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Echo moves to stand beside Gunter as she considers the options when it comes to the jester. "I personally have no intention of going to the tavern after this," she says. "Though, if you others decide to go there, then that is on you. I don't see what he hopes to accomplish."

"Vee and I will go alone if required." Brax says simply grabbing another glass of wine.

"Well, Brax, it is not only you who sleeps at the inn." Kim reminds them. "In fact, only Amon, Echo and Vee who stays with Geraldine have another place to stay for the night. And unless we want to sneak in by the back door, people will see us. And even then, if the place is really packed, we will be noticed."

"You are correct Kim, then we go as a group."

Gunter sighs, seeing that Kim has a point.

"Damn. Well,that's that then. On the bright side, if he's really bad we can just go up to our rooms. It doesn't seem like anybody here is worried about offending him."

(OOC: When do you plan to leave the party and return to the inn?)

(ooc: Maybe when Brax gets a dance with Echo... So Hell will need to freeze over first!)

Gunter finishes off his glass and sets it on the railing. Summoning his courage from the drink, he turns to Echo and says, "Well then milady, would you allow me to show off my recently aquired dancing talents with you? It sounds like we could both use the practice."

Echo stares at Gunter as if he had suddenly grown a couple of heads, and was about to devour her with his razor sharp teeth. "I..." she starts to say. Usually, she has some sort of smart comment to make, but really she is just taken off guard. She had to consider the idea carefully. This was a party, and apparently this is what they did at parties. Plus, out of pretty much all of the group, Gunter was the one she liked the best (other than Amon) just for the simple fact that he wasn't as annoying as the rest of the group. Finally, there was also the fact that Searos had to ask her if she was terrified of fun. "All right," she finally says.

At Echo's reply, he grins and extends his arm.

"Then away we go!"

Gunter does his best to remember what Brax showed him only a few minutes ago, the moves still feeling somewhat alien to him. Most importantly though, he does everything he can to avoid her feet as he guides her across the deck to the music.

"So..." Brax sides up near Searos, "You dance well, I am impressed.." Giving him a deeply serious look she glances at the others a moment.

"After the jesters party, we need to talk. Would you share few drinks with me?" She grins, returning her attention to the party and Echos attempt at dancing.

Echo keeps her head bowed just so she can look at her feet just to make sure she doesn't stumble or step on Gunter's feet. It takes her a little while to get use to the rhythm of the dance. "I really am not very good at this," she says as she catches herself from stumbling into the ranger.

While that dance lasted, Bryce Cousland had quitely come aboard. When it is finished, he speaks to them: "Ladies, Gentlemen, good evening. I am very sorry to interrupt your party, but there might be trouble brewing in town, as you probably know."
Once he has everybody's attention, he gets straight to the point.

"I have not seen the Cobweb in that full in a long time. Probably not since my marriage. And the new jester knows how to work a crowd, that's for sure. He is currently praising the militia. I do not deny that they deserve some more praise than they usually get" he admits. "So you, Petterson, should certainly come with me when I go back" he turns to Geraldine, then back to the rest of the group.

"Of course" Geraldine mutters and gets up.

Cousland continues. "The jester has let me know that he invited you and expects you to thank the milita for helping you out of the mansion. I dislike being manipulated as much as you do" his gaze seems to travel to Amon in particular, "but I believe that in this case, it is better to play along. We need the cooperation of the townsfolk to find out how the smuggling ring worked, especially if someone from inside the town is involved.

So please accept the invitation, unwelcome as it may be. I think it will suffice to thank the milita for being ready to help a group of citizens and even strangers who found out that the task they had set themselves was far more dangerous than anticipated."

The councilman then walks over to Evgeni and Ludmilla. "You will, of course, be fully paid for this evening. And I have a small compensation for the interruption." He slips a gold piece in Ludmilla's hand.

Without further words, just friendly nods to all of the party, he leaves the boat again, and Geraldine follows him.

"That was slightly redundant." Brax giggles and takes Vees hand once more. (After searos replies.) "One more dance with the loveliest lady here."

"That sounded less like an invitation and more like an order...interesting little town..."