In reply to Bowshot (msg # 852):

Mayhap such be the way oft these disappearances. Tis our hope to determineth which it be. Justin informs.

     The Older  woman merely shrugs,..it is not  fer the likes of me ta say now, is it? We Struggle  day and night, inhopes that one day, things will be a bit brighter..yuou and yours  will be off, tryin' ta kill folks, or have  folks  kill you?

...................

 The Stable Master  snorts a bit as they work,well, son?... you'll have  ta see..by and by..won't ya...Until then..we got  some floor  boards that need layin' so's we can get the rest of the hay in.... Druid  says it's gonna rain  by night fall...

......................

 The  Fellow with the leather Apron  waves  the two away from the wagon,..keep loading,  I will sliup you some extra coin for the trouble. The Younger fellow  grinned at this, the older  man just gave a nod.

 The Leather apron took off his gloves as he  nodded  towards the workers.  There were two younger folks down near the water handing   stones , the size of  Turkey platers up to some  men who stacked them on a  two wheeled  cart  to pus  towards the mason's  wagon.

  Lok at them... of the  5 houses  in the patch?  4 of them have   people working , so they can grab some extra  coin.. the 5th house..that cottage that is on the  other side of the road, has a widow in it.. she has  a very large garden..does alot of teh work herself, but  folks will help her through ut the seasons.... she rewards them with  jellies and jams and  canned food..she does  mending..and bakes bread.... They help care for her cottage, and they make sure she gets her share of the stone money...

 ..Now?... that may seem all well and good.... but every patch of homes like this...the scene is repeated...sadly there are some patches  that no one gives a damn... so?..i won't buy stone from them.

 ..That tall kid? He'll be  gone in a season or two...he'll either join the navy or the army..or become mercs, like you folks..or?.. he  may find a calling.... Like me.... I came from a  patch like this.... the  Mason who bought our stone, let me come with him...taught me the craft.... a week after i was gone..out patch was raided.. no one left.. half the bodies  missing.... a pair of dead slavers?...so..aye, my friend....folks will simply walk off...

In reply to bowshot (msg # 858):

Myranda returned to washing the dishes. There was nothing further she wished to say, to the woman; minds that are closed to mere Mortal's persuasion are the province of the Divine.

"That is most distressing to hear.  My sympathy to all of you...life should have hope...meaning.  Your words are sad indeed."

  The fellow  offers his  hand in a warrior's shake, then puts on his  gloves,..I should get back to helping them. I built my reputation with  folks outside the city, as  not being afraid to work.

 Then he gives Haildas  as sad Smile...  about 5  miles  down  this poor excuse for a road, is  another Patch  homes... two on the  land side of the road, three on the BAnk... I Think the They are the ones who might have started the Bounty, to find  missing kin?... That's about all I may offer, at this time...

In reply to bowshot (msg # 858):

Indeeth we shall Stable Master replies Justin as he helps the fellow position the first of the floor boards, taking several nails placing one on the board over a Joist. Justin sets Hammer to nail driving it into the timber. Familiarising himself with the task as they work which progresses well as the day passes.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Fri 18 Nov 2016.

"I thank you for your time, good sir, as I'm sure the people who hired us thank you for helping guide us to them.  May your day be safe."

When they walk the five mile to the next cluster of houses they are directed to, Kr'wyn asks Haildas: "What do you think: river monsters or more at stake? If only there would be river monsters, people here are used to the losses that comes with living in a dangerous place. They would not pool their money for a reward I think."

Oh, I'm certain it's monsters, my friend.  Just not the kind your suggesting.  From what information I was able to uncover, I think there may be more going on than we think."

  As they neared the  next  housing patch, they see a few smoke   spires, going into the air, only a few people at work, a kid  cutting wood,and older  woman washing clothes in a wooden tub.

  the tracks of the  Stone Mason's  wagon still a bit  fresh in the slightly muddy road.

Myranda asked if there was a Temple to the Sisters of Fate in Bowshot. Basing her assessment on the Oldet woman's outlook, she didn't think there was, but was optomestic.
This message was last updated by the player at 01:32, Tue 22 Nov 2016.

While they worked hauling, placing and securing floorboards, a dense front of rainclouds gathered in the distance. With each hour it crept closer to Bowshot.

 The pair   by the  next house patch, were  being watched  but some of those   doing their chores. but no one approached them, seeing their arms and such.

.................

  Justin and the Stablemaster worked hard, getting the boards down even as the stable hands   signaled the  prisoners to start sending  up more bales

.....................

  Myra  finds there  is  only a smaller  'temple' in the town, it has  some small statues to gods,,but the not all a represented...

  The Sisters of Luck, do have  , such a statue, as  fisher men and Ferry men see luck as a big part of their  lives.

In reply to bowshot (msg # 869):

Enjoying the workout provided by laying the floorboards Justin is pleased to be set to this task, which also ensures that the day passes quickly.

Kr'wyn took his time to put his longbow over his shoulder, making sure his sword was well in its scabbard and his daggerrs were out of sight. As little threatening as he could be, he walked up to the old lady and spoke to her. After his greeting he tells her why they are on their way along the river sidea nd if she would know about the missing people and the reward.

  The Older  woman looks up, her eyes   cast about looking to see if  any folks are nearby for help, then she  starts to wring  out  a Dress to hang  on  rope to dry..if the weather allows.

 .. 4 been missin' from out patch.... some young Lad  from Tole's house.... a Young man from across the   road.... My rgandson..he was  helpin' with  the fishing this spring,,he is gone... and   Freil's  wife..ain't been seen for a month now....  she points' to the smaller   log house at the  end of the  patch, further down the   road,..That's  Lill's Home.. she' by herself..her  husband   was killed fightin'  orcs last summer.. her and Tole's  Young Lad, were fixin' on getting married....but now he's gone..so she  gahtered some  coin ta get some bounty hunters to see if they can find why folks are  missin/.. she  says, its  so folks stop vanishing?.. but i think she just wants ta know....

"Well, this might just be our lucky day, dear friend."

Turning towards the old woman...

"In what manner did they disappear? I mean, were they in the woods, or perhaps by the river?  Or did they simply disappear as if they had never been? "

He searched the womans face for any signs of worry or doubt.

  The  woman seemed  sad, as she  hung up the  last of the Dresses, she began to check some blouses and breeches of many sizes, it was clear  they weren't  all her clothing.

 She pulled  some baskets over to the  front of the line and began to fold the dry clothing , plopping  them in different baskets.
I...don't recall, rightly..but  one of them  vanishes on the way to Bowshot with an errand to  buy a back of  feed...another  was  doign  some hunting, down the road a strench ....others?  we think they might have been too near the river at night?...but i can't say... i rarely leave  the   stone wall, Unless Tole  takes   some of us  into bowshot for a holiday.

  The  Guards came over to the Barn and shouted up...wind's freshening.... best get  that floor  down...

 The   Stable Master called Back, Just MAke sure the Blackguards sent the Bales up.. we'er ahead of them....

 in truth another  10..15 minutes , the floor  would be done.

 Myra  was Puled back into the  stable to start  spreading fresh hay for  feed.

 the  towns folk  began to head back to the barracks to  get the   evening meal ready

In reply to bowshot (msg # 875):

It didn't take them much longer to finish off the floor after which Justin helped haul up and stack the bales of hay.

As she works with the locals Myranda attempts to get an idea of their beliefs. She suspects many of them are ideal candidates for gathering/conversion.

  Myra finds  few will have anything to do with her, Arrow  or not. the few that do speak are short, clipped   and mostly just short answers.

 She can figure the Eta  is  followed by fishermen, and  those who hunt. while farmers  follow  those who protect the lands... and merchants   follow the gods  who aid   the lands  and growth

In reply to work detail (msg # 878):

Myranda is surprised by the lack of foresight she has encoutered from these rustics; who are blinded by lack of vision. They seek protection or gain when this is but one of many gifts the Sisters of Fate provide.
Attributing this shortsightedness to be part of human nature; she lets them continue in their ignorance.  Only those who have a seeking mind are open to mortal guidance. Looking skyward Myranda is delighted by an apipheny the Sisters have provided her.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Mon 05 Dec 2016.

Turning his attention to Krwyn...

"Hmmm, I'm starting to see something of a pattern here."

Turning back to the woman...

"I am sorry to keep bothering you, but do you recall the times of day any of these disappearances occurred?"

   With a look after she drapes a dress over the line,..young fella?..none of us know? I mean..ifin we know what time, we'd know when and where ..no wouldn't we?