WOT Adv 48

--- The Wheel Turns ---
You ask around for a trained warhorse for Therlin but they simply don't have any. The villagers are very accommodating with what they have, however, and they pool some six horses you can borrow for the possible rescue effort. You thank them and take the horses back to your group.

You then perform resupply duties for the group. After checking with the group most of the party is in good supply. You all have enough food for a few days, Keb says she has enough arrows, and you still have nineteen. Therlin gives you money to purchase a shield and Maeslyn mentions that she would like you to purchase her some healing balms from the wisdom down the road.

You first visit Nel's Trading Post, behind the inn, to see what he has to offer. Arvid Nel is a shrewd business man who has worked these parts for several years, just as his father did before him. Along the back wall of the building are several tents and carts. Arvid's trading post has all manner of goods, ranging from dry goods, to even some armor and weapons. But he doesn't have an unlimited amount. Arvid is willing to purchase any old items you may want to dispose of. You keep that in mind as you visit the Smithy next.

The smithy is owned by Poul Jens, a member of the Village Council. He works and lives in the smithy. He has been the black smith for Arturo's Orchard for nearly twenty years. He enjoys his work, is well liked and hopes to continue serving the community for the next twenty years. He says he's able to custom fit any armor you may need for a reasonable fit, or perhaps repair armor or weapons, or get your horses feet shod. All manner of work. You thank him and then head west to what's called "Wisdom's Grove" by the locals.

There, you find a small home. A sign in the ground by the front door shows a sun and a moon. The windows are shuttered. You knock on the door.

"Come in, come in," a wavering and small voice calls to you.

You open the door and step inside a cozy cottage. A woman sits by a hearth and looks over at you with a friendly smile. "Come in! Come in!"

You enter and shut the door. "Come closer, my friend."

You stand beside her and can see that her left eye is milky white, obviously blind, a cane rests next to the mantle on the fireplace.

"I don't recognize you. So I will introduce myself," she says. "I am Cecilia Arens, the Village Wisdom. Been here fifty years, I have. What can I do for you."

"I am Maer Loch of the Three Fold Lands and have come to purchase some medicince and balms from you."

"Ah, I heard about you. You are one of the brave souls who it seems has come to rescue us in our need." you see that she clutches an ancient tome in her hands, her place saved with a silky blue ribbon.

She gives you a wizened smile. "Well, why don't you bring that parcel to me, hanging on the door. No... No, not that one, the other one. Yes. Yes, that's the one."

She counts out six packages of selected herbs and balms. "There you are. I hope whoever it is that needs it can get better soon. Let me know how else I can help. And thank you for aiding our humble village."

You thank her, giving her a respectful bow, as is the wetlander custom, and leave, returning the goods to your party.

After everyone is ready, the beasts packed, and everyone is mounted, you find Jasin from the Inn and he agrees to lead you to his farm and show you where he heard the noise. After a couple of miles north of town you and your party come to Jasin's farm.

"I was right here when I heard them horses neighing. I heard 'em there. Somewhere beyond the edge of my fields."

You thank him and he heads back to town. After investigating the area for a few minutes you manage to see some hoof prints and a trail heading off in a north east direction.

If has been a day since the attacks, and it has rained several times, but the ground is soft and wet and it seems that the horsemen, whoever they were, had several horses when they passed this direction and so you're able to follow the trail.

The trail leads northeast through open terrain dotted by stands of forest. After nearly an hour of following the tracks, you hear a man's voice crying out from behind some nearby trees, some paces distant. You are instantly on alert. But no attack is forthcoming and so you motion the rest of the party to hold still some twenty paces behind you, and you cautiously investigate, and using the trees for cover. You stealthily peer through the trees.

You see a man lying on his back at the edge of a pond, desperately trying to fend off the mauling of a large mountain cat. A second man has drawn his sword and seeks to aid his companion, but another cat stands between them. Both men appear to be armsmen of some sort, but their style of dress is unusual and unfamiliar to you.