[ DAY 0 is defined when Amelio Broachcask (aka Lorenzo The Cripple) crosses the Hymer saddle into the Zibrost plains. ]

Date : R8Grow [ day 0 ]

As soon as Amelio & Co. cross the Hymer saddle, four Shield Maidens meet him. They charge 20gp "tax". They are very terse and noncommunicative. Other than that it is an uneventful trip and the group safely arrives in Honkeysville.

Georgina the Bust is waiting there when they arrive in Honkeysville.

GEORGINA
"I found a Shield Maiden in Zibrost and asked her to take me to the Shield Maiden tower out on the plains as a guest. She agreed but it cost me 25gp.

"Interesting news, sir. It seems that Burnt Sienna did something wrong to the Shield Maidens (they wouldn't say what) and got banished from the clan. She then killed another Shield Maiden (called Red Ochre or something) and stole her sword. This was a magic sword and turns out to be a Shield Maiden relic. The tribe wants it back a lot. The Shield Maiden shaman located the sword (with some kind of try-angle-relation thingy) and it was in Sea Rune two days ago (I7Grow). They said they sent some women up to the town to investigate."

"The Shield Maidens say that the wildlife in the Druiseville forest is going crazy at the moment. They have seen maggots the size of cats and beetles the size of horses. They are keeping well clear of it."

"Also, sir, the Shield Maidens say that the orcs and their ilk up on the Klibward end of the Zibrost plains are more active than usual. They don't know what is going on."

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: All staff Here is my basic plan Find Burnt Sienna Put a spy into her party Pick her up and take her to Scabport FIND BURNT SIENNA You've all seen Georgina's report. I read it thus: the nasty humanoids are massing for an invasion of the Free Coast, and the sword stolen from the Shield Maidens is an element of this. Burnt Sienna may have taken the sword over the Orc Pass, or she may have sold it. She has four day's head start. We do not know her forces, but they are likely to be six to eight third, fourth or fifth level adventurers, aided by some lowly adherents. As I said, Burnt Sienna may have gone to Zanzibar, or she may be heading back to Zibrost. Or she may be sailing away over the sea. We have some info from the Shield Maidens, but they haven't offered a reward. We must find out exactly what the sword does, and who would want to steal it. Georgina will just have to go back to the Shield Maidens and find out. Some poor unsuspecting SOB will have to take the coast road over the Orc Pass. Any volunteers? And the rest of you had better lurk around Zibrost on the off chance that she might come back. If I were Burnt Sienna, I wouldn't want to live with Orcs all my life; she'll have to return to civilisation some time, and Zibrost is a pretty good bet — there aren't many ways back. Someone will have to ask for details of shipping up and down the Free Coast. We might even have to put a man on ever boat. This then is my reading of the situation. Use your initiative. SPY Once Burnt Sienna's party has been found, we mustn't lose her. But the party is likely to have suffered casualties, so they might be recruiting. One of us will be that recruit. My preference is that the spy should be a man, not a woman (they'll suspect a woman as being an undercover Shield Maiden), and that it should be a Mercenary rather than a Henchman. CAPTURE I refuse to even contemplate capture until I know where she is. But some invisibility mastiffs would be useful. Buy four and get some training with them if possible.

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: All Staff The first thing to do is to locate the target. I am therefore dividing my forces to conduct a search. For security reasons, I won't be divulging the whole of my plan to anyone except Jethro. I hope you won't take this badly as it is for your own good. To: Jethro Send out these instructions to the persons indicated, keep copies for the files, and read them yourself. I want you in on the whole picture. To: Bones You will lead the pursuit taskforce: yourself, Simon, Renee, Oswald, Ewen, Uma and Lucille. Go to Zibrost and make immediate searching enquiries. Take copies of wanted posters with you. I want to know if Burnt Sienna was ever there, and if so, when and who she was seen with. After this, head up the coast towards Sea Rune at full speed, asking questions on the way. You may decide to send Simon with a small advance force up the coast while you search Zibrost. You may decide to go over the Orc pass if the trail leads that way. Your forces should be enough for this. Keep me informed every step of the way. Should you find Burnt Sienna's party, try to force a spy onto them. If you succeed, pull everyone else out and come back home. If you catch up with Burnt Sienna in the Kobold Hills or Wastes of Zanzibar, putting a spy in will be easy. The spy just waltzes up and says "My party was killed by Orcs and only I escaped. Please grant me shelter and protection." To: Dagwood Take Gloria and follow Bones Coburn and party. He doesn't know you are there and I want it kept that way. If (heaven forbid) Burnt Sienna wipes out Bones and Co., I want you there to see it and make a full report. Don't get caught by Burnt Sienna - nor by Bones! Keep me informed as security permits. To: Georgina Go back to the Shield Maidens and find out everything you can about Burnt Sienna, the sword, Shield Maiden plans for recovery etc. Suggest to the Shield Maidens that Burnt Sienna was probably not acting alone, and stole the sword at someone elses request. Sword may have been sold to warlord in Zanzibar. To: Sharlene Take Arnold, Cornelious and Pitt to Zibrost. Act like tourists. Have fun! To: Jethro Say here with me at Honkeysville. I will enlarge on my plans later.

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: Henchmen Each of my five henchmen shall be issued with 1 (one) invisibility screamer. To: Bones Bones, buy three Invisibility Mastiffs and take them with you on your mission. Don't let this slow you down. I suggest that you spilt your force. You and some mercs should head up the coast road towards Sea Rune at once, while Simon and the rest buys the mastiffs, questions hoteliers etc in Zibrost, and catches up with you as best he can. You will be questioning people along the road, and he won't, so he should catch up before Sea Rune. If not, you'd better wait at Sea Rune for him. However, YOU are in charge of the whole task force, and may prefer to conduct these operations differently. Any spy you manage to plant on Burnt Sienna should remain dormant for at least a week, maybe even a fortnight. The whole point of a spy is that he or she should stay with the party and let us know where they are if the trail should grow cold. While the trail is still hot, they should feign absolute loyalty to Burnt Sienna. To: Sharlene If by lucky chance Burnt Sienna and Co. should arrive at Zibrost, try to plant a spy on them. <Give Sharlene spy details as above>

	Spies 'R' Us           To: Lorenzo the Cripple From: Pete Williams, Draser Message Sent: I6Grow [ day -9 ] Arrived Poger: S8Grow [ day 1 ] Arrived Honkeysville: I8Grow [ day 6 ] My dear "Lorenzo", Gosh! But what a charming name! You'll have to excuse my writing style but I hurt my left hand last Olive holiday while filleting an elf. But let's get down to business. I had my friends in the Draser army make some discrete enquiries concerning your "friend" Valeria. Yes, she is still alive. She is in a Draser Military Pleasure Camp. I might be able to purchase her for you if you like, but from all accounts I do not think she is your type. Let me see, shall be say a round 300gp? Your friend, Pete Williams P.S. Enclosed is a box of your favourite Draser chocolate-coated cigars.

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: Pete Williams, Draser Dear Pete, Thanks for the cigars. I hope your wrist gets better. Were there any halflings? Halflings were always my favourite. Thanks for your information. I agree, Valeria is not my type. The fact is, Valeria is a personal friend of my present quarry, and might be useful to bait a trap. But come to think of it, the last time I tried that I lost half my men. Still, it's nice to know I've got a backup plan. Hope to see you again some day and we can do a halfling together. Lorenzo.

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         From: Amelio Broachcask To: Marie Syme, Druiseville Klib I'm looking for a former Shield Maiden by the name of Burnt Sienna. She stole a magic sword from the Shield Maidens and may have passed through Druiseville Klib two or three days ago on her way to Sea Rune. She would probably be part of a large party, moving at top speed. Maybe she met someone at Druiseville and sold the sword. Investigate, please. I enclose descriptions and sketches of suspects, copied from "recently updated" wanted posters. I am using the name "Lorenzo the Cripple"

	Spies 'R' Us           Date: M8Grow [ day 3 ] arrived: G8Grow [ day 4 ] To : "Lorenzo", Honkeysville From: Marie Syme, Druiseville Klib Nice to hear from you. It has been a while! How is your pet? Or have you grown tired of her like the others? "Former" Shield Maiden! Are you sure? The Shield Maidens are a very close-knit bunch and they'll usually kill their own before they ever get a chance to be "former". I guess stealing a magic sword would make you "former"! If the girls get a hold of her first, her life will not be worth two copper pieces. We have been getting a lot of adventurer-types passing through here recently. I suppose it is due to the troubles up in Sea Rune and in the Druiseville forest. I spoke to Steven, the barkeep of "The Druiseville Inn", and he said that on I6Grow [ day -9 ] there was a party through here. He remembers one of them, an "attractive top-heavy babe" waving a sword around inside his inn. To quote him "she never put the damn thing away. Had to tell her to go sleep in the stables." But "she definitely weren't no Shield Maiden bitch - wrong clothes." She belonged to a party of "seven or eight" adventurers that were guarding some merchants on their way klibwards. He remembers two "troublemaking rock-heads" and "some honkeys". My contacts tell me "a female elf" stayed at the UGW that night too. I6Grow, that was also the first night we saw the giant maggots. If a magic sword was sold here, I certainly would have heard. Yours etc, Marie Syme

	From: Simon the Self-immolated, Zibrost Message sent: A8Grow [ day 2 ] Arrived in Honkeysville: M8Grow [ day 3 ] Dear Boss, Spent the whole of Airday asking questions about Burnt Sienna. We have a live one here! It seems every second person you speak to has heard about Burnt Sienna: "Burnt Sienna stole my wallet", "Burnt Sienna killed my baby daughter", "Burnt Sienna raped my dog". (When asked why I was asking? I said she was my long lost sister - babysnatched by the Shield Maidens) Anyway. What I got from the gate guards was that about 4-5 weeks ago, Burnt Sienna had a fight outside the Honkeysville Gate of Zibrost with another Shield Maiden while the guards watched on (outside of their jurisdiction). Burnt Sienna killed the other Shield Maiden, snatched up her body and rode out onto the plains. Three days passed when Burnt Sienna was frog-marched in chains back to Zibrost by two sheriff's guards from Honkeysville. It seems she tried to sell a magic sword there, by herself too! Further enquiries revealed that she was taken to the Citadel (Zibrost Militia HQ and palace of The Remarkable Ruler) and questioned. They held her for a few days and the Remarkable Ruler sent for some Shield Maiden presence. But before this arrived, a chap called Bjorn Silverfish, an elf, went in and spoke to the Militia. His testimony under Detect Lie (Burnt Sienna refused to submit to this - "it makes you sterile" she claimed) showed there was no crime under Zibrost's rules ("A Shield Maiden affair", "A Duel", etc) and under Civil Libertarian Sam Becket's insistence they reluctantly let her go. And anyway, she was a persona non grata in Zibrost which meant that she was not allowed in the city anyway! (She did something wrong ages ago and rather than lock Shield Maidens up which drives them insane, they forbade her from entering Zibrost for a year). She left town heading klib and joined a bunch of guards guarding a merchant caravan. By the way, sir. The other Shield Maiden that was killed was called Red Ochre. I'm off to Sea Rune now to join with Bones. I wonder if he found anything out. See you later alligator. Sir. Simon P.S. Could only buy 1 invisible mastiff since that is all that there were to sell. Cost 150gp. P.P.S. The Zibrost cigars are crap. Perhaps you could send for some from Draser, sir?

JETHRO (Honkeysville):

"I spoke to the Honkeysville sheriff and got the following timeline:

"S5Grow [ day -21 ]:
Burnt Sienna, dressed in blood spattered Shield Maiden clothes, tried to sell a "magical sword" to Opine the Blacksmith here. Opine, an honest man, questioned her about where she got it and whether it was hers or not to sell. She started getting edgy, but luckily she had already given him the fine sword to be appraised so reluctantly agreed to follow him to the Honkeysville sheriff's dept.

The sheriff thought that something was up immediately and, after some salient questions, put her in jail for the night. When asked about the bloodstains, she said had fought and killed another Shield Maiden in a "Duel of Honour" near the gates of Zibrost. When asked about the sword, she said it was "a family heirloom". She kept professing her innocence but never once mentioned the Shield Maiden's Pledge even when directly asked to by the sheriff. This pledge (like diplomatic immunity) would allow her to be freed immediately (no crimes committed in Honkeysville, you see) but would involve other Shield Maidens being present. She also categorically refused Detect Lie (an accused right).

"A5Grow [ day -20 ]:
The sheriff, suspecting lots but having no evidence, decided this was a matter for the authorities in Zibrost so he got two deputies to escort her there with a full report. They left mounted with her on foot (standard procedure for dangerous criminals). Evidently she nearly escaped from them during the trip.

"M5Grow [ day -19 ]:
She and the deputies arrived in Zibrost and they took her straight to the Citadel. They then returned here.

"Her horse is still here in the sheriff's stables. Some of her equipment is too. She has never come back to collect them. I am not allowed to see them."

	From: Bones Coburn, Caveton Message sent: A8Grow [ day 2 ] Arrived in Honkeysville: G8Grow [ day 4 ] We arrived in Caveton this afternoon and spent the rest of the day questioning the locals. The innkeeper of "the Ephemeral Elf" said he remembered a party of adventurers way back four weeks ago with a woman like on Burnt Sienna's wanted poster. He thinks they were travelling klib. He also remembers two stunning female elves as part of the group, and a "malformed" dwarf. Further questioning got me an audience with the Primate of Caveton. A nice enough fellow. Seeing that Burnt Sienna was a felon (albeit of Scabport), he was most helpful. Might I suggest you send him a thank-you letter, boss? It seems Burnt Sienna, a dwarf called Lugget and an ugly dwarf called Pitt went and saw the Primate on or about D6Grow [ day -10 ]. After some tasteless jokes equating the Primate with monkeys and bananas, she told the Primate that she had a magical sword she wanted to sell sight unseen. He, being an honest chap, wanted to see it. She and the other two got cold feet and left. Puzzled by this behaviour, the Primate sent one of his trusted retainers to make discrete enquiries of the three in the village. They were evidently party of a group of twelve who were escorting a "wealthy" merchant called Tom Vomit to Sea Rune and were staying the night in Caveton. The group according to the retainer's report: Burnt Sienna, Pitt & Lugget dwarfs (fighters?), a gorgeous woman in skin-tight gear (wizard?), two beautiful elven ladies respendent in expensive robes (priestesses?), a badly dressed woman (thief?), a bumbling but handsome human male in chainmail (fighter for sure), an ugly male elf (thief?), and a homely little halfling girl who wore a wig (thief?). (The parentheses are the retainer's, boss, not mine). Next letter will be from Druiseville Klib, sir. We'll be there tomorrow. Bones out.

	From: Bones Coburn, Druiseville Klib Message sent: M8Grow [ day 3 ] Arrived in Honkeysville: D8Grow [ day 5 ] We arrived in Druiseville Klib just after 5 bells [ 2pm ] and set about questioning the locals pronto. The innkeeper of "The Druiseville Inn" was most helpful (it is amazing how tongues wag when you throw a few coins about). He said that a woman had been asking questions about Burnt Sienna a few days back. Have we a problem? Anyway, he said he remembers an "attractive top-heavy babe" who waved her sword around inside his inn. He evidently could not get her to sheath it so he banished her to the inn stables. He remembers some elves and dwarfs travelling with her. They were guarding "some rich guy and his buxom wife". They left here about I6Grow [ day -9 ] which is nearly two weeks ago. You should see some of the dead flies they have here, sir. The size of dogs they are! IMAG strike me dead if I'm lying. Huge worms too. They seem to be coming from the nearby forest. Next letter will be from Pusville. We'll probably get there by tomorrow. Bones out.

	From: Bones Coburn, Pusville Message sent: D8Grow [ day 5 ] Arrived in Honkeysville: S9Grow [ day 8 ] G8Grow [ day 4 ]: First things first. Simon and his group rendezvoused with us in Pusville today. They are all fine. He has bought only one invisibility mastiff called "Tiger". Bad news. The road to Sea Rune seems to be blockaded by gnolls. The Militia forces in Pusville tell us that we may not continue up the road since it is too dangerous. Evidently humanoids are now roaming with regular monotony and killing or taking everyone they find. The mountains klib of Sea Rune are swarming with the buggers. If Burnt Sienna is there she will be dead or worse. Howewer, there are fifteen wagons filled with food for the town of Sea Rune camped in Pusville. I got on friendly terms with one of the Free Coast Militia privates and he told me that he and his squad will be leaving for Sea Rune with the wagons tomorrow to try and run the blockade. Sounds like dangerous work. And another thing, there is a rumour that there is a giant sea serpent out at sea stopping all shipping from getting to Sea Rune! Believe it, or not. We spent the rest of the day speaking to people about Burnt Sienna. Like with Druiseville Klib, she and her group seemed to have passed through here posing as caravan guards about two weeks ago. People can only remember the two "gorgeous" lady elves, a male elf and two ugly dwarfs. I now reckon Burnt Sienna will be in Sea Rune if she is still alive. Another note of interest. There was a Shield Maiden prisoner being held in the Pusville jail two days ago. An old woman, 60-70 years. She was collected by a squad of Free Coast Militia from Sea Rune only yesterday and taken back to Sea Rune. Her name was Cannabi. Evidently the blockade is therefore quite fresh. Or else the Militia are lying... D8Grow [ day 5 ]: Taking the initiative as you have instructed, sir, I ordered Simon to make himself and Lucille invisible this morning. I then told those two to hide in one of the food wagons that left for Sea Rune today. Don't worry about invisible screamers, I checked, and only the Sergeant of the squad escorting the wagons had a screamer. I am sure that Simon and Lucille are clever enough to stay further than ten metres from him. Simon showed me a neat trick before he left: if you wrap screamers in lead foil, they don't work. Tiger, the mastiff, works fine! I wouldn't want to wrap him in lead foil. We shall wait here for further orders from you, or until the road to Sea Rune is clear. With every respect, sir, I am not going to try to get to Orc Pass, sir, since I think that would be suicide. Let me see: If I send this letter today via Gnome Post it'll arrive in the sorting house in Zibrost on IMAGday [day 6]. REALday [day 7] is a holiday, so you'll no doubt get it on Starday [day 8] next week. If you reply immediately, I'll receive the reply on Midday [day 10] of the same week. Bones out.

	From: Bones Coburn, Pusville Message sent: I8Grow [ day 6 ] Arrived in Zibrost: S9Grow [ day 8 ] Today two Free Coast Militia women arrived in Pusville from the Sea Rune direction. I managed to overhear their sobbing conversation with the Pusville sheriff ("Hear Noises" is a wonderful [ priest ] spell). Their squad, under a Lance Corporal Pugwhump, had been sent from Sea Rune (by Lieutenant Zulu) to rendezvous with the Pusville squad escorting the fifteen wagons (and Simon and Lucille). It was not good news. Evidently the Pusville squad was totally wiped out yesterday by the gnolls. They claimed the gnolls had magical lightning support by a wizard on a broom! The women's squad retreated to Sea Rune and then returned today, cured, to the ambush site and managed to wipe out the surviving (15) gnolls. These gnolls were torturing and eating prisoners (sounded like the drivers of the wagons and the Pusville militia - I hope Simon and Lucille are okay, their invisibility should keep them in good stead). All the fifteen wagons were burned by the gnolls. I tried to speak to the two girls this evening but they were a bit shell-shocked from witnessing gnoll torture, and kept their traps shut. Bones out.

	From: Bones Coburn, Druiseville Klib Message sent: R9Grow [ day 7 ] Arrived in Zibrost: A9Grow [ day 9 ] We were told to leave Pusville by the Militia. The town is evidently no longer safe from the humanoids and the Free Coast Militia (FCM) have evacuated everyone. We have relocated to Druiseville Klib. Around 6 bells [ 1pm ] today two elves, stunning lady elf Private Artois and male elf Private Silverfish, resplendent in their Free Coast Militia red and gold uniforms, arrived in Pusville from Sea Rune. They had a bag of FCM dispatches. They briefly spoke to the sheriff, then to the two women who arrived yesterday (apparently of their squad), picked up return dispatches, and left back for Sea Rune. I overheard "a large force of humanoid scum heading this way," and "we have to hurry otherwise we will not get back to Sea Rune in time." The sheriff then sent his deputies to start evaculating the village. During the trip to Druiseville Klib I spoke to the two women that had arrived yesterday. They were Private Janet Stubble and Private Jane the Incipid. Their commander is Lance Corporal Pugwhump. Other squad members: Privates Pitt (ugly M dwarf), Roger (M), Silverfish (M elf), Oil (M), Womble (F), Vegetable (F), Artois (F elf priestess), Galliard (F elf wizard), Irmantrude (F wizard), Rhiannon (F halfling "head-popper" = psionicist) and Cannabi (ex Shield Maiden "advisor" priestess(?). This sounded surprisingly like Burnt Sienna's bunch so I specifically asked about Burnt Sienna herself. "Never heard of her," Janet replied. I showed the wanted poster with the bottom cut off. "Never seen her," she shrugged. "7500gp? Gee, that's a lot of money." So where is Burnt Sienna? I then asked more details about this Cannabi. She is an old woman of 65 years. It appears she was arrested in Shield Maiden clothing near Pusville two weeks ago for "loitering with intent" by the Free Coast Militia based in Pusville. She would not even speak to the Pusville FCM even when they methodically and repeated by beat her up. So they locked her in the cells. When "BS squad" (their name - so it was them) arrived on A8Grow [ day 2 ], the Pusville sergeant ("not known for his tolerance with Shield Maidens") gave Cannabi to the squad to take back to Sea Rune for further questioning. Lt Zulu assigned her to the squad in an advisory capacity. Bones Out P.S. When Miss Artois arrived in Pusville today, I noticed her holy symbol around her neck. It was a couple of dice. This means she follows Vingt-et-un, the Goddess of Luck. P.P.S. The sea serpent first appeared on Airday of the 8th week [ day 2 ].

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: All staff Let it be known that "The Watchtower" is a civil rights organisation recently founded by an eccentric tycoon who wishes to remain anonymous. It is based in Specularum, but its interests cover the whole known world. It seems pretty clear now that Burnt Sienna is not in Zibrost, and is unlikely to return for some days. I am therefore moving to Zibrost.

AMELIO to JETHRO:
Burnt Sienna was here in Honkeyville about four weeks ago. Find out where she stayed and what she did. Confirm the date. Hint: She tried to sell a sword and was arrested by the sheriffs.

Send the cigars Peter sent me from Draser on to Simon. I've given up smoking.

When you've completed your enquiries here in Honkeysville, pack everything up and we'll move to Zibrost. We'll take the coach.

Also, I need some small presents I can sent by post. Any ideas?

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: Sharlene, Zibrost Having fun in Zibrost? I've got a job for you. Burnt Sienna was seen twice in Zibrost this season. On the first occasion she was spotted outside the walls killing another Shield Maiden. The second time she was in prison. I want full detail about both incidents, especially the first. The Shield Maiden killed by Burnt Sienna was called Red Ochre, and they are believed to have been lovers. I want a description of Red Ochre. There may have been something in the Zibrost Tribune. As regards Burnt Sienna's time in prison, I suggest you contact Samuel Becket. Tell him you are an agent from Watchtower, and you are investigation civil rights infringements on the so-called Free Coast. I'm sure he'll tell you everything he knows. I want firm dates. It might be best to tackle Becket first, and use him as your starting point for the Red Ochre investigation. Finally (its a good thing you've got some mercs with you!), find out what you can about a merchant by the name of Tom Vomit. One last point. Make enquiries as to all ships known or suspected to have left Sea Rune in the last two weeks. I imagine that all such ships will have docked at Zibrost at some stage. Can you arrange for one of the mercs to get a job down at the docks? If Burnt Sienna comes into Zibrost by sea, even if she's just passing through, you'll want to know straight away so you can attach a tail. See you soon!

	From: Sharlene, Zibrost Date : A9Grow [ day 9 ] I found an article in the Zibrost Tribune dated D4Grow [ day -25]. It mentioned a "Shield Maiden Duel" that occurred just outside the Anti gate on G4Grow [ day -26 ] between a "savagely beautiful woman with short-cropped hair" and a "wild and wary" Shield Maiden that was observed by the Militia. So I went to the Citadel and the helpful soldier there let me look through the public Militia records. I found the report by the Anti gate guards on that day. "Two guards were on duty on G4Grow when a Shield Maiden rode up looking "very worried and not in the least bit arrogant". The time was 9 bells [ 9 hours before sunset, 10 am ]. This woman identified herself as Red Ochre and asked (not haughtily demanded as they usually do) to be given sanctuary in the city. The guards looked through their list and correctly stated that Red Ochre was a Persona-non-grata and was thus not allowed into the city. So she quickly wrote out a note and asked a passerby to take it to the inn "Lara's". "Five minutes passed and another woman approached on a horse from the same direction that the Shield Maiden had originally come. This woman was not dressed in Shield Maiden leathers but was in a hessian sack. Her brown hair was also cropped as if chopped with a sword. This woman rushed at Red Ochre and hit her with her double handed sword. Red Ochre then drew her weapon. It was a magic longsword - the blade glowed. A fight then ensued. Red Ochre fought from foot while the other woman fought from horseback. "One gate guard was immediately sent for reinforcements while the other observed. Throughout the fight Red Ochre only parried. She was eventually cut down, bleeding from many wounds as she fell. A militia patrol arrived just then and rushed to intervene before the other woman could dismount. She was pulled off her horse and held by four soldiers. She uttered a string of obscenities and struggled like a demon. The patrol priest examined Red Ochre, but she was dead. When this was pointed out to the other woman, she just smirked. She then calmed down and identified herself as Burnt Sienna and claimed she was also a Shield Maiden. "When her attire was pointed out she said 'That bitch stole my clothes.' Since the whole incident occurred outside the city gates, the Militia were powerless to do anything so they let her go. She calmly picked up Red Ochre's body and tied it to Red Ochre's horse, and grabbed the magic sword and scabbard off Red Ochre. "An interesting thing happened then. This was noticed by the patrol priest. Burnt Sienna buckled the scabbard on but when she tried to slide the blade in, the sword popped out. She tried this four times. The sword would not stay in. Nonplussed, she hopped on her horse and rode away holding the sword in her hand, and holding the reigns to Red Ochre's horse with her other hand." Red Ochre's description : Auburn haired human female. Shield Maiden. 1.67m. 70kg. Crooked nose. Scar on left elbow. Mousy hands. Dead. Burial site unknown. I went and saw Samuel Becket. What a liberal wuss! He was most interested to hear of The Watchtower - he claims he has never heard of it. Ha ha! I asked him straight about Burnt Sienna. He remembered her fondly. "A Shield Maiden held without being charged. They [ the militia ] had nothing on her. They tried to get her to talk but she remained silent. 'A shining light in the mire of Militia oppression and brutality.' "They tried to force her under a Detect Lie, but I would not have it." According to him, Burnt Sienna was brought in M5Grow and was held "illegally" for four days "just because she had lost the ownership papers to her magic sword". On R6Grow [ day -15 ] an elf, and former party member, Bjorn Silverfish arrived and agreed to answer Detect Lie questions about her. After questioning Bjorn for six "intensive" hours the Militia had to let Burnt Sienna go. They escorted her to the klib city gate since it turned out that she was also a Persona-non-grata like Red Ochre. Samuel Becket got Bjorn's party a job, escorting a merchant to Sea Rune. Sam never met the party but he thinks there were eight of them plus Burnt Sienna. Oh, I checked out why Burnt Sienna was banned from town. What a can of worms! Burnt Sienna and Red Ochre were both Shield Maidens. They were both part of a large group of adventurers. Four of whom are: Rhiannon a halfling girl, Bjorn a male elf, and brother and sister elves Stella and Jamez Artois. Both Jamez and Rhiannon are psionicists. Anyway, a way back on D3Thaw [ day -103 ] the above six were waiting for an audience with the Remarkable Ruler in the Citadel Audience Waiting Room. Evidently Rhiannon made some snide comment about Shield Maiden fecundity and honour, and both the hot-headed Shield Maidens attacked her. They were restrained but not before doing considerable damage to the expensive furnishings in the Waiting Room. Because it is Zibrost's diplomatic policy to not lock up nor harm Shield Maidens, they were both banished from the city. Tom Vomit: Small-time gem merchant. His premises are closed. The neighbours say he's gone to Sea Rune for the Hot season. He has a significant other called Projecta. Unfortunate name. RE: All ships known or suspected to have left Sea Rune in the last two weeks. I sent Cornelious to the docks since he has the best sailor tongue and most glib voice. He wanted to make his own report for you. He expects a bonus, the greedy bugger. RE: try and find out what Burnt Sienna's mates were up to while she was killing Red Ochre, flailing about in Honkeysville and in prison in Zibrost. They seemed to be out of town. We could find nothing, no record of them, until the first mention of Bjorn Silverfish on R6Grow [ day -15 ] when he testified for Burnt Sienna. Maybe they were keeping low, or hiding. RE: Toby Vomit's significant other I spoke to the neighbours, boss. They came out with comments like "his bit", "cheap fuck", "piece of skirt", "Tom was so nice until that floosie came along" etc, so it appears Projecta wasn't liked too much. I could find no evidence that she could do anything magic (apart from the obvious). The Wizards' Guild, as usual, does not give that sort of information away. RE: the giant maggots / gnoll invasion. But, I overheard an interesting conversation between two wizards in Lara's last night. The gist of it was one wizard reckoned that there was a "minor star-fall" in the Druiseville forest. This, he reckoned, explained the appearance of all the unnatural insects. The other poo-pooed this by claiming that "if there has been a star-fall, we would not be here now to talk about". Their conversation then went on to more mundane topics. What is a star-fall? I went and asked Cornelious (being a wizard, he ought to know these things). He told me that a star-fall is when a "piece of REAL, torn off by the fight with IMAG" falls from the sky to the ground. The last one in recorded history, so he claims, happened 250 years ago in the vicinity of the Spite Delta. It covered an area of many many hundred of square kilometres (the whole delta and more). All the half-elves of the world then flock to the fall site to "breed in its vicinity". Evidently, the effects from this closeness to "raw magic" leads to the birth of Elves by half-elves. (This is the only way Elves come into the world. The half-elves also mine the "purple-coloured raw magic paste". It is then processed by the UGW into grapes for the wizards to consume to "recharge" themselves. They are still mining the fall near Spite to this day. I asked could a "minor star fall" occur in Druiseville forest. He just laughed like a pirate, patted my butt, and turned back to his new sailor mates. Sharlene

Date : A9Grow [ day 9 ], Zibrost

CORNELIOUS THE GRAPE:
"Harrr. Hah harrr. Hah harrrrrrrrr, matey.

"Arrr, capt'n. The sailors, they be reckonin' the serpent o' the sea appeared in the waters off Sea Rune on A8Grow [ day 2 ]. Arrr. They be seemin' to think it was something to do with the earthquake that struck on G7Grow [ day -4 ] (they be thinkin' that be an after-shock of the big un' on R4Grow [ day -30 ]). But I be thinkin' that be a load of rottin' fish.

"Oi spoke to the lartst ship that be leavin' Sea Rune alive afore the serpent arrived. "The Heron", a lugger, capt'n, with two masts. She was carrin' food, she be capt'n, on the Cab Sav holiday [ day -1 ] out of Zibrost to Sea Rune for the Free Coast Militia. Anyways, some salties off the Heron told me an intrestin' story that they saw on the floatin' wharf at Sea Rune while they be unloadin' the food. This would have been S8Grow [ day 1 ].

"There were another boat moored down the end o'the wharf. She be named "the Brick", capt'n, and anyway, a fight happened on the wharf an' on this boat called the Brick. There were invisible guys, that's what they said capt'n, and people fallin' in the water and blood every where, and the militia, and all kinds of trouble.

"What I made o' the story was that it sounded like a group of militia were hidin' invisible on the end of the wharf waitin' for someone. And when this woman and her mate came down the stairs from the cliff and climbed onto the Brick, the militia struck and became visible. However, there were a lot more people on th' boat than the militia must have expected because it ended up with all o' the militia unconscious on the deck and all of the crims but one down, and the boat driftin' out to sea - the mooring lines had bin cut, you see capt'n, durin' the battle. This one crim was a girly fighter, a human. Didn't sound like Burnt Sienna tho, capt'n.

"Then these two rock-heads, yes dwarves capt'n, ugly dwarves, dwarves dressed in militia uniforms, came runnin' down the wharf, and they leapt across the water gap and clambered on board the Brick as she was driftin' away.

"I arxed the salts if they were sure they be dwarves, cos it's a strange thing that dwarves, normally fearin' water (them bones made of iron 'n all that), an' they said yes. So I asked if there were any elves in militia uniform, and they said, yes, two beautiful lady honkeys, and one male honkey. Then they told me to stop intruptin' and continued the story.

"All of the honkeys except one of the ladies were down on the Brick. Bleedin' they were too, capt'n.

"The other lady honkey (in militia uniform) had got on board the Heron because she had fled the fight, like a coward. She was a spell caster, you see capt'n. She ran to the end of the wharf, and then one of the rock-heads on the Brick fired a crossbow but it missed her.

"Then a strange thing happened. The wind what had been blowin' steadily from the funk throughout the day suddenly stopped and it got warmer, and the salts reckoned they could smell roses. (More like rum, the drunken queers). Then they said a shaft of REALlight poked through a hole in th' clouds and shone on the Brick. Then, get this! They reckoned the body of the other beautiful honkey floated into the air off the boat.

"They said it was lit up by the beam, capt'n. Har har har. One of the rock-heads on the Brick shot at it but the quarrel circled, yes circled capt'n! Can you believe it?! Circled the body and flew back at him knocking him down. The body then floated over to the wharf with the beam of REAL light followin it and landed. Yeah, sure. They also said that the body's wounds were all gone too. Lying buggers.

"Anyway, the Brick was still driftin' out to sea, the sails were not up. The salts think that the rock-heads or the woman didn't know how to sail. The rest of the Brick's crew were killed in the fight. The two lady honkeys then run off the wharf and up the stairs.

"They arrived back half an hour later with a whole squad of militia who commandeer the other lugger docked at the wharf, the Zibrost, and go after the driftin Brick. An hour passed and they came back with the Brick in tow and the two rock-heads and the girly as prisoners.

"The salts then left for Zibrost so didn't know nothin else.

"I'll stay down at the docks, capt'n, waiting for Burnt Sienna. I'm yer man."

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: Bones Coburn at Pusville Bones, I've had some ideas for infiltration and capture. Keep these to yourself unless you actually get a chance to do them. Security. Shhhhhhh! Burnt Sienna killed Red Ochre some weeks ago, and probably hasn't had a lover since then. We know she goes for comely female human adventurers. Maybe we can find someone for her. Burnt Sienna has been thrown out of an inn and forced to sleep in the stables. If we could arrange for this to happen again, we would have an excellent chance to grab her. If we can grab Burnt Sienna when she is on her own, we may be able to replace her with a fake Burnt Sienna, giving us a valuable head start. <Jethro, include details from my notes> Burnt Sienna has been known to wander off by herself. It would be difficult to catch her like this, but if we do, we can be pretty sure that her mates won't miss her until it is too late. If she is languishing in Sea Rune, she may try to break out. Anyone who breaks out with her would have a good chance of joining her group. Another point. The Shield Maidens have offered a reward of 9000gp for the Sword. <Jethro, include all known details regarding the sword>. This has two beneficial results: Burnt Sienna may try to sell the sword again. This could be a good opportunity to grab her. The sword itself is now more valuable than Burnt Sienna. If we can buy the sword from her for (say) 2000 gps and sell it to the Shield Maidens for 9000, we'll be away and laughing. You probably haven't got enough money with you to tempt her, but she won't know that until too late.

AMELIO to JETHRO:

Send Bones a copy of Cornelius' description of the attack on the "Brick". That divine intervention to save the priest sounds pretty scary! I hope I never have to face that.

Anyway, some knowledge of this attack will be useful in any interviews Bones conducts. The more you know, the more you find out, is my experience of interviews. So send Bones any info on the Party he hasn't already got.

	Amelio Broachcask Bounty Hunter Supreme "Your felon is my pleasure"         To: The Prelate of Caveton From: Lorenzo the Cripple May I complement you sir, on your civic spirit and initiative, which has provided material assistance to my search for the felon and murderer Burnt Sienna. I greatly appreciate your help, as must all good and right thinking people everywhere. Please accept this small token of my esteem. <Jethro, send him something appropriate>. Regards, Lorenzo JETHRO: That's PRIMATE, boss. Not Prelate - a Prelate is a title for a kobold ruler. Let me see... There's The Grand Prelate Urkurk of the Kobolds of Estria. ... I sent him an engraved lapus lazuli paper knife (1gp), boss.

		To: LORENZO, MADAM TRYSTS PARLOUR From: SEA RUNE, S9GROW [ day 8 ] HAVE JOINED FCM STOP AM IN BS SQUAD STOP NO SIGN OF BS STOP SIMON [ There is no return address.]

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