Kelda nods in agreement while looking over at Tori, who still seemed a little shaken up.
Excusing herself from the others, Kelda walks over to where Astoria stands a bit apart from them.
Giving her a look of concern she asks, "Tori, are you okay? You've been pretty quiet lately. I know things have been rough lately, but I hope you know that if there's anything you need or want to talk about, that we're here for you. Okay?"
Astoria nods and flashes a genuine smile. "I'm alright, relieved actually that I was able to help for once. Let's go find this boy."
Kelda gives Astoria a smile and nods, "You were a huge help. Those little buggers never saw it coming. Let's find out where the grandmother's camp is, get her back there safely, and then we will definitely find him." Kelda pauses for a moment before adding, "You know...whether you realize it right now or not, you're always a help, and we are lucky to have you with us. Don't ever feel like you're not contributing, or an important part of this team because you do, and you are." Nodding as if to say, "That's that.", Kelda gives her another reassuring smile and a light friendly squeeze of the arm before heading back over to the others.
Placing a loving supportive hand on the small of Lysithia's back as she addresses the elderly woman, "Before we can find your grandson, we need to get you safely back to your camp. Could you lead us back to where your camp is?" Kelda asks, hoping that the camp is not too far off.
The woman nods. "I can take you there, but it will be a bit of a trip."
She straightens her clothes out and begins walking down the road at a brisk pace. After about an hour, she turns off onto a wide dirt trail that leads off towards some fields. The woman scans the area and you are keenly aware of what she is looking for. With a sigh, she trudges on until you come upon a trio of wagons. You see several people dressed in bright colored clothing milling about the makeshift camp.
Lysithia keeps an eye out for anything of note, especially after noticing the woman searching the fields.
Kelda addresses the elderly woman as they approach, "So, who are all these people, and where did they come from?"
Lysithia sees nothing across the fields except for some withered crops, untended in the summer heat.
"We come from everywhere in the valley," the elderly woman answers as she trudges along. "We are vagabonds. We travel all over the valley throughout the year to help out with farming, fishing, building and other such things. Anyone who wants to help like we do can join us."
She sighs. "We were to help with the farming out here, but the farmers have been run off and it is hardly safe to do any work..."
Kelda nods understandingly, "I know, and I'm sorry that things have gotten so rough for everyone. I guess I didn't realize how bad things had become out here, until we started traveling. We've been trying to get to Cooperton for several days now and keep running into one kind of trouble or another. Don't worry though, we'll definitely find your grandson before resuming our attempt to get there." Kelda pauses for a moment to take in the plight of the people ahead of them. They could only do so much....but it didn't feel like enough when so many people were suffering.
Looking back at the elderly woman, "So, what's your name? I just realized we didn't ask before." She asks, as they near the campsite.
"Anselina," the woman answers.
"Anselina, could you takes us to the part of the river your grandson was last seen heading to?" Lysithia asks.
Anselina shakes her head. "He went with Djivan. I will take you to him."
The woman goes to the furthest wagon, where a man sits sharpening a blade. "Djivan."
He looks up, his face etched with worry. "Anselina..."
"Calm yourself," the woman says softly. "These four have come to look for Yoska. I need you to take them to the river. Tell them what you saw."
At least they could talk to someone who had been with the young boy beforehis disappearance.
Looking at Anselina she asks, "Before we go ma'am, could you give us a description of Yoska, so that we will know it's him when we see him? I also thought it might be helpful if we could get some personal belonging from you, that might let him know that you sent us?"
Lysithia waits to see what the man has to say.
Anselina looks Kelda over. "He's about your height, his hair a deep amber like a good ale."
She hands the dwarf a short ivory-handled knife. "Give him this when you see him."
Djivan stands, a lanky fellow nearing the six foot range, and looks over the group morosely. He then glances at Anselina before addressing the group. "She does not welcome strangers this readily. You must have done something to impress her. I also am wary of strangers...you had best not be here to profit from tragedy."
"Our only concern right now,m is getting Yoska back to you all safely. We know far too well the dangers that can pop up to anyone roaming the valley alone." Lysithia replies.
Kelda nods in agreement remembering very well what had happened to Sophie when they were young and how terrifying it had been to realize she could do nothing to save her friend.
She didn't feel it necessary to explain what they did, or why Anselina trusts them so completely.
"We aren't looking for any kind of payment. As Lysi said, we just want to find him and bring him home safely. We will do whatever it takes to make that happen."
Realizing that they hadn't even introduced themselves yet she blushes, "I'm so sorry, we haven't so much as given you our names. I'm Kelda Highcliff, this is Lysithia Pasiphae, Astoria Rilynrae, and
Evert van Rees." Kelda says, indicating each one in turn, "Even the four of us travelling together have had a difficult time dealing with the dangers that are out here, so we know how dangerous it is out there and that time is of the essence. If you will take us to the river as she said and tell us what you saw, I promise we will do our very best to get him back safely." Kelda stows the knife in her pack while waiting to see if he'll trust them enough to let them help.
Djivan grunts. "Then let's go. The river is a couple of hours from here."
He turns and leads the group away from the camp. "Yoska got away from me and went to fetch the water by himself. A couple of burly monsters grabbed him and dragged him away. I tried to fight them off, but they were too strong for me. I did not see where they took him. When I came to, I found my way back to the camp and told Anselina...but I think that wasted valuable time."
Lysithia listens as they follow along, hoping for some clue that would help. "Can you describe the monsters?"
"Hairy...a bit taller than I am," Djivan mutters. "They looked a little goblin-ish."
Lysithia senses no duplicity in Djivan's words.
Lysithia considers the description of the kidnappers, trying to determine what to expect.
Lysithia is unable to fathom what Djivan is trying to describe.
Shrugging at the description, Lysithia continues to follow Djivan, keeping her eyes on the surrounding area.
Astoria ponders the description and mutters. "They sound familiar, if I remember right the Goblinoid designation was quite diverse..."
Having never heard of such beasts before, Kelda is unsure of what to think, but is grateful for Tori's insight.
Giving her friend a nod of appreciation, "Aahhhh.....well, whatever it is, it needs to be dealt with. We can't leave hairy beasties to wander the valley, kidnapping innocents and the like."
Kelda looks Djivan over for a couple of minutes, "You must be quite an accomplished warrior to attempt fighting off a couple of burly monsters all by yourself, and come away with nary a scratch." There is nothing accusatory in her tone, but her eyes are questioning as she makes her simple observation.
Feeling not quite convinced by his explanation of events, Kelda uses her alternate sight to see if there's anything that he might be trying to hide. Her eyes glow softly as she gazes over his person once more.
Astoria too is flummoxed by Djivan's description.
Kelda perceives nothing magical about the man who lifts up his shirt to reveal a purpled torso. "They tried to break my ribs rather than stab me."
He gives the dwarf a brief withering look before lowering his shirt and continuing on. "I am no warrior. Merely a hunter of animals."
Still unsure of what they were dealing with, but satisfied with his explanation, Kelda nods with a look of compassion as she sees the horrible evidence of his struggle with....whatever it was that attacked him.
Unaffected by his gaze she continues, "I'm sorry if my questioning upset you. I'm glad they were unable to further injure you, and that you were able to make it back to camp. I just had to make sure it was just the beasties we needed to concern ourselves with." It's painfully obvious that she doesn't have much experience talking to people, but there is no malicious intent in her tone.
"So, they're big, hairy, strong, and rely on brute strength....I'm not sure I've heard of the creature's you've described, but we will find them and get Yoska back. Did you happen to see which direction they fled in with him?" Kelda asks, while checking the ground around them for any possible clues that would help them find the boy.
"One grabbed Yoska, the other intercepted me as I tried to get him back," Djivan replies. "My fight didn't last long. I blacked out before they left."
You arrive at the river close to dusk, the rushing water the only sound you can hear. Kelda spies where she thinks the struggle began. There is a torn strip of clothing and a broken jug in the reeds near the water's edge.
She gives a nod of her head, a look of curiosity on her face as she heads over to the reeds. Bending down, she picks up the piece of cloth and looks around to see if they left any clues that would tell them which way they should go.
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Lysithia studies the area intently.
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Astoria tries to focus her mind to the task at hand, carefully looking for any clues near the water.
Lysithia spots an area where a struggle may have occurred and Astoria confirms it by realizing that the grass has been trampled heavily. Despite the passage of time, there are some defined prints in the soft ground.
Lysithia is able to follow the prints to a riverside cave a short distance from where Yoska was taken initially. There is no light emanating from the cave and you see that the floor of the cave is covered in water, but you cannot tell how much.
"That better be shallow," Evert says with a grimace.
Kelda nods, "I hope so, I'm not a very good swimmer." She says, while looking through her things for a light source.
Already capable of seeing a bit further in the dark than many others, Lysithia is surprised to find her vision piecing the darkness a decent amount ahead of her, her growing connection to the moon enhancing her affinity for the darkness.
"I'll go in first to see how deep it is." the druidess says taking the lead, as she utters a druidic word while touching the top of her staff, a pale silvery glow illuminating the weapon.
Following Lysithia into the cave, Kelda realizes that she has no trouble seeing in the dark.
Kelda takes out her hammer and stays close to Lysithia as they enter the cave, "Be careful not to get too far ahead of us love."
The druidess steps in and the cold water comes up to her knees. Djivan shakes his head. "I will wait here."
Astoria follows behind the others stepping carefully and hoping not to get her belongings wet. "We shouldn't be long." She halls back to Djivan.
"Someone mind taking my things so they don't get drenched?" Evert asks, his expression still grim.
"I can, but if I have to cast a spell I may have to drop whatever I'm holding." Lysithia answers, taking whatever gear Evert passes to her.