Jexen enters in time to hear Crashing Waves pointedly ask the old man a question.
"As he says. Why would Jex not mention that her own daughter was missing? At the same time as missing the fomor nest which we found with little effort? What is going on here?"
Jexen's tone is level, but there is a note of frustration to his voice.
Oh Fack...
Jexen says to Crashing Waves: "Get the others!" and runs for the stairs.
Brace yourself. You know what you will likely find.
Crashing waves darts for the door and shouts for the others, "Come quickly!"
When he saw some others running toward them he turned back and headed up the stairs, full expecting the worst.
Behind one locked door is a bed that looks like it was recently used. There is dried blood and sweat stains in the sheets, like someone sick and injured was sleeping in it. There are manacles attached to the bed, designed to lock someone to the bed, but the part of the manacles that attach to the wrists are covered in soft fabric, as if they didn't want whoever was being held here to be hurt by them.
You know the boy was missing, and he was injured. You know Jex's daughter was taken by the Fomor and held hostage. They must have been blackmailing her, using her daughter to get what they want. She must have found the boy and kept him here, out of fear the Fomor would have killed her daughter if the boy revealed what he knew.
But Jex is no medical expert, so his wounds must have festered.
Now that she has her daughter, there's no need to keep the boy. But what did she do with him? You know she left a half hour ago. Where did she go?
T.A.S. followed the others to the inn without saying a word. He does not understand what is happening and yet he sees is very clearly. His mind feeling paralized and free at the same point.
He followed his friends and Crashing Waves upstairs. Silently he analysed the situation.
Her daughter was captured by the Fomor but she did not tell us. Either she does not like her daughter.. or she was afraid they'd kill her if she tells anyone. Maybe she wanted to exchange the missing boy for her? But why would she hurt him in this room.. Or she found him after the Fomor beat him up and robbed him. But where would she go now that her daughter is back and where is the boy? Did he die and she wants to dump the body? Then she must either be at the graveyard or somewhere in the wilderness.
Wordless T.A.S. nods to Jexen and heads towards the graveyeard to search Jex and check how Brinda is doing.
Sköllji grumbles as he looks around the rooms. "I'd bet me beard her 'deliveries' are gonna take 'er right te the Bonesmith. We outta hurry." With that, the dwarf bolts down the stairs and out into the road.
She's either headin' to the shop, or she knows the whereabouts of the elf. Gotta think fast. Why's e'eryone in this bleedin' town have a blasted horse 'cept us?
"She kept the boy here, he knew too much. We must go after Jex now, before she disposes of him!"
To the old man minding the inn, "where might we aquire mounts, temporarily"
"Yes, we need mounts, and the direction Jex was heading in."
To Durnik, Brinda says, "The bonesmith may have stolen this man's bones. Should we return there to look for them, or try to find the boy while we're here?"
But if you need it, you can unhitch my horses from the wagon. But I've only got the two of them. Be careful with them; they get hurt and you'll be pulling the wagon back to Fletcher's Rest.
If the above check passed, then roll this:
Brinda tugs Durnik's sleeve, pulling him towards the small, feverish boy with the broken leg. Her head then shoots up like rabbit's, and she points into the foliage at Jex, pushing a small cart.
"I believer you are correct about the man's bones, Lady Brinda." says Durnik as he watches the ghost's lament. To the ghost, he says "We will do everything we can to return your bones to you, so that you can rest again." before turning away.
It only takes a few minutes searching for Brenda to make her find, and Durnik is impressed with her capability.
Durnik's eyes narrow at he turns to look at Jex, but he then turns back to the boy and says "It's going to be alright son. We're here to help you. What's your name?"
"You have my thanks. Come, Crashing Waves, we must ride with no time to waste!"
You grab the boy and start carrying him back to the village.
The inn crew rides hard to the graveyard, and they discover Brinda and Durnik walking out of the graveyard with an innured, but alive boy. It's Ruf, one of Clyde's sons.
Jexen pulls the horse up to Brinda and Durnik and stops.
"What happened? Why is Jex continuing on?"
Huh? Whatever is going on with Jex, we should get the boy back to town.
"Jex is likely in league with our quarry, but we need to get Ruf here back to town so that he can be properly treated."
Brinda grits her teeth as Durnik speculates on Jex's involvement in this grisly matter, then sighs. "I will take the boy back to his father. But the rest of you should follow Jex and confront her. I'll return as quick as I may."
It's a bumpy horse ride with Jexen, the smaller of the two companions seemed best to ride with, but his metal frame smashed and scraped the dwarf most of the journey. When the horse finally stopped, Sköllji tumbled off the side, thankful to be off the beast.
"Ye found the boy! Hell of a job! Na we jus' need te-"
"Well look what we 'ave 'ere. Someone get the boy te safety. I need te have a talk te the she-giant."
Sköllji produces his battle axe and charges after Jex.
It doesn't take long to catch up to Jex, pushing the cart away from the Graveyard.
Meanwhile, the rest take the boy back to the town. Clyde is immensely relieved that his son is still alive. Oh, thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou. My boy is alive! Ruf is still injured. His still has a poorly treated broken leg and a fever.
"Yes, bring the boy back. Our hunt is not done though."
Jexen charges after Jex with sword and shield.
When he catches up with Jex...
"HALT!"
Jex stops. The cart stops with her. She has a set up with the cart to allow her to push it with just one hand; the front of the cart is built around her to let her push it with the bulk of her body ahioe steering it with her one remaining arm.
She slowly turns around to look at you, tears flowing down her face. I'm sorry, she says, I didn't know what to do. They had my little girl. They had her and they threatened to torture her and kill her if anyone found out about them. I couldn't let anyone know.
She falls to her knees, sobbing. Kill me if you want. I deserve it.
"Who? The bonesmith? The goat bastards? Tell us what you know an we may be able te stop the c!!& s+%%$@ fer good."
Brinda puts her hand on Clyde's shoulder. "What a horrible thing you and your lads have been through," she says, her voice shaking a little, the image of Tuf in the secret workshop flashing in her mind's eye. "We'll do our best to see that those responsible pay for their crimes."
The one armed woman is clearly in grief and feeling guilty for her part. As she cries, she explains that the Fomor kidnapped her daughter and kept her locked up. They threatened to torture and kill her if Jex didn't do what they wanted or if she revealed where they were or what they were up to.
A few days ago, she found Ruf beat up in the graveyard. He told her the Fomor did it. To protect her daughter, she brought him back to her Inn and did her best to treat him and keep him comfortable until she could figure out how to get her daughter back. Unfortunately, she didn't do a good job at treating his wounds; unbeknownst to her the leg is infected and he's running a fever. If he isn't treated soon, he will die.
When you lot all came to town, she thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try and get her daughter back. She didn't know where Tuf was, but if you found him then you'd also likely uncover the Fomor and possibly eliminate them so she could give Ruf back and then go search for her daughter.
But you returned her daughter for her. It made it so much easier.
So she concocted this poorly thought out plan to bring Ruf back to the place he was found, sneak back into town and put the cart back, then "find" him during or after the funeral if someone else didn't already.
She had no part in the Bonesmith's plan and pleads complete ignorance as to what he was up to. She still doesn't know where Tuf is or that you found him (she was too preoccupied with her daughter and Ruf). She doesn't know that the Bonesmith was behind some of the horrors that have befallen the town. She didn't even know he left town.
From Clyde's house you can see the blade of the Bonesmith's easily. As can many still in town. Clyde is immensely grateful that you've found Ruf alive.
Cyrenik says some prayers over Ruf and heals his fever. Meanwhile, the local "healer" (not really a healer, just an old soldier who knew a bit of first aid) properly wraps up the leg so it can heal. The boy will never walk right again, though.
Clyde is willing to do practically anything to help you hunt down the Bonesmith, including purchasing horses for all of you.
Asking around town, others volunteer information: they saw the Bonesmith headed south towards Pitts. Pitts is the nearest train station, where much of the lumber is shipped from. He's likely trying to get on the train and head into Sixton - the major city on the southern lands of the Northern Reach. Or if he heads north, he'll be going up towards the Dessolation and the northern keeps. Either way, the next train depature is tomorrow. You can catch him.
The old man you traveled with has also asked for some to help him head back to Fletcher's Rest. Cyrenik volunteers. He wants to help chase the Bonesmith, but the whole ordeal has him worried about the girl he left behind. He wants to stay there and protect her.
For those who stay, the funeral for Kandl and Slugoth was grand. Everyone in the town came for it. Cyrenik gave a long and sorrowful eulogy. The two of them have the largest headstones in the graveyard.
Jexen makes a motion akin to a sigh.
"You know what? There has been enough killing this night. Continue on, and let your guilt be your punishment, and keeping right by that boy and your girl your sentence."
***********************
That was a fine speech. Cynerik has a true gift for it, and he remains a mighty opponent of the darkness.
"The hunt does not end here. We can catch the Bonesmith before he boards that train, and we must try!"
Durnik followed Brenda, not wanting to leave her alone, and worried about the young man.
When the offer of horses are made, Durnik thanks the villagers and agrees: he had given up catching the Bonsmith on foot, and horses would give them at least a chance.
"Agreed Jexen. He has a host of crimes to pay for, and the bill has come due."
After the funeral, the group heads out on horseback. They push hard into the night, trying to reach Pitts. It's close to dawn by the time you get there, and everyone but Jexen is exhausted. Two nights in a row of poor sleep and intense events takes a toll.
But you're there. It's a small town, existing really only for shipments for the train to all the small villages and towns nearby.
As you're the first people here after the events of Cheqwood, no one has heard what happened. No one knows what the Bonesmith has done, or that the Fomor have been stomped out and that Cheqwood is once again safe. Do you spread the word?
In town, you can purchase basic supplies from the supply shop (limited weapons and armor, but chock full of things normal folk need on a daily or weekly basis), you can sell or store your horses, you can visit the tavern/inn, you can visit the sheriff's office, or you can visit the train station. There is also a blacksmith, but he only works with what he calls "practical things," horse shoes, pots, etc.. things people need to live.
What would you like to do?
"I say that we spread word of the Bonesmith. His description, and that he is wanted for murder."
Sköllji shakes his head, sleeplessness apparent on his bearded face. "If we spread the word he'll go inta hidin'. Or take off on horseback again. I think we should get the jump on 'im. We know he's tryin' te get on the train. It's the easiest place te nab 'im."
Jexen is right, we should stalk him trying to remain as unknow as possible, this time I don't intend to ask questions."
"Fair points. Let us hunt more quietly then. Perhaps the inn. Or some filthy hole."
Everyone except Jexen had the Fatigued condition for the hard night's ride. You have a Bane on all Attack and Challenge rolls until you complete a Rest.
You make your way to the train station as the sun rises. There are few people about at this hour. Some folk are sleeping on benches, likely awaiting for the depot to open so they can buy a ticket. None of them are your prey.
A few guards are patrolling around the train as well.
The train itself is 14 cars long.
Durnik gets in line to purchase tickets.
"The big'un weren't with us when we shook down the shop. He's gonna be perfect fer being out in the open. But if he sees any of us, he's gonna bolt. I say we nab 'im afore he boards the train. We ken set up an ambush."
"Skolji, that is a good idea. Let us see where we may conceal ourselves near the train station with a clear view."
Ticket prices are:
5 bits for 3rd class.
5 copper pennies for 2nd class.
1 gold crown for first class.