“I mean... seems this is a ‘delicate matter’ if i ‘member correct. And we’ll be wearing them orange dingle-hoppers. The Man may not like it. And I’m lookin’ to get paid.” 

Vaclav looks over from where he's adjusting the sword on his back. "If he wants it done a certain way he should specify. If you don't specify then it's really all up to interpretation. And some of us are a little harsher in our interpretations than others."

During the afternoon Nos Heliwyr visits the blacksmith and is pleased to see he has completed your small broaches.  He's made five.  The quality is pretty average but at least you have the broaches you were after.   Nos is also able to spread some coins around to the urchins and continues to build the beginnings of his informant base.

Vaclav wanders the town in search of anything remotely arcane.  Unfortunately this backwater settlement still clearly views the arcane with mistrust and suspicion.  Remember that less than a decade ago arcane practice was banned in Lucarcia, and had been for five hundred years.   The recent lifting of this ban has had little effect in many places like this.

You spend some time equipping yourselves from the Baron's stores and then spend a quiet evening enjoying the pleasures of the manor house.  You dine in the guest wing this evening, not in the baron's company, but the food is still exquisite, there is plenty of free-flowing wine, and the servants attend your every need.   Those of you who wish to can enjoy another bath and the sleep you have on the luxurious 4-poster beds is a welcome boon.

Then the morning comes.  You break your fast on more delicious, nutritious and filling food.  You change back into clothing more suited for the road and collect your possessions.   Nevill comes and greets you, leading you outside where a spring shower is drizzling down, rather dampening the mood.  Unfortunately, Salazaar has been taken ill during the night and will remain in the manor.

Waiting for you at the baron's gates is Varnell.  He looks you over, nods in what looks like approval and prepares to escort you to the gates of the town.  "Any last questions?" he asks before you depart.

"I'd rather get underway sooner rather than later," Claire replies.  "Thank you for your hospitality, and please take good care of our companion."  She looks up at the sky and sighs; living in the lap of luxury was pleasant while it lasted.

You set out into the wilds, following the north road and the River Ardeth as it flows past you towards the sea.  The rain drizzles down and soaks you through in a matter of an hour or so trudging through the wilds.

The Ardeth flows down out of the mountains, past the small mining community at Hillsend, through the town of Grunal and out into the Eastern Ocean. It is a short and fast-flowing river along most of its length. During the summer it's used as a method to ship coal down to the town from the mines. During the winter months, the river becomes very fast at times and it's generally not considered safe to use it to travel. A rutted road follows the river, linking Hillsend and Grunal. This is the main form of transport when the river is considered too dangerous to use.

Rodinia Gazetteer

You pass the few farmsteads you saw on your trip out with Varnell yesterday, this land beginning to become a little more familiar to you as you cross it a second time.  Lunch is a dreary affair, hunkered down in the shelter of a small copse of trees by the side of the road but as the afternoon comes around the rain stops and the sun comes out.  The road slowly rises as you press on into the late spring sunshine, facing into the mountains which blot out the sun early as it sets behind them.   You are still following the only trail and are sure Hillsend is not far ahead so you press on as dusk falls.

It's fully dark by the time you reach the mining settlement.

Hillsend is a small hamlet, settled by miners who mine the coal mines of the nearby mountains.

Rodinia Gazetteer

The village is quiet, with a few lights coming from the shacks dotted around.  Then the door of the Meeting Hall swings open and light and sound spill out into the night air.  That is clearly where the villagers gather for an evening's entertainment.

Vaclav looks miserable for most of the day, at least until the rain stops. When they arrive in the village he points to the hall. "Seems like that's where we'll find the folks we're looking for."

"This place is tiny enough that there won't be anyone manning the inn at this time of night... if they even have one," Claire agrees.  She puts a hand over her growling stomach.  "Besides, I could do with a little something to eat after that hike."

"I am pretty sure that once the villagers see these orange bandanas they will be inclined to help us, especially when they learn we are trying to solve their problem.  I suppose that they are not the cause of the problem, but one never knows, eh?" Nos Heliwr shrugs a bit.  "In fact. how they receive us will be somewhat of an indication as to how they think about the missing shipments.  Might want to keep an eye out for unusual things, of the sort one generally wouldn't find in a village like this; non-homemade things, fine fabrics perhaps.  Things like that, that would be hard to account for with the sort of coin a villager can be expected to have."

Vaclav nods and snaps his fingers. "Let's get a different perspective then." He throws Chernobog into the air and then telepathically tells him to keep and eye out for any fancy things or people within the village.

Louis nods along and and keeps eyes peeled for anything/anyone out of place.

Heading into the Meeting Hall then?

Claire follows after the others, pushing open the door to the Meeting Hall and taking a look inside.

Pushing the door of the Meeting Hall open you are hit by a wall of warmth, light and smell.  The hall is wooden, some fifty feet by thirty feet with a high, raftered roof.  It is packed with people, sitting, eating and drinking, laughing and joking.  The hall is full of long trestle tables laid end to end making row upon row of benches.   A bright fire burns in the centre and food is being roasted over the top.  At one end a raised platform has a series of ale casks set up on it.   These people look like hill folk and miners.  Many are permanently grubby, in stained and old clothing.  Most of the men sport beards or stubble.  No one stands out as well-dressed or well-groomed.  It's very much a rough and ready place full of rough and ready folk.

As you step in, the place rapidly quietens till it is totally silent and all eyes are upon you.  At this stage, a tall, slim, middle aged man sat near the ale casks stands and approaches, a questioning look on his face.  "Good evening.  Can we help you?"

Vaclav nods as he steps inside. "Yes, we're here about the little problem of your barges getting hijacked. Who should we talk to?"

"That would be me, I suppose," says the man eyeing your orange bandanas.  "I'm Fallon, the village elder and spokesman.  Welcome to Hillsend."  He ushers you into the warmth of the hall and shoos some miners off a table nearby.  "Make yourselves comfortable.  Can I offer you mead or ale?  And roasted pork?"

"The food would be most welcome," Claire says with a smile.  "However I'd like to have a clear mind as you tell us about the problems you've faced, before we partake of your ale.  I am Theresa, by the way," she says.  "A pleasure to meet you, Fallon."

Fallon ensures that you are each fed and given ale, mead or just water if preferred.  He sits with you and asks you how the journey up from Grunal was.  It's clear he is assuming you are standard enforcers come to help out, though perhaps with your expensive gear it should be obvious you are a bit more than that.

"Yes, the troubles," he says after the meal is over.  "Four coal barges have been hit by bandits, once they have left town.  Not much more to say really.   Oh, other than that your timing is excellent as we will be ready to ship another barge tomorrow."

Louis (who is extraordinarily observant) notes one of the older looking miners who is sat nearby giving the whole exchange a fair amount of interest, and almost imperceptively shaking his head.

Louis turns his back to Fallon so that he can whisper to Nos and Vaclav to pay attention to the old man, he knows something:

Vaclav nods and then stands up, using the excuse that he has to relieve himself. He heads outside for a minute or two before coming back in and making his way to sit by the old man. "So, my friend, what is it that the boss isn't telling us?" 

The old man looks over at Fallon, who is looking the other way, and says under his voice, "I dunno.  But something stinks.   I've noticed that every night before the coal barges are sent off, Fallon disappears off into the wilds.  He's not gone for long - an hour or so I guess. I dunno what he's up to but something smells rotten."