Kal looks down at the man with a mixture of sympathy and contempt.  "You think the werewolves took them?  Was that before or after you ran?"

He shakes his head and swipes a hand down his face, making a sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan.

"That's not the important thing right now," he says.  "How many children were there, and how old?"

Then, staring off into the distance, almost to himself, he adds, "And why would werewolves be kidnapping children..."

Emma bows slightly. "Thank you, your grace. Those are very kind words. I will go there immediately and deliver your message." Twenty! That was far more than she'd ever expected. She hoped for just a few to get her through a few more days, or at most, enough to pay the guild for this month. Emma knows enough not to question that decision, though. It's not some shady person, it's the Duchess herself. But, it only makes Emma wonder just what is expecting her. Surely, if the Vitsani were easy enough to deal with, the guards would have done it, or the pay would have been lower. Does she really stand a chance?

Her heart beating so strongly she can hear it, even feel the pulse in various places in her body, Emma makes her best effort to show no signs of her irrational anxiety, bows once more, and then immediately dashes away. Away from the crowd, away from judging eyes. To the Vitsani, out of town. It only gets worse as she runs through the crowd, though, and people naturally look her way, but Emma interprets it completely wrong, as judging stares and unspoken condemnation. We know what you've done. Out of the gate, find the Vitsani, away from the crowded festival.

@Vice(WhiteByakko)

"Yeah, I will take this scamp out of town back to my people," the man replies. "The name is Nicolai. If you can get away from your duties, you should join us. We will have plenty of wine you can drink for free with us, and join in on the dancing and the celebrating.

What do you say? When the sun begins to set, and it grows dark, that's when you should come. You will have a good time."

Nicolai offers out a hand.

@Juniper(DandDSince1973)

(You are not sure what he means.)

Damia smiles warmly at the compliments to her child, "She is only a couple of months old."

Damia holds her child so that Juniper can get a better look.

"But no, we're not here for the festival. Daggerford's festival is just celebrating Midsummer. We don't really celebrate that. You haven't figured out why here yet, though? Don't worry; you will find out soon enough."

Her tone is warm and friendly, but it is clear that she will not share any more information with Juniper.

"Juniper," Stanimir calls. "Would you help us gather wood for the fire?"

@Star(EMIW)

The man stops as he realises that he is no longer alone. He is still carrying a box in his arms and talks to Star over the box.

"Yeah, I'm going down that way. Lucky for you, eh?" the man says, smiling. "I tell you what, I am running behind schedule with loading these boxes. If you help load the rest onto the boat and play a song as we sail, I'll let you travel for free. I think that's a fair deal. How does that sound?"

@Kal(VanderLegion)

"I think they must have," the man replies. "I don't remember seeing them when I woke up. I initially thought that they were killed along with my wife. Now you mention it, I don't remember seeing their bodies. Unless, of course, there just wasn't enough left of them to be seen. But maybe that's how I escaped? They were more interested in taking my children than killing me. But why would they take my little girls and my little boy?"

The man then bursts into uncontrollable sobbing. The barkeep stands back up and gestures to Kal to step away from the man.

"I don't think we'll get much more out of him. Best leave him for the moment. 

I have heard stories of werewolves killing adults and kidnapping their children. They come out of Misty Forest, a pack of them, a crawling mist seems to follow them and cloak them. Others have tried to combat the werewolf menace with little success. No idea why they want children though."

"I think you are to find my singing better than my carrying, but I will do my best for such a reasonable man. I am Star-Setting-In-The-East, but you may know me as Star. What is the name of my gracious ship's captain?"

Star starts to help with the boxes. He has never been particularly strong, his frame built for nimbleness of limb and finger rather than force. But he makes an attempt.

Athletics(?): 7

@Emma(FireCat5)

"You will find them on the south side," the older guard calls out to Emma before she runs away. "Such a strange woman." He then says to Duchess Morwn once Emma is out of earshot.

@Vice(WhiteByakko)

Vice notices a woman running wildly through the crowd towards the front gates.

"Hmm, I wonder where she is running off to," says Nicolai, his hand still outstretched towards Vice.

@Emma(FireCat5)

Following the instructions from the guard, Emma heads south once she is passed the gates. She continues heading south until she gets to the corner and sees the Vistani camp on top of a hill.

She sees three-barrel-topped wagons parked at odd angles. In the middle of the camp, men gather wood to build a fire while women sit on the ends of the wagons watching over the children. However, Emma also spots another figure that looks very different from the rest of the people.

“Vice.” Vice takes Nicolai’s hand. The man’s grip is strong. Obviously he wouldn’t turn away free booze, and he genuinely likes the kid. Reminds him of himself when he was younger - always getting into trouble, though he never had a dad to look out for him like this. He won’t actually be performing in the show tonight, so he’s sure he’ll manage to slip away somehow. “I’ll make sure to swing by.”

Out the corner of his eyes, Vice notices a woman running through the crowd, like she is being chased. “There’s always a few odd ones.” Which he has seen a lot, during his circus days.

Kal stands and backs away from the man, turning to the barkeep instead.  "So this isn't the first time it's happened?" he asks.  "How long has it been going on?"

"A pack of them coming out of the Misty Forest..." he muses.  "Have you heard anything else?"

Emma finally stops, now outside the gates, outside the crowd. She breathes heavily, but no longer because of irrational anxiety, but for simply running wildly through the city. It's good, though. She feels normal again, or at the very least, better than before. She jumped out of the pan, but hopefully, not into the fire. Seeing the small group worries Emma at first. What if she feels anxiety again? But as she starts approaching, she feels barely a thing. Though it was a group, it seemed to be small enough. Or perhaps it was something else. After all, they were different, right? Either way, what's important is that she can carry on.

Tidying her overdress, Emma walks towards the little camp, hesitantly. Harassments, enchantments, these Vitsani weren't just any people, despite what the Duchess said. Nervous - and for a good reason this time - Emma makes her way until she's standing at the edge of the camp, or what she assumes is the edge, anyway. Absentmindedly, one hand curls a few strands of hair together, but stops as Emma shyly calls:  "Umm, excuse me? Are you the Vitsani? I have a message from the Duchess." Her voice starts strong but weakens towards the end, though not as to become inaudible. 

Juniper smiles at the baby and if allowed will hold and clap its tiny hands and sing a nursery rhyme in elvish, with gentle enthusiasm more than tonal accuracy,. At Stanimir’s request, she rises and moves to assist, but hesitates for a moment. “I may be slightly overdressed,” she says, and hands blossoms from her garland to Damia and the other women and children, keeping just one tucked behind her ear, before assisting with chores.

She is used to physical work, although her needs are comparatively scant. She moves quickly, back and forth with smaller pieces and kindling to the firepit several times while a large man might drag a single tree limb or chop at it with an axe. As she works, she asks Stanimir the same question. “I understand that you’re not here for the Midsummer festival. It’s a high holiday for us elves. Nature. You know. But if not that, then what are we celebrating?”

@Star(EMIW)

"Well, Star, it is then. I am Han Gruvrov," replies Han. He then continues to load the boxes with Star's help. He notices the ease at which Star loads the boxes on the boat. "If you can carry the boxes this well, you must be a great singer."

With both Han and Star working on loading the boxes, the job is quickly done. Then Han is the first to board the boat and helps Star to climb aboard. He untethers the boat, and it is soon sailing down the river towards Daggerford.

@Vice(WhiteByakko)

Nicolai hums and nods in agreement, "Well, we will see you tonight then." He then takes hold of Apep's hand and leads him through the crows of celebrators and to the main gates. Vice notices that Nicolai turns south just past the gates.

@Kal(VanderLeigon)

"Oh, at least a few months now," the barkeep replies. "Bear in mind, you only really see werewolves during a full moon.

But that's all any knows. They reside in the Misty Forest. If they did kidnap this man's children, if someone was quick enough to investigate, they might just find them alive. No one has succeeded yet, though."

@Emma(FireCat5) and @Juniper(DandDSince1973)

Emma's arrival draws the attention of the Vistani, including Stanimir. He walks over to greet her, leaving Juniper alone. It is hard to determine whether he simply did not hear Juniper's question or chose to ignore it.

"Welcome," Stanimir says, opening his arms to Emma in greeting. "Please come on in. We are the Vistani, and I am interested in hearing the message that Duchess Morwen of Daggerford has for us."

Star is surprised at how early he moves the boxes. Perhaps they were lighter than he was expecting? Or had he just found the best handholds? Whatever the reason, the boxes were soon packed and tied, and they were on their way. 

At first Star gripped into the wood of his seat, claws latching in, holding him tight as they pushed off and the boat rocked a little in the busy river. But as they continued downriver and the water calmed, Star felt able to let go. He brings out his lute, and strums a few notes to make sure the instrument is in tune.

"Shall we start with a travelling song? Something to spark joy? Or would you prefer a ballad, a story of love and loss?"

Vice watches Nicolai and Apep disappear out of the gate. He goes back to tending the horse. He combs out all the dust out of its coat, and prepares it for the performance later. While he does that, he keeps an eye out for the nobleman in case he comes back, his mind already thinking about how he'll slip away tonight, after the sun sets. 

Does one even know they've been enchanted? Have I been enchanted already? Such thoughts accompany Emma into the camp, after the man who greeted her. "Thank you. She says you have overstayed your welcome, and she will tolerate you no longer. She'll burn your wagons down if you're not gone by dawn."

Rather than simply relying the information as a letter would, Emma is sympathetic, or is trying to be, at least. Thus, rather than a threat, her words sound more like a warning, as one might warn someone against going out into the rain. "I don't know why or what got you on her bad side," Emma continues in a more personal approach, "but I think that, for both you and her, you should search for a new place to camp in. Somewhere at a distance from the gates."

She thinks for a moment, trying to find a good solution, but she doesn't know the area well enough to offer any special spots. "I can help you relocate, if you don't go too far." A bit of a contradiction, oh well. "Enough that I can walk the way back, after." Considering the potential pay, some work will still be worthwhile.

Juniper’s intuition pings somewhat after both Damia and Stanimir have dodged the simple question, and her wariness returns. When Emma arrives and conveys the Duchess’ demand, the young druid is primed to think the fault is that of her new acquaintances. She flashes back to an episode remembered from childhood. A meal in a fine restaurant in a big city, a very generous host. But when the bill came, the waiter informed the host his credit had run out. Her parents had turned out their pockets to pitch in. It was awkward, to say the least. Juniper watches Stanimir closely for his response.

@Star(EMIW)

Han thinks for a moment as he steers the boat, then smiles, looking at the sky.

"Well, you know I have always been a romantic a heart," Hans says, still looking at the sky. "A good ballad about love and loss would be good."

He then returns his attention back to steering the boat.

An hour passes, and Secomber has been left way behind. The town has disappeared behind the horizon, and the tree tops of the Misty Forest were coming up on the horizon to the southwest. 

@Vice(Nicolai)

The nobleman makes no reappearance, and no guard makes their way to Vice either. Vice does see many people coming and going as they make their way around the festival.

Then when he is lost in thought, the circus ringmaster surprises him.

"How are you getting on with these horses?"

@Emma(FirecCat5) and @Juniper(DandDSince1973)

Stanimir chuckles at the message, "Is that what she said? Well, don't worry. We have no wish to make enemies with Lady Morwen. We will be gone long before dawn. And dawn is not for many hours yet. We have plenty of time to go before she burns our wagons.

For now, though, why don't you join us? That way, as soon as we are gone, you will be able to let Lady Mowen know. We have plenty of wine, there is going to be a big fire and plenty of singing and dancing. I am also planning on telling a couple of stories. What do you say?

Also, why don't you meet our other guest, Juniper."

Juniper’s eyes dwell on Stanimir for a long moment as he speaks, and she wonders, not without appreciation at his forthright self-confidence, at his willingness on one hand to leave without argument, while on the other hand to take his chances with a Duchess’ command so…smilingly. She covers her reticence though, and turns to take in the new arrival more fully, for until this moment her focus had been quite absorbed by the encampment’s leader. Emma’s appearance proves to be different from whatever she might have expected in a messenger from a duchess. Curled-toe shoes? No. Heraldry? No. A cook’s knife and pot lid…

“Erm… hello…,” is as much as she can manage.

"All set for tonight, sir." Vice pats the horse's now combed and groomed mane as he turns towards the ringmaster, a casual smile on his lips. If he'll manage to slip away tonight, he'll need the ringmaster in a good mood. "How's the tickets selling?" Well, he hopes, so that he won't be able to pay him much attention. 

That was a fair deal, if the Vitsani can keep their part of it. In fact, it's even rather fortunate, as she'll get paid for something that would have happened regardless. She'd feel bad if it weren't someone of such high status as the Duchess herself who will, hopefully, pay her. Besides, while she's here, she could keep an eye and make sure nobody gets harassed. Well, if that happens where she can see, if she's not the victim herself, and if there's even any way in which she can stop them. Many ifs, but that was also something. Besides, she had no wish to return into the crowded city again. "Then I would love to sample your hospitality, though I am a terrible dancer."

Emma then turns to face the Elven girl. Every Human woman would envy those graceful features. Not Emma, not anymore. "Hello, Juniper? I am Emma. Pleased to make your acquaintance." She greets warmly. The Vitsani, if the rumours of harassment and enchantment were true, were to be cautioned with. This visitor, clearly different from them - by appearance at least - and Emma wonders if she is a victim herself. Or perhaps an accomplice.

@Juniper(DandDSince1973) and @Emma(FireCat5)

"Splendid!" Stanimir exclaims. "Right, I will leave you to get to know each other. Thank you for the help earlier, Juniper."

At that moment, another man appears behind Emma walking with a young boy.

"Nicolai! Welcome back! Everything alright in town?"

Stanimir steps away from Juniper and Emma to greet the newcomer.

"Yes," Nicolai replies. "This little scamp was causing some mischief, but I sorted it all out."

Both Nicolai and the young boy are dressed in similar clothing. There is a striking resemblance between the two, letting Emma and Juniper guess that they are father and son.

@Vice(WhiteByakko)

"Excellent!" the ringmaster replies. "The tickets are selling very well. I tell you what. Since you have worked so hard, I will let you go off and explore. Rirdad and Simena will be back shortly to do a quick rehearsal with the horses before show time."

The ringmaster approaches the horse and pats him on the side.

"How are you doing? Ready for you big show later?"

Juniper nods modestly at Stanimir’s thanks. ‘More are arriving by the minute,’ thinks the slender elf, ‘maybe this is where the party is after all.’

“Emma? I knew a girl named Emma, from… not too far east of here I think. Have you family in the area?,” she asks warmly as she scans the encampment, then lets her eyes fall on Emma once more, studying her face carefully. Emma might now notice a smudge of magnolia pollen on the elf’s nose, from when she removed the garland earlier.