Following their long trek from Korvosa to Red Larch, the Coopers spent their first exhausted night in the small village, but managed to get some rest overnight. Waking up early in the morning, they find that the winter weather is unsettled, with gusts of cold air and a temperature hovering near freezing. Arriving in the dining room for breakfast, they are met by the Swinging Sword Inn proprietor, Kaylessa Irkell. She seems frazzled, and when Darelle politely inquires, Kaylessa tells her that four of her workers did not report to work this morning. Rumors are spreading around the village like wild fire, and the latest one has it that a plague is spreading throughout the homesteads around Lance Rock, a large rock formation about an hour southwest of Red Larch. And two days ago it was the rumors of ghosts have been seen near an old burial mound of the Uthgardt tribe not far from town. Kaylessa bitterly complains that the area has changed for the worse over the last six or so months, and she apologizes that breakfast will be a lighter fare than usual, given her small staff.
Darelle and Daryle head to the dining room, and are soon served a breakfast of bacon, eggs and oatmeal. Four local workers are also sitting in the dining room, eating their breakfast. Three are clearly stone cutters, for their heavy winter coats are covered with stone dust, while the fourth appears to be a carpenter. They pay the sisters no attention as they enter, but Darelle soon notices one of the stone cutters' attention perk up when Dhukhean joins the sister after his night at the Allsfaith Shrine. While the dwarf orders breakfast, Darelle watches the worker stand up and depart, leaving his plate half finished but soon eaten by one of his colleagues. The ranger stands, and decides to follow the worker. Witnessing her sister get up and leave the Swinging Sword Inn, Daryle also stands and follows her.
Ruddy enters the dining room and orders breakfast. He questions Kaylessa about the livery uniforms and she reports that over the last six months many caravans have been attacked, and it seems the more heavily armed a caravan, the higher its chances of being attacked. Kaylessa doesn't know much about House Goeland aside from the fact that it is a large transport and hauling concern in the area, moving goods on the long road. With his breakfast finished, Dhukhean informs Ruddy that he will be at the Allsfaith Shrine to consult their library and see if he can discover more information about the dwarven kingdom of Besilmer and its capital of Tyar-Besil.
Naga, who slept in a farmer's barn, arrives at the Singing Inn for breakfast. Ruddy tells him about the caravans. Naga suggests that they set up a decoy with a caravan, to entice the brigands to attack them. Both continue to elaborate plans while they finish tiehr breakfast.
Meanwhile, Darelle follows the worker, who makes his way to Dornen Finestone, where he enters the plain square building always coated in gray-white shrouds of rock dust that serves as the business office. Wishing to investigate further and to get closer, Darelle disguises herself and enter the quarry. A solicitous worker in his mid fifties comes along and welcomes her to the business, and asks if she needs any assistance. Darelle replies she's interested in stone slates for a house in Korvosa, and the worker shows her several samples. Impressed, Darelle asks to meet with the owner to finalize a sale. The worker takes her to the business office, and as they enter Darelle notices the worker from the Singing Inn exiting the owner' office, after receiving a slap on the back. The worker walks out of the office with a grin on his face, and does not appear to recognize the ranger.
The owner, Elak Dornen, welcomes Darelle to Red Larch and asks her if she found anything she was interested in. Daryle enters the office and joins her sister. Darelle places an order for rock slates, and Elak Dornen agrees to ship the slates down to Korvosa in a forthnight for 160 crowns. He seems very happy to have concluded a sale, and when questioned, reports that business has been bad these last six months, with caravans and merchants being attacked by bandits, and with the local constabulary unable to deal with the influx of miscreants. He guarantees delivery to the sisters' house, and if the wagon does not arrive he will personally drive another team with slate down to Korvosa. The sisters thank him and depart, determined now to find the constable and learn more about what may be affecting the area.
Dhukhean returns to the Allsfaith Shrine, and searches for any historical references to Besilmer in the large library housed in the shrine. Unfortunately, the dwarf kingdom is either of no interest to the locals, or so far back in time that he does not find many references. He does discover, however, that the dwarves of Besilmer constructed a magnificent stone archway made of smooth, fused hard green granite that stretched from one shore of the Dessarin River to the other, extending about two miles and reaching four hundred feet in the air and comfortably exceeding the largest spring flood ever experienced by the river. This site, which was constructed over a millenium ago, once witnessed the appearance of the dwarf god Magrim to rally the dwarves of Belsimer against a horde of orcs attempting to cross the bridge to reach the western side. It is during this battle that King Thorild Flametongue perished, but not before defeating a hill giant. Upon his death his remains were buried in the Halls of the Hunting Axe in Tyar-Besil.
The sisters successfully track Harbuck Tuthmarillar, constable of Red Larch, at his wife's shop, Jalessa Orna's Butcher. The butcher shop occupies the first of four identical single-story stone buildings that run from the street towards the edge of the village in a line. The shop can be identified by a painted sign showing a ham being carved by a large iron cleaver. The second building appears to be a smokehouse, with two large chimneys emerging from the roof on either side, while the third building, with currently emptied flower pots and a clothesline indicate this is the owner's residence. The fourth building appears to be the constabulary office, with its two small windows sporting bars.
When they enter the constabulary office, the Coopers find Harbuck talking to a ruffian in the one jail cell. Harbuck turns to the Coopers and politely asks them what he can do for them. When they express their support and that they are interested in helping enforce the laws in the area, Harbuck appears relieved. Daryle produces her Hellknight credentials, and Harbuck immediately deputizes her. They question him about the caravans being attacked. Harbuck reports news similar to what Ruddy and Naga learned. He doesn't know why this increase in criminality is happening, but he knows that his forces are hopelessly outmatched. He informs the Coopers that of all the current problems affecting Red Larch, his biggest concern is the presence of mysterious figures wearing stone masks watch over Mellikho Stoneworks' stone quarries at night. Workers now refuse to work with torches, even if guards are present, which directly impacts the local economy.
With lunch being served at the Swinging Sword Inn, the party reunites and eats another light meal. Daryle sits at the table with her new shiny badge, while Darelle retells what they found out during their morning errands. Kaylessa once again apologizes to them for the low quality of the food and of the service, and complains about her staff not showing up to work. Ruddy announces that they will go meet with the workers to make sure everyone is safe and sound, and to encourage them to return to work. Kaylessa gladly provides them with the location of their residences, and, once their meal is finished they head out. They find the first three workers well enough. One of them simply wanted the day off because he felt it was too cold to walk to work. The other two have heard rumors of the plague in the homesteads near Lance Rock and were instructed by their parents to remain home until more information could be obtained. Dhukhean shares that he doesn't believe there is a plague, and that it is safe for the workers to return to the Swinging Sword Inn. That leaves the last worker, who lives on a homestead an hour east of Red Larch.
The bitterly cold winds have picked up, and with them snow flurries, when the Coopers arrive at the Rumford homestead. Thick pillars of black smoke arise from the ruins, clear evidence that the homestead was attacked and torched. Where once stood a sturdy stone house, two outbuildings and barn, and several fenced-in fields, nothing but smoldering wreckage remain. Naga determines that the fire were magical in nature. The Cooper sisters explore the ruins but find no bodies, despite the fact that eleven people were reported to live here. Darelle spots several small pools of blood on the ground, and finds clear marks that both animals and people were hauled away by a large group of humanoids. In the distance, Dhukhean spots six riders on horses, who cautiously ride in.
The leader of the barbarian riders confronts the Coopers and question why they burned the homestead. The Coopers reply they are not responsible for what happened here but rather were investigating. The barbarian leader introduces himself as Argos, third son of Ferndell, leader of the Elk Tribe of the Uthgardt, and that they have been stalking the Sumber Hills looking for bandits who have taken refuge in what the tribe considers to be its lands. Argos doesn't care for the homesteaders, whom he considers to be encroaching on the tribe's territory, but he he is saddened to see that they came to harm. The Coopers are convinced that Argos and his men were not responsible for the destruction of the homestead. They bid the barbarians goodbye, and they follow the tracks left by whomever attacked the Rumfords.
After nearly an hour, they catch up to an encampment nested on the bank of a hill, barely protected from the wind. Two large tents have been pitched, and a corral has been hastily assembled to house the Rumford animals. Four brigands guard the approaches to the camp, while six more sit at campfires. There are no signs of prisoners. The Coopers immediately launch an attack on the camp, and the brigands soon find themselves overwhelmed. From one of the tent emerges a Gerald, who cackles and returns inside the tent when he sees his men being overpowered. Daryle sets his tent ablaze, but the sorcerer dimension doors to the top of the hill and unleashes a series of fireballs on Dhukhean. Ruddy and Naga dispatch a number of the enemy, while Darelle spots two of the brigands entering the second tent with their daggers drawn. Naga flies and lifts the tent, dropping it on the remaining brigands fighting outside, while Darelle enters the space and fights the other two, who were bent on eliminating their prisoners.
With the combat wrapped up, the Coopers have managed to rescue all eleven members of the Rumford family as well as their animals. Dhukhean heals their wounds. In the wreckage of Gerald's tent Darelle finds a warhammer called Jawcrusher and a sealed tube. On the tube is the following symbol:
In this tube is an unadressed letter written in child-like handwriting informing the bearer that any captured dwarf is to be taken to Thurl Merosska. Who is this person, and why would he want dwarves?
More dwarves...interesting.
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