Chapter 2: Winnowing Reach

As the party goes through the final miles to get to Winnowing Reach the land becomes swampy but wooded. The air thicker with the smell of moss and humidity. The town you enter is of typical Humblewood design, mainly built around a grouping of trees with structures built in them, though you still see some structures built on the ground as well. Everything is accessible for Humblefolk and the townsfolk is a healthy mix of all people of the wood.

As you enter the town Eliza breaks off from the group with a smile "Have a rest," Eliza says. "You are going to need it for when you escort me to Alderheart."/b] And with a wink she heads off and sets up her cart in the middle of town.

[b]"Come find me when you are ready to head north" she calls out as she walks away.What do you do?

We're to find her, when she's the one that needs us as escort? Leif shook his head, but dismissed her out of mind as he motioned to Charun. "Come on, luma, we'll need you if we're to have any chance of the Magistrate listening to us." With that, he headed northeast towards the Magistrate's office.

Not keen on standing before some presumptuous high and mighty birdfolk, Sherry sets her arms on her hips and shakes her head. "Necessary, but not for me." she states confidently. "You please do that."

Instead, she suggests selling the treasures they've captured and some asking around. Happen some current rumors haven't reached the groups — sometimes pointy — ears yet.

Not that you don't cross each other's way in such a small village, but the mapach girl suggests meeting later at Wrangler's Rest, where they would probably spend the night.

"If anyone wants to accompany me, feel welcome." she suggests, open to every possibility and combination of people.

Charun recalls that Winnowing Reach is a minor perch so it should have some Perch Guard presence but these stations often have quick rotations so hard to say if you know anyone.

As they approach the Magistrate's Office and Town Gaol he looks for any of the guard but focuses on reaching the magistrate as quickly as possible. He would like to consult with both but prioritizes the civil leader first.

Charun would notice that the guard in the town is pretty sparse, sparser than he would expect or would have seen in previous time spent in Winnowing Reach.

The Magistrate's Office might be the exception to this, with two guard at the base of the tree and two more on the outer balconies patrolling back and forth.

Chain calls out as he nears the base of the office We come with important information from Meadowfen for the Magistrate and must see him immediately.

Scylla has just begun a journey of discovery. The local library has been entirely read and she feels more information must be added to the knowledge of the population. Her notebooks are filled with empty pages ready for notes, plant samples, and drawings of various creatures. She’s been traveling from the south and in one of her stops she came across a young Corvum named Kenna who was researching slime, they were traveling into the Mokk Fields and gave you a letter to deliver to the Magistrate of Winnowing Reach.

She arrives outside the magistrate’s office to find a small crowd of people seeking to see them. A Luma and a mouse all seek entry even as Scylla arrives with her own request. "Oh, hello there. I have a letter that needs to be delivered to the magistrate as well. I see this might be a bad time. Should I return later?"

One of the guards at the entrance to the offices looks up the level above him and waves at the guards above. Without saying a word, he then stands back at attention

After some time the group sees a middle-aged Kindled Corvum with drab black feathers steps out of the building above and begins to descend down the stairs. He is wearing fine clothing that doesn't fit into the more dreary look of the town and swampy region.

What is it that requires attention? he says as he steps down the stairs before stopping suddenly and looking at the group below. Strangers? Hmmm. I will take audience of the matters at hand. Go along speak.

Ashbarrow has been consumed by flame. Meadowfen is sending us to Alderheart to inform them of the risk of the Scorched Grove expanding and calls for support. Meadowfen has taken on some refugees and there are reports of bandits taking advantage of the situation to loot Ashbarrow as it's people. The guard of Meadowfen took gravy lists from the fire and bandits.

Meadowfen asks you to aid them as well and help us to ensure this information reaches the Birdfolk Council as quickly as possible. We bear a letter from Ardwyn to attest too this things.

Leif was quiet during the walk to the Magister's office, though his heart was surely drumming. This was it, a part of his first quest completed. He'd received a blessing from an Amaranthine, and already encountered bandits, certainly it must be a quest. He ought to have joined Sherry and found himself a bard to record his tales. This was an epic in the making!

He shook his head out of the clouds. Charun was speaking to the Magister--and there was a vulpin now. Where'd she come from? He needed to pay more attention to reality and less on his dreams. He side-eyed her, but otherwise stayed quiet and awaited to see if Charun's words will have any effect on the Magister.

The Magistrate looks at Charun thoughtfully, then to the Syclla he raises an eyebrow.

And you?

She listens with concern to the Luma’s tale she plans on talking with them later just to hear more. She looks up when addressed and says, "A fellow scholar had a letter they asked me to deliver since I was heading this way anyway. I certainly don’t want to get in the way of helping out against the Scorched Grove though. We artic Vulpin don’t like fire much."

The Magistrate snatches the letter and opens it. While he reads it his face goes from curiosity, to shock to concern. He stops...sighs and begins to speak.

My job as Magistrateis to take care of the people of the Reach. It does seem like both matters benefit that goal.

I will write to the Birdfolk Council in Alderheart for you, but in exchange I wish for you to help take care of the matters this letter has alerted me. Our chief slimw researcher has gotten herself into a little trouble. Could you please fet h her for me? She should be in the Mokk Den Caverns just to the East. You do this and you will have your letter

Charun is disappointed at the lack of support that costs the magistrate nothing. Glancing to Leif before commiting he asks

I thought the Mokkden caverns were to the south-west, beyond Meadowfen? Are there other opening east of here? While I do not mind helping we are in a hurry

"Mokkden Caverns? That's two days we'll lose to get there, another two days to get back here, and however long it takes to finally reach Alderheart. Meadowfen could be in flames by then. Is this researcher so important that she's worth jeopardizing an entire town for?" Leif asked the Magister. He was not happy, and it's taking all his concentration to keep his focus.

I am more co cerned about the researcher than the research. She is the life blood of the slime industry here and if she is lost, our town will fall on hard times.

Moving his hood a little lower, Hurin steps forward to address the magistrate.

"I have to agree with my companions we are in a rush to support Meadowfen. When you say a "little trouble", what exactly can we expect in the caverns besides the obvious slime? I assume a researcher knows the risks of the slime industry and plans accordingly. I'm concerned about what my companions and I may be walking in to."