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	[u]Weather[/u]: The air is damp and the rain is heavy. The temperature hovers aruond 50[sup]o[/sup]F (10[sup]o[/sup]C), and every so often a rumble of thunder is heard. No bright issuance of lightning saw its way around the seams of the door, nor the shutters. The intensity of the downpour seemed to have hit its zenith; it has not gotten any lighter, nor any heavier, since last checked upon. 

	[u]Time[/u]: It is still the afternoon. Time stretched out through the din of rain and the puzzling out of strange circumstances; likewise dealing with translating double-speak consumes its own tiny bits of time, which adds up. 

	[u]Ambience[/u]: Food is on the table, dominating the center of the simple piece of furniture. Yummy smells and dwindling wisps of steam note its presence even as it is being devoured mercilessly by the party. The rain continues its everpresent white noise upon the roof. Maybe it's this rain that has prevented anyone else from entering the Public House. It would certainly make sense. The fire continues its steady burn as do the lamps, providing ample (if flickering) illumination across the taproom.  
	
[center][color=darkgray][h2]*****[/h2][/color][/center]
[center][hider=Neil & Bob's Public House][img]https://i.ibb.co/5vK80t3/N-B-ip.jpg[/img][/hider][/center] 	
	Lea and Daisy did their best to distance themselves from the conversation unfolding, only going to far as to grab things from the table or fetch things upon request. They did so quickly and with care, seemingly intent on listening to as much as they could without actual involvement. Observation without participation, as it were. 

	Robert, meanwhile, had plenty of reactions, even if they weren't amazingly helpful. The spell-caught man had nothing to say to any of Victoria's observations or memories (though he did stifle a facial expression or two, lest he give anything away) and outright had a blank stare for Baronfjørd as his choice of words was corrected. This faded as he continued speaking - the conversation went directly back to the returned missing people and thusly the older barkeep went quiet. 

	Likewise, Robert remained stoic as Kathryn's conversational points went toward curing anyone who might be afflicted with (alleged) lycanthropy, though a tinge of red flushed his face. Anger? Embarrassment? Sorrow? It was hard to say when the man was trying to keep himself from revealing anything directly. Though he did give the most discreet of nods when the very tall woman assured him that they would get his task done.  

	An honestly shocked expression crossed the man's face when Kosara brought up the plan of making a lot of noise in front of the silversmith's shop and possibly provoking a fight with the man. His stare, a combination of disbelief and growing anxiety, was not one he could hide as easily. Robert's eyes quickly shifted to the other members of the party to gauge what their reaction to this idea might be. 

	It was at this point in time that Robert stood from his chair and walked steadily back to the bar. A shake of his head later and the older man refilled his mug of ale. Half of it was downed in a practiced motion, after which he topped it back off and retook his seat near to the party's table. Half was consumed yet again in fast order. Robert then took to sipping. He remained like this until Marita asked him about the Halfling and the Gnome that featured in an earlier conversation under his roof. 

	Seemingly pleased to be discussing something [i]else[/i], he began to look more relaxed as he spoke. [color=darkgray]"Samthe Rentman and Carl ...I don't think I ever got his real last name. Samthe: more or less good kid from a prominent local Halfling family. Farmers, own their own land just outside of town a piece. They grow some amazing spicy peppers. I think I still have a pot of their jam... Anyhow, Carl is an outsider that got in good with Samthe. Um, one of those grey-skinned Gnomes that come from deep underground. Put the idea of running off and finding adventure in his head."[/color] He gave a small chuckle and continued, [color=darkgray]"O'course, Samthe was smart enough to figure out a little magic, so, it's not likely he might've cultivated it into something great keeping to these parts. I helped them some. Let them use this place as a base of operations. Even still have some of their gear from when they had to leave. The two of them infiltrated and took down a Thieves' Guild over on the coast. Then Samthe got afflicted with something or another, so they had to travel north of here to find someone capable of fixing it. Last time they came back, they were with a really big fellow who didn't look all Human. Said they were going to help a friend of a friend in a place called Waterside. Not seen 'em since."[/color]   

	[color=darkgray]"Samthe and Carl did some good in the world, far as I know. One thing about that Gnome, though - I overheard him bein' asked once what he did back home. He said something in 'Undergnome' I don't remember, then said nearest translation was [i]Assassin[/i]. He was loyal to his friend, for what that's worth."[/color] Robert took another pull from his mug and smiled. [color=darkgray]"Thanks for asking me something I can answer. I appreciate that."[/color]

	Outside, the pounding, constant noise of rain hitting roofs and paving stones got just a little quieter, with a smallish rumble of thunder punctuating the precipitating water. It might just be the beginning of the end of this storm. Only the dice can tell.