SE06 : EP03 - The Myrthwood Missing Part I

General Summary

It's brisk but pleasant morning at Meridian's Gate . The aspirants spar and training in the proving grounds under Kellasin and Gynn's observation. Cass works with Kayla to hone ranged skill trading arrow shots against arrow catches. Merit meets with her fellow Strixhaven graduate and they discuss the hard training they have been going through. The two masters at arms begin sparing, discussing Kellisan's feelings of confusion that's haunted him since Xorath. Gynn comforts him and encourages meditation on the matter. Clapping him on the shoulder he states that Kellisin will see it through and reminds him he is not alone. Cass arrives a few moments before and is quickly asked for a report on the asperants as they break for lunch.
Daphix arrives at the OA to the wordless ritual of being served his regular morning blend. Gavin collects the morning order for the rest of the Meridians . Ryder orders their black coffee. They wrap their hands around the large mug revealing a ring on their hand. Merrit arrives with Kayla, trailed by Kellsin. Kayle grabs a coffee and dips back out quickly. Merrit begins asking about the Trials . Daphyix explains it a bit. Then Merrit asks if everyone is a Meridian around her. With a cold look Daphix points out Gavin isn't. The half elf takes in stride as many of the on lookers wince. When Merrit asks what the reward of becoming a Merridian is, Gavin chimes in that you get new hardware for your hand. He stares at Ryder's hand with a wide grin, drawing attention to the engagement ring. Ryder plays it off casually, off-handedly mentioning they became engaged to Allory a few days ago. Cass tackle hugs him as Cornelius quietly gives felicitations. The room bursts with surprise and congratulations.
At the Iris chamber a signal sitting on the bench seems to have electricity bolt through his body. They rise making noises that well in to screams. Wulf Goldbrick rushes to him. The young man is wild eyed and raving. Wulf shouts back to another for help. The signal is convulsing. Wulf enlists the new summoned help to aid him pulling the ring, as it wrenched from his hand the man collapses. Wulf looks down at the silver and blue Merdian's ring, wonder what the help just happened.
A teifling runs hysterically into Meridian's Gate yelling for the Meridians, calling specific names as he goes. By the time enters the main chamber, the patrons of the OA have heard him and headed back to the compound. He burst back from chamber gates running into them. "Wulf said he needs a team as soon as possible." They start off, yelling behind him, "At the Iris."
Daphix looks around and asks Layla to watch their stuff. She agrees and mentions Milo will be by soon enough. Cornelleus starts to collect his things, "I'll takes these back to the..." Daphix interjects, "No time, Layla has got it." "Time for..." Daphix then turns to the group, "You look like a group. Let's go."
They find themselves shortly at the Guildhall. They meet Wulf Goldbrick attending the young human man that was traumatized by his ring. The dwarf introduces him as Jerimah, on of the guild's younger signals . Wulf explains Mirai was on mission to checking in a missing tenant by herself. Something happened and the connection was lost. He puts Mirai's ring in Daphix's palm. "I can't spare a team. But I can get you through the Iris."
Jerimah keeps muttering to himself. Ryder leans in and hears a repeating phrase in the ramblings "They're not there anymore, they're not there anymore, they're not there anymore..."
Ryder asks "Who?"
In a moment of lucidity, "Mirai, she's not there anymore. She got the girl. But isn't there anymore. Left a note in the tavern, they did I swear. But their not there anymore." He trails off back to incoherence.
Daphix looks at Wulf, "Where was the portal to?" "Myrthwood"
"Signal for me."
Wulf nods and the two exchange rings on their way to the Iris .
* * * * *
They find themselves at the tree line of a dense moss carpeted forest. Its late morning under a clear sky. Ahead of them there nestled into large clearing are farmlands and a small town that leads inward to a walled castle. Setting out they make for the plane's Honest Snitch . As they walk Daphix reached out with his mind to Wulf collecting information on who the girl might be. The dwarf explains that a nice Elven couple were the missing people, Ly'Sera and Margret, they also had a daughter he never met, likely that who was begin talked about.
They arrive at the city gate and converse with a guard. He gives then direction to the tavern as well as recalls seeing Marai. The town is going about it's afternoon, moving carts and milling around seemingly unmoved by their eclectic party makeup. They find the Snitch next to livery. Daphix's gaze narrows as they approach, his nose sniffing the air. In his mind he shares his though with Cass via their interfaces. 'This place feels too connected to the feywild. as if they are overlapping.' Cass returns the thought 'Is that abnormal?' Daphix ponder 'It's not normal, at least not for most places.'
The snitch is on the towns main drag a road that is the mid-point between two trading posts. The inn is well appointed and cared for. Kellisan approaches the barkeep, "We looking for a room, we are coming from across the sea." The barman looks at him and then the party. "Well there is a nice room on the top floor, well get you all set up good sir." Exchanging knowing looks, the dragoon takes the and thanks him. They move though the saloon with the casual gaze of the card players. They enter their room thy find it to be much larger, with multiple beds and a large conferencing table.
After settling in a bit they wait for the innkeeper, Bartholemew. When they arrive, they go over the details. The tenant family went missing a few eeks ago. After checking with local authorities he reached out on a sending slab to get Horizian help. Mirai came to investigate, and he gave her all the info he knew. Producing a note from the Kensai in case they had anyone follow after them. Ryder takes and reads over the details. It points out a few facts, the specter of slavers being behind the missing family, and alludes to a cave that might have possible passageway to the under dark. Looking out the window the sky is already lowering sun. They talk out their options and then decide to rent horses from the livery and head out after Mirai.
They make their way the forest, they find the four-way pass Mirai's not mentioned. They look towards the left-hand pathway, the turn suggested to them. Flanking it is a fairly well-hidden group of goblins waiting in ambush. A seven-foot-tall bugbear lumbers out from the foliage. Daphix transforms in to a vulture and the rest of the party readies weapons.  Gavin and Merrit look dumb founded as combat breaks out. The goblinoid party is quickly scatters after the hobgoblin was easy dispatched followed by one of his minions. They interrogate on of the surrendering goblin and learn what they can.

Notes

Party
Wulf Goldbrick siginaling for Lord Daphix 
Cassandra 
Ryder 
Gavin Gracewater 
Merit 
Cornelius Lamont Corvacus 
Kellasin Leafstrider

Report Date

27 Feb 2023