The village, from afar

[Leitz]

Note that I am using 1st edition R&K, and will probably simplify the skill list if anyone actually plays this

The horses munched on nearby grass as you thought about the task at hand. Professor Francis Moreland, gentleman of the Explorer's Society, had given you the map and up front coin for expenses. He was known well enough that should you survive, payment would not be an issue.

"I must caution you," the old professor had said in his heavy Avalon accent, as he pointed out the directions on the map. "The soil there is heavy in clay, and thus there may be underground spaces even with the river so close by. There have been reports of bandits further along, the forest gets fairly dense past the village and there are no roads out save the one you will take in."

He sat back and puffed on his pipe. "The bandits haven't been heard from in two years, which may be good or bad. Perhaps something worse has moved in and replaced one problem with another? We have no real maps of the areas past the village, no call for them. That does not mean strange things are not there, simply that we have not heard of them yet. Of course there will be a discovery fee paid if you turn up something interesting."

Still, nothing moved in the village. The river was too shallow for anything bigger than a punt, and the apple orchard looked ripe for harvest. Where were the fishers and field hands?

A thin lavender veil hung from the Jenny's house; it was torn into three strips and worn by the sun. Madame Laverne's girls should be up cleaning already. While not guilded, she was one of your contacts, and reputed to at least try to meet guild standards. The stable had no horses and the barn next to it had shut doors. No sounds of animals, and no smoke from the blacksmith's shop.

Walking left would take you to the river but visible to the village. The orchard to the right provided plenty of cover should you wish to come in indirectly.

Chaplain Rebaka Kurstnen, an Objectionist Eisen who saw to the spiritual needs of the village, was supposed to live in the attic of the chapel. No one talked about why the daughter and only living heir of a powerful Eisen noble was banished this far from the court, but if one could get past the chip on her shoulder then she might have information about the matter.

Still, no one moved...