<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/c4/NLMayor.jpg)</div>If the crowd gathered inside hadn't have gone silent when Talia entered and began her own line of inquiry, the clang of sword pommel on Caine's shield was enough to make everyone flinch again.  All except the man standing on the hearth.  He was an older man, gray to his hair, and his stature made it obvious that whomever he was, he knew he had power.  "Talia, calm down," he answered before his eyes widened into smiles when he saw the others file in behind her.  "And it looks like she did manage to get help, everyone," he continued to distract from the questions everyone had asked of him and his assembled townsfolk.  "My name is Hupelaine, but everyone calls me Hupe.  I'm the mayor of this town and I'm sorry to send you back to Starfall under... somewhat false pretenses."  Waving his hand for some of the crowd to clear a path, they parted eyes darting between their mayor and the group of adventurers who stood by the door.<br/><br/>"We have known of the threat that the Ghostwoods present for a while.  We just didn't think they'd go after someone like your party," he started, hopping down and walking to the group.  "The Solitudes had never taken more than a single person alone in the woods and usually for not more than a day or two.  But about a month ago, they started not returning."  Opening the book he held at his side, he thumbed back a few days and waived his hand as he turned the book, hidden script coming into view.  "There are four of our brothers and sisters missing still, plus your group.  I swear if we had known," he started to apologize, only for Talia to close her fist and wind up a punch, yet paused as she controlled her anger.  "I can help you!" he quickly replied as she paused, flinching backward and away from the thread.<br/><br/>"I was once an... apprentice to one of the leaders of the Solitudes in the Ghostwood.  I really didn't have much talent," he added, pointing to the script, "But maybe the change is due to a change in their leadership?" he continued to offer, the verbal diarrhea finally containing some interesting bits of information.  "His name as Rorlithandae, my old teacher," he paused for a moment, debating whether there was another bit of information he should give before nodding as he continued to speak.  "I had planned to go talk to her but she does not answer my calls anymore."  The words held a second meaning - that something in their relationship might be the reason for her silence, rather than something more ominous.