Prologue: Troubles at Red Larch.

"Coin, eh?" he says with a conspiratorial wink. He takes in the poster with a glance and leans back. "Bounty hunting is it? And are we interested because we are short of funds or because this "gang" is harming the poor innocents of the town?"

He glances around the table, and lifts one eyebrow. "Or does it not matter?"

Breezy nods in agreement to Kaylessa and then adds "How much for a room at your great inn? Maybe you can deduct the cossst from my wagesss?"

After haggling with Kaylessa for a room versus his pay, assuming he gets a room for free, Breezy will go stow his gear, and then return to eat dinner before bed. He will remain in the dining area of the Swinging Sword until perhaps 10 or 11, just idly watching patrons until then.

Midnight looks down at her empty coin pouch and frowns. With a determined look on her face, she says to the group, "Could I come too? I can do more than make mustaches."

"I can only speak for myself, but....."

He turns to Vardo.

"A little of both, the protection of the town being a little more important."

Then to Midnight.

"You are welcome as far as I am concerned, what say the rest of you?"

"Well, by duty I should say it's for the people of this town, but then again, my duty is primarily to the dead and dying. So while I do despise banditry, I'd probably keep to my own if it weren't for the reward." Yohna stretches, her chair rocking for a second. "Alas, if this is our course of action, I'd prefer it wait 'till morning. At this our, we're more likely to be ambushed, and we should probably gather more information on how this band operates anyhow."

The cleric stands up with a small degree of finality, pushing her chair back in afterwards. "For now, I'm going for a bath and then getting some decent sleep. If you're all still set on this, fetch me in the small hours of the morning, I'll be ready to depart." She gives the group a polite wave before leaving the tavern and making for the bathhouse. Once she finishes cleaning up, she'll head to Swinging Swords and take a room for the night.

Keavan gives a little start, having just remembered something.

"Weren't we supposed to meet Harlo here?"

Keavan looks around to see if Harlo is here.

As Mort crashes to the floor, Falka shakes the stars from her eyes. Without averting her gaze from his now limp body, she lifts the remainder of his drink from the table behind her and sinks it in one draft.

"Come ooooon!" she shouts in frustration at the unconscious man. "You get me all psyched up and hit the floor in one!? Where's the fun in that?" Taking one long stride over him she arrives again at the bar, and carries another ale with her back to the table where Keavan awaits. She falls into a chair across from him.

As the other woman at the table comments on the scene, she mutters, "Not nearly a fine enough mess if you ask me..."

Soon, others begin to find a perch and Falka lays her drink down to toast the eccentric gnome as she sits. "My friend, what a moustache that was. It was all I had not to burst out in laughter! Tell you what, I know dwarves who'd pay good money to grow that kind of upper-lip." When the adrenaline seems to have left her a little - replaced by more alcohol - the dwarf casts her eye inquisitorially over the poster. "I'm in. I'd be a shite sort if I didn't help where I can, and a worse knight," she says swelling with pride. Her eyes leave the poster and take in the gathered lot. "What an odd lot to all end up on a caravan. Seeing as you all seem to know my name already, and I'm apparently too ignorant to have found out yours, why don't you introduce yourselves?"

Vardo nods in consideration of His compatriots' answers. The barbarian's abrupt and direct address snaps him out of his contemplations.

"Well met Falka." he smiles. "Name's Vardo. It was impressive how you dropped that man in one. I'm almost looking forward to your encore performance."

Keavan looks around but doesn't see Harlo.

After Keavan, Midnight, Yohna, Varlo, and Falka exchange pleasantries, Yohna takes her leave towards the bath house.

After a few more minutes, tavern door swings open and in comes Harlo. He looks around and immediately spots the group.

"Oh good you're still here! I apologize, I got held up by my ol' lady and the tike. It has been more than a tenday I've laid eyes on them. Let us begin with a round of ales. Garlen! Round of drinks for these fine folks, on me!"

The barkeep/proprietor of The Helm bring each a mug of ale. After he takes a swig of his ale Harlo looks about and says

"It seems y'all are missing two of your numbers. Where is the lady cleric and the blue skinned one?"

"The Cleric has retired for the evening." Vardo raises the mug of ale in thanks but does not imbibe. He's more interested in keeping a clear head for the moment. "I have no idea where our other companion is."

Breezy finishes his meal, thanking the servers who tended to his needs. With a stretch and a yawn, he exits the inn and crosses the street to the tavern, searching for the gnome girl whom he held a curious interest. He enters slowly, the new environment giving him pause once again.

"Nevermind" Vardo grins. "Here he is." He lifts a hand to show Breezy their location.

Breezy waves back, sort of, unused to people accepting him so readily. He scanned the room, looking for the gnome. If he does not see her, he will move to Vardo and stand there awkwardly.

Midnight smiles when she sees Breezy enter the tavern. She waves and beckons him to come over. "Hey, we were just talking about you! We want you to come with us on a QUEST. What do you think? Wanna come? My name is Midnight, by the way."

As Breezy takes a seat at the table, Harlo quips "Impeccable timing.". He waves to the barkeep and yells "Hey, Garlen! One more ale."

"So... The reason I asked to meet with you all is..." Harlo, uncharacteristically demurs a bit and nervously scratches his head. "Look. I'm no good at askin' for a favor, and this would largely be me askin' for a favor. And, I know this is going to sound like some tall tale but... Well, I'll just tell you and you can tell me what y'all think." He takes a large gulp of his ale and starts spinning his tale as dim latern lights of the tavern cast dancing shadows on his face.

"For the last 2 months or so, some of the farms around here, including mine, have had troubles with our livestocks being preyed upon by a... devil beast. Livestocks go missing... sometimes we find what's left of its carcass, usually bone picked clean. At first we figured we had a pack of wolves that moved into the area. And, Harbuck and them, they all still think that's all it is. But, you see.. the tracks don't make sense. My pops - rest his soul - was a hunter, proficient one at that. I grew up huntin'. I know a thing or two about tracking. There's several things about the tracks that don't make sense. For one thing, it's too big. I mean it's like a lion's track... except bigger... and here's the real kicker... The tracks only make sense if the beast has more than 4 legs! And I don't mean multiple beast tracks gettin' all mixed up with each other. It's clear it's a single beast. A few of us half-heartedly tried huntin' for it. But, we're all a little too scared to give it a real go - even if we won't admit it. And, after the recent disappearance of Karl... That's a neighbor of ours, haven't been seen in 2 tendays. I mean he could just be away on travel - that's not out of realm of possibility for Karl to just disappear for some time. But, if it was the beast... and it's acquired a taste for men." Harlo shudders at the thought.

"Anyway, we're simple farmers. We don't have much in the way of paying a bunch of adventurers like yourselves, properly. But, I could see if I can gather some donations from us affected farmers. I can also pay you in rations. I got a stock of dried meats and berries, pickled vegetables... You don't have to decide now, but if you decide to help some poor ol' farmers out, come visit my farm. It's just west of the southern entrance to town. I'll be busy and probably away from the farm next couple of days prepping for the Midsummer, but I'll be around Midsummer's eve. I'll collect donations and find what I can as payment for your troubles."

Breezy moves to sit at the vacated seat, giving Midnight what looks like a smile of sorts; forced, but apparently genuine. "Bresssnaphaaaaael. Those here jussst sssay Breezy." is all he says to her.

He takes the offered ale, sniffing at it, dabbing at it with is tongue, and spitting on the floor. Half-embarrassed, half-disgusted, he pushes the mug back onto the table towards Harlo, saying "Water isss fine for me."

As Harlo speaks his tale, the notion of the attacker being a devil beast raises the hair on Breezy's neck. He leans in closer, listening intently, appearing to hang on Harlo's every word. When the story is finished, the Genasi looks around at those gathered.

Sniffing loudly, he says "Will thisss make more metal than if I help the ssstable? Kaylesssssa sssaysss I can make 3 of the ssssilver metal every day if I help Iraun the Dour. I fear devilsss may be beyond me."