Grogar ran his hand through his curling beard as he looked the old man up and down. “Exactly where did you hear this rumor about the old tower being filled with monsters and treasure, old fella? You really should cite your sources.”

“That’s right,” piped in Ellony, her musical voice tinged with sarcasm. “Did you hobble all the way out there, sneak past the guards, inventory the treasure yourself, and then sneak back?”

Bori slammed his tankard of ale down on the scarred table. “Not only that, but what kind of authority are you, anyway? Do you have any character references? Do you hold some sort of position in town, or are you just some crazy old coot?”

“But…,” stammered the old man. “But whole town’s safety—”

Nebbus the One-Eyed sealed the conversation. " I think if you were on the up-and-up, Strange Old Man (IF that is your real name), you would have told someone in town, rather than trying to dupe some passing strangers."

The old man sighed and hobbled out of the tavern. Bori ordered another round.