The wind in her hair (RP)

Continued from Crystal Cave Adventure

Roald was able to climb a tree, and from there espied a road that logic dictates must lead somewhere. This logging track has seen better days and has fallen out of use, but it is still navigable on foot even if a wagon would have trouble, and provides direction.

Albert is still weak after his ordeal, the captain is obviously in pain, but stoically limps along, helping in whatever small ways she can. Ahsa, though, is in high spirits --having awoken a while after the party got to the road. The overgrown nature of the road made dragging a travois harder than carrying a stretcher, and Ahsa did not object to being lifted onto the shoulders of two of the men --indeed she seemed relieved that she did not need to complain and ask to be elevated.

After some hours she said that she was even feeling strong enough to sit up --walking proved impossible during the brief breaks-- and persuaded the party to adjust her stretcher to include a seat and backrest so she could look around and spectacle of nature and the wide open world after the confines of the caves. And it is in such style that she is arrayed --above you all-- when you arrive at the village.

You had been smelling the village for a while --the normal smells of smoke and human waste that are not noticed till they have been absent for a while-- but are surprised to see that it sports a newly erected palisade wall and high, closed gate barring entry.

As you approach, an unseen speaker calls out in a quavering voice: "Halt and identify yourselves! Who do you represent? We don't want any trouble."

What do you do?

- Albert -

The road is empty, there is no one coming or going, and you don't see the customary queue of farmers wagons waiting to be allowed in, as you would be used to seeing on the road outside your bar. There are no guards visible, and whoever was calling from the other side of the gate has not shown themself.

You might not be able to judge this sort of thing, but the captain mutters: "What sort of palisade do they call that. It is like a bunch of villagers heard about one but had no soldiers to show them how to make it." Indeed, the village looks too small to have a garrison and no flag flies above it that you can see, but --this far into the country-- there is no reason to suspect allegiance to a foreign power.

"Looks new too." She notes, and indeed you can all see that the earth around the wall has been dug since the last rains, so the fortifications are probably less than a few weeks old.

"Wait? You... You're not from Chlodomer?" The hidden voice asks, then adds: "Or from Childebert?" This seeming like the only other feasible option in his mind.

"Well, I suppose I had better fetch Theuderic." Sharp ears might hear, but equally easily it may seem the speaker just runs off, leaving the travellers alone outside the gate.

After quite a few minutes there is a clattering and clanking from the other side of the wall, and a man is raised into view above you --stumbling a bit as the platform halts is climb. His clothing looks like what a peasant thinks would constitute 'noble wear', and a gold mayoral chain hangs round his neck.

"How shall you pay?" He demands in a high, imperious voice, not bothering to greet you or ask your business.

What do you do?

"I doubt it. But we can see." The captain says in reply to Albert's query. Then she raises her voice to the wall and starts to explain that she or her employers might be known to the merchants here --she has never been here personally, but the caravan gets around-- and that that party might be able to help as payment, but the mayor interrupts her.

"I," he declares pompously. "Do not talk to... women." The fact that he is talking to a woman to say this does not seem to register with him.

The captain shuts up in sheer surprise at this, but, her patience might not last unless someone can come to an arrangement quickly, and you don't get the impression that angry outbursts from her would smooth things over.

What do you do?

- Roald -

The mayor rankles at your implication that you are in any position to judge what is 'enough to stay in his town', but --on the off-chance that you correct-- focuses on Ahsa and the encrutched captain.

"And for the healer?" He demands. "Medicines don't grow on trees, you know. How will you pay for that?"

He does seem interested by the idea of 'respected guards', but will need some convincing. "The law?" He postulates. "Does not reach out here... But, if you can impose some semblance of such order on our neighbors...?" He leaves this hanging, possibly assuming you must already know what he is talking about, or possibly testing for your reactions.

What do you do?

"Ha! God luck with that." The mayor says cryptically. "We are the only village in this area."

With that he turns his back, looks down, and speaks in a carrying whisper that he probably would be embarrassed by your overhearing."Lower me down. But slowly this time, don't jerk me around!"

He seems quite happy for you to leave. If he is bluffing he is really good at it, which you doubt is the case.

What do you do?

At the slight of the glint of gold --even dirty, gold has an almost magical property of drawing the eye and engendering 'respect'-- the mayor stops his elevator-contrivance and leans over the wall for you toss the coin up. After briefly polishing and then biting it, his attitude changes dramatically and he starts shouting orders for the gate to be opened and people to attend to their guests.

Stepping off his ridiculous-looking board-on-ropes-and-pulleys as you enter, the mayor introduces himself as Theuderic, and invites you to dine with him and his wife, right away. He indicates a few lads to help carry the litter.

It turns out the village healer had made her way to the gate anyway, not waiting for authorisation to do her job. She tuts and shakes her head as she takes charge of Ahsa, but does not seem concerned for her prospects of healing. She directs the carriers to her small hut, near the gate, and newly cramped in by the wooden wall, without any mention of payment.

• Do you insist on staying with Ahsa or accept the mayor's offer?

"As you can clearly see, sir Theuderic, we are filthy from our battle." Albert gestures towards the group. "If you will allow us to go and freshen up first, we will be happy to join you and your lovely wife for dinner." He's really not in the mood for these annoying pleasantries, but realizes he needs to keep this jerk on their side. "I'm sure the healers will be heading to a place with water. We can go with them for now."

Theuderic seems annoyed that you are not just bending to his will, but rallies and readily agrees. He had not paid attention to how dirty you were --maybe his thinks he social inferiors are supposed to be dirty?

"Of course, of course." He says, looking around till he spots the right person. "Innkeeper," he says pompously. "See to these people's needs. They are my guests, settle up with me afterwards." He adds, sounding magnanimous if one was not aware of how much he had already been paid.

Theuderic has added together the statements "we don't have a lot of coin" followed by the appearance of gold coins to indicate you have more gold, and don't consider it 'a lot'. He does not want the innkeeper or healer taking your gold when he could do so and pay out in silver while appearing generous.

---

The innkeeper indicates his establishment --marked by a sign with a frosty mug, but no name-- and promises to have baths waiting for you after you have seen Ahsa settled at the healer. He seems to understand how these things should work, even if his inn looks a bit run down...

... In fact, the whole village looks more than a bit run down. The people look poor and hungry, and the roads and buildings are in disrepair --though not showing signs of damage or violence as much as neglect-- a condition that appears to predate the erection of the palisade.

---

The healer's cottage used to have a herb garden out front, but the palisade wall has cut that off and churned up what little ground is left. Inside, her walls are covered with hooks where medicines hang, but there are large bare sections where they have not been restocked in a while.

Uncomplaining, she looks you all over with an expert eye, orders the captain to get off her feet and to remove her pants --behind a privacy screen-- so she can look while working on Ahsa. While examining the ladies she is simultaneously brewing five unpleasant smelling concoctions. "Drink, sirs." She says handing you each a different mix, as though she already knows what you each need without asking.

"You will heal up fine... if you stay off that leg for a week." She says to the captain, wrapping a poultice on the ugly gash and offering her a skirt to wear --her pants being ruined by the stone claw.

She tuts about Ahsa's injury, probing deeply inside and eliciting groans of pain from the girl who has been unexpectedly quiet through all the interactions, but has been watching with bright eyes. "You were luck. Nothing vital was punctured. But your core muscles are lacerated. When you are healed, it will take a lot of exercise before you stay upright. But you are young and strong, so you will bounce back."

---

The healer seems focused on her work and uninterested in gossip, she also might get into trouble from the mayor if you press her for information he wants to present to you in his own manner.

• How much do you try to find out from the healer, or the innkeeper once you get there?

- Roald -

"Medicine, deary." She answers. "For your fatigue, and to help you heal." She had not asked if you were hurt, and apparently picked up on you 'athletic performance issue' on her own. "I know it tastes bad, but that is how you know it is working." She adds --advice we have all heard from our grandmothers, or similar.

Ahsa has already drunk most of hers --pulling a face at the taste and holding her nose closed. The captain sniffed hers, but is now waiting for your decision on whether to trust this wizened old lady.

What do you do?

- Roald -

"It is better if it is still steaming." The old woman comments. "And the taste is not going to get any nicer." She does not push the issue though, but, you can guess, she might --justifiably-- be a little miffed that you did not speak up before she made you medicine, not that she gave you the opportunity to do so.

With a slight gagging noise, Ahsa finishes her concoction, then she lies back, looking contented, and, in a minute of so, drifts off into sleep, at which point the healer starts to clean and sew up the gash in her side.

- Albert -

"There's a good boy." The old woman says once you have had your medicine. She hands you a cup of water to wash out the aftertaste. The water here does not look as clean as what you had in the forest, and you hope she already boiled it.

"Hmm? Oh, no, no. You lads can go about your business." She says distractedly. "Don't drink too much beer." She adds, though if this is to do with the medicine or the dehydration, or the upcoming meeting with the mayor, or just general grandmotherly advice, you are not sure.

As an afterthought, as you are about to leave, she says: "Tell Berthold to throw out your wash water far away, and then to wash out the tubs. We don't want that... whatever that is you are covered in... contaminating our limited supplies."

The captain assures you she will watch over Ahsa, her leg does not allow her to walk comfortably --and you might be amazed she managed the trek here. Presumably she will wash up at the healer's house.

When you arrive at The Frosty Mug, Berthold --you presume-- is just finishing heating water for two copper baths in the bathhouse. The inn is crowded with locals, and you don't get the impression that it is normally this busy, the serving girl seems flustered and run off her feet, and there is some muttering that 'locals should not have to pay for beer' from a white-bearded old-timer sitting in the corner near the door.

It seems that everyone is wanting to see 'the strangers' and gather any news of the outside world you might have. None of this should be surprising to Albert and he might be relieved when the innkeeper shoos everyone away so you both can soak in piece.

"Is there anything I can get you?" He asks. "Before this lot drink it all."

You have not eaten much since leaving the temple --stopping to hunt and cook was not a high priority, and nuts and berries can only take a man so far-- but you also have to think about the dinner with the mayor.

What do you do? How long do you make the mayor wait?

- Albert -

"Oh aye." Berthold says in agreement. "Over by the big city? Why'd you give it up then?" He asks conversationally. "To go 'adventuring'? The wife always tells me I should go out 'adventuring'. Thinks she can run the inn better'n me, I suspect." There is a twinkle in his eye as he says this which makes you doubt she ever said anything of the sort.

He looks woefully at your filthy clothing, and nods in agreement. "I will send for the tailor, and we can have you fitted up nicely." He pokes his head out the door and shouts for someone to do just that. You doubt the mayor intended to pay for new sets of clothing for everyone --a gold coin only goes so far-- but he did not specify, so the locals are being liberal in their interpretation of 'see to their needs'.

Berthold probably should be out in the common room taking care of his many patrons, but, loving news as all innkeepers do, and on the pretext of attending to his guest, he hangs around listening to your conversation, hoping to hear some of your story as you and Roald talk.

"Oh, no sir. We are not swanky folk like you." The innkeeper answers Alert. "None of us have 'spare' clothes." He says 'spare' as though it is a foreign word he is piecing together in that sentence. "...'cept maybe the tailor."

He listens to your conversation as unobtrusively as he can. If he is concerned by the importance of a 'broomstick' when he expects adventurers to have swords, he tries not to show it.

When you arrive at the mayor's house a servant lets you in, ushers you to the dining room and seats you opposite each other, one away from the head of the table. It is a nice enough home, but, like the rest of the village, shows the signs of a poor and low life.

From another room you can hear a woman shouting angrily: "Well, I am not 'your mother'. I am doing the best I can on short notice." The servant bows to you apologetically before hurrying off, presumably to share the information that their guests have arrived. The argument shuts off instantly. A moment later Theuderic joins you.

"Ah, welcome, welcome." He declares expansively. "I trust your companions are taken care off." He does not give you a chance to answer --the query being etiquette rather than concern-- but plows on with his own worries. "So? You are 'adventurers'?" He starts to ask, only to be interrupted by the arrival of food.

A matronly looking lady --the mayor's wife, you deduce-- shuffles in with a large platter of breads and cheeses --clearly an attempt to bulk up the bowls of stew now being shared amongst more people. After placing food before you and the mayor, the lady of the house returns to the kitchen and the servant rushes off, both return a few moments later, the lady bearing three more bowls of stew, and the servant chivying in two teenage children, before departing.

The mayor's wife says nothing, but you might be able to tell she is distressed by what your still-dirty clothing is doing to her chairs, carpets, and tablecloth.

The mayor proudly introduces his son as 'Theuderic' --but does not bother to introduce his wife and daughter-- before getting back to business.

"'Adventurers?'" He resumes. "You must have such stories." He espouses, not waiting to hear you tell any --to the obvious disappointment of his children who are listening in rapt fascination. "We have a problem for just the likes of you." He explains as he heaps stew onto a slice of bread.

"From time out of mind, our village has served as the market- and meeting-place for the lands all around, as far as you can see." He takes any signs or sounds you make as indications you are impressed and he should continue --you don't get the impression he is used to be interrupted.

"For as long as we can remember the families of Childebert and Chlodomer have been feuding. No one knows the cause, and no one cares. But when Chlodomer... or was it Childebert? started buying up the surrounding farms, Childebert... or was it Chlodomer? felt compelled to follow suit. Now all the lands you see are owned by those two, and they are calling themselves 'barons'." His tone makes it clear what he thinks of their trumped-up titles. "They spend all their time trying to outsmart, outmanoeuvre, or outspend the other, and neglect the lands. And we suffer.

"You will have seen our eyesore of a fence?" He states, not waiting for a response. "The newest generation of 'barons' have escalated to petty violence. Against each other, but also threats towards us. They each, in turn, 'suggest' we stop doing business with the other, and imply that things will go badly for us if we don't comply.

"Your job," He declares, clearly assuming you have already accepted it. "Is to fix this problem." His dismissive tone tells you that he does not care how you 'fix' it.

- Albert -

The casual mention of 'tailor-unavailability' seems to confirm your wealth and access to gold. Those with wealth are never considered 'dirty', 'untidy', or 'uncouth', but are instead viewed as 'eccentric', which fits with giving up ownership of a bar to go adventuring. Such people can not be faulted for bringing in a little dirt.

At the talk of giant centipedes and undead the kids eyes are wide, but with enthusiasm rather than fear. The mayor seems to dismiss this talk as harmless exaggeration and make-believe. The mention of Raynor has no impact on the mayor, but his kids share a look, like you just confirmed something important to them.

Compliments about the food are met with wordless demurring, but the mayor pays these no mind, and talks over his wife's attempts at explanation.

Your 'promise to solve' receives a nod, though you talk of ongoing hospitality seems to have come as a surprise. "Of course." The mayor rallies. "The inn is at your disposal. And, once you have news to report we can sit down again."

- Roald -

At the mention of riding the horse-sized centipede, and then the undead touch, the kid's and their mom's eyes go even wider, their mouths adding an extra O to the pattern.

If you were paying close attention you may hear some muttered complaints from the servant after refilling your bowl, but the mayor does not appear to notice or care if his servant goes hungry.

"Hard to tell for sure." He answers as best he can. "The families themselves are at least a few dozen each? Though I can't say how many are around right now.

"They have many servants, but I don't know about their actual loyalty. Most are co-opted from the various steadings that were overtaken.

"As to the boys in charge, I can not speak. I knew both their fathers --to my detriment-- and this latest batch seem to be cut from the ragged edge of the same cloth. Things are worse than before, what with them both coming into power, after the untimely deaths of both their fathers, at roughly the same time, the lack of steadying influence may have contributed. Who can say."

- Albert -

Mrs. mayor blushes at your compliment, but does not say anything.

"Arrogant blowhards the both of them." The mayor responds. "I would not even know how to tell them apart, neither by appearance nor my personality, though they will be quick to tell you their lineage when you meet them." He shrugs, not being able to provide guidance about who to start with.

After some further discussion you learn that neither of their territories extend out to the temple, and that it is pretty much equally distant from both --sorta in line with the disputed border-- but that the unmaintained logging track you followed to here passed through one of their lands.

Night has almost fallen by the time you are done with dinner, the evening light is fading fast as you arrive back at the healer's.

At you knock you hear slow, uneven footfalls from inside, and the captain answers the door. "Ah, it's you." She says, and you can see she has her sword in hand behind the door. "I must admit, I find myself unusually fearful of the coming dark, and every strange sound makes me jump." She is talking quietly, and you can see that the house is in darkness except for the candle she has kept burning in the otherwise-empty front room.

There has been a lot of interested in the newly-arrived adventurers --everyone wanted to have words with you as you left the packed inn to go to the mayor-- and some heads popped out of doors or windows to watch you as you make you way to the healer...

But someone is definitely following you, at a distance. When Roald stops and looks around, you can both spot a hulking figure darting away down an ally. From Roald's low position he can see the silhouette appears armed and armoured. It would be unusual to be wearing such an outfit in one's own village, but, by the time you make it to the healer, there is no sign of whoever was following you.

The captain's words breed paranoia. Maybe it is just that that makes the figure seem threatening? If it meant you harm, there were opportunities --before your eyes adjusted to the outside dark-- for it to waylay you, after all.

What do you do?

"Asha woke for a bit and asked for food, which the healer says is good news. But they are both sleeping now." The captain whispers quietly, so as not to disturb them.

"There are only two beds." She points out. "And both are already taken. So I am 'sleeping' in the chair." She motions to an very uncomfortable looking wooden chair. "But a combination of that, plus nerves and nightmares, means I will probably 'stand guard', and then catch a few winks tomorrow once the healer vacates her bed."

The talk of someone threatening you is making the captain even more nervous, meaning she is now even less likely to sleep tonight. She is curious about the task the mayor set you, but has no significant advice to add (if you give her the details you have).

"Surely you will be safe at the inn?" She speculates. "With other people around no one would try anything." You probably suspect she is right, and that the inn will also still be more crowded than normal due to the local interest in your presence.

What do you do?

- Roald -

"That's very generous." The captain says in reply to your offer to stay here. "But not very practical, what with my hurt leg and all. Anyway, I can sleep tomorrow, you have work to do." She also needs to be here so the healer can see to her injuries anyway.

"My friends --and I count you among them-- call me 'Bimi'." She admits, smiling shyly --and very prettily. "But almost everyone calls me 'captain'." Which says something about the number of friends she has.

Watching closely as you are, you can see something is bothering her at the mention of the caravan and her duties. It has only been a few days, but you all did run off and abandon them right after they were ambushed by bandits, which is not very professional. She can't travel just yet, but you get the impression she is thinking about getting back there.

"Larinia..." The captain says thoughtfully. "Hmm... I have a vague memory of my aunt speaking about her, a long time ago." She has a similar expression on her face as when you found her studying the sign or the wolf and horn in the temple that morning.

"Well, safe travels, and sleep well, my friends." She says, shaking off the pensive mood as best she can.

---

As you approach the door of the inn, a hulking figure clad all in armour steps out from the shadows and raises a gauntletted hand to stop you. "Erm? Excuse me?" He says in a stammering voice.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Your staff clangs into the armoured shins. Too late figure tries to jump backwards, flails his arms and topple over into the vegetable patch.

"Don't hit me." He pleads pathetically --and, you suspect, habitually.

What do you do?

- Albert -

At the mention of Raynor the man ...more like 'boy' you are starting to suspect... scrabbles to his feet, and then, as though remembering his plan, immediately goes down on one knee before you.

"So it's true?" He exclaims excitedly. "We had heard you are a priest of Raynor. The 'god of conquest'." At this last word he thumps his armoured chest with his fist, and you can hear that there is a lot of empty space inside there.

"I, Daryl, dedicate my sword to your service." He declares, trying to draw said sword --apparently completely unaware of any threat that might imply-- but finds that it is tangled and pinned beneath him, tries to free it, starts to rise, decides kneeing is more important and settles for removing his helmet and bowing his head in supplication.

He looks like a big, rangy farmboy, wearing armour that was not made for him.

What do you do?

- Roald -

Assuming that you are also a priest of Rayor, Daryl awkwardly rotates so he is now kneeing before you.

"I... er... I said --didn't I? ... I am Daryl." He stammers, demonstrating the common small-town mentality that 'everybody knows Daryl'. "And I want ... to ... follow you? ..." He finds that he is repeating your words, and tries to rally himself.

"I, Daryl? ... dedicate my sword to your service?" He says again, but with strange questioning intonation, like he is not sure what he did wrong and this is not going at all like he rehearsed.

One of the old codgers watching this spectacle through the inn's windows calls out: "Does your father know you are wearing his father's old armour, Daryl?" before he is shushed as one speaking in a theatre. You have quite an audience waiting to see what happens next.

What do you do?

Daryl shuffles round again so he is kneeling before Albert. His innocent face lights up with the acceptance, but, more importantly, with a issuance of a QUEST!

"Yes! Sir!" He bellows, clapping his fist to his hollow chest again, then he runs off home... which is awkward, since he is also trying to stay as close to kneeling while in your presence.

Continues in The Two Barons

Continued from The Contact.

The village is abuzz when you get back. An unseen gate-guard challenges you, but quickly lets you in after someone inside shouts that you are the 'adventurers the mayor is asking for'.

From inside the gate you can see the healer's front door. There appears to be a lot of people standing around there. The word that comes to mind is 'queue' rather than 'mob', and many are carrying parcels or items in their hands. You see one man leave the dwelling, look sheepishly at the rest and walk away, then another is allowed in by the healer, who is looking a bit harassed by all the activity.

The mayor is apparently waiting for you, and you can be sure one of the people near the gate will have told him of your return. But something big is going on at the healer --where your two companions were last-- though there does not appear to be any 'danger' there.

Where do you go first?

As the three of you approach the healer's door there is a bit of muttering which quickly turns into excited whispering as you are recognised as 'the adventurers' (plus one). Just before you get to the door it opens quickly and a lady almost bumps into whoever is leading your party. She glares at you --but looked a bit less than happy already-- before storming off.

You can see the healer ushering the man you saw upon arriving into the back room. There is no sign of Asha or the captain. The healer looks annoyed, but also relieved when she spies you at the open door. "If you could wait your turn outside, please." She says to Norbert, not thinking him part of the party, and clearly having said these words many times recently.

What do you all do?

- Roald -

Now that you have engaged with the people outside the door, they have questions: The obvious: "What happened with the barons?", "Did you find her.", but also some that don't make any sense, like: "Is it enough?", and "That's all we have."

They seems more than happy for you to cut in line and see your friends.

Closer up, you can see that at least one man is carrying a nice dress, and one a pair of ladies' shoes, one a mirror, though most are smaller packages that are harder to identify.

The healer drops her voice and answers Roald.

"Ever since Asha went out for a careful walk yesterday people have been eager to come and visit her. Apparently she made quite the impression. Most have brought gifts." You can not easily tell if there is more something more in her voice than annoyance at the stream of visitors --and her role as 'receptionist'. She definitely does not seem to hold Ahsa in such high regard anymore.

"The Captain could not take it, and went out this morning. She has not returned, and needs to be gentle with that leg." The healer notes.

"You saw them lining up to get to see her." The healer says to Albert. "What kind of impression do you think! And, yes, yes, go in. She has been asking about you."

Ahsa is reclining on the bed --propped up by pillows that are fancier than everything else in the healer's hut. She is wearing a very good looking dress that you have not seen before.

She looks tired, but perks up when she sees you rather than another visitor.

"This is a very nice town." The observes. "The people are so friendly." She looks around to make sure you are not overheard and adds. "I don't know all the details, but I let them know that you are here to help them with their 'problems'. They say that mayor is skinflint, so they did a little collection to help." She indicates two small pouches on the table beside the bed, one for Albert and one for Roald. There can't be many coins in them.

Ahsa turns her radiant smile to Rolad. "They are wanting to 'see the adventurers'." She says, though, while you did note some excitement about your party as you walked past, they were nowhere near as interested in you as they seem to be be in her. "They wanted to hear about our adventures in the temple, and want to check how I am doing --I don't think they get many interesting visitors.

"The line outside was the healer's doing." Ahsa says with distaste. "I don't think she understands how her rules of 'not too many visitors' works in this situation, or how the queue just leads to more interest. Some people came in not knowing what the queue was for." She smiles indulgently at their simpleness.

"The town went to some effort to put together that 'show of appreciation' for you all." She says, indicating the pouches. "That was all the money they could put together, so I said I would settle for some new clothes --we burned the horrible stuff from the temple-- and that kinda snowballed, and I don't know how to tell them to stop..."

She looks around ruefully. "The captain go fed up and left. I suspect you will find her in a bar." Ahsa says dismissively.

Her explanation mostly makes sense --though a little oversimplified-- and you find yourself 'wanting to believe everything she says'. It also does not explain why the woman who left as you were coming in looked unhappy, everyone else looked very pleased with their visit.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Hey! Ain't you Norbert, the shepherd's kid?" Someone in line asks, sounding more curious than anything else. There is muttering of 'oh-yeah-agreement'. "What you doing with these adventurers? ... Did you see the girl? ... Did you [i]know the girl? I heard she had a thing for 'shepherds'."

They mainly confirm that the mayor's daughter 'went missing'. But don't seem overly worried. It all sounds rather 'fairy taley', and --absent a king and a princess-- she will have to do as a 'quest object'.

- Albert -

"It is a bit overwhelming." Ahsa agrees. "They are nice people, but I don't think they get many outsiders. And they really do need our... your.. help getting this valley sorted out. I think they are just trying to make a good impression? Hopefully they will tone it down, though, it is embarrassing --feels like I am 'sitting in state', or something-- ... and exhausting, but I don't want to tell them no."

---

The healer --having a respite from her receptionist duties-- has taken a moment to sit and eat from one of the baskets left in the outer room. "We tend to make sure everyone has enough to live, but I have never seen anything like this." She says. "I don't know what she did or said, but some households are going to go hungry for a while... unless we give a lot of this back to those who needed it. Unless she plans on throwing a party, we can never eat all this." Though the healer is doing a good job of trying to.

At the mention of the mayor's payment she eyes you sidelong. "Him? Are you sure?" She sounds dubious. "He is not one to give away a copper more than he has to. I hope you set in stone what you were to get paid."

You recall vague implications of compensation, but nothing concrete. You also recall that neither the healer nor the innkeeper looked overly pleased by the mayor's forcing their payment to go through him.

- Roald -

"OK..." Ahsa agrees, though she does not sound fully convinced. "But I am just sitting here and talking, so don't make too big a deal of it if they are very upset.

"Who? Oh, her?" She says when you ask about the woman. "Did she really look that unhappy?" She sounds concerned and almost starts to get up to go after her, but winces in pain and decides against it. "They are some group of women who want me and the captain to join their... 'social group'? I am not really sure what it is, they don't want to talk in detail till we are 'initiated'. She was the third person to try to recruit me, and I am finding it hard to come up with ways to tell them I am not interested." She really does sound unhappy that she has done something that made another upset.

She opens her mouth to say something else --about the women's group, you think-- but apparently decides against it, reaching for glass and taking a sip of wine instead.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Ooh! Yes!" A few say, swooning, as you mention 'being into shepherds'.

"About all we know for sure is that 'she's not here.'" They agree after a brief confirmation. They bring up the obvious suspicion about the baron being away at just the right time (if you did not mention it, then they apparently heard that detail from someone else), but they don't have anything new to add to that line of enquiry.

When you broach the topic of the gifts everyone wants to talk at once and it is hard to make much sense: "It is worth it to get to see 'The Lady'." Is the general consensus. "But you know that. You work with her people."

There are nods of general agreement when you speak about things being better in your grandfather's time --"Anyway, ain't these adventurers fixing that?"-- though you lose a little support when you get to the part of 'talking to animals'.

Unless he is avoiding his father --which Norbert can relate to-- probably the only place you can think to find Theo is at his father's house. Doing that and not getting roped into a time-consuming meeting with the mayor would be a challenge.

- Norbert -

The mayor does not invite you in, but is superficially polite --you suspect he vaguely recognises your face, but does not know if you are important.

"My son?" He says with more pride in his voice than usual. "He's not here. He has gone with the adventurers to rescue his sister." It does not sound like he has heard that 'the adventurers' are back in town yet, so he is not worried that Theo has not returned with them or come back on his own.

If you ask at Darryl's family you will get a similar story, though they care less about the mayor's daughter than about the armour he borrowed. They also have not heard from their son since he left.

If you ask, none can direct you to Phil's residence.

If you ask the 'gate guards', they have have not seen your friends come it.

Even though you were moving fairly fast, the trio left half a day before you, and you did not see any sign of them on the road here. They should have been back hours ago.

What do you do?

Continues in The Other Baron