Summary
Eleri has vanished from their home!
Synopsis
Lucya and Jagal set out for the black iron stash Miga described as payment for their last quest. Jagal avoids proper entry into the Deep Wilds until they reach the landmark faebell in Miga's description. Lucya boops it as they go, triggering gripes from Jagal until she points out a hollow ahead. In it lies the well-hidden entrance of a cave whose natural aesthetics are much more pleasing than the broken empty crates scattered about within. As Jagal scours them and the rest of the cave for the remaining sad scraps of black iron, Lucya locates foreign footsteps leading to a message on the wall. She reads it as "Unknown," which Jagal admits sounds familiar but isn't sure why. Puzzling it out, Lucya asks about the raider who stabbed him, and Jagal, after playing dumb for fun, admits that might be the person in question. The travelers try to follow the footprints away with no luck and decide to return to Mossgrove to question Miga.
While bemused, Miga lets them in quickly, and Togan greets Lucya as Jagal reveals the black iron stash was cleaned out. Upon Lucya's prompting, Miga confirms Beca was the one who stabbed Jagal (to Togan's dismay). Miga hasn't seen Beca return, leaving Lucya's only idea of tracking her down being another visit to Eleri for a scrying—though she's not sure how that would work if she can't describe Beca's appearance, and Jagal's recollection of the raider is questionable. He claims that some special connection to Beca may still exist in the package of yrr she'd left behind, so Miga deigns to hand it over (to Lucya). Miga voices a lack of envy of the ironsworn life but says she hopes Lucya manages to find Brynn, and the travelers head out after Lucya gives Togan one more goodbye hug.
The trip to Lostmoor is uneventful, and the two stop briefly at Shrek's tavern, where they drop off Duncan's payment and are gifted some of the local grog in return. The travelers move on to Eleri's property, which is no longer as concerningly filled with animal corpses but does not seem to contain Eleri, either. Jagal climbs Lucya's shoulders to reach a side window and slips inside, but instead of locating Eleri (or any valuable goods) he comes face to face with Tanvir. Seeming oddly concerned, Tanvir comments that Eleri is gone and his herons are searching for information. Jagal ducks back outside, where Lucya immediately accuses Tanvir of murder, which he denies. Instead he offers vague training and a black iron penknife in exchange for a vow to find Eleri. He also informs them Eleri is with someone underground to the north, according to his freshly returned herons, and says the Tunnels of Barren Spring seem like a good bet. Jagal and Lucya swear a vow to find Eleri, and Tanvir sends them off with an admonition not to die out there.
The travelers travel on along to the Havens, where Lucya seems to have lost something she claims was a surprise. Jagal, bemused, joins in the search and finds the little unfinished figure made of string and somewhat resembling him. After some goading, Lucya admits she was trying to make something to help with his sleep issues by driving away nightmares and the like. Unconvinced, Jagal nevertheless tosses the figure back to her. After the day's travel is over, she finishes the talisman and blesses it. Jagal, still bemused, accepts the free item for help soundproofing if nothing else. The two take shifts sleeping for the night in theory, though Jagal still only manages somewhat of a nap before startling awake...
Transcripts
TBA