Prologue: Troubles at Red Larch.

Vardo normally wouldn't intervene in a brewing scrap between strangers. Not his affair. However, being new to town and not wanting to have doors closed to him before he knew which ones he might like to go through, he'd rather not have himself or his compatriots embroiled in a fight right away. Who knows whose son or friend they were likely to injure or anger.

So he begins gliding down the stairs in a manner that makes it seem he's just heading to the bar. As he reaches the bottom he realizes his dwarven friend is unlikely to show the restraint for which Vardo was hoping. To make matters worse, the halfling, Stannon, was about to start his own fight. The entire place was about to explode in violence. This is no good...

In one quick, graceful movement Vardo whisks over to the halfling saying loudly, "Stannon! How long's it been?" He wraps the diminutive being up in one arm and turns him away from the mug of ale and the taunting card players.

As soon as their backs are turned, Vardo starts slowly walking the halfling toward the door and lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, giving his words the weight of import and opportunity, "Listen, I have received word of a fantastic job. It's a once off thing, but could land us each a great deal of coin..."

He continues to usher the halfling away from the entire tinder box, hopefully keeping the coming brawl to a minimum.

Keavan walks back to stand beside Falka.

"Right?"

A good name, Iraun. People here call me Breezy. It isss easssier than sssaying my true name. I thank you, again, for the refressshing water untainted by mephitsss.

Breezy eyes the dour man for a moment before tucking his pouch. With a nod, he walks away stopping at one of the stables to pet a horse. Leaning his forehead against the majestic creature's, he says "Do you have friends you lost?" He stands in that position for a moment, stroking the horse's mane before snapping out of his reverie.

Walking (sloshing?) back to the Swinging Swords, his gait a bit more confident, Breezy enters the inn once again and strides up to the bar, addressing Kaylessa. "Do you have metal for work? You're man, Iraun, sssaysss to assssk you."

With the ruckus over Keavan finds a table for him and his compatriot.
When they are gathered round he brings out the poster.

"A little work for us all perhaps? Do a little good, make a little money."

Once outside Vardo takes a moment to help Shannon steady himself on his own feet, then chuckles. "Look at you, pal. A bit more than usual this evening, eh?" Vardo gives his best disarming smile.

"Listen you're in no good shape for me to explain the job to you like this. It can wait. Go home. Sleep. Sober up, and I'll find you in the morning and we'll go over things." Vardo adds in a whisper, "Don't worry. No one else knows about it and there's plenty of time. Get some sleep."

At regular volume he asks, "You ok to get home on your own? Or do I need to find you a pig pen like last time?" He gives Stannon a wink and a friendly pat on the back as he gently nudges him down the road and away from the bar.

"That was very nearly a fine mess you made, Ser Falka. Carefully handled, Master Yhorn. I think." Looking all too prim for the setting, Yohna walks carefully into the bar and takes a seat with the others, sighing heavily. "You certainly waste no time in finding trouble, don't you?" She chuckles to herself and glances across at the gnome at the table. "I take it the mustaches were you doing, then? You certainly have impeccable comic timing."

She looks up and considers requesting a drink, but ends up thinking better of it, seeing the state of the place. Instead, she focuses on the poster Keavan has produced. "Well, what's this? I was just about to go to the constable concerning local troubles. Thinking of offering your services as well?" She asks the table in general.

Vardo chuckles to himself, shakes his head, and goes back into the bar. You will likely remember our encounter, but unlikely you'll remember my face. Sweet dreams and you're welcome.

Breezy's face screws up into a confused look. What is wrong with my face? he ponders for a second before answering "Yesss. I can clean and yesss, I like the horsssesss. Iraun isss a good, ssstrong name. It wasss he who sssaid come here. I would like to work with him. We have much in common."

"Call me Keavan.
I actually got this poster from the constable and he would certainly appreciate some assistance."

He looks around the table.

"I was intending to help and was just seeing if anyone else was interested."

"My, my, that's some reward. If we all pitched in, it would be relatively little work, too." Yohna says, leaning forward and resting her chin on a palm. "Hm, perhaps we should ask our Genasi compatriot if he would wish to join us. I heard him muttering something about precious metal before, so maybe he's short on funds. Plus the reward for the captain alone would split quite nicely between the five of us. In fact, even if Master Vardo wished to pitch in, the combined amount would go some way..."

She looks around the table and laughs to herself, leaning back in her chair. "Or are you, perhaps, against sharing it too many ways?"

Vardo walks over to the table and plunks down into and empty seat. "Sharing what...?"

"Coin, Master Vardo. What else?" Yohna says casually as the elf takes a seat. "In particular, reward coin. No good deed, and all that..."