“Thank you. I believe the picture is beginning to become clearer.” Lalia responds as she hands the note back to Earll. “Did you see any strife within the group as Malochia asked? Also, do you have any ideas on where else it may be beneficial for us to investigate besides the graveyard and the orchard? Favorite haunts of the group? Places they’d discussed?”
"We are beginning to be able to construct a proper timeline" She comments to the others, brow slightly furrowed as she thinks.
Alcie thinks for a bit, "Strife? No, can't say I ever did. They usually looked after each other, and I don't think there was too much strife, other than maybe some of them vying for Gellion's attention. As far as other places to investigate, I can't think of anything. Have you checked up on all of the apprentices and where they live? If there's something up, they might might have left clues at their homes."
She looks around the bar, and sees that many of the patrons have not been waited on since she has been talking with you. "I'm going to go check up on my patrons. Let me know if you need me for anything, or have other questions. Otherwise, take your time and get a good meal in you. I'll bring more food and beer as you need. And consider this one on the house."
Having finished his soup, Malochia has his tail around his chin with a serious expression "Let's visit the bakery and then try to see if we can revisit Ms. Pricknettle and try to see if we can take a look at where Gellion lived" turning to Alcie "If you don't mind me asking, where did Morvinarr live and can we take a look?"
Alcie looks at Malochia seriously, and then replies, "Morvinarr actually lives here, in a permanent room upstairs. He was orphaned after the Goblinblood wars, and I took him in as an apprentice. I had served with his parents, and they were good folk. You're welcome to take a look when you're ready to go, but I went over it earlier and only found that note."
“Thank you. We will take a quick look. Your help is greatly appreciated.” She turns towards Malochia. ”That seems like a reasonable course of action to me as well”
After finishing our lunch, we head up to Morvinarr's room and take a look around.
A thorough search of Morvinarr's room () does not yield any additional clues.
As the group approaches the spot on the map marked "Bakery," you see an expertly crafted wooden sign that reads, "Gunty's Heart Breads" outside of one of the largest storefronts you have seen. Upon entering the store, you are immediately greeted by the bustle of a thriving business, and are met with the delectable aroma of freshly baked bread. A number of youths (5) dressed as bakers move about the store, mixing, kneading, and baking dough under the watchful eye of a sour faced fellow who also wears the garb of a baker.
Two of the apprentices seem to be struggling with a cart piled to nearly overflowing with bread and other savory baked good that has a couple of broken wheels that they were trying to move towards the door. Their stern master calls out from the back of the store, "Nod, Flem, will ya quit fooling around with that cart and get it moving? Alcie needs this bread before the dinner rush!" The apprentices, who look like they've spent more time lifting bread than moving carts, redouble their efforts, attempting to push the car with their backs or shove with their arms to little or no avail.
The gruff faced man hobbles over towards them. His right leg seems to be injured or lame. He, unlike the apprentices, looks like he could easily move the cart, were his leg not injured. "Come on, lads! Put your backs into it! The wheel is just a mite bit stuck." ()
Noticing the party, he looks your way and says, "Pleased to meet you, Gunty Keronna at your service. Come to taste the heartiest damn breads this side o' the river, have you?"
This must be the place the delightful bread we had with our lunch came from! Dra'Hir noticing the struggle before him attempts to assist by leaning against the cart.
Still worn out from his exhaustive morning he looks to his new friends for a hand.
As he struggles with the cart he calls to the head baker, My friend we have come here on official business directly involving one of your apprentices. He gestures to the others to produce the letter while he tries not to throw his back out moving the cart.
Trying desperately to not look like a fool he switches to a purposeful stance.
We surely cannot deprive the rest of the town of this wonderful bread!
Malochia looks at his puny arms and tries to help push the cart with his hands and tail with little to no effect.
Lalia leans down and whispers to Fyrra. Fyrra eyes her with a mix of skepticism and confusion. Lalia shrugs and rolls up her sleeves.
After trying for a moment, she returns to Fyrra and whispers again, waving a hand towards the wagon.
Earll is well aware his strength is in dexterity, not strength. However, nothing ventured nothing gained. He places his shoulder against the cart and heaves.
The initial attempts of the group to aid the apprentices with their cart are a comedy of unforced error.
Dra'hir leans into the cart, nearly falling over as his foot slips on fine coating of flour lining the floor, and Malochia and Lalia attempt to help, but end up just contributing to the general mayhem, to the annoyance of Gunty.
Having failed spectacularly at their initial attempt, the group looks little like fabled heroes out of stories.
Dra'hir though, no stranger to persistence, resets himself in a sturdier stance. Fyrra gives Lalia a look saying, "What in the world are you asking me to do?" But with some coaching from the druid, she positions herself under the wagon. And Del steps forward clapping his hands together, saying "Let m-me see if I can help with that, f-f-folks."
()
Fyrra uses her head to lift the underside of the wagon, lifting some of the weight from the wheels. Dra'hir, perhaps fueled by indignation at his earlier failure, sets his shoulder under the back of the wagon and gives a mighty heave, loosening the wheels up and allowing them to turn. And Del, despite his low stature, helps more than two burly men might. The wagon moves smoothly out the door, and the apprentices thank you profusely as they hustle off in the direction of the Witch's End.
Gunty gives an appreciative grunt, and his gravelly voice exclaims. "Thanks for the help. That cart's not that heavy, but I'd have trouble with it with this leg. Gunty Keronna here," he says pointing his thumb to his chest, "What do you want? Something tells me it's not bread."
“We actually did have the pleasure of tasting your bread. You are quite talented. However you are correct, we are here on some business. Lalia Silverstrom, Druid, with Fyrra Silverstrom, reticulated python. We are here to make a few inquiries about Ms. Tauralio?” She hands him the mayor’s letter.
Fyrra meanwhile, looking quite pleased at her success, noses around in the flour. Lalia glances at her and lets her be, figuring that she deserves to amuse herself after being willing to play plough-snake and if the baker is going to be annoyed, the damage is probably already done.
Gunty looks at the letter Lalia is handing to him, and grunts, "What's this?" He takes a moment and skims through the letter, muttering to himself, "Official business . . . oh, as you would answer me personally . . . ah, and he says disdainfully.
He hands the letter back to Lalia, and continues in a gravelly tone, "Yup, sounds like the usual official drivel from our wise and noble mayor. Well her tenure's been less than impressive if you ask me." He sizes up the group as he speaks, "Still, you went out of your way to help my apprentices, and you did manage to move that cart. You can't be total pushovers, right lads," he says, limping around and giving Del and Dra'hir a clap on the shoulders.
He looks back at Lalia, "And how'd you ever train that big of a snake to do that sort of work? Damndest thing I've seen since that gnome with the goat up in Elidir."
"So what was it again? Oh, that's right, Noemi. She's got talent, but I don't think she appreciates the strict rules around this place."
"She's always running around with those no-good friends of hers. I think they might be planning some kind of trick on me. Recent nights, I've been hearing buzzing noises and seeing strange lights flickering like torches flying through the sky near the town orchard." He looks from party member to party member, gauging your reactions. "Whatever they're planning, I'm convinced the orchard is their staging ground. I went and checked it out just yesterday, but all I found was some trampled fruit."
"Anyway, Noemi hasn't shown up for work these past two days." He looks a little abashed, "Well, three days ago, I gave her a pretty hard time after she burned a pan of rolls. My assumption is she's off sulking, and too ashamed to come back for now. What else did you want to know about her?"
Lalia shrugs at the question. "Fyrra's not trained for that type of work. She's trained for a variety of things that we've found useful in the wilderness though. She's a smart, good natured girl and will generally take a shot at doing most anything for me if I can explain it right." Lalia glances down at Fyrra, who appears to be contentedly nosing at the flour on the floor.
"Don't think she'd take to that kind of work long term. She's too bright and too fond of novelty. She'll listen to known commands from me no matter what happens, but I learned when she was just a baby that a bored snake is a snake looking for trouble to get into."
Lalia looks at the apprentices and the baker consideringly. He hardly seems to be the sort of man that would know much about Noemi's personal life. "Unfortunately we have some reason to believe that Ms. Tauralio's friends have run into some trouble and she may have as well. Do you know where she lives? We'd like to try checking in on her. We have already taken a look at the orchard and found a bit of...environmental trouble there that we cleaned up. We may check in on there again, but I believe you can rest assured that they are not setting up a trick for you there."
Dra'Hir gets the sense that Gunty is a bit of a taskmaster and would like to speak to the other apprentices in private if given the chance.
Master Keronna, that's an impressive grip you have. Is that just from kneading dough or were you involved with the Goblin wars? Dra'Hir glances down at Gunty's leg. I don't mean to be forward... I've been told I don't have much of a filter sometimes.
"Never seen a snake do that. You're good with animals. And thanks telling me 'bout the orchard. Puts me a little more at ease." the man growls at Lalia in a friendly enough tone. "As for Noemi. Her parents house is a couple blocks north of here. I can give you directions."
His eyes light up at Dra'hir's question. He turns to Dra'hir. "The Goblinblood Wars," he says, not even noting the slight correction. He eyes seem to looks right through the pale man, focusing on something none of you can see. "Yeah, I was neck deep in those."
He snaps back to the present, looking at Dra'hir, straightening up, with an edge of discipline coming into his voice, "I prefer direct talk myself. I was a sergeant in Isger's army. That's where this leg came from, as you probably guessed," he continues, "You should see what's left of the other guys though," he concludes with a dark smile. He gives Dra'hir a shrewd look, "Have you seen war up close? You have the look of a warrior, but a war is something else altogether."
I myself have never had the honor of going to war, but I have seen a battle or two in my day. He grabs at the hilts of his blades. I know my way around a blade and so far have come away with little more than a scratch. I'd hope to keep it that way. Perhaps you could regale me with a tale sometime.
While the group is talking to the baker, Tiki is chasing Malochia's tail around while he is using it like a bait. He seems deeply amused by this, evident by the large grin on his face.
Lalia’s mouth twists upwards on one side in an odd, slightly sardonic expression at Dra’hir’s words “I am not of the belief that there is honor in war. It is little more than the law of the jungle once all of the warnings that animals give their kindred have passed. You fight with any advantage you can gain or you die. I may not have been in a war, but I have seen what it leaves behind. Some places cannot be restored and the price never ends when the battle does. Honor in war is for those willing to die without achieving all they could.”
Lalia pushes a hand through her hair and then touches the twigs hanging down from her neck before smoothing her face back into a more pleasant expression. “ah, directions would be appreciated, thank you.”
The crippled man borrows your map and marks the position of Neomi's home on it, just a few blocks north of your current location.
Gunty gives Dra'hir a serious look. "The druid's right enough. Honor has little enough to do with it, 'specially in these parts." He seems to consider the fetchling's offer, "Still, maybe someday we can trade tales over an ale. I'll tell you how I got this leg, and you tell me how you ended up in Isger."
As the group prepares to leave, he say, "If you find that my apprentice is actually in trouble, try to help her out. She's not bad, just a little lazy here and there." He extends a rock-solid handshake to Dra'hir, saying, "Best of luck. And the same to you, madam Druid," he continues with a glance at Lalia.
On the way to the Apothecary's, the group runs into two of Gunty's apprentices, making their way back to the bakery with the now empty cart in tow. Recognizing the group, they fall all over themselves professing their thanks. "We would have never gotten that cart to move without help," they gush, "And Gunty could have moved it, but we would never had heard the end of it. Thanks so much!"
Perhaps honor isn't the right word. Again, I still feel a stranger on this plane. Glancing toward Lalia with a growing look of thought he he offers, Maybe thrill would be a more apt descriptor?
Dra'Hir flexes his hand after the bear trap of a paw that Gunty offered releases. When I return from fetching the apprentices I'll take you up on that offer! He turns and leaves with his companions.
Upon meeting the baker's apprentices in the street, Dra'Hir waves off the thanks. It was nothing, I'm sure you would do the same for anyone in need. He looks over his shoulder to ensure he is out of earshot of Gunty and pointing behind him with his thumb he states, Bit of taskmaster isn't he?, trying to gain their confidence.
The two apprentices look at each other as Dra'hir is speaking. Sensing that they've found a friendly ear, they seem to relax a bit. The taller one opens up almost immediately, "He's the worst. Literally the worst boss I could imagine. It's always rules, rules, rules, and a sharp tongue if we don't abide by 'em. 'You've forgotten the salt, Mel!' 'Mel, knead that dough the way I showed you!' 'You're fifteen minutes late, Mel, I expect you to make that up!' And he goes on and on about wanting to make the best bread this side of the river." His face gets a sour look, "Why do we care if the bread's the best this side of the river. Good enough is good enough I say. Well, I don't say that to the boss's face. But I can say it to you, right?"
Dra'Hir is a bit taken back by their bratty response. Well I'm sure he is just trying to instill a sense of pride in you, Mel. We should strive to do our best at everything we do, otherwise why bother doing it? Changing the subject back to the task at hand, You don't think he would have scared off Noemi, do you? Did she mention anything before she disappeared?
The taller apprentice answers the pale man, "Noemi? She was sure upset after he lectured her for burning that pan of burned buns the other day. And she usually gets through the day without any lectures, that one."
He shoots the shorter one a glance, "Wasn't she talking about one of her friends the other day?"
The shorter apprentice, who stayed silent through his friend's tirade, chimes in, "Yeah, Mel. I overheard her talking to that young priestess of Erastil about one of their friends they were worried about a few days ago. Gallon was it? I can't quite remember."
The bigger one talks over his colleague, "That's right. I remember now, it was Gallon. Girl problems, right?" he says with a knowing grin.
Lalia shrugs to herself. She sees little wrong with the baker's criticisms, but perhaps these children would prefer the freedom of roaming the wild. She looks at them again- they probably wouldn't survive it though. Either way, she decides it is not her concern.
"Gellion?" Lalia inquires, "We've heard some rumors that he had been acting strangely. Did you overhear anything like that? Or perhaps where they last saw him?" They had not heard rumors, but well, that would probably inspire fewer questions than telling them the truth of what she suspected.
"Gellion," the bigger apprentice says, "Are you sure it wasn't Gallon? Anyway, I heard," he begins, and then stops in surprise as the smaller baker cuts him off. "You didn't hear anything, Mel. I did. And I only heard the name in what sounded like a worried conversation. Can't say what they were worried about."
The smaller baker looks at Mel and sighs, then looks back at the party. "Anyway, we've got to get back. Gunty will be wondering what's kept us, and I'd rather not tell him we were chatting in the street -- even with you guys. Thanks again for the help earlier! Come on Mel!"
With that, they move off, with the smaller, unnamed baker pushing their pace.
When you arrive back at Pricknettle's Potions and Poultices, you find the gnomish proprietor hard at work. She seems surprised to see you walking back through the door. "Back so soon? Have you found anything about Gel? Or have you come back to examine the supplies that only I can provide?" she asks Earll with a grin.
Earll breaks into a smile of pure joy. " Majara! May I call you Majara? Of course, you will indulge me." Dropping to his knees to look into her eyes Earll continues. "My gorgeously grand goddess of the goblet." "There is much I wish for you to supply for me." Tilting his head back and up while laying the back of his hand to his forehead, as if in a swoon. "If you would continue to supply me with the vision of you, I would be in rapture. Supply me with the sound of your melodious voice that I forget the sweet song of life. Supply me with the bouquet of your fragrance and I would truly faint away!"
Back to looking her in the eye, Earll sobers his tone.
"On a more mundane note. We have toiled in the search of your apprentice, and we have had a thought to examine Gellion’s quarter. Then, I at least, if not all of us, would wish you to supply us with what knowledge you have on a cure for Demon Bile. I have begun to suspect it has played a part in the disappearances."
Malochia keeps playing with Tiki on the way to the apothecary "Well, we still have no real clue as to where these apprentices are" as he flings his tail upwards for Tiki to try to jump and catch it "Hopefully Majara can let us know where Gellion lives, I suspect we'll find at least something that will lead us to the apprentices there" he flinches as Tiki finally manages to grab his tail and playfully chews on it.
At the apothecary he starts looking around again with renewed interest evident by the few embers glowing in his pupils, though this time it's obvious he's paying more attention to the conversation between Majara and the party.
The gnome looks a bit confused as Earll declares her a deity of goblets, but gives a little laugh as he continues. She reaches up and gives the swashbuckler a pat on the cheek, and replying "Browse all you want, dearie. Just don't touch the merchandise without permission."
As Earll takes a turn for the serious, she meets his gaze with a serious expression on her face. "Demon's Bile, south of the Mendev. That's a serious matter. Are you sure it's really Demon's Bile? Did you bring a sample? Or can you at least give a detailed description?"
She looks worried as she continues, "What does this have to do with Gellion, though? I take my apprentice's privacy very safely, and while I'm worried about finding Demon's Bile in town (if that's what it is), I feel I need to protect him. Or are there other reasons you have for wanting to see Gellion's house in particular?"
"Purplish-black strands, caused decay where it was present, sensitive to cold iron. We've destroyed it in the two locations we've found it, but I believe some evidence of its influence remains. Two of my colleagues are knowledgeable about the planes and had some familiarity with the stuff." She indicates Malochia and Dra'hir.
Lalia studies the apothecary for a moment. "Ms. Pricknettle, you implied earlier that you could be discreet? We have some suspicions that are both alarming and time sensitive if correct, but we do not want to unnecessarily alarm the town. These concerns are what have lead us to wish to look at your apprentice's home. If you are willing to assist us in keeping this quiet until we know the truth of the matter, I will share what we know with you. Once we have discussed, I'm sure we can try to solve how to proceed together."
Majara looks at Lalia carefully before replying. "I'm sure you can trust me, but I don't know what you'll tell me that I haven't figured out already. The giant bugs people have been worried about are from the Demon's Bile, that much is obvious. And there are a number of apprentices who have gone missing. So there's trouble in town. But what's it have to do with Gellion?"
The gnome fixes the druid with an unblinking violet stare, waiting intently for an answer.
Upon Majara's inquiry about the demon's bile and Lalia's description Malochia jumps in "Of course it was demon's bile" with a massive grin, wiggling his tail in front of the apothecary "Don't you trust meeeee?" elongating his words and clearly referring to his abyssal heritage.
His grin slowly disappears "We have good reason to believe that at least one apprentice is attacking the rest. You probably have a good guess as to what demon's bile does to humans." he tilts his head with that last comment "I'm not sure if it's the best time to hold off information that can save their lives" he ends with a shrug.
Lalia raises an eyebrow at Malochia but choses not to comment. "Unfortunately it's all rather circumstantial, so we are certainly trying to keep an open mind as to the possibilities. But what we can tell you is that as you know, Gellion was last seen four days ago. Palvolus and possibly Bertrona disappeared that same day. Noemi disappeared two days ago. Morvinarr disappeared after midnight on that day as well. Nolaria disappeared either two or three days ago. This is merely to give you an idea of the timeline."
She pauses for a second, then proceeds. "Morvinarr had received a note to meet him in the orchard. In the orchard, we found tracks that indicated that Morvinarr fought and had been dragged off by a smaller person."
"Now Nolaria - we have reason to believe that Nolaria knew what was happening. Nolaria purchased a cold iron morning star three days ago and went to the graveyard with that weapon. At the graveyard we found her morningstar, her familiar crying "get yellowfoot", and tracks indicating that a person of a similar size to the one in the orchard had dragged off a smaller person."
"We've thus concluded that finding Gellion is of the utmost importance. Either Gellion was involved in the disappearance, or Nolaria, who knew what was happening to at least some degree, wanted Gellion's aid. If you were willing to check Gellion's home yourself and simply let us know if you find anything of importance, that would be suitable as well in my opinion while still preserving his privacy. My only concern is that there is some chance that something dangerous could be present that would be best handled by more than one person. I hope those concerns are unfounded of course. I know we are asking a lot of you, but hopefully that better explains our reasons for doing so."
The gnome looks surprised by Malochia's sudden melodramatic outburst. She looks at him with a pitying look, "Your childhood had a lot of head trauma? Or is it a disease? Oh you poor dear." She sizes him up a she continues, "I might be able to whip something up for that. Let me think about it."
She looks ready to respond argumentatively to Malochia's comment, but Lalia jumps in at just the right time. She listens intently to Lalia's concise summary. "Gellion has yellow boots," she murmurs to herself as the Mwangi woman continues.
The alchemist seems to consider what she has heard for a bit before responding, "It seems to me that whoever wrote that note is responsible for these kidnappings. Let me take a look."
She looks at the note, and quickly sits down, putting her hand to her head. "Oh Gell, what are you mixed up in?" she asks, a large tear running down her small face. After a few seconds, she pulls herself together, wiping her eyes, and stands up.
"Gellion wrote this note," she says in a cracked voice. "I've seen him working over alchemical formulae for years and I'd recognize that handwriting anywhere. I don't know what's going on, but the boy I know wouldn't harm his friends. He lives with his parents in the eastern part of the village. I'll give you his address."
She quickly jots down directions on a stray piece of parchment and hands it to Lalia. "Please, help Gellion. I know he would never hurt his friends willingly. I don't know what's going on, but I know he's in trouble."
"Thank you very much for your help. I believe that as long as my companions are agreeable, we will head directly to Gellion's house and see what we can find. Before we go, Mr. Fynn asked about a cure for demon's bile. Would you have any information on that? We suspect that it may be the influence of the demon's bile that has caused Gellion to act out of character. If we can find him, either having or knowing of a way to treat the influence of demon's bile would be of great help."
A few embers spark in Malochia's eyes, visibly annoyed at Majara, waits until she is done processing the information she is given "Maybe you should whip something up for yourself Majara, you seem like you need it now." Malochia shrugs at the gnome "I was just trying to spare you the details until we figure this out.".
He turns to the group "I suggest checking Gellion's house out first and see what we find".
To Gellion's home then. Dra'Hir thanks the gnome for her insight and assistance. He turns and ushers the group out before Malochia can jam his foot all the way in his mouth.
The Vazarro home is a simple, well-kept, two-story building of brick, wood, and plain shingles. Smoke bellows from a brick chimney, and only the tiniest bit of light escapes its windows, from which partially closed, thick-slatted shutters hang. The front door bears a tarnished brass knocker.
The front door is a sturdy, wooden door. A simple inspection shows that the door is locked and the windows are locked from the inside.
Knocking at the front door is greeted only by silence.
As you approach the house, Del looks worried. "W-w-what is that stain on the shutters of the windows? And there's something on that door kn-knocker! Oh Humble H-hand, preserve me!
Dra'Hir draws his Kukri and looks to the party Does anyone have some experience with lock picking? I feel as though we have a surprise waiting on the other side of this door so we should be ready.
“Blood - relatively fresh but not today’s.” Lalia responds to Del’s inquiry, looking relatively unperturbed. “I have no skill at such things myself.” She notes to Dra’hir. “Not much of a need in the wilds.”
"Yes, yes, a very scary door indeed" Malochia says with a smirk "While I think it's probably going to alert some people, I suggest breaking the windows, none of us looks the type to pick a lock" he seems serious now and looks like he's thinking "Before you do so, let me think for a second, I might be able to do something about the mess this might create"
"I do have some talent at getting through “Stuck” doors."
"This door seems a bit more stuck than what I'm used to."
Earll's first attempt to unlock the front door seems a bit clumsy, even with the use of thieves' tools. As he prepares to try the lock again, Del comes up to him, tugging at his sleeve. "May Khepri guide your hand," he says to the swashbuckler, placing a right hand on the Earll's and making a strange sign with his left hand. Del's right hand glows with an eerie light as Earll feels a strange sensation of divine guidance.
On his second attempt at the lock, Earll is having trouble with the lock, but as he is about to give up, manages to get the lock to disengage. The door unlocks with a *click*.