Caladorn speaks quietly: "Sandru, the horses are over there, lets get some of the spare tack from the wagons and gather them up". Suiting deed to word, he heads back to our wagons, gets a couple of lead-reins and comes back, handing one to Sandru. Then he lets Sandru do the approach to the horses .
"Well spotted Caladorn! Thanks, I will handle the horses." says Sandru as he follows the elf's lead approaching the horses and looks over the equipment. "It looks like Hector cut them free so they could get away after they were attacked." The horses are a little skittish at first, but calm down around Sandru quickly as he lashes them to a nearby tree. "I can't get back to sleep after that ordeal and there is enough light, so I'm getting my tools and start working on getting this wagon fixed."
Did someone ask for a Survival check?
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Sandru starts working on repairing the broken wagon. Having done numerous repair jobs in the past, he has no problem repairing this one. He nods off to sleep as the sun rises and awakens at noon. After a midday meal, he and Filona complete the repairs by sundown.
You setup watches as you did the night before and after some nervous hours, the following morning arrives with nothing bothering your sleep.
You arrive in Roderic's Cove on the evening of the 9th day.
After the morning meal, you continue your journey to Riddleport. The day passes quietly and you begin to feel more at ease - almost like the earlier part of the journey.
You arrive at Riddleport at the end of the eleventh day.
Take 10.
"Ahh Roderic's Cove. I have heard it is a simple town, and even its most affluent residents never walk around with flashy clothes and items. Most buildings are made from timber, though some of the older homes have a stone-walled ground floor. Gravel made from shells paves the streets throughout town, and a small creek (Olivia Creek) powers a mill and provides fresh water."
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Filona watches Posh's explanation of Roderic's Cove with interest. However, after buying some supplies for the road, she is quick to hop back on the caravan and look for someone who might be interested in hearing a story.
Once they arrive at Riddleport, she is tired. However, she is too curious to see what Ameiko's business is. She tells her friend "So... Where do we go now?" She doesn't feel nosy at all.
Gundar performs his duties of caravan guard while keeping an eye on Ameiko. He is glad when they reach Riddleport.
Caladorn is unimpressed with the bucolic splendor of Rodric's Cove, ut he does purchase a hanbo who's striking knob it treated with alchemical silver.
As with Gundar, he too is glad to reach Riddleport, although perhaps for more mercenary reasons. Once the caravan arrives, he asks Sandru "So this is where we fulfill your friend's delivery is it?"
"Correct. Do you want to accompany me to complete the delivery?"
"Sure, but let's bring everyone; I'd hate to see something that valuable go missing..."
"Walnut and I will come along."
Count me in! Gundar says with a nod.
"Good! A large group will dissuade any bandits from bothering us."
Sandru leads the caravan through the town heading towards the high society section. The destination is a very large manor and two guards meet you at the gate.
"Halt! What business do you have at the Weatherly estate?" one of the guards inquires.
"We are here to complete the delivery of my friend Hector Vorgas." Sandru responds and motions for the two chests to be brought out.
"According to his log book, these two chests are to be delivered to this address. Unfortunately, Hector ran into some trouble on his way through the Churlwood Forest and my friends and I are here to fulfill his obligation."
"Wait here, I need to confirm this." the same guard informs Sandru as he motions for the other one who hurries towards the enormous house.
Posh caresses Walnut ears while they wait.
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Filona accompanies everyone and is very impressed at Sandu's ease with words. He probably does this a lot. She tries learning something from him, bouncing her head to the rhythm of his words.
Caladorn unobtrusively cases the joint as we wait...
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The guard returns a few minutes later accompanied by two other men.
"This is the guy Master Weatherly." the returning guard says as he points to Sandru.
"We were expecting Hector along with my son and his soon to be bride. You told my guard here that he ran into some trouble, would you care to expand on that?" the taller, well dressed man asks Sandru.
"My apologies, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sandru Vhiski, I am a merchant who frequently travels from Riddleport to Magnimar to Korvosa.
Hector and I have stopped and traded in the towns along our routes many times in the past. On our way through the Churlwood Forest we ran into some werewolves and after we dispatched them we found a deceased Hector and his wagon broken." Sandru pauses, dips his head and says a prayer for his lost friend.
"We repaired the wagon as you can see" Sandru explains as he points to the wagon you are using "and I felt obligated as a colleague of his to complete his delivery. Your address is in his log book." the lover of Varisian history continues as he extends Hector's log book to Master Weatherly.
"We found two other bodies, all three of which we buried in a nearby clearing." Sandru replies.
"I think they were Hector's guards, two middle-aged men about my age and build. They showed signs of fighting the werewolves."
"No, we didn't. I'm sorry, but we didn't see any signs of your son or his fiancée."
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Master Weatherly appears very distraught at this news. You can see he is holding back tears when he asks "I'm afraid something may have happened to them, they are several days overdue. You are the first ones to have any news of them."
The other man motions to the chests "Thank you for bringing these to us. If you would accompany me back to the manor, I will have these authenticated."
One of the guards opens the gate and Sandru follows the other man to the mansion.
Posh glances about, looking for a trap...
...before urging Walnut forward.
After a few minutes, Sandru returns holding a large bag of jingling coins.
"Master Weatherly has asked if we would be willing to help search for his son/fiancée. I told him I would have to discuss the matter with everyone first. He has offered a reward of 10,000 gold for their safe return. If they have been slain, he will provide 2,000 gold for the return of their bodies for a proper burial in the family grounds.
So, what does everyone think?"
"Payment for services rendered is a very Abadarian thing, I am not opposed."
Gundar nods in agreement. Ameiko's mystery has been a mystery this long, I don't think a couple of days will affect the outcome. Let's see if we can't reunite the family! Gundar hopes it is a happy reunion but he has his doubts.
"Gold talks for me. Not sure we will find anything though - we didn't find any other tracks leading away from the attack site. I'm not sure what else we can do track them down? Anybody have any ideas?
"It's an adventure! Brinewall can wait. Let's see if we can help out this family."
"I know Hector doesn't usually travel with a single wagon. Perhaps he got separated from the rest of his group. I suggest we return to the spot where we found him and start a search from there. We weren't really looking for tracks when we first went through the forest."
"If we find any kind of tracks to follow, I can help in that area."
Caladorn pinches the bridge of his nose and asks: "Posh, I'm a city boy, so this may be silly, can Walnut follow a scent? Or should we try to rent a tracking dog?"
"He can, although he is not that great at it."
"Ok, everybody thinks that is a worthwhile endeavor. I don't, however, see much point in hauling our wagon train back a day's travel, and then hauling it around after us as we search - they will slow us down to little added value. Sandru, can the drivers watch the wagons here in Riddleport, while the rest of us go a searching?"
"They can indeed, as long as I continue to pay them. With only food and repair supplies, they are unlikely to run into anything afoul. Hopefully this will only take a day or two."
"Perhaps I will start working with Walnut to get her better at tracking."
It has been a while since Ameiko has last ridden a horse. Her life at Sandpoint has fallen into a routine that can be boring at times, although she did enjoy having the time to play her samisen. The rituals Koya presided over that occurred every moonday evening gave her a chance to hone her singing skills while gazing at the stars above.
She began to sing a song taught to her by her mother when she was just a child.
Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Budding and blooming here and there,
Pure and fragrant all do declare.
Let me pick you with tender care,
Sweetness for all to share.
Jasmine fair, oh Jasmine fair.
She pulls out her samisen and loops the horses' reigns in such a way as to continue to control the mount while she strums. She continues the song accompanied by the stringed instrument sounds.
What a jasmine flower!
Of all the fragrant flowers and grasses in the garden,
there is none as fragrant as it.
I want to pluck one and wear it,
but the gardener would scold me.
What a jasmine flower!
When jasmine blooms.
not even snow is whiter.
I want to pluck one and wear it
But I'm afraid those around me would mock me.
What a jasmine flower!
Of all the blooms in the garden,
none compares to it.
I want to pluck one and wear it
But I'm afraid it wouldn't bud next year.
"A very pretty song, but what does it mean?"
"I asked my mother that and she told me that there are two meanings. One is related to an ancient custom of giving jasmine flowers to celebrate something special and dear to the recipient. The other one talks about the fear of harvesting the flower. Its delicate nature requires care when plucking it from its vines."
She pauses as her mind drifts back to her childhood recalling the special moments shared with her mother. You can tell she is experiencing a mixture of emotions, both pleasant and sad.
"Oh!"
I agree! Very pretty. My cousin Cordwin would enjoy it!