The innkeeper sighs looking at the party of six, "Three rooms for twelve gold pieces."
And for stabling?
"Its included. They too are around back," the man replies to Brandark.
Flynn shakes his head disgusted by the bargain, saying under his breathe Honestly, the man says they are having a hard time and you convince him to get a discount. and then further ask for information
The man looks at the Cleric ,"As I said, business is slow. First the trappers and the hunters stop showing up, and now the Black Arrows have not been seen in weeks. Then there is this blasted rain. The only good thing that has happened around here of late is about a month ago that floating palace of sin burned and sank to the bottom of Claybottom Lake. Good riddance, I say."
The proprietor will look at the two coins a bit confused. He shrugs, then picks the coins up, "Times are tough. What do you want to know?"
"I can only guess about the hunters and trappers. Wild creatures, cougars, bears and boars have been seen closer to town. It is said they have been driven from their hunting grounds by Ogres and Trolls. I suspect many of these hunters and trappers have succumbed to the wild or fallen prey to the Ogres and Trolls. As to the Paradise, it was a gambling barge, where drinks flowed freely as I have heard. I never went to it. I work too hard for my coin to give it away to some red headed vixen," the proprietor offers what he knows.
Brandark pays for his part, along with his horses and then follows along.
Um lady Elektra, were you per chance able to get my requested belt done?
Flynn put's the coins in front of the bartender, When bystanders are out of earshot Flynn whispers this is beginning to get a little weird for me. I don't believe in coincidence, I think these things might be connected somehow, but this is all just suspicion so far, i need to questions answered first, like who are the Black Arrows? I also need to know more about the ship burning down.
"The Black Arrows are Rangers. For decades they have been the defenders in these parts, protecting the area from the unsettled regions to the north. Their base is north of here at Fort Rannick. But we have not seen them in weeks," the proprietor pauses. "Our Mayor, he is also the Pastor at the Temple, sent word to Magnimar for help." He then sighs, "I don't know much about the sinking of the Paradise.
Shalelu gets a bit agitated when the details about the Black Arrows are mentioned, "I am going to stable my horse and head over to the tavern. "
The party would have noticed the tavern as the next building over.
"Well, actually the mayor sent us to investigate about the rangers"
The proprietor perks up a bit, then gives the party another look, "You don't look like the Magnimar Guard. If what you say is true, then you should visit the Temple."
Garrath will follow Shalelu, and wait till they are out of earshot of the Inn or Tavern, "You know something of these Black Arrows? Friends of yours?"
Flynn holds his hand out to the owner Thomas Filch, detective. i'm not with the city guard, i'm more of a last resort. the guy they call when things need to get done/ Flynn points to the other members of our merry band They're the heroes of Sandpoint. The bunch of us, We solve problems. We help people
Shalelu looks at Garrath, "I don't want to talk about it."
Shalelu goes into the Bottoms Up. It is crowded with patrons. But there is one last empty table. Shalelu goes and takes a chair at the table.
A middle-aged Halfling woman come by the table, "You are all new to Turtleback Ferry. Our house speciality is the Turtle Soup. Also, tonight we have a fresh Black Bear Stew. We serve everything with a pickled onion, a pair of olives and a wheat roll. Three Silvers. Beer is a silver piece. The Dwarven Ale is two silvers. And a glass of Elven White wine is 5 silvers."
Shalelu asks about a bottle of the wine, and finds out it is two gold pieces. She gives the Halfling Woman 2 golds and 3 silvers, "Just the onion, olives and roll, please."
The Halfling Woman smiles, "I will give you a double portion." She looks at the other party members, "What do you have?"
Back at the Inn, the proprietor takes in what Flynn says. His eyes widens when he hears the Heroes of Sandpoint, "Heroes of Sandpoint. I have heard rumors of you. Something about killing a bunch of Hobgoblins raiding along the coast."
Garrath nods at Shalelu, "I understand." He smiles a bit, "Let's get out of the rain and get something warm in our bellies"
He listens to the Halfling woman with a broad smile, "Bottle of Wine, two Dwarven Ale, and double helping of Bear Stew." He discretely hands over 5 gold, leaning down to the woman, "and any warning about any troublemakers that you can give us."
The Halfling waitress responds to Garrath, "You see that Halfling over by the bar. He is one pain in the arse." She lets out a hearty laugh, "Nah! That be me husband." She then gets a little more serious, "Actually, since the demon barge sank several weeks ago, things have gotten a little bit better. But then the Black Arrows stopped dropping in, and we are starting to get some kind of worried about that. But generally speaking, there are good folk here in Turtleback Ferry."
Shalelu mostly looks down at the table. When the Halfling waitress brings her a bottle of wine and the food, the Ranger leaves 3 gold pieces on the table, packs the food in her pouch belt, and grabs the bottle of wine, "If you will excuse me, I am going to go take a bath."
The Halfling bartender is walking along a raised platform behind the bar, "You are new here." He will acknowledge the Cleric and offer to him the same fare as noted above by his Halfling waitress wife. "What do you have?"
Sorry. I can't help with either of those. Here's your Ale. Let me get you some of the stew. It's really good to add a little fresh ale to the broth," the Halfling steps down and heads to the kitchen.
Flynn says in a low whisper, Stone, a man at the bar, seven pointed star tattoo.
Brandark pulls up a chair near Stone.
Dwarven Ale, Stew, and a Wheat roll please
He then leans back and looks around the establishment while waiting on the meal.
Garrath gives a wry smile at Shalelu, trying to brighten her dour mood a bit, "Let me know if you want company." After watching her go, he looks about the room before turning his attention to the halfling woman, "Demon barge? We were told it was a gambling barge. Was there more going on there? My friend and I are friends of the Black Arrows and looking into their silence. What happened with them? He smiles, fishing a small gem, he palms it down on the table, uncovering it so she can see, and trying to not let many others see it. "Seems that I have far too many questions. For your time." He nods towards the gem and other coins on the table. "Any kind of information or warning of ill will would be appreciated even more."
Flynn continues whispering one of two plan's I can tail him as he leave's or we can grab him. either way we will need to be discreet unless you have leverage with the guards to were we can do it now. Either way we can get information from him
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How about you tail him. Then we can talk to the mayor. If he knows something we don't have to knock on that man's door.But if he doesn't we still have that option. Again in a conversational if not casually low tone. Throughout the conversation Stone will casually look around at his plate but never at the man in question.
The Halfling waitress responds to Garrath, "I doubt there were really any demons on the barge. I just call it that. Before it sank, it took most of our business away. We were about to have to close the tavern. As to the Black Arrows, they just stopped coming. We don't know what happened." When Garrath puts the gem on the table, she smiles at the Shoanti Barbarian, It's very pretty. But, keep it. I have nothing more I can tell you."
The Black Bear Stew is savory, if a bit gamey.
The man Flynn notices leaves the Bottoms Up about thirty minutes later.
Flynn get's up slowly care to not look suspicious careful to avoid his sight
We will meet back here later, i'll tail him He says to the group in a hushed tone disappearing like a shadow in the night
"Good luck, Flynn."
The man turns right out of the Bottoms Up, and immediately right again. He does not notice Flynn tailing him.
Due to the rains, the streets are deserted.
Flynn continues following the man keeping a careful eye on him.
Flynn follows the man. He appears to go into a wood house, third down on the right from the Bottoms Up.
Garrath smiles back at the tiny woman, and slides the gem towards her with the coins. "Keep it, hopefully it will help keep towards keeping the place open, and this delicious stew on tables. We'll be here, or at least around for a bit, and it will be nice to have warm food to fill our bellies."
Flynn wait's to see if the man comes out hiding nearby.
Back at the Bottoms Up, the Halfling waitress smiles and brings back an extra portion of Bear Stew and a refill for Garrath's mug. No charge. She even slips him a couple extra pickled onions.
On the rainy streets, Flynn sees a light come on in the house. No one exits the house.
Flynn casts one of his new spells invisibility and goes to knock on the door
Brandark makes some small talk with Stone, while eating supper.
From inside the small wooden building, Flynn hears, "Who's there?
A messenger from the Higher up's, open up quick before my invisibility wears off and i'm spotted Flynn say's in a hushed nervous tone .
From the other side of the door Flynn hears, "Who is this? I think you must have the wrong house."