is quite… interesting. At least no one seems to want to cross her. She runs the Miner's Exchange, so I suppose she’d need to command a bit of fear to keep all those kook’s in line."

Raven the cat crawls up into your lap, happy and full, and falls immediately to sleep. Purring loudly.