Episode 2: Local Heroes

Alaric eats in silence, enjoying the meal, keeping his back to the wall and an eye on the door and windows.

"I'm more concerned with the one commanding the attacks and why really." Aery states with a sigh wiping his face, "Well from a mercantile perspective if it's not selling you don't bother transporting it if there's no demand... can you think of anything around these parts you wouldn't want to openly transport or let people know you're selling?" he adds fishing for a read on Aldern.

Alaric listens closely, continuing to eat.

Butler looks thoughtful for a few moments before speaking again "Perhaps it would be best to speak with the Sheriff and see if there is anything else that we are needed for here. If not it may be time to see if there is anything for us further afield" he pauses for a moment, glancing round at his new found companions "I know we have only known each other for a short time but we seem to work well together and we would certainly be able to do more as a group than individually"

Well, I believe it merits investigation. I agree that we work well as a group, Butler. Dark Magic and drugs are both dangerous and can cause great harm, as history shows.

Aery grumbles and snatched up his staff and bounds downstairs, "Oh someone's getting tapped in the family business this morning..." he states as he moves down the stairs to find out what's going on.

Alaric orders Jenna to stay in the stable with Stormbringer and checks his weapons quickly before running toward the sounds, crossbow drawn and ready for action.

Aery slows and gives pause doing mental gymnastics until he gets back in pace realizing he hasn't done anything with anyone's daughter in the last few days due to the series of events that occurred.

"First off, morning sir, names Aery." Aery states looking at the man as he bounds the rest of the way down the stairs, "Second your daughter have a name that you seemed to have lost?" he adds cocking his neck from side to side, "I noticed you've opted to mention us as ilk... you know the people the sheriff appointed while he's away requesting help to protect the town due to what we do and not you. There's been collateral damage to be sure but I'm sure you've been busy as work fixing the damages from raiding goblins and realized the difference in the damage we caused versus raiders, tending to the wounded before we started saving people, figuring out why they attack and if they're coming back." Aery states almost venomously.

"I also noticed you've opted to vent with the shortest member of our party so you want to take a minute and calm down and choose some sensible words and have a request for me or us ilk? Or is Aery going to have to cook up and feed you a gnome knuckle sandwich for breakfast..." Aery states his nostrils flaring.

Hearing the commotion Butler moves down the stairs carrying his sheaves sword in his hand. As he gets to the bottom he hears the tail end of the mans rant and moves to support Aery.

"Ah well I guess I have a clean and professional relationship with your daughter, patron and proprietor." Aery states coming down, "If you have an issue with the Sheriff's performance you can always take it up with the local magistrate or with the Sheriff directly. You know most insects are quite interesting if you take the time to think about it. Cockroaches you would think would have died off long ago... granted there's always a mess of some sort for them to get into and they rarely have time to grouse about how things could be better and different when they aren't. They're around, likely still tired from a day's trek around the area and then saving someone with a goblin hiding in their house..." Aery fires back noticing the larger man Ashdown, "I'll talk to our healer maybe his knowledge of medicine will prove fruitful in aiding you to pull whatever stick has lodged itself inside your nether region out." states more calmly with a nod, "Innkeeper, I'd like some breakfast and some old guy would like to rant for a bit... do we have an soapboxes?" he adds smiling impishly, "I should thank you though old man, an early morning rant does get the cockle of my criminally riddled heart going." Aery states stretching and walks off to find the daughter of the mad man realizing his screamings first thing in the morning wasn't something adventurers can fix.

Alaric bursts through the front door, crossbow at the ready and covering the room. Seeing no immediate threat besides the innkeeper confronting Aery, What is the commotion here! There are enemies aplenty who seek to destroy you and yet you stand here fighting? Alaric snarls in frustration. As the acting Sheriff during his absence, everyone who has the excess energy to fight among themselves are hereby recruited into the militia. Some time on the practice ground will help you protect your homes from future attacks and will burn off some of that excess energy!

I approach the old gentleman. Dear sir, please calm down. Please have breakfast with me, your lovely daughter can join us and perhaps you can enlighten me as to how you believe that we prevent the goblins from attacking this town. There is more than one way solve problems; diplomacy intelligence military economics. Please share any insights you have with me.

Alaric gets food from the kitchen and returns to the barn to eat with Jenna and Stormbringer, pausing briefly to glance around the common room. Training ground, 1 hour! He barked before continuing to the barn.