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Jocelyn pats Oura on the back. "So, do you want to come with us this time?" she asks.

Bright pink in the face (red is not possible with her pale complexion) and with tears in her eyes, Ouragana emerges from her coughing fit. "It's OK," she gasps, "just swallowed the wrong way."
Then she turns to Jocelyn. "Whom have you been asking?"

Brock frowns. "Are you sure that's wise, pastor?" he asks Jocelyn. "I remember this bloke from a year ago. He was still around when I left Narin. Rumor was, he was involved in some shady business. Wardens could never prove it, though."

"Koh'kra doesn't understand what I'm saying, does he?" Jocelyn asks. "So, I'm asking Grey." She looks to Brock. "We are going up against pirates, so it might be a good idea to have someone shady with us."

"Sounds like a good idea." Says Dan.
"I'm actually beginning to feel as if I've overstayed my welcome to be honest."

"Oh, I thought you might be asking me" Ouragana interrupts, directed at Jocelyn. "I'm not sure I can come with you, actually. First I want to find out why Koh'kra has come into town and if maybe he needs help. And since, as you point out, he doesn's seem to speak Common, that might take some time."

For his own part, Koh'kra ignores the conversation, save for looking up in curiosity whenever he hears his own name. Growing frustrated with the utensils, he finally just dumps the stew bowl onto the table. It oozes out, some of it spilling onto the floor. But the chunks of meat are now readily visible and he crows happily before scooping them off the table with his beak.

The innkeeper sighs at the mess and goes to get a mop and a cleaning rag. At the same time, Thaddeus steps inside. "Oh, you're all here," he comments. "Well, that makes things easier. Will you be staying here tonight or bunking on the ship? The captain sent me to ask you all. She wants to set sail at first light, so obviously it would be more convenient if everyone was already aboard when the dawn arrives."

"He doesn't seem to be in any distress, Ouragana," Jocelyn points out. "Matter of fact, he seems quite content now that he can get to his food better," she adds before she looks towards Thaddeus. "I'll bunk on the ship," she says. "And we have another that is going to join us." She motions to Grey. "And we might have one that is leaving us," she adds, motioning to Ouragana.

Ouragana had been too distracted to prevent Koh'kra's action, she jumps up and calls out, "oh no, not good!" to the birdman, and apologises to the innkeeper. "I'll help to clean up" she promises.
When Thaddeus comes in, she exclaims: "Oh, Thadeus, good to see you. This is Koh'kra, son of the chieftainess of his people" she points to the birdman. "I wish I knew what brought him here alone, without even knowing a word of the Common tongue. I hope all is well with his people at home." She is so totally absorbed that she doesn't react to Thaddeus's question at all.

Jocelyn wrote:"And we have another that is going to join us." She motions to Grey.

"Ah, well then welcome aboard," Thaddeus says to Grey, offering him his hand. He's a young human with short red hair, violet eyes and pale skin wearing fine robes of red and gold. "I am Thaddeus Blackwell, the navigator and Storm Sorcerer of the Bullring."

Ouragana wrote:"Oh, Thadeus, good to see you. This is Koh'kra, son of the chieftainess of his people" she points to the birdman. "I wish I knew what brought him here alone, without even knowing a word of the Common tongue. I hope all is well with his people at home."

"Oh, my! An Aarakocra, if I'm not mistaken. How unusual. I've heard there were a few tribes among the islands, but I've never seen one up close before. And certainly not in an urban setting. Then again, I've heard they are sometimes quite curious, so perhaps it's not too big of a surprise. But what's this the pastor mentions? You are leaving the expedition? That's...too bad. I was looking forward to working with you on this, especially as you were the one to discover the map in the first place."

Dhan shakes Thaddeus' hand. "A pleasure to meet you. Folks call me Granite."

Gallath speaks to Thaddeus. "I will bunk on the ship tonight, I believe." He frowns inwardly. Grey, Dhan, or Granite? Can't he mak up his mind?

Ouragana turns to Thaddeus, speaking animatedly. "There is a tribe of Arakocra not too far from here in the mountains, we went to see them some time before we came aboard the Bullring the first time. There had been a dispute with farmers in the foothills which we managed to settle. When I saw Koh'kra in town today, I was afraid there might be trouble again. So... I'm not sure what to do. I iknow I should join you on the expedition, but I am fond of the Arakocra, too, and want to make sure they don't come to harm." Ouragna looks at the mage with pleading eyes, as if the was expecting him to solve her dilemma.

"He doesn't appear to be in any harm," Thaddeus comments, "or distress. In any case, the choice is yours, of course. But the captain wants to set sail first thing in the morning, regardless. I hope to see you on board tomorrow, but if not...well, I understand. We'll be back eventually to restock and if you are still here, we can pick you up."

Ouragana first looks at Thaddeus, then at Koh'kra. After a pause, she says. "You're right, he looks happy, and if someone had a grudge against the Arakocra, they would have shown up by now. I will have to put back my curiosity about them until I come back to Narin" she smiles. "Let me see to his comfort for the night, and I'll join you on board."