-----"I'd love to buy you three a round of drinks, unfortunately it seems I'm being kicked out." Sarah shrugs and then stares fiercely at the barman. "Not that I'm going to leave or anything." Her voice gets very serious. "Bring those three another round of whatever they just had and then get behind your bar and shut up until you're spoken to." She cocks her head towards Ruplier and says to the disgusting man, "Are you going to let this punk bartender talk to me that way?"
-----At Sarah's words, the barkeep expression appears wounded. He sulks behind the bar as if avoiding any more contact with the strangers in his place.
-----Ruplier nods and answers Sarah with an adoring look, "No, I will not let this oaf speak with you in such a matter." Turning toward the sulking barkeep, he admonishes him beginning with the words, "Shame on you for insulting a lady of such beauty as this . . ."
-----Sarah taps Abram on the shoulder. "Keep the bartender behind his bar, okay?" And says to Ruplier, "You want me to visit your harem? Here, talk to my agent." She grabs Bradley and drags him over to Ruplier. "I'll be right back."
-----On Sarah's instruction, Abram's eyebrows shoot up and the expression on his face makes his scar seem to stand out more. With a speechless expression, he simply nods at the young mage and keeps his eye on the oldster behind the bar.
-----As Bradley is seated beside Ruplier, he glances at Sarah with an astonished look muttering the words, "Harem? . . . agent?" He looks with a worried look toward Sol before watching Ruplier continue to admonish the barkeep.
-----Hoping to take out one nuisance with another, Sarah ignores the bickering bartender and Ruplier and pulls a chair up to the gnomes. "Okay, you guys seem to know what you're doing. How bout you tell me something? I'll tell you guys a story first."
-----"There was this group of heroes, a young sorceress curious about the world, a savage woodsman who loved the forest, his lover a priestess of the hunt, and a dashingly handsome young Gorian. They were charged, for mysterious reasons, to work with a bunch of thieves to clear out some trouble in Oakwood. Which they did. In their travels they came to be accompanied by four loyal, steadfast and very brave guards. Now at one point the thieves and the heroes split up. They never got back together and the heroes decided they were more efficient without having to bicker with the thieves every step they took. The thieves got mad and decided that they had the right to steal the heroes' horses. And now the heroes are very, very mad and they want some answers. I'm not asking anyone to respect the authority of Hearthorn because that means about as much to you as it does to me, and I'm not asking anyone to make any kind of sacrifice. What I am asking is for you to appreciate that people get very pissed off when old companions turn against them, and when getting answers is made tough by a bunch of yokels."
-----Sarah gestures somewhat in the area of the barman and Ruplier. "They get mad enough to burn down an entire city."
-----After making that subtle threat Sarah grins and admits, "Not that the aforementioned Gorian would let me. What I'm trying to say is that we're not here to repress anyone or get violent with anyone. We just want what's ours."
-----Sarah gives as detailed a description as she can of the thieves, their mercenaries, etc. "Now, does anyone have something they want to tell me?"
-----After Sarah's story, the gnome looks intensely at the features of her face and finally says with his arms still folded, "I am sure that if ye be stayin' 'round long enuff, ye shall git what's yers."
-----The third gnome at the table, a tubby little fellow with curly gray hair, simply yawns.
-----The cheerful expression on the first gnome fades somewhat as he raises his eyebrows knowingly at Sarah.
-----Raven puts a hand on Rinda's shoulder and gives her a little smile. Raven looks at the barkeep, but says nothing. Raven's gaze then falls on the man in the far corner. Raven seems to be sizing the man the up, but Raven doesn't say a word to him.
-----Rinda slides her arm around Raven's waist as she follows his watchful look at the man in the corner. The man takes another drink from his mug and reaches down to pick up his battle-axe propped up by his feet. Looking up at everyone, he casually says, "They ain't seen who yer lookin' fer."
-----Sol blinks a few times as he watches Sarah work her special form of diplomacy. He glances at Raven and Rinda and gives them a beleagured smile. He stands up from his seat next to Ruplier and frowns as he admonishes the barkeep, "Look sir. Ye have every right t'ask a customer t'leave yer establishment, but I'll be damned if I accept yer reason. Just relax, an' we'll be out o' here soon enough."