Act 2: Upheaval I - The Werewolf

"Yeah, it's pretty stinky right? Sheep and drugs. Let me know if you smell the owner while we are about the city. You have a much better nose than we do." He stoppers the vial and puts it back in his belt pouch. He follows Mihai back inside.

When Konrad, Fluffle and Amber descend to a different floor, he asks her, "Did you say something to him?"

Florolf trots after Steve.

The employees of the Space Hamster aren't overwhelmed with work anymore, but the tavern is still half-full. Mihai manages to find a waitress who has just finished serving a few mugs of beer at a table. She turns around and with a smile, she asks, "Yes, you're looking for table?"
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"Yes?" Amber replies timidly.

"Um, not exactly. We're doing some work investigating the string of kidnappings that have been happening around the city, and we think..." - he tries to be tactful - "Well, we think one of the culprits rented a room here. In the last few days, actually. Could you maybe give us some information?"

Diplomacy 28

Konrad's comment befuddles Amber, but she stays silent and keeps walking down the stairs.
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The young woman is is disconcerted. "Uh... maybe you should speak to the owner?"

She points at the husky man the adventures have spoken to before. He's still mopping.

"My poor soon," he laments in Wytrwaly. "Destined to inherit a tavern that was robbed of its stellar reputation. It's over..."

"Uh yeah..." - he hesitates, then leans in very slightly, in order to ask in a lower voice, still looking at the owner - "Will he be much help in his condition? He seems single-minded about how much brew he has in stock right now."

"Hm..." Konrad looks over at her again for a couple seconds.

Deception 17
Is/was she embarrassed by the question?

The waitress looks back and forth between her boss and Mihai. "Uh, maybe you could speak to his son?" she suggests. "He's not here yet, but his shift starts in an hour."
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Konrad believes that talking about Davis is what embarrasses her.

"Hmm..." - he considers - "Guess we'll try that, thanks."

Steve marches up to the owner and says, "I am Steve. Watch this!" He begins making the most ridiculous faces at the man trying to get him to laugh.

Perform Comedy 31

Steve's grimaces stun the owner into silence. He practiced many of them on Zelk back in the day, and this is when all of his efforts are finally paying off; the bulky man behind the counter lets out a hearty laugh.

"I didn't know you could do that with a tongue!" he exclaims.

Amber observes the spectacle with her mouth open.

"...'The hell is he doing?" she asks.

The fairy can't resist the temptation; he sticks out his head from his hiding place and looks at Steve. He suppresses a chuckle and goes right back into the hood.

"It's his first contact routine for first meeting an alien species." - he explains - "...it's a work in progress."

"Oh, so he used it on you too then," she replies without missing a beat.

"Yeah, and he's come a long way since."

"I have many talents, new friend." He drops his voice so it doesn't carry across the bar too much, "Including investigating attempted kidnappings in certain inns. Would you mind answering some more questions for us? We could really use your help."

"A kidnapping?" the man repeats in a booming voice. Several patrons turn their heads to look at bearded man. "Oh, yes, of course! How could I forget? These thugs have made themselves an enemy of my wrath once they set foot into this proud establishment! How can I help?"

His lips curl into a dazzling smile. The customers return to their conversations.

Konrad looks dumbfounded at the laughing owner and Steve. Then he laughs too, and manages to quiet himself after a moment. "I'm speechless."

Steve smiles at his new friend. "Well, let's start from the beginning. Were you working that night?"

"You think so?" Amber says to Konrad. "Zelk told me he was even more ‘spirited’ back at the Citadel..."
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"Oh no, my son was," the man replies.

"We just call it The Steve." - he resumes his explanation to Amber

"We'll, need to speak to him when he comes in later then. Who else was working that night? Are they in right now?"

"The Steve, uh..." Amber folds her arms and waits for her companion to finish asking his questions, which she doesn't understand because they're in Wytrwaly.
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"Oh, nine people in total were working that night–" the bartender answers, "including my son, Zigmunt. Some of them will start their shift at six, and the rest at eight. We keep a tight schedule you see. So many good fellows have come in town for the Tournament."

He beams with pride.

"But what they know, I know! Of course I do. Can't let would-be-villains threaten the safety of my clientele."

Mihai translates for Amber.

Then follows up with - "So, do you know who was staying in room 211 that night?"

The man leans on the counter to get closer to the adventures.

"Colby Holder," he whispers. "But I wouldn't even bother looking for this man; he was obviously a flimflam."