Zoom 2022-05-17 21:00

== Fear and Loathing in Downtown Urquart ==
=== Day 204 Dragonbrook, first full day ===
Our first day with papers. The place seems well run (along Willston lines) and the humans relatively happy – not serfs, but share-croppers. There is not much sign of other races. Brokef blesses a shrine, with a surprising degree of panache. He realises he’s blown his cover a bit and backtracks. Caradoc is observed by the local watch casing the joint, and Quercuis fails to find any skilled herbalists.
In the evening we are joined by Sunirc, and then by two Dark Elves, Nirabeth, a standoffish clerk and Philedouma, a rather more affable town guard. These two are provided with wine from their special reserve, but Sunirc stands us a drink, and a copy of the local map.
Philedouma quizzes Francis about his family (3 Urquhat septs, plus Chochrane and Dundonald) It appears that the Record Office in Riverside listed the landed holdings and their holders, and Francis agrees a good price (2gp) for an enquirer to copy the relevant listings, luckily before Joshua rejoins the party. They information should be ready in about five days, so the Party agrees to join Francis in a quick trip to see what is happening at Urquhart (186.076-8) which is about a day-and-a-half away.
Sunirc confirms that there is little risk of the party being drafted, and that our papers should cover the trip, though he advises us to watch out for Imperial guards and Hashandra archers, both being known as “right buggers.”
=== Days 205-6 Journey to Urqhart ===
The first day and night pass uneventfully, but on the second day we pass several abandoned crofter cottages, one of which has been attacked by gargoyles. We investigate carefully, and bury the human remains we find, and camp early so as approach Urquhart in daylight.
=== Day 207 Into Urquhart ===
Quercuis sends up her drone, which discovers about 10-15 large humanoids (Umar or Ogre size) about a mile north of the keep, and we spot a youngster Francis recognises, and who recognises Francis (nb only family and clan use “Frankie”) crossing the fields
JAMIE IS ALIVE, or at least he was when he passed through the village and headed north. The youngster is part of three families (about 20 people) who are hiding out in the woods, including the old smith. In all Francis has news of about 60 of his people scattered over the region, most trying to reach some accommodation with the Elves. He advises the kid that the families might be safer joining an elf-protected settlement, as Wild creature are emerging in numbers. The kid mentions trouble with “horn-heads”, and that there is a group round here and a group further east.
The “castle” looks intact but the doors have been attacked, and extensively burned, and the castle expertly looted. We run up a plaid flag (in case Jamie can see it), and further drone scouting suggest that these probable minotaurs have blink dogs with them. Arrrrgh! We decide to fortify the keep while the minotaurs are close, and find about 15gp in small change. There is also a patch of ultraviolet approaching fast from Dragonbrook. 
Caradoc thinks Francis is definitely modest, as, seeing the keep, he has a lot to be modest about. Cue the sound of Francis’ hackles rising, as he searches the laundry for a flag, or a pair of pants that are not out in the seat.