LatooRaddo reporting for dotting!
Having answered the mayor of Saringallow's call for help, you find yourself in her office assembled with other capable people before her. The plush red carpet and oak furniture upholstered with velvet lend this room an air of comfort, but it’s also clearly a place of official business, with several layers of administrative papers, staff memos, maps, and charts covering the wide surface of the solid desk in the center. From her tall-backed chair behind her desk, Mayor Sandra Trinelli looks up, shaking herself out of a deep concentration. A subtle look of relief flashes across her face as she motions to the oversized chairs in front of her.
“Normally, I’d exchange more pleasantries with my guests, but I fear there is no time,” she says. “The business that brought you here is quite urgent—it may actually be a matter of life and death.
“Let me explain. You may have heard that several young apprentices from various establishments in Saringallow have disappeared in the last couple of weeks. Every one of them has failed to show up to work, and nobody seems to know where they’ve gone.
“That’s not all. Rumors are spreading about sightings of enormous insects roaming about town. So far, the townspeople have chalked up such rumors to overactive imaginations, but I fear they might be real, and that they might have something to do with the missing apprentices. I have no proof that the situations are connected, but if folks get that notion into their heads, things are bound to spiral out of control.”
She shifts nervously, as if avoiding an uncomfortable implication, before continuing.
“Please, I implore you to look into this matter quietly and thoroughly—find out where our apprentices have gone and discover the cause of our vermin problem. Don’t jump to conclusions until you have investigated every possible angle; we need to be absolutely sure that we know who or what is responsible before we take any necessary law enforcement actions.
“I suggest you start by interviewing the masters of every missing apprentice on this list I’ve compiled. I suspect that, collectively, they might shed some light on the youngsters’ whereabouts. That could in turn illuminate our vermin problem, but until we have more information, I caution you against suggesting to anyone that the two situations are connected. Beyond that, though, you have my full cooperation in this matter. If anyone gives you guff about your line of questioning, show them this letter.”
The mayor pushes a scrap of paper with several names scribbled on it across her desk, as well as a rolled-up, ribbonbound letter written on thick parchment.
“As far as an incentive,” the mayor says, “I’ve pooled together 50 gold pieces as a reward for each apprentice you manage to find and rescue, as well as an additional 100 gold pieces if you can determine the cause of our vermin problem—and eliminate it. Do we have a deal?”
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Sidhe's feet hurt. She's unaccustomed to such long journeys as the one she just made to Saringallow, even if Priest Inazolus, the guardian assigned to her for the journey, told her constantly that is was a relatively short journey, all told. Still, she was unaccustomed, and nit hurt. She rocked back in forth in her chair as the Mayor spoke, hoping to distract herself from the dull ache.
They'd walked the whole way- from the temple where she was raised. They encountered few travelers on the road, and those they did, the Priest had quickly pushed her forwards- for her safety, of course, he claimed. Someone as important and valuable as Sidhe Danann could be the target for assassins, and as such it paid to keep moving forward, not talking to anyone more than necessary.
Assassins! Ha! What a joke. Sidhe's life, beyond being a galactic joke, was unimportant- raised in a temple where she had supposedly been prophecied to help restore the goddess Pharasma. Well, it wasn't like Sidhe didn't want to help Pharasma- she just didn't know how, and this grand destiny everyone claimed for her was, at the moment, a dream someone else dreamed for her.
So, here she was sitting in a stuffy chair, feet aching, surrounded by a man she barely tolerated and several strangers, listening to a Mayor describe the problems her town was having- because someone in some temple somewhere decided that she needed to kickstart her destiny- fulfillment. Sidhe hadn't been alive very long, but she was pretty certain that's not how things worked. But, as Priest Inazolus always told her, she's young, and
The journey had gone smoothly, and they had found a room in the inn easily enough- Priest Inazolus had bartered all the exchanges, anyways. After that, he'd ventured downstairs to get directions to the Mayor's office while she sat on the bed, reading from The Bones Land in a Spiral, waiting. The momentary respite had been all too brief, however, and soon they were off again, to meet Mayor Trinelli.
Seemed she wanted them to check out some missing apprentices. Sidhe had been about to reply, when suddenly she was interrupted by Priest Inazolus.
"Is that reward 50gp for each individual in this room, or to share? Frankly, if it's all a pool, it's not enough for our generous help- this is Sidhe Danann, after all, she who will restore the goddess to her full strength." He pauses, then settles in for effect "Of course, a promise of generous donations to the temple do go a long way to offset such offenses," he whispers slyly.
"In addition, what has been heard of the insects? What manner of beasts are they? What descriptions are there? Are they venomous, or strong- jawed? Do they fly? This is all integral information, Mayor," he finishes.
Good, the man finally ran out of breath,Sidhe thinks to herself. She slowly begins to check her knowledge, thinking hard and fast as to what the visions may have shown her.
The journey to Saringallow took longer than expected, perhaps due to Yuld stopping every night to record the stars. Or maybe it was the frequent breaks to rest his legs. Or it was that he always woke up late, beginning his walk around noon.
Nevertheless, he had arrived. The mayor was a friendly woman, but more importantly she was willing to pay. Four hundred gold pieces in total - if everything went well, of course. It was a good sum, even when split.
When the priest speaks up, Yuld regards the man strangely. More money? Sure, that was fine, but what was this strange respect for the woman beside him? Yuld ponders the name Sidhe Danann, but arrives at nothing. But if she were to revive some goddess (Pharasma, of course! Can't believe I didn't recognize the symbol.) she had to be someone important.
"Miss Trinelli, do you know anything about these apprentices, outside their masters? Has it only been apprentices going missing?"
Dachus "Dac" Dolabellio woke early that morning, as he had for many years, getting ready to a day's work on the farm. Getting washed and dressed, the young man ate breakfast with his mother and father.
"How's the northern fence repair going, son?" Spoke Tarvoy Dolabellio, patriarch of the Dolabellio family.
"Really good", Dac replied. "As soon as sun-up, I'll head into town to pick up the nails I need from the smithy. Since you said you and Karvel", one of the Dolabellio hired farmhands, "were gonna take care of the animals yesterday, I should have the fence 100% by early afternoon. Then I was thinking of cleaning the plow blade. It's getting to a right state"
Yana, Dachus's mother, smiles on as her two men discuss the day, when the conversation is interrupted by a knock on the door. Getting up, she answers the door to find Ervil Pax, the mayor's secretary. Yana offers Ervil a seat, but the autocrat can't stay. He stopped by the Dolabellio farm, to ask Dachus to come to the mayor's office later that morning. Mayor Sandra Trinelli has some out-of-towners come to Saringallow to help the 'mayor with a problem', refusing to go into more detail. Mayor Trinelli wants Dac to be there to help them, being known as a reliable resident of Saringallow. Stunned, the young warrior agrees to Ervil's request, making sure it was okay with his parents. "I guess I'm not getting the northern fence done today"
Dac get's ushered into the Mayor Trinelli's office, marveling at the nice furniture and the newcomers. One looks like a wizard, one appears to be an actual knight. Wow! A knight! Here in Saringallow! But the one person who drew Dac's attention the most was a girl about his age, traveling with a Pharasmin.
I've never seen her before. But she looks so damn familiar!
Dac introduces himself to the assembled group. "Hi everyone. My name Dachus Dolabellio, but most people just call me 'Dac'. I've lived in Saringallow all my life, working on my parent's farm. Mayor Trinelli asked me to come down to help you out in anyway I could."
Looking to the knight, Dac felt compelled to add, "I'm pretty good with a longsword, trained by the town miltia, and helping them out as best I could, uh, for about a year now."
Dac's eyes keep wondering back to Sidhe. "Of the people on the list, the one I know the best is Morvinarr Albusin. On the weekends after the tavern closed, we and a some of the other guys would play cards for a few hours. That's the last time I saw him"
Latoo leaned against the corner of the room, keeping an eye on all of the humans as he finished off the apple that he had managed to filch for breakfast on the way into town; listening to the mayor go on about some missing apprentices.
50 per kid rescued and 100 if we eliminate the bugs. All the kids are dead and the bugs are too big of a problem to be dealt with easily then we get zilch. Seems about right for the people in power to hedge their bets like that. Guess I will have to watch for opportunities to get paid along the way.
Keeping an ear open for valuable information being passed in conversation, Latoo decides to stay out of the center of attention himself for now and begins eyeing the room for anything that the mayor might want to trade. He has a few crossbow bolts that she seems like she would probably be interested in.
You see six friends walking hand in hand. Trusting, amiable. Their faces are obscured by something dark, though, like a shadow cast from an unseen force. You see them always together. Always. As if they run in a pack, the six. And then there's the sound of buzzing insects in the back of your mind. The vision stutters and is ripped away an instant later.
To Inazolus, she says, "I apologize, but this is all our coffers can afford at the moment. Please, I beg of you to help."
To Yuld, she says, "I only know them in passing. And yes so far it has only been those apprentices gone missing. I do not want this trend to continue."
Then she clasps her hands together, another sign of constant worrying. She says, "Is that all?"
"Well, if you folks will follow me, I'll lead to the Witch’s End Tavern", offered Dac.
Mayor Trinelli nods her head toward Onnello. "Yes, the hospitality we show you would extend to everyone here." She scribbles a note down. "I will send word to the taverns to have them extend every amenity they can offer."
Yuld turns to the knight. "Fascinating. Your title gives you shelter."
"I am known as Yuld. My interests and skills are the same - the stars. I know a bit of magic, at least enough to perform parlor tricks."
As the group heads to the tavern, Yuld makes a note. "I think it is rather strange." Yuld rubs his temples. "Only the apprentices have gone missing. If it were just insects being the cause, it would likely be more indiscriminate."
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Sidhe nods as the young man offers to take them to the inn they just departed.
Of course, the Priest's ever- trumpeting voice sounds "Lead on, my good man. I trust we can at least expect reasonable accomodations in this town."
Just then, her vision swims, and she's gone, transported to a place where six friends walk. It's real, and it's like she's there "she's afraid the whole time, as the shadow descends, trusting in there shared trust, but knowing in her head that something is amiss.
Then the buzzing descends, and her heart seizes like an icy clamp, and she's screaming.....
And then she's back in the room, everyone looking at her.
"Are you coming, Miss Danann?" the priest says impatiently.
Sidhe nods, and walks with the group to the inn.
As they walk, the group seems to comment about the youths, trying hard to discover the origins of the mystery. Sidhe, of course, remains silent- visions can often be deceiving, if conclusions are jumped to.
Latoo slips out of the room last, hurrying to keep up with the others.
For my vote I...think we should stick together. I haven't been this far south...and close to the...waterfront in years. I know a bit about the surrounding...countryside, but nothing...about Saringallow itself.
His words came out in short puffs and gasps as he rushed to keep pace with his long-legged companions. Their casual walk was nearly a brisk jog for him.
I will not scurry on all fours like an animal. I refuse. I will not!
Name's Latoo Radoo by the way. You can call me Latoo, or LR. Call me Lattie only if you are tired of using your tongue. Lemurfolk by birth, wanderer by trade. I am good at a bit of everything, and bad at nothing but keeping up with talls apparently.
"I am known as Yuld. My interests and skills are the same - the stars. I know a bit of magic, at least enough to perform parlor tricks."
"Me too, actually", chimed Dac. "Though not academically. Most nights are clear in this part of the country. Last night was partly cloudy, so not a great show, but not bad either."
Calling to their farmer guide, "Dac, can you tell us if these youths had anything in common other than their apprenticeships and their age? Did they associate together? Did they attend the same school or catechisms?"
Name's Latoo Radoo by the way. You can call me Latoo, or LR. Call me Lattie only if you are tired of using your tongue. Lemurfolk by birth, wanderer by trade. I am good at a bit of everything, and bad at nothing but keeping up with talls apparently.
"Where do you come from, Mr. Latoo?" questions the young warrior, trying to look at the lemurfolk, but not stare.
Dac knows that these six youths indeed are friends and spend much time together. Morvinarr seemed to be the strongest of them and looked out for the others like a protector.
You make your way to the Witch’s End Tavern. The sun is high and the town is in full swing, merchants bustling back and forth. The townspeople give you suspicious looks, especially Latoo, and traveling with Dac seems to only slightly abate the superstitious peoples’ fear. The tavern is a stout building with a broad sign hanging out front depicting a knife dripping with what you assume to be witch’s blood. Inside, tables and chairs dominate the wood floor of this place. At the back, the bartender and owner Alcie Kruptin loads food from a collection of crates onto the counters of the kitchen. Alcie, well over six feet tall, barks orders at her cooks and serving staff, getting ready for the lunch rush.
Dac knows the Witch’s End and Alcie especially does not like adventurers or spellcasters, but travelers typically put up with rude, backhanded comments due to the food being amazing.
Alcie looks up from her work and scowls. ”You lot look like you’re lost. You eating and moving on? Of course you are, why would such important people stay in a wretched place such as our town, huh?” she says sarcastically. "Dac, I thought your folks raised you better than to be cavortin' with strangers."
Latoo smiles a gentle but slightly canine smile in response to Dac's questions.
I am from a bit of everywhere. You might say the road raised me. Lemurfolk aren't really welcome in most towns for too long see. Outright racism, but what do you do?
I spent my kitlings in an orphanage attached to a temple of Sarenrae in the Felderlands up north. Once I was 3 though and could fend for myself I left. I think really they were relieved to be rid of me since no human family is going to adopt a lemurfolk, and no lemurfolk has ever come in to adopt anything.
From there I have made my way traveling from town to town, looking for opportunities, trading when I can, and living off the land when I must. It's nice not being tied down.
Been living like that going on 12 years now, so it works for me. There's a big world out there. Seems silly to spend my life all in one place.
As they enter the Witch's end Latoo again falls silent, waiting for others to lead the way on interacting with strangers. From experience he knows that most townsfolk will not open up very readily to one of his kind.
Since you all are following Dac..
I am from a bit of everywhere. You might say the road raised me. Lemurfolk aren't really welcome in most towns for too long see. Outright racism, but what do you do?
I spent my kitlings in an orphanage attached to a temple of Sarenrae in the Felderlands up north. Once I was 3 though and could fend for myself I left. I think really they were relieved to be rid of me since no human family is going to adopt a lemurfolk, and no lemurfolk has ever come in to adopt anything.
From there I have made my way traveling from town to town, looking for opportunities, trading when I can, and living off the land when I must. It's nice not being tied down.
Been living like that going on 12 years now, so it works for me. There's a big world out there. Seems silly to spend my life all in one place.
"Sorry to hear that, Mr. Latoo. People can be cruel sometimes", Dac said sincerely.
Alcie looks up from her work and scowls. ”You lot look like you’re lost. You eating and moving on? Of course you are, why would such important people stay in a wretched place such as our town, huh?” she says sarcastically. "Dac, I thought your folks raised you better than to be cavortin' with strangers."
Shaking his head in mock disappointment, Dac admonishes, You know, Alcie, you keep up talk like that, and you're gonna ruin Saringallow's budding tourism industry."
Calling to their farmer guide, "Dac, can you tell us if these youths had anything in common other than their apprenticeships and their age? Did they associate together? Did they attend the same school or catechisms?"
"Well, sir," Dac responded, in a saddened tone. "I knew them all. I mean, I know them all..but Morvinarr's my best mate. Weekend cards always seem to involve any combination the missing apprentices."
"So I guess the one thing that links them together..is me." Realizing he's probably imcriminating himself in the eyes of a law enforcer. "But it's a small town. Most people know everyone."
"See," Alcie says gesturing to Onello, "Now there's a stranger with some manners. What do you think of our little town, eh? Not just a spit of mud in the wilderness?"
"Pshh," Alcie says. "Even the children got more knowledge of our town than that!"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" exclaims Dachus, as he puts himself inbetween Alcie and Sir Onnello. body is comparing anyone to a child! Sir Onnello and his company are trying to find Morvinarr and his friends to make sure they're okay! I don't think any one with that goal in mind is deserving of ridicule. Right, Alcie?"
Alcie laughs a big hearty laugh. ”Ha! Now there’s a man with a spine. I like that. Yeah Morvinarr is my apprentice. Best cook-in-training I got, also does work as a bouncer when things get rowdy in ‘ere. Well, Morvinarr, he’s always been one of the strongest of the lot’a friends he’s got. Always viewed himself as their protector, like Dac there too. Most often was Nolaria Wintren who led ‘em on adventures outside of town and they came back here to boast about their ‘exploits’. Recently, though, they been keeping away from the tavern and Morvinarr’s been taking more time off. Probably getting up to something that they shouldn’t be. When Morvinarr didn’t check in the next couple days I had a look at his room and found this note . Don’t know who it’s from, though. Bastard didn’t sign it.”
Alcie provides accommodations for the entire group at the Witch's End tavern free of charge due to Onello's knightly privileges.
Dachus reads the note over the shoulder of one of the search team.
"Oh, Morvy. You sodden idiot", murmured the young warrior. "Why's ya have to go alone?"
Dependable Drummady's seems to be the closest to your location, right across the main drag.
"This note worries me." Yuld says as he studies the paper. "Someone offered to take Morvinarr to the other apprentices, without Morvinarr telling anyone. No doubt whoever wrote this note is our perpetrator. We should be careful in who we discuss our information with, just in case."
"We could ask someone in what order they disappeared, but that would only tell us when people noticed they were gone, not the actual time. But having some sense of chronology would be convenient for this case. For now, let us head to the next location."
The local cobbler shop, Dependable Drummady's, is a small, fine building in good repair. The lone inhabitant, Drummady Laterna, sits plying her trade with a grim resolve as you walk in. She avoids engaging in any chitchat with prospective customers, instead muttering to herself as she works.
Her muttering is directed toward her family worries.
"Hello, Mrs. Laterna", greets Dac as he walks into the shop with the others in tow.
Yuld whispers to his companions. "Be careful as you speak. The woman here seems to be in worried thoughts. Best not to worry her more."
Yuld turns back toward Drummady. "Madam, if you could, we would like to ask you a few things. It shouldn't take long, but if you are engrossed in your work I can understand." he says, as if speaking from experience.
She looks up and blinks at all of you. "Oh, yes. Sorry about that. Family issues you see. I split with my husband a few years back and we still bump heads over our children, Pavolus and Betrona. Pavolus is my apprentice; Betrona his. He's just so strict with them, suffocating their childhood, you know?"
"Yeah, Mrs. Laterna. The mayor herself asked me to help these great people find Pavo and the rest who have been missing. Anything you can think of that might help us out?"
"Ah, yes," she says, "Pavolus has always been a good boy, caring. Gellion was always the most charismatic of the bunch, isn't that right Dac? Sort of their leader. Pavolus likes him a great deal. He even made Gellion a pair of bright yellow boots when his got worn out. For free! See, the kindness of that boy? Petrello is so critical of him sometimes, he misses the kindness of him."
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You talk a bit more with the lady Drummady and then she goes back to work and you take your leave. The next closest place Dac leads you to is Petrello's Haberdashery. The building that houses this shop is considerably more ramshackle. Bits and tools and implements lay scattered about the floor. There is a common saying about town that hats from Petrello's Haberdashery look more like shoes than hats. The office in the back looks to be a mess. Petrello Pindlion, Drummady's ex-husband, sits in the center of it all, plying his trade.
He looks up. "Yeah? Don't look like you strangers are wantin' a hat. What do you want?"
When asked about Betrona, he remarks, "It's that apothecary boy's fault. He's a bad influence, that one!"
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Sidhe listens quietly throughout the entirety of the exchange between Dac, Yuld, Onello, and the various Master's. She's quietly enjoying her freedom, because at the moment, Priest Inazolus is busying himself with the room, ostensibly because "these sheets are the most appalling I've ever seen, certainly not fit for Ms Danaan;" not that she particularly cares one way or another. Seems like a lot of town gossip, quite frankly, but she trusts to the wisdom of the others; they look like they know what they're doing, and she's quite new at this.
Are we learning anything here? she says to herself. Besides the town gossip, and I get enough of that at the temple, the sour thought provoking bitter memories in her mind.
"Do you mind if I look around?" she asks Petrello, suddenly.
Petrello waves a hand to Sidhe. "Do whatever you want, just don't steal anything. Like they say, friends are never too friendly."
To Onello he says, "Always leadin' them off to Gods-know-where. He's a bad sort, that one. Pavolus should'a stayed away, but his mother lets him do whatever he wants. Soft as mud she is with them!"
"I dunno, go ask somebody else! I never wanted them to have nuthin' to do with that kid. That Pricknettle's apprentice, he is! A bad sort!"
You sense that there's not much more Petrello is willing to say about that subject, and so take your leave from the haberdasher. The next nearest place to the feuding ex husband and wife is actually Pricknettle's Potions and Poultices. The little shop is quaint and highly maintained. A gnome with blue hair stands behind the counter and gives you a wide smile.
"Well hello there! Majara Pricknettle, purveyor of this fine establishment! Have you come for potions? Poultices? Both? I have healing potions, potions for swimming or climbing, you name it! What brings you in here?"
Dac walks up to Sidhe, still being reserved in her demeanor, and asks, "Have you been to Saringallow before? You seem really familiar. Have you..did you got to our Harvest festival last year?"
Dac greets Miss Pricknettle, and introduces everyone to the potion mistress. "I'm helping these fine people in their investigation of Gellion and the rest of the apprentices. When was the last time you saw him? Do you have any idead where he might be?"
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Petrello waves a hand to Sidhe. "Do whatever you want, just don't steal anything. Like they say, friends are never too friendly."
Sidhe aimlessly wanders about the shop, taking in the various hats these are hats? before heading outside when the group comes. She seems almost bored, though a clever observer might note the detail she pays in casual glance.
Dac walks up to Sidhe, still being reserved in her demeanor, and asks, "Have you been to Saringallow before? You seem really familiar. Have you..did you got to our Harvest festival last year?"
"Never been. Don't know what the Harvest festival is, nor do I believe I've seen you." She pauses for a second, eyes squinting, looking closely "though..... no, never mind. I was mistaken."
She continues. "I've never been outside of the temple before. Never been alone- and honestly, I'm surprised they even allowed that. Probably because the Priest fears interfering with 'my destiny,' whatever that is."
She turns about suddenly to face Dac, and smiles a strange smile, her eyes looking upon him like a cat might do to a particularly fine mouse. Her hands reach out to grasp his, and she whispers "You know- we could keep this going all day. We don't have to go back to the inn, not until later, right? We could do something, she pauses, as if chewing on a foreign word "fun."
Dac smiles at the forward gesture. I wasn't thinking that, ..but sure"
"Sounds like fun is definitely what you need. 'Never been outside the temple?' I didn't know training to be a cleric for Pharasma was so strict? If we have the time, I'd love to show you some of my favorite places in town", grins Dac, still holding the out-of-towner's hand.