“Sounds like the brother ought to be talked to. I’m probably not the best person for that, though. I’ll go find my brother and talk to him. He’ll know these people. He might have an idea what’s going on.”
Do you go off to find him on your own, or does the entire party go together?
He won’t exactly be difficult to find, being the highest ranking (and only armed) peasant in the village.
I’ll tag along, if you don’t mind.
“Excuse me fair lady, there seemed to be a commotion in the fields so I did not get a chance to ask for directions would you happen to know the location of the smithy? I am a journeyman in search of a new master and I have heard I might find him here.”
Symon keeps a respectful distance away from the gate trying not to impose as this obviously isn’t what he was looking for.
"Beg pardon, kind mister. The commotion is over a boy that may have run away. M’lord is most concerned o’er it.
“No smithies here. Our metalwork comes from Tonot.”
“Oh that is most unfortunate. Since I seem to be a bit at a loss in my quest for a new master, perhaps I can help look for the boy. May I speak with your lord so I may offer my services?”
“Sure. One or two people wouldn’t hurt.”
Tdn, am I likely to know where he’d be? I know where his farm is, but is he likely to be somewhere else if he’s beedling?
“I will fetch him.” She goes into the big house.
Meanwhile, back in the village…
“Dear brother!”, says Narus. “It has been far too long! I’ve done well for myself. I hold 45 acres, and am yeoman to the bailiff. How’s dad?”
He speaks of the situation. Brothers Kial and Lern are locally known to be little terrorists. When they aren’t throwing rocks at stuff, they are burning things or experimenting with cussing. They usually spend their days out of doors raising hell, as their parents are out in the fields all day. Two days ago they left early to go out and play, but only Lern returned home. He refuses to speak about the events of the day. The parents are beside themselves. The whole village has combed the area with no results. The bailiff, Mayald, is about to send for help from his cousin, Earl Curo in Gardiren.
Oops, simulpost! You found him in the village square.
“Dad was fine last I heard. Except for his bunions. He talked a lot about them. I told him to get a better pair of boots, but I’m not holding my breath waiting for that. It’s been a few months since I saw him.”
“Sounds like no one has talked to Lern in a way that made him open up. What kind of talking to do you think would be likely to do that? We have a fair and gentle priestess, here. Cella, this is my brother Narus. Nar, this is Cella, priestess of Peoni. She could talk to the boy, if you think that gentle persuasion might work. Or she can talk to the parents while I talk to the boy, if you think that harder words would be necessary. No offense, priestess.”
“Sister Cella, it is a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps you can talk to the lad. Peoni knows I’ve tried.”
An elderly man comes to greet Symon. “Yes? M’lord has pressing concerns. He doesn’t want whatever your selling, lad. But if you can help find the boy, he might be willing to speak to you.”
“Could you introduce us to the family? You and I can commisserate with his folks while she takes him aside.”
While the rest of the group is off talking to Brunis’ brother, I will take my leave of the party for now to talk to the merchants in town. I might be able to kill off two birds with one stone.
“I think we should both talk to Lern. Perhaps kindness from me to gain his trust punctuated by strong encouragement from you. We should speak with the parents first, though.”
(Oops, there was another page, sorry if I seem out of order.)
I’ll see if I can be of any assistance to Cella in talking to the lad. Maybe being homeless and uninspiring I can come off as anti-authority enough to get him to talk.
"I understand completely and I would not wish to waste your lord’s time. I am not selling anything I came to this town on a journey to find my new master but the smith I was told about does not seem to be here.
Until I find a new direction to seek a master I am a free man and seeking a missing child seems to be a good use of my time. I am quite swift and figured that if I was needed I can help in the search.
May I speak with your Lord?"
Gered, you’re starting to discover what a one horse town (literally!) this really is. Merchant? Smithy? Miller? Salter? Nope, just peasants. They even have to borrow another town’s priestess to meet their spiritual needs. It seems like a good opportunity for a number of guilded franchises if there were any money here. But even backwater places call this a backwater place.
Symon, Sir Mayald will see you in the great hall. His chamberlain (and father) leads you there.
The rest of you are taken to the Wylsen home. From all appearances, they seem to be some of the wealthiest people in town. Which isn’t saying much.
Hmmm…at least there’s no competition for trade.
In that case, I ask around for directions to the home of the person in charge around here. Maybe I can get some sort of co-op type setup here since these guys probably aren’t familiar with marketing in the least. Heck, I might even be able to set up a banking enterprise here.
The person you ask looks at you and blinks. Then he looks up at the big mansion on the hill. Then he looks at you again. Then he looks up at the big mansion on the hill. Then he looks at you again. Then he shrugs his shoulders. 
Actually, depending on the type of deal you want to strike, you could talk to the reeve. He handles the day-to-day operation of the farm. But ultimately you’d have to talk to Sir Mayald.
If there are too many people trying to fit into the boy’s (small?) house to talk, I’ll hang back. I’ll mosey around outside just generally looking things over and considering what opening the boy might bolt out if he really wants to avoid questions.
If there’s room, I’ll join in.