"I knew about the child missing. I was just about to talk to Lord Mayald about setting up a trading arrangement of some sort here and ask if he knew anything about the child. I see you’ve beaten me to the latter, but there’s still the issue of the former.
“Tell me, what was your impression of him. Do you think he’d be open to a potentially lucrative business deal?”
(At this point I’ll bow out for a bit, as you guys need to discuss a plan. I’ll be happy to answer questions, of course.)
"He seemed quite depressed and made reference to a dead child of his. I would say he is of a very fragil mental state right now and you should be able to either take great advantage of him or be shutout forever. He almost didn’t see me for fear of me being a merchant.
Well, I’m off to see Cella after you’re done with him seek us out at the cave and if he will not see you we will probably still be in the village."
Symon continues on down the road to the village searching for Cella.
(Yes, I had my toys with me- sorry I was away for the weekend).
Gered will try to get an audience with Mayald. He will explain who he is and his goals, but will also make it clear that finding the child is more important (which, it is in his opinion, he’s not just putting on airs).
Symon is on his way to the lad’s cottage.
Gered, you meet the old man inside the compound. “Yes? What do you want? Are you with those other folks that just arrived?”
What’s happening back at the cottage?
:: Quickly walking down the road ::
“Boy I hope some people are arround when I get to that cottage over there”
Well look over the boy. How old is he again? Is he at the girls-equals-cooties stage or a bit past that?
When I get a chance to talk to him, I’ll be friendly and try to talk to him about anything other than the missing boy. (I’m trying to gain a little trust, before bringing up any bad memories.)
He’s probably around eight.
And he still ain’t talkin’.
What’s the recharge requirement for my and Cella’s abilities? If I use my eye to get an answer, what resource I am expending and when do I regain it?
Well, I’m sort of with them. We all had need to come to this town, so we traveled together from Tonot, though, I didn’t know any of them before that point. I’ve been tasked by my guild to set up trade routes between my guild and some other towns, which include Tonot and Falkath, which will benefit the economies of all concerned. I see that I’ve arrived at a bad time, however, with the business of the missing child. I am willing to give whatever aid is within my ability to help you find him.
There are no charges to expend – you can cast it indefinitely. However, anything other than stellar success and you’ll accrue fatigue points, which make you more prone to injury and failure in all other actions. Ten minutes of rest and you’ll be good as new. Fail badly enough, and truly bad* things can happen, though that’s very unlikely.
*Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Hmm, if he’s not telling, maybe he can show.
“Lern, I’m going to go to the cave. Do you want to come with me?” And I hold out my hand to him.
At the word “cave”, he shrinks back as if you’re about to strike him.
Help to find the child and you and my son can talk!
“It’s all right, Lern. You don’t have to come with me. I need some brave men. These” (glances at the player characters nearby) “will help me, but I thought I local man like you would be more useful.” I’ll give him a meek “protect-me” look.
If he doesn’t take my hand, I’ll thank the parents for their time and ask my companions to lead me to the cave. I’ll glance back hopefully to Lern a couple times as we leave the area.
Man, I don’t even get to lie to everyone about the cave not being haunted Pleo stole my freakin’ thunder.
He won’t budge.
“Lern”, his father says, “Did you go to the cave? We need someone to show us where it is. You won’t get in trouble, I promise.”
He budges. “It’s that way”, he meekly says, pointing into the woods.
“Please, show me the way…”
“Thank you, sir. I will take my leave to find the rest of those I came with, and hopefully we will be able to find the missing child.”
Gered leaves the manor and heads back to town to find the rest of the group.