The van containing our party pulls into a truck stop just inside the corporation limits of Fafara, which happens to be situated along a major highway junction. The party gets out of the van, stretches their legs, and goes inside to use the bathroom. Surprisingly enough, the restrooms in the place are pretty clean... so afterward the party decides to take a chance and goes to the Wendy's inside the station.
While the group of them sits there and enjoys their cheeseburgers, they begin discussing their battle plan...
THRAX: "So, how exactly are we gonna do this? I mean, we can't necessarily go door-to-door and ask every single person in this town if they know where this chick is."
TRITHAL: "True, true. I say we start with the Village Constable's office and see if they know anyone in these pictures."
Palledoris: "That's a good place to start. This is kind of a small town, but big enough to where it would take forever to search every square inch of it. Any leads anyone can give us would most-definitely be useful."
Aelle, suddenly reminded of something, says, "Oh yeah! Palledoris..."
Aelle then whispers something in Palledoris's ear to which she says, "That's right! We'll have to find time to do that soon!"
THRAX: "Do what?"
Palledoris: "The time has come for Aelle's Rite of Ascension. She's reached a certain point in her growth to where she can prove her mastery of her element and have her 'training wheels' removed."
TRITHAL: "Errr, what's that supposed to mean?"
Palledoris: "It's the same as I did a few years ago... when I changed from 'Palledoris of the Dragon of Darkness' to 'Palledoris of the Darkness Flame'. It simply means that I no longer need to use the Dragon of Darkness to invoke my elemental powers. Now that Aelle has matured enough, she may be able to use her air powers autonomously now."
THRAX, being half-assed interested in this whole thing, says "That's cool and all... but how do you know when you can do that and all?"
Aelle: "That's where the Rite of Ascension comes in. It's purpose is to demonstrate my abilities."
Palledoris: "The Rite of Ascension is much easier to demonstrate than it is to explain. Lord Thrax, when the next opportunity comes along, we'll show you how it's done."
After that, the party finishes their meal and decide to stay at the adjacent motel for the night. After paying for the rooms, TRITHAL advises the party that they are now down to their last 100 GP. The party decides that maybe they can sell some of their older items in town the next day to help replenish their travel funds.
The next morning they leave the truck stop, load up in the van, and head into town. The first place they stop is the Village Constable's office. Oddly enough, right on the corner was a save point, so the party seizes the opportunity to save. While there on the sidewalk, the party decides to split up... Palledoris and the girls plus William and CHRIS would go to the item shops and sell the party's older items while TRITHAL and THRAX go to the Constable's office.
The inside of the Constable's office looks strikingly similar to the Sheriff's office from the Andy Griffith show. Inside is an older gentleman sitting behind a desk. When the party enters, the gentleman stands up and says, "Greetings fellers! I'm Constable Denunez. What can I do for you today?"
TRITHAL: "Good morning! I'm Special Agent Trithal. This is Special Agent Thrax. We're with the Mount Sabretooth Phi-Considine. We're here investigating the disappearance of Ella of the Light, a member of the Sabretooth-Tanchi royal family."
Denunez: "Oh yeah! I remember that! But that happened more than two years ago. I remember right afterward all the soldiers of both Muriad and Sabretooth scoured the whole prefecture looking for her. So then, how come the two of you from the Phi-Considine are way the hell out here looking for her now?"
TRITHAL: "Some new evidence has recently come to light concerning this case..."
TRITHAL whips out the file folder of sketches and pictures and opens it in front of the Constable. He first shows him a picture of AXEM.
TRITHAL: "We have just learned that, on the night she disappeared, she was with this gentleman, Miah Thorpatrick. His testimony is that the two of them wanted to elope while celebrating Ella's younger sister Ali (who now happens to be the Duchess of Tanchi)'s 16th Birthday ball at King Sebastion's castle... and headed this way late that night."
TRITHAL flips to the sketch of the unknown head mercenary.
TRITHAL: "He says that they were confronted by a gang of mercenaries led by this person, who defeated him and kidnapped Ella. He even gave us the exact location here in Fafara where the incident took place: the corner of 23rd Avenue and Cullen Street."
Denunez: "Hmm. This person, I'm 100% certain, is the Akuhito known as 'Red Phile'. He is believed to be a high-ranking member of the Akuhito Syndicate. It's in dispute as to whether or not that's his real name, and whether or not he was the actual head of the syndicate. What we do know is that, for the most part, the whole bunch of 'em disappeared completely from the area. Some speculate it has something to do with the fall of Liiche, and/or what had recently happened over in Tanchi... but no one knows anything for sure."
TRITHAL flips over to the sketch of the white mage that revived AXEM and asks, "What do you know about this person?"
Denunez: "Oh, that's Dorinda. She's kind of a shaman/wizard-type person. She's lived in this town for as long as anyone can remember. No one knows how old she is, or if she's human, elf, goblin, or whatever. She lives just a few blocks away from where that attack took place."
TRITHAL: "I see. According to Mr. Thorpatrick, this person revived him then disappeared. If you would, will you give us her address? She may be a material witness to the incident."
Denunez: "Of course. But let me warn you... she doesn't just talk to anybody. There's a 50/50 chance you won't get anything out of her at all. Also, be careful. That's a rough neighborhood down there."
Denunez writes an address on a sheet of paper and hands it to TRITHAL. In exchange TRITHAL hands Denunez one of his calling cards. TRITHAL and THRAX thank the constable for his help, then exit the office.
THRAX and TRITHAL join the party back on the street. The party managed to raise 500 GP from the items they sold. TRITHAL warns the party to be cautious with their spending... unless someone can come up with a way to raise extra money.
After all the business is done and the party saves again, everyone loads up in William's van and heads toward the southwest part of town, where all the shit went down two years ago.
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