Turn 10 -- Kuiper's Farm

You all wake early the next day to begin the journey to this Kuiper's farm. Everyone is in a poor mood as sleep was hard to come by during the evening. You all slept in decrepit beds with stained sheets and way too many little annoying, biting bugs in the common room of the Inn. You all promise yourself that that is the last evening you ever spend in the Hound and Tails! Taking Tauster's advice and avoiding the mutton pies from the Inn you each eat from your dry rations for breakfast. The mood of the group is summed up from the dour expression on the face of the normally cheerful Beleg as he takes a bite out of a piece of dried beef.

"Let's be off from this place," says Beleg as everyone is ready to leave, "I've had enough of this Inn."

"And I'm sure they've had enough of you as well," mutters Kre under his breath as he and Druckner move off from the others.

With that, the journey to Kuiper's farm begins. You drop by Tauster's on the way out to pick up the letter he wishes to have delivered to Kuiper and then start west. Beleg sets a torrid pace as you set out for the farm but no one argues or complains as each of you are ready to get out of the cold. The day is a bit warmer than others the past few weeks but the mood of the group makes the cold weather harder to take. Stopping for a quick lunch eaten in silence the party makes excellent time to Kuiper's farm. From the directions given you by Tauster, you arrive at Kuiper's farm midway in the afternoon.

As you approach the farm you see a tall (6'4") relatively young and strongly built man chopping firewood.

"Well now things seem to be picking up," says Zir'zool with a wicked smile on her face as she sees the man.

The man greets you with a bone-crushing handshake and a friendly, open manner and says that he is Kuiper, Ranger of the Thornwood.

Kersath moves forward to deliver the letter, "Well met friend Kuiper, we have been commissioned by the wizard Tauster to deliver this note of grim news to you."

As Kuiper reads the letter a look of deep worry crosses his face and his mood has darkened somewhat upon finishing.

"This is most unfortunate. I have not seen the lady Jelenneth for a week or so. I know that Tauster some times sends her to look for herbs and plants along the Hog Brook, perhaps some mishap befell her there on her way back to Thurmaster?"

"The Hog Brook usually isn't a dangerous place but you never know. You seem like a capable group, would you please accompany me along the Brook to look for clues and to find the girl?" asks Kuiper.

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