Out in the open streets, the few people who hadn't the reason to head inside gave wide berth for Rhydd and his rather deceased-looking passenger. The angry man who had tossed Mallory's gifted blanket onto the campfire now sat in his corner with it wrapped around himself. The rest of the beggars were all there. Or, everyone aside from the redhead that had stood for most of the civil conversation.

It was clear Ogden had no intention of knocking on the large building that constituted the Town Hall. He steadfastly trudged up the stairs, placing both hands and using his weight to swing open the door in a heavy motion, only for it to be caught by someone on the other side.

"Ogden," the voice belonging to the gloved hand sounded. Slowly, and more quietly, it creaked open to reveal a bald, dark-skinned man clad in a white fur pelt and the trademark azure blue of Bryn Shander's authority.

"Markham," Ogden rumbled, striding past, to which the man didn't seem to pay any mind. He instead turned his attention to the two unfamiliar faces. "Good evening. I assume you're all here because of-" he stopped short as he spotted the decapitated, bleak husk Rhydd was carrying."Ah. Step inside." He gestured inward, allowing them to pass before he closed the door behind them. "How's your tavern faring, my friend?"

"Bloody hole in th'roof, that's how it's farin'," Ogden replied as he lead the charge down the torchlit halls. It was a rather spacious building, constructed mainly in wood, with doors leading to either side. The banner of Bryn Shander, bearing the same antlered wheat plant as the crest outside her walls, were proudly hung spaced out along the walkway. The leftmost door was open, allowing for a glimpse of a dining hall beyond. It had repurposed into a temporary lodging area for the unfortunate, and a guard tended to a couple of people sipping soup. They were, presumably, based on their appearance, mother and child. The Dwarf headed straight past and for another door at the end, this one closed and guarded, and Markham nodded for them to step aside and allow for passage.

---

Mallory's Investigation Check to search the Wight's body (taken care of in Kelvin's Comfort) [16]: The wight had almost nothing of value. Aside from a set of bloodstained keys contained in its pouch, that was, and a strange coin tucked away in a compartment inside its glove.

Mallory's Arcana Check on the Strange Coin [8]: A strange coin indeed . . . nothing about it reminded her of any currency she was familiar with, not even in passing. It was possible it wasn't a coin at all, but a mere chip or token of unknown purpose. But whatever it was, it was important enough for the Wight to keep separate from its keys. And it was certainly well-crafted, if a bit morbid in its motif.
This message was last updated by the GM at 14:21, Fri 11 Mar 2022.

Back out into the bitter cold once again.  Mallory had dearly looked forward to settling in for the night amid warmth, food, and as much booze as she could afford herself, but there was still so much to do.  Would there be a moment's peace for anything in Ten-Towns, she wondered?

As they made their way once more past the gathered beggars, she spotted the grumpy fellow bundled up and offered him a gentle smile but otherwise kept to herself.  That there was a bruised ego that did not need to be poked.  Once at the Town Hall, however, she stood aside while Ogden handled matters and gave a polite curtsy when attention was given her and Rhydd's way.  The young noble let Rhydd go on ahead first and remained close at hand to open any doors or clear obstructions for him as necessary since his hands were full.

Astre, meanwhile, dove once more from his companion's shoulders as soon as they were indoors and trotted along at his own pace.  Mallory gave a brief glance after him but otherwise paid little heed; cats would wander as they would and it wasn't as if Town Hall was so big as to lose track of him entirely.  While she kept along with the rest of the group to make their report, the Tressym sniffed and meandered about the corridor's shut doors until he eventually poked into the dining hall to explore.  Unless driven away by some stubborn guard first, of course.

---

As they go along, Mallory will invoke her Eldritch Sight and have "Detect Magic" up and running, just in case.  She would've had to drop it earlier when she cast "Levitate" since they're both Concentration effects.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

Rhydd had been to Bryn Shander before, of course, but he had never ventured inside the Town Hall. He would have stayed clear of it on this visit as well, but Ogden (the archer had heard the tavern owner's name spoken at some point during all the hubbub) made a bee-line for the building, and Rhydd judged that he had little choice other than to follow the incensed Dwarf.

Although Rhydd was not a weak man, the burden that he was carrying soon had him sweating underneath his heavy winter gear. The heat seemed to multiply many-fold after he had stepped into the Town Hall, and he reasoned that he was going to need to set the body of the Wight down soon, so that he could unbutton his coat and release some of the body heat that his winter gear was doing its best to retain.

~~Just a little bit longer, and I can set this thing down,~~ he reasoned, as he waited for their little group to gain admittance to the room where Ogden had led them.