Preston felt unimpressed by the dragonborn named Dracor’s display of nobility status. For the townsfolk, seeing so much wealth on one person could be enthralling, but for the young squire, it felt a little haughty. Nevertheless, they both looked like they were just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Especially the one calling himself Wulcrath.

Preston would stay on his guard, but would allow the guard of this town to do their duty. It wouldn’t be wise to start upstaging the leadership of the town guard. That wasn’t what he was here for. 

This woman, though. She seemed to know things about Farmer Hal and his disappearance. He would need to ask here a question or two once this whole situation got sorted out.

Ella approaches the woman, trying to keep an air of calm about her. She puts a hand on her arm in a gesture she hopes is comforting.  “It’s okay, ma’am. They can’t take you in broad daylight in front of everyone.” She doesn’t know if these dragonborn took anyone, and she’s leaning towards no, but it won’t do to agitate the woman further by challenging that belief. “I’m here to help. Can you tell me what happened?”

“Enough of this! Everyone, the spectacle is over; disperse and return to your business!” The veteran guard orders with authority after he hears the dragonborn’s words. Without hesitation, the younger guards spring into action, guiding the onlookers away and giving the distressed woman some much-needed breathing space.

The veteran moves closer to the woman, gently resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“You are safe now, Gerda. You are safe.”

Through the combined efforts of Dracor, Wulcrath, Preston, Ella and the guards, the tense atmosphere in the marketplace gradually relaxes. Slowly, the villagers begin to disperse, casting some final curious glances towards the two dragonborn and the distraught woman. Gerda, clinging to Ella’s hand, finally manages to regain some composure. 

With a trembling voice, she begins to share her story. Her eyes are fixed on the ground, as she recalls the traumatising events, sniffing and wiping her nose in the sleeve of her dirty dress.

“It was a few nights ago… Hal and I were in bed, just like any other night. But then I woke up and I saw him get up. He said he heard something outside and went to check it out.”

Gerda lifts her gaze to meet the eyes of the adventurers one by one, her face now filled with overwhelming despair. "He never came back."

"How terrible..." Dracor would reply as he subtly continues to magically clean the woman's clothes, skin, and hair of dirt and grime. When she looked to him he would stop and move his hands behind his back... a look of concernspreading scross hisnface upon seekng the dispaor in her eyes.. "Did you hear anything that night? or see anything strange? Did he owe anyone any money perhaps?" The dragonborn would suggest.

Once the crowd has gone away, Preston marches to join the little party around Gerda. He didn’t have a clear memory of her, but if she was Farmer Hal’s wife, that would make her his aunt. He listened to her story and looked at the woman with sympathy. Seeing her in such a sorry state, he couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Maybe seeing a familiar face would help her feel better. But then again, it had been so long since he had been in Meadowhaven. Would she even recognize him?

Once the others are done with their questions, Preston would offer her his hand.

"You should go home and rest. Would you allow me to escort you home?"

The Red Dragonborn lowers his hand from where it was starting to hover near his sword's hilt, letting out a hefty sigh to himself and letting it return to his side as he watches some of the villagers finally disperse. His silver eyes look over the Dwarf and Human as they're now all gathered around this "Gerda" woman. "Hmph..." He lets the others get their questions out as he stands tall, arms crossed over his chest as he opts to simply listen until the others are done with their own questions. They've asked every pertinent question he had himself anyhow.

He's not in the best mood at the moment regardless... Better to stay his tongue than let his current temper do the talking.

Gerda shakes her head very slowly.

“I did not. I was asleep and in the morning I saw he was never back. Didn’t hear a thing, “ she responds to Dracor’s questions, avoiding looking at him and Wulcrath, sniffing and wiping her nose with her sleeve multiple times. It's clear she is somewhat embarrassed by the scene she caused earlier with the dragonborn. “Hal's a good man. He doesn’t owe anybody anything, everybody respects him. Why would anybody want to hurt an honest man?” She looks at the small group of strangers with pleading eyes, as if they could provide the answer.

She falls silent again. When Preston speaks up, the woman turns her attention to him, squinting her eyes. A small hint of a different emotion briefly passes through her face, before disappearing again. She looks at him intently for a moment, then nods. 

“But I don’t stay at our farm now. I stay with the neighbours. It is too scary to be in our house…”

The veteran guard clears his throat. 

“Constable Alena advised of this. It’s now part of the investigation,” he says. Then he looks at Preston. "She must be in the guards' quarters, just across the village well. If you still wanted to help with this, might want to talk to her."

Dracor would have continued to try to clean up the filthy woman using his magic to the best of his abilities while she spoke. when she was finished speaking and the guard mentions that the constable of leading the investigation, Dracor would smile. With a clap of his hands he would clear his throat. "erhhm well, then I guess I will need to go see he constable. Helping to find this missing... Hank... Harry... no...Hal! yes.. Helping find Hal would be a great way to help increase the Shimmerscale reputation" The dragonborn would boast loudly. "And of course I wouldn't turn down a reward for doing such a fine deed.. not that I need the coin of course!" Dracor would smile wide with his white teeth sparkling in the sun. "Any of you that wish to help me save poor Harry, you are welcome to join me." The drsgonborn would say before turning turning to heard towards the constable.

Preston nods to the guard leader. Though he offered Gerda to escort her home, it would probably be best to have a word with the Constable first. There was still much information he needed to learn to have a better understanding of the case. 

"Very well. I’ll go see her right now. Can you make sure Gerda is escorted back to somewhere she can rest." He turns to the old woman. "Forgive me. I have to go. But know this. I swear that I will do all in my power to find Hal."

With that, he would follow the highborn dragonborn to the guards’ quarters.

Wulcrath's expression softens as Gerda speaks of her husband. And he sighs softly, his heart instantly softening as well for the Woman despite her earlier actions. The Dragonborn had once lost a loved one. He'd found himself inconsolable as well. Only there's a chance this person could be brought back.  He has a chance to help make that happen if he wishes. Wulcrath decides on a whim then and there that this is simply the right thing to do. His eyes follow Dracor as the Silver-Gold Dragonborn walks away, and he glowers a bit. Someone is missing... and he seems only concerned with the coin. He isn't sure what to make of the Human Man, though he seems determined in his own right, dutiful even.

He glances back to the Dwarven Woman, turning to her as he speaks. "They look like they could use the help" His silver eyes look over the Dwarf as he studies her. Perhaps, if the Human and other Dragonborn don't want his help... She may be willing to accept it if she's planning to search as well? "Shall we follow them and try to find this 'Hal'?" He says simply in rough voice. There's a certain resolve in his eyes... He must at least try.

Dracor would look back over his shoulder and upon seeing the man following behind he would slow down a bit and extend a clawd hand for a handshake. "Hello, so you wish to help me locate the missing farmer? We splendid!" He would say trying hard to mask his relief. "My name is Dracor.. Dracor Shimmerscale. I am not from around here and would love to make a good second impression on the village... I feel that woman may have ruined my first impression... and I think saving Herbert will be just the thing to do it." He would say with a smile. "What is your name? Are you from around here? You have a very... rural... look to you if I do say so myself... I bet you know this area like the back of your hand." The dragonborn would say with the same smile before turning to continue towards the constable.

The human stops and extends his own gauntleted hand to give a firm hand shake to the bi-colored dragonborn.

"Preston. Jaeger.", he responds dryly. While the dragonborn may feel that his first impression on the village was negative, Preston’s first impression of Dracor wasn’t enviable either. He didn’t seem like a bad person, just maybe not the kind of person the human was used to.

"That’s a bold assumption you make about me.", he says in response to the comment about his familiarity with Meadowhaven. He then looks around the village with a nostalgic smile. "But it is half right. This is the place of my birth. But I grew up elsewhere, in Baldur’s Gate. Barely remember this town."

"Baldur's Gate you say! Well this is a small world indeed. Surely you have heard of the Shimmerscale clan then. We are quite well known in the upper city... area of Baldur's Gate" He would say with a smile as he looks you up and down once more. The look on Dracors face would switch to that of pride as he talks about his clan before a nervousness seems to wash over him. His eyes would shift from side to side before he shakes his head slightly. "But uhh, well enough about me and my family... You.... Preston, You say you were born here? Well then I am sure you are just the person to guide me to wherever this Harry... wait.. Herman... no, Hal.. Wherever his Hal fellow is hiding." He would say with a smile as he continued walking towards.

Ella nods to the dragonborn. "My goddess guided me here," she says, "and I believe this was why. We ought to go find this Constable Alena."

The group soon reaches an old well, where a few women stand, deeply engaged in conversation as they draw buckets of crystal-clear water from the well. Close by, there is a tall notice board, its surface weathered from years of exposure to the elements. Several parchments tacked haphazardly, flutter gently in the wind. The buildings nearby share a common design, modest two-story wooden structures with a rustic charm. Together, they form a smaller, much quieter village square than the market area.

Upon reaching the well, Dracor would look over the notice board for any clues about the missing farmer before turning to Preston. "Well, should we head inside or do you think there are others that wish to find this missing farmer?" The dragonborn would ask as he gave a quick wink to some of the women near the well.

Wulcrath nods at the Dwarven Woman's words, giving her a little friendly smile as he turns to follow after Dracor and the Human man. "Well, if the gods will it, then there's no time to waste hmm? It should be easier with the two of us regardless." The Red Dragonborn adds as he makes to catch up with and join Dracor and Preston. "It'll be nice to have you along um...?" Wulcrath says aloud searching for the Dwarf's name, though he's positive he hadn't heard it yet. "I-It's Wulcrath by the by..." He finishes, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he looks down at Ella.

The Red Dragonborn studies the Board as he passes it by, though he quickly returns his attention to Ella and the others. Maybe if this doesn't work out, there'll be more work here for him found here? He stretches himself out a bit as he stops by the well, idly adjusting his gear for comfort as he listens in on Dracor's question. "I think it'd be best if you head in to see this "Constable" first if your looking to group up with anyone else on the hunt as well Prince Charming..." The Larger Dragonborn gently prods, noticing Dracor's entirely unsubtle wink.

"Ahh, sir Vokrun. So you are coming to join the hunt are you? And you brought a friend as well?" Dracor would ask as he looks down towards the dwarven woman next to him. "I'll have you know, I've already secured the help of the best guide in town. I am sure he will lead us right to his Hal character" The dragonborn would say with a confident smile as gestures to the man next to him and moves to pat Preston on the shoulder. He moves his hand above Prestons shoulder but stops short... thinking better of touching the mans somewhat dusty exterior. He would then move his hand away from Preston and rub them together. "Prince charming is a new one... and quite fitting. I have been given many flattering titles and nicknames over the years." Dracor would say as he places a clawed finger to his chin. "The Scaled Stallion, The golden god, the ummmm... Silver.. Smart one..." He hesitates for a moment and he seemingly struggles to remember or make up more titles.... "Yes, lots of titles.. but enough about me." He would say wit a grin as the smile on his face seems to crack a bit. 

***He would wait for any introductions from Ella or from Preston and continue to answer questions from the others before continuing***

Once the conversation had ended, he would turn and head inside to see the constable. 

Preston stops to greet the two other adventurers. To see one dragonborn today was special, but to see two in the same day. What were the odds, thought the young man. And the dwarven lady accompanying him. She was the one that helped calm Gerda down. She seemed trustworthy.

"I believe it’s be better to speak with the Constable before anything else. We’ll have more information to come up with a plan, and it won’t look like we’re interfering with the investigation." He extends a hand for Wulcrath. "I believe you said your name was Wulcrath. I’m Preston, pleased to meet you." 

The young squire recognizes the Dragonborn’s martial disposition. As a soldier himself, he feels there is already a connection there. He then extends his hand to the dwarven woman.

"I don’t believe I’ve caught your name. I give you my thanks for helping this poor woman back there.", he says sincerely.

Wulcrath nods as Preston steps forward, his tattered glove meeting a decidedly more well maintained looking one as he shakes the humans hand. "Likewise... Wulcrath Vokrun." The Red Dragonborn nods, his silver eyes looking the Human over, checking out his gear and weapon. The Dragonborn could tell, Preston seemed like an experienced Warrior. More experienced than himself at the very least. Maybe he could teach him a few things? As the human quickly moves on from him to greet the Dwarf, Wulcrath turns his attention back to the Gold Trimmed Dragonborn, scoffing quietly under his breath.

("Yes, I've heard enough about you already indeed.") He jokes to himself, regardless he steps forward and extends a gloved hand to the Royal Dragonborn as he notices his smile waver just a bit. Was Dracor well...? "I don't believe I had a chance to thank you for your help with that Woman?" Wulcrath says, tilting his head a bit down at Dracor. Even if Wulcrath already didn't agree with every way the other Dragonborn conducted himself, it wasn't any reason to not try and keep things cordial. It might've been a night in jail for him if the other Dragonborn hadn't stepped in after all.