"I think it's best if we head into town, get Beards perspective on what happened. He may have vital information on what this is, or who." Breyten felt uneasy about the whole situation but he was going to have to set that aside to finish this story. 

With the group decided on starting at Havenglen, you bid the shifters farewell -- Growl will be leading the main group to the southwest to the city of Cree, while Cocksure and Fang remain behind. Cocksure assures you that they won't stay in the ruins but beyond that she does not divulge where the two of them will stay until Fang's child comes.

You hitch up the steeds, one of whom seems to have accepted the name Karius and make the short journey into the town of Havenglen. Havenglen is less of a town and more of a gathering place for farmers to come together and bundle their crops, produce, and other products for shipment to Varna and then to cities in Aundair and throughout the Eldeen Reaches. Its the type of place that Rowan and probably Breyten would know very well and be very comfortable in. Its a very picturesque little town that seems to be cetered around a large green field called Havenglen Common.

Clustered around the common, there is a basic general goods store and an attached blacksmith as well as a fairly large (for the town) tavern called The Farmer's Hearth -- Samuel's place. There is also a temple to Arawai, the Goddess of fertility, plants, wilderness, crops, and birth right at the end of town, bordering the Wolfwood Forest. Finally you see the office of Beiro Duskwalker, the town doctor/animal doctor/mayor, and what appears to be the town hall building next to the doctor's office. There are six or seven residences built here as well -- very basic wood and stone buildings. Farther out is where many of the large and small farms are laid out surrounding the town and forest.

Zeenon's head is swiveling again as they enter Havenglen. The warforged makes small comments to Zeetin, pointing out colorful flowers, every animal it sees, and children.

Peace looks around at the town.  Picturesque and lovely, he wishes they were visiting in better times.  Oh well.  

"We should probably talk to the mayor first.  We'll need their help getting in to see Beard... as well as getting some kind of protection from the ire of the locals.  They've already shown some... troubling views on mine and Korvash's genetics."

Korvash had been to Havenglen a few times during his criminal years, but he now looks around the village with a fresh set of eyes. After scanning the options, Korvash agrees with Peace. "We might also need the mayor's opinion on these attacks," he adds. "And who knows who is going to have to put a stop to them?"

Rowan makes no secret of her delight as they near the town—lovely and green and familiar, she pauses more than once to take a look at some of the crops being hauled, takes several too many shots of the greenery in the town’s center, given the chance. “The mayor it is,” she agrees, interested particularly in hearing Beard’s side of the story as she is. With little additional thought, she reaches to open what seems to be the door to the mayor’s office itself.

As you enter Beiro Duskwalker's office,  you see a older elf, his honey-blond hair streaked with white, working at his desk feverishly, muttering to himself all the while. His office is decorated with town memorabilia and ephemera all over the walls, including a copy of the town charter, and, a much more recent addition, a copy of the Articles of Confederation for the Eldeen Reaches. There are also some decorations from the Aundair military, including a very fine dress officer's uniform enclosed in glass hanging on the wall. As you enter, he speaks, without even looking up at you. "I'm sorry, but this is not up for discussion. We will hold the shifter until the Wardens ---oh!" He looks up and sees you and his expression changes, becoming much more guarded as he takes each of you in. 

"Can I help you? I trust you are not more mercenaries, excuse me 'adventurers'" He makes the air quotes as he says it "here to take care of our animal problem for a small consideration from the town treasury? For your information, the problem has been solved." The mayor snaps the book he was writing in abruptly and sighs. Suddenly, he looks very tired, and much older than he had, even a few minutes ago. 

Peace steps into the room cautiously, "Good morning, sir.  No, we are no mercenaries.  We are representatives of the Free Post.  We are not seeking to take any consideration from your treasury.  We are simply seeking to find out what happened here so we can report it."

Zeenon fails to notice the others entering the building as its attention is diverted.

Korvash tries to keep low profile, due to the perceived prejudice against his kind, and also the chance that someone may recognize him from when he committed his criminal acts in the area. He is slightly disappointed when Beiro says the problem has been solved -- he was hoping for some action. "Yes, yes," he adds on to Peace, from the back of the room. "We were also hoping to talk to the shifter... you know, to get his side of the story."

Duskwalker pushes back his long hair and gives you all a look of annoyance. "Press, eh? Not exactly sure if I should be relieved, especially with that damned gnome Hasal of the Chronicle  running around town firing up the local farmers. Did you know that last night he..." He thinks better of what he was about to say and changes the subject.

"Samuel told me you were at the shifter camp last night, so you missed the ruckus. They found Dain just inside the forest, the fat shifter leader standing over him. The poor fellow's throat had been slashed opened. Ghastly sight -- he'd likely have died almost instantly. The Wardens took the shifter... Belly, or Boar, or something... into custody and he's in a holding cell now until the Wardens can take him out to Greenheart to be judged. Swears he didn't do it, but... he was right there."

The mayor sighs and looks at you all with his kind, big brown eyes. There's a pause as he seems to weigh saying anything else, but then he adds,  "Its a damned shame. The Wardens were hoping it wasn't a shifter, and so was I. Things are...delicate right now. A lot of the men in this town served in the war,  myself included and there's a great deal of resentment here. The Wardens didn't fight for any side and people like Samuel resent the hell out of them. They're the law enforcement and most of the government around here, and don't get me wrong, we need 'em, but it don't sit right with some people. Most of the shifters didn't fight either, and then after the war, they come flowing into the Reachs from all over Khorvaire. Samuel and his lot blame the Wardens for not chasing the shifters out of town after the first attack, and now, with poor Glassanvil dead, well...the Wardens ain't the most popular folks right now. Neither are the shifters, for that matter. They're supposed to be clearing out today and I hope for their sake though do. Folks are angry. Angrier than I ever same them and I've been in Havenglen a long time."

The mayor listens to your request to talk to Beard, but he shakes his head. "We're keeping city hall locked down until the Wardens from Greenheart get here to take him into custody. Should be this afternoon or this evening, thank the Host. There have been threats to string him up. We don't operate like that in this town. Not while I'm mayor."

(Someone can try and Persuade Mayor Duskwalker if you like.)

"Sir, we are trying to keep a lower profile than what The Chronicle is doing.  We don't want to stir up situations which could lead to more violence.  That's, excuse my bluntness here, an unethical way of doing the news.  I believe we should be as unobtrusive as possible.  I don't want to barge into the hall and talk to him if you are absolutely convicted that the shifters did this.  However, as one gentleman who has seen more of the world than I am due to another, my instincts are telling me something is wrong here.  I can't put my finger on what, but something feels off.  I'm not convinced.  Now, I don't want to stir anything up, but I think we haven't done our due if we don't try to get to the bottom of what's going on here."

Persuasion : 19

Beiro Duskwalker drums his fingers against his desk and then finally nods. "I'll allow it -- not that because I don't think he was involved, but because I want this to be as straight forward and above board as possible. The shifter is going to have a trial, and that is the end of it." He draws a piece of paper from the desk and writes, in very precise script a note that reads.

"Maurine -- please let the bearers of this note in to see the prisoner. They are to have a brief interview with him before the Wardens arrive. Allow no others entry- BD"

"Good luck -- oh, and everything I just said is off the record. Officially, I am pleased that cooperation between the Wardens and the community has solved the challenges we faced, though I am saddened by the tragedies many experienced. My thoughts and prayers are naturally with the families. Now, if you excuse me, I have to deal with the fact that some senior Wardens will be in my town this afternoon." 

Gathering his paperwork, the mayor ushers you out and leaves himself, apparently heading straight for the Farmer's Hearth tavern. As you take the note to city hall, you encounter fierce-looking female halfling who stands guard outside the hall. "No visitors," she growls, her hand hovering over a nasty looking pepperbox pistol. She reads the note and looks you over and grunts "Inside, to the left -- end of the hallway."

Following her directions, you come to what was once clearly a sheriff's office, but hasn't been used in some time -- It is dark and cramped. You see Beard cutting a very forlorn figure in the only cell in the room. His massive frame covers almost the entire length of the cell and its honestly a little impressive that they were able to fit him in here.

"If it isn't my intrepid friends from the press," Beard says in his jolly, booming baritone, even if he doesn't look all that jolly. "Tell me how are the others? The townspeople weren't attacked, were they? Cocksure kept them all safe?"

Breyten was busy scratching out the notes that he now couldn't use because the Mayor had gone "off the record", it frustrated him but thus was the life of an investigative journalist. He could still use the sentiment to amplify the piece though. 

Upon seeing Beard Breyten smiles at him, it was a friendly smile for what could be a cold hearted killer; still, Breyten didn't believe he was. 

"They are all fine Beard, Cocksure and Fang are going to stick around long enough to have the baby, the others are moving on to another location where it's safe." his face then turned serious, "But Beard, we need your side of the story. You will surely be put to death if they convict you. What happened?"

Korvash is delighted to see Beard again. He thanks him again for his hospitality last night. "Yes, all of your folk are fine," Korvash adds on to Breyten. "We do not know about any of the townsfolk having been attacked, though." Korvash looks around the room. "Say, where's Zeenon?" he inquires of the group. He starts to panic. Oh Gods, Whiskers said that Zeenon was the one who was supposed to keep US safe. Now we've got to keep HIM safe. Korvash exits the town hall to try to find the warforged.

Zeenon, you are distracted by the sheer number of animals that are in the Commons -- there are cows grazing, a big Mastiff playing fetch with his owner, a happy-looking dwarf lass, a few horses hitched up to a hitching post and even a few sheep that are being sheared right in the commons, a human with silver hair humming a jaunty little tune as he collects the wool.

As you approach the Commons, you hear a voice call out "Watch out!" A ball bounces against your heavy metallic legs with a hollow THUNK and the Mastiff charges at you, desperately trying to screech to a halt as it sees exactly how big you are. The Mastiff cocks his head at you and lets out a speculative "WOOF?" before proceeding to smell you thoroughly and deciding that you are apparently no threat, it nudges the ball with its nose a bit closer to you.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The dwarf girl calls as she comes closer. "He's friendly, I.....wow, you are a big fella, aren't you?" She says, her eyes widening and brightening  as she realizes what you are. "A warforged!" She whispers in a awed hush.

"Awww, Euphemia, you little minx, cheating on me, are ya?" Go ahead, tin man, you can throw it for her. She's a lovely little girl, aren't cha?" She scratches the dog's ear as she comes closer for a look.

Zeenon bends its knees and squats to reduce the difference between its height and the dwarf girl. "Zeenon a big fella," the warforged repeats. "Zeenon an old boy, and Zeenon is genius," it says matter-of-factly. The warforged looks at the dog and mimics the girl's maneuver of scratching its ear. "Be careful, Zeenon," the construct says in its scratchy imitation of Whiskers.

Outside on the Commons

The dwarf lass laughs with delight "I didn't know warforged were so funny. Everyone who fought in the war always talked about you all like you were terrifying" she says happily, and the dog, noticing her master's comfort with the Zeenon, relaxes as well, melting into Zeenon's scritches. The dwarf watches with amusement.

"I'm Annys, and this is Euphemia. She's my best friend, and apparently, not much worth to me as protection." She says teasingly. "If you throw the ball for her now, she'll be your friend for life." She offers Zeenon the ball to throw.

In the Town Jail

Listening to Breyten's questions, Beard becomes completely serious for the first time since you met him and he looks visibly relieved at the news the tribe is safe. "I don't know what happened, honestly. I do know that someone is trying to put the blame on shifters for this. They set me up perfectly. I was a little suspicious of Dain being among us, and while I had Cackle and your warforged friend watching the perimeter, I myself kept an eye on him. I wasn't sure what he was up to -- thought he might try and plant something in the camp. Right before dawn, he leaves his tent and heads towards the Wolfwood. I follows him, but I'm not exactly the sleekest spy you'll meet." He slaps his belly again, but without the good humored vigor of before.

"I lost him in the woods, but I soon heard a horrible screaming. I got there a bit too late -- I just saw some sort of tail, like a lizard or a dinosaur or something, and that poor sod laying on the ground, dying. The Wardens found me soon after. Sister Wynora, from before. I dunno what that cursed dwarf was doing heading into the Wolfwood, but like some damned fool, I followed him right into trouble."

 He pauses, lost in thought. "The Wardens said they couldn't even detect any sort of creature I described with their magic -- but there is something out there in the Wood. I know it -- Cocksure was right."

Korvash continues to try to keep a low profile as he steps out into the Havenglen Common. Pulling his hood tight around his head, he tries to approach Zeenon without the dwarf girl noticing him (Stealth: 21) and lightly tap the warforged on the shoulder. "Ah, there you are, old buddy," he stoops down and whispers. "Remember Whiskers said you're the one who needs to keep us safe." He is about to direct Zeenon to the rest of the group, before he notices the mastiff staring up at him, eyes wide. He sighs, shakes his head, and says, "I guess we can stay for a little while. I'm sure they won't mind." He hopes and prays that the dwarf girl doesn't mind his "genetics". Then directing towards her, in as human of a voice as he can muster (if she hasn't noticed him already), he tells her, "That's a beautiful dog you've got there. What's its name?"

Peace is very troubled by this.  He understands Beard's former suspicion of Dain.  The man was calm, but he still was working on the orders of someone else.  "I'm sorry that you've gotten wrapped up in this.  I feel like something is... off about this whole situation.  Tell me, where in the woods did this happen?  Maybe we can follow it?"  Peace puts his hand on top of Beard's on the bars of the cell.  "I won't promise we will get you out of here.  But we will try."