While Elduin, Grumbles and Silas set up a hidden camp in the nearby wood, Stochelo and Clayton head for the hamlet of Purt.
Following the road, they soon catch sight of the tall thorn wall surrounding the village. As they approach, they pass planted fields, mainly cabbages, turnips and pumpkins.
In one of the fields close to the massive thorn wall, a group of men in farmers clothes are busy loading red cabbages onto a handdrawn cart. As they spot you, they pause and watch cautiously as you approach, hoes and pitchforks held ready.
Clayton’s friendly greeting makes them relax their stance a bit, and assure them of your peaceful intentions.
One of the older men, a square-cut man with a bushy salt-and-pepper beard, steps forward to return the greeting.
Well met, friends. Not many travellers on the road these days. We don’t have much in the way of trade, but if you give us a hand loading up the last of the crops, you are welcome to what hospitality we have to offer. Our thorn wall does a fine job at keeping out the dangers of the wild, and we are grateful for it’s protection.
Clayton walks through the small village, taking a look at the people and what seems to be a simple life. A farmer, could I be a farmer after its all said and done?
"That's not a problem, I don't mind doing a bit of work. Its good for the soul." The brawler turns to Stochelo, "What about you? You could use a bit on muscle on you." He knows that people generally talk and sing while they work and short of getting them drunk, its one of the best ways to see and hear what they're really like.
"Sure, why not? We have the time to help out, right?"
Stochelo doffs his backpack and pitches in tossing cabbages and the rest of the goods into the cart.
Silas floats among the tree tops, keeping watch for any threats that may appear, and for the return of his companions.
After thoroughly scouting the area for a couple of hours together with Foewyn, Elduin returned.
"This place is as good as any. Let's stay here, and look what mother nature provided us with..."
He managed to hunt down a wonderful boar that will serve them for a few days. Together with some herbs he gathered he starts preparing the animal.
Cart loaded, the farmers lead Clayton and Stochelo towards the thorn wall surrounding Purt. The mass of huge entwined vines covered in thorns the size of daggers seems completly massive, even close up. But the farmers use hidden handholds to pull back the plant wall enough to clear a path through.
You step through to find a collection of wooden houses grouped around an open square and a large stone well. Only a few of the houses have any masonry. The atmosphere is peaceful and playing children run freely among the buildings. Once inside, the burly farmer speaks up.
You are hard workers, the pair of you. How about I buy you a round at the alehouse for your trouble. Old Harfred usually has some basic supplies for sale, and a couple of bunks for rent if you want to spend the night. I’m Alford, by the way.
Joining Alford in the alehouse, Clayton and Stochelo spend a couple of hours in casual conversation with the locals. They pick up the following rumors:
- The area south of Purt has been quiet for some time, without much activity from neither Molthune and Nirmathas troops.
- Small bands from the hobgoblin tribes north of the river have been spotted patroling the woods outside their usual territory.
- The troll Sigurx has not been seen for a few weeks, but he has put up fresh markers warning trespassers not to enter his cave.
- A pair of half-elf brothers from a local family have not returned from a fishing trip. They have been gone over a week and their human father is extremly worried.
- One of the locals swear he saw the shape of a huge dragon in the night sky last full moon. His friends tease him that he was only awake and outside because he was drunk and had to piss. He objects furiously.
In the forest camp, all is quiet.
Grumbles as always constantly busies himself around camp.
As the hours pass, Silas calls down from the tree top, How long do we give them before we go see if they need help?
Stochelo keeps up with the locals, carousing and singing and making friends.
Inquiring about the lost pair of brothers, he plies the drinkers for more details.
"Say, we're probably heading out soonish, what say you tell us what these lads look like, and their favorite fishing spots? We might come across them, send em back to town all safe and sound."
Other than that, he keeps his wits about him and tries to memorize any details of local geography and politics the town provides.
"Can't have fine folk like yourselves worrying about some brothers, since we're traveling by foot we might be able to figure out where they went off to." Clayton knows there isn't much time to be doing these little things, but that right there was someone's family, and he worries that those kids may have been caught up in something they want no part of.
Alford turns somber as Stochelo and Clayton inquire about the missing brothers.
That's mighty kind of you. They are twins, Algorn and Belun. They are both in their forties, but being half-elves, they barely look to be out of their teens. Caleb, their father, is getting on in years and is relying on them more and more to manage the farm work. They are all he has left, since their mother left many years ago. She was never cut out to be a cabbage farmers wife and couldn't bear the sight of her husband and sons aging either. The fellas usually head North to the Marideth River every year before the harvest season, and they have never been late in returning before. They are hardy lads, and know how to handle themselves outdoors, but there are many dangers about. We've been helping Caleb as best we can, but we're all worried by now. If you can help them back safely, the entire village will be grateful.
"Consider it done then. No promises but if we do see them in our journey you would be best assured they're coming home."
Finishing his drink in a large swig, Clayton faces Stochelo, "We have places to be, lets go figure out a path that could take us to both of these places at once."
"North of the river should be workable. I'm sure our guide can plan a trek that takes us that way. Probably find any tracks of the fishermen, too, come to think of it."
Once ready to leave, Stochelo drinks a lot less freely, nursing his cups and trying to sober up as much as possible.
Clayton nods to Stochelo and says his goodbyes to the people that housed them.
"Lets get moving." With a swig to finish off the tankard he swings his bag over his back and starts to move on.
The residents of Purt bid you a cheerful farewell and escort you outside the thorn wall. You swiftly make your way back to the hidden camp, joining the rest of the team.
"As I said, everything north of the river is really dangerour terrain. Those men shouldn't have gone there by themselves. I'm all for helping those lost in the woods, but it must be made clear that we risk not only our lives to do so, but also exposure. It's difficult to hide when crossing the river. I guess everyone has a vote in this delay to our mission."
"Hey, I figured we could check the way as we traveled. If we cross the river at night, it cant be too hard to stay hidden, right? I can use some magic if we really wanna stay unseen, then we just keep going like we have been. Heck, if they're fishermen, they're gonna be near the water anyways. Hearts and minds, guys, we gotta turn them to the Nirmathi way, maybe we can help to slow down this stupid war just a bit."
"I say we do it. What good is stability if there's no people to enjoy the stable world after?"
I agree with Stochelo, Grumbles says simply and immediately begins packing the camp.
We already have a mission but who am I to stand in the way of winning hearts and minds? Silas offers before asking, What makes you think they crossed the river?
"That's what the townsfolk said. Apparently the fishermen had a pattern, and this absence is not normal for their behavior. It might be a long shot, but if were in the area anyways, a little scouting and tracking wont impact us too badly, I think. "
It is settled then. We'll follow the rivers from here on out and perhaps we can locate these missing men as we pass along.
Turning to Stochelo and Clayton he inquires, Did the fellows who asked you to find these fishermen happen to tell you which side of the Eldress they traveled on?
Clayton smiles that they decide to come along, "Not quite sure really. Said they traveled north to the river, not that they crossed it." He shakes his head and turns to Grumbles and Elduin, "I think this falls under your purview now."
"I guess so. Let's head to the river first. I got an idea on how to progress from there, but we should familiarize ourselves with the location first."
Elduin shoulders his backpack and removes all signs of this ever being a camping spot.
"I'll explain on the way, if you want to know."
Ready when you are.
After breaking camp, you set off to the north. Keeping clear of Purt and it’s outlying fields, you march steadily in the direction of the river.
Thanks to a strong pace, you reach the water shortly after nightfall, setting up camp a short distance from the south bank.
At dawn, you take a quick breakfast and pack up your gear, ready to head east while keeping an eye out for signs of the missing brothers.
perception
survival (aid another)
Perception
Survival
After a few hours, you spot the remains of an abandoned campsite near the river bank. Although the weather and passage of time has washed away many of the tracks, Grumbles and Elduin are able to find signs of a struggle and footprints that appear to belong to humans or possibly other bipedal humanoids such as hobgoblins.
A short distance from the camp, you find markings of several boats and it seems like several captives have been half-dragged and force marched into the boats. You are unable to determine in which direction they may have sailed.
"Right. So, it's impossible for us to know, where they went. But someone would know. Someone who can go unnoticed and who can see everything. Fowyn, please sit by me. So, this is gonna take a few minutes until I get some answers..."
Elduin sits down on a comfortable boulder and starts concentrating while watching the sky. He starts whistling and his head keeps moving, but he seems very focused.
Slavers I am guessing..., Grumbles hazards as he scratches his beard.
"Could very well have been a press gang for either side. Or some enterprising scumbags looking to score coin at the expense of the locals. At least we can keep an eye out, if we find the miscreants perhaps we acquire a boat for our troubles."
Clayton takes a seat while Elduin does his magic and when hearing Stochelo and Grumbles' theory on slavers he chimes in, "There are no other tracks huh? Unless Elduin can find something with his magic it seems we need to cut this short. It isn't positive at all but the truth rarely is."
He looks toward the river, "Awful."
A few moments after Elduin casts his spell, the woods erupt in a sudden ruckus of whistles and tweets. At first, it almost sounds as if the birds of the forest are debating amongst themselves, but after a while, a distinct series of sounds are repeated again and again from all sides. Only Elduin are able to decifre their meaning.
Hearing the screeching of birds everywhere, Clayton instinctively prepares himself for something. Once they calm down he looks back at Elduin expectantly.
Silas nods in the direction of the northern bank of the river. We were warned of several active tribes of hobgoblins over on that side. If they have boats, then it follows they might visit this side on occasion. Unfortunately so for these two perhaps.
As Elduin's whistles elicit an immediate, enthusiastic, reply from the birds of the forest, Silas leans in and quietly says, If you are doing what I think you are doing, do you think a visual would help? I could create an image to assist. A hobgoblin with a mailed fist and broken arrow symbol on his gear maybe?
Once the bird whistling stopps, Elduin jumps up.
"It's been quite a while since they've been taken. So they're either dead or in captivity. They were taken by the Hobgoblins. So you're correct there Silas. They did take them east, though. Which is not exactly our diretion."
"West. I mean west. They took them west. Birds do not always communicate clearly. I suggest, we follow the river, but stay on this side for now and use the cover of the trees while travelling."
"Sounds good to me. If your friend bird can provide aerial overwatch, and we keep our heads on a swivel, we should be able to move pretty quickly under the cover of the trees. After you, sir."
Stochelo bows with a flourish to Elduin before preparing to travel.