Time to prepare

[Kafen]

Reller is speechless for a moment as the action unfolds. Blinking, he says. "Uh, wow." He looks at the clerk and says. "Yes, please sit, it might be best."

[Breila]

"I am Udo, Udo Sirgursson" the young man says as he sits down. But he's careful this time, his hand on the back of the chair until he almost sits. "I was one of the few children who liked learning at school better than playing around in the harbor, so I kind of grew into the job" he expllains. "I keep the council's records. And I'm the only clerk, it is just customary here to call a young man 'Master'. Like 'Mister Cousland' meaning Bryce, or perhaps Fergus, and 'Master Cousland' meaning Amon. I hope that once I'm married and more established, I will be "Mister Clerk" one day" he smiles.

Nezza brings Udo a glass of a fine brandy. "That'll be four silver" she tells Martin, her hand extended palm up.

[The_Muffin_Man]

Searos shrugs. "You're missing out." Searos heads back to the inn to continue drinking and looks for Brax and Kim.

[Stik]

"Learning is, indeed, of paramount importance if one is to better oneself. A good friend of mine once told me: 'Knowing is half the battle.' Of course, what he failed to mention is that the other half is violence. He also said the pen was mightier than the sword. Which sounds good, but then again he's dead now. He was stabbed to death by a scribe with a pen knife. Ironic, really. But I digress.

"It is good to see responsibility in a young man. I am not what you would call responsible. When I was your age, I couldn't even keep goldfish alive, although I did eventually wind up doing a brisk business selling pesce crudo to Agatean wayfarers."

Martin rises when Nessa arrives, and squints a bit at her request for payment, "Ouch! I didn't know Tel had that level of booze here. But since my friend here is being such a good sport..." He smiles and places four coins in her hand.

[Robbo]

Gunter rifles through Brax's pack looking for the dress she requested, still a little flustered and blushing slightly, he finds it and passes it to her trying (but not too hard) to avert his eyes.

"I think this is it...probably feels good to get out of your gear from the road, huh?"

[Kafen]

Reller remarks to Nezza with a smile. "Worth it, of course. Ale if you please."

[Breila]

"Always for you, my dear" Nezza smiles and playfully runs her hand along Reller's jawbone as she leaves. "And that's included in the council fare" she calls over her shoulder before reaching the bar.

[Jenara]

"It certainly does.." Smiling she turns fully and reaches out for the dress with one hand, giving Gunter a view of her well muscled body. "I hope I am not embarrassing you? Understand, within my people, the Female takes the lead."

With a wink she lets her arms fall to her side, she pulls the dress over her head, stretching up as she pulls the dress over her head. "How do I look?" She asks patting down her body.

[Kafen]

Giving her a smile in reply as she goes, Reller tells the group at the table. "We will have to arrange for some fishing gear on the ship if you are taking a larger group on the water."

[Breila]

Kim looks at Reller, puzzled. "Why?" is the simple question

[Stik]

"For cover, of course. Very good idea, my friend," Martin says quietly. "We should have a visible excuse for our excursion, in case anyone is watching us, and wondering what we are up to.
"Or do you actually want to go fishing? I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that, but I find that there is only a thin line between fishing and standing on a pier with a stick in your hand for hours on end."

Still speaking quietly, Martin says"So, tell me Udo, what your take is on the smuggling mystery. I had thought to find some local villain hiding in plain sight, but have come up empty so far. If you had to guess, who in town would be the second most likely person to be working with nefarious types?"

[Breila]

Udo looks thoughtful for a moment. "Well, those who would have the easiest job with it would of course be the ones who deal with the outside world openly. Such as the Couslands, Mr. Bronzemoon, the Harbourmaster or the shopkeeper. They're all involved in transportation and trade. Eret, who runs the caravans inland, is of course a prime suspect now. But Connor who does the coastal caravans must be considered as well. As for second-line suspects, it could really be anyone. I mean, almost every family here has a fishing boat, and who knows where they are all night? They could land in many of the bays around here. There are more caves than the ones below the old mansion, though few are as comfortable."

[Stik]

"A fine list of suspects, indeed. And a bit surprising that you would offer some of them up, seeing as you work for them. But I will not say anything about that.

“Well, let us see: Cousland seems a stand-up guy – true blue and decent. Ordinarily that might make me a bit suspicious, but he also has a hard edge to him and hasn’t tried to dissuade me from looking into things. I believe him.

“Bronzemoon is…Bronzemoon. He is probably up to something, but not this.

“The Harbourmaster? Too stodgy to be involved in something as exciting as smuggling.

“Eret carries contraband. Well, of course he does. All caravaners do. But I am not so sure he is the criminal mastermind here, or he would have been more creative with his freight.

“This is the first I’ve heard the name Connor, though.”

[Kafen]

"Mostly to reduce costs and provide for food, but it would be a legitimate way to pass the time for the group." Reller jokes with Kim. "I was more concerned with food, though."

[Breila]

"Well, Eret does the caravans that go inland to the Capital" Udo explains. "Connor does the same along the coast. He passes not so frequently, because of course the bulk traffic is done by ship, that's faster with all these inlets, mountains and swamps as some of you may have noticed on your way to Dunreese. Connor might be interesting for you, though, because he deals in luxury items" he says with a look at Martin's clothes. "He used to go South to Dunreese and beyond, but I've heard rumors that recently, the area south of Dunreese has been taken over by someone else."