"Very good. Grahm frowns for a second. "Well, not very good. Bad actually. But you know what I mean. Please, show us where this happened. We have in our company an honest to goodness elven blooded magical warrior, even if his eyes aren't quite as good at seeing normal things like you and I, I'm sure he can see things that we can't, and he's already proven himself to be an excellent tracker."
Kieran blinks at the unexpected heaps of praise and is momentarily unsure of what to say, but recovers quickly and smiles. "I think you give me slightly too much credit, Sir Grahm. It wasn't me who picked up the previous trail, after all, but Thraag here. And Marcus then found the other clues on it," He adds, when he notices the older man seems to vehemently dislike the follower or Irori. "But the rest of it is correct, and I'll be sure to take a look if Elipho here can show the way."
He turns to the young... Shephard (?) and extends a hand. "I'm Kieran, a traveler from abroad. Please to meet you, Elipho. And you too, sir...?" he trails slightly as he doesn't know Verus' name. After introductions are completed, he glances at Elipho a second time. "By the way, you mentioned that you hoped to find a trail yourself? Are you an experienced tracker as well?"
"Don't worry about it Kieran, it is easy to get overlooked.." Thraag says.
The Elder grunts and pokes Thraag from behind,
Marcus almost chuckles when he notices Verus's scowl at him. He turns away from him to let the man recover from his prejudice and possibly help the team. At least most of them seemed to have accepted him. He could listen and not have to meet the gaze of Verus or Elipho.
Hearing that the dogs had disappeared three days past was bad. The morning dew and even a light wind could obscure things. But there might be something....
Hearing Thrag the Elder he replies, keeping it in Orcish.
Perhaps you could come and look at a scene we found? Our little pooch seems to have just up and vanished into a bramble with no trace of a trail or anything. I had the thought to try and burn some of the bramble, but decided that was a bit to risky all things considered. Well, too risky as of yet. That said... Its said dogs can hear things we cannot, I do wonder if such a thing has lured them away... I also wonder if I could do a thing to stop such a sound should that be the case. Varian half talks to everyone, half talks to himself as he scratches the scruff on his chin.
"While dogs can hear things some humanoids can't, that does seem to contradict the need for use of deer meat. Unless it was planted to set a false lead..." Kieran chimes in to Varian. "And no - setting the forest on fire is very ill advised when the stakes are just to find a few missing dogs."
”Verus Livianus,” the older man replies to Kieran, still watching Marcus suspiciously.
Elipho nods for a bit, then shakes his head. ”I am a decent tracker. Brother Martus taught me, but I can’t come look at your scene. I’m sorry for Mrs. Pumpherus, but missing sheep dogs is devastating for my father’s flock, and it may take me days to track down our dogs—I have to start now. You’re welcome to come with me—if we find some clues, they may shed light on your mystery, if somebody is responsible for both abductions. My father’s dogs should be too well-trained to run off after a bit of deer meat, but there might be something to it.”
"I think joining you sounds like an excellent idea. Please lead on and we will follow." Thraag says. As soon as Elipho starts to head out Thraag limps after as fast as he can while the Elder walks behind him.
Marcus stays silent, deliberately not looking at Verus, and stays near Thraag the Elder.
"Actually, perhaps we should inform your family about this first, Elipho? If only for their permission. While we'd certainly like to accompany you, that there are multiple dogs from multiple owners missing might mean there's something - or someone - dangerous at work."
Kieran looks at the others. "...Or am I worrying too much here?"
Elipho shrugs, though looks a little hurt. ”Danger or not, the dogs need to be found, and I’m not exactly a youngling in the wilds.”
"All right. I meant no offense, Elipho, and I'm sure you've seen your own fair share of tight scrapes as well. It's just that there is allegedly a dangerous barbarian in the area at the same time as these dogs going missing, and even if the chance of it being related seems small, I felt it prudent to point that out. If you say you're ready, lead on and we'll follow to help searching your dogs."
"We are going to travel with him. Together, I am sure we can keep each other safe." Thraag says to reassure Kieran.
Aye, I'm sure I can get us out of most scrapes, and, if I can't, our gallant knight to be surely can. Thats not even bringing the rest of you into the equation either. He smiles giving a wink.
I wanted to do this to look for the woman... but, I'd rather not take the kid into that kind of danger.. dang.
"Right then! Onward and outward! Let's put Elipho near the middle of our formation so that those more heavily armed can keep any wild beasts, or crazed dogs away from him."
Grahm sets off confidently, and clankily.
Your group, fiercely protecting a bemused and somewhat irritated Elipho through the streets of Lyon’s Brook and out onto the country road that leads to the northern farms, his father’s included.
Finishing your journey, you turn off the road onto a one-cart lane, past a rough wooden sign that reads “Notting Hills”. Behind the farmstead up ahead rise three low hills, cleared of trees and swarming with sheep. The flocks are moving about as they’re brought in for the evening, though not as tightly as one would expect.
The farmyard itself is a neat array of three buildings: farmhouse, storage shed, and barn. A middle-aged half-elf woman is pinning sheets on the line to catch the late-afternoon sun. The three locals know that Fideria, the matron of Notting Hills is actually the daughter of Brus, Mrs. Pumpherus’ cantankerous gardener, though her personality must have come from her mother. Rufus, a nervous-looking young man, sits on a bench nearby mending some harness.
Fideria pauses hanging out the wash as you walk up and waves you over.
”Varian! Why what brings you all the way out to Notting Hills? And who are your friends?”
Marcus stays back by Thraag the Elder and grins as Fideria calls out to the popinjay.
Kieran glances at the kind-seeming woman and noticed the distinct resemblance between her and Elipho.
Or, well, it was *probably* a distinct resemblance?
It was blasted annoying not being sure if this woman sported a bright pink crop or to Elipho's seeming dark tone, but this was supposedly the boy's home home. It seemed a safe bet?
"Well met, miss. I am Kieran, a traveller to these parts. I'm helping Varian and the others here looking for the missing dogs. It seems that apart from yours, Mrs. Pumphereus' has also gone missing. Though I'm quite aware you might already know this, given by how it was annouced rather publicly at the square this morning."
He glances to the flamboyantly dressed bard at his side to see if he had more to say, given that he'd been the one spoken to, after all.
Thraag the Elder shrugs and looks at Marcus before replying
Thraag looks back at Marcus and the Elder but doesn't say anything. Instead he walks over to where Keiran was talking to the lady of the house and nods in greeting, "Yes, and it seemed like someone may have taken her dog. We are here to see if perhaps the same person may have been involved in your dog's disappearance as well."
"Also, might be dangerous to go tramping about in the woods by oneself at the moment, what with the madwoman and all." Grahmm adds helpfully.
”Oh, I tweren’t at the send off this morning—too much work needed doing. Someone took poor Tricia? Papa must be beside himself with grief.” She giggles.
”I certainly appreciate any help you can offer my Elipho in finding our dogs. Mrs. Pumpherus is a dear and must be beside herself with Tricia gone, but Surus needs our dogs for his work our he’ll start losing sheep.”
A pleasure to see you today, I had been a little worried when you weren't at the meeting today. But as the others have said, we are looking into disappearing pets. Now then, where are our manners. He gives her a slight bow.
This here is Grahm, the new squire of our dear Lord Eustus. You may not have had the pleasure of meeting him yet. Then we have, of course, thraag the older, and thraag the younger. Both of whom are quite lovely to for conversation. Oh, this. He says resting a hand on Keiran's shoulder.
Is a new fellow in town. Come to learn some... well, come with a goal, but so graciously has set it aside to help out the townsfolk. Quite the eventful day to be sure. Ah, and good Marcus.
Varian notices Rufus and gives him a wave.
Good day friend, I hope it finds you well. But yes, It may be best to keep close to your homes for the next few days, as Grahm has said.
Fideria shrugs away Ava rian’s concerns. ”Likely as not that woman is leagues away and them searches are a whole waste of nothing. Not likely a Shoanti barbarian murdered and ate people just to come here and steal a pair of sheep dogs. Far more likely some mischievous sprite wandered by and decided to have a bit of sport. Elipho will find them and I’m happy for him to have some company to keep him safe.”
Elipho ducks into the house and returns with a bundle of provisions and gear, shoulders his boar spear and unstrung shortbow. ”Ready?” he asks rhetorically.
Elipho leads you through the farmyard and into the rolling pasturelands behind. As you climb various low hills, the surrounding view improves with each new height, until you can see The Lake and Elrithrathiel’s tower marking the location of the waterfall into town. As you approach the rear of the pastures, you pass through a large flock of sheep and see a young, vacant-looking young man watching you approach.
”This is my brother Eudox,” Elipho introduces for the benefit of the newcomers. He was tending the sheep when the dogs went missing.
Eudox points at a stretch of woodland a hundred yards away. ”We was over there. Dogs just bolted into forest. Strangest thing.”
Thraag looks around the area and lightly favors his lame leg. When Eudox points to where the dogs went missing Thraag nods and says, "Lets go take a look then,"
With that, Thraag begins to wander along the edge of the woods, working with the Elder to look for any signs of the dogs or anything else out of place.
The Elder follows along trying to aid with any signs of tracks.
"Good to meet you, Eudox, and thanks for letting us know. Everything else has been all right over here?" Kieran responds to Elipho's brother, and after getting an answer one way or the other, nods and begins helping to search.
"Okay, let's see what we can find. The last time, we found small pieces of deer meat, and the tracks suddenly vanished, too..."
Eudox replies that nothing else strange has happened.
Between Kieran and Elipho, you are able to pick up where the running dogs disturbed last fall's leaf litter. The dogs went to a small clear area underneath a particularly large pine tree, stayed there awhile, given the number of tracks back and forth, then moved off west in a slower fashion. Tracking is slow going, but you follow the trail for half a mile before it gets to the point where you'll have to turn around if you want to make it back to town before dark.
"Seems like you really know your stuff, Elipho! Well done," kieran compliments the slightly younger tracker as they make their way further out of town.
When the sun starts to set, he looks up. "Hm... I can't see, but I think it's getting later? Suppose it's a good thing I never got to drop off my camping supplies. I have a tent, but I'm afraid it will only house one other person should it come to it."
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Hmm.. a night out under the stars? And offering to share a tent even though we've just met. Why, how bold and romantic Kieran! He lets his jest sit for a few seconds before continuing. While I'm very flattered, I think, unless it suddenly start raining, my bedroll will do just fine. Though, I suppose we will want a fire, and something to eat would be nice. Oh, and I'll play the music to inspire those doing the other two things of course. He gives a smile and a chuckle.
Thraag looks at Elipho and asks, "Do you need to return home for the night?" Inside he is hoping for his bed instead of sleeping on the cold ground.
Elipho shakes his head as he stoops to get a fire going. Once that’s blazing merrily, he unties from his pack two rabbits he somehow managed to catch while you were tracking the dogs and begins to prepare them for cooking. While they roast away, he asks, ”Who’s taking first watch?”
Thraag drops his pack and begins to pull out what he needs and says, "The Elder and I can take first watch."
The Elder says,
Hmm... a night out under the stars? And offering to share a tent even though we've just met. Why, how bold and romantic Kieran!"
Kieran grins. "You know, Varian, we elves have a saying. The rough translation is: 'Alas, if but you were a cute lass. Woe is me, for having to put up with thee'."
He winks and turns back to the food. "I can take a watch too. Though I should mention I can't see much further than a dozen or so paces away."
"Part of watching is listening.... but we should cover all of the watches during the darkest hours with someone that can see in it. I'll gladly take a watch in the middle of the darkest hours."
"Seeing in the dark is not something I can do, I'm afraid. But I would be happy to take a watch. My father always said it was important for those who can cast spells to get better sleep than the warriors."
"I wonder what Sir Eustus will think. And I hope Virgil is doing alright."
"Any more preparations or shall we just finish up and go to sleep? looks like the watch order is Thraag, then myself, then Grahm unless someone else volounteers. Ah, I could do with a good sleep after walking for so long. At least I can rest easy knowing I actually found the town. You know how difficult it is to try and guess where you are with nothing but a map, a compass and the sun? Let's just say I wouldn't recommend anyone else going blind if they could."
Kieran then yawns behind his hand, and unless someone interjects, heads off for bed.
Thraag and the Elder set up on opposite ends of the camp and settle in to watch over everyone.
You make camp and bed down, setting your watch routine, and eating some supper. The old growth forest on late spring is beautiful and alive with the sounds and smells of the wilderness. The sky above stays bright and star-filled and your fire keeps the nightly chill away.
The Thraags pass their watch uneventfully and get Kieran up for his turn. Not being able to see much beyond the firelight, he is acutely aware of the various sounds, so after an hour, when he hears a few small crashes far off, he doesn’t think anything of it, until the sound approaches. Crashing of undergrowth coupled with a snorting, snuffling sound.
The Elder watches Thraag lie down and then turns and heads off into the woods muttering,
The Elder watches Thraag lie down and then turns and heads off into the woods muttering, ** spoiler omitted **
Not knowing what was approaching but certain it was *something* heavy, at least, Kieran shouts out a warning! "Everyone, wake up! Something's coming at us!"
He walks to the northeast near the sounds with his spear drawn and levels it in the direction of the sound. Should he have time, he invokes a spell before the fight is upon them!
Elipho's eyes snap open, he leaps to his feet and grabs his spear.
"Boar, maybe two. Nasty critters, but good eating."
Thraag stumbles out of bed and prepares to cast spells.
Initiative: Kieran, Boars, Marcus, Varian, Elipho, Thraag (readied), Grahm
(please see discussion post about combat)
Grahm, who would not be sleeping in medium armor, grabs his longsword. He may not be as well armored as he'd like, or be able to see, but he's ready to fight.