Eri raises a hand in greeting, but is more eager for answers than pleasantries. Hail! What happened here, do you know? she gestures to the burned house.

Griswold offers his support to Eri by walking up beside her.  He puts on his warmest smile for the couple, then realising that perhaps they actually are a couple, wanders if he can ease their tension a little.

Reaching around Eri, he puts his hand affectionately on her far shoulder and pulls her close.  As he does, he leans in and whispers "pardon me."

"Salutations friends!"  He calls waving with his free hand.  "My apologies if we seem overly earnest.  This dire scene has put us all on edge.  We're travellers from Maypole, on our way to Verlaine.  I am Griswold Ortmann.  This beauty," He gives Eri a quick squeeze, "is Miss Sato, whilst behind us,"  Griswold turns to look back, completely breaking line of sight to the couple in a hopeful show of trust, "is the Lady Arizima and Master Wrenn."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:31, Mon 16 Apr 2018.

Wrenn nods his greeting, but keeps quiet as he watches and listens to the strangers.

Arizima gives the two a small wave but doesn't say anything instead continuing to eye the tracks curiously.

Eri is surprised at Griswold's sudden and unexpected attention but quickly realizes he must be putting on a show of some kind and allows it without protest. Yes, he was definitely more brazen then she was used to, even if it was something as simple as an arm around her shoulder. But then her experience with men was...limited. Hopefully she wasn't starting to blush, curse it all!

The man raised a curious eyebrow at Griswold but said nothing for a long moment. Finally, he seemed hesitant to speak but did. “We saw the smoke this morning and assumed Wesley’s family had an accident. Have you seen him or his family?”, the man asked cautiously. He seems not to trust the boisterous stranger or his well armed companions.

Arizima shakes her head before taking a few small steps in the farmer's direction with her hands open and palms facing outward.  "I'm afraid not.  We arrived only shortly before you did long after the flames had died down."  She stops for a second glancing behind her at the ground before looking back toward the man.  "We may have some small lead... Would you know of anyone or anything in the area that would pose a threat to a farm such as this?  It seems likely we'll try to pursue the likely culprits so anything you know would be greatly appreciated."

Here's a persuasion roll if you need one.

22:07, Today: Arizima rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Persuasion.

"We've not found any bodies."  Griswold added in a suddenly deep and powerful voice.  Pulling himself up straight, he removed his arm from around Eri and stepped forward.  With his chest out and shoulders back - generally just trying to appear as heroic and commanding as possible - he continued.  "If Wesley and his kin are still alive, they may be in great danger.  Good people, even if do not know who or what did this, perhaps you have an idea where this family would have fled, to escape danger?   Please share any information with us and you have my word - my word as an Argonaut - that we will do what we can to see them safely home."

OOC - Hopefully, giving Arizima advantage on her persuasion roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

The man looked at Arizima for a moment before running his chin and shrugging. “Not much here in the farmland. Might be a pack of wolves that comes from one of the small forests but they can’t set fires. If your right, Wesley might have taken his family to his cousin’s for safety. They live only a two hour walk away.” The man nodded and began to turn his wagon around. The woman spoke up then. “I hope you find them.”

These people don't seem too terribly concerned that the farm of someone they know was burned. Smells fishy.

18:16, Today: Wrenn Muernig rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Insight.

PM

[Private to Wrenn Muernig: You get the distinct impression that they were not expecting people to be present. ]

Wrenn tugged on Griswald's tunic and looked up at him as the people turned away, and whispered up toward him, "I think they were hoping to loot the place."

Griswold gave an exasperated huff and looked away from the opportunistic couple.  "Let's find this family alive and well then, so the vultures don't get as much as a charred outhouse ember!  Anyone know how to track?  We need to know which direction they went.  Assuming a dragon didn't eat them!"  His joke was a little too shaky to have been made in complete jest and his eyes wandered a little skyward.

Arizima points toward the tracks again before with a small shrug of her shoulders seemingly much less concerned.  "I'm not an expert but these seem obvious enough.  We at least have a general idea and a direction to start it would seem."

As the group gathers near the start of where the track can be seen, nothing more is heard from the wagon or its occupants. The tracks are easily able to be followed once pointed out, that is until you reach the edge of the freshly tilled earth near the home. The tracks become harder and harder to follow in the progressively firmer earth until stony ground prevents any more tracking. By this time, you have walked maybe an hour and find yourselves on a small hill, the outline of the farmstead behind visible faintly in the distance. It looks like another farm is on the otherside of a hill, with nothing but small clumps of trees and a small creek to mark the otherwise boring landscape.

@Kharash: Despite your eagerness for visiting Tormus and getting a chance to talk to some more dragonborn, the news reaches you that the Heirs of the Order, on their first trip out as Adventurers, seek to aid Verlaine. Duty overcoming curiosity, you are able to cut across the flat lands west of the main road to try and catch up. Your hustle and endurance prove useful, as unbeknownst to you, the group is only a half-day ahead of you. Coming down the road, you can see a wagon with two riders on the bench. They make no move to greet you and steer the wagon clear.

Arizima for her part doesn't seem to hesitate making her way toward the distant farm apparently unconcerned about the potential dangers.  "Well?  Shall we see if there are any more clues at our next homestead?"  Her tone is filled with the same unconcerned cheer that seems to have accompanied her for the whole situation.  It's only complimented by a slight quirk of her lips as she starts to work her way down the hill.

Kharash was used to the weariness of people that had never seen someone with his physique before. In an attempt to appear less threatening and more trustworthy, he made sure his amulet was clearly visible. "Hail, strangers!" He raised one hand at them. "Help a Watcher out with some directions, will you?"

Eri follows suit, face grim as usual. Most of the time her expressions are distant, often lost in thought and generally not happy ones. Now, for once, you know the reason for it. If gossip travels half as fast here as it did in my home city, they'll have at least heard an inkling of what happened.

Griswold stands triumphantly at the crest of the hill and surveys the land around him.  He takes a deep breath and smiles with satisfaction, looking a lot like a man that has just climbed to the top of a mountain.  Then, noting Eri's grim attitude, suddenly takes off down the hill at high speed.  As he passes the monk he 'tags' her on the shoulder and laughingly calls out to everyone: "last one to the bottom is a rotten egg!"

Eri blinks in surprise at the "tag" and then says aloud to no on in particular, He is an...energetic one she shakes her head, still unsure how to react, though a trace of amusement touches her face. Well, I guess we're running then. I have a feeling we'll not hear the end of it if we don't. With that she grips her spear against her chest and shoulder at an angle and runs off after him. She's very fast, so she has a good chance of beating him.

ooc: Ah, I love being a monk :P

Knowing very well that his gnomish legs had no chance of winning any type of footrace whatsoever, Wrenn went into a light jog to somewhat keep up.

As part of the group races down the hill, the farmstead starts to come into view. The closer you get, however, the less it begins to look like permanent buildings. Around a hundred yards from the very bottom of the hill, half a dozen figures suddenly stand. Dark shapes, short in stature, jump up and begin running to the farmhouse, which you can see is severely dilapidated. A low wall sits in front of it, facing the hill and continuing around the other side. More figures begin to appear and one stands tall atop an overturned pair of wagons. A screech rises up from it and a dull bell sounds. They have raised an alarm.

OOC: You are near the base of the hill and maybe two hundred yards from the wall.

@Kharash: The couple look distinctly nervous but upon seeing your symbol, they calm slightly. Stammering, the woman begins to speak. "Wwwwe didn't do nothing...", she begins before the man cuts her off and points down the road. He speaks quickly and doesn't stop the wagon, "Duric's about two more days on foot. Biggest town for a week. Good day to you, Watcher," he says as they begin to ride away.

"Small figures, small footprints.  I believe we've located your likely brigands." Arizima keeps pace with a light jog not particularly interested in claiming the lead.  "Shall we approach with some small measure of caution or rush straight toward them?  The longer we delay the longer they do have to prepare after all."

The sudden appearance of all the small scampering figures has Griswold looking about in confusion.  Arizima's assessment, however, soon has him raising his buckler and slowing to take a more measured and defensive approach.  Not so much for his own protection but to put himself between these little hooligans and his companions.

He manages a strange expression of frowning with his brow whilst still smiling with his mouth as he says: "Lil' bastards."

"That's a lot of open ground.  We'll be exposed.  Anything anyone can do about that? If not, I say we approach cautiously.  May be we could break for the trees?"

Unnoticeable to the untrained eye, several scales shifted around Kharash's eyes. He pondered for a moment what to do with this couple. Part of him wished they had just given him the directions he needed and be on their way. He sighed, then, with a burst of speed and several big steps, made his way over to the cart. He grabbed the reins of the horse to force it to halt.

"What do you mean? What is it you didn't do?"