Lisette and Siffli

The barkeep laughs. "If I wanted you, darling, I'd have you whether you want it or not. But I'm already fixed for tonight so you're out of luck."

He goes back behind the bar chuckling to himself.

"Oh and it'll be a day or two before you see Smudge. He only comes out of the sewers every two or three days and you've just missed him. Not really your day, is it love?"

Lurel nods. "Thank you, I think we should look for that scruffy boy in Witten, perhaps. But first... Ford mentioned finding some documents on the corpse, and some names that were mentioned in a letter. Who or what are the 'Yar', and have you ever heard of someone whose name begins with 'Porc'?"

Lurel and Ford

The woman who does the travelling nods. "I know of the Yar but not of any person who belongs to them. They are organised gangs that operate outside the law. They are not all criminal but the line is difficult to define. I believe there are six or seven different Yar each specialising in different fields. They avoid conflict by that means. Each can be found in Flen but in the smaller cities it varies. I have no idea if any has yet come to Witten."

Lurel grimaces. "Organised gangs... just what we need. Oh well - I suppose we had better go to Witten, and find that boy you sold the arrows to. Unless of course," he adds half-jokingly, "you know of anyone who inexplicably lost an arrow?"


Lurel uses the spell Thail has given him.

'Thail, could you ask Lisette to keep an eye out for a scruffy little boy who bought arrows from some Held members disguised as traders? And to watch out for a name starting with 'Porc'. And please also warn her about some organised gangs called the Yar which may or may not operate in Witten. We'll be on our way there soon, I hope.'

Thail relays the message to Lisette.

OOC> Off to perform back on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone.

// OOC: Off for a few days' holiday!//


Lurel waits to hear if Indril or the other woman have any more information for them. If not, and if no one has any other suggestions, he suggests that they should travel to Witten and re-join Lisette and Siffli.

Siffli goes outside, assuming Lisette follow.

"Lisette, I REALLY don't want to sleep in that place, can't we try to find another tavern, perhaps something more... well... clean?"

Um, isn't the Prancing Pony another tavern?

If Ari sees lurel leaving the hut, he'll leave his potting and wander up.

*grins* "Hey, so did you find anything from the dragon, or she just rumble and smoke at you"

*Looks more serious* "i heard you found a body? who was it? what happened. who was it? no ones been mentioned as missing but i haven't seen everyone - some are out hunting."

'Somethings actually happening in the Village?! i've never seen people like this or their cities!!!'

"she said you'd probably want me to take you to witten? is that right? can you tell me whats going on at all? we haven't ever had anything like this happen before!"

Ford looks to Ari when they eventually exit.

"Yes... I found a body. It wasn't one of you though, he was a normal human."

He explains about the body and everything to Ari.

"And yes we probably will want to go to Witten soon..."

Ari looks relieved and a little embaresed
"Thanks, err sorry that was a bit inconsiderate of me i just wanted to make sure it wasn't one of my friends that had died... Are you ok?" *looks concerned*

"one of your kind? what were they doing here!?"

"ok, just let me know when you're ready to go"
*his expression lightens*
"i've never seen one of you towns or cities before"

Lurel, Ford, Ari and Midge

Lurel decides to collect some rations and suggests the others do the same.

OOC> When you have collected what you need we will start to Witten but not much will happen until Theta is back.

Lisette and Siffli

You walk to the Prncing Pony. It is hardly the latest thing in luxury as it has wooden slatted beds and straw. There is no running water. But the clientele are less - ruffian like.

After booking a room and checking it out you realise that you are not going to be able to stay inside until Smudge gets a message to you.

Where would you like to go?

"Siffli - Where do you want to go today?"

"We may as well talk to the non-ruffians here, see what the latest rumors are, perhaps inquire as to the Yar...I got the impression that the barkeep over there might have more backing than one would think, maybe he's with them."

"I'm alright... just a bit shaken up but I'm calming down, heh, to tell you the truth I was more shocked by the state those kids are in than finding the corpse..."

Ford sighs.

"I really don't know. But it sounds like it might have something to do with some form of organised crime ring."

He nods.

"Alright... I'm just off to collect some rations as Lurel suggested and then I'll be ready to go. Know where the traders are around here?"

"Well, I don't have anything special to do right now, so, lead the way "

Lurel, Ford, Midge and Ari

The Held do not have traders as such. Everything is communal and you may take what you need. Bulkier items like furniture were left in the abandoned village but you can get most staples and food of the kind found in a forest - dried meat, nuts etc. As long as you are not too greedy no one will object. You can also pick up bows and arrows there. The communal hut is beside Indril's.

Siffli and Lisette

You speak to the first person you meet as you exit the Prancing Pony, a man of middle years who is clearly in a hurry. He is however polite.

He explains the Yar to you and says that if there are any in the city they will be hanging out in the sewers.

"Go to the main square if you want to go there. All the houses there are empty - so big and eerie - but a couple have cellars that open onto the sewers."

He waits to see if you have further questions but clearly wants to move on.

"An organised crime ring?" *he looks confused* "um im afraid i don't understand"

"what would they be doing around here anyway?"


"We don't have traders as such, everyone has their jobs, the things they're good at and everything goes into the comunal store, we just take what we need when we need it"

*Ari shows them the store and pick up some more arrows, rations and grabs his bedroll*

"You mentioned traders will i need to bring things to trade in witten? for food and things?"

"As in, a group of people who commit crimes, like stealing, murder, etc, and are very ruthless and efficient at it. Basically they specialise in doing crime and getting away with it... we don't know what they would be doing around here, I just hope it has nothing to do with you guys."

Ford follows Ari to the communal store and takes what he requires from it, trying not to take too much. He looks to Ari when he questions him.

"Yes that might be a good idea... never know what kinds of useful things you can find in town."

"Oh!, we dont tend to have that sort of thing at the village, if someone wants something they take it from the store, when they makes something they put it in the store, no one needs to steal things let alone in gangs"

*Ari takes a couple of glowing pots some dried rations, and fills his quiver to 20 arrows, after tieing his bed roll to his pack he slings his bow over his shoulder*

"ok i'm ready, is there anything else i need?"

"Hmm ok the way i see it there are several ways of varying safety to get there.

The safest and longest route is probably to go along the edge of the forest to the coast. Down the coast to the town of Olden and then over the southern mountain pass. This probably gets my vote but i'll take others a different route if they prefer

another route still quite long is through Branden Forest to the main highway as far as a small village, Ratz. Then we head north along the pass over the mountains.

The shortest and probably quickest and certainly the least safe is to head across the bergen and then the mountains, the problem is theres no paths that way so it would be hard going"
*shrugs*
"so have you got any preferences? how urgent is you mission time wise?"

Siffli turns to Lisette: "Sewers? I really don't want to go to the sewers!"

"Don't worry, Siff, we'll wait on the sewers until the others show up. I'd rather not meet the Yar on their own turf, anyway."

Lurel, Ford, Midge and Ari

You have collected what you need. It is up to you to select the route. Ari has made his preference known so it is up to the rest of you whether you agree.

Siffli and Lisette

The man nods and moves away. There are several options for you other than visiting the sewers; exploring some of the empty buildings, walking to the main square, walking to the second inhabited area, trying to find out about the arrows not connected to the boy Smudge, seeing what the populace feels about the Yar. It is going to take the others a few days to reach you so you need an objective. The choice is yours.

People are about in the square including closest to you an elderly man walking a dog, a smartly dressed woman and a mother with a toddler.

Ford ponders.

"The Branden Forest route gets my vote I think. We're used to facing a little danger, and if it'd get us there faster... our mission is pretty urgent after all. Whatever these magics are doing they're probably going to finish in a pretty spectacular way unless we do something soon... and I doubt that finish would be very pleasant. The mountain route sounds a bit foolish to me, the shortness of it would do us no good if we got completely lost."

"i doubt we'd get lost i should be able to lead you accross it, but it is alot harder going and more dangerous".

"i don't have a problem with branden forest either, if you'd prefer that way, thats fine with me"

"What do you think about exploring, Lissy? Exploring some of these empty buildings might be fun. And who knows? Me might allso find something usefull "

"Sounds fine to me."

Lurel weighs up the various options.

"Time is important," he says at length, "but not at the expense of safety. I'd suggest Brandon Forest as a compromise. It has several advantages - there's shelter, we've been there before, so we're not completely unaware of what to expect - plus, of course, the Held know how to blend in." He grins at Ari.

He checks his pack, and nods towards the others. "We should probably make the best of what remains of the daylight."

*grins*
"Brandon Forest it is then."
"ok lets go"
*Assuming the party is willing ari leads them off in the direction of(/through i'm not sure of geographic locations ooc) brandon forest. he seems to know the paths well and where hes going*

"Alright."

Ford double checks his backpack and makes sure everything is there, then follows Ari out.

Assuming Lisette follows, Siffli heads for one of the empty buildings.

OOC> Unexpected absence last Friday, sorry guys!

Lurel, Ford, Midge and Ari.

The Branden Forest route will take you eight days. The first passes without mishap. As evening approaches you arrive at a low lying area surrounded by huge standing stones. Lurel can guess that this is Chert Hollow a place Zekic visited and warned you about. The undead spirit of one of Anromainyus's brothers (Darendor) haunts the hollow and it will not be a good place to stay unless you have a reason for awakening him. You can hear a river babbling a little way away. The forest here is relatively open.

A quick scouting exercise yields four resting sites, by the river, in the hollow, in the trees between them or across the river in an open meadow.

Siffli and Lisette

You cross the square and follow the main road into the main square where you were advised the empty buildings were. The main square has eight huge statues frowning down at you. Each appears to be holding something but it is not clear what. Any breath of air sighs through the statues and make weird moaning sounds. You arrive on the north side of the square and enter the building to your immediate left . It is five stories high above ground and has one level of cellars. It is fully furnished and dust free but contains nothing unusual and no access to the sewers. As you look out of an upper window you can see in the distance the second 'inhabited' area. You also notice a man going into the building second along on the east side of the square. He is followed shortly afterwards by three others, all independent. You also catch sight of something brighly coloured in the window of the house opposite to you on the south side of the square. The houses clearly are not all empty. As you emerge into the main square the door of the house immediately to your right is heard closing.

Lurel shivers. "I don't like this place. Zekic told me something about it.... it's really not a place to spend the night.... not unless anyone wants to try to talk to another one of Anormainyus' brothers."

He looks around. "I'd probably prefer to camp by the river. Much as I'd like to put the river between us and this hollow, I don't think there's enough shelter out in that open meadow. What do you think, Ari? You know more about forests than we do!"

"i like the woods as its easier to hide your presence, however in the meadow you can see things coming which might be better for you guys, i don't have a problem with the stream either"

"Whatever you decide i think we should set a watch, if you hear or see anything then wake Everyone quietly, if the animals or birds go quiet wake everyone that means someones approaching quietly".

"i would like to be further from this place with what you say but unfortunately its not wise to push on at night".

Lurel nods. "Setting a watch is a good idea. I'll take the first watch, if you like."

He turns to Midge. "Midge, does your danger sense tell you anything about this place? Anything which makes one side of the river preferable to the other?"

"Oh wonderful... we get to sleep in the haunting place of a maniac's brother. And this is one of the safer routes?"

Ford sighs.

"Personally I'd prefer to be as far away from the stones as possible. I agree with setting up a watch... if you take first Lurel I suppose I'll take the second."

"i guess that makes me the third watch" *grins* "don't worry we'll be fine"

"i'm afraid i didn't know about your ghostly friend or i'd have diverted us around the area, sorry"

Lurel's party

Midge does not like Chert Hollow but can find nothing worrying in either of the suggested camping sites.

"Let's make camp by the river, then, and get something to eat," Lurel suggests. He looks at Ari.

"There's something I should probably tell you, in case there's danger and there's no time to warn you..." He tells Ari of his lycanthropic ability, and uses his empathy skill to gauge how the Held member will react to it. He grins at the other as he finishes his explanation. "Just so you don't accidentally shoot me."

*ari's not sure whether you're joking or not*
*laughs* "I wont shoot you if you don't eat me how about that for a deal"

'are these guys all mad or are they for real? ah well its a change from the village and something interesting! we'll soon find out if theyre nuts'

*start setting camp and preparing food*

"Perhaps we should investigate that group, I think. Although, since they didn't seem to be law-abiding citizens, sneakage might be wise."

Lurel's party

The night passes without incident although when you awaken Midge tells you he feels very slightly uneasy about something. There is nothing to be seen. The day's journey will take you south through the forest. There is an area popular with charcoal burners and two isolated farms. You may visit any (or all) of them or not as you choose. You will arrive at Ratz on the fourth night.

Lisette and Siffli

You sneak over to the building into which you saw the four men go. The building appears empty as do those to either side. There is no passage in between the three buildings but a reconnaissance trip shows you that all the buildings have back ways in. As you approach the back door of the central building you can hear voices raised in argument. You cannot distinguish words from outside the door.

Ford yawns and slowly drags himself up from his sleeping spot. He grabs his backpack and pulls out some food. He starts eating, trying to keep quiet in case anyone's still asleep.

'Well... no sign of any ghouls, ghosts, insane knife-wielding maniacs... maybe this place isn't as dangerous as I thought...'

Lisette attempts to check the entryway for any occupants (You didn't mention windows one way or the other. Are there any?).

"Maybe I can manifestrate in to the building, and if someone is coming, I can trasport myself back to my own body, that would be the most safe way, but you must guard my real body all the time, because I am verry vulnerable when I manifestrate. There is one catch though... I need to know exactly how the place I'm going to manifestrate to looks like... What do you think Lissy?"

*ari walks into the camp humming cheerilly, he sees ford has woken an waves*

"hi, thought i'd catch us some fresh breakfast" *holds up a brace of rabbits* "before we make a start for the day."

*starts prepareing them*

"there are a couple of farms on route but unless you are looking for information from them i think they'll be an extra delay, what do you recon should we avoid them?"

Lisette and Siffli

There are windows but it could be risky to approach too close if anything nefarious is going on inside. Siffli can of course fly but would not be able to carry Lisette.

Lisette cannot be sure that there is no one immediately the other side of the door but the raised voices are coming from a room and from what you have seen in other buildings the rooms lead off a passageway. The door is not locked.

Ford nods and smiles.

"Thanks Ari. As for the farms... it might be worth stopping at one or two. But of course, we have no way of knowing if Siffli and Lisette are alright... we should wait til Midge and Lurel are awake and then decide."

He helps Ari prepare the rabbits.

"I am awake!" Lurel assures them, trying to disentangle himself from his bedroll.

"I think we should get to Witten - unless there's a pressing need to visit the farms. We've got enough supplies I think." He grins at Ari. "Especially with that freshly caught breakfast there."

He finally gets up and wanders down to the stream to wash. When he returns, he asks:

"Midge said he's feeling uneasy about something.. has anyone else noticed anything? Bad dreams, noises in the night - anything?"

Ford shakes his head.

"No. Not a thing. Seems pretty docile considering what this place is... almost seems too good to be true."