Galen swallows again, hearing Adriana's words.
"Well... if-if you'd be so kind, ma'am. I don't mean to impose on you at all--it's just that I--"
"--hadn't realized the world's bigger than little old Kassen." The captain finishes pulling the barge up to a pier and steps off. "Now, to look for the harbourmaster..."
Galen is still pale-faced and shaking, but no longer seems inclined to turn back home.
Adriana gives him a kiss on the cheek,"This is very brave of you...we will plan your journey after we find a inn...I need a bed...for all kinds of activities."
By Calistria! Men are soo dramatic! Adriana thinks.
"If you think it's big for you, think of how big it is for me and I'm a quarter your size!" Max offers helpfully. "You'll be lucky because you won't be doing it alone -- it's very scary to try to move around when you're smaller than a lot of things that want to eat you and try to find somewhere safe. That being said, though... be careful because sometimes there are things out there that are too dumb to pay attention."
The party finally disembarks from the barge, walking up the long pier and taking in the massive city at their end. People hurry about every which way, almost none of whom take so much as a second glance at them. A few stray eyes notice Max, but seeing as how he's in the company of similarly out-of-place looking people, they draw what conclusions they may and move on without making a (visible) fuss.
Shyla's letter said that the cultists were hiding somewhere in Tamran... where would anyone start looking for them?
Vixie follows along toward the back of the group, happy to follow the tall people that seem to maybe kinda sorta know where they're going.
After taking a moment to enjoy the urban atmosphere, Bertrand suggests they seek out Vixie's wife. "It seems as though she may be our best source of leads on the cult. Any idea where we're likely to find her?"
"Asking of the cult among the locals might be wise, too. They should at least have a loose idea of things like location and numbers." Khalaban shrugged. "I suspect there will be too many to simple hit and take back what they stole."
Vixie thinks a bit about Bertrand’s question. ”I-if she were here on b-business, I th-think she might be at a b-bookstore, or the market s-selling potions. B-but if she’s looking for th-those mask p-people, th-then... I’m n-not sure!” she admits.
"The best way to find the cult might be to have them come to you. If present ourselves as possible recruits we could get inside. Or might work best if not all of us take this approach."
Khalaban looked mildly dubious. "Are we going to be able to act like cultists? Several of us call upon divine powers, after all." Without holy symbols Adriana and Maxilla would have limited options, and they weren't likely to find any inside. Sneaking them in might be possible...
"I'll start by spending a bit of time asking around about Shyla. Vixie, you're welcome to come with if you like; you know her better than me, of course."
Vixie nods, eager to perhaps find her wife. "O-of course!"
Bertrand spends some time asking around town for anyone who has met Shyla or seen anyone meeting her description, being sure to include any notable bookstores or potion merchants in the search.
Vixie happily chimes in to aid in the description, but can’t stop herself from gushing about her wife.
”Sh-she’s about this tall!” she says, hopping as high as she can and holding her fingers as high as she can reach.
”Sh-she’s got ears like this b-but they’re gray!” she chimes, removing her helmet to show her own.
”H-her tail is longer than me and s-so soft!!!”
”Sh-she’s got the p-prettiest red hair and it’s sh-shaped like a bell!!”
”Sh-she’s b-big and sh-she’s beautiful and s-sweet and s-smart and funny and sh-she’s the kind of Catfolk who has m-mostly skin, n-not the ones with fur, b-but some of her f-friends have fur! B-but of course her tail h-has fur but y-you know w-what I mean!!”
Khalaban attempted to learn more about the cultists without drawing too much attention to himself.
"Okay, Mister Galen, let's find you a good caravan that will get you safely to a good port and then to Absalom!" Max offers helpfully to the presumedly overwhelmed young man, though he gives Adriana a few rather reptilian looks as he leads the harried fellow off.
It's rather rude and mean to lead someone this far away from their Snarl and not help them out. I get that's what your deity's all about, but still helping out a little bit probably wouldn't hurt! the little dragon thinks.
"Aye, she was here a while ago--spent her nights at a place called the Forest Bounty. It's kind of a large feasting hall on the northern edge of town. She often spoke with a gentleman wearing a bearskin cloak while she was there."
Bertrand learns that there are a few apothecaries and bookstores around Tamran, but the most prominent ones are the Ink and Kiss (for bookstores--apparently, it used to be a brothel before it went out of business) and Rylmina's Remedies. They're both located in the central market district of town.
"Those creepy guys in the masks and robes? Yeah, they've been going around performing 'miracles' for folks around the poor and working districts of Tamran--curing them of what ails them and whatnot for quite a fee. The cures never last long, though--just long enough for them to get sick again, so they can profit again. They're disgusting, and I hear Forest Marshal Gavirk has someone looking into them--they're said to be found at the Forest Bounty."
"The Dusty Trail Company would be happy to take him with us--assuming he can pay, of course." The caravan master, an older bearded gentleman with a bald head and liver spots flecking his scalp, says. You get the impression that he's being honest... and is rather baffled by your presence.
Galen swallows. "I-I can work for passage, if you need it--I've been a blacksmith's apprentice since I was fifteen winters."
"...so you can't pay, is what you're telling me." The caravan master arches an eyebrow at Galen.
The small dragon smiles toothily.
"It is a time-honored tradition EVERYWHERE to work one's way! The armor I'm wearing right now? I learned how to help out at a forge and make it after saving all of my money for it because I was short."
"If Galen had that kind of money anyways, those mask-folks would probably take it. They rob graves, so I wouldn't put them past robbing people, too."
Max pauses a bit and his toothy grin turns to a flat line.
"I picked this up to help deal with grave-robbin' good-for-nothin' thugs, but if you want it it should cover the cost of passage?" he offers as he pulls out his silver morningstar. "It's important that Galen get to Absalom and I don't have much more I can give, and even this might come back to bite me in the tail."
The caravan master's eyebrows arch when he sees you offer your morningstar.
"Oh, now, I'm certain we don't need to go THAT far." He raises his hands. "All I'm looking for is 10 gold pieces and his passage is just as well secured."
"Let's be frank--anywhere would be better than here as long as those Razmir charlatans are still about." He looks at Galen. "Y'know, I wouldn't normally offer a rate that cheap. But, what can I say--you can't really put a price on sincerity these days."
With the information he'd managed to get, Khalaban headed to the Forest Bounty to take a look around.
"Guess we should head to the Forest Bounty. I could do with a good meal anyway."
Vixie nods. "I-I didn't think we w-would find a f-forest here!" she says, happy to be on Shyla's trail.
Galen blinks before feeling around in a pouch on his belt. "Wait--hold on. I'm an idiot."
He digs out the 10 gold pieces and puts them in the caravan master's hand. "I got some funds for the trip. I kinda forgot."
The old man whisks the money away into the pockets of his vest and grins. "Well, your passage is paid, all the same. With me, now--we'll be setting off within the hour!"
Galen turns to you before he leaves. "Thanks for helping me out, Max--and let Adriana know I'll get her letters to her sister, okay?"
Max lets out a bit of a relief that Galen DOES have money and that the caravan master seems to be on the up-and-up.
"You be safe and careful on your trip! I'll let Adriana know! And remember that even when away from the snarl, you carry a little bit with you!" Max offers excitedly to the young human before trying to look for the rest of the group.
...which may be a bit problematic in an actual city....
You're able to meet back up with Adriana--she's still at the docks, taking in the sights.
Your search for the Forest Bounty takes you to the northern edge of town. The city begins to yield to the wildlands the further north you walk, its houses spaced fairly far apart and with no walls to offer protection.
It isn't hard to find the Forest Bounty. The large, timber feasting hall is situated under a pair of large oak trees whose upper boughs form a natural archway. Glowing orange lanterns can be seen in the hall's open windows.
Eating was something Khalaban was good at, and so the bulky man headed to the counter to order food. If he could pick up a little information too...
Adriana is looking around the docks for information on the cult...perhaps trying to identify possible members...but she is easily distracted...so...
Khalaban swings the doors open to reveal the interior of the Forest Bounty: a wide, communal hall, open at both the front and back, filled with wooden tables and benches. Dozens of people gather here, eating, drinking, and laughing. One table of patrons even carries on with a bawdy song that seems to have most of the folk smiling.
The large man approaches the counter along the wall to speak with the vendor there--a halfling man with wide, blond sideburns and proudly full muttonchops. His apron is stained with bits of food and grease, and he marches about behind the bar with alacrity. Peeking behind the bar reveals that there's a raised platform for him to walk around and take orders on.
"And what'll your pleasure be today, sir?" He greets Khalaban with a wave. "Got all manner of grub for those just come out of the woods!"
Max is not the stealthiest of folks, especially not with the new breastplate slowing them down. Still, they ARE making an effort to minimize their profile -- true dragons are not what one would consider to be a 'typical' adventurer, much less in common view.
Unfortunately, they probably aren't doing a very good job of either remaining low-profile or finding much of the rest of the party until they nearly stumble into Adriana after a few folks point in her direction.
"Pssst. Adriana! Galen is on his way, and he'll get the delivery to your sister." they finally offer to try and get her attention.
The kitling trots up to the bar beside Khalaban, though her focus is everywhere else, scanning the bar for her catlady love or a man with a bearskin cloak-- though it occurs to her that she has not actually seen a bear before, aside from in woodwork.
"It is also letters to my mother and brother...but that is good to hear. Where did the other say they were going?"
"I'll be honest, I can't remember where they said they were going, if they mentioned it?" Max offers honestly. "You see how people are reacting when we're asking about the masked folks? I think they are up to no good here. We should be very careful to not get jumped."
"Um, excuse me ah, sir or ma'am, have you seen a halfling with a big polearm and fox ears around, or a very large human wearing armor styled like a boar?" Max starts inquiring to try and find the rest of the party.
Khalaban grinned cheerfully as he moved up to the counter. "That sounds like what I was hoping for," he said as he took a sniff. After a moment he took off his helment, revealing surprisingly human features to anyone who knew him. "I'm very new to town. A meal and some information on what there is to do would be excellent, if you have a moment to talk."
"Meal'll will cost ya. Information, not so much." The halfling bartender scoops out a fresh mug. "Aside from fillin' your belly here, there's a few caravans 'round here lookin' for strong arms to haul their cargo about or guard it. There's the ol' Ink and Kiss, if you're of a scholarly mind."
"Forest Marshal Gavirk over yonder has been puttin' feelers out for a job he wants done." He points out a large man in green wearing a bearskin pelt sitting at a table by the far wall.
------------------
The small kobold's line of questioning is met with considerably more warmth. "Aye--saw the two of 'em headin' to the Forest's Bounty Feasting Hall, north side o' town. Bloody impossible to miss 'em, they are."
Before the halfling can even get through his second sentence (and thus, long before Khalaban knows where to look), Vixie is gone, taking off at a halfling trot toward the man in the bearskin.
Khalaban pulled out his purse. "Food is certainly good. Do you know what task the Marshal is hiring for?"
Adriana looks at the man,"Can you give more precise directions to this place?"
"Sure. Just follow Tanner Street to the central market square, then turn onto Grove Street and keep going until you reach Griffon Lane. The Forest Bounty will be at the end of that street, under a pair of trees."
----------------
The halfling glances over the porcine man's shoulder. "I've heard he's been leading an investigation into those damned Living God cultists. Hasn't yet turned up much yet, I don't think..."
The large man looks down at Vixie as she approaches, his part in the song finished. "Help ya with something?" He asks, the jowls on his face shifting as he leans down to get a better look at her. His bearskin pelt shifts slightly as he leans over.
"Tanner to the square, then Grove to Griffon, Bounty under two trees at end of the street. Got it. Thank you very much and may the Waybringer bless your day!" Max offers to the helpful people then starts heading towards the eatery mentioned.
"C'mon, Adriana! We might be able to get there before they start eating!"
Bertrand follows Vixie towards the large man in the cloak, allowing her to take the lead.
"M-Miss Shyla!" chimes the kitling, who takes a moment before realizing she should maybe explain as she bounces on her heels. "U-uhm, th-that is, M-Mister-- s-someone said that y-you might have seen M-Miss Shyla? I'm h-her wife! Sh-she's big and p-pretty and v-very smart!! ...A-and a cat!"
Her tail batters some poor soul behind her.
Khalaban grunted. "Sounds like an intruiging task. I shall talk to the Marshal." Putting the coins for the meal on the counter, he gave his thanks to the keep and moved over. Realizing Vixie was speaking to the man in the bearskin he paused, waiting.
" Have you seen Vixie and Khalaban eat? I think our only chance is to arrive when they are still eating."
The bearpelt-wearing man arches an eyebrow at Vixie. "Oh, you're Vixie, then? Have a seat." He pulls up a chair for the fox-halfling to sit down in.
"Aye, I remember her well enough--she made quite a first impression." His expression turns stoic. "Given how well she carried herself--and how well she talked herself up--I thought she'd be just the person I needed to help be kick those cultists out of town. Have you been hearing what they've been up to, lately?"
-----------------
You head off on your way, following the directions you were given to reach the Forest Bounty. The market square of Tamran is fairly crowded, but as you move, the crowds thin out and you're soon able to move along with only a bit of jostling and pushing.
The Forest Bounty Feasting hall is a long hall constructed from fine timber, built between a pair of oak trees whose branches form an arch over its roof. The doors are already open, and it's teeming with patrons.
Vixie climbs into the seat, ears wiggling in their armor.
”N-not, uhm. I d-don’t know for s-sure? Th-they got into a t-tomb n-near where I live,” explains the short little oddity. ”M-Miss Shyla sent me one of th-their masks, a-and it’s the same as th-the one we saw in the tomb, s-so they’re definitely the s-same g-group, r-right?”