*Zephyr*
You spend a good twenty minutes walking up one street and down the next... and then back up that street, trying to pin down the location of your childhood home. Eventually you stumble upon a small park with a large oak tree that seems familiar. A bit more oriented, you head more confidently down a nearby street, eventually arriving at a very familiar house... though it seems much smaller. And... tired.
*Randerwaith*
"Why not both indeed! Care for a nip?"
Buckleburry offers you a pull from his flask, taking the list of items in his other hand.
"Hmmm... lantern, oil, whetstone, bedroll, grappling hook, fishing gear, sacks, tent... I think I should have all of that on hand. You need rope for that hook?"
The halflings sets the note down on the counter and disappears into the crowded shop, the sounds of his rummaging search carrying up to where you stand. Periodically he returns carrying various items from your list, chattering on in response to your last question as he retrieves your gear, his voice rising to almost a shout while he's deep in his piles of inventory... but it appears to be a slow morning for him with the festival going on.
"Funny that you should ask, we just had a caravan from the Eastern Shores... well, they're not based out of there, but had been through there recently, and had cut through the Wildlands on their way back West. Think they were headed towards Human lands once they left here, but I can't remember quite where they were headed... suppose it doesn't matter too much one way or another. Anyway, Arturo, the merchant that runs the caravan is a right mule's ass, and always has, but his head guard Dhavor is a solid fellow, all scowls and furrowed brow until he's had a drink or two in him.
Anyway, Arturo and I met at the Chalice to talk business when he was in town... must have been a week ago now. Once we figured out how much he was going to overcharge me, Arturo headed to bed, and I bought a few rounds for Dhavor. Once he was feeling a bit more loquacious, he told me about a stretch of their journey that had shook him pretty good. Mind you, he's not a fellow to get nervous about things easy, why only a year or two ago the caravan rolled in and they'd run into one of the nomadic orc bands in the Wildlands. From what his men were saying, they'd been attacked at night and the orcs put three javelins in him, but he just snapped them off so they didn't get in the way of is swings when he took their heads off. Wouldn't let anyone tend to him until he was sure the danger was past, and didn't complain at all...
Where was I... Oh, right. So he's not one to lose his nerve, so if he says something had him spooked, and mind you, it's not something he'd ever volunteer normally, but if he says he was spooked, something was off. Anyway, he said that they passed through a stretch where for days there were no sounds. Nothing stirring. No birds, no insects. Just the sounds of the caravan, which even they seemed muffled and out of place. He said at night, waiting for sleep, it would feel like the quiet was trying to push its way into your ears."
He shudders as he sets down a trio of clay oil flasks.
"Gave me the willies just thinking about it... I'd not do well in complete silence, I'd have to talk all the time just to hear my own voice! If there's anything else odd going on, I'd ask the Brown Robes about it, but they can be stingy with their information. Though I suppose you might have an in with them, being a bit more of a religious sort."
*Nemeia*
"Right o' then Tess. Here's your bucket then, just set it out while you're dancing, and folks can throw some coins in if they like your act. Once you're all done with your dancing, just bring the bucket and the Abbey's twenty percent back to me. You're welcome to dance on any of the three stages that are open, but we've a decent number of folks signed up, so there will probably be a bit of waiting at some point. The East and West are smaller, and may draw smaller crowds, but there's usually fewer people waiting to go on."
Holgor writes her name down in his notes.
You notice an elf holding his fists out to a circle of performers, six of whom are pointing at one or the other of his hands, while a gnome seems to be pondering the situation.
*Coljin*
The halfling takes your hand.
"Greetings Coljin. I'm Dorbo, my Aunt Lailum owns the Chalice here. We'll be starting as soon as we get everyone checked in and folks have a chance to size you up and place wagers on you. Shouldn't be too much longer, the fellow behind you seems to be the last taker. You can just head over there with the others."
He indicates the long benches where a three humans, a dragonborn, two halflings and a burly half orc are currently sitting.
*Rudolph*
The gnome and the halfling running the contest exchange pleasantries, and you step up as the last contestant. He looks your clothes up an down with a grin.
"Hope you don't mind getting a bit of mutton on your coat. What's your name then?"
He notices your familial crest.
"Ah, a Beaumont then? That may pull more wagers your way... though I imagine you're not typically trying to stuff mutton in your face as fast as you can back home. Anyway, I think you'll find the mutton at the Chalice as good as any you've eaten!"
*Ulmwin*
You ponder the elf's proposal... he's definitely up to something, his tight lipped smile is certainly hiding some sort of mischief...
► Show Spoiler
Insight check is perfectly suitable. I would have also accepted a Perception check, had you asked for it. Essentially Insight gives you a gut feeling on whether he's trying to deceive you. A Perception check would let you notice something about his actions (in this case you would be rolling against his opposed Sleight of Hand check).
In this instance, he rolled an 18 on an opposed Deception check.