Under the care of Lasiar, both Kaileer and Maisar awoke in the morning, not feeling incredibly well, but much better than the day before. Maisar told the others that while he was incredibly concerned about everything that was going on, this was not what he was trained to do. He gathered his things and left the inn, stopping by Nafton's on his way out of town.
With no body to bury, the group had nothing to do but heal and wait for the remaining strays to return. Azrun, Aloysius, Gala, and Jana arrived later in the afternoon. Their arrival caused a great deal of hoopla because across the back of Jana's horse were the bodies of two men dressed in the surcoats of King Azoun's men.
Garyld limped out to them, greeting Jana with a smile until his eyes rested on the murdered men. "What happened?" the constable asked.
Awaking early in the morning, Lasiar proceeded to clean up before meditating to his goddess. After an hour of deep prayer, Lasiar returned to Kaileer and Maisar's room, examining them again for fever or infection. Without delay, Lasiar prayed for healing, touching Kaileer twice, and Maisar once. Relieved that they are in better health today, he asked them if they were hungry. Without waiting for an answer, Lasiar left for the common room and ordered two meals to be brought to the elves' room. He remained in the common room for his own meal when he learned of his other friends' arrival.
Aloysius looked simply awful. He looked very tired from carrying the rather modest pack that was over his shoulder. It appeared that, at least where his upper body was concerned, he didn't have any clothes on under his robe. His purple hair streamed out from under his hat like weeds, often getting in his face. He had what appeared to be blood stains on his hands and face as well.
The magic-user thankfully set his pack down on the ground and stretched. He stood by quietly, waiting for someone to explain the siutation to Garyld.
The sudden appearance of the rest of the party lightened Lasiar's mood slightly, as a gasp of relief escaped from his tight-lipped smile. "It seems we weren't the only ones to have a little adventure," Lasiar chimed in. "Comeon, please join me and have a warm meal before you tell us what happened."
Jana returned Garyld's smile, then looked at the bodies and sighed. After Azrun spoke, she looked over at Gala. "They belong to her faith." Jana grimaced, looking slightly abashed. "We brought them here to be buried properly."
Aloysius watched as Lasiar approached. After the Selunite spoke, Aloysius replied, "Perhaps first we should make arrangements for the burial of these men." The magic-user looked around for a moment. "Where be our other companions?"
Azrun stepped up to meet Garyld, "One of them was still alive when we found them. Apparently they had been assigned to escort three novices of Lathander on a journey from Eveningstar to The Healing House of Lathander in Scornubel then on to Waterdeep. They didn't make it and we didn't find the 3 novices." He handed the scrollcase to Garyld. "This fell off of one of them while we were putting them on the horse. It has their orders plus some wanted posters."
Gala added in a flat voice, "The man who died while I watched wanted someone to tell Lord Parlfray that some pilgrims were taken, and something about a red-headed man or his eyes. I think he might be referring to living hostages. We need to find where these men were coming from, and what their orders were. Maybe we can save..." Gala's voice trailed off for a moment, the picked back up. "Someone."
The magic-user watched silently as Gala and Azrun spoke to Garyld. He bit his lip for a moment, then hesitantly spoke up. "The orcs we did meet afore, while we were Kuiper . . .they be in the Mire now as well. Tried did they, along with their bandit accomplices, to kidnap Tersa Gillson." He slowly looked about at the others. "In sooth, our belief that mages are being collected is confirmed. To what end, I know not, but it bodes foul."
Garyld spared an odd look for Lasiar and a questioning one for Aloysius as he listened to the newcomers explain how they came to have two dead men with them. He took the scrollcase from Azrun and looked through it, "I never thought I'd see the day when followers of the Morning Lord weren't safe to travel through Haranshire." He glanced toward the temple, "Semheis is gone until the end of the month. We'll need to get some graves dug for these men, then the Dawnsinger can do what needs to be done for them to send them off properly," he looked at Gala to see if this was acceptable.
Gala nodded sadly. "I will sing them to their rest." She looked at her companions. "I am sorry to be so...well, you know what I mean. I am not used to all this death."
He looked at Arachne next, "What happened to the gnome you said needed to be buried? Can all of you come to my shop and talk about this? I'd like to hear everything you've found out again and find out what you want to do next," the constable was obviously trying to piece all the information together and failing miserably.
Gala agreed readily.
Garyld directed them to his carpenter's shop while he went to find someone to dig another grave. He looked through all the papers Azrun had given him as he limped away, muttering, "If Cormyr found all the folks they thought were criminals, they'd run out of rope."
Azrun offered a quick, "Damned if that ain't right."
Garyld's shop was an open building with pieces of furniture here and there that he was working on, as well as few bows in various stages of completion. The lame ranger joined them after a few minutes and sat on a block of wood. One of his dogs had followed him in and sat by his feet. "You've seen more of this than I have," Garyld began. "Tell me what's happened and what you think is going on," he looked around at each of them.
Gala looked at Azrun and waited for him to speak of what they had found. She also looked at Aloysius and whispered, "You should tell them what you found in the Mire too, Aloysius. They need to know about the attack."
Azrun cleared his throat and looked around at the group, "Well, I should probably start at the beginning since we have a few newcomers to the group." Azrun spun a tale beginning with their initial hiring, the attack with the farmers, the disappearence of Zond and Jennelleth, the trip to and from Tauster's with the attack on the return trip. He then went into the trip into the mire, including the boy's story of the blue monsters. He then told of the cave with the goblins, finishing with finding the 2 guards on the roadside.
He then looked to Aloysius,"Go ahead and tell him about your trip through the mire yesterday, friend." Azrun stood back to listen to Aloysius's story.
Arachne waited patiently through all the parts she already knew. (Actually, she'd zoned out for most of the recital, petting Garyld's dog.) When Azrun got to the part about the two guards on the roadside, she spoke up: "This part I don't already know, Azrun, so please, don't stint the details. Exactly where along the road were they? I think they'd left from here -- the Mutton, I mean -- very early this morning. We saw them there last night. Did you find any sign of a struggle, or indications which way the novices might have been taken? Were the guards killed only with arrows or had something else been used to finish them off? I'm not asking out of morbid curiosity, mind you. I just don't know _what_ might be important."
As usual, Aloysius visibly finched at Azrun's last word. He opened his mouth to reply, but then waited for Arachne to finish before beginning his tale.
"First, permit me once again to apologize for creating discord by going back alone. 'Twas foolish to do so."
The mage stroked his razor-stubble as if trying to decide what was important and what was not. "In any event, I found the Mire a place much more inhospitable than when we did cross it afore. The ground be much softer and more than once didst I find myself nearly bogged to a halt. Intent was I upon stopping by Tersa's to warn her of the goblins. When I got there . . . ." the mage shook his head distantly for a moment. "She and Devon were accosted by orcs and brigands. I'd say there were 5 of each. The orcs bore heraldry like those we did battle with on the River of Swine. Tersa and Stargazer did manage to . . . ." he glanced down at his still blood-stained hands, "slay them all."
Aloysius paused and collected himself. "Young Devon fought bravely, and was injured. Howe'er, Tersa cared for him and he shall be fine. The brigands were trying to capture Tersa, not slay her. She proved quite skilled in the arts. After the fray, her mother, Alaina, appeared. She knew naught of waht was happening in the area, but said that she, Tersa, and the children were leaving."
He looked about at the others. "Tersa and her mother both said that the Mire has been growing for the past 2 seasons, the same amount of time the goblins said they had been in the area. The goblin crest, as well as the shamans lies makes it apparent that the goblins understand what transpires in the Mire. Mages be a target, for what reason, I know not. Alaina gave me a scroll that may be able to restore Pug. If all of thee wish me to try that, prepare his body and I shall make the attempt as soon as I am able."
The mage sat silently awaiting a response.
"Uh...I don't think we _have_ his body now," Arachne said quietly. "Didn't someone already mention that?" She glanced at Lasiar.
The purple-haired man's eyebrows twitched slightly and then shot up in surprise. "Don't have . . . .?" Aloysius looked at Lasiar. "Perhaps thou shouldst share thy tale now."
Lasiar had been quiet, patiently listening to the tales spun by Azrun and Aloysius. He licked his lips when the mage mentioned the scroll, and nervously rubbed his hands upon Arachne's remark of the body's disappearal. His eyes averted from the mage's questioning look, Lasiar replied, hesistantly, "Umm.... this is terrible... what Arachne says is true... We _lost_ Pug's body. It happened yesterday. We were passing a village when we encountered a group of gnolls and flinds. They outnumbered us, and we fought aggressively, felling some of them, but Kaileer and Maisar were seriously injured and were knocked down. It happened so quick. Two Flinds circled around us and leapt on Puddlejumper, and rode away, taking Pug's body with them. Torro and I tried to stop them, but we were blocked by the remaining two gnolls. After killing those two, we wanted to go after Pug, but we were also injured, Kaileer and Maisar were unconscious, and not to mention, the Flinds had too much of a lead. So we decided to rest for the night and march on to Milborne and wait for you."
Lasiar paused to raise his head and look at each party member, "I am sorry. I failed to keep Pug's body safe, and now, he has lost his chance of revival. And..." Lasiar swallowed, "Maisar decided he couldn't continue with us, and stayed in Nafton. Do not worry about Torro and Kaileer, they are well and still with us. Last I saw them, they were resting."
As if he suddenly remembered something important, Lasiar stood abruptly, "Wait, I think I may have seen these soldiers before. They were escorting three priests that bore the symbol of Gala's faith. In passing, I heard that they had left Parlfrey's Keep and were heading to Scornubel. Could they be the same novices you were speaking of?"
Aloysius listened intently as Lasiar shared his story. He shook his head sadly as lasiar explained what happened to Pug's body. "Damn," he exclaimed. "Slain by goblins and no doubt eaten by gnolls. And poor Puddle Jumper as well." The probable impropriety of his statement struck the mage, and he looked at the table sheepishly. "Well," he continued, perhaps trying to change the subject. "We have goblins in the Mire, kidnappers and murderers all about, and still we know naught of Jelleneth and Zond. What shall we do now?"
The mage looked at Lasiar inquisitively. "What be a 'flind'?"
"Flind like gnoll, but shorter. Smarter," Kaileer inserted. "One flind, not two," he told Lasiar. "At least I not see two," he offered in case another had shown up after he collapsed. Kaileer looked at Garyld, "Gnolls out in bright day wrong."
Garyld nodded in confirmation, "Gnolls usually move at night."
Kaileer continued, "If can bring Pug back, should look for him. Maybe gnolls not eat."
Gala's head shot up. "That explains their words. I think the priests might not be dead yet. Maybe if we can go back to where we found the guards, we can try and rescue the prisoners. Can anyone track? I know. Pug's corpse is missing. But these people may be alive." She looked at the group pleadingly, "Please help me."
"Do gnolls like meat that is perhaps . . . not so fresh?" asked Aloysius bluntly, again forgetting that he was speaking of his fallen comrade's corpse. He pulled a scroll out of his pack and held it up (unrolled). "Know not if Stargazer be capable of invoking this magic. E'en if it be of an arcane nature, and not divine, such magics may well be beyond my kin. E'en Alaina was hesitant to use this scroll. Howe'er, if wish that I should try, try I shall."
Aloysius looked very serious. "Nothing more do I want than to clean myself, acquire some new garments, and then prepare to rid this land of the foul beings who seek to overrun it."
The magic-user's robe now hung wide open all the way to his waist. The blue shirt he used to wear was gone, and his fragile-looking chest and shoulders were still dirtied with blood and mud.
"Kaileer's our expert tracker," Arachne said. "I'm just his amateur backup. It seems to me that there's two separate tracking jobs that we're looking at: One is pursuing Puddlejumper and our wayward Pug. The other is going after the novices. And, from the fact that the dead guards were left behind when the novices were taken, I'd have to say that there's no guarantee the two trails will lead to the same place. Whoever's grabbing people -- mages and priests -- does seem to prefer them alive.
"We may need to split up again -- I _know_ how effective that just proved, but we do have these two distinct trails, both of which are going cold. If we do split up, I'd suggest Kaileer and Aloysius (and I'm not sure whom else) going back to where the flind rode off with Pug and Puddlejumper. Kaileer because he needs to and Aloysius because he has the scroll. I'd suggest myself and Gala going to the place on the road where we found the guards. Me to see if I can find a trail there and Gala to advise me what a Morninglord novice's spoor might look like. Torro, Jana, Lasiar and Azrun should distribute yourselves as seems reasonable, but Jana: Unless you're coming with me and Sweetie has room for me on -- um -- his? back, I'm going to need a horse. Or something like that. Otherwise, I'll slow up whomever I'm with.
"And if we decide not to split up," she added, "my vote is that we get organized and get out to where the dead guards were. I don't like to admit it -- I'd dearly love to get Pug back. But if flind are known to eat gnomes, then I'm guessing that there's likely not much left of Pug now. I know he's dead -- maybe that's enough --"
She broke off. "Garyld, do you think anyone in town would be able to sell us a horse?"
"Mayhap investing our efforts in locating Pug, and Puddle Jumper for that matter, be not the most efficient approach. These creatures have a head start, and were mounted. E'en if locate them we could, I fear Pug may be . . . ." Aloysius considered his words for a moment (and for a change) "gone. Besides, there is no guarantee that Stargazer has the skills required to work the magic of the scroll."
The purple-haired man turned towards Gala. "Galaret, agree with thee do I that a pursuit of thy spiritual kindred be in order. Howe'er, we have need of supplies, and we must see how brave Kaileer fares. Between he and Arachne, surely a trail can be found if one exists."
"Nafton has a few horses for sale," Garyld replied. "Riding horses and plow horses, nothing battle trained, but they'll get you where you need to go."
Kaileer added to Arachne, "Need get armor. Garyld said Rastifer might...sell. I not have money."
Aloysius quickly dug around in his belt pouch. "Wealthy I be not, brave one, but mayhap if we all contribute, our meager resources might grow into a raging torrent." With that, the purple-haired man plopped 10 gps down on the table.
"By the way, Kaileer, be thee accomplished with the spear?" Aloysius held up the spear he had been using as a walking stick. "I acquired this in the Mire and it appears to be soundly made."
"I have a bunch of money that Pug was carrying," Arachne replied. "Depending how much a riding horse costs, I was thinking of using some of that. I think Pug was holding the group's wealth, so I guess we could use that to pay for your armor. That means we want to go see both Rastifer and Nafton. Want to go to Rastifer first?"
"Need have I to go to Rastifer's as well," said Aloysius. The skinny man stood up and opened his robe, revealing nothing underneath but a skimpy cotton loincloth. After closing his robe again, and refastening his belt, he continued, "all my clothes were ruined in the Mire. I'll be in need of some new ones."
"I feel that I cannot abandon Pug to his fate. If were are to split up once more, I will join Kaileer and Aloysious to recover the gnome's body." Lasiar said as he returned to his seat. "As Aloysious said, the trail is cold, and getting colder by the minute. We must get whatever gear we need and begin our journey as soon as possible."
"Ahem." Aloysius cleared his throat. "The name is 'al-o-WISH-us', emphasis on the third syllable. Sorry, mayhap I be too sensitive to that. Perhaps you feel guilty about Pug? Let not thy guilt lead thee astray. Let us seek the living, not the dead. Pug was a dear . . .comrade . . . of mine, but he be gone. Need we to face that fact."
Azrun looked over at Aloysius and shook his head, "First thing we need to do is get organized and get our clothes back on." He looked back over at Aloysius and then to the rest of the group, "If we're going after the initiates, we'll need supplies. Also, considering how long we've been trouncing around in the swamp, it's a wonder we're not all full of rot or sick. I suggest while a few of us get some supplies the others get a bath and a hot meal. Then the others can do the same, once supplies have been taken care of. I know this may take a bit of time, but it's better than all of us getting sick out in the mire." He stood looking at the others.
Aloysius seemed confused for a moment, and muttered quietly, " . . . .but I said I don't have any clothes, how can I put them on? . . . . ." Then, dismissing his confusion, he added, "Azrun speaks wisely. Let us be off to Rastifer's and then refresh ourselves. Howe'er, by the time we do this, it shall be evening. Are we planning on venturing forth this night, or upon the rising sun?"
