Prologue: Troubles at Red Larch.

Yohna gives a sigh of self-disappointment and shakes her head. "I believe she could benefit from a sympathetic ear, and perhaps a stiff drink as well. She is a dwarf, after all." The woman stands and dusts herself off, an air of decisiveness about her. "Alas, I fear anything I say may come across as overly clinical, and aside from that, our lady knight seems to... Well, I don't think I'm the best person to connect with her."

That said, Yohna lifts her bag and seems to think for a moment, her fingers drumming the table, then nods. "This talk of conspiracy is indeed concerning. Master Vardo - What say you and I take a quick stock of the locals, perhaps a chat with those individuals you happened across last night?" She gives a mischievous grin.

"I imagine between the two of us, we should be able to talk someone's tongue into slipping."

"Not today. Not looking to remember," she grumbles dourly, not meeting the bartender's eyes. Absentmindedly, she drives a fingernail into the wood and continues, "Something to eat. Something heavy." She scoffs silently at the thought of envying a human. For once, drinking to forget didn't seem so bad. Spying the two workmen, she rises and trudges toward their table. She pulls up a chair. "What's got you two stewing at this early hour?" she asks monotonously. Despite her willingness to let go of her problems, problems seem to be the only conversation knocking about in her head.

Vardo swallows a mouthful of bread and cheese, smirks, and nods his agreement. Pushing his chair back from the table, he stands and says, "That's a great idea Yohna. Let's to it."

"Lets start at the quarry. There is a middle aged human female who strikes me as particularly suspicious."

"I'll go talk to her. I can cheer ANYONE up." Midnight finishes her breakfast and determinedly walks out of the inn. As she steps outside into the sunlight, she realizes that she doesn't know where Falka went. "Hmm..." she says to herself. "Where would she have..." She looks up, intending to gaze into the sky to think, and her eyes pass over the sign for the Tavern across the street. "Of course! Too simple." She makes her way into the tavern and spots Falka talking with the man and halfling. She takes a seat nearby, but not close enough to encroach on the conversation. She signals the bartender and asks for a glass of fruit juice, then takes out her journal and begins sketching out ideas for her magic show to pass the time while she waits.

"Too many asssking quessstionsss to one may make them afraid." Breezy says, finishing his meal and standing. "Isss bessst two alone go to the quarry. I, I think, am no good trying to be pleasssant to othersss, ssso Midnight isss bessst for that, too. I wisssh to ssseee thisss market. Maybe get sssome fresssh fruit."

With that, Breezy departs the inn. He will head to the barn to make sure there are no chores remaining for him to do, and then he will go to the market (#21), checking out the Midsummer Festival setup and browsing the various booths at the market.

With Vardo and Yohna out and about, Keavan also sets out to look around.

"Any sign of your suspect?" Yohna asks Vardo quietly. She scans the quarry, taking note of any important-seeming figures in the area, as well as - Hopefully - Any suspicious looking ones.

Vardo points out the quarry worker eating food by the entrance. "That one," he juts his chin out toward the man in question, "I overheard reprimanding and calm down an agitated mate who was clearly stressed about something big...and secret."

"I think he knows something, but that one, he makes a subtle motion to indicate the forewoman, "is at the centre of it. Whatever it is. I'm fairly sure." After a few more steps together down the street, he adds, "Of course, I could be wrong about all of this and we are investigating a cheating spouse." He winks at Yohna.

BreezyBreezy weaves through the crowded streets filled with parents and their children, carts and wagons, and various street vendors selling odds and ends. Turning onto Cairn road from The Long Road, he eventually arrives at the market. Right outside the entrance to the market area, Breezy notices a man sitting in lotus position on an intricate mat. He is dressed in fine, obviously expensive clothes. He has pale skin, jet-black hair, with thin mustache and beard. His eyes are dark and seem to be staring at nothing in particular. He is accompanied by two heavily robed figures, each to his sides at the back. Breezy can't see their face or really any part of their body through the robes. He gives off an eerie vibe.

Shaking the feeling off Breezy enters the market area. This area is currently largely occupied by local volunteers busy building temporary wood structures for the festival. One of the workers Breezy recognizes as Harlo. He spots the hard to miss blue-skinned Breezy right away.
He waves at Breezy. "Fine morning isn't it? Good day for a little work out. Listen, thank you and your companions for hearing me out the other night. Have you and your companions reached a decision?"

"Do you have more misssssing cattle? Or friendsss? I am not sssure what my friendsss wisssh to do, but I wisssh to make more metal coin. Ssso I would like to look for you. But not alone. Maybe you come watch me play at dinner? Meet again to talk termsss, maybe give more information? I am at the Ssswinging Sssword after dinner."

Pausing in realization that he has just talked around the fellow's problem, Breezy adds "We were asssked to find banditsss on the road that way." he says, pointing out of town along the Long (?) road. "But now, maybe, we look for many-legged beasssstsss"

While at the market, amidst all of the hoopla, Breezy will look for anyone selling grapes. He really wants grapes right now, and his wife didn't buy any when she went shopping.

Yohna eyes the target out of the corner of her eye, listening to Vardo as he explains the various members involved in what he overheard last night. She gives a light-hearted laugh at his last comment.

"You say that, but cheating spouses are the most fun. There's so much you can do with a little tidbit like that." She looks around another moment, then back to Vardo. "I suppose we should start with the voice of reason. If he was trying to calm his fellows, perhaps he'll be less cagey than the others."

Vardo comes to a full stop, eyebrows raised, and gives Yohna an open look of surprise. "I underestimate you, my good Cleric. I had no idea you'd see opportunity in such a thing." He smiles broadly, "Interesting." He resumes walking down the street beside his companion.

"A fair suggestion." Vardo continues toward their mark. "Might I suggest you open things with the young man. He is likely to respond better to you. I'll jump in if you don't make headway and turn up the heat." He glances at her out of the corner of his eye, their mark now only a few paces away, "Assuming you're up for it..." he adds under his breath.

"Waterdevian politics are cutthroat, Master Vardo." Yohna replies with a knowing chuckle. "Too often, literally. The more you know..." She makes a casual shrug, then nods in agreement, starting over to the quarry worker.

"Excuse me, sir." She calls over to him, carefully controlling her tone so as not to attract anyone else who may be concerned with these dealings. She considers her approach, settling on the idea of circling around the topic, if only to get him talkative. The last thing she needs is for him to get wise.

"Sorry to disturb. I'm just passing through town. My name is Yohna. My fellows and I slew the bandits plaguing the roads just yesterday." She introduces herself, then peers out over the quarry. "It struck me this morning that the quake last night must've had quite an impact on work here. Were there any injures?" The cleric gives him a moment to consider, aiming not to overwhelm him with questions. "Actually, now that I think about it - Though, I'm no expert in quarrying - Could the quake have come from here? Loose rock or such? Or perhaps something a little more exciting?"

Yohna says the last part in a joking tone to avoid spooking him, but nonetheless watches closely for any reaction to her 'jest'.