[In the room]Are you a vampire too or something?
"If I was I wouldn't tell you... before I get some of that delicious blood! Wait, do you even have blood? It probably tastes like mushroom soup, yuk." Ashley smiles and you could swear you saw big fangs.
[In the guild hall]It's rather quiet and only a few adventurers are present. Freya has just finished baking some pastries and is proud to display them.We gotta walk all day for days with stinky old mules.
Hey, don't badmouth Sandra and Sophia like that! Their ears are superb and they're our party members now! You can pull the cart yourself if you don't like them! What happened to your cool summoning book anyway? Was that postponed until you get your princess carriage?
Ashley waves Alice away, "I got my book, it'll take a while to pick out the right one, then I need to buy a scroll or transcribe it myself. I'll do it when I actually have something to pull. I want a cantrip so it'll be worthless in battle anyway."I don't like mines or dungeons or anything belowground in general!
"I'm looking forward to it, I like tight spaces and danger at every turn, plus, it'll be nice full of lovely gems and ores, I want to go around and collect stuff, it'll be like a scavenger hunt! Haven't you ever played that game?""Well, I can't bring myself to charge anything, it's my first time. If you enjoy it, consider that payment for being a test subject in my little experiment."
That sounds - slightly indecent if you put it that way, Freya! You shouldn't use that phrasing with the boys here! But it's good so I guess I'll have to pay for your 'service'...
"Well dear Alice, I would hope someone wouldn't want to charge for their first time, I'd hope someone would want to share that with someone they love. I love all my Adventurers, hence, taste my pastries!"
She has a devilish smirk and the other adventurers at a near table start laughing. "Freya, give us some!"
"Come and get it boys and girls!"
She blows a kiss to the table in question and sits up on the bar, crossing her legs, she presents the pastries like a show girl.They didn't need to be told twice, two platinum plate wood elves and a halfling druid, along with two others, another silver plate wood elf and a Tempest Cleric rush over like children. They each take one and the platinum plate wood elf says "you make me want to be young again, dearest Freya."
He was, seemingly a druid with live vines growing out of his armor."Cedricus, You're a wood elf, you're ever youthful, I bet you don't age at all."
"That's a common misconception, like trees we grow for a hundred years, live for a hundred years, and spend the rest of our lives dying. And right now I'm dying to try more than just your pastries."
He said and got into Freya's personal space.She leaned forward, put her hand under his chin and moved to within inches of his face, she spoke with a seductive tone, "Cedricus, my love. Keep. Dreaming."
She then pushed him away like a used toy she was done playing with.He was immediately crestfallen as his mates laughed at his expense. "Don't take it personally dear, you're simply not my type."
The halfling spoke up, "Freya, you're such a tease, am I more your type?"
She joshed and tittered."Half way there..."
Freya said and a flame erupted from her fingers, "Anyone else want to try for a good burn?"
"That was a low blow Freya!"
She snickered as she backed away and bit down, "Mmmm, these pastries are amazing."
"Thank you love, you know I kid."
The other male wood elf, the silver plate, nodded and ate his, stoic and calm, he looked the part of an assassin.Freya winked at him and he stopped chewing for a second, eyeing her incredulously, then continued."You're no fun, but I love you Gavero."
Freya teased.He smiled smugly at Cedricus."Go on, rub it in, I am truly heartbroken!"
Freya tisked, "Dearest, you know my deepest love is for all adventurers, I could never settle on one."
Cat buys a pastry
"Put that purse away darling! As I told Ashley and Alice, these pastries are gratis."
Nyaah? I can't remember seeing Summer's carriage Nya at the cartwright Nya there was that ugly one some noble returned Nya and the cheap battered one for sale Nya.
"Yeah, I'm just confused." Ashley said, blowing off the hot pastry before devouring it in two bites. She pats her belly and smiles, "I'm in a good mood, let's go swindle, I mean, bargain shop.
Freya sees Ashley leaning back with a grin, "I see my secret ingredient is working."
"huh?"
Freya winks at her and giggles.
"No, really what's in it I ate two!?"
Ohh that smells great Freya Nya! What's inside that pastries Nya?
"I'll never tell!"
She giggles and places one in front of Alice and Yulya. "I need more data for my experiment!"
Nyaah it's impossible Summer did this by herself Nya she'd at least need land vehicle proficiency Nya and animal handling Nya like me Nya but probably much better Nya and being a master thief Nya. She's a magician Nya and a little girl Nya that doesn't add up Nya. She'd be incapable of handling a carriage like that Nya.
But wasn't the whole story absurd? She said her driver left her behind when she briefly exited the carriage? And that the driver disappeared and it wasn't anyone from Leilon hired by her family? I feel we're getting dragged into something big here and Summer isn't exactly helping to clear up the situation. Whatever, I hope she makes it to Phandalin or yeah, we'll have a slight problem. I don't really have a plan B.
After hearing the conversation steer through speaking with animals, Yulya consults her book and comes up empty handed.It is a spell of bards druids and rangers I believe. Unfortunately I have no such ability. We would require Miss Josephia for this!
Josephia calls from across the room, "If Faren gets 50 gold for mopping a floor, I want 100 for speaking to mules!"
Freya shoots her a serious look then smiles at Yulya, "It remains a mystery then, please be careful!"
Freya says with all sincerity.Only one night and a pastry please!
Freya slides the pasty to Yulya as soon as she sits.[Freya accepts 2sp again for the second night of the standard double room.]
You now have:
7sp
13gp
8ppUnless we come across Summer we should get going so we can travel as far as possible along the High Road!
You all say your goodbyes and leave for the butcher, saying you'll return for the cart shortly.[At the Butcher]Not me, I'm an adventurer not a magic talking fairy animal so don't butcher me!
"You're so weird Alice." Ashley says and flicks her wolf ears.

[At the Stables]Dragging the cart with some effort through the streets of Neverwinter, you make it to the stables. The stable master is in the barn, brushing the mules in question, "There you are! I thought perhaps I got the day wrong, as you can see, I have the harnesses and packs on them and oh good, you brought the cart, now we can fit them to the cart."
This human gives off an aura of kindness that is palpable, the mules nuzzle him every chance they can get as if they know it's time to part soon, like saying goodbye to an old friend.
He fits the cart to one, sees that it's adjusted properly, then goes to the second and repeats. The mules seem excited to pull the heavy cart."They're ready, I'll leave... Sandra was it? On the cart for now. You're all leaving a little late today but don't let that bother you, stop before dark, I see the lantern and that's good in a pinch, but especially today, give them the idea that they don't have to work too hard."
He hands Ashley two green pressed alfalfa bricks and sees that the cart has the feed and feed bags. "Break them in half where they can see it and give these to them at the end of the day each day. They can't get enough of them, it's like candy to them."
"Then we'll need more, give me 4 more." Ashley says."That'll be 8sp."
"Holy heck, for a green clod of grass? Cat, we need to learn how to make these!" She gives him the 8sp reluctantly and moves where the girls can see her and she speaks with a cutsie little voice you might hear someone speak to a lap dog. "Aww you girls sho shtinky! Earn your bricks! No trouble."Sandra and Sophia both seem happy to see Ashley and bump her pack with their noses."Oh, you want treats? Work for it..." Ashley pets their soft necks and they seem happy for the attention, "well okay, but this is a loan." Ashley pulls out two more candies and hands one to each. "good thing I got a ton of these, seems like this is a one sided conditional friendship."The stable master gives everything one last look over, "Seems to be in order, have a pleasant trip."
Interactions and Butcher quantities required.