Balassar shakes his head "Not just yet. Keep hope." he says still surveying the ground and surroundings for anything that may give a clue that could help them.

OOC:

Investigation check: 14

Balassar, there are tracks, but the road is well used.  If Art has stuck to the road, you doubt you'll be able to separate his tracks from others.  On the other hand, you might find people that recall passing him. 

Balassar just sighs again as he looks for anyone the is walking the path.

Balassar, you don't see anyone right now, no.  But you recall from the day before that you passed two or three groups of travellers every hour on this road, and there were also people working in the nearby fields.  You do see some labourers who seem to be breaking up rocks in a field off to the south; harvest is mostly done by now (and Harvest Close is not more than a few weeks away) but there is always work to be done on a farm.

[I probably should have made clear, Wash agreed with Alton, so they will have been clumsily riding for Felderwin.]

I assume that you are all sticking together, so you are all heading, on horseback, on the road south to Felderwin.  

After forty minutes, you pass by a group of farm labourers who are resting at the side of the road near the fields where they have been working.  At the same time, you see a slow-moving cart headed north up the road towards you, a pair of halflings driving two oxen.  A tarpaulin covers the contents of the cart.   You could stop and talk to either group, or continue on.

Balassar waved them down as they are passing “Have you seen a thief named Art come by this way?” 

Wash quickly describes his horse and Art, then explains that Art stole said horse (he purposefully leaves out details of Alton’s map being stolen).

The halfling in the driving seat looks at her companion, and then back at you, Balassar.  Is this like... a riddle?  A philosophical question?  "Is Art the thief of the soul?" kind of thing?

With Wash's explanation, they sigh and relax a little.  So you're looking for a scrawny human on a horse riding south, the driver says.  Yup, her partner adds, seen one of those.  He was going pretty fast.  Thief, you say?  Well, I hope you catch him.  I'd get to it, if I were you. 

They drive off.

Alton perks up a bit, "Well, it is good to know we are going in the right direction. Let's get going."

Balassar nods in thanks as they begin to continue in that direction "Any idea how he could have known about the map?" he asks Alton.

Alton shakes his head, "I don't know. I haven't mentioned it to anyone until now. It is possible that he was just looking through my stuff for money or something to sell and found it. But the map is kind of useless without the journal that goes with it."

You continue riding down the road.  Are you going to ask people in the fields or travellers on the road about Art, or are you prioritising keeping a good speed.  Balassar, you could ride at a 'fast pace' in D&D terms if you wish, but Wash and Alton would need to make an Animal Handling check at disadvantage to keep up. Are you sticking together?

Balassar just nods "Where is the journal?" he says letting Alton decide their pace.

[OOC my vote is for fast pace, even if it splits the party.

Do Alton and Wash make separate animal handling checks with disadvantage, or is one person a rider and the other a passenger? I actually think the worst out of 4 rolls might lead to some funny shenanigans, so happy with each making seperate rolls with disadvantage, just want to make sure. Wash's animal handling (if needed) is:]

"It is in my backpack," Alton responds to Balassar's question. "I think we should try and see if at least one of us can catch up to him. If you want to ride ahead Balassar, we can catch up eventually."

Okay, Alton please make an Animal Handling check with disadvantage as you are attempting to ride quickly. 

Balassar, please make a straight Animal Handling roll.

You ride out, hot (or somewhat hot) on the heels of Art the Map Thief.  Let's see how it goes...

Animal Handling: 6

OOC: animal handling: 20

Alton, you are just about able to keep  your horse from bolting, once you get Wash to relax and stop the muscle spasms that seem to be so alarming to the poor creature.  You watch as Balassar races off into the distance.

Balassar, you are passing villagers, labourers and travellers as  you speed south.  After about an hour you see ahead of you a patrol of the Crownsguard.  Will you stop and speak to them, or to anyone else?  Or keep following the road?