The small village of Blackthorn sits on the outskirts of the Savailrwood. The final bit of civilization after the Quannah Breach were two separate ravines in the Dunrock Mountains range. The party has entered the small farming community brought in by a call for help at a pub called the Landlocked Lady in Shadycreek Run. They find a mix of peoples of human, half-elven, gnomish, and halfling heritage. These are simple people with serval altars of Melora very well tended around the small village with a temple of the Wildmother the largest building in the center of town. For the most part they buildings and homes are made of the earth itself as well as anything found then reclaimed for use in building up from the surrounding landscape. The people of Blackthorn village do not have much in the way of riches but hired your party to seek out a young girl, cherished by the community, who wandered into the Savalirwood forest days before. It's late morning when your party arrives to find the town going about their business. A small market has been assembled, folks are gathered there to sell their wares but the atmosphere of the town seems tense. Traveling northwest on the road called the Amber Road for three days when the party begins to hear stories of the Graying Wildlands they traveled through the Quannah Breach were two separate ravines in the Dunrock Mountains range. Blackthorn village a days ride outside the lawless swamp city of Shadycreek Run. Bandits, cutthroats, witches, fiends, and other dangerous creatures lurking about often waiting to lure away the unsuspecting to strike in the Savalirwood. Entering the small frontier village of Blackthorn. The town itself seems quaint and quiet compared to Rexxentrum the party had left behind three weeks before.

As Jasper walks into town slowly strumming his Lute he can immediately feel the tension of the townspeople. He looks at the different wares merchants are selling as they make their way through town to wherever they're supposed to meet the people that hired their party. Jasper is a little bit over three feet tall with slightly shaggy brown hair and brown eyes. He's wearing a red beret with a white feather sticking out of it along with well maintained leather armor. You can see part of a white and blue shirt covering his arms. He has a leather backpack with what looks like a flute and pan flute sticking out the top. There's a viol tied to the side of the pack also. He wears a shiny rapier at his side and has a bandolier holding darts crossing his chest. He wears a dagger opposite the rapier. He turns to his companions. "This is eerie. You can literally feel the despair in the air."  As he continues to walk, he plucks more at his Lute strings, hoping maybe a little relaxing music can make these poor folk feel a little better.

Kellen Balladar, a tall, sturdy human in chainmail walking next to Jasper nods at the bard's words and unconsciously fingers the holy symbol at his neck. "They wish it to appear a normal market day, but clearly the loss they have suffered weighs heavy on them. We can best help them by finding the truth of what has happened, and, if it please the Mistress, return the girl safely home." He adjusts the shield emblazoned with the three eyes of Ioun on his back, checks the mace at his waist,  and looks with friendly interest at the altar of Melora they pass by.

"Ok boys. We are here. Let's find out who we need to speak with to get the details on finding this lost girl." The young gnome woman does her best to maintain a cheery disposition despite the air of sadness in the village. She hitches up her backpack, checks her hammer, and daggers. She skips a little to Jaspar's lute playing, her green dress swirling. Pyre flexed her mechanical left arm, thinking it might need a little oil. It's dim blue glow a compliment to her dress and bright green and blue hair. "There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting."

OOC: Y'all have horses but Mavlech who like is a half horse... *wink*

Malvech like all centaurs is a horse but with the upper body of a human male. His human torso has light skin tone with dark brown hair and made green eyes. His hair is cut short and he has a well kept goatee. His bottom half is that of a jet black stallion. He wears a light travelers shirt underneath his studded leather armor. The rest of his body has padding as well, a saddle on his back used for both storing his tools and other gear or for someone to ride in it if he allows it.

Malvech as usual was tinkering with something as he trotted next to the rest of the group. Reaching into his Bag of Holding to pull out part of his Tinkering tools, working on some small model design for one of her artillery pieces. As the others talk he turns his head toward them, his hands expertly deconstructing his model so he could return the materials to his bag. "Right find the girl, collect our money and then find a place we can stay for a bit to relax..." He pauses and then take his finger along with the lute. "Pyre I can oil up your arm when we get to the village. If you want me to I shall work on a new one for you as well. I still think I can fit a smaller version of my ballistae inside it.

Ooc: If anyone asks nicely they maybe can ride on Malvech's back.

“Let’s find our contact and get any new details or updates,” suggests Kellen. “I want as much info as possible before we head into the Wildwood. It’s nearly noon, and it sounds Malvech and Pyre have some work to do. I’d like to rest and prepare, then head out at daybreak, but we should probably see what the villagers tell us before making plans. Is that all right with everyone?”

(ooc: I assume we were hired. Do we have a place to meet or a person to contact?)

OOC: The party was hired by the locals anyone of them could point you in the direction of the Wildwood or answers questions.

Jasper turns to Malvech with a small smirk on his face. "Don't forget, at some point, I want you to build a crossbow into one of my instruments. You'd think with as long as we've known each other, I wouldn't be at the back of a waiting list."  He laughs.

He looks towards his companions. "I'll ask this shopkeeper who we need to talk to."

As Jasper continues playing his lute he walks over to one of the merchants, preferably an attractive female. "Excuse me. We were hired to come to this town and help find a missing girl. Is there someone in particular we could talk to to get more information? Possibly a mayor or town elder? Also, is there an inn or somewhere that could provide lodgings for the night?"

Persuasion: 15

While Jaspar speaks to the villager, Pyre responds to Malvech. "Thank you Malvech. Help oiling is greatly appreciated. As to making a new arm, my mother and I built this one to help me focus my magic. It is special to me. I cannot imagine trading it in. Thank you for the generous offer."

Kellen approaches a food stall in the market and dismounts. He asks for four servings of whatever they are selling. As the vendor prepares his order, he asks "Are market days in this village usually so quiet? Everyone seems... tense."

Persuasion check, if needed: 7

(OOC: Let me know what the food cost is,)

The villagers look up to Jasper and Kellen, the man is frying blocks of corn mush as the woman beside him is wrapping these fried goodies into clean corn husks. 

"Ah...the adventures Gael and Wynn hired," the man smiles softly and nods. "Here it's on us," he says handing over warm packets to each party member, "we aren't a rich folk per se but we've got enough," he adds nodding curtly as the woman approaches.

"The Firesides are there at the forge," she says next with a wide smile pointing to the forge just around the corner of the square. "Willa is their girl," she adds with a soft frown. The party sees the edge of the town. The forest seems to be fighting back against the town's expansion. There are tools and other building equipment that seems to be set aside, unused. The Fireside Forge is a stone building, the only oldest looking building amongst the other earthen and wooden buildings, built of what looks like moss-covered stones. There's a smoky chimney going. "They're frantic but if I know Wynn she's working through it while Gael would be most likely with the Wildmother and the priest at the temple," she adds as they see at the high point of the village nearest the encouraging forest the largest building in town. A wooden building on a slight rise at the center of a large grouping of stone stelae.

"I can do this for you Jasper but as I have told you before unless you wish to have it possibly no longer be serviceable as an instrument then I need more time. Besides that you have yet to give me the coin to find the appropriate parts." Malvech says as he crosses his arms and looks down at the halfling with a half cocked smirk, his attention then drifting to Pyre.

"Well then perhaps I can attach it to that one instead. But I would need more time to study the arcane symbols used on it. Either way to be safe I shall construct a spare when I have access to my a proper workshop. It is never foolish to be prepared." As the woman talks he stops to listen politely. "So we can start by talking with her parents or find anyone that may know what could have caused her to disappear."

Kellen hands out the hot corn mush to his companions. "It sounds like we should be able to find at least one of the girl's parents at the forge. Jasper, could you take the lead with that? Talking is your thing, after all." He smiles to take any sting out of the words.

Jasper cocks an eyebrow and looks hurt. "My friendship should be worth 10 times the coin you would need to find parts Malvech." 

Jasper nods in thanks to Kellen as he's handed the hot corn mush and whispers, "Haha, funny."  He looks to the man and woman he was just talking to. "Thanks for your kindness..... it's much appreciated."

Jasper turns back, talking to the others. "So, are we all going to the forge, or do you want me to take care of that while you see what else you can dig up?"

Malvech rolls his eyes and crosses his arms as he shakes his head, looking down at the halfling bard with a chuckle escaping him. "Jasper just because that look works with all the women you meet does not mean it will work on me.  Besides that you know that I need the money so that I can still do the work. I used the last of my own coin to make sure I had the tools needed for supplies."

"Splitting up makes sense to me," says Kellen. "Pyre, if you're willing, you and I can ask around at Melora's temple and talk to the father if he's there. Can we meet back here this afternoon to make plans and figure out where to spend the night?"

Jasper ties up his bay dun pony to a post he finds by the merchant stalls.  "Sounds like a plan. We'll meet you back here in a couple hours."  Jasper looks to Malvech. "C'mmon big fella. Let's go see what we can find out from the mother at the forge."  Jasper begins eating the hot corn mush as he heads in the direction pointed by the villagers. "Mmmm. This is pretty tasty."

Pyre swiftly turns to Malvech, indignant. "Doesn't work on me!" She turns and gives Jasper a wink. Then to Kellen, "That is probably a good idea. Kill two birds with one stone. I will accompany you to Melora's temple. I should offer thanks again, for it was a cleric of Melora that restored me health after the accident. Though I do love the smell of a forge." She looks over at the Fireside Forge smithy. "Oh well, there will be plenty of time for that later. Let's get on then. The beginning is the most important part of the work."

Jasper snickers as he sees Pyre turn and wink at him. He gives a wave. "See ya in a little bit."