"Yep." Ustemir nods stoically. "Lookin' for a big pup of some kind, I hear."
"Hmph," snorts Teedum, "Finally someone has the balls to do something... Listen, stories about monsters in the woods is nothing new. This town has gone to war with a hag and harpies and even hobgoblins. But, something has got my men spooked, and I can't stand insubordination!" He slams his fist against his desk.
"So, if you can fetch me this killer grey wolf, the one they say can speak and set traps, and bring its stinking rotten corpse to me so I can have it stuffed and mounted in my office, well, I'll give you this..." He gestures over his shoulder to a waraxe mounted on the wall behind him, "It belonged to my grandfather. It's no good at cutting down trees, so it's no real use to me."
Ascaede appears to look at the mounted axe briefly.
”Truly fascinating. The alliterative nature of your many prior vicissitudes is simply astounding. What are the odds?” she murmurs, looking back to Boss Teedum.
”We’ll take the job. Providing you. Provide us. With the details. I requested.” Ascaede punctuates each request forcefully. Then straightens her tunic somewhat self-consciously. And smiles, making direct eye contact with the man.
”Boss Teedum.” she finishes sweetly.
"If you want more, go and talk with my men out at the lumber camps. They're the ones who've seen the thing apparently."
Ustemir rolls his eyes up into the high heavens. "Anyone specific? Or are we to slow down your workers by talking to everyone?"
Ascaede frowns alongside Ustemir’s obvious frustration.
”Our magnificent Boss clearly doesn’t need to be saddled with minutiae well beneath his notice. Perhaps someone less important will know generally which lumber camp or camps have reported perils unrelated to the falling of trees…”
Ascaede looks for confirmation from the Boss, then leaves.
Sébastien frowns at the Boss.
Nice axe. OK. Guess we shall go speak to everyone in this camp. Anywhere we can set up camp. This may take a while. What time is lunch?
The bard tips his nonexistent cap before moonwalking out the office door asking other inane questions pertaining to camp comforts....
Once the group reconvene outside, the halfling shrugs.
Splitting up to cover more interviews? I shall speak with those that have grass stains on their boots. They probably were out in the foliage areas.
The city bard grins at his expanding rural skills....
Following Sebastien's confident lead, the group leaves Teedum's office and wanders the Lumberyards, looking for information. In doing so, they do spot a Redrock's thug or two about, but are careful not to go to the Rouge Lady nor raise further suspicion.
Sebastien spots a wagoneer driving a cart loaded with cut timber arriving from the north woods and making its way toward the lumber mill. After a few buttery words, he learns that there are four lumber camps in the woods to the north, creatively called Camps A, B, C, and D. They are dispersed about 5 miles apart from each other, and Camp A is the closest to town at 10 miles. There are some rough cut roads through the woods to follow to the camps.
When asked about the Darkmoon Beast, the wagon driver tells you to speak to Jarlben Trookshavits, the supervisor of Camp B.
Quite oblivious to the dark looks from darker looking thugs, Ascaede appraises the rough indications given on Laurel Gabre's map, and tries to work out which of the Lumber Camps might be closest to the Hag Haunted Hollow.
Stepnik seems to have this thoughts miles away as the others negotiate with the lumber yard boss, but is concious enough to nod in agreement to the plan.
"Yes I'm tired of paying that ridiculous town entry fee, so let's take care of everything there, get a good nights sleep and head towards Camp B first thing in the morning".
Didn't have a good experience with towers recently Waedin mutters. Hope this Wizard's place is peaceful for a change.
Ascaede peers at the rough map Laurel provided, which just so happens to include the lumber camps as reference. The camps are dispersed through the woods to the north, camps A and B are to the northwest and camps C and D are to the northeast. The Hag Haunted Hollow is marked somewhere north of camps C and D, near a lake.
Sébastien just frowns at the mere mention of gate fees....
Shemar follows the group a little glass eyed.
We solve problems by murdering people now. That's what adventures do. I guess I'd better get used to that. With great power and whatever.
"Towers are more of a wizard thing. And undead. It's also an undead thing. Camp B then? But where are we sleeping?"
"I honestly don't mind sleeping in the woods." Ustemir joins in the debate, then lowers his voice "Especially after our recent run-in with the..." he pauses. "Well, you know."
It is early evening as the group leaves the raucous Lumberyards and takes a short trip out of town to visit Drazmorg's Tower, to inquire about the missing lad Vazenko Penchev as well as Glintaxe's journal In the Shadow's of Toil.
The tower lies about a 30 minute walk through the piney woods east of town, which is plenty of time to discuss and consider dinner and lodging options.
The tower itself is a, well, towering edifice made of dark stone masonry, in strong contrast to the primarily lumber and timber buildings of Hearth. It stands some six or seven stories high, just tall enough to rise above the surrounding soaring silverpines. There's something ominous, perhaps, ancient, about the structure. Stone gargoyles perch along the top, looking down from high above. All of its windows are shuttered. A heavy reinforced wooden door seems the only entrance
Ascaede is extremely excited by the prospect of meeting a real wizard, and is particularly impressed by this soaring pile, plonked as it is, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Seeing nothing else for it, she walks up to the door, and knocks - either using an especially interesting knocker if there is one on the door, or if not, utilising a sharp set of raps with the side of her fist.
”Helloooo!?! Wizard… Dravgmor? Ah…Drazmorg? Hello?!?”
The door has no knocker. It actually doesn't even have a handle to be opened from the outside.
Ascaede bangs on the heavy wooden door and calls out, but there is no answer. Perhaps she tries again, and yet, there is still no answer.
Just as the group starts to consider that maybe no one is home, there is the muffled sound of movement on the other side, as if several sets of locking mechanisms are being opened. Then, the door cracks open ever so slightly and a pale colored eye peeps out. A diminutive voice asks, "Yes? Who's there?"
Barely grumbling about any possibilities that involve sleeping out of doors, the city bard looks up up up at the towering tower.
Look at how that tower just towers over even the trees.
Stepping beside Ascaedeat the towering towers door, Sébastien smiles friendly like at the voice behind the door.
Greetings tower. We have been tasked with...
He looks to the Thaumaturge.....
”Uhm. Hello?!?” Ascaede begins somewhat nervously.
”I am Ascaede Voheque, Yolanite… servitor. My friends here have some questions for you. I think. If you are…the wizard Dravgmor?”
"I mean..." standing a few feet away, Ustemir chuckles as he gives Shemar a gentle elbow nudge. "I'm no silver tongue, but this-"
He shrugs. "Feels off?"
We're also looking for some information on Vazenko Penchev. Last we heard, you know something about him.
The diminutive voice answers "No, I do not know this Vazenko. Drazmorg is my father. He has been away for some time now. I am left to tend the tower until his return."
Ascaede nods carefully. She musters all the simplest language she knows.
”And do you have any…knowledge… of where your…father went? Do you know when he is likely to return?”
She thinks for a moment, remembering how unlikely it was to find yourself alone for long, even in her remote, quiet Yolanite monastery.
”Are you in need of anything?” she asks, an honest look of concern on her face.
Stepnik also steps forward and raises his voice... perhaps a little too loud to begin with, then lowering it.
"Do you remember when he left? Did anything lead up to the decision to venture forth? Perhaps some strange news or unusual visitors? It's important that we find him".
Our lead for a missing person is also missing. This does not bode well
Shemar believes that his companions have addressed the situation with the young man as well, if not better, was he could and just nods sympathetically.
Poor kid. Asking if he needs anything was a warm touch...or a calculating one.
With Ascaede's display of genuine concern, the door creaks open a little further to reveal an adolescent girl, gaunt, with palid skin and hair, pale colored eyes, and pointed ears. She looks around at the group outside her door, but casts her eyes down and away and covers her mouth with her fingertips when she speaks, "This tower has all that I need, thank you. My father lead an exhibition into the mountains looking for a place called The Crucible of Kamus. He said the secrets of life and death were to be found there, and that he would be able to bring my mother back. It all started when he met that dwarven explorer and got ahold of his journal. He has been gone for a year now, I do not know when he shall return."
Ah dearie, a year is a long time and expeditions are dangerous. Waedin says, genuinely aghast at the state of the girl. Have you been alone all this time? What's your name?
Edit: Also, sense motive on the girl
Sébastien begins writing her story down. The bard humming to himself.
...exhibition into the mountains looking for a place called The Crucible of Kamus
He grins.
Happen to have that journal, or his notes about? Perhapswe could locate him.
Ascaede’s lip wobbles just a little as she sees the state of the elf-eared girl. Though life in the Yolanite monastery could be harsh, and lonely at times, no-one was ever left…truly alone.
”You should not be alone my child. Is there any one who comes to check on you or provides you with…company?”
Fighting a rising tide welling up within her of frustration and, yes, anger, Ascaede puffs up visibly.
”We will find your father and return him to you. With a thorough scolding thrown in for good measure. Such dereliction of duty toward the appropriate and sustained provision of care for progeny!”
The young girl seems overly shy, but honest in what she's told you. She does seem to be guarded and hiding something in the way she's only peeking out of the door.
"My name is Savram. I'm not supposed to have visitors. I'm sorry but if you're looking for my father, he's not here. I will have to ask you to leave now."
She quickly shuts the door and the muffled clicking sound of several deadbolts being set can be heard.
"Well," Ustemir smirks "good on the kid for establishing boundaries straight away. I can appreciate that."
Sébastien looks absolutely flabbergasted that hid charm fell flat....
For shame....
Well it's been a long day and we've only gotten into trouble. Waedin huffs. I think we should travel together and get to Oona and then turn in. Feel like we should focus on helping the sick and then this beast and then the Crucible.
"While we're hunting the wolf, we ask and look around for Barlus." Ustemir chimes in. "There might be a running time table. Not sure if the beast issue and his disappearance are related. They might be..."
"Also, I think I will rest outside of the gates. It's not that I don't want to cover the fee, but not many people here hang around with a bear, and if our loose end reported the situation, Kolek might be a hot potato kind of deal. Rather not chance it."
Sébastien cries at the suggestion of pine needles for a mattress instead of goose feathers.....
Ascaede provides a small smile for Sebastien.
”Waedin’s plan seems sensible to me.”
”You that have business with Oona should see to its proper finalisation, and thence find what comfort you may within town. I shall keep our more wild companions company on gate’s edge, under the stars.” Ascaede’s neck bends to allow her head to stare upward.
” Too long have I slept within rock and mortar, and with but a small port-hole to view the panoply of constellations.”
"Okay. At least we have a tangible target at the moment. Perhaps we'll find some of these mushrooms while we're out and about. I'm not paying that entry fee again. They should have a wrist band, or a ink smudge or something".
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine splitting up for the night and reassembling in the morning. I've slept in the woods here quite a few times."
Either we all stay together outside then, if some are going to be in town then I'll go with them there.
Sébastien runs to collect from Oona at the High Market to retrieve it!
Meet you all here in the morning....
"Wait! Hold up Sebastion. I'll go with you. Don't relish sleeping in the outdoors".
Sébastien slows down..a bit...
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Sebastien, Stepnik, and Shemar (aka the 3 S's) return to town to collect their pay from Oona and sleep in a warm bed. Ustemir, Weadin, and Asceade opt to camp out in the woods.
Oona is glad to see familiar faces at the end of the day and finalize her contract. She pays your share of the sold loot, which amounts to 19 gold and 5 silver.
In the middle of the night, Shemar's tiny brass dragon familiar whispers in his ear, and the sorcerer mysteriously leaves for parts unknown. He leaves a note for Sebastien stating 'I must follow my destiny elsewhere, good luck with finding Glintaxe!'
In the morning, everyone else reunites and begins the 15 mile walk through the forest to Lumber Camp B.