Chapter 2: Mired Waters

Previously:

The party has been hired to deliver a package to the wizard Tauster in Thurmaster by the 28th of Readying. Three days before the deadline, they were attacked just outside Milborne by a group of bandits posing as peasants. While spending the night at the Baron of Mutton in Milborne, they met Tauster's apprentice, Jelenneth. On the next morning, one of the twin innkeepers insisted Jelenneth (who he seems to be romantically connected to) had gone missing, but the locals, including Jelenneth's parents, believed it was too early to be alarmed and she might have just gone off somewhere without informing anyone.

Moving east towards Thurmaster, the group delivered their package, got paid for it and informed Tauster about his missing apprentice. Confirming she hadn't returned to him, Tauster hired the group to investigate Jelenneth's whereabouts, suggesting they ask the ranger Kuiper, whose farm lies halfway between Milborne and Thurmaster. Kuiper led the group along Hog Brook, where he knows Jelenneth goes to gather herbs for her arcane activities. On the way, they ran into the local wild druid, Oleanne, and her two wolf companions, who were on the lookout for Maxim, the son of a local farmer and apparent werebear, lost and confused in the woods.

While camping in the woods, the party was attacked by orcs, bearing silvered weapons and a symbol on their shields that no one had seen before. Oleanne split to investigate the origin of these orcs, while the heroes and Kuiper managed to track and ensnare the werebear. Upon their return, the group got the jump on some more orcs that had returned to the campsite, then made it back to Kuiper's farm as Maxim managed to return to his human form.

Kuiper hosted everyone for the night and planned to have a chat with Maxim's parents upon returning him to them. Meanwhile, he advised the party to return to Milborne and let Garyld know about the orcs as well as Jelenneth's apparent disappearance.

2nd of Coldeven (Spring), 576 CY

Without Umbar's gnomish feet holding down everyone's marching, it's only hallf a day's walk to get from Kuiper's farm back to Milborne. After saying your goodbyes, you head west and by lunchtime you're sat at the Baron of Mutton in hopes of a nice meal and a cool drink. Andren notices you as you enter and take a table, but he's in the middle of carrying some drinks to another table. Before he can lay them down and rush to you for news of Jelenneth's fate, another person manages to make a beeline for your table.

"Greetings. My name is Bertio and I am a travelling merchant. I've heard of kidnappings in this region and that your group were looking into the matter. You seem the adventuring types and I have a shipment due for Thurmaster, going down the river in a barge. I've managed to secure the services of a few people," he says, motioning to the table he came from "but I'm willing to pay you 15 gold each to join up and guard the barge with them. What do you say?"

Almadel sighs as the merchant delivers his words. More distraction from looking for the girl? he thinks to himself. Looking over at the two others, he continues his train of thought. They look like they might be useful though. And hopefully we can ask on the way of anyone;s seen her too. Having persuaded himself that it might be worth their time after all, he nods at the merchant. "What can you tell us about the river, and the journey? How long is it likely to take? Is there anything in particular we should be watching out for? And what exactly are you shipping? Anything likely to get us into trouble?"

"Cautious, that's a good sign. Very professional" Bertio says, almost to himself, before he continues. "The trip should take a day or two and the cargo is mostly sacks of salt, with a small stack of spices on the side. Nothing that could rot or go bad, so if you feel like you need some time before we set off, that's not a problem, I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't know why anyone would attack such a shipment, but I take it most bandits steal first and check out their loot later. Again, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Rumors abound in this place, people talk of unsafe routes, more than usual anyway, and folks getting snatched out of their homes in the middle of the night. Sounds like I could use the added security, just to be on the safe side."

About that time, Andren hurriedly makes his way to your table.

"Did you find her? Any news?" he blurts out, before noticing Bertio at your table. "I mean, uhm, what can I get you?"

A small lad, not quite the five feet in height, doth step within this tavern. He carries a knapsack upon his back, a thing most empty, save for the corner of a book which peeks out, and a walking staff, the top of which hath been broken short.

He wears a tunic of rough wool, woven coarse, yet beneath are shirt and hose of linen fine, and stout boots that lace up well. At first glance, he seems a little lost and witless, his eyes darting about as he doth seek the innkeeper, perchance, or other serving folk.

Aldeera confers with her companions. "If he's in no hurry to leave," she says, hooking a thumb at Bertio, "I say we continue looking for the girl first."

"Gets my vote."

The warrior appreciated the offer of easy work. Times had been lean and getting some coin in his pocket was always good. But they did seem to have a number of pans in the fire at the moment.

Devon looked a the serving boy Andren who was anxious for news. The boy's question immediately telling him that Jelenneth had not returned here either. "Sorry Andren, we have not found her. Her mentor has not seen her either. We searched the Hog Brook and spoke with a ranger and druid there. Neither have seen her recently."

The warrior paused, "We are not done looking." he reassured him before asking for bread, ale, and whatever they were preparing that day.

"I think it a good offer, but I agree we need to follow up on things here first. We have news of the orcs to deliver and we should speak with the girl's father again now that time has past. Perhaps they have some other ideas."

He feared the answer was already before them. Had the las run into the orcs they had encountered, she would have been easily overpowered. The might never find whatever they had left of her.

The small lad approaches the elders whilst they speak, bowing his head most respectfully.

"Good morrow," he begins, "I am Theobald. Ye speak of a maid and her master, do ye not? Pray tell, do ye speak of Jelenneth and Master Tauster? For I say to you, Jelenneth is my own cousin. I... I have read many a book of hers, truly! And I have walked this whole, long road just to find her. Know ye already where she might be found?"

"We have some business to take care of first, if you don't mind waiting a bit, sir," Hanzel says to the merchant.

When the youth approaches the table, Hanzel turns to look at him. A cousin? He wasn't aware Jelenneth had a cousin, but then again he supposes there's a lot he doesn't know about the missing girl. "Jelenneth? I'm afraid not. Your cousin's location is a question we're looking for the answer to ourselves."

Devon agreed with Hanzel as they spoke with the merchant. They had some other business to attend first.

Devon nodded to the lad Theobald "I'm Devon. We have not found her yet. Join our table if you like as we decide what next in our search."

Considering as he waited for food and drink, he spoke to the others at the table. "A moment of rest with our meal, then speak to Garyld I think. We have news to deliver."

"Thank ye kindly!" Theobald said. "That is a great pity, truly, but of course! I shall help with all my heart! How might I be of aid? I have read books, mind you!"

The lad doth circle the table until he doth spy a chair that is empty, and then clambers swiftly upon it. The edge of the great table doth reach almost to his throat, but now he can see all that doth happen, at the least.

"Orcs?" the merchant says anxiously at Devon's mention. "No one said anything about orcs. Is this a new thing then, on top of the disappearances? That's not good..." he pauses for a moment, before regaining his composure. "Well then. I understand you have some business to see to while you're in Millborne. I'll be staying here for a few more days, so do come find me when you're ready to begin the trip." With that, Bertio politely returns to his table and lets Andren take your order as he takes in the news about Jelenneth.

"I'm starting to worry about her. She's nowhere to be found and now you speak of orcs! Do you think the two might be connected?" Andren says to the entire group as he wipes the table. When he returns in a few minutes with lunch plates of fresh vegetables, eggs, bread and mugs of ale, he notices Theobald having joined the group. "A cousin? I'll get another plate then, if you're out to seek her you're always a welcome guest here!"

Constantine is a plucky little gnome, still wide eyed enough to be looking for adventure without fear. This guard job has more than one benefit for him, money - of course, life on the road is always more expensive than anticipated. But more importantly, a barge! He has never been anywhere near a boat before, and he's having trouble maintaining a stoic demeanour. His imagination alight with thoughts of the open sea.

"Berito sir" the gnome pipes up "if I help them with their business in town, we may be able to get underway sooner?' it's more of a question than a statement
"I can be quite useful" he says to the group with a hopeful smile, and he holds up a length of rope he's been tying into an elaborate knot "in lots of ways" he laughs to himself, and adds "I'm a wizard mind..."

The warrior gestures to the open spaces around the table. "Welcome to both of you. I'm Devon." The warrior does not announce his profession, but obvious by his armor and weapons, he deals with problems with sharpened steel.

He had not really intended to announce orcs, but the cat was out of the bag as they say. To the merchant and serving boy, "While searching Hog Brooke we encountered a group of orcs. We killed those we found. It sounds like this is unusual for this area. After we eat we will deliver our information and see what else we can do here."

Devon looked at the two new arrivals. "A wizard... no spells for finding missing apprentices I assume?

and young Theobald, you have read books... are you a student of magic also?

I've read a few books, well not true, I've read some small parts of a couple of books. None which will aid us here though."

"Well, and truly, Sir," Theobald answered, his eyes very wide. "I have read within Jelenneth's books also, aye. And they have the most grand spells writ inside them!

I can make a thing or area all slimy, and I can move some things, and I can find the magic that is hidden. But mostly, I have made an Alarm Trap, lest I be surprised! Is that of help enough, pray tell?"

Constantine is too naive to know he's in over his head here. Orcs? He's heard of those. What fun!

"Well met Devon, I am Constantine, Wizard of the Conberry clan. And to you as well Theobald. Your spells sound mighty to be sure!"

He does his best to look, well wizardly, as he pulls out his spell book and leafs through the pages.

"hmmmmm.... missing apprentices.... missing apprentices..... No, I'm afraid I have yet to collect any summoning spells"

He slides his book back into his satchel before anyone notices it only has one spell in it and the rest of the pages are blank.

The warrior nodded, breaking open a chunk of bread, "Well, 'Summon Apprentice' that would have been too easy I suppose. But I welcome any magic which may help us with our problems."

He started to dig into the meal thinking that they should get moving again. If the orcs did have the apprentice, she could be miles away and getting farther by the day.

Constantine's stomach grumbles. Life on the road is more expensive than he realized when he left home. While smiling broadly, he slowly pulls a spoon from the folds in his cloak. He can surely pay for this meal if he must, but he hopes no one asks.

"I hear a boat is a most excellent conveyance to aid a search...." he says with his mouth full "moving across the water and all?"

After finishing their meal and saying their goodbyes to Caradoc and Almadel, the group head out to meet Garyld. His near death experience seems to have changed Caradoc, who decided the adventuring life isn't for him; instead, he chose to contact the local temple for guidance and accommodation as he recovers and considers his next steps. As for Almadel, he chose to stick around and ponder his next move, so he should be spending a few more days at the Baron of Mutton, should there be need to contact him again.
With Constantine and Theobald now tagging along, the group head towards Garyld’s place, which looks more like a barn than a house. The doors are open and the inside seems to be a large single space, with lots of carpentry tables, tools and items laid around in various stages of completion or repair. Two huge retriever-like massive hounds give you a cautious growl as they register your approach, but that also alerts Garyld who tells them to stand down, before he lays down his tools and walks up to greet you. In his early 50s, Garyld is hardly in his first flush of youth but still retains a lean frame with a mop of thick black hair streaked with strands of silver or grey hair.

"Hail to thee, travellers! I take it by your looks this isn't a carpentry issue, so I guess you're here to see me as the local constable?"

In his youthful eagerness, Theobald doth burst forth to speak before the Constable.

"We seek my cousin Jelenneth! And I am Theobald, her cousin, thus! These fine folk did encounter the Orcs, aye, and we must needs go forth now to find her and to save her, and..."

His sudden flow of words doth halt as he perceiveth that he hath spoken before the elders. He turneth deep scarlet and casteth his gaze down to the floor, all shamefaced.

"I crave your pardon, good sirs, that was too hasty of me..."