Session 2: Poker and Murder

Synopsis
After fleeing through the forest from the orcs, the party was followed by the wolves they saved to the edge of the forest. Everyone tried to pet the wolf pups, with varying degrees of success. Upon bidding farewell to the canines, one of the adult wolves continued to follow the party all the way back to town, waiting outside the tavern while they went inside for food and drink.

While inside, sir Vista challenged the blacksmith to an arm wrestling match for the reward of new equipment from the blacksmith, if vistra were to lose he had bid 10 gold he didn't have. The blacksmith agreed, if vistra also helped him in the forge while he made the wares. The blacksmith pulled out to an early lead but vistra won through in the end. Vistra struck a bargain with the blacksmith for a best 2 out of three and he'd let the Smith win, if he still kitted out the party. The blacksmith agreed and won.

The bartender took note of the display and extended a second invite to vistra to join their poker game. Celwyn took their food out to feed the wolf outside. Twilight the goblin took the opportunity to sneak under the table, thinking he'd pick the players pockets. And vadha returned to his room to change into drag and return as a flashy female elf, which only the bartender recognized as the same elf as before.

Vistra spent the first round of the game trying to orchestrate a plan to trade cards with vadha using the goblin under the table, but did not communicate well. Leading to the goblin planting the card on someone else at the table who was almost caught for stealing. The next round went slightly better and the trio was able to exchange cards and set vistra up to win, despite some setbacks. After finishing the subterfuge, Twilight attempted to rifle through a travelling priest's bag and was caught. Vadha lept onto the table and sang for his freedom while kicking several coins to the floor to be scooped up stealthily by the goblin. The game was called off early because of the outbursts and everyone went to bed.

The next morning the party discovered the bartender and his wife both murdered and robbed. Before fleeing the tavern they checked for the bard that had also stayed the night and found him missing. Using their new wolf companion they tracked a scent to the sewers. Opting not to follow through the sewers themselves, they followed the scent to the docks and along to coast to a nearby farm to the north.

They asked some of the farm hands about the bard, to see if anyone had come by, but no one had seen anything. The party approached the farmhouse itself to be spotted by a woman on the porch.