"Besides isn't it near the fasting of St. Germaine" Etain says to Marie  she whispers before saying aloud again "She couldn't eat or drink, its a religious requirement."

The Sheriff noded at his men and gace Walter a calm stern look.
"I like the sound of that Milly. Let us agree on tomorrow perhaps?"
He nodded to all and sent his men outside.
"I must depart, and head to town. But please, seek me out if needed. My house is nearby the inn, just up the road. I am still very eager to listen in on what you have seen and done."
He bowed and headed out, closing the door, and you heard low muffled talking as the voices departed.
Walter looked anxious and nervous to the point where he almost shivered.

"Not gonna lie, that went surprisingly well."
Jareik scratched his chin, the Sheriff was technically well within his rights to bring them in, by force if needed, they were strangers to this village after all and no doubt it was the innkeeper who called them in to begin with.
"Guess it helps having a bright wizard, gotta be a fool to tell em no." He smirked. As much as he and the brettonian were a decent deterrent, the lass Milly was the one everyone should be afraid of.

"Oh you haven't seen a thing yet, thankfully he saw to reason and didn't requite 'persuading'." Milly nodded reassuringly before turning her attention to Walter. "I hope my little deceit wasn't taking things too far but seeing how things are and with my suspicions, I dared not to leave you and your family on your own with his men. If my words are the warning I hope they were, you shan't be disturbed on he road. I won't go meet with them until we have seen you off."

The wizard set about rummaging through her things as sh added. "I have a little favor to ask of you. If your journey takes you through Altdorf or you can make it reach it, would you be so kind as to deliver a letter?"

"I think they may be back before the morrow. We should set up a watch tonight wherever we stay" She says to the others keeping her voice low to not spook Walter or be overheard by the Sheriff or any of his cronies. She moved to look out the window as she talked making sure they were actually leaving.

"Yeah I'll be sleeping with one eye open for sure tonight no matter where we hole up." He sighed, he now regretted being a tad pushy with the apprentice at the shrine, if the village wasn't exactly welcoming to them before then once gossip spreads then they can expect overt hostility, damned country bumpkins.

"Well there's no reason to stay in this village any longer right? Karl never made it here it seems, so let's just bugger off and inform the witch hunters. We can try to pick up Karl's trail again from the coaching inns we passed as it's the last actual confirmed sightning of him but otherwise will have to assume he was killed en route and buried somewhere. Our employer ain't gonna be happy but we have to be realistic, for all we know there isn't even a body to be found anymore."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

"He was last seen coming to this village and we heard that they perform possible obscene rituals. I think it may be that we should look for him. He may be held captive as a future sacrifice." She says to Jareik "If we return to Altdorf with no body or location the Captain will be most displeased and may refuse payment." she adds before looking to Marie [Language unknown: "San u rom thioneome me?"]

Walter eyed Milly and appeared concerned and heavy hearted.
"I will..if we make it that far. The sheriff is not one to let things go nor let his grip on this place loosen even a bit. He left, but I do not feel safe at all. Not with him around. His influence spreads wide. But your Letter Miss Milly I will take all the way if I can and you trust me with it. Just help me get on the way please..."

Jareik crossed his arms. "Oh he will be cross all right but I'll be just as cross with him because nothing in the job said anything about us having to mess with whatever's going on here. Maybe Karl is alive, maybe he ain't, but given the circumstances our duty to report strange possibly heretical occurrences overrides that of chasing after one man in such difficult circumstances and getting ourselves killed tangling with unholy powers."

He was starting to get the feeling that not all his companions shared his fear of heresy but hopefully the wizard will see sense.

"Sounds like the least we can do is see you out of the village Walter."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

"Agreed, we should escort him out, and if he heads through Altdorf he can carry a message to the Captain about the situation here, something he knows about better then all of us and in the meantime we can search for Karl and if he is alive rescue him, should he be dead then we can at least confirm his death and forward the confirmation to Captain Hartesel who can use the information to gather troops and your priesthoods to root out corruption." She says to Jareik "We were paid to find him, and if we leave if means we did not do as we were paid to do and marks us as cowards."

Jareik's eyes narrowed. "Allright then, let's give it a couple more days see if we can't get lucky. As long as we can trust Walter here to deliver messages and let others know something awry's going on here in case something unfortunate were to happen to us then I suppose it's allright."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Wed 03 Mar 2021.

"Then it is settled, we were hired to find the whereabouts of a man, we can't exactly go back to just report that we heard he didn't make it to the town. The trail leads here and as unwelcoming as most locals were, we are bound to satisfy any suspicions here, specially as the reason for his departure was related to the strange practices here." Explained Milly. "If they lead us nowhere I suppose it will all boil down to tracing back our steps and perhaps have a look at the general area around the road for  any clues or indication of his passing. Being so off the beaten path, I figure there may be something left about the trail that may help us. But that is for the future."

The wizard got to writing the letter.




"Here, it is most paramount that it reaches Watch Captain Hartesel in Altdorf." She indicated handing over the letter. "We will accompany you until the town is out of sight for your convenience. Travel fast and make a point of letting people know you have been there wherever you stop, but not your destination." Looking about the rest and his family she checked. "Is everything ready?"

The man nodded.
"I...yes..we are ready to head out. The daylight will fade quickly and I would be happiest to be far away before that."
He grabbed the letter and put it safely into a bag and nodded at Milly.
"I will guard this with my all. If you all return and remain, be careful..."

He gathered his family and headed to the wagon and eyed the group for a clear mark as to head out.

[Language unknown: "Ou hothus ntany ntiwh e itmili nce,"] Marie began with a grin, [Language unknown: "Stipo T m virwhewhe ich ateundout e oube ure meouan na nte alto herhasers sero un. Tethek ha reaallughrat hoaswe plis siomnc pesi t in il,"] she finished, frowning.

"Fear not for yourself or your family Herr Gunderson. We may appear to be a colorful lot, but I assure you, we are most competent at maintaining...security," she said diplomatically, hoping to calm the man's nerves.

And while he gathered his belongings and family, Marie retrieved Josette. Once done, she was ready to head out.

Jareik nodded and followed Walter outside, giving a cursory look over at the wagon then standing to attention.

Heading outside Etain whistles over Eimear and Roan, getting them to jump up in the wagon with Walters family, Roan hanging back a bit, Eimear moving forward and resting her head on the wifes lap and nuzzles for scratches. <Purple>"Agreed"</Purple> she says back to her lover [Language unknown: "ofplen ie ughsetoul houtedati re wit etto olna homi plmo caispe."] The last bit she says she puts her hand on the head of her axe and looks around the hut for ambushes so early.

"Lets get going then, the sooner you are on your way the better." Milly spurred.

Once out of earshot fo the town, the wizard inquired. "So, given that we are bound to go back later, what can you tell me about this Sherif. Is there anything in particular we should know about it? Or perhaps to watch out for..."

Walter and his family jumped on board, and set off, eager to leave given the protecting they had as it served as likely their best chance to depart safely.

Walking an hour or so, you make quite the pace away from town back on a familiar road. A bit more and the inn you last stayed at will appear yet again, perhaps an hour or so more. This road is also sparsely vacated by roadwardens, as one ride by, nodding to you, passing you as he goes the direction you came from.
Walter seems calm as the sight of the law gives him hope.
"The Sheriff? He is tenacious, clever and resourceful. He also happens to be Juno's bodyguard, enforcer and a man whose only purpose is to keep the balance as it is. He is well off, and has many men and women to use out and about. From what I heard he used to roam both Middenheim and in Averland and have earned and learned of ways and means to get what he wants."
Walter eyed ahead.
"We will go as far as we can. I know of an inn, if I recall, five or six hours away. I will feel better knowing we are safely away before resting. How far will you be tagging along. I fear that you leaving after that scene at my former house will cause issue. For what it is worth, you can have my keys to it, if you plan to return?"
He finds a key and hands it out for anyone to take.

"We thank you for your help" Etain says to Walter accepting the key from him "And we hope you and your family safe travels. Would you know where Juno spends her time or if she has some sort of dwelling?"

Walter shrugged.
"I honestly do not know. She walked through town once. And since then I have only heard of her. She is there, and protected most likely but not directly visible in day to day matters.."

Jareik was initially on edge during the walk but it turned out to have been needless worry, whatever misfortune might be brewing, it was yet to manifest.
The sight of roadwardens was reassuring and he returned the nod with a hat tip, after that he even started humming a little marching song.

"Wait, the druidess has the sheriff under her thumb? Oh this can't be good. How does a well travelled sheriff even fall under the sway of a heathen from a hamlet not exactly overflowing with wealth or prestige?"

Well he had his own guesses as to why and one of them didn't even involve heresy, but he left that question up in the air. Still this was worrying, he hadn't even considered this druid cult had influence beyond that of their congregation.

"Against my own better judgement, yeah seems we will be staying for a bit. Awfully kind of you to lend us your place, we will try and leave it in the same state we found it." He added when Etain grabbed the keys.

"Hang on, what about the druid she served under, where did he live?"
Jareik's eyes narrowed in suspicion, if she didn't have her own home then she had to stay with someone else, likely her master at some point, not like she would be living in the woods like an animal....Wait, didn't they meet a strange woman from the woods seemingly coming out of nowhere on the road here?

What was her name...Beata? Diana? No Bianca.. Her words came back to mind now:

"Also is there any sacred grove or stone circle near the village perchance?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

Walter turned before he left.
"Yes. Or rather I have only heard it. A young child of a hunter, Marco, said he saw a curious space south of town. Roughly 30 minutes or so, small pond, small house. But it could simply be a rumor. It is in a forest few dare enter or risk, with the rumor of spirits and living creatures...if you want to chase that lead...well be careful."
Walter nodded with respect at Jareiks kind word and respect.
"Until we meet again!"
He set off, and vanished out of sight shortly after.

"Thanks, Sigmar watch over your travels."

Jareik scratched his beard thoughtfully, not taking the rumor of undead lightly, especially given the location he was asking about.

"Guess we got somewhere to be tomorrow night, that lass we met said she would meet us, if we can trust her. But for now let's get through this night. We won't be going back to the inn when we have Walter's place I imagine but taal's breath, sure stings having paid so dearly for rooms we won't even be using ."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sat 13 Mar 2021.

"I agree, we should get through the night. I suggest we go to walters and bunk down for the night, set some watches and try to rest." she says looking about the forest road "You can complain about the coin but I have a feeling we may not have awoken the next day  there, at least not free."

A heavy wind picks up.
The forests around you appear alive, but during these times the mind can play tricks on one self.
Walters house is roughly an hour or so away on foot or horse, down wind, and light will fade over the coming time. It becomes obvious that making haste but being alert is of the highest priority.
You can't help but feeling watched, but see no one when looking.

--Assume you arrive without incident, and post from here--