Mary Fournswallow

Although she rarely travels the roads near Foresithe as a rule Mary finds herself in a predicament. Content with the family home she had lived in for years she hadn’t dreamt of moving to a larger city ever. But with her husbands business booming and the risk of competition and theft rising the decision was made to move to the larger city with the last of wares that they had stored in the old warehouse.

However due to the recent increase in highway robbery and bandits on the road her husband, Teller Fournswallow organised guards to escort the carriage and wagons on the final trip. Despite being loyal to her husband Mary has a weak spot for heroic figures and even vagabond ruffians and is just as likely to flirt as she is to run away when dealing with stressful circumstances.

Harry Panscythe

Not an unremarkable fellow Harry appears to be a wealthy yet ordinary man. Clever of wit and observation he seems to know the roads, the people and the towns around Foresithe well. Travelling with a few chests he is making his way to Foresithe to start up a new business after the previous one he had went under. Deciding for a change of scenery he seems unconcerned with the reports of bandits and seems to trust the guards and adventurers he hired to look after the rough spots as long as he gets to his destination safety.

Quick to jump to help people but slow to trust or reveal much Harry shows kindness but shies away when observed doing such acts.

The Drifters

The reports of drifters usually comes in two forms. Rough looking humans in different scraps of cloth harassing the carriages and wagons and stealing what they can. Or half-beast half-human ravaging the people of the road and leaving none alive to tell the tale. Which is an enigma in itself as where do these tales come from?

Those destined for drifting rarely have a say in their life. They are generally the result of poverty or a calamity of some kind. But one can always attest to their desire to survive and come through hardship.

Durkenstaff’s request from Jandice

Greeting the party with a warm cup of broth and a chunk of bread she sits down at the table opposite them and explains the situation. “Its not just the income from selling the ore from the mines, its out family. We rely on them for protection as well as helping around the village. They are our strongest and fittest villagers and we will be lost without them.” she began, waiting for the adventurers to drink some of the meagre soup.

She gripped the hand of her son, Randal who stood next to her. “A week ago our miners went to work. They normally stay up there for five or so days and return for just as many to relax and help sell the wares. But on the sixth day when they didn’t return we sent out our hunters to go find them and bring them home. We thought they’d been attacked by wolves and bears and were holed up somewhere. But when the hunters came back they couldn’t find any sign of them. Surely they have missed something. I can’t believe that they would just vanish like that.” Jandice stood up and walked off towards the pot to stir it.

Missing information

Randal sat down in front of the party. “Jandice the wise is what the others call her. A healer of sorts but she doesn’t always listen to counsel. I’m Randal, Jandice is my mother. Without the villagers from the mine we wont last the winter. The others don’t want me to tell you this, they fear that you will run off and take what you want from the mine. But there was something strange in there. A new passage. Now I help the miners occasionally. escorting them back and bringing them food. They would have told me about a new mine.” he began, pausing to look around at the others in the hall.

“I fear that they entered the new passage and got lost. Or something. I know we don’t have much to offer but can you hear out our request? Durkernstaff’s request?” he paused for a moment. “I’d start with the mines. We searched the rest of it. I’ll talk to the villagers and mother. I’m sure we can make it worth your while if you’re willing to help us find our families.”

Rebeka Saeldric

A companion for life

Keeping her head down she crouched along the brush heading towards the clearing ahead. The large plants and ferns made this approach easy but she had learnt from a young age to never underestimate the jungle. Looking around for the signs of the undead, or a large predator she prepared to move swiftly. After a few careful steps she moved forward with swift determination towards her goal – a large nest. This one was her first test in becoming a knight, retrieving her companion.

Moving forward from grouping of ferns to fallen logs she hurried to the side of the nest. The steaming heap of vegetable matter helped incubate the eggs and judging by the size of this one it surely was a larger creature. Digging quickly and carefully moved to the centre of the heap. The heat was impressive from the decomposing branches and leaves but it meant that the eggs should be incubating well. Finally she felt something hard, nearly stone-like.

Digging it out she pulled the egg out into the open before placing it in a bag she carried over her shoulder. The egg was smaller than the bag allowed up to but it was still the size of her long bladed dagger about eight inches in length. Covering the next back up by filling in the hole she made she quickly ran towards the cover of the trees as the beasts that called this part of the jungle home could be heard returning.

Rebeka of Chult

Looking up from the road Rebeka looked at the adventurers she had managed to convince her to help her. Each one of them looked formidable but she felt alone still. Shaking her head to snap out of the daze her trip down memory lane had given her, she focused on the task at hand. Rebeka of Chult she had introduced herself as. But without her partner, Charger, she felt alone. A knight without their steed was nothing and walking around carrying her lance felt awkward to wield.

The feeling of defencelessness didn’t help the feeling of unease as she passed more of the young warriors who were hunting for her companion. Their young and arrogant faces and calls made it worse but the party of adventurers she was with seemed confident and capable. They should be able to help her prove her companions innocence.

Thoughts

This week is about a bond between knight and steed and I think its only fitting we glimpse or begin to unravel what that relationship looks like. I have more in store for tomorrow as we look deeper into the adventure but for now I think Rebeka is taking shape.