Aiden notes the group wears the same insignia, a blue fox, indicating that they are part of a troop or an adventuring group. One of the larger members wears a hood over their head, but the hunter swears he could see a small pair of tusks underneath.
"Oh, those boys...can't help giving me a title," the dwarf answers, peering down from the bar at Emma. "I am Eleanor. What can I do for you?"
Emma gives her a smile, "I was just wondering if we could rent two or three rooms from you for the night?" Emma looks between Rosie and Clyde, "Three would be great if you have that many available, but we'll take whatever you have available. I was also wondering if anything strange had been through here recently, like a black carriage with ghostly blue flames?" She asks, almost as an afterthought.
Eleanor nods. "I can spare three rooms. Mind you, there are a few rules here: no fighting, no loud noises after midnight and no animals up on the furniture. I don't care if they're trained, if they're the smartest in a hundred miles or if they magically don't go to the bathroom anymore. I let it happen once and that was the worst three weeks of my life."
Her expression becomes a little grim at Emma's second question. "No, I am old enough to remember the last time and have heard of the time before. The town was moved well off the main road that used to run through the province. Seems that plan worked well enough to keep that phantom from harming folk here."
Emma nods, "I understand, we'll make sure he doesn't get on anything and take him out before we go to bed. How much do we owe you for the rooms?"
Emma pauses for a moment before continuing, "I'm glad that no one here was harmed. Other towns we've come across as well as our own were not so lucky....except for one that was protected by a priest. We've actually gathered enough information that we think we can actually put a stop to it, and restore those that have been taken this time. We need to find some specific herbs, and then we have to go to a really old library to find the real name of the phantom that plagues these towns."
"A gold will cover your rooms and a meal in the morning," Eleanor answers. "Good luck with your quest, I fear it may be a difficult one."
Emma takes out a gold and holds it out to her, "Thank you Ms. Eleanor, we greatly appreciate your hospitality, and thank you for your well wishes. We know it's not going to be easy, but we just have to succeed. I will not rest until everyone is returned safely home, and that ghostly carriage is no longer a menace."
Looking over at the others she asks, "Does anyone need anything before we get ready to settle down for the night?"
"Not that I can think of." Aiden replies after giving Eleanor a nod of gratitude.
Rosie shakes her head. "I'm ready for sleep."
Eleanor holds out three keys. "All the rooms are the same size."
Clyde takes a key. "I will see you in the morning."
He adjusts his pack and heads to the room indicated on the key.
Emma gives Rosie and Clyde a nod, "Okay, rest well. We will see you in the morning."
Looking back at Eleanor she takes the last key, a pensive look on her face, "Ms. Eleanor...I really don't want to bring up bad memories for you, but you said before that this town was moved back from where the road used to go, and that has seemed to keep you all safe from the phantom carriage. That must mean that it doesn't deviate from its path....so, that creates a pattern that we can follow to find this carriage and it's spooky driver. I want to make sure we follow the right road out of here, so once we leave here do you know how we find the road that the carriage follows? I'm sorry if it's a painful, or stupidly obvious question, but I don't want to end up going the wrong way." She says, hoping that her inquiry isn't too painful for the kind Innkeeper.
Aiden listens closely, ready to commit any directions provided to memory.