Rodrigo makes a habit of spending a little time riding alongside each of the party members, while keeping an eye on their surroundings for clues or enemies.

Kareth ponders through the mission as we ride along.

"You know, my fine companions - when we reach a settlement it might be interesting for us to enter as two parties who do not know each other.   One can ask around openly about this Fando fellow.   The other can feign disinterest and keep its eyes open.   That way if anyone in the village had a hand in the man's dissappearance, we shan't be misdirected by him...."

Rodrigo considers Kareth's suggestion. Grinning, the elf nods his head.

"I like it! Very well, let us do this. Perhaps I should be on the 'asking' team, as I am a mage. It will give me the opportunity to follow up on any magical clues."

Talis mused for a time before saying "Not a bad idea, but if things work out for us we won't reach the village.  We'll find a trail or clues somewhere along the road since the sage never made it out of the wilderness."

Although Rodrigo has never traveled to Fenswick, he is aware that there are several villages along most of the roads. It is these villages that supply food and mundane materials for the city.

Fando could have passed through several of them without actually reaching Fenswick.


The trip to Fenswick will take several days.


At this point, I need to know who is riding a horse, who is walking and who (if any) is riding in a wagon.

I'd prefer to be riding a horse.

I'll be in the wagon.

Rodrigo is riding a horse provided by our patron.

He shares the information that there are multiple villages within which we can do the 'split the party' thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Wed 18 June 2014.

Anneth is on horseback, and stroking the mane of her trusty steed.  She periodically looks around for any signs of danger.  She nods an agreement to Talis' statement.

Kareth would dearly like to be riding a horse as it is far more romantic.   Unfortunately his current funding situation does not permit, and he is not a child to sit in a wagon.

Therefore he leaves his pack in the cart and walks at a marching pace beside it.

In reply to Kareth Melphis (msg # 44):

Talis goes clippity-clop, clippity-clop along the road.

So Durek is riding in a small wagon being pulled by a donkey, and I'm guessing that Gierdon is in the wagon, too. I expect Rukao to be walking along side the wagon, or occasionally riding in it to rest.

That puts Anneth, Kareth, Rodrigo and Talis riding on horses.


Any supplies that might need are in the wagon. This probably includes tents, bedrolls, food, water, rope, etc.


Exiting the city was no problem. The guards are more concerned with people entering. It takes about a half hour of travel before you leave the farmlands behind. As sunset approaches, you come upon a hamlet. It probably started as waystation and then a few homestead farms sprung up.

It's now grown to around 20 buildings, maybe 80-90 people.

The name of hamlet seems to be Haggiskott. The waystation (inn) is Barton's Barn.

After a long, scenic day-trip, Rodrigo sighs in pleasure as the waystation and hamlet appear over the horizon.

"Well, do we follow the plan of breaking into two groups? If so, now is the time. Again, I volunteer to be on the 'asking' team."

He waits, allowing his mount to pause, until his companions respond.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Fri 20 June 2014.

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 47):

"I'll volunteer to be on the "dark and mysterious stranger" team!" exclaimed Talis.  The heavily armored Elf smiled happily at his companions.  With a flourish he pulled the hood up on his cloak and put a dour, grumpy look on his face.  "I think I've got this right.  Tell me, Anneth, do I look like Durek now?"

Anneth purses her lips, doing her best not to laugh.  "Bit tall..."

"I volunteer to be an Inquisitor!  Uhh, Inquirer.  Inquiress?  See, I told fortunes for a living before grabbing for them, and that required a lot of invasive questions and people skills and acting." Yes, Anneth, come clean about being dysfunctional, why don't you.  Great for potential references to hear.

Kareth volunteers for the dark and mysterious stranger team.

"Humphrf" Durek snorts at the joke.  "Well I guess I'll go with you then Talis-at least my axe shall keep you safe when you get in trouble."

So Kareth, Talis and Durek are the mysterious team, while Anneth Gierdon, and Rodrigo are the friendly travelers asking questions.

Presumably Rukao will be dark and mysterious, too.


The friendly group should be the one to enter the village first. As they reach the edge of the village, a few farmers can be seen working a field or tending to other chores. When they see the travelers, they wave pleasantly.

There are a couple of horses outside Barton's Barn already, so when you walk in, it's not surprising that there are other travelers.

Other than that, there aren't many customers. Most of the villagers are probably working during the day.

There are a dozen tables and a short bar against the back wall.

Rodrigo rides into the village feeling very pleased with himself. 'So far, so good,' he thinks, nodding to the farmers in the fields and the villagers on the road.

Gratefully, he dismounts, handing his steed off to the stableboy as he grabs his pack and goes into Barton's Barn. He'd heard a few stories of the place from travelers, but nothing that appeared any more credible than anything else.

Smiling to his friends Anneth and Gierdon, glad to have them with him, he takes a casual glance around and notes the appearance and demeanor of the people within. He looks for a table that can accommodate them, and sits with a sigh of contentment.

Well, almost contentment. He looks up expectantly for a server to take his order!

Ann waves at the friendly folks, dismounts along with Rodrigo, and follows him inside.  For this to work, she would need to drink after eating!  Her reputation and hopes of making money were at stake...!

Waiting for some time Durek signals for the next group to move into town.  Hood drawn over his head he heads toward the inn.  Handing the porter some coin to take care of the mounts.  With a 'Hmrfph' he heads in doors and finds a table near the wall.  Pulling his pipe out and placing some pipe weed in it he lights it and pulls a long drag on it.

Talis follows Durek and attempts to look grumpy.  When they reach their table the big Elf eyes Durek's tobacco curiously.  He picked up the small bag and sniffed at it, but decided now was not the time to experiment with smoking and set it back down.  Instead he sat back and kept his hood pulled low over his head so that his face was obscured in shadow, only his Amethyst eyes could be seen glittering beneath.

_{"So we just wait here and look tough?"} he whispered to Durek and Kareth.

Taking a long pull on his pipe; Durek nods in the affirmative to Talis.  "Just keep an eye on the others and look for anything strange"; he adds in hushed tones as he exhales.

In reply to Durek (msg # 57):

"Stranger than a Dwarf and an Elf whispering to each other in a dark corner you mean.  I shall endeavor to keep my eyes open." he finished.

Talis began to pay attention to the other tavern patrons in an attempt to comply with Durek's ideas.

As the adventurers fitler into Barton's Barn, you can see that there are six other patrons at the moment. The covered tinker's cart outside probably belongs to the Halfling. The man sitting with him doesn't quite look like a mercenary, but is probably a guard for hire.

The loft has been partitioned off into rooms, and a wooden stair leads up to it, apparently replacing the older ladder, which is actually still there.

A hooded figure is hunched over the bar.

And three others are at another table. Two of them probably belong to the other two horses outside, while the third may be a local merchant.

There are no serving people at the moment, so the bartender comes over to Rodrigo and Anneth.

"What can I get you good folks?" he asks.

After he takes their order, he stops by Durek's and Talis's able to take their order.

As you wait for your drinks and/or food to be brought back, you can't help but overhear the local merchant lamenting to his drinkng buddies.

"One of my cousins recently won this item in a poker game. Naturally he cheated. Before he could see what he'd won, though, he was killed on the road by bandits. Personally, I think it was the man he cheated. I was more than surprised to discover that he left me all his worldly possessions, including this odd item, but I was even more surprised to discover that it is a ship! Frankly, I am at a loss what to do about it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Fri 25 July 2014.