Samara stares at Kon while he speaks, then at the barkeep, then Haznut, then the barkeep, then Vostiun, with increasing agitation.
"Um. maybe... maybe we can let the nice man bring my drinks and then interrogate him?" Samara says with a swish of her tail.

Saidou quietly listens to the conversation between the innkeep and his companions, the only real sound from him being a soothing crooning he occasionally utters as he heaps attention on the wriggling lump in his traveling cloak's hood.

After Samara speaks up, he adds an agreement. "I am Saidou, and I'd love to speak more about things that are better avoided at night... She has a point, though. I very much want to hear more about the things to keep an eye out for, especially if there's news around here from Lepistadt. But the apple juice and ciders would lubricate such social measures."

Hetrik nods, "Right, the food." he makes a quick tabulation in his head and then turns to go back to the kitchens, "We'll call it 3 silvers for the meal, since I don't know if yer leavin' or stayin' I'd just as soon have that before you start eating."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

As Hetrik disappears into the kitchen, a woman clears her throat, "So where are you from?" she asks in a rather friendly voice, quite unexpected given the more traditional Ustalavic tradition of suspicion. "I couldn't help but overhear, and it seems like you folks haven't been in Ustalav for very long."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Kon turns to the woman, "Oh, some of us are from here, I'm originally from Tian Xia.  Been in Ustalav a year or two myself."  He gives a sigh, "It's been pretty hard to find good tea here, but I have to say it has been...  Interesting around here.  Different problems for different regions."

Kon nods in a short, seated bow, "My name is Kon.  You are...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Hearing your request of name exchanges, the man next here rolls his eyes and sighs as if some form of tedious chore had just been thrust upon him.

"Oh, I'm Elizabet." she responds with an offended look at the man next to her, "People around here call me Lizzie. I've only heard stories about the place, is it true that dragons force everyone to wear wooden sandals?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:39, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

"Oh geta aren't forced on people, it's mostly for those who don't want to track mud everywhere.  Mother never approved of me wandering around barefoot."  Kon muses, "I can't say you're missing much though. Lots of trees where I grew up, farms, a tenuous balance with nature, the usual stuff.  I do miss the kitsune from time to time though.  Tricky lot, them.  Always have to watch out for pranks."

"Oh, you have fey as well?" she shutters with what you recognize as genuine fear. She rubs her index finger and thumb together, like adding a pinch of salt to a stew, in front of her heart before continuing, "Nasty creatures them. Evil runs deep and they're the messengers of it."

Kon shrugs, "Many kitsune, at least around the area I'm from, act as mediators for the forest and the humans.  Everyone stays safe and mostly happy.  I'd hardly call that evil.  I've encountered a few of the type you mean though, so I understand the resentment."  Kon leans back in his chair.

Vostiun tries to chime in before any negative response can lower the mood. "I'm Vostiun, so what do you do in the village Lizzie?" He absently scratches the black cat behind the ears who meows loudly.

"Oh, and this is Sargon."

"Oh, I'm just a simple seamstress. Certainly not anyone important enough to just travel to another town on a whim." she frowns a bit at that before continuing, "So what do you do?"

The man next to her speaks up, "Leave them alone, Lizzie. What they do or don't do isn't any of our business. Probably best if we didn't know anyways." he says looking Samara and Saidou over.

Samara is nodding while the woman speaks, then stops when Kon speaks. "And..." she prods the ones doing introductions.

"Terribly sorry, where are my manners!" Haznut says in an apologetic tone. "My name is Haznut Ingut, I'm from not too far South of Ustalav, actually." He runs his hand through his beard, touching at the hilt of his Clan dagger under it, gently touching the leather peace-knot tied around it. "From Lastwall, specifically."

"Lastwall!" she exclaims, "Pharasma save us. You poor dear." she stands, concern on her face, and walks over to the table.

"Lizzie..." he starts but she's up and walking before he can stop her, "Dammit woman."

"And I'm still Saidou, born of the beautiful islands of Soral's Tears. Close enough to being a local, though - Ustalav has been my home for half of my life." It looks like he has finished calming down his unseen little friend, and his hands now move to his lap. "I'm from the Lepistadt area, actually. For the last 10 years."

"And you can call me Sapphire. If you have questions about your fate, I can help find the answers."

Saidou and Samara's introductions get her attention before she can sit at the table and she gets her first good look at the fetchling. She gasps and puts a hand over her mouth, fear painted over her face, "Fey!" she chokes out.

She frantically looks over her shoulder to the man she was sitting with and then back to the adventurers, "Fey. Dear Pharasma..." she starts moving backwards towards the door, attempting to gather her composure, "I..I'm sorrry, I..I need to go home."

The man she was with reaches her and helps to escort her out, actively making sure he doesn't make eye contact with Saidou as they leave.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

”Well that seems to have gone over well.” Haznut says with a lighthearted chuckle, not wanting his companions to feel upset by the reaction of Lizzie. ”I’m sure she’ll warm up to ya two.”

Sargon pauses in the middle of washing his face to say in a surprisingly deep boice, "All things considered it could be worse."

Saidou's cheerful smile doesn't waver a millimeter, but a tired drop hits the corner of his eyes. Might not be recognized by a stranger, but the more insightful members of his troupe would undoubtedly get the impression that he's not mad or upset... Just disappointed.

Haznut places his hand on Saidou’s shoulder reassuringly. “Fret not, people around here are just scared of the things and people they don’t know yet is all.”

The door to the kitchens opens and Hetrik comes out with a wooden platter and a pony keg, behind him is Jenny with several tankards, a bottle, and another wooden platter. "Here you go." he says as they set down the food and drinks, "A bottle of Elissa's, a summer ale..." he sets the ale in front of Haznut, "...a few apples, fresh and dried, a loaf of bread, a dozen boiled eggs, a pitcher of cider, and a keg of hard cider."

He looks around the table, satisfied with what he's delivered and then snaps his fingers, "Right, the tea. We don't have any of that spider berry whatever it is, but we do have enough spices and herbs to make an herbal tea if you'd like." without waiting for Kon's response, "Go on Jenny, get the pot on."

She hurries back into the kitchens to do just that and Hetrik turns back to the table, "Alright, before you dive in, who's paying?"

Kon sighs, "Herbal is fine.  Tiger clove if you've got any would suffice."  Looking about to the others, "I think we're good to pay together?"  He pulls out a handful of copper pieces and sets them down on the table, counting them out with brief clinks as they settle into a stack.

With a look up at Hetrik, Kon asks, "Unfortunately poor Lizzie had to go in a hurry, suddenly panicked about fey.  Has anything untoward happened lately that might have gotten her spooked?"  He slowly rolls another copper over his fingers and back again.  "We wouldn't want to accidentally run afoul of some otherworldly creature out there, after all."