The woman's face carries that dawning realization, confusion settling in like frost. She steps fully into the doorway now, no longer guarding her home but looking past you, as if the answer might be walking up the road. "Which road did your wagons take?" Dog asks, his tone even and steady. She points north. "The main road. Always the main road. It's the safest route - wide, well-traveled." She pauses, thinking. Her expression darkens. "Our merchants always hired guards. Two or three armed men per wagon. They weren't taking chances with bandits." She looks at you directly. "But if the wagons never arrived, and we never heard from the guards either..." She doesn't finish the thought. She doesn't need to. "The route's been used for years. Decades. It's never been a problem before." Her voice carries a new edge of fear beneath the anger. "Whatever's stopping them started recently. And it's thorough enough that not a single person made it back to warn us." She wraps her arms around herself. "You should talk to Garrett. He's our head merchant. He organized the shipments, hired the guards. His warehouse is in the town square - the large building with the blue shutters." 🎯 What's next? 1. Thank her and go find Garrett immediately - Get the official details. 2. Ask about the guards who were hired - Get names, descriptions, anything useful. 3. Head out to find the wagons 4. Other → Your call.

The ranger gives a small nod of approval at your decision. "Smart. Five we can see, unknown how many total. Better to come back prepared." You slowly, carefully, back away from the camp, retracing your steps through the forest. Every sound feels amplified, every snapped twig like a thunderclap. But the bandits remain oblivious, their laughter and conversation fading as you put distance between yourselves and the hidden camp. Once you're clear of the immediate area, you pick up the pace. - The Road North You leave the camp behind, traveling back the road towards Readingham. The journey takes the rest of the day and into the next morning. You camp once along the way, the ranger taking first watch with practiced ease. - Readingham The city walls appear on the horizon, banners snapping in the wind. The guards at the gate wave you through with barely a glance, though one eyes the ranger with mild curiosity. You make your way through the familiar streets, past the market now in full morning swing, toward the - Scholar's Quarter. The tower with the blue door stands tall and silent. You knock. The door swings open immediately. "Enter." - Elara's Tower The mage is at her desk, surrounded by maps and open books. She looks up as you file in, her sharp eyes taking in your travel-worn appearance, the new member of your group, and the urgency in your postures. "Back already." She sets down her quill. "Report." You tell her everything: - Thornhaven is mostly abandoned but a handful of people remain - No corruption, no undead, no shadow creatures - The supplies were stolen by bandits camped in the forest near Widow's Creek - At least five bandits, possibly more, with Thornhaven's goods clearly marked - The survivors stayed behind, waiting for their fishing crews to return Elara listens without interrupting, her expression unreadable. When you finish, she leans back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "Bandits." She sounds almost... disappointed.

One of you steps forward, hands open in a peaceful gesture. "We're not from Redingham's merchants," you explain. "We were sent to investigate why the trade stopped. But here's the thing - Redingham says they haven't received any goods from Thornhaven in weeks." The woman's expression shifts. Confusion replaces annoyance. "What?" She straightens, her arms uncrossing. "That's... that doesn't make sense. We sent wagons. Full loads. Our merchants saw them off personally." She looks between you, her brow furrowed. "Are you saying the goods never arrived?" Her voice carries a new edge now. Not anger at you, but realization. "Then where did they go?" She steps fully into the doorway now, no longer blocking entry but opening up. "Our people sent everything. Grain, salted fish, vegetables, wool. Three wagons, every week for a month. The last one left..." She thinks. "Three weeks ago. Right before we stopped." Her face darkens. "Someone's been stealing from both of us." 🎯 What's next? 1. Ask about the route the wagons took - Try to identify where they're being intercepted. 2. Ask who organized the wagons - Find out who knew the schedules. 3. Ask if anything else strange has happened lately - See if there are other clues. 4. Suggest speaking to the town's merchants or leaders - Get more official information. 5. Other → Your call.

You motion for silence and begin moving forward, slow and deliberate. The ranger takes point, his movements barely disturbing the undergrowth. You follow his lead, stepping where he steps, avoiding dry branches and loose stones. The sound of Widow's Creek grows louder, water rushing over rocks somewhere to your left. The smoke becomes clearer as you advance, and soon you can smell it, wood smoke mixed with something else. Cooking meat, maybe. The ranger raises his fist. Stop. You crouch low behind a thick stand of bushes and fallen logs. Through the foliage, you see it. - The Camp A clearing beside the creek, perhaps thirty feet across. Three tents, rough canvas stretched over wooden frames. A campfire burns in the center, tended by a figure in dark clothing. Crates and barrels are stacked near the largest tent, partially covered by tarps. And there, leaning against one of the crates, clearly visible even from this distance... A red ship on a white shield. Thornhaven's mark. Your hearts sink. This is it. The stolen goods. - The Occupants You count five people in the camp: - Two near the fire, one tending it, the other sharpening a blade - One by the tents, rifling through a pack - Two more at the edge of the clearing, talking in low voices, hands gesturing toward the forest They're armed. Swords, daggers, a crossbow leaning against a tree. Not soldiers. Not merchants. Bandits. As you watch, one of them laughs at something, the sound carrying through the trees. Relaxed. Confident. They don't expect trouble. The ranger leans close, his voice barely a whisper. "Five that we can see. Could be more in the tents or out on patrol." He points to the crates. "Those are definitely Thornhaven's supplies. Grain, preserved goods by the look of it." He meets your eyes. "What's the play?" 🎯 What Do You Do? - Attack now while they're unprepared. Five against five (or more). Surprise is on your side. - Continue observing. Wait longer, see if more appear, plan a better approach. - Try to capture one who wanders off. Interrogate them, find out who they're working for and why. - Retreat and return with help. You've found the camp and confirmed the theft. Go back to Readingham with this information. - Approach and talk. Risky, but maybe there's more to this story. Demand answers. - Other → as discussed

Hey traveler, I need to ask your opinion! The story didn't go as quickly as I was aiming for; I was swamped last week. But I also want to know, do you really still feel like playing? No hard feelings if you don't. I have fun unfolding the story, but I only want to do it, if you want to play. If we decide to end the game, I'll just explain what the plan was, so nobody feels like "I still want to know." If you want to keep going, let me know any changes you'd like to see. Maybe like more fights, quicker progression etc.