Kazushi times her speech so that locals will not hear, if they are even paying attention, saying:-
"Exactly what I was thinking. But the locals seem...I didn't sense fear exactly. They are distracted, almost zombie-like, like they are drugged or mind controlled. Something psionic perhaps? I suspect you are both better versed in psionics than I.
What exactly we should do now I am unsure. Beyond stick together, and find Tio, he seems a decent sort."
Tio, having wandered around town a few minutes longer than the others, soon arrives. Being one of the few, if not the only, iguana in the room, Kenax is nice and easy to pick out, with the other party members nearby. "Strange people, here. They don't seem to leave much, if ever, let alone talk to people. They can barely hold a conversation." Tio scratches at his beard, considering his information as worthy of some thought, though he's unaware the rest of the group has been talking about precisely the same thing. "I can't say I've ever been here before, but do you think it an overarching weirdness, or something more sinister?"
"Tio! Yes this place is very odd."
Kazushi quickly brings Tio up to date with what she has discovered.
"Have you or anyone else noticed anything further?"
He thinks for a moment, and corrects himself.
"Well, not fear exactly, but sadness mixed with fear."
"Not sure if it matters, but everyone here seems to come from a few families - they all have similar features," Aidan tells Kazushi. "They also don't specify time. "Soon, not long ago, sometimes, rarely" - that's all you hear from the locals."
"One more thing caught my eye," Aidan remembers. "The items in the merchant's stalls, at least the ones I noticed, are in really bad condition - I wouldn't buy any of them."
"Curioser and curioser and curioser still.
It could be the dated merchandise and the locals not specifying time are related. Time is the theme. Perhaps.
There is certainly something deeply disturbing going on here. How we learn more isn't clear. We could see what can be found out by visiting House Duarron's compound and the church."
As the new friends walk into The Absent Eidolon they notice that unlike many of the other taverns they have frequented, there is no buxom waitress with her blouse unlaced, no surly barkeep polishing a glass with a dirty rag, spittle, and elbow grease, and the patrons seem quiet and reserved, rarely looking around or talking. The air is clean, a small fireplace stands cool in the warmth of the late morning sun, and the floor is strewn with fresh wood shavings giving the tavern a pleasing, spicy scent.
At a corner table sit the four of the surviving guardsmen, the brothers Morris and Simon, and the married couple Syonne and Bertrand. They sit in joyful jubilation with the job ended and their lives still in their own hands.
”Couldn’t believe the antlers on that thing. I wish we had time for me to field dress it and hang it over our bed. What say you, Syonne, care to redecorate?” the large man Bertrand guffaws at his own jest.
”And what palatial estate have you acquired for us, Bertrand? If I remember correctly, we have slept in hedges more than pillow topped, four-posters these last few years.” comes Syonne’s sharp tongued response.
”Ha! She’s got you there, Bertrand. The adventure is in his blood too much, Syonne. You know that.” Morris adds with a twinkling of his eye and a smirk.
”Visitors. The greenies.” states Simon without expression.
All four heads turn towards you.
Before re-entering The Absent Eidolon Kazushi takes a second to quietly cast Detect Magic, using the spell to sweep the bar and patrons.
"Syonne, gentlemen. Do we still qualify as green now we have been through combat?"
Kazushi replies, taking a seat, then continues, leaning closer to be heard while speaking softly:-
"Have you brought goods to this town before? The locals seem very subdued and somewhat sad. Is this normal?" And does the lack of guards with such dangerous creatures around strike you as odd?
"Again with the green? We fought. Not bad in fact," mentions Aidan.
He the grabs a chair and sits near Kazushi, nodding to her words and looking at the "veterans".
"Is this town our final destination?" he adds to her questions.
Bertrand guffaws while Morris responds, "No you are right. Greenies no more. Some gentle hazing is the life for a caravan guard. You all comported yourselves with aplomb. Well done indeed." he raises a glass in toast.
Syonne continues, "I don't believe that we have been here before, but Bertrand likes to take me everywhere." she rolls her eyes.
"We think the caravan will pull out of town within the next few days, want us to put a good word in with the caravan master for you all, or do you plan on staying here?" comes Simon's query as he twirls one of his many knives.
Morris looks at Simon, as Syonne looks at Bertrand.
"But the locals do seem off, that's for sure. I will be first in line when we pull out of here." adds in Bertrand.
"You always are." teases Syonne.
"You are correct about a lack of guards. But worry not, you know we can defend ourselves and from what I saw, you lot did pretty well too." declares Simon, still playing with his knife.
"And Aiden is it? A caravan never has a final destination, just a next one. We plan to be on that caravan to the next one, wherever that is. Depends on what the caravan master has left, what he acquires, and what he hears. Basically wherever he stands to make the most profit." adds in Syonne.
"Ah," he drawls. "That's how it is. And it's Aidan."
"Well, what can I say. The town piqued my interest and we seem to have a few days to spare before the caravan leaves. Why not spend them to investigate?" Aidan turns to the rest of their group. "What do you think?"
Kazushi considers briefly, then replies:-
"Thanks for the kind offer to put in a word with the caravan master.
I think investigating is a fine idea. We could look into House Duarron's compound, the market and the church."
"Investigation sounds like a fine idea. If these people need help, that's the only way we're going to find out. Worst case, we continue with you and the caravan, I suppose.
Tio doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about staying with the caravan, even if the more seasoned guards were starting to accept them.
"You all are welcome to do whatever you want. We'll probably have a look see, take in all Jace’s Stanchion has to offer. We can meet back here around lunch time if you want." declares Simon, still playing with his knife.
"It's settled then," Aidan nods. "Shall we explore together or split and cover more territory?"
Kazushi scowls somewhat theatrically and gestures elaborately as she speaks:-
"If something goes wrong it is best we are together I think. None of us know what is going on here.
Over there is the town square and market, where we can inspect these aging goods more closely, then just across that bridge is what I am sure is a church. We should be able to explore those and get back here in time for lunch. Sound reasonable?"
"Quite," Aidan shrugs.
He stands up and heads outside. "Let's go then."
"They sound as good as anywhere else. Strangeness is bound to be found at the church, if anywhere."
Vowing to return at lunch, the group breaks away from the seasoned caravan guards and heads towards the Market Place.
This square is dominated by a fine marble statue of Jace Meldarion. A scattered few wagons and market stalls sell semi-exotic cloth, fresh fruit and other rare commodities for the community.
The groups moves from stall to still noticeably absent are the cries of hawkers and a general feeling of the energy of other markets they have visited. Those few patrons move swiftly towards what they are intending to purchase, speak quickly with little desire to barter, and return to whence they came with their newly bought goods.
"The prices here are more frightening than the creatures that attacked us and the caravan" observes Kazushi caustically, then with a gesture towards the statue "and that must be the Jace the place is named after. I don't see much else here of note, shall we head to the church?"
"Perhaps. Though I do think that the House is responsible for this." Kenax adds in very hushed tones. "These prices are extortionate, such as one sees in tyranny." What are we getting ourselves involved in? We should pass on to the next town, there is too much danger and intrigue here.
"That may well be so. But there are a number of things that can lead to inflated prices, not all of them sinister. The unnatural distraction and fearfulness of the locals is more disturbing I think." Kazushi replies in equally hushed tones, moving across the marketplace to the bridge leading to the church.
"We have a good chance to meet with a local priest at this time of day," remarks Aidan while they walk towards the church. "I wonder if he's like everybody else?"
"Let us see if we can find out."
The group progresses through Jace's Stanchion. It is a short walk over the northeast bridge to the small wooden church. Looking to see who or what this particular holy house is dedicate to seems challenging. There is considerable iconography in the clinic, though it does not seem to be consecrated to any god in particular. The group see no others around and gently knock on the wooden door.
'"Enter!" comes the greeting from the other side. As the group opens the door and pushes into the small house, a aged woman approaches them.
"Good day. I am Simene’s and this is my Clinic. What can I do for you strangers to Jace's Stanchion?"
Kazushi enters the building, looking around and trying to read the Simene's manner for signs of the same peculiarities as the other villagers:-
while answering the lady, gesturing to her colleagues as she introduces each:-
"I am Kazushi and these are Aidan D Lafont, Tio Ringa and Kenax, we were hired guards for the caravan that arrived in town today. It is my pleasure to meet you Simene's, though I had thought this was a place of worship rather than healing.
"This clinic serves the people of Jace's Stanchion in many different ways. It is occasionally used as a meeting hall, a wedding chapel and a funeral home. Some do worship in their own fashion.
"So what is it that I can do for you?" Simene looks expectantly at the caravan guards.
"Actually, we just have some free time," answers Aidan. "So, we're talking to people and walking around. Not very sociable place you have here, I must say. And all those creatures outside, don't the bother you at all?"
"Creatures outside?" and a quizzical look asks Simene. "What exactly are you referring to?"
"Antlered beasts and little furry things, trying to murder people on the road. They're a stone's throw from your village, assuming you can throw a stone." The lizard-man says. He seems irritated at the lack of concern. These people are mushrooms! They are ostriches! The anger suffuses him, and he has to start pacing to work off the excess energy.
"The nasty things are a huge concern, it's amazing you get any goods in or out. How do you not know of them?" Tio asks quizzically, the situation truly befuddling the kineticist. He rubs his temple, lost in the apparent negligence of the community at large to such a seemingly ever-present threat.
"What I'm..." Aidan becomes silent for a few seconds.
"Right outside - quite a few of them. You've never seen them?" He throws up his hands.
Simene give Aidan a glare before nodding at Tio and Kenax. "You say creature like I am supposed to know what that is." begins the woman. "If you had said hanoshafyr I could have answered you straight forth. Regardless, they do inhabit the swamps around here. Every now and again I get some fool in here with a busted head because he doesn't show the hanoshafyr the proper respect.
"As for getting goods in and out, I am no House Duarran member, but we seem to do well selling the phrenoric ore from the mines and goods come in regularly enough I guess.
"Awful judgmental lot." she mutters to herself. "Anything else I can help you with at The Clinic?" she ends in a terse tone.
"No, I think we will do better to find the answers at House Duarran. Phrenic ore... that sounds familiar." Kenax is prepared to leave, though he does look pensive regarding the phrenic ore, which is probably famous for its properties but he can't necessarily recall them off the top of his head.
Kazushi speaks in tones calculated to promote harmony, saying:-
"Apologies. We had to fight for our lives against these hanoshafyr so it seems odd when people don't seem to know them. How do you show hanoshafyr proper respect, Simene? They seemed just hostile when we encountered them."
"How does one show respect to deadly creatures? Usually you give them a wide berth and try to avoid all conflicts with them. Seems to have worked for Jace's Stanchion." retorts Simene. "As caravan guards I would have through you would have encountered all types of beasts in your travels" she trails off as she begins to tinker with some medical supplies, clearly uncomfortable with the pointed questions of the caravan guards.
"We were guarding caravan heading through their territory when we did not know they were there. But it is not surprising they attacked the caravan, as you say. In any event, thank you for your help and i wish you good day Simene."
With this Kazushi starts to move out of the church, or medical facility, saying to her comrades:-
"Anybody know what this Phrenoric ore stuff is?
"No idea," Aidan shakes his head. "So the Duarrans somehow deal with those hana... hanashavirs, but we already knew that."
"Do you think the ore and the antlered things are connected?" he asks while moving towards the inn. "We should ask the caravan master how old is this settlement."
Crossing the northwestern bridge and across from the Colony sits House Duarran. The caravan guards notice a split wooden fence ringing the largest estate in Jace's Stanchion. A pair of guards are stationed at the gate and at any time there are half a dozen guards patrolling the grounds of the home of the ruling family of Jace’s Stanchion.
As the group approaches, two house guards in House Duarran livery cross rusty, if not well made pole arms. Both guards are dressed in leathers and both were seen staring at the horizon for long moments before glancing left or right.
"Good afternoon. What can we help you with?" the first guard mutters in a monotone voice.
The group, having explored the market and clinic, return to the Abscent Eidolon Tavern.
The tavern appears much the same. Few patrons, and thoses that are here keep to themselves with bowed heads over bowls of what appears some stew-like concoction.
The caravan guards make their way back to spot occupied by Morris, Simon, Bertrand, and Syonne. The brothers Morris and Simon are not there, and as the group reflects on this they recollect that they cannot remember seeing either pair without the other.
Betrand and Syonne have their heads close together engaging in a converstaion without regard for those around them. As the group seats themselves, they can overhear the two.
"That would be perfect. A nice little house south of the general store. I can just imagine maybe planting a little garden." the group overhears Bertrand plan.
"And we should try for little ones. Right away. I wonder if you should ask House Duarran for a job. I can just see myself sitting home waiting for you to arrive." comes Syonne's response.
That is the sweetest thing I have heard for some time. I wonder if they are going to "try for a little one" right here in the tavern?
"Well, the greenies are back, not knowing much more than before we left. You familiar with what is good on the menu here?"
Aidan looks glances quizzically at them, but says nothing. Just a few hours ago they were eager to leave this place, and now they want to settle in?
"Where are Morris and Simon?" he asks Bertrand. Aidan also tries to remember if Bertrand and Syonne ordered anything before he and the others left.
Bertrand pulls his loving gaze from Syonne. "I'm sorry, who are you?" he asks Kazushi.
Syonne's face scrunches up in confusion, "Morris and Simon? Never heard of them."
They resume holding hands and smiling at each other clearly dismissing the group from their thoughts.
"Great," sighs Aidan and pulls his companions away. "I don't think they were joking. This just gets weirder and weirder."
He rubs the back of his neck. "First, I don't think eating anything made here is a good idea. Second, we need to find Morris and Simon. Then we think what we should do next. Agree?"
Kazushi seems stunned to silence at first, which is so completely out of character one could be forgiven for speculating something odd has happened to Kazushi as well. As Aidan pulls her away, Kazushi manages a breezy response to the couple:-
"Forget it! I am sure you will."
Then speaking to her companions:-
"I don't think it is funny. And weird does not quite cover it. You seem to have the right of it Aidan. We had best stick together and if we cannot get some answers soon, somehow, we should consider flight. Find someone more knowledgeable, powerful, influential or all three."