The group rested up for the night before heading for the village. Arriving in the morning, Alex wondered how they would possibly find Collin. "Well, he's a thief, right?" Drew questioned.
"Yes," Ben answered. "Practically the most well known thief in this village."
From there, Drew declared to start with the bank. People who work there may know enough about him due to his robberies. However, they got there to find a young dwarf with glasses. He looked at the group and went, "Excuse me, it is my pleasure. In what way can I assist you with your necessities?"
"Uhhh, what?" Isaac replied.
Ben automatically clarified, "He's asking how he can help."
"Indeed," the man said before giving a weird chuckle. "It is in my upmost value interests to fulfill your desires and grant unto you your requests," he finished, continuing to give an awkward laugh.
"What a geek," Alex mumbled. He then looked to the bard next to him and shoved her forward going, "Lauren, you speak nerd. Talk to him for us."
"Oh! Well, umm," Lauren began. She looked at the dwarf and added, "Hello, Sir. We were just wondering if you know the whereabouts of the common thief Collin. We are hoping to find him." The bank worker sighed as he explained to Lauren that he himself didn't know much about Collin. He had only just began working there. "Do you perhaps know someone who can allow us to acquire this information?" Lauren went on.
After a while, Drew asked Lauren what was said. She went on to explain how the dwarf hasn't yet had any interactions with Collin. However, there was a carpenter shop across the street. Someone there was bound to know about Collin since they had a perfect view of the bank.
The group entered the carpenter shop just for Lauren to freeze up when seeing the man at the counter. He had glasses and a smile that just wouldn't leave his face. Even though it didn't seem like it was possible, the man's smile grew larger as he saw the group, "Oh! Hey there. You are looking for Collin?"
Lauren stuttered as she replied, "Yes. We're- we're looking for Connor, I mean Collin!" Ashton automatically giggled, knowing exactly what was going on with her friend. "We assumed you'd know his whereby's, I mean whereabouts!" Lauren continued.
The man chuckled as he replied, "I sure do. My name is Matt. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?" Lauren went on to say the names of all of her friends in the group. Matt grinned before going, "Oh yes, but I was more curious on YOUR name."
Lauren became hesitant as though she had no words and forgot her name. Ashton then rolled her eyes and grabbed her friend answering, "Her name is Lauren!!" Matt smiled once again as he stated how that was a beautiful name. Lauren's face began to flush as she mumbled. Ashton shook her head as she went, "She said thank you."
Alex immediately cut in as he told them, "Now can you just give us information on Collin? We're kinda in a hurry here."
"Alex!" Ashton cried.
Drew stepped in adding, "No, Alex is right. We need to find Collin before something else happens."
Matt went on to explain that below the village was a secret tavern. That's where all of the crooks and thieves like to hangout. They were bound to find Collin there. Isaac wondered if 'below the village' meant south of it. Matt clarified how 'below the village' meant UNDER it. As in the tavern was underground. Ben questioned how Matt knew this. The carpenter went on to explain how after one of his shifts, he saw Collin leaving the bank with loot. Matt followed him to a secret passage which lead under the village where they ended up in a tavern. Matt was surrounded by a bunch of outlaws and fled before anyone caught him. Drew asked Matt where the entrance was, so the man answered that you had to go down the well.
"Then that's just what we'll do," Drew said. "Come on, guys. We've got a thief to track down."
The others expressed their gratitude for Matt and began to follow Drew. All except for Lauren who was still standing in the same position, fixated on Matt. Ashton approached her friend going, "Lauren, it's time to go."
"Right," the bard replied, coming back to her senses.
Lauren then turned around to head out the door before her name was called from behind. She looked behind her to find Matt smiling and handing her a new carver's ukulele. "You're gonna need a more powerful instrument if you're going up against Collin. Here, take this," he said. Lauren wondered how much it would be, but Matt answered in a gentle voice, "It's on me. Plus, it means you'll have something to remember me by."
"Th- thank you," Lauren replied with a smile. When she was back outside with the others, Ashton automatically began nudging her while making teasing remarks. Lauren chuckled as she told the druid, "Oh hush! I'm fine."
"Yeah, and you have an admirer; a crush!" Ashton said with a giggle as Lauren laughed along.
Reaching the well, Isaac looked down and went, "Yeah, no. I'm not going down there. It looks disgusting at the bottom of the well."
"No, look," Alex noticed. "There's a small tunnel opening area midway down the well. Looks like a place outlaws would be in my opinion," Alex stated before climbing down.
Drew agreed and used the rope holding the bucket to slide down. Ben smirked going, "He did that without getting rope burn? Respect." Ben then pulled out his sword and casually stuck it to the inside of the well, using it to slide to the opening.
Lauren was soon to follow as she mentioned, "Going down a hole into a mysterious tunnel. Anyone else getting the sense of déjà vu?"
Everyone noticed Isaac still refusing to go down the well. Ashton sighed as she went, "I got him." She shifted into a monkey and then grabbed and placed Isaac on her back as she climbed down the side of the well.
The tunnel was very short as it came to a door. The heroes all knew they were about to enter a room filled with crooks who wouldn't be fond of them. Drew then toned down his voice and announced, "Alright guys, look tough and get angry. We've gotta fit in with the locals."
They opened the door and realized how large the underground tavern was. It seemed as though it was actually underneath the entire village. Ben seemed to be the most fascinated. He automatically called out, "Woah! This place is so dope!"
Ashton gave a nervous laugh as she put her arm around the paladin and told him, "Ben, that term hasn't become a saying yet. In these times we say 'splendid'."
Isaac suddenly noticed the large amount of outlaws turn and stare at them. He began to hide behind his friends and could only utter weird noises. Contrary, Alex walked straight up to the bar with an intimidating expression going, "We're looking for a 'Collin'. Perhaps you know?" The crook at the bar just simply nodded and pointed to a round table. Alex sled over a gold coin as he went, "'Preciate it."
"Woah..." Lauren said. Alex shrugged stating how learning to be a rogue makes fitting in with these outlaws easy.
Drew pulled out his sword and stated, "Oh yeah, that's him alright. That looks like the unappealing man I saw before." Before anyone could say anything else, Drew walked up and pounded his fist on the table saying, "Listen, Collin. We're not gonna allow you to overthrow Lord Elijah. Kidnapping is the last crime you'll have committed." Ben immediately came and stood by Drew's side for intimidation.
Lauren, watched the two bicker back and forth. For some reason, this felt off to her. She couldn't quite place her finger on what was wrong until she fixated her gaze on Collin. She quickly gasped and told her friends, "Guys, wait! Stop!!" The others became curious as she announced, "Look at Collin's eyes. They're slightly glowing."
"So?" Isaac replied.
Lauren gave an innocent smile. She pulled out her new ukulele as she answered, "So this." She strummed her instrument until Collin's eyes were no longer glowing. "Look, see? He was charmed," Lauren clarified.
Collin became faint before shaking his head and crying out, "What just happened? Who the heck are y'all?"
"Wait, so he was under a spell?" Ashton realized.
Ben raised an eyebrow as he sheathed his sword adding, "So... you're not really a thief? You were just forced to do all of this?"
Collin chuckled as he responded, "Oh nah, I AM a thief!" The group was curious once again before Collin finished, "But stealing loot and stealing living people are different things. I don't stick my hands in that basket."
"You're not trying to overthrow Lord Elijah?" Drew questioned.
Collin continued to laugh, replying, "Heck nah. Why would I need to do that when I can just steal any money and items I desire? No need to be Lord when I can get myself what I want anyway." Collin took a large chug from his mug before growing silent.