After spending some time asking around town, the guild learns that the Lumber Consortium is twelve miles to the north east, at the edge of the Darkmoon vale. A well-laid road leads directly to the encampment. Because of the road, it will take roughly six hours by foot, or just over two on horseback.
"I'm not a big fan of riding horses, let's either walk or offer our selves to a wagon team and protect them untill we get to the Lumber Consortium!"
"Walking suits me just fine"
"We walk."
After deciding to walk the trail to the lumber encampment, the guild sets off.
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About four hours into your travel, a man walks alongside a horse and cart towards you from the opposite direction. When he catches sight of you he hails the group. "Greetings! Headed to the forests? If you are looking for work, I am sure they can use more lumberjacks at one of the lumber camps," he says.
"Hi there!" Drakroo responds to the man.
"Much appreciated, but I've never been much for lumberjacking" he continues.
"Hello! As luck would have it, we're looking for Milon Rhoddam. We were told he can help us with information about finding some herbs useful for dealing with the plague in Falcon's Hollow."
While the others talk to the man Kiroto tries to sneak a peak into the cart to see what he is traveling with.
After that he adds "More work could be useful, but I doubt we have the right aptitude for such work. But maybe they have other problems the numbers?"
The cart is mostly empty with a few wicker baskets and some barrels. The baskets have a few loaves of bread, apples, and smoked meats. Toncorva and Drakroo believe the he is a simple farmer.
"Hmm, I don't believe I know Milon Rhoddam. But I do know Jarlben Trookshavits, he is the foreman at the lumber consortium. I am sure he will know most of the men that work in the forest. He can be a bit of a slob and grouch though. All he really cares about is how many coins his operation will be bringing in each week. Be careful with that one," says the man with the cart.
"Though speaking of coins, I still have a few food stuffs if any of you travelers would care for a bite or two eat."
"As luck would have it, I am getting a bit peckish with this walking along the road. Here's a bit of coin for some of your food."
Tincorva will pay him 2 GP for as much food as the farmer will give him for that. And hoping to butter up up for mor information that way too.
The two gold pieces buy five loaves of bread, one and a half pounds of smoked meats, and a basket of apples (plus a flagon full of the farmer's homemade applejack (really hard, winter cider) he generally only shares with friends).
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Takes 10 instead
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"Ya know, we don't get too many travelers are here that aren't part of some textile business. But you did mention some herbs, right? I'm not sure much about what is all in the forest, but I can tell ya that things get strange the further you get in. I heard there is an elder darkwood tree of the most ancient of its kind in Darkmoon Vale. It is said to have been carried as a sapling from the Hissing Jungle and planted here in the distant past by Deirzir, the Eagle of The First Way, himself, the druids that once guarded the forest claimed this darkwood to be the root from which all Darkmoon grew. If the stories are true, that tree is probably in the thickest part of the forest, up just north of the lake. There also used to be some dwarves just outside the forest to the north. I think there might be some ruins not far from the crag," says the farmer as he gathers food from the cart for Tincorva.
"Well! This feast would be enough to satisfy even a hungry halfling for two whole days, I should think!"
"This is a huge repast! Nice doing business with you! I don't suppose you've ever heard of an odd herb called 'rat tail' by any chance have you?"
"No, can't say that I have."
"Well, thank you all the same. You've been most helpful. And provided us with a splendid roadside feast!"
"Thank you good sir, here's another coin for the your help in locating our herbs." Kiroto hands the farmer 15 silver pieces and turns to the others "Should we continue to the lumberjack camps, or start looking through the forest for this tree?
"We're so close to the Consortium, it seems a shame to not find Milon. Who knows, maybe he can tell us something else, or point us toward the witch even."
"Agreed. Hopefully, Milon can tell us about that Rat's Tail Herb. That's the one we don't have a description or location of as yet."
It takes a couple more hours from when you left the farmer. You arrive at the camp in the early evening hours. Many of the lumberjacks pull in their final hauls of the day and binding up the loose logs.
The Lumber Consortium Camp cuts an ugly scar of stumps into a dense stand of proud darkwood trees. Five sturdy-looking log buildings— seemingly a bunkhouse, meal hall, office, barn, and smithy—stand with numerous wide carts and sleds amid the sawdust-covered clearing.
Most of the lumberjacks finished with their work head toward the meal hall.
Drakroo points towards the building that most of the lumberworkers seem to be moving towards. "Shall we? Or maybe..." As Drakroo trails off, he looks around the camp.
"We should probably ask if anyone knows of this Milo chap first."
looking around, Drakroo catches sight of a few guys standing around one scruffy, unkempt man. The other men are handing the central guy slips of paper.
Seeing the small group of men, Drakroo subtly points out the lead man to the rest of his companions. "That fellow looks like he's in charge; maybe he knows where we can find Milon. Might be easier than interrupting everyone else's dinner. What do you guys think?"
Kiroto just follows the kobold for now, he seems eager enough to talk for us.
"Sounds like a good idea"
The small band makes their way to the circle of men. You appear to be unnoticed.
Good evening! Says Jordi with a smile, so the lumbers notice them.
We are a bunch of errant warriors and sages that usually travel to get some profitable work, but this time we decided to lend a hand to Falcon's people with the blackscour plague that are suffering.
Then, the warrior makes a pause so the people can asimilate the information given, before asking for what they have come.
We are here to ask for the location of some of the herbs that are needed in the creation of a remedy.
The first is Elderwood moss, althought we have been told it grows in the oldest tree in the forest.
The second is ironbloom mushrooms, that dwarves like, and grows in metal thick zones.
The third is a root called rat's tail. No much info for this one I fear.
We will heartly thank any help you can offer.
The men turn to face Jordi. They stare at him blankly. The central male clears his throat, and then says, "Herbs? I haven't heard of any of what you just said, other than that blackscour stuff. Have you gone daft?"
Mmmmh, how much do you think it will cost me to attone if I engage in a rude-lumberjack-killing-spree rage?
Asks in a very low tone to his companions, speaking only using a side of his mouth.
I mean... they rude... me avenging... you know. All legit. Says finally, looking at them making a blink.
Daft! Hah! What a perfect opportunity!
Drakroo skirts out from behind Jordi and steps in-between the two men.
"Hah! He's a bit crazy that one, but look at the giant sword, great to have around when there's trouble! Anyway- Milon Rhoddam- we're looking for him. We've been sent by the town, and we need his help with the Blackscour problem."
"Milon, you say? Can't say that name rings a bell. But I am quite busy, a lot of work to be done, ya know. A bit behind on my taxes this year, if you catch my drift? Suppose I might be able to look through the roosters in my office. Once I get some business sorted out,"
says the lumberyard foreman.
"Liquid Lunch tax, more like." Tincorva thinks with an inward sigh.
"Well, we don't want to take too much of your time. Oh, make sure you buy the wife and kids something nice." says Tincorva, handing the foreman 2 gold pieces.
He accepts the gold pieces, but leaves his hand 'nonchalantly' out.
"Milon doe seem a bit familiar. I think he might be on my crew somewhere..." he clears his throat and looks down at his open face-up palm.
"I'm sure a liquid lunch would help that sore throat of yours!"
Tincorva hands over another 5 gold pieces
"I cringe to think what he expects for a guided tour of the forest!"
He seems overly excited with the additional gold pieces.
"Oh yes! Now I remember. He went deeper into the forest. He always finds big the big trees that are about ready to keel over. He should be back...Oh there he is, just coming out of the forest now," says the foreman as he points at a woodsman exiting the forest and heading towards camp. "Let me know if I can help you kind gentleman with anything else."
"You are to carefree with your gold pieces Tinco, but at least it helped us out this time."
"Oh well, easy come, easy go. You have to admit, it was a fast way of getting information. Even if a bit expensive."
"Aw, come on Kiroto, you can't argue with results! Let's go talk to Milon before he gets away." Drakroo shouts a quick Thanks, Mister! to the foreman, before hustling in the direction of Milon. Turning back to the rest of the group, still behind him, he says, "Come on guys!" before turning back towards Milon's direction and trying to get his attention as he moves closer.
"Milon? Milon Rhoddam?"
Tincorva trundles behind Drakroo, still overloaded with the huge repast he bought from the farmer on the road.
"I'm not argueing wih the results but if we need to deal with him or any other lumberjack later, they will start to require more and more gold, to share their informations with us."
If someone is cheap enough to not help their own people by free will, he does not deserve any reward, but I must agree you got results.
Although, if he is ever in trouble, I'll charge him first before moving a sigle finger to help. Grumbles Jordi.
Drakroo's calls catch the lumberjack's attention. He looks up to see the kobold rushing his way.
Drakroo stops just in front of Milon, and looks up with a big reptialian smile. Milon Rhoddam, glad you meet you!
We've heard you're more familiar with the forest than anyone else in Falcon's Hollow! Our adventuring band was recruited by the Mayor to help fight the Blackscour that's plaguing the townspeople, and some very important people in town told us you'd be instrumental in helping us find the ingredients we need from the forest to make the cure! Can you help us?
Tincorva follows Drakroo toward Milon.
"Hello! My friends Drakroo, Jordi, and Kiroto, and myself, are all looking for herbs to help the townsfolk deal with the plague. We've been told you're the best person to help us find what we need in the forest."
"Care for a little repast; to talk business? I seem to have acquired more food than I can eat at the moment and my appetite isn't nearly as robust as a halfling's. Oh, yes, my name is Tincorva, by the way."
"Yes, I'm Milon. It is good that someone is doing something about the plague, but I thought the mayor planned to let the blackscour run its course. What made him change his mind about the Blackscour?"
Laurel has found a recipe for a cure of sorts that she thinks can help the people still afflicted. Unfortunately it requires some exotic, and timely, ingredients. That's where we come in! Drakroo tries to convert a sense of both excitement and urgency.
Perfect! Barely had to stretch the truth at all!
"Laurel found a cure? If this is true, I will gladly help as much as I can. My nephew has been infected. My brother said one of the clerics gives him two maybe three days now to live. I do not know much of exotic herbs or ingredients, but I know the forest well and can sketch a map if you tell me what it is you need."