It takes about an hour for the three of you to successfully repair the rear wagon while Virif stands watch over the woods. Meanwhile, Allyn unbridles the horses and ties them up just off the road to the south to graze.

After the wheel is finally fixed Allyn approaches once again.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I want to thank you all for pursuing my daughter's kidnappers." He looks up to the moons above. "I think the safest bet for me would be to circle the wagons and camp here for a few hours. When the white moon rises again I will head back for Maruk. If you find anything before then, you'll know where to find me." He stands there for a moment looking at each one of you before moving back of the road to get two of his horses hitched up to the lead wagon. As he works he calls over to where the group is still gathered. "Ask your questions now. I'll be of whatever help I can be."

"Thank you Allyn This must be difficult for you vut it is importat to us if we are going to succeed. I would like to know was this the first time you took your daughter with you? And di you mention this fact to anyone at all-- either in person or in a communication?

Kyara used a gentle tone but her voice radiated determination. SHe was angry at whoever had perpetrated this evil act.

"This is the first time I have brought her along. Usually she does the book keeping from our home in Maruk when I travel. As far as who might have known, I asked a friend by the name of Eryk Valasin to watch my home for me while I was traveling. He is an old acquaintance and knows of my frequent dealings in Illuria. There are those in the merhcnat's guild with whom I had to register my wares and my travel papers to ensure legality for crossing the border, they would obviously have known. Other than that, I can't think of any others."

Virif watched the reactions of the party closely. With one traitor who knows what others there might be. These reactions seemed genuine, which relaxed Virif's vigil just a little. On the other hand if I can't trust my comrades then my task is inevitably doomed. One of the many lessons one picks up in military school.
"Is there any reason your daughter would have to be unhappy? Does she have any contacts that she would have told about the rip? Comrades that have ill will to either you or her? Have there been warnings or other mishaps before you set out? Do you work for or with anyone of prominence? Is your daughter betrothed?" Thoroughness in an investigation is only achieved by suspecting the victim and the victim's friends or enemies. Another lesson taught in military school. Virif shot each question out barely waiting for a response yet clearly expecting one to be given eventually.

"Slow down dwarf. One question at a time. To my knowledge Jocelyn had no reason to be unhappy. We are moderately wealthy and we have a good life. She had friends of course that she might have told about the trip, but I can't think of one that might wish us ill, particularly her. As far as my business, I work for myself. I deal with some relatively important people in Bevaris and I have a few connections among the merchant's of Maruk but again, none that I believe would wish me or my daughter harm. And no she is not betrothed. Did I answer everything? My memory isn't always perfect."
(The suspicions of Virif yield a Sense Motive check ( 18 ). This check makes you think he might be holding something back, though on what topic you aren't sure).

Something niggled in Kyara's mind. SHe went over and over what h said but it still did not give her a clue to anything that would cease that niggling. There was something she was missing .Are you thinking of remarrying? Something he had said or perhaps it was something he hadn't but it started her wondering. Kyara tried to organize all he had said, which was not much. Still that sense that she had missed something kept her activily trying to figure out what it was.

Trying to think of what he hadn't mentioned wither in his extreme agitation earlier or now when he was calmer and more focused. A thought suddenly surfaced, a glimmer fo what was bothering her. He mentioned himself and his daughter, but he made no mention of his wife , Jocelyn's mother. Where was she? Why didn't he mention how his wife would feel about his daughter's lose.

Kyara thought of one reason why Allyn would not mention his wife during all. His wife was dead.

"Is your wide still alive, Jocelyn's mother?"

(if the answer is yes Kyara asks.)

"Are you considering remarrying."

Allyn looks at you quizzically. "Her mother is alive, but she hasn't been a part of our family since shortly after Jocelyn was born. She's one of Elvaril's chosen. What does that have to do with this? And no, I haven't considered remarrying... and I hope you're not offering right now. This wouldn't be the best time. I hear relationships based on traumatic experiences never work out." A small smile shows on his face.

"Alyn, we have been peppering you with questions. It is ashame we have to do so at a time like this. I do hope you understand why it is necessary if we are to help you find your daughter." Looking the merchant up and down Heironymus went on, "and it seems the brigands did more than steal your daughter, one of them also tried to leave her fatherless."

Moving forward to inspect the mans wounds, the cleric continued, "Let me see those wounds. If we are to begin the chase as quickly as possible, we must fix both you and your wagon. There is no sense letting them finish you off while we are gone and you will be more able to make the return trip in full health. So first lets clean the wound, then I an heal it fully."

Hieronymus takes his time cleaning the merchants wounds and then casting a heal spell. (As indicated earlier in the Q/A forum.) As he works he keeps a calm and kind hearted conversation with the greaving father hoping to get more information in this way.

"Your daughter seemed very kind. She certainly didn't treat the hired help like servants. We all appriciated that in her. She must have had many friends."

"Don't worry about some of their questions, they just want to help. Perhaps if we discussed other things? We signed on to help out without even really knowing what sort of things you sell. What type of goods do you sell?"

(Assuming the above is answered)
"Really? I have never known much about such things. Generally I either purchased most goods in the markets or the temple provided them. It is much easier that way. have you met many interesting people on your travels?"

"Travel, yes, it has always been something I have wanted to do, as you can see I am here with you. Did your daughter enjoy travelling? As your daughter it would seem hard to not have bug."

(Assuming he denies that she has travelled much again.)

"Of course, you had already said that, hadn't you. But then I guess I have been paying more attention to wounds than words, which is probably as it should be. In my temple the lead clerics always carefully controlled who got the travelling assignments. I was priviledged as I was a favorite of the prelate, but others weren't so lucky. You'd be amazed at the kind of stories that can run through a temple. But I suppose business is the same way. Rumors and favoritism - politics I guess you could call it. It is everywhere."

Heironymus works very deliberately on the wounds. If it seems the merchant is annoyed at his (hopefully) subtle pumping for information he will hurry the task along. Otherwise he will drag it out. Perhaps not even finishing yet, if the answers are good.

unbolded quotes are spoken by Heironymus.
"Your daughter seemed very kind. She certainly didn't treat the hired help like servants. We all appreciated that in her. She must have had many friends."

"Indeed she did. even a few among the younger noble houses. But she never seemed very close to anyone."
"Don't worry about some of their questions, they just want to help. Perhaps if we discussed other things? We signed on to help out without even really knowing what sort of things you sell. What type of goods do you sell?"

"I sell many things. Since trade is the only open line between Illuria and Valin, I buy what quality goods I can in either place and sell them in the opposite. Recently many of the wild herbs found commonly in the forests of Valin have been all the rage in Illuria. Apparently they are rare in their lands."
"Really? I have never known much about such things. Generally I either purchased most goods in the markets or the temple provided them. It is much easier that way. have you met many interesting people on your travels?"

"I've come across a number of interesting individuals, but I make an effort not to become too involved. With the tensions between our two nations, you never know when trade lines will be cut off.
"Travel, yes, it has always been something I have wanted to do, as you can see I am here with you. Did your daughter enjoy travelling? As your daughter it would seem hard to not have bug."

"She's traveled among the major cities of Valin. But this was to be her first long journey. All in all I suppose she hasn't really traveled all that much.
"Of course, you had already said that, hadn't you. But then I guess I have been paying more attention to wounds than words, which is probably as it should be. In my temple the lead clerics always carefully controlled who got the traveling assignments. I was privileged as I was a favorite of the prelate, but others weren't so lucky. You'd be amazed at the kind of stories that can run through a temple. But I suppose business is the same way. Rumors and favoritism - politics I guess you could call it. It is everywhere."

"No, Master Allyn my question had nothing to do with myself. I had asked my questions to see if there might be someone that had reason to kidnap your daughter. ShHe is your heir and perhaps a hopeful woman might consider removing her so she could marry you and her child be you heir. But that sdoes not seem to be the case. So do you have a business rival?" asks Kyara.

"Now that I've got you all clustered around me for this inquisition I will answer this final question. In business there are always rivalries, but the merchant's guild prevents them from getting too far out of hand and acts against those who attempt to take it too far. As far as Illurian contracts, I don't deal with anyone in particular long enough to really be a rival."
He takes a deep breath and then starts steering each wagon in turn off to the side of the road.

"Thank you for fixing the wheel of my wagon, and for guarding us this far, for whatever good it did. As I said before, I'll be here long enough for my horses to get some rest, then I'll be heading back to Maruk. You can find me there when you return with my daughter."
When the last wagon is in place he gathers wood and begins to build and light a small cooking fire.

(That's all the answers your going to get from him. The time for questions has passed.)

As the merchant finished talking it seemed obvious that the group would get no more from him.

Looking at the others, Heironymus said "Well, that seems to be the amount of information we will have to start with. Some questions will remain unanswered for now at least. And he may well not know all of the answers."

Nodding towards the trees he continued, "lets move out. It seems that attempting to follow the path in the trees will be our best bet. I say we start there and see what the skilled trackers in the group can find."

With that Heironymus picked up his gear. With mace in hand he began to move off towards where the Dwarf had been attacked in the trees.

Once the wheel was replaced,Kyara Allyn moves the wagons off the road to where he intended to rest for the night before returning to Marduk. It made it clear he would answer no more questiona

ATurning to the others, "I saw broken twigs beneath the tree where I found several sets of footprints. That will be the best place to start." Kyara add to the conversation.

Kyara was concerned on several oints; one, she was the only one with a mount and two Allyn had provided there meals and most of the supplies were going back with him. She knew she could hunt and forage for food but that would slow them down.

Going to Allyn she makes her request. "Master Allyn, could you provide us with some of the supplies of food you carried for us for this trip. SOme of us probably have some trail rations but we don't know when we will get to a place where we can get supplies.

After that matter is d=matter is settled one way or another. Kyara gathers up Moondancer's reins and lead the mare over ro where she had found the footprints. Mounting the mare when she got there, she climbed up into the tree to search for clues to what direction the dark-skinned elf had taken.

Allyn allows you each to take a few days worth of rations from the third wagon.

*********************************************************
Kyara sits up in the branches of a tree, searching for some sign to tell her what direction her quarry fled. After ten minutes, and several other trees, she finds another small snapped branch. The signs are invisible from the ground, seemingly deliberately so. But the occassional broken branch or disturbed leaves gives her the impression that the survivors of the attack, and perhaps Jocelyn as well, are headed to the north west.
**********************************************************
(In order to maintain sight of the trail, someone will have to move through the trees, unless the party choses to assume a constant northwesterly direction. This will slow you down significantly as none of you are used to swinging through branches.)

Always do what is least expected and you may find more options than you originally see. It was the tenet of Archmage Ikrick one of he teacher's back home. Virif always liked this particular tenet because it had multiple purposes and multiple meanings. Much like a blade being double edged. The information the Allyn gave hadn't amounted to spittle in a rainstorm. All that came of the questioning was the feeling that they weren't asking the right question or the merchant was avoiding the issue with skill long honed over ignorant money holders. Apparently we're no better than the ignorant. I wonder if he stole his own daughter but I can't very well ask that can I? Still it seems we've gotten all the half truths we're gonna get and that girl should be rescued. But where do we begin? Where would the enemy want us to start and where else can we start? The lack of choices that sprang to mind were of course due to both a lack of knowledge and a lack of imagination. Virif always had a slow to warm imagination. It was why he didn't excel at illusion magic.

"Before we go we need a plan and we need to know how to combat the illusions. While simply a light show we could end up killing each other over the wrong illusion." Virif sat down bringing his hands together in a circle. It was his thinking form and for some reason it helped. "We haven't seen these wizards cast more than illusions which makes me wonder if their wizards or merely have magic items. It also convinces me that they excel in deceit. The advantage of beating an illusion is if you convince yourself that its not real then it disappears. Unfortunately you have to know it's an illusion in order to dispel it this way and I for one don't want to be in the middle of convincing myself that it's not real when it proves me wrong by taking my head. I don't think following it through the woods is to our greatest advantage though I'll be damned if I know what is."