Chapter 1: Into Haranshire

Aldeera greets the Squire with a handshake. "Aldeera," she says by way of introduction. "I must say that we had a devil of a time getting it here. There was a group of bandits on the road that nearly bested us, but in the end, we routed them."

Hanzel, leaning on his staff, nods. "Yeah, most of them were posing as ordinary farmers so they could ambush people." He gives Marlen a smile. "I'm Hanzel, by the way."

Squire Marlen leads you past the door and another guard that was posted behind it, on the inside of the house, as you introduce yourselves. The corridor looks clean but rather bare, occupied but not exactly lived in. The "office" isn't any better, a small, spartan room with a basic desk and chair, a couple of stools and some filing cabinets that seem to be packed floor to roof with scrolls. Clearly this is a one man workspace, maybe able to accommodate a visitor or two, but between all of you, with weapons and backpacks, it feels pretty cramped.

"Bandits, you say? Yes, well, it's not unusual round these parts, but they usually attack merchant caravans, or maybe the odd mining transport. Why would they attack you? Must have been some prize you were carrying for the wizard, no? And where exactly did that happen? Authority in Haranshire is divided between two noble families, so depends on whose land they're stirring up trouble. And what about the rest of you, then?"

"I'm Almadel. These here are Devon and Caradoc."

"They attacked us because they must," spits out Umbar. "We had a box and we had clothes and food. By their nature, they had to attack us and try to take them. For had they not, would they have been bandits?"

He blinks, suddenly seemingly embarrassed by his waxing poetic. "Umbar."

Devon had not been with the group during their previous attack, so he stood waiting for the others to answer the man's questions.

Marlen takes the document and carries on talking as he's going through it.

"Yes, well, I suppose unless this happened in eastern Haranshire, it's a Carman family problem. Well, your document seems to be in proper order, so I'll just head on out to my vault and bring you your cash reward. Stay here, I'll be back in a jiffy."

With that, Squire Marlen scurries between you with what you're starting to notice is a funny gait he's got. A guard outside the room keeps watch over you and indeed, several moments later, Squire Marlen returns with a hefty pouch that he hands to you. "Job well done and all that. Now, be on your way then."

The warrior looked at Squire Marlen. "Sir, one other matter related to bandits. The wizard's apprentice appears to have gone missing. We are going to be searching for her presently. Are there any reports of other kidnappings in the area or established groups who might want to abduct a young wizard?"

Squire Marlen looks at Devon with interest upon hearing the news of the apprentice's disappearance. There's more curiosity than worry in his face though, as if he's interested in the gossip rather than distraught at getting bad news.

"Missing? Well, that's not good then. Haranshire isn't without its dangers, but none jumps to mind immediately, nothing as organized enough to pull off such an act, at least. There's beasties in the woods, but they're kept in check, too wild anyway. We've had some issues with lizardmen from the Shrieken Mire down south, but it's been over two decades since they were defeated and scattered. I suppose there might be something dwelling in the mines to the West, but they're all well used and well defended far as I'm aware. Should you, however, discover something about this disappearance, do let me know without delay!"

The gnome perks up at the mention of mines. Beasties lived in those, and gems. His nose twitches as he unconsciously tries to pick up a scent of something opaque and glittering.

"What say you about the mines? What do the soldiers think lurks within?"

"Oh I wouldn't know, Thurmaster folks are more into farming, raising animals and logging, maybe the occasional river boating. The mines are off in the northwest of Haranshire, it's the Carmans who run them so you'd have to ask miners in Milborne. I don't know anything specific, I'm just assuming something might live there, as things tend to do underground. I'm also assuming it's contained enough for the mines to remain operational, else word would have reached Thurmaster."

Hanzel tries to recall anyone or anything from the woods that might do something like this. He doesn't think so; while there are a few forest creatures known to capture humans, he doubts they'd venture that far from the woods to do so.

Hanzel more or less reaches the same conclusion as Squire Marlen, any beasts in the wood are probably too wild and disorganised to do something like this.

"Thank you, Squire, for your payment and the information, but I think that we should be off to see if we can find the maiden."

28th of Readying (Spring), 576 CY
After wrapping things up with Squire Marlen, you begin your trek back West. Judging from Tauster's information about where Kuiper's place should be, you estimate a sunset arrival. However, after a brief meeting between party members, Almadel reviews his decision;it is actually Umbar that shall stay behind in Thurmaster after all.
Marching out along the Churnett river, you find that without Umbar around, you no longer need to keep a relaxed pace in order to match his. In fact, you're able to move at almost twice your previous speed: it's high noon when you make it to the general area that you camped two nights ago and through a combination of sunny weather and faster marching, you realize how the soft spring breeze feels chilly on your sweaty foreheads. After a short break, you set out to scan the surrounding area and within half an hour or so, locate your target: a small hut with a few animals around and in front of it a tall, shirtless, strongly built man in his late twenties chopping firewood on a log with confident swings of his woodsman's axe. As you approach, he stops and shields his eyes from the sun to have a look at you, then waves a hand in the air.

"Hello, travelers! Bit off the road, you are. Got lost?"

"Not lost, no," Hanzel says amiably as he approaches the woodsman. "We're looking for a fellow by the name of Kuiper, actually. Would that happen to be you, by any chance?"

"That would indeed be me!" the man says in a joyous tone, as he puts down the axe and approaches your group, offering Hanzel (and anyone else who'll take it) a rather firm handshake. "Welcome to my humble estate. You seem like the adventurous sort of folks, what's got you looking for me then?"