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[h2][color=6ecff6][i][b]Hugh Caphazath[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=6ecff6]Half-Elf, Monk (Way of Shadow), Level 3[/color][/b][/i]
[color=6ecff6][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 24/24	[color=6ecff6][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 17	[color=6ecff6][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Avonshire Township, Wine Delivery
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/4a0uP44.png[/img][/right]
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Hugh hummed thoughtfully at the mostly anecdotal answer his inquiry received. The fact that it was ostensibly nearly labeled a “local legend” implied that it had happened rather too long ago to be relevant to the mission in the here and now… beyond how it might have shaped the Constable’s sensibilities. It was… somewhat reassuring to hear that the Constable’s attitude was likely more from stress than anything else, but it didn’t dispel the weird sense of possessive arrogance that hung around the man. That might need some further looking into.

Another thing she said almost offhandedly sharply caught his attention, however. It was a golden opportunity to naturally get involved with something related to their true goal! [color=6ecff6]“This ‘Audrey’ went missing, you say? Whenabouts did this occur?”[/color] Placing one hand on his chin, Hugh’s brows furrowed in apparent thought. [color=6ecff6]“I’m something of a bounty hunter you see. That’s my specific occupation, and going on these sort of group missions is a bit of an unusual thing for me. That said… a steady and measured investigation and search is more my speed than pitched combat. The Sheriff may have hired us to handle stuff like the goblins, but I’m willing to look into the Audrey matter when it wouldn’t take time away from our tasks. And, altruism aside, on a personal level?”[/color] He grinned wryly. [color=6ecff6]“It might be something. It might be nothing. But I do enjoy indulging in a good mystery every now and again.”[/color]

At Cicily’s prompting, Hugh nodded and went about moving the depressingly sparse remains into the party’s loaned wagon. The smell was… Well, it wasn’t much better than when they’d first found them, but it was at least something the ki cultivator was long since desensitized to by this point.

Sicily elaborated upon the circumstances of the wine delivery they’d managed to get themselves wrapped up in, and Hugh nodded and frowned along where appropriate. It seemed they would be forced to slight someone at the end of things. While Cicily said the customers had already been made aware of the dely in the delivery’s arrival, they surely would not be aware that one amongst them was going to be shortchanged.

Cupping his chin with one hand, Hugh hummed aloud, before saying his piece. [color=6ecff6]“The [i]municipality building[/i] is a hub of government activity,”[/color] he emphasized for the Tielfing’s benefit, before addressing the majority. [color=6ecff6]“Given that we’re already on the law’s bad side without even doing anything yet, I’d say it’s most reasonable to avoid slighting the government the most. For various other reasons, I’d say the two best parties to receive less wine would be either the farmer’s market or this… [i]Honey Barn[/i].”[/color] If that was what it sounded like (and the current temporary client and Tielfing’s reactions were telling), he wouldn’t shed any tears over a loss of information efficiency. There were plenty of other places to investigate. [color=6ecff6]“That said, I feel we should consult our temp client on the matter.”[/color]

Turning his words towards Cicily specifically, he continued, [color=6ecff6]“You said you were already prepared to work something out with whomever gets slighted? Correct me if I’m wrong, but the places that would be the least issue for you to make a deal with would, in fact, be either the farmer’s market or the Honey Barn? I’m no local, but the fact that you deal in wine and operate a vineyard leads me to these conclusions, and those sound like the places that would be the most flexible and understanding on a surface level, the places least likely to inconvenience you until you can compensate them. The only reason I don’t include the Inn on that list is, well…”[/color] He shrugged. “[color=6ecff6]Admittedly, it’s simply that we’re likely to be spending our nights there for the foreseeable future, and I’d rather not slight the place I intend to rest -if you’ll excuse my self-interest.”[/color]

The little side task then proceeded apace and went surprisingly well, even with the inexperienced Tiefling at the helm of the mule, which briefly sought to ruin some poor cabbage farmer’s day. Luckily, the Tiefling managed to regain control, and aside from that incident, they traversed the city streets without trouble.