In the town square of Hampstead, a small crowd huddles around a signboard, bathed in shade by the nearby Fogtree Inn, as a member of the watch hammers a sheet amongst the others. Another person has gone missing in the night. This time a woman named Telga. You can hear some muttering from amongst the crowd and concern. Some question the watch and why they haven’t been able to do anything. Others talk of leaving town for someplace else. Still more are wondering if someone might be able to help them get to the bottom of what is happening.

Let’s go ahead, introduce the characters, and find out where you guys want to start.

Some Locations in Hampstead that your characters would know

1. Fogtree Inn: provides lodging and has a tavern
2. Guard Building: Headquarters of the Town Watch
3. Blacksmith & Market
4. Tallisma’s Emporium (a shop with healing potions, may add some more when seeing more of what the party wants/needs.)
5. Hampstead Shrine
6. Slums

Lyrai, a human archer steps out of the crowd.

”How is it that in my few weeks in this town more people have gone missing than in large cities I’ve been in all my life? How is the guard so incompetent? The lives of everyone here, even those merely passing through are at more risk here than they are to highwaymen if they were to spend weeks on the road, and you can’t even say that you know what is doing this! How are those of the Guard so bad at their job? Are they the ones taking these poor people?”

"Do not be so harsh on the guards of this place," a metallic, but surprisingly soft, voice says. "The search parties have travelled many miles, braved many dangers, and searched ancient ruins like those I was hidden beneath, to find the lost townsfolks. Even though they have not been successful as of yet, they are doing all that they can."

The one voice belongs to an enormous metal creature... at first he could be mistaken for a simple knight in heavy armor, but only for a brief moment before it becomes clear that the armor plating is part of his body. He carries very little with him, only an axe and a shield on his back. His face... if you can call the metal plate and the single gemstone eye set in the middle of it a face... is expressionless, but his tone of voice and the way his shoulders slump slightly speak to his feelings of empathy towards this place and its inhabitants.

Curiosity gets the best of Raker, a kenku who wears a dark cloak, winding his way through the marketplace.  His eyes dart back and forth, looking at all of the booths and stalls, eyes taking in anything of note.  He heard the rumors, he didn’t know Telga, but he had heard of other names.  Then he heard the chatter, the doubts that the watch couldn’t handle it, that they couldn’t figure it out.  They were calling in outside help, and he walks closer and closer to the Town Square.  “This should be interesting.  Perhaps this will bring out some talent…”  He wanders over to the Fogtree Inn and gets a table in the corner, sitting there nursing his ale and listening, watching for any other adventurers that might join with him in taking up the task.  “And other… opportunities.”  A quick smile comes to him and he sips again…

She looks towards the automation “I levy no Ill intent towards the guards, but in my travels I’ve experienced many too many stories where in the end, it was someone or some group trusted by the community that was the one who, in the end, them who were the antagonists. I just want those missing to be found, and found alive.”

"Then it seems we share a goal," the robot says. "The people of this town found me not long ago while searching for the lost ones; after they repaired my body such that I could return to this world instead of rust away in obscurity, I owe them a great debt that I wish to repay. You may call me Relic."

“Hello Relic. I’m Lyrai de Valen”.

Lyrai and Relic

 Raker

 (using spoilers as an easier way of categorizing each reply)

Raker says to the barkeep, “I will have the ale for a copper, thank you.  I’ll let you know about the room..”. He winds his way through the room, going close to the group of men, trying to listen and overhear their conversation.  He’s also curious about the story that the man is telling the children, listening for any helpful information about the disappearances.  After making the rounds and relieving himself in the bathroom as well, he heads back to his table, sipping on his ale, and waiting.  

Perception (rolled in log) : 12

Quote from Twombley >>

Raker says to the barkeep, “I will have the ale for a copper, thank you.  I’ll let you know about the room..”. He winds his way through the room, going close to the group of men, trying to listen and overhear their conversation.  He’s also curious about the story that the man is telling the children, listening for any helpful information about the disappearances.  After making the rounds and relieving himself in the bathroom as well, he heads back to his table, sipping on his ale, and waiting.  

Perception (rolled in log) : 12

 From the group of men you're able to hear phrases like "tying the knot" and encouragement related to a recent engagement.

From the old man he seems to be telling the kids a scary story about a ghost called The Weeping Lady in the woods.

Raker stops for a moment passing by to listen to the scary store of the Weeping Lady in the woods, out of curiosity.  He stands leaning against a post with a slight smile, after the story finishes, he heads back to his table.  “Is there some Weeping Lady, some ethereal ghost in the woods whisking people away?” he muses to himself.  

The automaton looks around at the other people in the street.

"Well then, it is good to meet you, Miss Lyra. Perhaps we should go sit down somewhere and discuss the situation... or maybe the officer here can tell us where to go if we wish to sign up to join a search party. It took me a few days at the farm to recover after I was re-activated, but I believe that I am now ready to join in this noble endeavor."

“Well, you’ve been nice and I don’t have much else to do. Let me go back to my room to get my stuff”

As Lyrai goes to her room she notices Raker musing about the missing people.

”Hi! Did you say that you think a ghost is taking people?”

As Relic mentions signing up for a search party, the nearby watchmember says, "Well, uh, we've got a member of the watch over by Telga's house looking around and asking neighbors if they saw anything. And in a little bit there should be a couple parties heading out to the woods and fields. They're gathering up at the Guard Building."

Raker turns and regards Lyrai, at first just to see who spoke to him, then with a look of appraisal, regarding abilities, strength, weapons, all taken in with a quick look.  “She might do….” he thinks to himself.  He pauses, clearing his throat in a “Roack” sort of manner, then says “This man, was telling a tale of a ghost called the Weeping Lady in the woods to these children, I had never heard of this before, with everything going on, all the disappearances, listening for *roack* something … unusual.  Some cause.”  Raker then repeats the man’s initial words to the children, in scary fashion and detail, word for word what was said before.  

“I’m thinking of looking into these disappearances myself.  Perhaps…(looking her over once again) we could help… one another?”  Raker bends forward in a semi bow, indicating his table, pointing to a seat to join.  

“Okay, I don’t have anything better to do, but I’m getting my stuff right now. There’s a robot in the square that I’m with, you can go meet them.”

Lyrai will go get her bow, quiver, and armor.

Relic is still standing in the square waiting for Lyrai to get back.

Lyrai will start heading back after about 10 minutes (getting into her armor, I think that’s the right time). She’ll glance at Raker along the way “You coming?”

[[For those at the Fogtree Inn area, please let me know if there's more you're looking for or want to take a look at.]]

[[Distance from/to Fogtree Inn and Guard Building: 10 minutes]]

@Branahan

(Ooc: nothing more for me)