One: The Town of Brothers

The stage coach bounces down the road away from the verdant city of Bent Fork and eastward towards the expanse of the desert. The sounds of nearby waterways are quickly replaced with the tumble of wheels on dirt and gravel. Mountains give way to rocky outcrops sharp and craggy. The tiny coach rolls along, pulled by two chestnut horses between deep cliffs and ridges that eventually flatten out into a gold and tan expanse. You can see for miles ahead of you, but mostly all you see are cactus, juniper, and sagebrush all around.

Sitting on top of the coach is Rook Alderghast, a man who worked the night patrol in the worst part of town for the city watch. This is where he met Fenhari, the man who sits beside him on top of the coach. Fenhari was the first to know. His old friend, Asmyn and wife Sylma had lost their only son, practically still a baby. A boy named Osmond. It was Fenhari who connected Rook and then later Xur'Tual with the hunters who drove the coach. Maya and her two brothers.

Xur'Tual, a paladin, representing the city was almost the last to join the party. He rides ahead on the back of his steed.

The inside of the stagecoach is stuffed with camp supplies, traps and barrels. One barrel contains water, two are empty and one houses a halfling woman named Sophia Sunmeadow. She had her own reasons for joining the group, but so far, she remained completely undiscovered.



The promise of a cool day given by the morning has already proven deceitful as it starts getting hot outside. Quail run from brush to brush as the coach approaches the town of Brothers. The first signs of the town are the crumbled ruins of what was once a schoolhouse and a few houses that seem to have been blown to the ground. Old fence parts, tin cans and glass litter the ground.

Just past this is what remains of the town still in operation. On one side of the road is the Brothers Stagestop. A supply and mercantile/post office with bundles of wood and hand-painted signs promising food and water out front. Behind the Stagestop is Frederick Butte View, a campground with a nice view of Frederick Butte. There is currently a large tent set up in the campground. Across the road from all of this is The Waterin' Hole. A tavern with a couple of rooms up top. There are two donkeys tied up outside of The Waterin' Hole and there is an animal pen beside it.

Beyond this, the road continues into the desert, but it is here that the hunters will finish their journey.

Once we arrive, my brothers and I wish to stop at The Waterin' Hole. There we will fill up our barrels with ale and water our horses. Once it is cooler, we will set up our camp in the park. Where shall we let you out?

"That depends, Maya. Is there law in this town? If so we might want to check in on them and ask a few questions." Rook looks towards his companions and raises an eyebrow. "What do you all think?"

Xur scans the small town. "I agree. I need to touch base with the local guard here, or what passes for one, and let them know we've arrived. Time is of the essence in a kidnapping."

Fenhari answers with a nod. "Then our next stop should be the Waterin' Hole to see what the locals have to say. I'm also interested in hearing about what happened to that schoolhouse."

I have been coming to Brothers every year since I was a child to hunt the deer and elk in the desert with my family, In all of that time, the schoolhouse has always appeared as it does now. My grandmother remembers a time when children still went there, back when she was very young, but I don't know much more beyond that. My guess is that once it fell into disuse, the dessert just swallowed it up. Same with those houses.

If you're looking for law, then Fenhari is correct, you will most likely want to check The Waterin' Hole, but as long as I've been coming, lawmen come and go and it is rarely the same person from one season to the next, the few people who still reside in Brothers mostly just fend for themselves. You may also want to check the post office to see if they've received any news from the east.

Once we pull up the coach next to the animal pens, my brother, Aapo and I will go inside. Hadwin will begin unloading the empty barrels to the side door of the tavern. Rook and Fenhari, If the two of you can assist Hadwin, then we will call your debt even.

Sophia hears the discussions between the people, and she stays hidden until the wagon seems slow enough and that they might be distracted enough for her to slip out. She is dressed as Riley, and she is going to be going around looking for information about the figure with the kid. Investigating, using Thieves' Cant to connect with roguish types in town, eavesdropping, asking questions, etc.

'Happy to help and much obliged for the ride." Rook says to Maya. Rook follows Hadwin and begins to help unload the wagon, with the intention of heading to whatever local law is established at the moment. Gonna have to get me a hat or something if we’re headed into desert… or else the sun’ll boil my brains.’ Rook grumbles to himself.

Fenhari also helps unload the cart. "Hadwin, the scenery is so beautiful around here. I'm surprised the town isn't bigger."

"I'll go on inside and see about getting us a table." Xur dismounts and secures his horse to the hitching post before walking inside the Waterin' Hole.

A small halfling woman slips out the back of the coach undetected, blowing away like just another tumbleweed. When she untucks she has transformed into a human girl. The first thing she notices as she assesses the tiny town, is that there really isn't much to it, the stagestop and camp on one side of the road and The Waterin' Hole on the other. She does however, make a few discoveries upon investigation.

Xur'Tual enters the Waterin Hole. The darkness is in stark contrast to the brightness of the day, and after a moment, his eyes begin to adjust. There are gaps in the wood of the floor, and the bar itself looks like it was made from the back of an old chuck wagon. There are several different livestock brands burnt into the large wooden beam over the bar and plenty of ancient broken farming and ranching equipment as decor. There are two men in dirty clothes sitting at a table to the left playing cards. Maya and Aapo are already inside sitting at the bar talking with the bartender.

Yes the desert is a place of great beauty, but don't let that deceive you, it can also be a very dangerous place. It takes a very special kind of person to make their home here. Many crops won't grow, water is scarce, the beasts, the weather, and not just the heat, the desert can easily become unbearably cold. This is a place of great power, and although many have tried to build this waystation into a town, it seems that so far, the desert has not allowed them to take root.

I will tend to the horses, if you wish to join the others inside.

'Thanks for the ride, Hadwin. Much appreciated.' He will enter the watering hole and approach the bar. 'Not much of a wait for tables, is there?' he nods to Xur'Tual. He elbows up to the bar.'Buy you both a drink?' he says to Maya and Aapo.

Xur walks up to the bar and leans on the counter. "Can someone point me in the direction of who's in charge of this little town, please?"

Fenhari waves to Hadwin as he walks to the Waterin' Hole. "Fare thee well, sir."

Aapo and Maya appreciate the drinks. They give a blessing in Xchiqua.

The bartender charges Rook 1.5 SP and anything you wish to tip. She then looks up and answers Xur'Tual,
Welcome stranger. Our watchman isn't here right now and the owners aren't here, either. So I guess that makes me in charge as long as you're in this place. Now what can I do for you?

"Good afternoon, Ma'am. My name is Xur'Tual and I am a paladin dispatched from Bent Fork to assist in the investigation of the recent kidnapping. I just want to go over any information that has been collected, and see if there have been any other additional leads."

Sophia thinks about the situation. What’s the best way to get these messages to these block-headed tall folks?

She has an idea. She asks someone nearby for a piece of parchment and a plume so that she can draw a pretty picture for her mother. She draws on one side of the parchment a desert with a compass on the bottom, North pointed up, and in the southeast corner, she draws a hut with a bunch of rats and piles of excrement.

On the other side of the parchment (when people pay her less attention), she writes the following message:

There is a safe house in the southeast corner of the desert called ‘rat shit hut’.

Chances are, your kidnapper is headed there.

X

She flourishes the picture of the desert, and puts some creative details into the rats (one of them has a human baby in its arms, and its eyes look devious).

She tells the merchant that gave her the parchment and plume, "Thank you! My mother loves my landscapes!"

She curtsies, and then she thinks, Now, where are those assholes?"

She pulls out a gold coin and then walks up to Xur’Tual, tugs on his elbow, and says, "A guy over there paid me a coin to give this to you.

"Isn’t it pretty and shiny?"

She points to a man walking out of the bar or tavern, and then she thanks Xur’Tael, and walks out.

Xur glances down at the "child" as she runs off and looks over the parchment. "It would seem my patron smiles on me this day."
to the bartender "Thank you for your time, ma'am." he nudges Rook's arm then inclines his head towards the door as it swings shut behind the small girl before starting to follow.

"Ok then… excuse me." Rook breaks off from his conversation and follows Xur. ‘Somebody put ants in his britches, that’s for sure.’ Rook chuckles.
He sees Fenhari enter the bar as they’re about to exit. ‘Better come with us, pard. Something’s afoot.’

What's this about a kidnapping now?

Xur'Tual and Rook follow Sophia outside The Waterin' Hole.
It is like opening an oven door as it is already starting to become the hottest part of the day.
A tumbleweed blows across the road.
On the other side of the road, the man who Sophia pointed out can be seen walking his donkey past the Stage stop and back to the large tent on the campground. He is one of the two men who was playing cards inside a moment ago.

‘What’s up with the tot? What’re we following the kid for?’ Rook asks Xur’Tual. As the wall of heat hits him, Rook winces. ‘Hot as balls out here… Hey, kid! Hold up.’ Maybe the kid was In trouble- must be rough in a hole like this for a nubbin. Rook eyeballs the guy leading his donkey. ’That guy botherin you, Sis?’

Sophia sees the tails, and she runs, dashing and turning corners. She will stop around a specific corner and curl into a ball right next to the unseen part of that corner. If the men continue and try to talk to her, she will stand up and respond with, "Well, y'all are just so damn conspicuous, aren't you? Geez, can't you take the hint that I don't want to be noticed by them large folk? But we oughta get down there. That kid is not safe!"

Xur'Tual grabs Rook's arm and hands him the slip of paper. "She gave me this and ran off."

Fenhari heard both Kahedja and Rook as he entered the bar. Enjoying the respite from the heat, he shouts to Rook, "Be right there!" Then he tells Kahedja, "We are looking a young boy from Bent Fork taken from his parents. Have you heard or seen anything?"

After waiting for a response from Kehadja, Fenhari finds Rook and Xur'Tual.

Rook glances down at the Paladin's gauntlet on his arm. 'You're awful handsy.' He looks over the slip of paper the Paladin handed him.
'Cute. Looks like a babby drew it out of all the readily availabe parchment and writing utensils in this town with no school....'

This is the first I'm hearing about a kidnapping. If they're headed east from Bent Fork, it isn't likely that they would' e stayed here very long, but they might've checked in at the stage stop. You should check and see if they've seen anything if not, you should probably report it.

Fenhari steps outside The Waterin' Hole and onto the small front porch, but does not immediately see the group.

As Fenhari looks for his next destination, he thinks, Xur'Tual and Rook can't be far. I'll find them when I'm done here. The ranger walks to and enters the stage stop.

Since the group of men didn't end up pursuing Sophia enough, she sneaks around a corner and overhears the conversation with Kahedja, and she sneaks over to the stage stop.

After a small bit of confusion, Rook and Xur'Tual approach the man headed to the camp behind the Stage Stop. Back here you see a couple of fire pits spread out and an equal amount of wooden benches still in tact, but rapidly aged by the desert winds and weather. The ground is sandy and peppered with sharp grass and sage brush. The man's camp is under a large Juniper tree twisted and old but giving decent shade. He is hitching his donkey next to two others under the canopy. There are people talking inside the tent. He either hasn't noticed you following him, or he is ignoring you.

Fenhari steps inside The Stage Stop followed by Sophia a moment later. The place is densly packed with shelves and barrels. The shelves have some pretty common low quality goods, but there are a few decent looking knives, traps and water skins for sale. At one end of the shop is a man behind a counter that says Post Office. At the back of the shop is another man, presumably the shopkeeper who watches you enter. Above him, mounted over a door leading to the back is a well used, but impressive axe. There is something written on the handle in Trenash.

Welcome back kid.

Rook calls out to the man with the donkey as he heads towards his camp. "Hey, Mister! Hold up a second- We gotta ask you something." Rook carries his glaive easy on his shoulder and tries to appear casual.

Fenhari was headed to the Postmaster to drop off the letters, changes his mind when he hears Riley's request, then turns and saunters toward the merchant. He says to Riley, "I can help with that, young one. The language is Trenash. I am familiar with it." He tells her what the handle says.

Fenhari translates it to say "Fun-wrecker"

Cooper's demeanor immediately changes to one of delight.
Ah! my Ternashi brother! That's right, if it ever seems like somebody is having a little too much fun in the shop, that's when I grab the old Fun-Wrecker.

Now Then, what can I do for you two?

At the campsite, the man turns from the donkeys towards Rook. He gives a quick glance towards the tent and picks up a wood axe in a manner that is not casual.

What d'you want?

The voices inside stop talking.

Rook glances at Xur’Tal to check his reaction. He whispers to the paladin ‘I hope you know what you’re about.’ The fighter scratches his beard with his free hand. ‘Easy, Pard. We just wanna palaver with you, your kin is welcome to listen in. Can we pull up a stump? Sid down and chew fat? The knight and I are tracking a stolen kid and just looking for the word on the street, so to speak. Can he ask a few questions? I’ll put my pig sticker down if it’ll help- honest I mostly use it for cooking up coneys." Rook tries to seem affable enough but he uses this time to try and suss out what this crew is about.

Fenhari looks at Riley. "Hmm. I am looking for that 'mean man,' too, with the others. The man stole a young boy from Bent Fork. That boy has to go back to his own parents."

He turns to the merchant. "I'd be grateful for anything you can tell me. I'm sure the authorities in the city would be grateful as well."

Then he turns back to Riley. "Little one, this is a task for grown-ups. You need to go home. There is too much danger."

Hmmm... maybe. Do you know anything else about this fella? What's he look like? how he's getting around? anything like that?

Rook: A quick glance around the camp and you see tools, pans and gloves laying around. It appears that they are miners. You heard voices inside the tent, so you know that there are at least two people inside, but it could be holding more.

The man looks from Rook to Xur'Tual, he does not put down the axe and he does not take a seat.
I don't know nothin' about no kid.

‘Uh course you don’t. We know the people that took ‘im are long gone. You’d have to be dumb as dishwater to stay round after takin’ a kid. The Kid was from Bent Fork- little boy, only child…come through the rickets but then got took. His folks are awful broke up about it..’ Rook sticks the blade of his glaive in the dirt then squats. ‘You and your folks, miners are ye? Hard work, that. You seen any strange folks about. Ridin’ through maybe not wantin to be seen so much? One rode a black horse with a white diamond on its forehead, face all rapped in a scarf. Or anything out of the usual- that’d help us... and I’d be much obliged.’ Rook picks a dry weed up from the sandy ground and chews at it. ‘Gotta get me a hat- not used to so much sun, like to boil my brain.’

"I don't know what he looks like. He wore a scarf around his face. If it helps, he is riding a black female horse with a white diamond on her forehead. If he came here, it would've been within the last few days."

Xur'Tual raises an eyebrow at the open hostility. He's hot in the armor, and it's making him a bit irritable. "We're just here looking for information. Would you kindly ask your compatriots to step out here? I'm not much a fan of repeating myself." he unsheathes his greatsword and puts it tip down in the dirt in front of him with his hands on the pommel.

Ya know, now that you mention it, It was evening maybe three days ago, a man wrapped in scarves carrying a bundle stopped here. He strapped the bundle onto his horse and came inside to resupply before riding east from here. Probably woudn't have even noticed the man, but that horse, ... majestic. He wasn't here long, didn't speak much, just got his things and rode on.

The miner looks from Rook to Xur'Tual and considers his options, after a moment he looks back to the tent,

You two better get out here

Two younger men step out of the tent. One is holding a hammer, the other a sword.

You got questions to ask, ask them.

Rook wonders why the paladin would use words that worked at complete cross purposes with his? Maybe just his personality? Some people were just contrary by nature. Or maybe he was playing at good guard/bad guard?- that sometimes works (but a tough sell when you're outnumbered). Rook stands up in any case and removes his glaive from the dirt, holding it at a relaxed but ready manner (like he was taught to do when on patrol). 'HOWDY FELLERS! Hey, any of you seen any strange folks about? Ridin’ through maybe not wantin to be seen so much? One rode a black horse with a white diamond on its forehead, face all uh wrapped in a scarf like he was burnt by acid or somethin. Or anything out of the usual- that’d help us... Like I told this feller here we're trailin a guy who stole a kid out of Bent Fork. Parents are REEL broke up about it. Kid made it through hoof and mouth disease only to get carried off by some hoodlum. Some poor folks lives are just a misery. Anything you could tell us would help.' Rook tried to be optimistic about getting out of this without giving or receiving bodily harm. He generally preferred to be on the giving end of any bodily harm taking place- but could see it going either way as the numbers were in the favor of the miners. He hoped Fenhari was having better luck than they were.

"Thank you, sir. That helps. I appreciate your time. I'll take a bag of biscuits for the journey ahead." He pays the merchant. "By the way, what would be the next settlement east of here?"

If you're planning on going all the way to Burns your gonna need more than a few biscuits. that's got be, what, I reckon 300 miles from here. There is Hampton Station about halfway, but that's even less of a stop than Brothers and there's a pretty good chance nobody's there running it. Make sure you bring plenty of water.

Of course, just before you get to Hampton, there's Old Frederick Road and New Frederick Road. Those both run south into the desert. Not much of a road either one of 'em, but there are a couple of grass farmers and ranchers out that way.

"Hmm. I see there are multiple options which I will want to discuss with my companions. Good day, sir. I will be back if need be."

Fenhari turns to Riley. "I will escort you home first, young man. Where do you and your parents live?"

"Dagnabit! Wait!" Fenhari is visibly embarrassed by his error. "I'm not used to children."

The ranger looks for tracks in the street to see what direction she went.

You definitely find her. She continues the sobbing, and then when he gets close enough, between sniffles she will whisper, "Dammit, man! I am here to help the child, too. This is the hand I was dealt," she gestures from her head to her toes, "so I pretend I am a child so people drop their guard around me.

"Now, help me up, and pretend that you're helping a little girl."

"Uh, there, there, uh, honey." Fenhari's mouth and brain slowly connect. "Up we go. No need to cry. I'll walk you to your, uh, parents." Fenhari realizes he's talking a little too loudly.

The youngest looking of the three (the man with the sword) responds.

I think I maybe seen something like that. What's it worth to ya?

Shut your gawl Dern mouth! You ain't seen nothing.
He turns his attention back on Rook,
We ain't seen nothing, now go away.

As Sophia gets back into character, she sees a man across the road in front of The Waterin' Hole. His jaw is slack and he appears to be staring at the two of you through bleary eyes. As soon as he sees you notice him, he almost falls over, but he catches himelf on the hitching post before turning away from you and going back to unhitiching his donkey from in front of the tavern.

You don't see Rook or Xur'Tual from where you're standing.

"There, there. Of course you can help. Let's walk over to that nice man over there. Maybe he knows something." Fenhari gestures toward the Waterin' Hole with one hand and starts walking.

'YOU shut up, old man- or I'll shove that axe so far up your ass you can cut a tree down with your pecker! Now I tried bein' nice to you boys but you come out here holdin weapons- which where I'm from is a SERIOUS mistake...'Rook looks at Xur'Tal 'Irons? Be a waste of good fuckin metal. We were offered bounty-dead or alive for the kidnappers and anyone aidin' and abettin. Rook looks towards the young man with the sword. Know what that means son, Abettin? Well it means.... AIDIN' Rook spits in the dust. 'You got any information for us you better open up your bone box and let spill!' The fighter growls. "What's it worth to ya" you asked me?" Rook laughs darkly. "I dunno how much a coffin cost in this shithole?"

Looks like you two need a lesson in learning how to take a hint.

Let's git'em boys!

Suits me fine.

'I'll teach you somethin' about learnin'

Elsewhere, Fenhari and Sophia approach the man just as he finishes unhitching his donkey. He is half leaning on and half walking the animal toward the road when you arrive. . .

Waddaya wan?

Xur'Tual lifts his greatsword out of the dirt and readies it with deadly ease that comes from years of training. "I guess smarts don't run in the family."

"If you can help the little girl," Fenhari tells the bleary-eyed man, "I'll buy you a drink for the road."

Junior appears to be unarmed.

He takes a good long stare at "Riley's" face while Fenhari is speaking "You want me to help this .... he takes a pause to scrutinize, little girl?
but then at the offer of another drink
shhhhhure ... I could probably use one more for the road. We ain't leaving till sundown anyhow....

sooooo lemme sheee. Yeah, me and Roy was headed out to the Rat hut and we saw shomebody goin up that new Frederick Road. had to be .... i dunno a thousand country miles away. It's hard to know, that's what they call some of the "desert magic," sometimes you can see farther than a coyote's howl...

He trails off. and then shakes his head as if clearing the fog.

Wait yeah, we seen him, on that horse, that black horse. I mean, I think it was black, I dunno it wassh dark...

he leans in towards Fenhari and whispers conspiratorialy, Now, how about that drink?

I'm gonna ring your bell!

Meanwhile back at the camp, The third man leaps at Xur'Tual swinging a hammer.

I'll get the ugly fella Roy Boy!

Clayton III keeps his sword in hand, but goes for a belly tackle on Rook.

Get Out of MY CAMP!

Clayton Yells stepping between the two fights taking a swing with the wood axe

The ground is rough with grass, and volcanic rock pokes out of it here and there. There is an ashy campfire to your left. The ground is littered with small tools and trash. The three donkeys under the tree ahead of you are beginning to bray and kick as the energy around the camp has become violent. The hot and dusty wind picks up, waving the flap of the massive tent to your right. You are blocked from view to The Waterin' Hole but the sound of Clayton Sr's voice is carried on the wind and anyone outdoors could her him yell.

Xur'Tual bats the hammer away and counter strikes with an overhead swing.

'My mamma told me I was a beaut!" Rook growls as he attempts to avoid being grappled by one of the Claytons.

"You've earned this, pardner. Enjoy. Thanks." Fenhari flips a gold coin to Junior, then turns to Riley. "Maybe my friends found the man. Follow me." Fenhari runs toward the sound of the fighting.

'Throw the towel in, son... You're done for.' the fighter urges.

Fenhari runs around the tent.

Sophia does so, drawing her two daggers as she tumbles to her feet.

What does she see inside the tent?

Clayton the Third spits out a tooth and falls back. blood pours from his mouth.

I give.

Clayton looks down on his grandson, Yer a No good, cowardly sumabitch.

He turns his attention back to Rook.

Now don't try any of that fancy stuff with me. I ain't scared of ya.

It's finally a fair fight and Clayton takes another attack on Rook trying to drive him back into the fire pit.

Roy, with a pretty good idea of where he stands in the pecking order uses his action to disengage without attacking. He is still holding the hammer in front of him, but now it's more like he is hiding behind it.

Now, you just back off me mister. I didn't do nothing. Didn't even hit ya, I was just playing around.

Fenhari, the first thing you see as you come around the back of the tent is the donkeys still acting agitated and tied up in the juniper tree, the next thing you see is the scene as described. You arrive from behind Roy and Clayton, their backs are turned and so far no one has noticed you.

'You learn quick, kid- there's hope yet for ye. Stay down!' Rook looks over to the old man wielding the axe. 'Listen you old coot- you ain't got the sense the gods gave a billy goat. Drop that axe while you can!

Rook cleans the old man's clock knocking him unconcious and out of the fight.

"That just leaves you, Roy. I suggest you put the hammer on the ground and we have a little chat." Xur moves towards Roy and readies his sword for another strike if the man doesn't stand down.

Roy has a long good think about dying and finally tosses the hammer to the ground.

What do you fellas want?

"To put it plainly, answers. You fellas seem to know more than you're letting on, and we want to know what that is." Xur kicks the hammer away and lowers his sword.

You gotta understand mister, my grandpa, he's from a different generation. Don't believe in talkin' bout other people's business. I'm not like that. I'll talk. I'll tell you everything I know.

Me and my pa came out here and went up Old Frederick Road, east of here. We rode way out to uh ... to a place that we stop sometimes. Anyways my dad tells me he got this theory you could get out to New Fred Road by travellin east cross the open desert. I tell him that's crazy, he tells me "lemme show you boy." so we ride out in the desert. Sure enough we didn't have to go too far before we could at least see the road. Well, not the road per se, but we saw a dude on a horse ridin' up it. Wouldnna even seen the road if it hadn't been for that horse, and boy could that thing move.

Way we figured, he musta just come out of the crack in the ground, but in all the years I've been coming out here with my old man we ain't never seen nobody go out that way, nobody that ever come back anyhow.

It has to be your guy, I'm almost sure, no, I'm certain, He definitely was holding a little baby. I never thought it, but now you say it, I know you're right, there he was ridin that horse, holdin that baby.

That's it. I told you everything I know, we didn't do nothing wrong, now just leave us alone already.

Whoo, boy Roy… Do I have questions. First, what’s the ‘place that you stop sometime’? Place got a name? Whaddy’all stop there for? Rook scratches his beard. Is there a road or isn’t there a road? And whaddya mean the guy rode up out of a crack in the ground? And the horse, Roy? What was so special about it? What did it look like? Rook sighs deep I get the sense that you’re just tellin us what we want to hear, Roy? You wouldn’t do that, would ya?

"As a show of thanks for your cooperation. I'll give you some assistance." Xur sheathes his sword and puts on hand on old man Clayton and one on Clayton the 3rd. He closes his eyes for a moment then his hands flash briefly. "There, that ought to help you on your recovery."

Keep it steady, everyone. No more trouble. Fenhari is standing silently behind the man called Roy. He is holding his spear two-handed as he would a quarterstaff. He listens to his companions and the frontier folk while he observes the donkeys.

Sophia comes out of the tent and says in her normal voice, "Man! I missed the fun!"

With a disappointed look on her face, she sheathes her daggers and walks up behind Fenhari.

You boys don't come out this way too much do ya?
He draws a map in the dirt.

Place don't really got a name, we just call it... he lowers his voice so that Grandpa don't hear, the rat shit hut, old house, homesteaders? I dunno it's probably 100 years old, anyways, it's a place we stay when we're out in the desert ... mining

Well my pa tells me he wants to explore the south side of the Crack in the Ground, but it's too dangerous to just go through it, so he gets the smart idea that we can just come in on the other side. by going up Old Frederick and cutting over. Now Old Fred Road doesn't get a lot of use, and New Fred gets even less, so I mean technically it is a road, but in reality, it's more of a, "suggestion. So when I say we couldn't see the road, it's because we were pretty far away, and the road isn't very well defined, so the only way we knew we was lookin' at it is because we saw somebody ridin' a horse on the other-side of the Crack, headed South. As far as the horse, all we could tell is that it was large and it was movin' fast. Oh, and it was black. We could tell that much. As far as the rider, well, it was pretty far away, so I couldn't see much of him, but I'm positive that he musta had that little baby.

At the very least, Roy seems to have convinced himself that he saw your guy.

TARNATION!

Clayton Sr's eyes pop open with the healing touch.

With the tension calming down again, the donkeys appear to have gone from agitated to merely restless.

Well, stat seems like something we can use. Apologies for the scuffle, gentlemen.' Rook looks over to Fenhari 'What's with the kid? We startin a home for wayward souls out here in the dustbin?'

"This, uh, little girl wants to help. I ran into her at the general store." Fenhari looks at the Claytons scattered about their camp. "Let's talk about it in private. I have to drop some letters at the post office. Care to mosey that way?"

’Sure, sure kid. Ain’t your mammy lookin for ye?’ Rook says, glancing at the ‘child’. Kids no bigger’n a corn nubbin. Should be at his mams skirt, Rook thinks to himself.

Clayton the Third and Roy immediately go back into the tent as soon as the group walk away, but Old Man Clayton, licking his wounds, keeps his eye on them until they disappear from view.

As the group approaches the Stage Stop entrance, you see Junior's donkey rehitched in front of the Waterin' Hole across the street.

Inside, Maya's brother, Hadwin is engaged in conversation with Cooper, gathering supplies for purchase. The Postmaster sits behind the desk at the opposite end.

What kin I do ya fer?

'Howdy Mister. I got two letter from Bent Fork posted to Brothers. Here you go.' Rook hands the two letters over to the Postmaster.

"This one's from Bent Fork, too." Fenhari slides the letter across the counter. "Quick question, sir, if you don't mind. How far is it from here to New Frederick Road?"

The postmaster pays you each 5sp per letter.

You fellas from Bent Fork? You happen to see this man?

He pulls a Wanted poster off the wall behind him. On it is an artist's sketch of a man mostly wrapped in scarves under a low brimmed hat. Enough of his face is revealed to show a swarthy complexion, thick eyebrows and a mole on the right side of his face next to the bridge of his nose. Last seen riding a black horse with a small child. There is also a drawing of the baby swaddled in a patterned textile, his head poking out of the top with thick curly hair.

We just got this from our carrier coming from Burns, says he saw him headed up towards the Crack in the Ground just two days ago.

"So we are two days behind. Hopefully that's enough time to catch up before we lose the child." Xur'Tual ponders out loud, but mostly to himself.

Fenhari says to the postmaster, "We haven't seen him, but we are looking for him. Can you tell us anything about this Crack in the Ground? It looks like that's where we need to go."

’Guess we’re gonna have to pull this guy outta the crack…’

What is there to say about the crack in the ground? I can tell you this, it wasn't there back when I was delivering letters. Nobody knows where it came from. In fact, New Frederick Road wasn't there either. Don't know where it goes, most people I know just avoid it.

Hadwin approaches the group.
Hello again, my siblings and I were talking, and we decided that we wanted to support your effort to bring the child back unharmed. If you promise to bring them back to us, we would like to offer our horses to you. Their names are Chestnut and Buddy. They are sturdy and they know how to listen. Those are from my brother and my sister. I would like to give this to you.

He hands a small quail trap to Fenhari.
That is my contribution. so that you may eat while you are on your journey.

'What's so dangerous about New Frederick Road?' Rook asks, tucking the silver pieces into his coin pouch.

Its not the road thats dangerous, it's the fact that it goes through the crack. It's just not a place you want to be. Who knows what kind of animals might be down there, not to mention...our carriers they say it gives you sort of a ... I mean I don't know if you fellas believe in any of this sort of thing, but it just gives you a bad feeling. One of our guys said he could hear voices coming out of it.

Plus if you wanted to go South through the desert, you just use Old Frederick Road. There ain't nothing out that way anyhow.

Rook turns to Hadwin. 'Much obliged to you and yours, Hadwin. I know those horses are your livelihood. We mean to get this kid back- and lending us your horses would be a boon. I was thinkin' of 'borrowing' one of the Claytons burros but... We'll take good care of them and return them to you. Thank ye, Sir.' Rook looks around at his companions. 'So when do we light out?'

"I say as soon as possible."

Excellent, you can meet me at the stables next to the Waterin' Hole whenever you're ready to leave.

Hadwin leaves

'We should gear up before we hit the road. Don't wanna be caught out there without supplies.' Rook says. 'Fenhari you got any recommendations about what we should bring, you being a hunter and all?'

"Some cave in the middle of nowhere seems a good place to hole up if you're up to no good. Make some rumors that make folks think it's haunted and no one comes knockin. Let's get no more than we need and get moving."

Sophia keeps quiet, and follows along with the big men.

"I am used to the harshness of the desert, not caves. Besides extra water and food, make sure you have spare torches or a lantern. I have a few gold to spare if anyone needs it."

Fenhari buys a hooded lantern (5 gp), a healer's kit (5 gp), a crowbar, (2 gp), 2 full waterskins (4 sp), 6 flasks of oil (6 sp), 5 torches (5 cp), 10 pitons (50 cp), a piece of chalk (1 cp), and a candle (1 cp).

Cooper sells you all of the items and accepts your offer on everything.
All great choices. You've selected my finest waterskins. That's real sheepskin ya know. make em myself.

At a loss for what to get, Rook takes stock of what Fenhari buys. he will get a hooded lantern, 2 full waterskins, 6 flasks of oil, 5 torches, 10 pitons, chalk, a candle and some string. He'll also ask about a hat and a poncho for sale.

Cooper directs you to a rack of different patterned textiles in a variety of colors.
I have ponchos for 1 gp,
he then directs you towards a display of hats running above the rack.
These range from 5 to 15gp.
The less expensive hats are very nice but plain the 10 gp hats are lined and double stitched with a hatband and the most expensive hats look like something you might see at a rodeo or a parade many with different decorative elements like embroidered floral designs or extra wide woven bands with buckles.

Tell you what pardner, just make it an even 18GP and i'll throw in this little packet of hand-rolled cigars
He gives you a packet with 5 tightly rolled cigars of very dark colored tobacco.

Rook smiles and gives the merchant a nod 'Much appreciated, Sir.' He looks at his companions then jerks a thumb at 'Riley'. In a much lower voice says 'So... we're takin' the kid with us?'. He means the comment to be a question but he clearly doesn't understand why they would do that.

Fenhari's voice matches Rook's in volume. "Yes. We'll explain outside."

Then he adds a simple tan hat (5 gp) to his purchases and exits the store.

As the adventurers exit the stage stop and step back onto the dusty road. They see Roy and Clayton Junior standing in front of The Waterin' Hole engaged in conversation. Roy is doing all the talking and Clayton Junior looks like he's getting angrier and angrier.

Which onnea you fellas whooped my pa?! hic! I'm callin' you out!

‘That’d be me. You can call out whatever whyfore you want, Son. Yer drunk and I’d advise you to sleep it off afore you hurt yourself.’ Rook growls, spitting in the dust of the street. He separates from his companions, never taking his eyes off of Clayton Jr. Standing in the middle of the open street he says ‘Your move, Son.’

Dangit Dad! You're Jangled! I told you this weren't no frolic. Them boys fight like hellcats.

Hmmm... Well, you're lucky my boy is here. Maybe you fellers better just mosey along now.

The adventurers arrive at the stables just after high noon. Inside the entryway is a cubby full of grooming supplies and tack for the horses. The paladin's horse and Maya's two horses are waiting for them in the first three stalls. There is a slim gray horse in the fourth stall. Maya is here. She is brushing one of the horses.

Fenhari walks up to Maya. "I wanted to personally thank you, Aapo, and Hadwin for lending us your horses. This town is certainly generous. Even this young girl wants to help us." He gestures to Riley.

"Have you heard anything about this crack in the ground? Does anyone know what's down there?"

'Sure that's not a boy, pardner? Looks kinda boyish...' Rook sighs. He echoes Fenhari's thanks to Aapo and her kin.

What I can tell you about that part of the desert is mostly knowledge given to me from my Grandmothers. Before The Crack in the Ground appeared, there was no New Frederick Road. That whole area belonged to the Choitll people. My people, the Xchiqua have a long relationship with the Choitll.
The first Xchiqua was a Great Cat called Q'Qeqchi. She wandered the entirety of the Earth and when she came into the desert she encountered the Coyote, this was the first Choitll.
Q'Qeqchi was a hunter so she stalked the coyote into the desert. The coyote was very smart and knew that he was being followed, so he tried to lose her in the darkness, that was when Q'qeqchi took a mighty handful of sand and threw it into the sky creating the stars and the moon that light up the desert at night. So now, coyote tried to confuse her by twisting the earth and the trees and the stars in the sky, making them turn slowly around trying to make her lose her way. Q'Qeqchi became so angry that she threw a giant boulder into the sky. This became the sun and suddenly the whole desert was lit up. Energized by the sun she chased coyote into a small cave. She had him backed into a corner. So Coyote fought for his life. This fight should have been easy for Q'Qeqchi, but every time she tore coyote with her claws, Coyote would give a howl and the hair and blood would turn into another coyote who she would also fight turning into even more coyotes. Pretty soon she was surrounded and if it had not been for her incredible speed, she would have surely been devoured.

Today we have the memories of this encounter and we do not wander into their territory without good reason.

'So my guess is the Choitll don't care for visitors? Or would they be able to help us find this kid?' Rook asks.

For the most part, you are correct, they are very territorial. They are also rarely seen. And if you do see one, there are most likely many more nearby.

"I wonder how that tale sounds from the other side. Mayhaps we'll find out at some point." Xur'Tual sets to saddling his horse.

"Hadwin, what's the palomino's name? Great markings. My father had as similar horse a long time ago." Fenhari pats the neck of the palamino and secures its saddle and bridle. "By the way, are you saying the Choitll are shape shifters?"

'Sturdy and dependable- a fine animal.' Rook says admiring the borrowed horse. 'What are their names?' He asks the siblings.

All people are descendants from the Animals Fenhari, even yours. The Coyote likes to play tricks, which may include changing shapes and it wouldn't surprise me if some Choitll still had this knowledge.

about the brown one, That one is called Etcchupil and the other is Milpa,
in common language Etcchupil means Friend and Milpa is the name of the light golden grass.

But they will respond to any name you would like to give them, as long as they know that you are issuing a command.

And what about the girl? Will she ride with one of you?

Sophia tugs on Fenhari's arm and says, "Mind if I join you on your horse?"

At the mention of shape changers Rook makes a sign with his hands to ward off evil. 'Shifters and devils and piskies... Just plain unnatural.' Rook glances at the boy? Girl? (hard to tell). They hadn't talked about the tot joining them and it made no sense to the man why they'd bring a child into harms way. Rook tried to ask Fenhari about the tyke but was interrupted. He looks directly at Riley/Sophia. 'What's a kiddiewink like you wantin' to come on this business for? We could all get hurt or mebbe put in the dead book out there. It ain't no place for you.'

Sophia tugs Rook to the side, away from prying ears, and she says to the man, "Listen, man, I'm not a kid, okay? I'm here to help find the kid. But I have an alternative skillset than you or your posy, which will help us in distracting the enemy and securing the child.

"Please nod if you understand."

Rook looks down at the child and slowly blinks. You can almost hear the rusty gears turning in his head- and then he nods and smiles. 'Shoulda had a schoolhouse in this damn town a long time ago. Crumbsnatchers is all batshit...' The fighter turns toward the companions. 'Guess we're headin out.'

Fenhari answers Sophia, "Sure. I can't have you riding alone."

Then waits for Sophia and Rook's discussion to end tips his hat to Maya. "Thanks again. Wish us luck."

Hadwin opens the gate to release horse and rider from the stables. Maya offers to assist anyone who might need help mounting their horse.

Sophia hops on.

Fenhari whispers into the horse's ear as he mounts the palamino. "We're in this together. Trust me. I trust you." He doesn't ask for help in case any locals are watching.

The horse's nostrils flare and he shakes his head, whinnying fiercely and backing away. The ranger holds the reins and tries to calm the horse. "What? What is it?" Easy. Easy."

I'm sorry, but for some reason, Etcchupil doesn't seem to like you. I can't help you with a mule. Perhaps you should trade places with Riley?

Uhhh- if you think that’d be best? Rook shrugs, embarrassed but willing to move forward whatever way he can.

Meanwhile Fenhari is struggling to control the palomino.

Fenhari grips the reins more tightly with both hands. "Maybe we should trade horses!"

Xur'Tual mounts up and casually guides his horse out.

Rook will ask Maya for help again to see if he could mount his horse. He studies how fluidly Xur'Tual rose in the stirrups and again tries to get Etcchupil under control. 'Nice horse- I'm light... it'd be like carryin' a feather'

Sophie and Fenhari hang on to the Palomino as she begins to kick and buck in the stable. Hadwin runs over to help to try and calm the horse.

Woah, Milpa, Shhhhh ch ch ch chh ch

As Rook steps into the stirrup his horse attempts to reject him yet again. From the ground, Maya holds firm on the reigns restricting the horse's movement preventing him from also becoming agitated. She looks worried watching Milpa, as she maintains control of Ettchupil.

I've never seen them behave like this.

Fenhari pulls on the reins. "Whoa, Milpa. Steady."

Fenhari finally has Milpa under his control and Riley hangs on.

Rook. I'm going to try walking Ettchupil outside. Once we get through the gate, I'll hand you the reigns Okay?. Maybe if you walk her a little bit, she will begin to trust you.

Maybe if you gave her a treat. She likes sweet things.

Xur'Tual pokes his head back in. "You ladies coming, or am I flying solo?"

Fenhari pats Milpa on the neck. "Right behind you, Xur'Tual."

Rook holds out some hay towards the angry horse to sweeten the pot. 'Ladies? Says the guy wearing a breastplate' the fighter snorts. He was thinking of renaming this horse something else. 'Callin you Surly from now on...'

Xur'Tual looks down at his armor and shakes his head as he steps out again. "Can't even tell chainmail from a breast plate. Must've hit himself in the head one too many times with that stick of his."

As the hot sun finally begins it's slow descent and the clouds have just begun to provide infrequent but welcome respite from the heat, our foursome begin their journey eastward and away from the Town of Brothers.