The Journey of the Legend (part 2)

What a night it was! I found out that people were being taken, I met 2 adventurers from the Cerulean Sanctum, and prominent members of the city. Learned that the City wants me to help find these missing people... and I escorted people home last night as if I was in the army again, looking for trouble at every turn, as if the city has suddenly turned into a danger zone, where evil lurks at every turn. I have known to always watch out for cut-purses and the like, rather rare in this city, where crime is squashed as soon as it is found. I was too tired last night to put that into words, and as I walked over to Rorin's estate (think of me going to an estate to interact with the owner as a comrade!) the thoughts congealed through the morning fog. I met up and walked over with Aurane, exchanging pleasantries and talk of current events in the city. Neither us of really talking of what we learned last night, Almost afraid broaching the subject will cause a hole to appear and make us disappear as well. We make our way over to the estate and meet the two women we met last night outside. I learned last night their names are Melfina the tall pale Human, and Marda the halfling. They both are carrying their weapons now, Marda, a pair of Hooked swords which are a smithing marvel (maybe Max could make those, I couldn't even if I wanted to craft weapons like those), and Melfina a pair of daggers, and a large crossbow on her back. We walk up to the front door and, after knocking, are greeted by Garfield and a strange small black and white bird. Garfield I have known for a while as he is my apprentice's uncle, but this strange bird I have not met. we are told his name is Oswald, who...Quack-honks (?) in greeting, then waddles back down the hall. Garfield and I greet each other, and I tell him we are here to see Rorin. He leads us to a dining room where Rorin seems to have just finished his morning meal. We all sit down, and the ladies tell us that they went scouting last night to see if they could find anything. When they left everyone last night, on the way back to the Cerulean Sanctum, they went by way of the park, to see what they could find. a good amount of the disappearances have happened.
 
As it turns out, they saw a few people who seemed to be sneaking around, near the park. both parties seemed to be aware of each other however, and those sneaking around left quickly before anything could be found out about them. but we know now that people are being stalked, then taken by these groups, then taken gods know where. The two of them decided it was best to report to us what they found, instead of just the two of them looking around. We decide to go back to where they had spotted some figures, and see if we could find some clues. As we head over to the last place the figures were seen, I try to remember all the things I picked up from my previous life. Even as the unit amorer, I would still pick things up from the rest of the unit. How to stalk our enemies, how to find trails, pick up clues from the environment. But there were others that were always better than I was.... wish I had them with me now. I wish some were still alive....
 
We arrive at the location where Melfina and Madra saw the mysterious figures, and we start looking around. Together, we find evidence of 4 individuals, and a trail that leads to the Babblebrook Inn. that doesn't seem right.. I guess I have never made good friends with Bridgett Bablebrook, the Half-elf inn keeper, but I have had many a fine meal there, and she was always nice enough in the past. I never picked anything up from her, nor a reason why she may be mixed up in something. It may just be that people are taking the Inn as a gathering point, and plotting things there. While not the best place to plan something vile, it is easy to have a conversation and not be overheard by too many people. When we get to the Inn, and enter, the various aromas that are wafting from the kitchen make me wish we could stay for lunch, but work needs to be done. I ask Bridgett if anyone was in here late last night, anyone out of the ordinary. We start to talk about various patrons, being careful not to say anything about disappearing people. we were instructed to not go blabbing to everyone about people being taken, it may start a panic. She said there was one guy in who she didn't recognize, but the description was very nondescript. Human male, dark hair, slim athletic, basic scruff.. doesn't narrow it down much. I feel aware that some of the patrons are paying less attention the their food, and more attention to us, but I'll let the others in my group worry about them. Apparently some have already left, because I turn to my party members, and see that two of them have left at some time. I keep talking with Bridgett for a small amount of time, and several of the patrons who were listening to us have left by the time Melfina and Marda get back. the rest of the group have descriptions of those folks who were listening to us, then left in such a hurry. Bridgett tells us the names of some of them, Caleb - a red head human boy, An Elven girl, who we don't know the name of, and Oliver - another Human, blonde this time. Oliver, as it turns out, works down at the docks nearby, and we should be able to find him there.
 
 
As we made our way down to the docks, I had a small amount of time to think. I didn't like the idea of kids getting involved in shady stuff like disappearing people, and the sooner we can get to the bottom of this, the sooner I won't have to worry about kids doing that. I've seen enough kids dying in unnecessary fights, I don't want to see more. We get down to the docks, and I see a few people I know. I come down to esquire about getting materials, or shipments of such, and recognize a dock master, and while we aren't on first name basis, I still am able to ask him about Oliver. As it turns out, he has some pals that he hangs out with down here. Tyler and Jasper, who we happen to find nearby. Jasper says he isn't working today, and has in fact picked up a Night job. We figure out where the Oliver lives, and Roran and Aurane decide to go over to the residence, while the girls and I decide to go talk to Elon. I want to see just how fast people are going missing, and we come up for a plan to ask, using the phrase "missing shipments" Elon should be smart enough to know what we mean.
 
 
We went over to Locomotion. and learn that a new halfing girl was taken, and we let him know we have some new leads. As previously decided, we head back to the estate, to wait for Rorin and Aurane. When they get back they tell us of how and where they found where Oliver lives, and what they found there. Apparently he lives in a slum house, and the rooms he has rented were empty, and no one had been there for at least a day. They show us a coin they found underneath a Mattress. Melfina lets us know that it is the symbol of the thieves guild called the undertow, But that hasn't been around for over 100 years. Melfina also says she noticed a strange painting on the wall at the Babble brook, or part of the frame was a little odd, as if it was hiding something. We are thinking that all this may have something to do with that place after all. I really want that to be wrong, but we have to take any lead we can at this point. We decide to try to investigate. We will all go down to the Inn in smaller groups, Rorin will offer to buy the painting, if we can't get it, Rorin will try to take the painting, I will be on distraction duty if it comes to that, and the others will investigate what is behind it. Ok. it's a plan. I'm not really into it, but right now, we need more information.
 
We go down the the Inn in smaller groups, to see if anyone is watching us, and when we get there we sit and enjoy a meal. We start drinking, and after a few hours, Rorin makes his move. Pretending that his drinks have been hitting him hard, he starts asking Bridgett about the painting. She seems a little put off about the questions, and simply says it's an old family painting, and it's not for sale. He keeps talking about it, saying price is no matter, he must have it! she keeps saying no, and so He simply rips it off the wall, and we can see now that the painting was on hinges. I don't get a good look at it, as Rorin runs out of the bar, Bridgett is dumbstruck that one of her patrons would do such a thing, I grab her Hand and pull her towards the door, as I start chasing Rorin out. Bridgett however doesn't want to leave her Inn, and I let go as I leave the Door. Really! I didn't think it would be this bad! We need to work on our Plan Execution. I can't really distract her anymore, and I need to recover that painting if I'm ever going to be allowed in this place again, So I chase after Rorin, who has dropped the painting and run home. As I get back in the Inn, Melfina has opened up what appears to be a hidden safe that was behind the painting, or rather ripped it open, and Bridgett looks like if she could turn people into toads she would. As I open my mouth, Bridgett yells at everyone to get out of her bar, In a huge loud voice, that seems to come from everywhere. everyone that is.. but Melfina. putting the painting on the bar, as quietly as I can, I leave the bar, along with everyone else, and the door locks behind me. Thing is, I was the last out, and I didn't touch the door. At all. After sheepishly waiting outside for a few minutes, the door opens again, and we are told to come back in. It closes again, and we find out that Melfina told her what we were doing and Bridgett was once in the undertow. They were trying to get natural magic users into safety, mostly the bards college, and she agrees to talk to her contacts, see if she can learn anything herself. Aurane fixes everything with his mending magic, and Rorin owes Bridgett 30 gold. We agree to go back top the estate in the morning, and as Aurane and I head home, I think to myself that it is time to get the old Axe out, and to get ready for trouble.