Tauster looks at the chest when Pip points it out. "Oh yes everything looks to be in order."
Tauster then takes a small vial from his pouch and drops a single drop of mercury into the air before him. Waving his hands and saying a few arcane words the drop of mercury is suspended in the air. As he hovers his hands over it it spreads out to form a shimmering floating disk.
"Ah yes, you can place the chest on the disk. Once I have it firmly locked away inside then I will sign your paperwork, I am sure you would like to get paid for your troubles." he says and then after an awkward pause he adds "Er, well, I suppose since you've come all this way you'll be expecting some hospitality then?"
"I reckon I could pay for a meal for you over at the Hound and Tails when we are done here."
When Alex brings up the possibility that they are delivering the chest to the wrong wizard Tauster shrugs him off "Well I appear to be the only wizard around do I not?" he then points to the tower "Obviously the only tower within sight. Do I not look the part young one?"
When Faey mentions troubles along the road Tauster seems troubled "I do hope that all of you made it without much trouble, I did pay extra well for this delivery from Gordrenn did I not? It is an awful long way to bring spell components I know but I don't imagine you found any hidden magic shops along the way did you? Waterdeep is the closest place to acquire such things way out here." then lowering his voice to a whisper adds "The folks out here are ind of backwards and don't take to magic to well. I kind of like it here. People tend to keep to themselves."
He then opens the door on the tower and you get a peek inside. You can see past the door and the ground floor of the tower is covered with lumber and junk as if it has not been used since being built. As soon as Tauster sets the chest down he comes back out and closes the door and says some words as the sigil on the door flares again.
"Safe and sound. Now where are those papers?"
Current Map: Link To Map of Thurmaster
The waitress tells Wolfgang to wait as she heads for the kitchen, when she returns she has a not to appetizing looking mutton pie in one hand and a rather foul smelling bone in the other, the bone has some dark places on it like it has been around a while too long.
"Here yo' hoof it honey. One mutoon pie fo' yo' an' one bone fo' yer pooch. Thet will be 2 silvah please."
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Wolfgang opens his mouth to say that he didn't want a pie, but did order just an ale...but he senses that such difficult bistro math might overtax the poor creature's facilities, so he just hands over two silver coins and tucks into the pie.
He bends down and pets the dog's head. "Well, I know that might not be the most savory bone you've ever suck teeth in to, but at least you did not have to fight it's previous owner for the privilege. The next beast we slay I promise to save you something still red and dripping, eh?"
"Here you go." Pip brings out the papers from his pack, or, if back at the wagon, he asks Jelly to fetch them.
Once the paperwork is done, Erdann lets out a small sigh of relief.
Tauster takes the papers and looks them over and then turning to the blank page in the back of the contract he waves his hand and writting appears which seems to be another copy of the contract, Tauster looks up from the paper when he notices everyone looking at him "To prevent forgeries..."
He goes on through the document and then more than happily countersigns the document.
"Squire Marlen will be happy to exchange the document for hard coin. He is the local representative for Count Parlfray here in the village." and with that he points you in the direction of the squire's house. "I will send word that you are to have a meal on me at the Hound and Tails, but beware the mutton pies they can make a man aweful sick in the bowel if you know what I mean."
"Well thanks again for the delivery. Will there be anything else?"
Current Map: Link To Map of Thurmaster
Wolfgang eats his mutton pie and gives his new best friend the bone. After eating the pie Wolfgang doesn't feel so well and even the dog is whimpering.
Wolfgang food poisoning chance. Only on a 1.
Dog food poisoning chance. Only on a 1.
"Well I am kind of retired, so I don't have much work to be done. Other than tending to the garden and such. We ll there is the matter of my apprentice who is currently visiting her family in Milborne. She is due back next week to continue her studies here. I guess I could have you fetch her for me, so she doesn't have to travel alone. "
"The girl Jelenneth?" Faey asks Tauster, "She is possibly missing. We were tasked with checking in with you, to see if she had come back early, and I presume that means she did not."
"It is strange, her lover said she had not said goodbye."
Current Map: Link To Map of Thurmaster
Tauster looks somewhat pale at hearing the news of his apprentice being missing. "I never wanted to take on 'the girl' as an apprentice, and only her sheer determination made me do so. However, I was impressed by her willingness to learn and I came to have a soft spot for her, thinking of her almost as a grandchild. To learn that she is missing worries me considerably. I have not seen Jelenneth since she left for Milborne just over two weeks ago; she was due to return from her family and resume her studies during the coming week. I am at a loss to know where she may be."
He then interjects "Not lover my boy, a fiancee' there is a difference."
"Are you suggesting that the farmboy was an arranged marriage?"
"That's odd. We'll take a look around, maybe ask a few questions."
"No, I do not believe their relationship to have been arranged. I don't think her father liked the boy that well." he says
"No secret life, you my friend have been reading to many books on the subject I believe, she was simple, no complicated by much. I may have an idea on where to start looking and a offer for all of you. Once you take care of your business with Squire Marlen and settle up that contract, then I will meet you at the Hound and Tails and we shall discuss more." he adds.
"Sure, let's get the paperwork out of the way and hear that offer."
Faey motions for her companions to Squire Marlen.
Once on the way she says, "I've no pressing concerns back in Waterdeep," Quite the opposite, in point of fact... "So I propose we stick around these parts and help find this Jelenneth girl. What say you all?"
"As long as I can afford to eat, I don't mind."
After receiving your signed document you head for the house that the wizard pointed to and head in that direction. The house is probably one of the nicest in town, a small mansion really. As you knock on the door a guard answers and upon making your request shows you into a sitting room and you are told to wait. Soon Squire Marlen enters.
He is an old, rake-thin man with a beak of a nose, beady eyes, and a whiningly ingratiating manner. His hands are palsied
and he has a high-pitched voice, and a long legged, uneven gait.
"I am Squire Marlen, what possible business could you strangers have with me." he huffs.
"Are you needing to pay a fine perhaps? Or your taxes?" he adds as he looks over the group.
"Or perhaps you want to open a banking account to the wonderful bank of Thurmaster. Which is me." he groans.
"State your business or get the hell out!" he says as he takes a seat behind a desk.
The Slice motions for the paperwork to be presented.
"I don't let my father talk to me like that, muchless some twerp that I just met. Now take care of this, before I get angry. Just give us what is due, and we'll be out of your way so you can get on to your duties".
Pip is barely containing his laughter at The Slice's way of dealing with people of influence.
Faey starts to reply to the squire when The Slice speaks his piece. She turns to her companion, mouth open, then back to Marlen. "I suppose that's one way to conduct this."
Erdann remains silent on the matter. While his companion is rather brutish, the squire wasn't doing himself any favors.
Squire Marlen turns to The Slice and says "If anyone is going to be getting angry, anywhere, it shall be me." he says as he snaps his fingers and four guards suddenly appear in the doorway.
The squire takes the papers from the group and looks them over carefully. Once completed he opens a drawer on the desk and counts out one hundred and seven gold pieces and 5 silver pieces and sets them on the table. "I believe this completes our business, yes?"
There is seven of you so that should split into 15 gold, 3 silver and 6 copper each I believe.
The Slice's eyes widen at the gold, then he pull forth a sack and begins to slide the funds into it. Turning to the group. "What say we had back to the Inn and properly split this up".
He then stands and turns to leave, before turning back to the old man. "Thanks for the loot... and you'll have to teach me that "Summon buffon" spell that's activated by snapping your fingers sometime".
Pip pulls the Slice away from the squire, laughing as soon as they are out of earshot, "HA HA HA! Summon buffoon?! You certainly put a knot in his tunic!"
Faey gives the squire a charming smile and something resembling a courtesy before turning to follow Pip and The Slice out and to the Inn, excited to split the coin and hear Tauster's ideas on where to start looking for the missing apprentice.
Current Map: Link To Map of Thurmaster
The group retires for the evening to the Hounds and Tails, you find the food meh at best and the ale watered down, glad you are not paying for it. The rooms are cheap enough at 2 silver per person per night sharing a large bunk room. (No private rooms available.) however you soon learn that the rather distressingly stained sheets are home to many inquisitive and hungry bugs (fleas, lice, etc.) and getting a good nights rest might be hard pressed under these conditions.
Soon Tauster shows up and joins you at your table.....
Tauster sits down with you at the table, sitting quietly at first as if in deep thought. After a while he speaks
"I have a small commission for you. If you want." he says.
"I would like you to travel to Kuiper’s Farm with a letter from me and deliver it to Kuiper himself. If Jelenneth has been seen anywhere along the river, he'll know about it." the wizard says.
"I am willing to offer you 10 gp each, up front for this and I will promise you 50 gp each if you can find my missing apprentice. In any case, Kuiper‘s Farm is directly on your way back to Milborne (see the area map located here). If you agree, I will also pay for overnight accommodation at the tavern here, such as it is, before you set off on your way in the morning."
Then Tauster waits for a response.
"Well... Gotta go back anyway. Might as well make some coin, and rescue the princess while were at it".
"Agreed. I believe we all need the work."
"Well, can't beat that. Especially if it is on the way, though such things tend to go out of the way once you go sniffing. Would you consider allowing us to sleep somewhere... other than here? Preferably with less bugs."
Tauster agrees with you about the current locales sleeping facilities and then counter offers.
"Well I don't have any spare beds but you are welcome to camp out in my tower. Safest place in town." he chuckles.
Then he leans forward and whispers "If you don't mind sleeping on the floor, don't mind all the lumber and building materials, I never finished the inside anyways. Never had any real use for it. Only have it because wizards are supposed to have a tower. And I guess I wanted to look the part."
So after a few more stale ales the group retires back to the tower. Tauster hangs with the group for a while and you learn a little more about your new found friend.
Some years ago, Tauster got into the very blazes of an argument with his Guildmaster. The upshot was that Tauster was told in no uncertain terms to leave for somewhere very, very far away and never come back. The Guildmaster brandished a slug at him, telling him that this was the polymorphed form of another mage who had not run away quickly enough when the Guildmaster told him to. "I put just a little salt on him every day the Guildmaster snarked. Tauster took this to heat and regards himself as retired. He wants a life of reading books and tomes, pottering about in his herb garden, and generally being inconspicuous.
Tauster is not an adventurer. Truth be told, he does't want to get mixed up in anything at all. He feels that if trouble of any kind gets stirred up, his old Guildmaster will hear of him and send something awful to deal with him. His paranoia on this count is irrational, but then paranoia often is.
Tauster can be used to buy spell components and healing potions from. He also will let a wizard copy spells from his spellbook for a fee.
Finish up anything else you would like to do here and we will move on toward the farm.
Everyone add 10 gold to your possessions for the upfront payment by Tauster.
Yes the healing potions are 50gp each.
"Well, I'm ready to go."
"I'll definitely take you up on the offer, at least. A dry floor is better than a damn, lousy bed."
Current Map: None
The next morning the group packs up and heads out toward the farm that Tauster told them about, as it was a six day journey between Milborne and Thurmaster and the farm lay about half the distance so for the next three days they traveled back along the river without incident until they reached Kuiper's Farm....
When the group finally arrives at Kuiper’s farm, you see a tall (6'4"), relatively young (28), and strongly built man chopping firewood out front. Upon your approach the man stops chopping the wood and comes over and greets each of you with a bone-crushing handshake and a friendly, open manner. "Well met strangers, I am Kuiper and this is my farm. What can I do you for?"
The man is wearing some finely made leather armor and a finely crafted longsword on his hip. A dagger on his belt has an intricately laid pommel. Across his back looks like a fancy longbow with some red feathered arrows that remind you of the ones the constable in Milborne had.
You would say that Kuiper is no mere farmer by his appearance..
"Chopping wood in leather armor? Woo, makes me tired just thinking about it."
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Alex laughs at Erdrann's comment and says "Hahahaha! Well, some folks are made of rougher paste than others. But I agree, chopping wood gets tiring... more so while fully armored."
He then turns to Kuiper "I'm Alexander. I hope you don't mind this... but you seem anything but a lumberjack. You are better equipeed than most guards, and look like an adventurer. Anyway, Tauster sends us. Have you, by any chance, seen his apprentice Jelenneth?" his face turns serious "She has disappeared, and he said you may know."
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Wolfgang simply nods and listens. The sword is meaningless-many go about daily business armed. The armor only slightly less-so for the same reason. But a bow? Beseems that would interfere with the up-swing. And what dire dangers must lurk here that both bow and sword are called for?
Still, the others have brought it up, so no need to state a redundancy.
Kuiper looks at Erdann "Wearing armor for everyday activities work well enough, If you keep it light and have the armor custom fitted to your person. You get used to it after a while."
Turning to Alexander "Very perceptive of you, my farmhands do most of the work here. I rather, keep an eye on things in these parts. One should always be equipped and ready, should they not?" he questions.
Hearing of the apprentice's disappearance he has a look of concern in his eyes. "I have not seen Jelenneth for a few weeks or so. The last time was when she was on her way to see her parents in Milborne. I know old Tauster sometimes sends her to look for herbs and plants along Hog Branch, if she had left Milborne of her own free will and was truly on the way back to the wizard then she may have stopped there to gather a fresh supply on her way back to Thurmaster. Perhaps some mishap befell her there?" the ranger muses.
"I take it if the few of you were hired by Tauster to find me then I take it at this point you may know more than I do. So what exactly have you learned so far?"
"Precious little," Faey adds, having been fairly quite up till now. She made the mistake of getting a quick bite at the Hounds and Tails and was still recovering. "First off, we have a letter for you fro Tauster, which may have some information. Beyond that, we know neither her parents, her fiance, nor Tauster seem to know where she is. I believe some of my friends here talked with the parents and fiance, so hopefully they have something to add..."