"They're bandits," Johan says to Chrysanthemum heedless of the orc being prodded along. "They figured we'd be flush with treasure and probably battered down- both times they just overestimated. So they took a big risk, and paid for it. Just how the business runs." Giving the woman a smile, "We'll see if there's a bounty, but I suspect you're right." Paying little additional attention to the drider's struggling stomach, he watches as Naji collects the spoils- such as they are. "And it seems they were struggling a little, too. Isn't that interesting? Pickings may not be too rich up this way. Well, we have some cheap weapons to sell off for a few gold, and from the sounds of it we're not going to need many rooms at the inn." He idly keeps brushing some rapidly drying orc drool from his pants. Turning to the feline, he stifles a laugh as she shrinks down to size, but doesn't make any jokes about it. Instead, "You're welcome to stay as long as you like," he tells Yumina sincerely. "You helped us out, and I don't forget those things. I'm not grateful enough to give you another taste of me, but-" he shrugs. "If you're meaning to get back to work, though, you might want to clear out of this region too. Mercenaries and bandits probably are going to have a hard time around here for a little while."<br/><br/>When Naji talks, Johan frowns. "Always half empty mug, hmm? Look at it this way- while we didn't secure the well for the mayor, we also made sure the mayor's enemies couldn't use it against him. We'll forfeit our fee, but since the mayor's no worse off than he was before hiring us, he'll have no call to annoy a large mercenary group by doing anything more than that to us. I'll write up a note to him myself explaining it, and have it delivered on our way out of town- just in case." He grins. "I'm more worried abou the interrogation we're likely to get from our superiors once we make it back there, though at least it sounds like we'll have something to do before then come the morning once we're all... rested?" In truth, he's not too worried. The partial success should be enough to keep them out of the metaphorical chamber pot, though they weren't likely to get any more jobs in this area for a while. It was irritating that his record was going to be blemished with a failure, of course, but that couldn't really be helped.<br/><br/>The walk goes smoothly enough. He knew the type of town this was quite well, and before being accosted by the guards mentions offhandedly, "Nobody goes out on the streets alone or without someone who knows how to fight, or you'll probably finish your walk inside someone else." Given the hour and the state of his unit, he didn't think that would be too much of a problem. On approaching the gate, he sizes up the guards; they could take them easily, but it'd bring the whole wrath of the town down on them. The raccoon gets an extra 'sizing up', because Johan can't actually help himself. Still, in what's a prodigy for him, he doesn't decide to start immediately flirting with the guard... too much. Reaching up, he lightly rests his hand on Yumina's shoulder with a quick squeeze, stepping ahead. "Mercenary group in the pay of hizzonor the mayor," Johan says smoothly. "Got the letter of appointment if you want to see it. We got attacked by some bandits an hour or so east of here. Some prisoners we're going to check for a bounty on, some who paid the price for attacking someone stronger than them, no?" A wan grin. "We'll be reporting to the mayor, dropping off our captives, staying the night, and being on our way. Since I know you've all got paperwork to do for a group like us coming through with captives," he tosses a gold piece to each of the two guards- not quite a typical day's salary to the pair, but then he wasn't asking for anything extraordinary, "For your troubles. Paperwork's a nightmare, eh?" He favors the raccoon with his best charming smile, but something about him seems a little... off his game. He's still thinking about the strange planar jaun they'd all taken, and it still wasn't adding up- well, that and the likely extracurricular activities come nightfall. No wonder he wasn't quite up to par.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Giving a 2gp bribe and trying to talk past. <a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/459120">Diplomacy</a>: <span style="text-decoration: underline">1d20+8</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">12</span> Not a great result, but since we're not asking much and with a little bribe I figure we'll be fine. Pity the diplomacy result wasn't enough to talk a guard into one of our beds. XD</span>