Keep Your Friends Close

* Dorothy Keegan is the wealthiest landowner in Grindstone. Her home is a large two story redwood, much bigger than the number of people living in it.
** An unnecessarily large outhouse (sus)
* The town is going on with their day, there is a distant sound of the sawmill, the church looks warm and inviting, and we make our way to the modest general store.
* The shop owner is a man named Ronan Carney
* Martha wants to buy a pink parasol, Alec looks at tea leaves, tobacco, and pipes. William just wants all the whiskey, at least two bottles. Alec also buys all the chocolate and gives some to Martha as a “peace offering”
* We then start asking Mr Carney about this business with Geoff
** Carney heard that Keegan was keen on selling to Meyer
** Mentions Willa Keegan, her only child, who is an excellent hunter & a crack shot with the bow.
* Signe sows the seeds of discontent with Carney, mentioning how people are talking about the town of things going missing, where one might hide a body, etc.
** Carney is thoroughly spooked and is happy to see us leave.
* We head next to the Town Hall, there are ten people inside having a good time. The place has festhall vibes.
** They notice us as we walk in, the reception is pretty cold with “the outsiders are here” vibes.
** Above the fireplace there is an axe labeled Kayden Keegan
* William pulls up some chairs noisily to one of the empty tables and pours a couple glasses of whiskey, leaving one for a guest to join them. Alec sits with him and pulls out the map and notes 
* Martha joins in on the card game being played and is a fuckin card shark!
** She puts the room back at ease in our presence: 
*** They talk about soil fertility and about a rumor/myth of hidden treasure that makes the crops grow so well here.
* A burly lumberjack joins William and Alec for a drink. He looks to be a foreman. His name is Caelan Williamson.
** Says he thinks James offed Geoff.
** People are annoyed that he stole a horse.
* William mentions the red-eyed creature and that causes Caelan to stand up abruptly out of fear!
** His chair falls over and everyone in the room regards him with anticipation.
** William talks quietly to Caelan and attempts to calm him, as he understands what he’s afraid of.
** Martha eases the tension in the room again with a remark about the whiskey being too tarte. 
* William and Caelan talk about their horrible experiences in the war. Caelan even has a not-so-old field wound.
** He served in RI, moved here after everything
** He eludes that he was once an outsider here in Grindstone.
* Caelan tells us it’s best if we leave, safer for everyone.
** He tells William and Alec about a creature/local legend that people fear. It protects the church and watches over the town. It has red eyes and is large like a wolf.
*** Protects the town from threats
*** There was some kind of sacrifice
*** Been here longer than McGowan
*** We’d have to talk to Mary or Dorothy (don’t know the context for that one)
*** Refers to the “Queen of the Village” with disdain. She goes around like she owns this place.