“My student, Lander Lebeda?” He seems a little worried by the news.
“Come, let’s go upstairs to talk.” he says, gesturing towards the stairs on the eastern wall.
——
The upstairs room is cramped and soot-smudged but comfortable, with a number of sturdy wooden chairs set out around a small table and a quilt-covered bed built into a corner. A stuffed eagle clutching a pair of tongs perches above the door to the staircase. A cage holding pigeons hangs just outside the window.
Going,over to an ice box, Marek gets out a flagon and asks “Would anyone like some mare’s milk?” He pours himself a glass and one for anyone else that accepts.
He settles down in one of the chairs, he takes a sip of the milk. Wiping his mouth, he then asks “Tell me, what is this about Lander being missing?”
|
Damiar happily tries some of the mare’s milk. “Wait until I tell my sister about this stuff! I’d love to try some, thank you.”
Aroden’s arrival on the battlefield was heralded by Ludwika Lebeda, heir to the Lebeda family of Rostland. Although she was merely a mortal and her horn merely made of iron, it sounded with the clarity and power of an archon’s trumpet, bringing terror to Deskari’s armies and emboldening the forces of law and good. With this note, the horn glowed with holy power and in a flash changed from iron into silver. An inscription in Celestial ran along its length, promising, “Always will I sound in humanity’s defense.”
Since that day, the Horn of Aroden has been a prized heirloom of the Lebeda family. Although centuries have passed, the Lebedas have sounded the horn only twice since its transformation into a holy relic.
One of those times was in a fight to maintain Rostland independence. Because of this, many in Brevoy see the Horn of Aroden as a symbol of an independent Rostland.
The Lebedas have no intention of rekindling war in Brevoy and have spent much effort courting the favor of House Surtova, the current ruling family of the restless nation. Offering The Horn of Aroden as part of the dowry would have made a strong political statement.
That she is willing to change the dowry in exchange for her son's safe return speaks strongly of how much she values him.
“I don’t know so much if Lander is missing. I do know that his mother wanted us to contact him.” Damiar grins and gives a friendly shrug. “You know how mothers are. She’s worried about him getting into trouble as an adventurer. Frankly though... if that is where his heart lies, he needs to speak with his mother and set her heart at ease. Otherwise she’ll assume the worst.”
A brief shadow passes over Marek’s expression at mention of Dame Lebeda, but he quickly recovers.
“I last saw Lander two days ago.”
With a gesturing in the correct direction, he says “He was headed out of town on the southwestern road. Over the past month or so, he's been trying to put his training to good use—slaying monstrous vermin in the outskirts of town, that sort of thing. With the recent attacks by bandits, Lander was convinced that he could stop them himself and live up to Baron Aldori's legacy.”
“Although he is my student, he can not always train every day.”
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Kleines gladly accepts a glass of milk, frowns after the first sip, then continues drinking. Huh. Weird milk. He pulls out one of his bar napkins and jots a note: Mare's Milk = Weird Milk He thinks for a moment, then adds Ways it's weird:, absentmindedly scratching his head for a moment as he thinks, then puts the napkin away.
His frown returns when the man mentions Lander's mission to fight the bandits. "Fighting bandits by himself? That doesn't seem like a good idea."
“Although Lander has improved quite a bit in the months I've been teaching him, I agree that he is likely no match for any bandits. Though it's unlikely he'd even find them—he doesn't have much of a head on his shoulders for the wilderness, and is far more likely lost somewhere. If he's lucky, he's lost out in the countryside somewhere, playing the hero.”
“Honestly, I expected him to come back empty handed by now. I doubt he even knows how to set up a proper camp site.”
With a grimace, he admits “If he's unlucky, he's encountered some of the nastier critters that live in the back country.”
“Given what you’ve said, I'm worried for his safety.”
|
|
Damiar frowns. “Then we need to rescue him. He should know that Pathfinders adventure in teams for a reason. That’s so you can have different talents within the same team, and backup.” She prestidigitates clean her glass. “Kleines, if you’re done with your milk, I’ll clean yours too.”
“Before we go, can you answer two more questions?” She turns back to Marek. “Clearly, you have a history with Dame Lebeda. Can you tell us if there’s something we need to know about it? Also... What do you think of Lander? Is adventuring something he really wants, or is he doing it just to piss off his mother?”
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Phinellippa drinks her mare's milk and mutters to herself quietly. "Hmmm. Astrigent? Tonic? Unappetizing?"
At Marek's explanation, her eyes goes wide. "We've got to find him before he gets himself killed, if he hasn't already!"
The Amazing CoCo lands on the table and sticks her whole head in the glass of milk whil Phinellippa is distracted.
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Garif accepts the milk gladly and takes a healthy swallow of it. He's tempted to add a few points to the Kleines' not-quite-started list of ways it's weird, but turns his attention back to the conversation with Marek.
"Is it just me, or does anyone else notice we seem to be sent after a lot of wayward children working for the Society?" he reflects quietly, unaware of the thick froth of mare's milk on his mustaches. "Anyway, this seems pretty straightforward compared to that business in Sauerton," he observes, his inevitable ignorance allowing him to savor the moment.
“I have no problem with her; Lander has only the nicest things to say about his mother.”
He pauses to take another swing of the milk.
“In my heart, I'm a Rostlander through and through, so all her work to bring Silverhall closer to those Northerners just rubs me the wrong way—I hope Lander won't make the same mistakes when he's grown.”
He smiles fondly as he says “As for Lander, he still has a rather romantic view of adventuring. Bards seldom mention the long hikes, cold camps, lack of coin, and other less glamorous parts of adventuring. Even the military histories he reads don’t bring home what it means to be on the trail.”
Looking back towards Damiar, he adds “Lander is a good kid, if a little scatter-brained at times. Regardless of what he does in life, I figured teaching him swordsmanship would be useful.”
“I don’t think Lander is doing this to hurt his mother. Much more likely he is trying to prove himself to her and others.”
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
“You’re right,” Damiar says with a grin. “Those darn bards sure leave out a lot of the less glamorous parts of adventuring. But thank you... This provides us some good insight into how Lander thinks. Maybe we can help him.” She turns to the others. “Are we ready to go?”
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
As they walk out, ready to leave, Damiar tries out a brand new song:
♫ Adventuring’s a fine life, so glorious and sweet
Taking what life gives you, following your feet
Laughter and story and things that are gory
And... oh, all the people you will meet!
But... before you go
There’s more to this, you know....
Adventuring’s for fools, for I am surely one
There’s more than monsters and treasure to be won
Bunions and blisters and missing your sisters
No setting roots when your life’s on the run
When it was time to go —
What if I had just said, no?
Adventuring’s a scam, so what if I had stayed home
No more monsters to slay no more countries to roam
No more budgetary squeezing, no villainous seizing
No becoming a footnote in another bard’s tome
Wait, am I crazy? No!
I want to go reap what I sow
Adventuring’s my soul, and my path marked in the stars
Sometimes it was glorious, othertimes told so in bars
Sometimes we’re hungry and cold, sometimes brash and bold
And sometimes we just love to show off our scars ♫
|
Shieara shakes her head as the group prepares to depart. "Sounds like th' kid's got his heart in th' right place an' maybe he's even got some talent fer sword-swingin'...but from all I've ever heard it's nothin' but trouble when noblefolk decide to go slummin'," she mutters. "Let's just hope we find him 'fore th' bandits do."
“I really doubt that he could even find any bandits. It is much more likely he has just lost his way and is wandering the countryside.”
“Every merchant worries about bandits. Now, I believe the group of you were about to search for the wayward lord?”
He gestures towards the stairs down. “I have a shop to run,”
|
|
Garif, oblivious to whatever it is Phinellippa is inquiring about but able to perceive Marek's powerful hint, gets to his feet and says, "Right, we should be going. Off to search for another stray. Uh, thanks for the milk."
He heads for the stairs, giving a series of unsubtle sideways tips of his head to encourage his companions to come along.
“Sorry, I really don’t have anything to tell you about the bandits.”
Looking to Shieara, he says “Pretty much what you would expect in rolling hills and meadows. Occasional giant animals, various beasts, perhaps ankheg if you are extremely unlucky.”
——
If you are setting off down the southwestern road, please give me survival or perception checks to represent you checking for any sign of him.
|
|
Shieara narrows her eyes at Marek and her lips flatten into a thin line. "I see. Not sure what th' heck a 'an-keg' is but I'll take your word for it that it ain't good. Thanks for your help."
Turning away, she mutters, "He's holdin' out on somethin' I think but good luck tryin' t' get it out of him," to her companions.
__________
Once the group eventually makes their way out of Marek's and sets off down the southwestern road, Shieara does her best to keep her eyes open for Lander or anything else unusual.
|
|
Verrix looks over at Shieara. "Is he faking his worry about Lander? Do you think he's leading us astray? From what we've heard from both his mother and him, I suspect he could be in more danger than he realizes. The wild countryside around here has all sorts of dangerous critters. We're not so far from the River Kingdom, and I've heard stories...."
His concern for Lander seemed genuine, but he seems to be good at hiding his true motivations when he wants to.
Nico sniffs and snuffles and looks about, wondering how long he'll have to keep this up.
The group takes the southwestern road out of town in the hope of picking up Lander's trail. After traveling along the road for about 50 miles, Garif and Nico notice a handkerchief tied to a tree along the road. Looking at it more carefully, the handkerchief bears on it the crest of House Lebeda — a white swan on a blue background with a rising sun in the background.
There is a deer trail leading off the main road on the same side as the tree that had the handkerchief tied to it.
You follow the deer trail for about two miles. It winds past a large pond fed by a spring. Reeds and sedges grow around the pond, and piping birds are audible over the gurgling of running water. The pond drains from a stream flowing southwards. A section of grasses has been cleared away near the north edge of the pond, revealing a small fire pit caked with ashes.
|
|
After all the walking and stomping through the wilderness, Shieara is absolutely fine with the change of scenery that the pond and nearby stream affords. She looks around and then her eyes are drawn to what seems to be an obvious campsite.
"Huh. Sure does look like he's been here but wonder what possessed him t' leave the main road in th' first place?"
|
|
“At least it’s been a pretty walk for the past two days. I don’t think I’ve done so much hiking in a long time!” She holds on the the kerchief as she looks out at the pond and stream. “This does not seem a bad place to play an adventurer. Do we want to take a break here?” She stretches, oblivious to any oncoming threat.
As you get close to the fire pit, suddenly you hear someone shout “Attack!” and a man jumps out of the reeds, charging towards Kleines!
Two arrows come from the reeds surrounding the pond.
Surprise round:
Round 1:
Phinellippa
Wicent
Garif
Kleines
Rees
Shieara
Nico
Yellow Bandit
Red Bandit
Damiar
Round 1:
Phinellippa
Wicent
Garif
Verrix
Kleines
Rees
Shieara
Nico
Yellow Bandit
Red Bandit
Damiar
Round 1:
Wicent tries to slam Kleines again, then takes a step back.
"If we can take a few alive, we might be able to ransom them! Now drop those bows and come help!"
Round 1:
Phinellippa
Wicent
Garif
Verrix
Kleines
Rees
Shieara
Nico
Yellow Bandit -5
Red Bandit
Damiar
Kleines had swung with his glaive as the bandit rushed up, but failed to connect.
Shieara misses with her spear.
Kleines swings again with the glaive and this time connects!
Round 1:
Phinellippa
Wicent -8
Garif
Verrix
Kleines
Rees
Shieara
Nico
Yellow Bandit -5
Red Bandit
Damiar
Nico bounds along the edge of the trail, coming at Wicent from the other side and biting at him!
Vertex steps up and warns Wicent of what will happen if he doesn't surrender.
Nico just bites the human while Garif prepares his sling.
Round 1:
Phinellippa
Wisent -11
Garif
Verrix
Kleines Readied hammer
Rees
Shieara
Nico
Yellow Bandit -5
Red Bandit
Damiar
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rees narrowly misses the bandit leader.
Yellow looks to the one in melee and asks “Are we surrendering?”
The evident leader says “We can still take them!” at which point Kleines carries through on his threat and slams the leader with his war hammer. The leader is knocked out by the blow!
Seeing,what happened to the leader, both of the other bandits drop their bows saying “We surrender! We were forced into banditry and never wanted to get rich quick!”
Yeah, they really are surrendering. They will say anything to try and get out of their current situation and obviously not thinking clearly about what sort of excuses might get work.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Alright, cut th' crap," Shieara snaps at the two surrendering bandits, clearly not in the mood for half-assed excuses. She produces some rope from her pack and moves to start tying them up.
"Since you're here an' feelin' awful cooperative all of a sudden, maybe you can tell us if anyone else's passed this way recently?"