The Night Below - An Unfortunate Turn of Events - February 1, 2020

Our morning begins with a loud ruckus downstairs that wakes us. Sounds like there's furniture moving, lots of angry screaming, and all sorts of other stuff. Sounds scary!
 
We make our way downstairs into the inn to find that the owner of the inn is being yelled at by some folks near the bar. Sounds like the argument is about someone who is/was staying here, but they're nowhere to be found. That doesn't sound good. The Milborne constable is looking for this person, who we overhear is named Jeleneth. She was supposedly in her room last night as we all turned in for sleep.
 
The constable comes over to Zeleair and asks what happened to Jeleneth. Zeleair explains how we ourselves were ambushed yesterday by what appeared to be another possible kidnapping/abduction attempt.
 
The constable introduces himself as Garyld after I speak up, excitedly telling him I had never seen a constable before. How cool! He didn't have a badge though. I always thought they were supposed to carry a badge. I ask him if he has heard of Lathander. He has, but he prays to another deity who, like Tyr, is also friends with Lathander. WOW Lathander has SOOO many friends! I always knew he was super cool! Everyone wants to be his friend!
 
He asks us each to write our names and professions on a piece of paper he hands us, to which I happily oblige. He tells us to deliver the list to his carpentry shop when we're done. As Garyld walks away, I notice he's walking with quite the limp on his left leg. I wonder what happened to him?
 
A young man, whose name we learn is Andryn, walks up to the table we're seated at and asks if we're a party, to which we confirm. He tells us he thinks Jeleneth, his girlfriend, has been kidnapped. He says Garyld is a very capable fighter, but his hobbled leg will be detrimental in our attempt to rescue Jeleneth.
 
Jeleneth is Tauster's apprentice, practicing to be a mage. She usually finds any reagents Tauster needs. She came back to Milborne to visit her family and to see Andryn, which she does about once a month. They were supposed to meet, but she never showed up.
 
Andryn hands Zeleair a locket with a picture of Jeleneth in it. This should help us identify her, and can help us locate her. She's a roughly 5' 2" tall human with a light build.
 
Suddenly there's a small raptor chasing a little hedgehog. WHAT'S GOING ON OMG THEY ARE SOOO CUTE!!!
 
The hedgehog hops up onto out table and snuggles up into the pocket of a gnome. She's a little bit taller than me, but not by much! She introduces herself as Jinxie Tinkerfist. She says I've probably heard of her family before, but sadly I can't recall having ever heard of them. I feel really bad. I hope I didn't disappoint her!
 
The raptor stands near Jinxie and myself waiting to see the hedgehog again. This raptor is SUPER hyper, and looks to be only a week old or so. His owner walks up, trying to wrangle the raptor away from the poor gnome and her hedgehog. I am suddenly surrounded by a gnome, a hedgehog named Harley Quill, a raptor called Wrix, and his human owner Wargrym. I introduce myself to each of them, and hold my hand out to pet each of the little ones. The hedgehog absolutely LOVES me, but the raptor doesn't seem so trusting. He lets me pet him, but he's constantly sniffing my hand. He's so timid, but hyper as all get out! I think we're gonna be great friends!
 
I decide to head to the temple before we leave. I have two things I want to accomplish: first and foremost, I just want to say my daily prayer for safe travels for the day, and to pray for Jeleneth's safe return, and secondly to catch up with the young clergyman I met last night. I was thinking all night about how if he's the only clergy for the temple here that he might perhaps send someone else to make his rounds. I mean it's a small town and all, but wouldn't a clergy of Lathander want to stay to tend to the temple and its patrons? He seemed so very much in a rush to leave when he was speaking with me. Maybe I'm thinking too much into it. Just seemed a bit strange with this sudden disappearance. Anyway, he isn't at the temple, so I just tidy up a bit, even though it doesn't need it at all. This temple is VERY well kept.
 
We exit Milborne and begin our journey east toward Thurmaster. We stop just north of the river to make camp. The night goes by without issue.
 
After third watch (Nash and myself), he starts fishing and catches several fish to cook for breakfast. It was the best breakfast I think I've ever had! He's a great cook!
 
We continue forth, and after a while we're stopped by a fallen tree across the road. There is room under the tree to pass, but the horses are having a bit of trouble. Zeleair covers the horses' eyes with her cape and I cast Guidance on her to help get the horses through. Success! We continue.
 
Eventually we reach another travel camp, where I pray to Lathander. I notice the collection plate located here is freshly cleaned, along with the holy symbols of each of the gods. A few other caravans come through, but as they notice Zeleair, a Drow, they saddle back up after a few hours of rest and then leave again. If only the influence of that sweet little girl last night could spread like wildfire. The world would be a MUCH better place.
 
We turn in for the night. Some more caravans arrive throughout the night, but nothing of note occurs.
 
Morning comes, and I pray once again to Lathander for safe travels and for the safe return of Jeleneth. We eat a quick breakfast and head out.
 
We make our way through the woods, following the trail and river until we reach Thurmaster. We enter through the north gates and make our way to the stables, and then to Tausters Tower in the south.
 
Tauster answers the door and we give him the box which we originally agreed to deliver. He opens it and pulls out a parchment. He mentions each of us by name. That nervous mage we met a few nights ago at camp must have written our names on the bill, or else this Tauster guy is psychic! I notice that the box seemed to just contain some spell components. He gives us another scroll, and instructs us to take it to the Thurmaster constable. He'll give us our payment.
 
He also says that he has paid for us to stay at the Hounds and Tails Inn for helping deliver his package. He warns us not to eat the Mutton Pie. He doesn't tell us why, but he warns us about that. Odd.
 
We walk over to the constable's place where Linruat takes care of receiving the payment promised to us. He comes out with our payment and split it with us. He asks the constable if he knows anything about the kidnapping. He says the constable told him we should go to Kuiper's farm. He very quickly scribbles something into paper and puts some dust onto the parchment. We are to take it to Kuiper. If he has seen her recently, he'll know where she is. And he also warns us not the eat the Mutton Pie. What's with this pie that's so horrible?
 
We all head into the Hound and Tails Inn, and we pay for Jinxie's and Wargrym's stay.
 
The night goes by uneventfully again, and in the morning, we head towards Kuiper's Farm, which is roughly half of the way back to Milborne. We stay the night at a camp, and then head off again in the morning.
 
Zeleair asks what it is I do at the totems in each camp. I excitedly explain that I split the gold and take Lathander's share of it to the next temple I visit. I'm always happy to talk to those who are interested in Lathander! Tithing seems quite foreign to Zeleair. I try to give her one of my wooden holy symbols, but she kindly declines, explaining that Tyr watches over her. I take Lathander's 6 silver and pocket it away until I next visit a temple.
 
We head towards the farm, and we come across Kuiper working along the road. We explain that we need his help finding Jeleneth. He seems concerned. Zeleair gives the Tauster's letter to him. He reads it and now his face shows genuine concern. He shakes his head in disbelief, sighing. He reaches into his pouch and hands us each 10 gold. Apparently Tauster advised him that should we find Jeleneth, we would each receive 50 gold, but to give us each 10 gold to begin the search. Kuiper tells us she usually checks for reagents around the south side of the river near the woods. There's a stretch of land out that direction where she likes to look for them.
 
He asks us to wait a moment as he readies himself to go. When he returns from the barn, he's dressed in full leather armor and his weapons are attached properly to his belt. And there are two dogs with him. He's a pretty experienced adventurer it seems. He has great looking gear!
 
He knows of someone else, along the Hog Brook, who we need to find to help us find Jeleneth. He tasks his farmhands with caring for our horses and buckboard, so we leave them behind.
 
We make our way to the Hog Brook where a couple hours into our hike, Kuiper holds up his hand, telling us to stop. There are two very large wolves ahead, along with a dark figure in the shadows. I can't see them, but I trust those who can, so I stop!
 
This figure turns out to be that who he spoke of previously. Her name is Oleanne, and the two wolves are hers. What a relief!
 
This relief is short-lived, however, since we learn about one of the town's 12-year-old children who has been afflicted with Lycanthropy. He has just undergone his first shapeshift, and is extremely scared, and thus very dangerous. We need to calm him down, talk to his family, and try to teach him how to cop with the affliction.
 
Kuiper and Oleanne have a plan. We hike our way toward where he would be. It's time to make camp.
 
During the course of the night, a sudden arrow comes raining down into the camp toward one of the dogs, Aspen. It seems we may have just fallen victim to yet another ambush. After their surprise attack, we are able to prepare ourselves for the coming battle. I Bless everyone in Lathander's name.
 
LATHANDER HELP US!