Haznut grins with excitement at everything that was brought out. ”Thank you very much, we can all pay together.” He then goes to count out six pieces of copper before sliding them towards the center of the table. ”Speaking of Lizzie, did their table pay their tab?”.

Haznut peers up from under his brow, trying to discern what, if any, reaction Hetrik has at the mention of Fey.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

Hetrik collects the coins from everyone, "They have a standing tab." He then processes what Kon is asking and let's out a frustrated sigh, "There is always something happening. We keep our talismans up and try our best to keep out of the interest of the evils that prowl this world."

He puts the coins in his apron, "Not everyone is lucky enough to escape notice. Goblins snatch your pigs. Fey steal your baby and replace it with a changeling. Your spouse goes out to collect wood and never returns, or worse, does." the implications in his tone on the last word is ominously clear, "Not sure how you could be in this country and not know any of this." He nods to Saidou, "Especially with one of them traveling with you."

Kon waves dismissively at Saidou, "Oh don't mind him, best to think of him as a cursed halfling.  He's harmless.  I'm plenty familiar with the strange though.  Saw enough of that crawling over the Crown with the caravans for a lifetime and I'll gladly stick to the ships in the future."  He leans in a bit closer, this time holding the coin forward between his fingers, "What I'm more interested in is whether something has been happening lately."  After a beat, his face looks a little more serious, "Lepistadt is interested."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

He flicks his head the coin, "Taht supposed to make me believe he's a cursed halfling or pretend that being cursed isn't just as bad as being a fey?" he rubs the bridge of his nose, "Something is always happening, doesn't matter if I know about it or not. Old Ioana complained about being attacked by frogs when she came through this summer. The sheriff chased off some bandits that were lurking around just last week. Elissa gave young Pel a seeing to when she caught him stealing honeycomb from one of her hives."

He spreads his arms as of to say chose as you please.

Kon shrugs and holds the coin forward, "Sounds like any other town then.  Bandits and barghests, kids and crumbs."

Looking aside to Saidou, "At least you won't have to worry about him though.  Unless you start asking him questions."  Kon covers his ears and leans away with a grin, expecting retaliation.

Saidou's eyebrow twitches as he slowly closes his eyes listening to Kon and Hetrik's words, and then finally just breaks his plastered-on grin into a grimace. His forehead plants on the table with a thunk, and a long sigh like wind escaping from a balloon.

A black and cream colored ferret scrambles out from behind the neck of Saidou's hood, perching on its hind legs before chittering indignantly at being awakened. It darts over, picks up a fresh apple slice, and starts making the snack disappear into its face.

"Hetrik, I am not cursed in the way many understand it... Nor am I fey. Where I am from, I am common. My people fear the things that lurk in dark places as much as yours do. We find ourselves the victims of monsters and abuse, of dragons and intrigue, bandits and vagrancy just like anyone else. Where I was born, I am common folk.

Where I hail from now, Lepistadt, I am no more a monster or ill omen than I was in my home before. A curious-minded curiosity to some, sure. But I am no monster, and the only curse is that I had no warning before being sent from my home to Avistan, nor will I get any warning before I am called home again someday in the future. I value knowledge. That uncertainty, is my bane."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

Kon leans over to Hetrik and whispers, "Like I said..."

Samara puts her coins on the table, knowing hers will be extra since she ordered one of each, cocks her head at the innkeeper and says, "Do you need any entertainment here this evening?"

Hetrik shrugs, "Don't really care about your past or what you claim your are. You pay your bill and don't cause trouble before you move on, then that's all I care to know." He looks over to Samara, "You can entertain yourselves, after Lizzie finishes telling everyone about this one..." he points to Saidou, "...won't be anyone else in here."

Hetrik turns to head back into the kitchen, "Figure out if your stayin' or not and for how long if you are. I'm needed in the kitchen for a bit."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

After Hetrik leaves, Samara says, "OR... We could charge people to come in and see the mysterious tame fey... Hey? Hey?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

"How about we don't but say we did?" Vostiun says as he scratches his cat behind the ears.

"We should figure out how long we want to pre-pay for. Hopefully we find the site quickly but it make take us a few days to document and gather everything after that. And take care of whatever minster live there now. So... three days in advance?"

Saidou looks up from where his forehead was resting on the table, looks at Samara, and grins cheerfully. "Tame fey? When you haven't even housebroken me? Be sure to check your shoes before wearing them, you never know..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

Haznut lets out a chuckle and pats Saidou on the back. ”That’s the spirit! Don’t let anyone get you down friend, or it’s not just you messing with them that they’ll have to worry about!”

Saidou reaches out to pull his apple juice close, and collects the pile of apple bits away from his little friend. "I'm sorry. I won't actually do anything to you guys... and I probably wouldn't to anyone else, either. 's why I don't want to do much of the talking." He separates out a portion of the snacks for the ferret, and then moves the rest into a more accessable spot.

With a glance to Vostiun, he offers "Don't look to me for planning the expedition, nor how long it takes. You know better. Our stay might be limited by funds, but not curiosity. Likely as anything that you'll be dragging me away before I'm satisfied wether it's a day, ten, or a month."

Kon thinks on the task at hand, "I don't think 3 days is long enough. For one, the info we have is our destination is another day or so out there, so it'll be probably 3 days away from town as it is, even if we knew where we were going.  I think we should just stay for the night to rest up after the journey, ask around a bit more about the swamp, and head out in the morning.  We can worry about staying a few days when we return and need to finish cataloguing everything."

Samara cocks her head at Kon. "You just agreed we have no idea where to go next," Samara holds eye contact with Kon as she slowly pushes his cup towards the edge of the table, "but you want to head out in the morning. In what direction, hmm?"

Kon shrugs, "That's for the locals to tell.  We've the better part of a whole day ahead of us.  Surely someone who lives in this town has heard of some ruins nearby."  Leaning on a hand and gazing off toward the front door he continues, "Probably tell us the place is cursed, or the local court of the fey, overrun with undead, some foul beast who's made its home there..." his head bobs as his hand prevents his chin from moving, "I mean just mentioning my kind had Elizabet crying fey.  We're divine!"  He drops his supporting hand as a fist on the table with a dull thud as he exclaims the last part, "Well, we're Daikitsu's children at least, and she's a goddess..."

He waves dismissively at the door and leans back in his chair, causing it to creak and rock slightly, "Whatever, they'll tell us where it is in short order I expect with a heaping helping of whatever local superstition they hold and warn us not to go.  We'll know by nightfall the direction to travel and be on our way in the morning."  With a wry smirk he crosses his arms, "For all we know someone will tell us it's haunted and to stay away, and we'll find that it's just some hideout for local smugglers making off with the artefacts we're here to recover."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

Vostiun sips his cider and picks up a few eggs. "A smuggler that desperate would be as dangerous as a cornered rat. I can ask around and see what people tell me. If it really is more than a day away from town, it's pretty unlikely that anyone would have gone that far out to run across it."

As Vostiun stops scratching Sargon, the cat steps over and curls up in his lap. "So we're going to stay here tonight, set out tomorrow morning, and camp at the site when we find it?" he clarifies.

“Aye, sounds about right. If we get any locals to help us find it, intentionally or not, then great. Otherwise, half of archeology is finding the site, isn’t it?”

Samara slowly pushes Kon's cup right up to the edge of the table, saying, "Ok, so, question the locals, stay here tonight, follow our noses in the morning. I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it!"

"The way I see it, we have a few steps to follow and things to do. It would be good and proper to have a local map, updated with where the dangers the locals seek to avoid. We should learn which direction lies the border swamps, where the ruin lies - wether or not it's Voran's, they still want us to map the place. And thirdly, with ... Varying importance to us, if we want to spread good will amongst the locals and their jump-to-conclusion, hatefu-  Saidou would hold up one finger and then a second as he went through his thoughts, eyes clouding with anger when presenting a third finger. He stops himself mid sentence to breathe. "Nevermind. Just, thirdly, good will where we can. I don't want us locked out from getting our things."

"As for how we go about it, I'll let you tell me where and what to do for being of most use, because I don't think you want me to be the one doing the talking. I think it would be important to check with the temple of Pharasma first. We might be able to get some rumors, or local records of Voran Earthmane that don't exist back in Lepistadt anymore."

"I think that's a good idea."  Kon nods at Saidou, "I'm usually pretty good at digging up information, if not physical ruins, so I think I'm going to check out the market in town.  Midday I would think most people would be either out there or going about their livelihood, but you don't put a market away from common traffic."

Preparing for Hetrik's return, or the boiled water's arrival, Kon reaches into his satchel and pulls out a few items including a lovingly packed "ornate" clay cup, obviously accented by a novice with a dark brown paint showing some kind of sticks and leaves, almost like tree branches but not, and finished with a slightly uneven glazed layer.  He sets his tools on the table next to him, then looks over to Samara slowly edging the tankard toward a precarious fate, "I'm guessing this is a cat thing.  But won't Hetrik be put off by you knocking his dishware off the table?"  Kon makes a show of confirming his strainer is cleaned out.

"I welcome company at the market, but we might want to split up to cover more area."  Setting the strainer down next to the cup, Kon looks to Saidou, "I'm guessing you're not big on visiting the temple, given your remark earlier.  I'm pretty sure the locals wouldn't talk if you came along with me either, given Lizzie's response.  There are a few other options off the top of my head for you..."  Indexing on his fingers, he lists off:

1. The orchard, maybe some of the folk finishing up the harvest or preparing the grounds for winter will have some info
   
2. Scouting the areas a few minutes from town, maybe getting a higher vantage point to look out and see if there's any "ruiny" looking things on the horizon.  If not, maybe spot the swamp we're looking for in the distance.
   
3. Following people around to see where the popular places are and getting familiar with the town.
   
4. Staying here and watching our room with Hetrik, and maybe helping him out a bit for some good will

"For the rest of us, Vostiun you wanted to procure some cider.  You can either join me in the market, I'm sure they'll have some, or you can head to the orchards to see if they'll sell out of their workshop."  He shrugs briefly, "Or I can just get some while I'm there and save you the trouble.  Haznut and Samara, do you have any plans?  Saidou's recommendation for the temple visit is still open."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:40, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Vostiun sighs and says, "We shouldn't go near the orchards unless we have to. The reason they have such a good harvest is because they've made a deal with a dryad who lives in the orchards. I'll take the temple."

Kon sighs, muttering under his breath, "I travel half way around the world and the kami are still around..."

"I don't mind going to the temple. I appreciate Pharasma's works, and nearly all of the art done of Pharasma strongly resembles my people, physically.