Epi notices the two half orcs get together about half way between Pitchforks and her location. The pair appear to argue loudly for a while, with Mukluk's brother getting the upper hand.
Eventually, the brother heads back into the rear door of Pitchforks tavern as Mukluk slowly walks towards the front of the building, shuffling his feet and kicking at the dirt along the way.
Odilo finds Grillock outside as well, sneaking around as usual.
Epi sighs and decides to take a stroll around town. She will walk south on the eastern road circumnavigate the Pounding Fathers fence (any openings, knot holes, well hidden places if one was looking to sneak in?). Then turn west after #41 and follow curving road down to the docks.
Epi finds that the fence around the Pounding Fathers is built with excellent quality and there are no flaws or weak spots. Sneaking in would require one to go over the top of the 12' barrier.
She passes a rather nice looking and well kept home (41) on her way through town. She passes the Brotherton Boardinghouse (39) and sees a little old lady sitting out on the front porch, rocking and crocheting. The old woman smiles at Epi as she passes by.
She then goes by the now quiet Mayors estate and The Crusty Jug on her way to the docks. The smaller buildings she passes look like private residences, one clearly belonging to the tanner by the smell of it.
As she approaches closer, she can see a few of the boat builders working out in their yard. (25) She even gets some catcalls from them as she hits the docks. Other than a few fishing boats and one rather nice looking cruising vessel, there isn't much to see down at the water.
Epi continues her walk through the southern portion of town. She rounds the corner and heads away from the river. She passes by some more small businesses along the way, including the Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick Maker.
She strolls by some more private homes on her way back up to the Mayors estate. She passes by the back of the Crusty Jug and notices a few more folks sitting at tables outside eating lunch.
The Mayors estate still looks quiet as she crosses the road again.
The large estate of the Mayor April Mayweather is uninviting to say the least. There is a wrought iron fence that runs all the way around the estate and you are able to get a pretty good look at the inner buildings from the outside of the fence. The gate at the street is closed up tight and there is a large human guard standing just inside the compound. There is another guard stationed at the door to the meeting hall that you've already been in.
The grounds look mostly unkempt and the place is completely quiet.
As you travel farther north, you see a few more buildings that look like private residences.
The party regroups back in the privacy of their own rooms to discuss what they have learned and who will accompany Orando to the nefarious tavern of ruffians tonight.
Sir Ugghra and Father Dowling see off the other 4 members of the party as they head over to Pitchforks tavern.
The tavern here at the Weary Traveler is fairly quiet at the moment but there are a few patrons around if either of the men would like to converse while the others are away.
"Won't You Kindly Join Me For Supper, Father Dowling?"
The gruesome gourmand ordered another of those magnificent, rare steaks and a bottle of the tavern's finest red wine.
"Good Padre, Pray Tell, By Now You Must Have Some Theories As To What Plagues This Quaint Hamlet?" Sir Ugghra asked between delicate bites of bloody red cow flesh.
The priest sits and dines with Sir Ugghra. I am not sure what we will find, but I believe that everything points to finding our answers at the tower.
Sometimes this summer I will most likely be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
Refreshed and pleased to have the respectable company of a learned man of the cloth, Sir Ugghra said, "I Agree, Good Sir," and quietly shared what little he had learned that day.
Then he continued on, in a softer voice, careful that no servant or patron should hear: "The Existence of a Beguiling, Romantic Paramour That Jilts the Victim the Very Night of Their Disappearance is an Unlikely Coincidence; a Clear Pattern, a Clue. Additionally, That No Lovestruck Victim Would Share Details of Their Would-Be Lover with Parents or Other Confidants is Also a Highly Improbable Occurrence, To Say The Least.
"Therefore, What If This Seduction Were Unnatural in its Origins? A Creature or Wizard that Could Mentally Dominate Their Prey?
It Would Certainly Explain the Inexplicable Behaviour of Brother Tomas Ignoring Obvious Clues, and His Painful Discomfort at Even Having to Discuss Them.
It Points to the Tower as an Obvious Source of the Troubles. What if Mortimer Summoned a Succubus or Some Other Foul Siren That Could Cloud The Minds of Men? A Shapeshifting Demon Who Now Must Prey Upon The Nearest Village For Unholy Sustenance From Time To Time, Causing the Disappearances?
It Also Provides a Source of 'The Lookers.' Perhaps Their Empty Eyes Betray Hypnotic Suggestions that Remain. What if These Poor Devils are the Unwitting Eyes and Ears of the Mesmeric Culprit, Even Now?
And, Most Gravely, What If Those in Our Own Investigative Company Have Been Likewise Beguiled?
"Of Course, All Of This is Mere Surmise On My Part.
On the Morrow, a Simple Blessing That Detects Hypnotic Trances Could Help To Enlighten Us In These Dark Matters."
Sir Ugghra enjoyed his exquisite, rare steak and listened with attentiveness to Brother Dowling's reply.
"Furthermore," the conversationalist creature deftly continued, saving a colleague from any unwanted social embarrassment by helpfully filling an awkward pause, "If We Are To Presume That 'Lookers' Are The Unwilling Spies of The Guilty Party, I Would Humbly Suggest That We Would Do Well To Locate an Afflicted Individual Who Has Been 'Cured' of Their Malady, If One Such Person Exists. Perhaps They Would Hold Information Germane To Our Efforts.
"...Failing That, We Might Endeavour To 'Cure' One Ourselves."
