While the trio of Quickstep, Silent Acacia, and Cyclone were searching for traces of Ruxor in the tavern, the others were busy as well. Fortune and Balm went to a round platform suspended between the trees, surrounded by four shops. They talked to the merchants and received similar information to what the others heard. Ruxor went around, boasting to everyone until some burly orc chased him away.
Elsewhere Silver Blade, Bleary Mirage, and Watchful Eye where walking through a leisure area on the ground. When Cyclone first assigned the teams, she tried to be cheeky, letting Silver Blade and Liam form a two-man team. But Watchful Eye crossed her plans. The bodyguard didn't accept being separated from Silver Blade for no reason. And since Silver Blade and Liam had nothing against Watchful Eye following them, Cyclone was helpless.
Walking through the leisure area the group saw open pavilions where sirens were singing soothing songs, massage parlours where the sailors could heal their aching bodies, and some places where people played games like chess. Even some of the dynasty's scholars could be seen.
The three players went in circles, inquiring about Ruxor. The story they heard was nothing new. Ruxor came to the leisure area and boasted loudly until he was asked to leave by a scholar who felt that the peaceful atmosphere was disturbed. After that, there were no more clues about Ruxor. The trio left the area and entered the 'Little Paradise', which was the biggest tavern on the island.
Liam organized a big table large enough for ten people. They waited for a bit before the other two groups arrived.
"Ruxor was here but no one knows where he went. That pirate gang denied harming him. They didn't appear to be lying."
Quickstep started reporting their findings. The other two groups followed afterwards. When everyone was done, Cyclone swiped her eyes over the group, saying:
"So… we got nothing?"
"Do we need to inquire again?"
"No, according to the quest all three areas are marked as completed."
The friends looked at each other, clueless. Just as they were about to play their joker, a person entered the tavern. It was a human woman. Judging from her rough clothes and the sabre on her west she was most likely a pirate as well. She looked around with shifty eyes until she spotted the players. She scurried over to the table, lowered her body, and whispered with one hand in front of her mouth:
"Hey, you are the people searching for that goblin, right?"
"Sure. Who are you? Do you know something?", questioned Silver Blade.
"I'm Tenara. And yes, I heard something. It's like this. There have been storied about people going missing on Small Haven Island since a long time ago. My crew has been coming here for quite some time, and we even have lost two comrades ourselves. But our captain doesn't take it seriously. He is enraptured by these sirens.
I couldn't let it go and snooped around for a bit. However, since about a year ago there have been no new cases of anyone going missing and I came up with nothing. So, this time as we came here, I stayed on the ship. I wanted nothing to do with this cursed island. But who would've thought that this decision would allow me to witness the kidnapping firsthand?"
"So, what happened?"
The friends were at the edges of their seats, urging Tenara to continue.
"It was almost dark when I suddenly heard some screams which were quickly snuffed out. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed the captain's binoculars and searched the jungle. And then I saw it. Two sirens were handing a goblin in yellow trousers over to two figures in black cloaks. I couldn't discern anything about the figures except that they were exceptionally tall. Easily two heads taller than the sirens."
Silver Blade nodded, thanking the pirate after her narration ended.
"That was unexpected."
"So, are the sirens kidnapping and selling people?"
"What should we do now? Should we confront the sirens?"
"What use would that have? We don't have any evidence…"
The friends began discussing again but quickly found themselves in another dead end. Luckily Tenara came to the rescue again.
"I… might be able to help you. I have snooped around the island previously and discovered something. There is another building hidden in the jungle where the sirens go to rest. Perhaps that's a good place to search for clues. But we need to be careful. Those sirens might look frail, but they are not weak!"
The friends' eyes lit up. Their quest updated again. They thanked the pirate and asked her to lead the way. A moment later the group of nine left the tavern and ran through the village. They followed one of the paths for a while until they were sure that no one was watching them, and they dove into the jungle. Tenara used her sabre to cut a path through the foliage. After a short while they found the building mentioned by the pirate.
The rest building was a circular wooden building with a few floors, almost like a small tower. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the village the surroundings here were exceptionally peaceful. The friends carefully came closer, hiding in the undergrowth. They were just about to discuss what to do next in the party chat. But before they could do that, something happened not far away.
A door opened in the sirens' rest building and a tall figure in a black cloak came out. They talked to someone who remained in the building, saying:
"Remember! Two more! You know what happens if you fail to comply!"
"No, please! How often do I have to tell you? We need to lay low. People have started to get suspicious. That goblin, we thought he was a loner, but just today a group arrived searching for him. If we keep doing this, we will soon be found out. Flood Dragon Manor, Iceheart Tower, or even the dynasty might start asking questions."
"Then be more careful, damn it! I need two people from you! If you can't get outsiders, send two of your own!"
"No!"
The voice from inside the building continued to complain but the cloaked figure didn't care. Their cape billowed as they turned around and left in large strides.
The friends were still watching the scene unfold when Liam reminded them.
[Bleary Mirage: Hurry up! Let's follow them. Don't talk and don't come within five meters of that figure!]
[Silver Blade: Got it.]
Feeling the urgency, the friends didn't linger around. They sneaked through the jungle, staying in the shadow of the trees. In reality the sound of the foliage would be way too conspicuous. But as long as they followed Liam's rules, they would be fine. Tenara stayed behind keeping an eye on the rest building. The players knew the NPC had fulfilled her mission and didn't care about her. Only Cyclone and Watchful Eye had some doubts.
[Watchful Eye: Quite strange…]
[Cyclone: Right. Don't you think that's a bit too coincidental?]
[Fortune: What exactly?]
[Cyclone: The story of the pirate is still alright. But as soon as we come here, we are confronted with such a scene? The possible perpetrator is right in front of us, leading us to his hideout? And what can we do? We can only chase. We don't even have enough time to think it over.]
[Silent Acacia: Aren't you overthinking things?]
[Balm: I say Cyclone has a point.]
[Silver Blade: She does…]
[Fortune: I hope Cyclone is right. Sounds more interesting.]
The friends discussed back and forth until Cyclone tried to confirm her guess.
[Cyclone: So am I right? You are awfully quiet, Mirage!]
[Bleary Mirage: Don't lose sight of the target.]
[Cyclone: Is that even an answer? Hey, you are not leading us into a trap, right? Surely you wouldn't do something like that…]
[Balm: I think he totally would…]
When Balm wrote that, the figure they had been pursuing finally reached their target. It was an inconspicuous cave close to the coast. After the figure entered there was a short flash of blue light which was quite familiar to players everywhere.
[Balm: Did they teleport?]
"No need to use the chat. They should have left. Let's go, we mustn't lose them!"
Liam urged his friends as he rushed into the cave. And indeed, after a single turn they found a teleportation platform on the ground. Liam didn't hesitate to step on it, signalling his friends to come.
Cyclone stopped and crossed her arms. She looked at the smiling Liam not far away.
"Ok, so why are you in such a hurry? It's a trap, isn't it?"
With Cyclone setting an example the others also stopped, staring at Liam with a vigilant expression. The veteran realised that he couldn't trick his friends. He rolled his eyes as he admitted it:
"Alright. Yes, it's a trap."
"Hmpf. I knew it. Why are you trying so hard to get us into the trap? Is there a better reward?"
Liam shook his head upon Cyclone's question.
"The reward is the same. But the fight is more interesting."
"Ohhh. See, why didn't you tell us from the start?", said Cyclone.
"Right. Now you got embarrassed trying to outwit us. Just be honest next time.", laughed Silver Blade as she stepped forward. No one hid their amusement. Everyone stepped onto the teleportation platform, and a light engulfed the group.