Arrival at Middle Black

Date: 15/09/3022
Time of Day: Sundrake 2pm
 
Report
 
Arrived at the village known as Middle Black, Half Black to its population according to the mayor. I was traveling with a Food Trade Caravan working as a guard. At 2pm we arrived at the village. Due to issues with the miss payment of the leader of the caravan, a Mr Kazire Ironscale is now involved in a calm arguement with a Treasurer.
 
A quick overview of the village, my assessment is that it is a Halfling village, a majority of the population being halfling and human, but there are others here, dragonborn included. The atmosphere here seems to be subdued and most villagers I see seem to be on edge (Likely due ot the disappearances)
 
After disembarking from the caravan I was greeted by the village's Mayor a Mr Barlow Ironwhisk, a small discussion was had and the following details were provided to me:
- There is an inn called the Cut of the Middle, which apparently is an in joke in the village, was available for our use
- The journey to Manchester on foot would mostlikely take 8 hours, but the mayor recomended we not go due to the dark coming in earlier than usual
- They village called for the Treasurer due to recent events and missing villagers due to the inactive nature of the lord of the land
- Night falls at around 5pm - 6pm which is early for this time of year
 
Out of the caravan appeared 3 more individuals
- A human who was accompanied by a cloaked and maksed individual, the cloaked one doesn't seem to talk but the human does, seems well manored and quite an inquisitive person. They are in possesion of old world tech which they seem to keep well hidden for the most part. He was interested in metal work provisions and tools.
- Goes by the name of Atom Nuburos
- Age: Mid 20's
- Gender: Male
- Eye: Hazel
- Hair: Wavy and Black
- Height: Apoximately 6'3" - 6'4"
- Weight: Apoximately 165lbs - 180lbs
 
- A Hadozee (although he refers to himself as a monkey), seemingly very keen to fight and make a bit of money on the side, interactions with him have been of interest, but with his proclivities there may be some tension between us, he seems amenable to mine and the others suggestions.
- Goes by the name of Tyrrion
- Age: Mid 20's to Mid 30's
- Gender: Male
- Eye: Pale Blue
- Hair: Pale Blue/Grey
- Height: Apoximately 6'
- Weight: Apoximately 170lbs - 185lbs
 
- An Owlkin, seemingly very open with details pertaining his life, he has seemingly left his family, and is now lookong for lost artifiacts related to his kin or something of that kind it was difficult to understand. He also owns old world tech, but is very open with it, to him it is mearly an ornament apparently. The mayor mentioned there was a man staying at the inn who specialised in that field.
- Goes by the name of Elaxidor
- Age: Early to Mid 30's
- Gender: Male
- Eye: Black
- Hair: Light Brown
- Height: Apoximately 5'
- Weight: Apoximately 80lbs - 90lbs
 
We agreed to stay at the village, and moved to a small pub. infront of the said building was a large mechanical device, seemingly powered by steam. approaching it, it scanned us before permitting us entry to the pub introducing itself as Megatronis. Entering the building we were I took note of the divide between the locals at the bar and a masked man, the one the mayor mentioned, at a table by himself. his body covered not a bit of skin revealed to the outside world.
 
We sat down and ordered food, and the masked man introduced himself by appologising for his companion's actions, the mechanical being by the door. This is the information I gathered from out interaction:
- He provided me with the name "The Curator", seems more of a title than a name.
- He can eat with his mask soemhow, whether this is magic, a crontraption, or both is not known at present time.
- Speaks openly about the dragonlords and seems to throw around their names with insults to their nature without any observable fear or reservation.
- He possess some form of magic skill but how great of what schools he's trained in is not know at present time.
- He mentioned he was only here after doing buisness with a friend and decided to take the scenic route, encountered the village, was informaed by the mayor and then decided to stay after enjoying the food.
- The Attacks/Disappearances are, from what he was informed by the mayor, linked to the old cathedral nearby the village, this was apparently built in the name of the Nowhere king if he is to be believed.
- He does not seem to hold the Mayor in high regard, explaining that he does not have the man power to investigate the cathedral nor does he have the confidence to ask the curator to help in this matter.
- Mentioned that the myst attacks seem to be more frequent as of late and talked about Arkrhyst and his troubles with it, and in passing Erebus.
- Extended an invitation to his collection but only if a trail was passed, seeminly linked to us finding anything of interest if we were to head to the cathedral to help with the issue, but did mention his companion detected undeath/necromantic energies exuding from the area, mentioned a name of a place called "The king's Tree".
- He provided a leather pouch which assumedly holds the ability to get his attention/call him to us when something has been found.
- According to him there have been undead attacks in other territoies, he mentioned Cyprius' territory specifically, maybe an attack on his venerable name.
 
Wanting payment if he were to head off to this cathedral, which apprently during the conversation the curator had used his companion to call for the mayor, who moments later and rather flushed entered to talk with us about the disappearances. They mayor seems rather pesermistic about things but did reveal to us:
- He believes that the missing people are likely dead.
- There have been sightings of ghostly figures in the dark, most of the reports are from children.
- There have been reports of voices in the dark, those of the ones missing, again mostly the children report this but some adults have heard them. The children are woken at night be some unknown force throwing something at the window, and then the voice is heard, but something is off with it apparently.
- The voices that are heard aren't in a specific area but rather all over the village and stronger on new moons.
 
Upon the talk of compensation for the task at hand, the mayor offered us 1 of 3 options:
- Money.
- An introduction to a individual within manchester, a black dragonborn known as Voxel, who according to the mayor enjoys the mead made here.
- An introduction to a rebelious type, someone who has a particular dislike of the dragonlords.
 
I cannot turn an eye to the missing people as a knight, even though I am not related to this land as a knight I will uphold the honour of Cyprius and my family name.
 
Summary:
- Transport to Manchester halted due to treassurer and caravan leader dispute.
- Village of Middle Black dealing with disappearances, morale is low.
- Met someone named the curator, owns a large mechanical being.
- The mists are more active as of late.
- Investigating said disappearances, There may be links to the Nowhere king.
 
Signing off,
Knight Hakesh Arkalan of the venerable and wise Dragonlord Cyrpius.