Of Sound Mind II

[Jarval]

"I'd better check with the Captain first." says the man sitting behind the table. "He's down near the river I think. I'm sure he'll welcome any help you can offer, but it's best to check."

He stands from his seat and calls into a back room. "Luis, I'm taking some folks to see the Captain. Can you cover the entry while I'm gone." The reply, while inaudible to you, seems to satisfy the guardsman who walks back over to you and out the door. "If you'd follow me," he says, "I'll take you to the Captain."

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

While walking toward the river, Gholog attempts to subtly ask a few questions of the guardsman.

"So, when were the missing children seen last?"

 

[Jarval]

"The first one, a boy called Caleb, went missing a little over a week ago. Then the next day another lad called Dorik was gone. Then three days ago a young lass disappeared." The guardsman turns to look back at you all. "Needless to say their folks are rather upset about it all. And we've had no luck finding them yet, so if you can help I reckon everyone in the town would welcome it."

He turns and continues along the road toward the river.

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

"How come they disappeared in alphabetical order?"

 

[GnomeWorks]

Seraphina looks up at the guardsman as they walk along the river.

"How was it found that the children were missing? Were there any clues as to how they had become missing? If there were any tracks, were any rangers or other tracker-people called upon to follow the tracks as far as possible?"

A moment of silence from the halfling, then...

"Is there anything that these children had in common? Any abilities or talents that weren't common in the town, or found among the other children, that the children that have been taken had? How many children have been taken altogether? Is there a pattern as to when the children are disappearing?"

Seraphina decides that having these questions are satisfactory, and that, for now, no others are required. She listens intently, very intently to the answers.

 

[Jarval]

The guardsman pauses at Gholog's question.

"You know, I hadn't noticed that. I don't know the girl's name though, but I can find out if you want?"

"Their parents reported the children missing, but I don't really know much about the search. I've been manning the guardhouse most of this week, so I've had little time in the field." He replies to Seraphina. "We have got one tracker with us, but he only arrived yesterday, so he's not had much time to find anything. Can any of you follow a trail?"

He listens to Seraphina's next batch of questions, then continues. "I don't know if anything links the children. The only one I know is Dorik, who's the son of a friend of mine. Dorik seems a normal kid, I doubt he has any special talents. So far, only the three children I've told you about have gone missing, but we want to find out where they've gone as quickly as possible. As for any pattern, I don't know. The Captain knows more about all of this than me, so you might be better asking the questions to him." The guardsman finishes apologetically.

He continues alone the road, now going along side the river. You can see a group of people a little way off that your guide seems to be heading for.

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

"Well, the names could just be coincidence. It's easy to see a pattern among only two samples."

Gholog walks along with the rest of the group toward the river.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Aiden leaves his friends to do the questioning, filled with anger at the vileness and atrocities that these mysterious enemies are doing. Knowing himself, he tries to stay calm, and waits to meet the general.

 

[Jarval]

The guardsman continues along the road, then across a field to the group of guards.

"Sir, I've got some people to see you." Your guide calls out to one of the men in the field. "They'd like to volunteer for the search party."

The man briefly says something to the guardsman closest to him, then walks over to you. He's well muscled and a little stocky. He wears the red uniform of a guardsman, but it has a blue trim along the sleeves and around the cuffs. His hands are stained a dull yellow, and the smell of acidic chemicals lingers around him.

"Thank you, Sergeant." He says to your guide. "I'm Captain Haldik, head of the town watch. Sergeant Morris says you'd like to volunteer?"

 

[Zhure]

Gholog

"Yes, sir... we're want to help find those missing children."