Ralzik walks over to the tall, red-headed woman with a bright smile on his face. "Thank you mam, for your time and patience." he says, as he listens to what the woman has to say. "I apologize that sometimes my nature gets the best of me."

((I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do this, but that last line is a bit of a lie. Do I make a bluff check? The smile and other statement are genuine though.))

((Not really. I mean, in some situations, where it's important, you might want to, but in this situation it's not a huge deal.))

"I'm sure," she says, sizing the warlock up. She beckons and guides the three adventurers to a back table, where she sits.

"My name is Calla," comes an introduction, "and I've just put myself in an awful lot of danger just by speaking up here in public. The fact is, the Lady of Shadows has a hand in everything, from extortion of all the shopkeepers, to murder, to slavery. No one here is going to help you do what needs to be done, especially if you keep running around the place acting no better than her men." Her last statement is directed pointedly at Ralzik.

"And I'm not going to stick my neck out any further than I already have at this point. I've got goblins on the outside and criminals within--one of those groups already seems to be riled up, and us talking is only going to do the same to the other."

((Bah!!! I go to post this morning, and the internet gives out on me right as I click the "send" button... and stays out all day. Sorry guys!))
Addressing the tall female, Tsuujin says, "We don't wish to put you in a tough spot, so speak only so far as you are willing and we will be grateful for what information we can get. A straight answer would be a very welcome thing to me at the moment."
After a moments pause, and a glance around to the adventurers around him, he adds, "I'm Tsuujin, by the way, and I meant what I said earlier: I'm looking for a good fight. If one can be provided I'm in, and I think there's more to this story than a group of goblins."

Kuro nodded solemnly at the information given. "Corruption has no limits to its reach, doesn't it?"

Aesamar rises from his seat and speaks softly. "Thank you for your help, madam. I apologise sincerely for the risk you took in doing so." He lowers his voice even further, and the sound seems to be emanating from the middle of the table, rather than his now unmoving mouth: "I only hope there may be something we can do to help." ((Use Ghost Sound on the table, quietly enough that only those at the table can hear the words))

He steps away from the table, and, as he passes the shaken barman, murmurs "Thank you for your hospitality, sir." He then makes his way towards the staircase at the back of the tavern.

!ready

Calla shakes her head.

"I'm not sure what else there is to say, honestly. The Lady of Shadows works a 'protection' ring, making all of us store owners pay in. I'm one of the only ones holding out," she admits, "everyone else is just too scared. Whatever information they might have, they aren't going to give to a group of adventurers they know nothing about." The woman shrugs. "I would say, if you're looking for a fight, to go after the goblins. I'm sure you'll find some treasure down there--the goblins raid often enough. Don't get in over your heads with the Lady of Shadows, or you might just wind up missing it. That's the way she does business."

Tsuujin smiles at the warning presented to him regarding the Lady of Shadows, and simply says, "Sounds fun. I think I came to the right place, after all. Thank you, again."
!ready

Ralzik says ,"Thank you for being so helpfull, I'll come back in the morning and help sort out any problems that might still be here. If not, I think I'll follow these other brave souls to stop the goblins from comming back again."

Ralzik turns and heads up to bed.
!ready

((Okay! I guess we'll call that good then.))

Morning arrives and everything seems to have gone well in the night, however, as the adventurer's come down the stairs to the common room of the tavern, a commotion can be heard outside.

Stepping out onto the deck reveals that reconstruction has already begun on the wall, scaffolds being raised and crews beginning to bring in stones from various directions.

Captain Harrowleaf enters through the gap in the defenses with a small group of men--carried between them is some sort of rig with two dead goblins trussed up.

"Get this wall up fast," he orders. "I'll issue a few extra shifts of men here to keep you safe."

"Were they going to attack again so soon?" asked the a half-elf who appeared to have some sort of rank among the workers.

"I don't know," the ranger replied, honestly. "We found these two skulking about just beyond the treeline. Signs showed that a few more had been around, but headed deeper into the forest toward the old dwarven outpost." Harrowleaf shook his head. "That hasn't been an active den for quite a few years. This town was much bigger back then--and better defended." He began to walk off, leaving his men to tend to the corpses. "We just need to be ready."

Ralzik turns to the folks he fought with the day before. "Looks like we have some more work to do? Anyone wish to take the lead?"

Tsuujin makes a quick check to ensure he hasn't forgotten anything, and that the dagger is still safely within his pack, and begins to trek down the path towards the Dwarven Outpost, walking fairly casually while still keeping an eye on the treeline for goblins.

Ralzik shouts out ahead, "Hey Tsuujin, do you know the way?"

Aesamar casts an eye over the construction works while speaking to the group. "The idea of a leader is irrelevant in a group such as this. Each of us has our skills and weaknesses, and judging by previous incidents, none of us necessarily has garnered the respect of our peers that holding such a position would require." He turns away from the wall and faces the others. "If we are to attempt to obtain this skull totem as a group, then we shall attempt it as just that, a group. However, before we set off, I must purchase some supplies for the... adventure, I suppose you could call it." The eladrin begins walking through the market stalls, peering both at their wares and those displayed in the curiosity shop windows, searching for the items he requires, all but ignoring the rash movements of the fighter.

((Spend 30gp on a set of components each for Comprehend Language and Tenser's Floating Disk, plus 10gp worth of components for Make Whole. Assuming I can buy them around here, that is.))

((Yeah. You're fine with those.))

Tsuujin calls back, "Nope, but I know the general direction, and I figure the more goblins I find, the closer I'll be. Come on, lets go kill something."

Ralzik says to himself, "I think I'll wait to follow the person with the map."

(( when did anyone get a map? I thought the captain pointed out the outpost in his comment, and we were going off of that? ))

Returning from his brief shopping trip, Aesamar turns to the rest of the group. "Unless anyone else has anything to pick up, shall we begin making our way towards the barrow? Who exactly has the instructions? One of us did pick up the napkin, didn't we?" His eyes widen in concern and he sweeps off towards the tavern, hoping desperately that the barman didn't throw the napkin with the directions away.

((Isuka, the wizard wrote (magically inscribed) the directions to the barrow on a napkin.))

Bursting back into the tavern, Aesamar fears the worst. However, one of the maids is about the hall cleaning up, and as she sees him enter, she smiles and reaches into her pocket.

"Master Marsh wanted to make sure you got this, along with a message of his own." Pulling out the folded napkin, she hands it over to the wizard. "Be careful," she repeats, "you're a nicer sort than those you travel with." Nodding, her task complete, she scurries off to return to her duties.

(( heh, i forgot about that entirely. ))
Realizing that it seems he was the -only- person actually prepared to up and go, Tsuujin waits, mildly impatiently, not all that far from the city exit for the rest of the missorted group.