"Driver Charlie Mourned"

Apr 25 2008, 11:16 am

Plazene, Kingdom of Balton

Local woodsman Davim Waxbone journeyed into town yesterday morning with ill tidings. Local carriage driver for Oberman family, Charles Rodskjort, interrupted Waxbone's hunting in the eastern hills when the Rodskjort's left arm came suddenly out of the treetops to strike the earth just between Waxbone and his intended prey, a dire boar the hunter had been stalking for several hours. Of the incident, Waxbone replied "Yeah, of all the damned luck. That beastie woulda made some length of jerky, he was a big one. Course, when I saw what had scared him off, I thought the day weren't all wasted. Somebody might be looking for that arm, maybe even with a reward. Figures I trek all the way back inta town and it's only some gold pieceless servant! Ah well, his wife'll be needin' a new man to step in soon as she stops her sobbin'. Maybe there's something coming for me yet." The arm, though mangled and dirty, was identifiable from the garment remains and a brass ring bearing a Oberman seal of servitude.

Watch the Skies
Charles was last seen taking the carriage with Lord Oberman's son Gelinas and another, unidentified occupant toward the eastbound trail to the Midway. Two mounted individuals, a gnome and a dwarf, accompanied the vehicle. While it has not yet been confirmed, Waxbone asserts Rodskjort's grizzly end was the work of an adult arrowhawk which he claims started prowling the hills in the past month. "Oh,
I've seen them big birds closer to the mountains south of here," Waxbone said. "I'm guessing this one's some kind of outcast, maybe they run out of territory and he's got nowhere else to be. They like the big goats up on the rocks, see. Here he'll have to settle for some smaller beasts, like old Charlie, heh, heh!"

Last Rights
When Mrs. Rodskjort learned her husband's fate, the news was nearly too much, though she was interested in learning that her family had a last name. "Well, [sob] you see, we folk of lesser importance [sob] don't really need to be distinguished with full names, Master Gelinas always says [hyperventilates slightly]. Why, up until I met dear [sob] Charles, I was just 'the inn cook's daughter.' When we were married [pout], I was blessed with the title of 'driver's wife,' as well." A benefit of serving noble families is the polite practice of
issuing full names to those who die violently while in service or when wandering adventures graciously take the time to inquire of their backgrounds. In the latter case, servants of some families may receive subsequent lashings for setting a precedent of issuing unauthorized personal information. Mr. Rodskjort's arm will be buried tomorrow in the town cemetery.

Uncertain Fates
The whereabouts of Gelinas Oberman and the other three travelers remains unknown. Riders were sent today to investigate, but are not expected to return soon, given the slow going incurred by avoiding open ground.