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-----Seth takes out his harp and begins to strum a light quiet piece, seemingly oblivious to the argument surrounding where the group will go first.
-----Sol blinks in surprise at the pirate's outburst, "Denigrating? Find fault? Erm...Calm down Dread. We're havin' a discussion here. Really, it's ok to put down yer point o' view. Just remember it's th' same fer me." Sol had seemed calm replying but all of a sudden his tempo rises, "And don't ye bloody dare take th' high road wi' me. Ye know damn well my preference is fer the ogres and children."
-----Sol finishes with a sneer, but it seems doesn't seem directed at Gimplefwick. Seeing Zan speaking at the doorway, Sol runs his hand through his hair and mounts up on Thunder. His attention returns to the pirate and he says, "I'm sorry Gimplefwick. I guess a sore spot's been hit." The young warrior doesn't elucidate as to whose sore spot, though.
-----Raven speaks up, "Well then let's talk with those two families and see what we can find out. If we can find no clues, then we head off towards the orges. Okay?" Raven says to Zan, "Could you give us directions to their homes?"
-----"Quite right!" Zan says excitedly, "that would be toward the west . . ." The priest in his excitement turns to his right smacking his face into a post supporting a wooden awning over the temple door.
-----Recoiling painfully from the impact and grasping his jaw, he continues, "Uh, yes, from here ride straight west until the forest thins somewhat into a field of scrub vegetation. Just to the southwest of that location, you will see the small farm dwellings of the Kiger and the Lun families. The journey should be no more than a mile’s ride."
-----"The hunt begins again," Rinda says as she moves past the dazed priest. "I shall be ready as soon as I collect my things."
-----It is nearly noontime when the party sets out from the center of the village of Proat. It had taken some time for Sarah and Seth to go over their spellbooks as well as retrieving their equipment. As they leave the temple, Zan wishes them well and bids them to return when they can. He then prepares to listen to the case of the prisoners who are secured below in the basement.
-----The weather makes the short ride comfortable. The breeze keeps the forest cool as the sun is covered from time to time by clouds.
-----Albert flies from branch to branch cawing loudly as the riders move through the forest below him. Gimplefwick’s pony snorts and spits as it trots along to keep up with the larger horses. Raven’s wolf pads along quietly, occasionally sniffing the air before moving on.
-----Soon, as Zan had described, the forest begins to thin out and the next mile seems to feature thick bushes and brush plants dotting the area here and there. Off to their left a few yards away, the party sees two wooden dwellings not far apart from each other.
-----As they draw closer, they can see a group of small children playing around the nearest home. The riders are spotted as the children suddenly run into the house, at least one of them yelling, "Grandpa! Grandpa!" Within a few moments, a small figure emerges from the dwelling and as the first of the party pulls up to the house, they see it to be an old male halfling walking with a cane. In his other hand, he dangles a leather sling.
-----"May I help you, young travelers?" the old hobbit asks with a pleasant expression.
-----Sol dismounts and smiles a friendly smile, "Yes sir, and we're hoping we can help ye in return. I'm Sol Herron and these are my friends. I guess ye've already had to explain this t'Sir Hampton's men and perhaps Zan as well, so I'm sorry t'ask ye to go over it again. We'd like t'know about the events that led up to the disappearance of the children. As part o' our work in the area, we're hopin' t'find them."
-----"Hi! I'm Sarah!" Sarah’s normally cheery voice seems to have returned as she addresses the old halfling. "Whose children are missing?" She asks Sol.
-----Seth counts up the children and wonders if any are really missing. Maybe they have been fed some incorrect information. He waits for the halfling to reply to Sol's query. Passing the time he communicates with Albert.
-----Raven sits quietly scanning the area as Sol speaks.
-----Sol looks at Sarah and nods in the direction of the halfling, indicating that the old man should speak first.
-----Gimplefwick looks about the yard in apparent boredom as Sol questions the elderly halfling.
-----"Sir Hampton sends to us a most motley looking crew," the old halfling utters wearily as he looks over the adventurers. "Forgive me," he continues, "it has been a most saddening time for my family. I am grateful for any help we can get."
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