When the group had found a table, Pio stood up, “How about I get us some drinks? What everyone want?” Pio laughed a bit, knowing full well that the only thing served up here was likely watered down beer.

Walking up to the barman, Pio placed his order. “Six mugs of Ol’ Red. Easy on the water, if you don’t mind,” he said with a wink.

OOC: Does Pio know the Barman by name? Knowledge [Local] check?

When the barman had poured the first four mugs, Pio delivered them to the table, passing one to each of his “siblings”. He returned to the bar, paid the man, and came back to the table with the remaining two mugs, placing a second one in front of the quiet khord.

Sitting, Pio let his muscles relax as he took a long pull from his mug. He remained quiet for a moment, wanting to let someone else speak first. Taking the lead was not his first instinct… and yet, here he found himself again.

Turning to Miran, Pio began to fill him in on their previous conversation with their father, recapping Ormander’s plight. “As you know, Father has found himself in some serious trouble with some folks higher. Specifically, Councilor Velch is missing an emerald statue of some kind and he has accused our father as masterminding the theft. The good councilor is looking to get his statue back and has threatened to claim the orphanage as his own should his property not be returned to him within the week.”

Pio paused, taking another pull from his mug, allowing the others to add in any additional details.

OOC: Tag everyone.

Pio continued, “We figured we’d stop in here first to see if folks around here have heard anything regarding the matter… that, and to finish making our plans.” Smiling at Miran, “So, you’re just in time.”

The knight was about to start working out the plan with the group, but decided against it. “Maybe we should talk a bit about us first though… catch up a bit. How about it, Miran? What have you been up to over the last few years?”

OOC: Miran.

OOC [2] : After Miran, Pio will continue asking the others to share what they’ve been up to over the last few years.

As soon as Llammoth had made her entrance into the establishment, she took in the intricate details of the patrons within. She ran her eyes coarsely over the two sleeping with their head pressed against the filthy tables, and rolled through her periphery to meet the gaze of the weary and drunken few who were still yet conscious.

After she had made some quick assessments about the people within, mainly being, they were likely of little use to her family, she allowed her view to wander in the direction of the barkeep. Perhaps he had heard something of this nasty mess, that was little more than a game of cat and mouse. Her thoughts unsettled in this analogy, as she tried to reassure herself that they were the proud remnants of alley cats, scouring the streets for prey. Llammoth detested being so ill informed. As hard as she may try to convince herself that they were the hunters, without knowing what is real, and already suspecting that they were in the web of a spider so vile that the only name for the breed was politician; it was enough to make her look around the corners for a crumb of cheese.

Settling down in a chair beside Percifeer, she graciously accepted her brother’s generosity, clutching the ale in both hands. She was very tiny for her brand, the mug, in comparison, seemed fit for a giant. Still, slender fingers made for empty pockets, and with her mood as dour as it were, tiny hands made for empty glasses.

Llammoth hastily polished off her watered down beverage, grinning a little as she wiped the foam from her lips. She eyed her family members, pondering their condemnation of her quick consumption. She was young after all, her older brothers and sisters seemed morally opposed to the little ones drinking alcohol. However, she had reminded Pio on occasion that she wasn’t going to be any more of an adult than she already was. She had seen half-orc’s that came from the wild frequent the city, some only sixty seasons old, and yet they harnessed the experience of two lifetimes. Her ilk was engineered to be fully grown and prepared for the world before they left their teens. She was no exception, but Llammoth had fought especially hard against her make to become who she was.

Well… there is far more than the telling here, some things that father does not know. I have been doing some research into the events, and… (Perhaps you could fill me in with some events dear Almerin. I am hoping my eyes and ears of the city have imparted me with something useful.)

Though Llammoth would love to catch up with her family, especially the ones who haven’t been by in a while, she disagreed with Pio’s small talk initiative. This was a time sensitive matter, and father certainly wasn’t getting any younger. The longer they waited around, the more time they squandered, the less likely that they would be able to capture the truth of this debauchery, return the statue, and prove their father’s innocence. “Pio… This is not the time for social ambiguity.”

The Broken Grommel
6 days left
~Positive Tide is normal
~Negative Tide is rising
Pio returned to the table after ordering a platter of ale from Bollo Regardian, the barkeeper who had served him many times before. The knight was eager to gather knowledge of the other's whereabouts, but his attempts were cut short by Llammoth. The rogue was determined not to waste time with 'small talk', even though the knight's intentions might have been to tighten the bonds in the group by sharing experiences. Or perhaps he was just really interested in what the others had been up to.

The half orc had some rumors she had caught on the streets. Most where outragiously ridiculous, but some had more potential. One rumor was the one that caused this whole quest: that the orphanage had ordered the theft in hoping to sell the statue for a large sum of money. Another was that it was a joint effort from the thieves' guilds. Another rumor told of a group of sages coming together and stealing the statue to use it in a ritual involving the Standing Stones of Drannon. Yet another was that the statue wasn't stolen at all, but Velch held it back to gain more money from the falsly accused.

All in all there were possibilities in some of these rumors, but which one was true, or even vaguely related to what really happened was hard to tell.

(OOC: I'm not making this easy for you, as you understand. You're going to have to go out and gather the pieces around town. Basically, you are free in your actions, but you have to go places.)

Miran took himself a seat at the table for six. He nodded to Pio as the copper-skinned man set the beer on the table before him. When he returned, Miran was taking in his drink in fairly small portions, by start constrast with Llammoth who was just raising her mug for a long dive.

Miran wanted to speak, but was hesitant, what does one say to 'family' after an extended period away? Especially to those who remained within the same city?

Pio took a pull of his mug, remaining silent after, prefering that some one else talk. MIran turned slightly to him, thinking back to when the man left, he himself nearly twelve at the time. Soon enough Pio recognised the need to start the conversation, directing himself at Miran and tried to pick up where he had left off.

“As you know, Father has found himself in some serious trouble with some folks higher. Specifically, Councilor Velch is missing an emerald statue of some kind and he has accused our father as masterminding the theft. The good councilor is looking to get his statue back and has threatened to claim the orphanage as his own should his property not be returned to him within the week.”

Pio paused, taking another pull from his mug as his ears were assailed by Miran's outrage, "This is inconceivable, this counciler has dealth a mortal insult to his elder! Why had I been present, I would have struck the man down where he stood." His voice already returning to normal levels by the end of his challenge, knowing full well, as do his companions, that no such thing would have happened.

Pio continued, “We figured we’d stop in here first to see if folks around here have heard anything regarding the matter… that, and to finish making our plans.” Smiling at Miran, “So, you’re just in time.”

The knight was about to start working out the plan with the group, but decided against it. “Maybe we should talk a bit about us first though… catch up a bit. How about it, Miran? What have you been up to over the last few years?” Miran appeared about to answer but Llammoth had chosen to return focus to their task. “Pio… This is not the time for social ambiguity."

Miran glanced at Llammoth and sent a quick smile, "I've been in and around the city mostly, though our sister is right, we should be addressing as many possible angles to this dillemma as quickly as we can. Whatever lead we find may be gone by the time we are finished catching-up."

When they arrived at the Grommel it was, well, about what was to be expected of a bar in the morning. Percifeer sat down at the table Pio selected and she took a quick assessment of the items in her pack, just to ensure that nothing else had been stolen.

Pio spoke, “How about I get us some drinks? What everyone want?”

Before she could answer though, Pio chuckled and walked over to the bar. When he came back and placed a watered down ale in front of her, she scowled, picked up the ale and placed it next to his.

"I'm not drinking this trash." She said to Pio, getting up and going over to the bar where she ordered a honey water.

((regardless of ability to purchase))

When she got back to the table, Pio was speaking to the rest of the group. “Maybe we should talk a bit about us first though… catch up a bit. How about it, Milan? What have you been up to over the last few years?”

Percifeer's first instinct was to jump in with the small talk, but her stomach curled into a ball inside her, and she waited to speak. When she did, Llamoth, seemingly as close as ever, spoke her feelings even before Percifeer knew them.

“Pio… This is not the time for social ambiguity.”

"Thank you, Llamoth," and Percifeer's stomach unknotted. "I think you're crazy to be wasting time when it is so valuable. Perhaps we should start here. We did come here for a reason, didn't we?"

Then, it seems, Miran was on the same wavelength. "I've been in and around the city mostly, though our sister is right, we should be addressing as many possible angles to this dillemma as quickly as we can. Whatever lead we find may be gone by the time we are finished catching-up."

Since everyone was with her, because she was sure Pio would yield his leadership to the majority for the moment, she reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of chalk. When she did, she started drawing, rather large, a basic map of the city on it, giving the chalk to whomever wanted it and passing it around the table as those who were here more recently would surely be correcting her. Once that was done, she put an X where they were right now and spoke. "If nothing else, let's devise a pattern for travel that will use our time the most efficiently while we're here. We need to be able to go as many useful places as possible in the shortest amount of time."

The knight was about to start working out the plan with the group, but decided against it. “Maybe we should talk a bit about us first though… catch up a bit. How about it, Miran? What have you been up to over the last few years?”

“Pio,” Llammoth paused for a moment, her voice as gentle as could be expected from a half-breed. “This is not the time for social ambiguity.”

“I…” Pio was about to reply – about to say that he agreed with her, that what he was really looking for was to see which of them still had contacts in Drefest, which of them had favours they could call in. He was about to say all this… but then Percy jumped in, her tongue as sharp as his sword.

"Thank you, Llamoth," said the woman, before turning on Pio. "I think you're crazy to be wasting time when it is so valuable. Perhaps we should start here. We did come here for a reason, didn't we?"

“Yes..” Pio began again. Again, he was cut off.

"I've been in and around the city mostly, “ Miran said, as he began to answer the knight’s question. “Though our sister is right… we should be addressing as many possible angles to this dillemma as quickly as we can. Whatever lead we find may be gone by the time we are finished catching-up."

“Indeed.” Pio simply stated, hiding his smirk behind his mug.

Percy began to dig into her bag and pulled out a piece of chalk. Pio finished off his ale and took yet another “cleansing breath”. As his sister began to draw a map on their table, Pio thought, Well, at least you’re not leading anymore.
Soon, Percy had a simple yet full map of Drefast drawn, complete with an “X” indicating where they were now. When she was finished, she piped up, “If nothing else, let's devise a pattern for travel that will use our time the most efficiently while we're here. We need to be able to go as many useful places as possible in the shortest amount of time."

Pio smiled at his sister, “Good idea, Percy.” He paused for a moment, remembering the names Ormander had given to them. “Well, Father said our brother Grikky has enlisted with the Drefast guards. He might have some information for us. My guess is if we want to find him, stopping by the guards’ barracks will be our best bet.

[OOC: Knowledge (Local) check to see if Pio knows where the guards’ barracks are located… if he does know, he’ll point to it on the map, but let Percy mark it.]
“Father also mentioned Goddfrey had gone on to become a baker. Not sure if he’ll have any information we’re looking for. But if we’re passing by his shop on the way back to the orphanage, perhaps we could stop in. If nothing else, he might know how to get in contact with Joey, Mills, or Dorothy.

[OOC: Again, if Pio knows, he’ll point out Goddfrey’s bakery, but let someone else mark it.]
Giving a nod in the barkeep’s direction, Pio continued, “We should also speak with good ol’ Bollo. Maybe, he knows what became of Joey, Mills, and Dorothy.

“Of course, I think we should stop by the courthouse at sometime in the near future. I doubt we’ll get an audience with Velch, but getting a feel for where the crime took place would be good… at least for me. Maybe we’ll be able to talk with one of the counselor’s representatives.

[OOC: Pio will figure that the courthouse is a well-known landmark, he won’t belittle Percy by pointing it out.]
“I think we should probably follow up on our thug’s lead. He talked about finding his informant, Virgin Stuart, down at the Heart of Darkness.

[OOC: Knowledge (Local) check to see if Pio knows where the “Heart of Darkness” is located. If he does, he’ll point it out on the map.]
Pio sighed, “If the thug was right…”

Percifeer was glad to see everyone working together with the map idea she had. She happily passed the chalk around, as they marked the significant locations to dig further.

"So it looks like today's route should be counter-clockwise around the city. That is, unless you think the Heart of Darkness should be sooner, rather than later, so we avoid hitting the night-criminals. I think we may have a better chance of finding this guy if we go at night."

She took a sip of her water, as Pio chugged his ale and she was somewhat proud of her choice to place the extra ale in front of him.

"In any case, if we're done here, the order is " ((repeating the names in the order the group agrees on, clockwise, or counter-clockwise)) "Let's talk to Bollo." With that, she scrubbed the chalk off the table and got up.

When the group headed toward the bar, she grabbed Pio's arm as she was scrubbing the chalk off. She pulled his head down to her and whispered in his ear. "Thanks for letting me take the lead on that one." She released him and finished scrubbing, then followed the group to the bar.

Miran left his ale at half-empty after he had about as much as he could stomach, leaving it close enough that whoever else wanted to finish it could do so.

As he watched the map unfold he considered memorizing it, but settled for remembering the chosen course.
After that he readied himself for adventure out into the streets. First they were to talk to the Innkeep, so he could afford to wait for a while. He gathered his cloak around himself while Percy scrubbed the table free of her chalk-drawings.

Miran inclined to follow Percy after her work was done in freeing the less than clean table of chalk with her lesser than clean rag. He tried to listen even if he paid little attention to the exchange compared to reviewing the illusions he had prepared for the day.

The Broken Grommel
Windmill Alley
Drefast
6 days left ~Positive Tide is normal
~Negative Tide is rising
Bollo Regardian was a simple man. He had seen some adventures in his days, mostly touring the countryside and running from guards, but still adventures to a man like him. He couldn't handle a sword, but was comfortable with a dagger, and his big muscles scared most folk away from a fight. He had taken over the Grommel from its previous owner and had minded his business with only one intention: keeping it going. It was that simple.

Although the group had many questions for him, Bollo was unable to give them any information that they did not already know. In fact, it became rather clear that Bollo had no lust for involvement, but kindly told them that if something would come up, he would send word to the Orphanage. He was sure happy there was such a place for kids in need. To help them in their quest, he gave them their drinks free of charge.

"Every little bit can help in raising that money!" he said, and with that the conversation was over.

The group made their way down the alleys into the wider streets of Drefast. The crowd became thicker and so did the people’s purses as they entered Rogue-valley Square, the unofficial nickname people gave the market on the east side of the city. Only one street away was the bakery that Goddfrey had taken over after he finally left the Orphanage. They all knew Goddfrey as a young man, even simpler in his ways than Bollo had been. Goddfrey wasn’t stupid, but he was as innocent as an aristocratic four-year-old. He had tried many professions but finally settled at a bakery, where he had found his talent. The smell of hot bread told them they had found the place before their eyes knew it.

A girl behind the counter welcomed them after she had served the other customers. She was a friendly lass and called out to Goddfrey, who appeared a moment later with hands white with flower and a smile wider than the Thunder River.

“Guys!!” He called out, and gave them all a firm hug. “It’s so good to see you all! Is there some kind of renunion? Where’s Ormander?”

Llammoth remained quiet and watched the proceedings of her siblings. After all, she had given them as much information as she knew. She also knew that everything she said was as inconclusive as the rest.

When the map was drawn up, and a game plan in effect, she went to leave with the others, casting a farewell to the bartender after he had answered their questions. She enjoyed the warmth of the sun upon her face as they walked the streets. It was not long, however, that her mood became ever more dour when they began passing through cutpurse heaven. It was a district she had become very familiar with in her youth. One that, proudly, she had left in the past. She was well taken care of by her councillor, and hadn't needed to resort to petty crime for quite some time now. Petty politics yes, but downright thuggery no.

The smell of fresh bread was intoxicating, and Llammoth couldn't help but close her eyes and take in the aroma of her brother's bakery. Her eyes were in contrast, glaring quite suspiciously at the little girl who greeted them at the counter. If she knew anything, it was that the girls are by far the more devious. She could not help but smile though, when Goddfrey showed up, hands caked with flour, and chocolate icing smudged on his chin. "Your cakes must be decadent, if you can't even wait to put them on the shelf before consuming them. It is good to see you brother, you don't stop by as much anymore. There has been trouble with the orphanage, as I'm sure you've heard. Our question is simple, have you heard anything more?"

Goddfrey looked at Llammoth, and his mouth dropped.

"What do you mean, the Orphanage is in trouble? I haven't heard anything. Been busy baking bread and running the shop. Keira here helps me out though."

He pointed at the girl, who was in her early twenties, and smiled a bit sheepishly.

"Come, tell me about the trouble in the back. Maybe I can help you."

He took them all into the back of the shop, where the actual bakery was located. There were two furnaces, closed off with metal doors, and shelves with fresh and stale bread. On Goddfrey's worktable stood a big chocolate cake that he had been finishing for selling when his brothers and sisters arrived.

"So, what is wrong?"

Miran greets the girl with a slight bow as if to make up for the hostility shown by his sister from another bloodline. When the good baker appeared out of the back of his store concealed under a layer of flour, complete with a bit of chocolate icing, Miran smiled and waved boyishly.

"Your cakes must be decadent, if you can't even wait to put them on the shelf before consuming them. It is good to see you brother, you don't stop by as much anymore. There has been trouble with the orphanage, as I'm sure you've heard. Our question is simple, have you heard anything more?" Llammoth said. The Baker's mouth plunged and swung on its hinges at this news, "What do you mean, the Orphanage is in trouble? I haven't heard anything. Been busy baking bread and running the shop. Keira here helps me out though."

He invited them into the back where the culprit that bestowed his chin with the icing smudge lay on the worktable across from the furnace doors. "So, what is wrong?" he asked upon closing the door.

Miran took it upon himself to answer from what Pio told him. "Well, the story goes thus, the 'Honourable' Councillor Velch has misplaced a pretty emerald statue of his and feels the need to place the blame on our home, holding our father responsible for the apparant theft." He places a clear mocking emphasis on the Councillor's title, cementing his feelings for the man.

(allowing anyone else to continue)

"Yes, well, the fact of the matter is law in this city is not as just as they pretend in their arrogant speeches and dutiful ceremonies. If we cannot prove our father's innocence, he will be forced to surrender not only the orphanage, but his life to prison. Ormander has many enemies, perhaps most worthy of all is the Councillor. Anyone could have framed him, or, the chamberman may have jumped to the conclusion that it was our loving, yet notably shady home."

Llammoth had followed her brother Goddfrey into the back room, and was rather impressed with his place of work. It appeared that her brother had made a good life for himself. She would have congratulated him, but it was a pointless endeavor and they were in a hurry.

To this point, she ran her forefinger down the bottom of her jawline in a slight of impatience, before saying "How is it that you can help us Goddfrey?" The tone was demanding, but her voice was small as a mouse, and her words as soft as silk. She knew that raising her voice did nothing to proliferate understanding between each other. In fact, heightening your voice only emphasized the vowels, and it was the articulation of consonants that one understood. She was sharp as the edge of a feather.

Goddfrey's mouth dropped at the news that their father was in danger. The baker was a big man, with hairy muscled arms, but would never harm another being. Otherwise he would've made a fine addition to any adventuring party, or perhaps the guards.

"I don't know how I could help you. I need to run my bakery."

He looked around the room until his eyes rested upon the two ovens.

"I could give you guys free bread though. That way you won't go hungry while you go around the city. I've got some good stuff that will fill you up for at least half a day."

He grabbed two fresh loafs of bread from the shelves and eagerly placed them in the companions' possession, glad to be of any help.

"Do you guys need anything else? I mean, you came to me for help right?"

Percifeer had been silent after the initial hug and "glomp" of hello at the bakery. It wasn't that she had nothing to say, but that she was too busy smiling as her companions showed the same eager feelings toward helping her father. There's no way it was one of the children at the orphanage. The thought had already been there, but this was the first time she had put it together in her mind. Certainty struck her in that moment.

As Goddfrey handed over food, he spoke again. "Do you guys need anything else? I mean, you came to me for help right?"

This time, she did choose to chime in. "I think what we really need is information. Councilor Velch might be swayed by proof in favor of our father. Do you know anything about the statue? Perhaps you know who might hold a grudge against our father? Any information is vital at this point. Heck, if you know where the Councilor stays when he's not at his courthouse, that information may help us to get access to him faster than waiting for audience."