Prologue: Troubles at Red Larch.

Midnight scrunches up her face and sticks out her tongue in disgust. "At the stable they'll have you scooping up poop all day. I'd take ANY job over that."

Yohna gives a disappointed sigh when she realises the bath is closed - the smell is fantastic, too. For a minute, she considers finding the spring that this place is apparently settled around and taking a dip, but is put off by both the concept of publicity and the fact that it would probably be freezing at this hour.

Scratching her head and becoming all too aware of her travel-worn body, Yohna's desire to sleep turns to the want to put off the act as long as possible. She picks a random language, mutters a curse in it, then proceeds back to the tavern where the others are and this time, orders a drink.

"Bathhouse is closed, and it's still a little early for me," She announces to the group as she approaches once again. Seeing her seat taken, she gives a nod of greeting to Breezy and pulls up a new one. "So you have the pleasure of my company for a while longer. Ah, Master Harlo, good to see you again."

She glances around, seeing the focused looks about the table. "Anyone care to fill me in on what I missed?"

"Friend Bresssnaphaaaaael, it will indeed make more than working in the stable, bounties generally do offer more than almost any town job."

He looks around appraisingly at the others.

"I suspect only Falka and I would go toe to toe with enemies."

He pauses.

"Maybe Vardo, though I suspect Vardo prefers to stay mobile."

The others would mostly stay back, supporting us, or harming or hindering the enemy from a distance, can you do anything like that?"

The dwarf drops into a long, low bow at Vardo's praise, nearly knocking her seat over in the process. Then, as Harlo begins to tell his story, Falka leans over the table more and more, hanging on his every word. Even the mere mention of a 'devil beast' has her blood pumping.
"Banditry and killer beasts? Seems like this town's hit some dark times, and we've got our work cut out for us," she remarks, intrigued. As the other caravan guard once again pulls up a chair, looking no cleaner than her last appearance, Falka explains, "We've monster slaying to be doing as well now, 'Lady Cleric'." After a short pause, she turns again to Harlo stands up, and announces, "On my honour as a knight of Marthammor Duin, I will see the beast dead for the security of stronghold." She says the words as if reciting them, then pauses quizzically. "Or, the town in this case I suppose. For Red Larch!"

To Yohna

"Master Harlo was asking our assistance.

A beast has been eating livestock and possibly one farmer.

Lion like tracks, but larger and six legged, not a natural beast at any rate it seems."

"Since Harlo has said he'll be busy for a couple of days, it seems we have time to do both jobs. I can only imagine, if we're successful, that the townspeople would be a great deal better off for it." Vardo casts a suddenly serious eye about the group. "That would be my suggested course for the group, but I'm happy to hear out any others."

Aside, with his more typical nonchalance, he says to Breezy, "Yeah, don't drink that. It'll make you sick." He reaches over and slides Breezy's ale toward Falka. "Get rid of this for him, would you?"

Falka gives the elf a grateful wink, then scoops up the tankard as it slides towards her. She barely draws breath before she drains one and moves on to the next.

At the mention of rest Keavan realises how tired he is.
"Rest sounds good, then orc hunting tomorrow. I have a room, sleeps 2 if we want conserve our funds."

Midnight fiddles with the edge of one of the pockets of her dress, avoiding eye contact with anyone. "Ummm... excuse me Keavan..." She speaking so quietly that it's hard to hear her. "Do you think... that maybe... I could sleep... on the floor in your room? I don't really want to sleep outside." Now that her beans have been spilled, she talks faster and faster. "I don't take up much room and I keep to myself and I'm really quiet. I promise I won't be a nuisance at all." She looks up at Keaven with her big, sparkling green gnome eyes open wide and glistening on the edge of tears.

Staring in admiration at the knight’s ability to drink without stopping to take a breath, Breezy tilts his head toward Keavan and says "People here call me Breezy."

Looking to Midnight, he adds "If you wisssh a room, I have a place to ressst you may ssshare. It isss in the back, with the hay, but isss free.

With that, Breezy stands and heads to the shed area to get some sleep.

Vardo sees the little gnome's approach to problem solving and smirks, briefly, to himself. I'm not the only actor in the group it seems.

"I don't require a bed, but I could use a quiet place in which to meditate. If anyone needs to split a room, they're welcome, provided they can keep the noise to a minimum," he offers.

Smiling slightly at Midnight's gentle subterfuge, Keavan waves off her concerns.

"You would be welcome Midnight and there are two beds, so no need to sleep on the floor."

Falka takes her leave of the Helm at Highsun, and searches outside for Mort, the thug she so ingloriously knocked out.