Father Calmert nods. And then goes back into the Inn.

Althiöf made his way north and went across the river to the Trader.

Althiöf heads over to link to a message in this game

As the village goes throughout it's day a distant melody begins to be heard cresting the rise of the entrance.  Soft at first yet vibrant yet the tone of the singer implies that she isn't singing to only herself... yet that doesn't make her painful attempts at harmonizing any better.
"Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhiadem! Los Valdar Cuebiyari! Los! Carai an Caldazar! Al Caldazar!"

When this figure comes close enough in view, anyone can see that she is a stranger.  Dust clinging to her every inch and clothed in old loose robes that looked like it might have belonged to someone important long ago and a slight stoop in her shoulders do not distract from her oddly predatory features in her face.  A headdress of golden pheasant tail feathers and deep earthen rocks adorn her head.  She seems to be eagerly, and a little wearily, sweeping her gaze across every building she comes across.

As Yaotl makes her way into town, she first passes two farms (Area # 1,4) Both are small and look to grow wheat, which seems to be the primary crop around this area. The nights breeze causes the wheat to sway back and forth, and the chill in the air is totally different than your homeland to the far south, with a temperature of 57 degrees its something very different than what you are used too. As you follow the path further into town you pass a few more smaller buildings. The Street looks to be leading into a central area of the town, where a large building with lantern lights hand outside, and gives a welcoming vibe. You can see movement and shadows through the windows. A sign hanging from the building reads "Inn of the Welcome Wench"

If you continue to the large building, head over to the link to a message in this game thread. If you decide to explore the town, just continue here.

Korkas walks out the door looking for the horse's trough, heading over to that he kneels down cupping his hand as he drenches his face and hair with the water, wiping some of the grime away. Flicking his hair back he makes sure its braided back behind his head as not to get in the way for the day.

He moves to the side and just watches people walking by.

The village streets are busy with the morning hustle people are moving to and from, businesses are opening for the day, the light rain doesn't seem to matter to most of them.

Once outside, the locksmith stretched and enjoyed nature for a moment.  He was surprised to see such a bustle in the village on a day for revering St. Cuthbert.

He checked his belongings to make sure all was in its proper place.

Even though its was Godsday Not all the villagers followed the strict prohibitions to work. Although many followers did, most businesses opened just with reduced hours. Once outside you can see that a wagon with small casks has been left sitting outside the Inn. Sleeping in the back of the wagon is one of the laborers that Althiof met the night before at the Brewery. Suppose to have been waiting for the party the lad seems to have fallen to sleep, luckily it doesn't look like anyone has bothered the wagon or the casks of water.

"Hey, lad, take to wake up.  Here's a copper piece for doing a good job."

The dwarf got up into the wagoner's seat and took the reins.  He stuck his bow right behind the seat.

Virius climbs aboard the wagon and takes the seat next to the driver.

"If we're to entice these goblins to attack ... might as well put me in plain sight and hide the warriors."  He said with a wink.

"I bet these rough folk wouldn't think twice about ambushing us if they believed it to be just us traveling alone."

The cart came with a single white mare. The young lad woke and looked up. "Oh, I'm suppose to tell you, Thenai said to keep an eye on Boris, she's had him for a few years now and has gotten attached." he says. The young lad jumps down from the wagon and gratfuly takes the offered copper and puts it swiftly in his pocket. "Thanks!" and then runs off back behind the Inn.

Korkas wandered over to the wagon and looked at over, seeing where he and the others could hide. Shaking his head at the caskets, they weren't as big as he had hoped.

"This won't do. How are we going to hide the rest of us?" Korkas mutters and then looks to Althiof as he has an idea "Hey did you ask how many people normally escort one of these?"

"No, I hadn't.  Didn't seem important.  I figured we'd bring everyone interested."

"This is why we should have had a meeting yesterday.  I tried all day to get you guys alone."

"The foe we seek is not known for reason."  Virius suggests.  "If they are the type to waylay wagons, then they would do so with but two passengers upon it."

"The rest can lie hidden — under a length of canvas if needs be — tipping the scales should we be attacked.  And should ambush not be drawn forth ... good Hollen will guide us to them if path should be found."

Just then, Hollen makes his way out to the streets, and greets the others. Having heard his name he agrees. "I talked with Spugnoir more last night in the room. He told me where the ambush happened, I know the area. So finding it shouldn't be a problem." he says. Moving over to the mare he runs his hands along the horses body and then pats it on the side. "She's a beauty, did I hear right, the lad called her Boris, strange name for a female horse." he says with a laugh.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Wed 22 May 2019.

"If it is adventure we seek, then let us adventurers be."  He continued, addressing the heroes in turn, making sure to meet each companion's gaze in equal measure as he sought to embolden them.

"Bold in the face of uncertainty.  True to one another ... as only brothers-in-arms be."  A gleam present in his eye that had not been there previously.  The call of adventure, it seemed, was too alluring ... its siren song proving too much for the young nobleman to resist.

"As is said among my people, 'A good plan violently executed, is better than a perfect plan executed next week.' "

"Not as strange as you might think."

"So, there's four of us then?"

"Six, counting the Suel nomad called Kossoth, and the Olman woman Yaotl."  Virius added.

With a tarp, the wagon will have enough space for three people to hunker down and hide if that is what's to happen. There are four casks in total in the wagon. Three smaller ones and a larger one, each are filled with water as per instructed. A tarp just happens to be laying in the back of the wagon too. It seems that the brewmaster had a similar idea.

Korkas climbs up on the wagon and looks at the larger cask pondering to himself "might be able to hid in this one. And a couple of people can lay down here, cover themselves with the tarp like you said. Two of you should be in the seat and one obviously sitting on the back watching. The rest of us should hide."

Korkas ducks down and shakes his head at the size of the barrel "Maybe if I was a sack of bones. Guess I can lay down here. We should get moving soon. One of us want to head inside and see what's taking the others so long?"

Hollen looks to the group. "Its likely the goblins know the cloaks of the Rangers, maybe I should remove mine until after the ambush, if they see the cloak they might decide not to attack." he says.

Yaotl runs out of the inn with a flustered look on her face, "Forgive me, I did not mean for the dream to take hold so firmly. My eyes are lowered to you all. If hiding in the tarp of this wagon is what is required of me then I do not mind but also a few of us could just trail along at a distance. Goblins' greed takes hold of their eyes before sense forms in their skull."

"No need for apology."  Virius offered, greeting the exotic looking woman.  "Nor to see eyes lowered, I would see them raised and set to task."