"If they just cross the brook, we might find more tracks in the mud on the other side." Thraag says to keep some hope around.
"The Brook is...the Brook. It comes from the waterfall, flows through town, and then grows into a small river by the time it hits the moors. Eventually, it flows north into the Falling River. We might find tracks in the mud, but we'll quickly lose them as the moors rise and dry out, not to mention they could lose themselves by following the road north or south for awhile."
Continuing along for awhile, you do emerge from the forest and see rolling moors stretching out into the distance. You see no sign of dogs or people, though a small army could be hidden in the many hollows or behind ridgelines of the moors.
Elipho continues to follow the dogs' tracks west, though struggles now to do so. You eventually reach the Brook, now a strong stream twenty yards wide, though still not too deep.
Elipho is about to suggest finding a shallow place to cross so you can take the road back home, when Marcus, Varian, and the Thraags all notice a small, shallow cave in the river bank on your side. A small stone beach serves as a sort of porch, and somebody's driven a large tree branch into the stones. Bits of hemp rope are still tied around the branch, and Marcus spots a tuft of dog fur caught in the rough bark. There are also obvious signs of repeated fires having been burned in a pit in the centre of the cave. Dog prints eventually lead off into the water, though you find no humanoid footprints at all.
"There is...a cave...home...something...there. It looks like the dogs may have entered the water, but we should check out whatever this is to see if there are clues to where they have gone." Thraag says as the Elder draws his axe.
The cave is not very deep, more an area where flood water have carved out the bank, but it would provide shelter for four people from the rain, and with a fire going and no wind, would actually be quite cozy at night. There are coals in the fire pit, which Elipho estimates to be from last night, which fits the timeline of the abduction of Tricia, though the tracks you followed were from the abduction of the sheepdogs a few days earlier.
"Looks like someone was keeping the dogs tied to this branch," Kieran concludes. "Good eye, guys," he continues, though his face falls slightly. "If I could still see properly, maybe I'd have noticed, too..."
If nothing is found in the cave or around the circle, the young half-elf glances across the lake. "Seems like we'll have to cross, anyway. Well, let's get to it, I'd say. Those crossings aren't going to find themselves, hm?"
As the team move forwards he inhales the fresh scent of water mixed with wild woodlands. It was great, and reminded him of home. Even if they didn't find anything, it was already a nice adventure of sorts, and a good story to tell later. How a small group of village youths had teamed up with a complete stanger to investigate the mysteriously missing dogs, and wound up fighting wild boars in the dead of night while there was a dangerous barbarian on the loose! If that wasn't exciting, he didn't know what was.
...And the day was far from over. "So, no tracks again of whatever is causing this, but the dogs obviously didn't bind themselves to that pole, and this person or thing has been in the cave quite a few nights. So, a poacher then, maybe? Who clears his tracks on purpose...? Would the local sprites spend their nights in caves?" He wonders, and looks mostly at elipho, since he seemed to know a lot about the local forest inhabitants.
"It *does* sound like someone on the run, or at the very least, constantly on the move. Then... Could it be...?"
"Well, at least we know some dogs were alive last night. We should move quickly to catch up!" Thraag says as he follows Keiran to find the shallow place.
Marcus carefully searches the area around where the dogs apparently were tied. "Does anyone see sign of covering tracks? When someone wipes tracks clear, that also leaves sign. It seems more like this enemy doesn't leave any, like someone with druidic power...."
You don’t see any signs of tracks being covered.
Near to the cave, you find an area where the Brook can be safely forded and make your way across. You do find a few dog prints on the other side, but you soon hit the road, and all traces vanish. Hoping the dogs just went straight across, you look immediately on the other side, but alas find no traces. Clearly, the dogs have gone some direction north or south along the road.
Which direction would you like to head?
"I doubt they went closer to town, or someone might see them. So we should probably head away from town." Thraag suggests.
”How far?” Elipho asks. ”All the way to the Falling River? Crossbridge? I can’t imagine any sane reason why somebody would come this far to steal two sheepdogs and a lap mutt, but we might just have to accept the fact that they’re lost, take our pork back to town, and salvage something from this little trip.”
Marcus glances at Elipho. He was right, but.... "I agree, but not just about the pork. The town needs to be warned, and we're not likely to catch up with whatever has taken the dogs. It doesn't leave tracks and seems to be leading the dogs, not against their will. There may be more."
"Dogs are frequently used to warn against strangers. Whoever, or whatever this is doesn't seem to cause dogs to bark a warning."
"Fishing is done for the day. I think walking for a time would not hurt. But if people want to return now we can." Thraag says with a shrug.
"Yeah... it seems troubling. Why would this figure want the dogs away from the town? I seem to recall a story about Goblins and their infamous hatred for dogs... has there been goblin activity here, recently? I thought that was part of the reason Elrithrathiel became a celebrity, for fighting them back," Kieran wonders.
"If so, I don't think whatever is 'kidnapping' the dogs here is a goblin. But if they're working together... it would weaken the town. I agree with Marcus that perhaps informing going them is a good idea. At the very least, we know the dogs are being kidnapped on purpose by a rather proficient entity."
"Perhaps we should consult Sir Eustus? He is rather knowledgeable about both monsters and the area."
Not knowing much about Sir Eustus other than that Grahm was staying with him, Kieran glances from one of his allies' face to the next, to see whether they agreed with this proposition.
"Well, he might know something. And if nothing else letting him know could spread word for people to watch out." Thraag says with a shrug.
"Well, if we're all in agreement, I'd say it's time to head back, then?" To warn the townsfolk and consult sir Eustus, and sell the boars on the way.
As the group (presumably) begins to head back, Kieran throws a look back over his shoulder. His colorless sight ended at the other end of the river, where the dogs had presumably gone.
He hoped that breaking off this chase here didn't turn out to be a massive mistake.
You turn south and follow the road as it slowly curves east and takes you back to town, arriving a few hours after noon. Nothing seems to have changed since you were gone, though those of you local to town know that’s nothing new.
You’re greeted at the West Bridge by Randal Thorius. As per usual, hay sticks out of his hair and a shepherd’s crook rests in his hand, though he doesn’t currently have a lamb sling over his shoulder. The small clinking coin purse tied to his belt suggests he had just come into town to sell one, however.
He walks with you back up the slope towards the Split Oak (the inn). ”I take it no luck finding the dogs? I don’t know how my father and I would manage our flocks without our pups. Wolves are already brazen enough—I had to kill one myself two weeks ago.”
Kieran stands by momentarily, wondering what was wise to share publicly at this time. His glazed eyes go over the more local members of the group, as if to silently ask their advice. "We might have to inform the mayor first, I think. Or whomever passes for an elder here. Wouldn't want a panic if the dogs are so important to everyone." He whispers under his breath.
Marcus moves over by Kieran, quietly replying. "Probably right. Personally I think this is more dangerous than just a dog or two missing. However, I'm not exactly well liked by many of the local folk. Let's leave it to Varian or Grahm to take the lead on that...."
"Yeah. That too. Best to especially not mention that." Kieran whispers back, nodding at the half-orc.
Thraag whispers back, "I doubt that this is going to cause a panic. We should tell everyone, especially if it might be more then a prank by the fey."
The Elder scowls and spits before saying in a normal tone,
When no one steps up and an awkward silence threatens to ensue, Kieran says and looks at the hay-haired shephard. "Sorry, we tried and got pretty far, but we lost the trail when it led into a river. We think someone or something is deliberately taking the dogs and led them across. The rest is still speculation. we're hoping someone still in town with more experienced than us could share an opinion. We were heading to sir Eustus first, and with some luck we might have a plan for if something like this happens again."
Randal scratches his head, dislodging several pieces of hay. ”Who would want to steal dogs? Out beyond the farms? Nobody lives out there, except…say, you don’t think the cannibal barbarian could have done it? Maybe she is out there and has a taste for dog?!”
"That doesn't seem likely. Whoever did it used meat to lure the dogs away. And left chunks behind. If your hungry there are easier ways to get more food." Thraag responds as he frowns and shakes his head at the mystery. "It almost seems more like a prank gone too far. But why would anyone do that?"
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"A thief perhaps?" Grahm ponders out loud. "My father always told me that dogs were the bane of sneaky individuals. If I was going to rob a place, I'd make sure that I'd get rid of the dogs first..." He comes to, suddenly aware of what he had just said. "Not that I'm planning on robbing anyone here! Why would I bother stealing from you? Wait... I don't mean that you have nothing that I want, but more why would I want to take anything from you fine folks!"
As you walk and talk, you come up the slope level with the inn. Several locals are working in front of the inn unloading the recently arrived stagecoach. The coach makes the journey from Crossbridge, a small trading town where the Falling and Broken Bridge Rivers meet, through Lyon’s Brook all the way to Maheto, and back again, carrying supplies, mail, and passengers. The coach’s guards stand by idly watching the work, but mostly bored, and the driver is likely already halfway into a pint in the common room of the inn, if he hasn’t made his way to the Public House up the street.
The guards look up as Randal laughs loudly at Grahm’s oral insertion of both feet. ”Sounds like I should get home and check on my dogs before these robbers come to take my useless crap!”
Marcus gives Marcus a thump across his shoulders with a grin and chuckle. "Be careful Sir Grahm! It was poorly spoken words in my youth that have me shunned by most of the village here. And although I've learned my lesson, once loosed, words can prove impossible to retrieve."
He steps back and nods politely at Randal.
Chuckling over the exchange, Kieran gives the young knight- to-be a consoling pat on the shoulder. "So, where do we find Sir Eustus, Grahm?" he then asks, glancing around.
He had no clue whatsover, since even if there was a huge mansion only 40 feet away, that was still too far for him to see...
"Ah." Grahm realizes that he's been out late, later than he had been told to be back by Sir Eustus. "Mansion?" he says weakly. "This way."
Thraag follows along with the Elder as they go towards the mansion they had seen often, but never entered.
"Oh. Some of us should probably head back and sell the carcasses in the meantime? Probably not the best manners to enter the mansion of a knight carrying dead boars, I'd wager," Kieran remarks upon seeing it. "I can offer to carry one. Anyone willing to come with me for the other one while the rest stays here to report to Sir Eustus?"
Having made the offer, he picks up the carcass with some difficulty and waits to see which of the locals could tell him where to find the local butcher.
Marcus hears Kieran and agrees. "I'll help carry, and lead you there. But I'll stay in back, just as your helper. They won't buy it if they think it's from me."
"Why's that? You seem like a dependable guy. Punched out a boar with your bare hands and all. Elipho said he loved you, even! So when are you guys getting married?" Kieran winks at the monk en route to the butcher. Once there, he knocks at the door if locked, otherwise he simply walks into the shop carrying the boar. "Excuse me, is there anyone here? We're here to sell from fresh game from a hunting trip with Elipho; he directed us here."
Kieran, Marcus, and Elipho grab up the boar meat to take to the butcher while the others head for the bridge and the South Road that leads to the manor house. Randal comes with that group, since the same road leads towards his home.
But none of you get more than twenty feet (you haven’t even crossed the bridge yet) when you hear a crack of breaking wood and shouts of alarm and fright. The wooden brace holding one of the stagecoach wheels has snapped somehow and the partially-unloaded coach begins to slowly roll out of the in yard and down the road, picking up speed as the slope sharpens.
The coach, now ballistic, is rolling straight for the West Bridge, and the party members and Randal standing in the road!
Confused at the sudden noise coming their way, Kieran looks up, worried. "Can't see that far ahead. Please tell me it's nothing I have to worry about?"
"Brace for impact!"
Grahm jumps in front of Randal, and digs his heels into the ground, getting into a wide stance, hoping to at least take the brunt of the wagons force, if he can't stop it.
Randal turns as Grahm intercedes his body. The young shepherd hollers out a moderate profanity and tries to throw himself clear, though he doesn’t get far enough to be safe.
The stagecoach reaches Grahm. It isn’t going hugely fast (yet), about a man’s brisk walk, but its mass is…well…massive. His feet begin to slide downhill under the immense pressure of the vehicle, but just as he gets to the point of throwing himself clear or be dragged under, he feels the coach shift in his grasp. With a mighty heave, he seems to tip the coach over onto two wheels. The right front wheel shatters into several pieces, pelting the young knight and Randal with flying flinders, and the coach shifts and tips over, sliding to a stop on its side as cargo spills across the road.
Randal, clutching his head in pain, glances up at Grahm standing over him like some sort of heroic champion, and stammers, ”Thank you.”
The coach workers come running, shouting for people to come help, and start looking over the damage to the coach. The driver comes running out of the inn and down to the accident site. ”Are you fellas okay?”
The Elder grunts and says,
Thraag frowns at the Elder and then looks around before responding to the coach workers, "Everyone seems to be ok thanks to the fast thinking of Grahm, but why did it start moving in the first place? I heard a loud crack."
Marcus stammers at Kieran's words, not used to hearing any sort of praise. "Ah, but you're not a local. You don't know...."
Hearing and seeing the out of control coach he pulls Kieran off of the road. "Coach. Out of control. Got to stop it...." But he is too slow to get there to help Grahm. "Good job Grahm! Is anyone hurt?"
Marcus checks anyone around to see if he can help with healing magic.
"I didn't know I could do that." Turning towards the coach workers, he'll apologize profusely for the damage that he caused. He listens attentively for the worker's response to Thraag's question. Normally, he'd be basking in the attention, but right now, that seems not to be a priority, instead focusing on the task at hand.
Kieran picks himself up from the ground, having thrown himself out of the carriage's way along with the carried carcass. His mily eyes blink at the scene in front of him. "Wow. That... sure was something, Grahm! I didn't know you were that strong! For a moment there I figured the coach would run straight over you and that I'd be busy fixing your broken bones about now." "Or worse." " Hah, between you and Marcus, seems I have to step up my game."
"Note to self, remember to ask Marcus what he meant about me not knowing something about him before we almost got run over."
He shakes his head and joins the others at about the same time as the coach workers running at them. "Yeah, we're fine, thanks to some quick reflexes and Grahm over there," Kieran tells the driver. "That... was pretty dangerous, though. We're lucky no one got crushed by it. Is this your coach?"
”We had the coach braced with a stout piece of lumber, like we’ve done a hundred times before.” The driver looks back up the slope: ruined fragments of a thick board litter the in yard. ”Craziest thing!”
The driver turns his attention to the coach and it’s ruined wheel. ”Oh no! Look at this!! No..no lad, no apologies. I saw what happened through the window, you did what you had to do, and crazy brave of you to do it. I’m just glad everybody’s alright.”
He sighs a moment then asks, ”Does this town have a wainwright or carpenter? I have a spare wheel, but this axle is shot, too.”
For those checking on injuries, Grahm has a few small cuts on his face and hands from flying bits of wood, but nothing more serious. Randal still lies in the road, clutching his head in pain. He may have hit his head, though you don’t find any bumps or blood. It seems that he’ll also be fine.
"Could this be the work of the same entity that we're tracking? Fey are known to be capricious, but this... this could have killed someone. Or maybe it wants us to stop investigating... It might be for the best if we remain together, or at least in pairs for safety."
"I mean...its possible, but unless it was targeting us for following the dogs I am not sure why it would jump to this. Still, it might be good to keep an eye out incase we did anger some fey." Thraag says as he looks around nervously.
"We need to ask around. Have strange things like this been happening all over? Everyone needs to be aware."
Randal speaks up, his voice still shaky. ”Last week, I was cleaning the barn when the door suddenly slid open for no reason. The cow and four goats got out before I could get over and shut it again.”