Rivers of Silver to Coasts of Gold

Twelve backs off from the flanking position as the conversation ongoes. He listens to Darann and laughs at all the right places. Erlanger's question makes him perk up,

Who goes missing? Men? Women? Children?

Gunderson nods. "That may be a good idea going forward. Can you point us to the slums where we may speak with some fishermen?"

What's the fastest way to the docks?

Are we going to go try to save them then lads?

Twelve looks from Gunderson to Erlanger.

Gunderson nods.

"Aye. Let's go. I need to be back here for my performance tonight. Thanks, Waldo."

Save damsels in distress? Seems like the right thing to do.

Feeling excluded, Darann wriggles in between Erlanger and Gunderson.

Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?

Going south isn't too difficult, and soon everyone arrives at the slums. A tangle of endlessly twisting, tiny roads, covered in a mud whose smell you desperately try to keep out of your nose, soon make you lose all sense of direction. Everywhere, there's distant chatter, footsteps splashing in the mire, and the occasional animal barking, meowing or squeeking. You know to stay in the "good" part of the slums, and to stay away from the "bad" part, but... after all the twists and turns, and dilapidated shack after dilapidated shack, you don't even know where you currently are.

Darann has traded his shield and war hammer for the huge maul. He squints his eyes and looks around menacingly, to deter any would-be bandits from messing with them.
Anyone who looks at Darann or his party for longer than a second or two is met with the "I'm keeping my eye on you" gesture of Darann pointing to his own eyes, then to the onlooker.

Hey Darann, maybe you should ask one of these fine slummers where the artist guild and Drunken Wench is so we can properly stay clear of there as our oddly dressed friend has recommended.

Erlanger keeps, what he considers, an uncowardly safe distance behind Darann. While walking, he takes out Munk and imbues it with magic. Its gears begin to spin and small mechanical noises emits from the robot.

Munk, help me keep an eye out for any danger.

Gunderson keeps an eye out for a slummer who doesn't seem likely to be aggressive, and approaches him/her.

"Excuse me sir/ma'am. We are a bit turned around. Could you please point us towards the docks? The part between the artists and artisans guilds, and the river.

Incidentally, have you seen a group of dwarves come through here earlier today who looked like maybe they were a bit out of place?"

Twelve takes a gap about ten foot wide away from the group in the slums and makes himself look more in keeping with the inhabitants. Having recently been living in the slums, before the monks took him in, this is something he thinks he can manage.

Trying to look like a thief hunting the adventurers, whenever someone else looks at them as a target, he uses thieves' cant to warn them off, quickly running through the hand signals for [mine] [target] [gold] [comrade].

Darann's stomping around, glaring at everyone scares most of the folks away. Those who aren't, seem to think it best to stay away from anyone clearly about to get mugged. Eventually, Gunderson manages to flag down a couple passing by. An old, human man in raggedy clothes and a young dwarf who looks like he's seen better days and looks equally lost as your group, turn towards you. The old man takes the word.

Old human slummer

"G'day mista. Ya wonna gaw watch dem visheys, daw ya? Dis vine geddlemun 'ere woz jus owskin abat it thuw. Ez lukkin' ver sum dworves who luk loyk alvz! Can ya imagine?!" He pauses, clearly waiting for any sort of reaction to the dwarves looking like elves thing, giving you a toothy grin of exactly three teeth.

"Aye. That's the group of dwarves that we're looking for as well." Gunderson narrows his eyes at dwarf standing near the old man. "Why are you looking for them?"

Erlanger sees Twelve skulking behind and very confused by his act.

Twelve continues past the group and takes up position in the shadows of a slum behind the older man, his hand on a dagger beneath his over-shirt.

If Twelve notices Erlanger's confusion, he will attempt to placate him using eyes or hand-cant, a part of the thieves' cant: [ally] [guard] [watchful] [take care]

Baruk smiles warmly at Gunderson "I've traveled a long way here, and when I arrived I met the troupe.  I got to talking with them and they told me about a nice quiet place I could relax, and they were going to guide me there... good lot they are.  I was supposed to meet up with them, but... well I couldn't make it to the meeting spot on time.  They must have left without me.  Were you going with them also?"

Gunderson frowns. "No, we were not planning to join them. We heard that they have gone missing, and we thought it sounded like they may be in trouble. We talked to a guard, who told us that the island you were planning to go to with them is dangerous and is the site of a lot of unexplained disappearances in the area. Apparently, he still advises out of towners to go to the island." Gunderson rolls his eyes. "So, now we are heading out to the island to try to find the troupe before they are added to the list of unexplained disappearances. But, we seem to have gotten turned around."

Darann mumbles to himself.

For a cursed island of certain death there sure isn't a shortage of people who want to stroll around in that place