"Well I'll be...aint that a trick, thank you much Mister, I dont have much to offer for your charity but I would like to give you something in return for being so nice ta me." Hiker began searching his things for a gold coin or two to offer the old man and as he did, he heard the old man's question:
"Now, I think you said you were searching for a woman, and the grumpy dwarf mentioned some goblins. Would you like to tell me precisely what your business is in my forest?"
"Yes sir, we is searching for Miss Alma..she was tooken by them woofs and some ugly critters ridin' them woofs, just a couple days ago. We thought that them woofs was gonna get us like they did to Miss Alma. She is real nice - And Mr. Half man says we need to bring her arm back on accounta to prove its her..." Hikers confusion mounted a bit and he looked over at Paladin with his head askance as if to say 'is that right?' ... then he continued, "So we was tracking forward and then the woofs got us and I went asleep for a bit and here we are and we dont have Miss Alma OR her arm." Hiker seemed satisfied enough then as he had located his gold pouch, removed 2 gold and attempted to hand the old man thea gold pieces with an innocent and appreciative smile on his face.