Although it is past midnight already, Thia heads towards the commander's tent to try and find the Marshal and ask her for a pair of horses. As she gets to the tent, the guards outside quickly call the Marshal out, seeing the determination in her eyes, and within only a couple of minutes of heading out of Hadrari's tent, Thia is standing before Marshall Arcenaux.

"The guards said something about this being urgent, did you find out more about the poison?" Seeing your gaze, her eyes go wide, "Wait... you found a potential cure? What's the matter then, why are you looking so grim and determined? How can we help?"

What are Gyselle, Corti and Tarian doing meanwhile?

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Arc, you hand the flower off to the lancer, who takes it with a somewhat confused look, but not willing to question you on it. Shortly after three o'clock, the five waggons leave again, although only one and a half have really been filled with grain. You meanwhile start working on the plans to stabilise the windmill and start to ask the locals for the best sources for working materials, particularly a stone quarry, and nearby sources for limestone and sand, which you're going to need for the mortar to hold the stones in place.

Kathy is quick to point out an iron mine and quarry about four hours east of the village, though she does mention that it had been abandoned for a while, as many of the village's men were called up to serve, and many still hadn't returned from their deployments in Southern Cyre, Thrane, or Zhivargo. To her recollection, they were able to make mortar there, indicating that limestone was nearby. As you think about the possibilities of the village here, your mind starts to envisage a charcoalery and several smelting furnaces near the mine to produce charcoal for the production of quicklime and the smelting of any ores. The nearby forests would produce all the necessary timber for the construction projects, and the hamlet would likely be transformed into a city catering first to the workers, and later to the travellers passing through...

You're rapidly brought back to reality, when you hear cursing and swearing from the other end of the hamlet. Kathy and you both rush over there, to see one of the women bashing a lancer with a rolling pin: "Thief! I knew ye damned Garronians were good-fer nuffin' scum!" Turning to see you, she exclaims: "Tried to take me eggs, 'e did! I came out ta check on me hens, an' saw 'im there, an' not a single egg with me 'ens. 'e took 'em, 'e did, I'm sure of it!" The lancer meanwhile seems more shocked than hurt, the rolling pin having bounced off harmlessly from his armour and helmet, but he had thrown up his hands, trying to signal that he knew nothing of the sort.

Kathy quickly intervenes: "Betty, calm down! Please, listen, calm down!" Turning to you, she implores: "Master Cannith, a little help?..."

Gyselle heads back to her tent. A little disheartened that she wasn’t able to get to all of the rations ... but some is better than nothing. Unless someone or something stops her from it, Gyselle goes to sleep for the night. 

Arcius, wishing to know more about the situation, walks over to the Lancer, getting between him and Betty. "Lancer. You have a chance to speak up for yourself, I suggest you use it. Did you in fact take this woman's eggs?"

"I was about t'ask her for some, when she accused me of stealin'!" The woman immediately starts shouting again: "Liar! Thief! Garronian filth!"

"Now hold on." Arc holds up a hand to the woman, "You said the eggs were stolen a while ago, yes? Then by all rights, he should still have them on him, if he stole them all." Arc turns back to the lancer in question and politely asks, "Lancer, if you would be kind enough to show us your bag?"

Insight Check for lies or possible signs of guilt: 11

Both of the people before you seem to be telling the truth, or at least believing firmly what they are claiming. The lancer opens his satchel, and it is emptpy. The only evidence of some eggs you can see is a cracked shell on the ground.

Arc turns back to Betty and Kathy, "As he has shown, he does not have the eggs. However, I would ask, is there a fox problem or other predatory animal nearby? I would find it terrible if either of you or the other villagers took a negative view on these men from something they didn't do."

Thia leapt up and dashed out as Tarian was reading over the note Njalgas had handed her. She wondered briefly where the alchemist had gone, then shrugged, frowning. “Well, at least she has her motivation back.”

Tarian took the note over to the oil lamp and poked the edge of it in. As the edges began to burn, she spoke up. “We’ve got different orders now. ‘Delay’ has become ‘escort.’ But with so many still sick, I don’t know. Brandt clearly doesn’t want to be here, and if Mister Spudsder was here, he’d cheerfully drag the whole army to town right now. Arc seems to have found a sense of purpose in his work here, but I think it’s more about the work and that it’s his project more than anything else.” Tarian sighed. “I don’t think Miss Thia would leave. Not until every last soldier was free of poison.”

When Tarian looked to Corti, the freelancer’s face was full of conflict. “I abandoned my family to do my duty once, and I lost my father that day.” Tarian shook her head. “Well, he’s still alive, but… he’s not me da anymore. If we leave now, I jehst knoh tha’ Miss Thia’d stehy beheynd, an’—an’ th’ Garronians think the Veiled Valour’s a terrorist lot, an’—and… and what would you do, Corti?”

Immediately after the words tumbled out of her mouth, Tarian stopped. She placed a hand on Corti’s shoulder, but kept her at full arm’s length. “No, actually, don’t answer that yet. I need time to sleep on it. If you see any of our crew before I do, you can let them know that our orders are to welcome the Marshal into Duskrock.”

With that, Tarian let Corti go. “I’m… going to sleep in the wagon for tonight.”

Her eyes would rest on the Marshall’s as she found herself standing before her. Given the time of night and type of day they had, Thia’s eyes looked tired. There was a hint of flushing in her cheeks and a sheen on her forehead, the alchemist would resist the urge to dab it with her sleeve. Thia didn’t think she dashed there, she barely wanted to stand, but perhaps she had ran? She’d keep her focus on the Marshall as she’d take a steady breath. “There are clues.” The redhead would say calmly. “A pair of your best horses.” She’d pause, her eyes continue to search Arcenaux’s. “Ingredients are days away. Depending on sense of urgency.”

Arcenaux's eyes go wide: "Excellent news! Our horses are in bad shape, but I'll make sure you get what you need. Are you riding alone?"

Tarian meanwhile is heading to sleep, followed soon thereafter by Corti heading back to Othmar and Gyselle's tent, ready to bed down too.

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Betty shoots Kathy an angry look before huffing and turning to walk away. She looks unsure, but the Garronian lancer looks at you, thankful for defending him against Betty's accusations.

Corti will head back to Gyselle and Othmar's tent with the others, but will wait up for Thia.

Arc will let out a small sigh before looking back to the Lancer, and asking him to head back to camp, "If you or those of your compatriots that stayed behind to patrol are up to it, see if you can join some of the villagers on a hunting party. Ask them for permission however. Remember, we want to keep the peace." \

Once the Lancer was gone, Arc will turn back to Kathy and bow his head in apology, "Even if the man himself was at fault, I apologize for bringing added tension and distrust into your area. I understand that your people are distrustful of Garronians, but these people are trying their best."

Thia would nod as affirmatively as she could to the Marshall for agreeing to assist her with her request. Although she was obviously whomped, the artificer still appreciated Arcenaux’s enthusiasm. It was at least positive energy that she could use. Though, when the Marshall would add her question at the end, silence would hang in the air. As usual, she didn’t think that far ahead. And she’s never really handled horses... “I...” She’d take a breath. Thia would answer honestly. “I hope not...” Her eyes would glance away before looking back up to meet the Marshall’s gaze once more. Not everyone shared the same desire in her quest to find a cure. This was bigger than the Marshall’s camp...

If there was nothing else Thia would bow her head respectfully to take her leave. She’d go alone if she had too. 

The Marshal sighed: "At least four horses then, am I right? Shame really, it'll be at least a day until Master Cannith's creations will be back here, and I sent some of my best reiders along with him. Well, I'll see what I can do, but it'll have to wait until the morning. You should try to get some sleep, you don't look so good."

With that, the Marshal guides you out of the tent, before giving some short instructions to her aides to task the lancer's second in command to find some more horses, to see what her options were.

Thia would open and close her mouth. She didn’t know whether the Mashal was right, but she probably was. Thia wouldn’t question it and would only nod. “Of course. We’ll make due.” The redhead would try her best to assure Arsenaulx. She would take what she could get. The medic would then take a moment to look the Marshall over as well. “As should you, Marshal. It has been a trying day.” Her voice was soft, still showing empathy for her loss. “Take care of yourself.” She’d give a respectful bow of her head. Then, taking her queue, Thia would follow Arsenault’s escort out of the tent. 

Once back outside in the fresher Thia would look up at the sky. She felt a sense of peace when her eyes would fall upon the night sky. Even if it wasn’t, the world would stand still for even a moment. The medic would find herself mindlessly wondering the camp with her jacket resting over her arm. It appeared to be a mild out. She absolutely should pick a spot to settle in for the night, but her mind was still a buzz. Sleep was not going to come easy, if it did at all.

Corti, you wait for about an hour, but Thia doesn't return. Do you want to head out of the tent to search for her?

After about an hour, Corti will turn in, hoping to catch Thia before she heads out in the morning.

Thia was looking for a friendly face. Though, for the most part everyone seemed to have retired for the night. For good reason though. She should too, but the artificer felt it necessary to provide someone with an update and to bounce some last thoughts off of.

After her quiet stroll, Thia figured Corti could potentially be awake. She couldn't conclude whether Corti was aware of Thia's thought process back at the tent or whether she would have known where Thia had gone. Either way, Thia wanted to at least try to touch base before finding a spot to rest her head. She had to admit, she was feeling exhausted. It truly was a long day. And she was only dragging it out...

A soft smile would appear on her face as she'd come across Corti turning in around the same time. "Hi Corti." Thia would offer a sheepish wave upon her approach. "The Marshall will have horses ready in the morning for riders willing to fetch the ingredients." She'd shift her weight from one foot to the other, "And I've been thinking... The decoded message, you had pointed out a root as well." She'd pause briefly to shuffle her jacket from one arm to the other so she could hand Corti her personal notebook. It was already flipped to a page with the artificers writing. "I was able to come up with some potential roots for consideration."

Arc, Kathy nods at your apology: "Many o' the folks 'ere lost husbands an' brothers to th' war... Even tho' yer 'ere wit' tha best o' intentions, thars gunna be folks like Betty that will try an' cause trouble fer tha soldiers. Just try an' make sure not ta give her any proff o' her suspicions."

Do you want to go along on the hunt? If not, how do you occupy your time?

Arc gives the soldiers instructions to play by the hunter's rules, and fairly share whatever is hunted. He laments again, that the food they're hunting, isn't key here, it's gaining trust. Once he's sure that they understand, he'll let them go to the hunt on their own before heading back to the construction site to make sure things are proceeding as they should.