Step 73

Some of the details Prota notices should be mundane. Others should hint at wealth, travel, and haste. They may notice that the wagon is not designed for long travel - its thin metal-rimmed wheels are more suited to paved cobbles than muddy roads. The one who took it left in haste, grabbing what they could. They may have made an attempt to conceal the crest of their employer, since the wagon would make them a target on the road. But there is only so much that can be done without proper tools. Filigree has been pried off, paint covered in mud or scraped away, scratches added to give the impression of age. No concealed compartments, at least not visible to the naked eye. This was intended as a luxury city conveyance only. Because migrations do happen every few years or decades this close to the Blue, it might have been built with the intent to convert it to a road wagon eventually. There was not time to do so before the owner fled, but Nell might do it for a fee. 

It could be more of a carriage than a wagon, though a migrant who has not been to a city before might not recognize it as such. [The owner of the carriage sold some of the filigree to cover expenses and conceal his wealthy origins.]

The wagon is oddly proportioned, with spindly metal-rimmed wheels that would perform better on cobblestone than in dirt or mud. There is a bench inside, with much smaller storage space in back than a typical trail wagon. It looks like the bench could fit two or three passengers comfortably. Very comfortably, in fact; the seats inside are padded. There are traces of gold filigree around the outer wall, and you notice faint indentations where there may once have been more. Unusually fancy even for a Pratchett wagon, but it's seen considerable wear. The sides are spattered with dried mud to an alarming height, and you notice familiar damage around the tongue and front axle that suggest it's been yanked out of many a mudhole. The paint looks remarkably fresh where it's not covered in mud. You spot several instances of the Crexin crest, but only because you're looking closely; it looks like someone went to considerable effort to scrape them off or conceal them in mud. There are scratches and dents elsewhere on the frame, but damage is worst by far on the crests, making them nearly illegible. Glint must have good eyes. 

None. 

"Whoa, somebody with this cart had an interesting time of some kind," I say, trying out a squashy seat.

Prota comments and gets into the carriage to sit on the seat. 

"Whoa, somebody with this cart had an interesting time of some kind," you say, stepping into the strange wagon and sitting on the padded bench. 

Step 74

The carriage is designed for comfort, so the seat will be comfortable by migrant standards. Prota may notice more details about the interior. A faint floral scent lingers, now mixed with a woody scent associated with boxes and crates. The Crexin servant moved the contents out of the carriage before turning it over to Nell. Faint indentations may remain where the boxes rested on the cushions. The vehicle was not intended to be used to store travel supplies, but its user was rushed and desperate. [The Crexin servant who owns the carriage at Nell's is an old but capable man named Gano.] Because he was afraid of Sebastine's allies finding him, Gano gave a false name. [Nell knows Gano by the name Wyllis.] 

Glint acknowledges Prota's observations, letting them investigate. He can shift into wolf form and sniff around. What scents will he notice? Gano's, and possibly a hint of the ruling family, whose scent he may have come across before. Gano will not have left a note or anything, since he was not expecting anyone but Nell to examine the carriage. 

The seats are torn from jostling splintery wooden boxes about. There are some water stains and bits of dry foodstuff. Some decoration may have been removed from the interior as well, but not as much, because it is not immediately visible to passerby. 

Glint nods, frowning. He shifts into a large grey wolf as you enter and sniffs about curiously. 

If anything, the inside is even fancier than the outside, with dyed fabrics and gilt inner frames. The padded bench is quite comfortable, though stained and torn in places. A faint floral scent lingers, mixed with a stronger odor of wooden crates and boxes. A flat indentation in the empty seat reveals where those boxes might have been stored. A few crumbs of dry foodstuff litter the floor. The conveyance clearly wasn't made to carry travel supplies, but it seems to have been used that way. 

Glint returns to human form. "Smells like one person used it recently, and someone else used it regularly before that. Might be Crexin household, I've smelled them before. Whoever it was, they didn't bother to buy a real wagon. This is a city carriage." 

None. 

"Maybe they were leaving in a hurry? And I guess didn't want to be recognized."

Prota speculates aloud about the motives of the carriage's owner. 

You speculate, "Maybe they were leaving in a hurry? And I guess didn't want to be recognized."

Step 75

Glint agrees with Prota's assessment. (Prota is making steps towards unraveling the mystery of Gano. Further nudging in that direction is appropriate, but should not outright give away the plot). Glint asks what might motivate someone to leave Adwell quickly and quietly, with a Crexin carriage. Glint has his own suspicions, but he wants to let Prota draw their own conclusions and decide what to do about it themselves. (As this is an optional side quest, Prota's options here should remain open-ended. Let the Player take the lead on whether and how to pursue this mystery further.) 

(If the Player gets stuck or lacks interest, Nell's return can further the story in the next step.) 

"Sure looks like it, greenjay," nods Glint. "Now who would want to leave Adwell quickly and quietly, in a carriage formerly owned by the Crexins?" He looks sideways at you. "...and what do you suppose we might do with the information?" 

None. 

"I guess it might be a stolen cart?" I say. "But that doesn't tell me who by."

Prota supposes the carriage may have been stolen. 

"I guess it might be a stolen cart?" you suggest. "But that doesn't tell me who by."

Step 76

Prota's hypothesis is a credible one, though untrue. Would it be too much of a giveaway to have Glint propose an alternative? Not necessarily; Glint might say "if it wasn't stolen, then someone from the Crexin household may have escaped..." Glint is aware that looters may have gone through the Crexin household after Sebastine ousted them. It may even have been a motivating factor to some members of the uprising. In Glint's mind, then, the two most likely possibilities are: the carriage was looted or stolen, or it belongs to a member of the Crexin household. If the carriage was stolen, then stealing it back might be defensible. It has less value on the trail than in a city, but could still be sold for some coin. No one in Adwell is likely to prosecute the thieves, if the rumors about Sebastine are true. On the other hand, if it belongs to a household member, Sebastine may offer a reward for their capture - but do they deserve what Sebastine might do to them? Ultimately, Glint wants to let Prota decide. Prota has not yet decided on a course of action, so Glint can repeat his query, once. 

(If the Player does not bite, the story moves on. There will be other opportunities to encounter Gano or the imprisonment sub-plot in Adwell.)

"That it might," agrees Glint. "In an uprising like this, there'd be quite a bit of theft and looting of the Crexin estate. Might even have been part of the deal, to bring in support for the rebellion. If that's the case, hard to see anyone in Adwell's new regime caring much. And the thief couldn't exactly complain if their looted goods were to...disappear. On the other hand, if it weren't stolen..." Glint lowers his voice. "...then someone from the Crexin household may have escaped the killings. If Sebastine's as cunning as they say, he'll offer a reward for their recapture, even for information about where they've gone. Whether their crime was corruption or merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time...well, hard to say. Either way, this could turn out to be a useful discovery. 

"Question is - what do you want to do about it?" 

None.

"I'm not going to turn somebody in for escaping being murdered," I say. "I don't even really want to find such a person, I hope they get away clean."

Prota does not want to turn in an escapee. They have said nothing about the thief possibility.

"I'm not going to turn somebody in for escaping being murdered," you say. "I don't even really want to find such a person, I hope they get away clean."

Step 77

Glint is of a similar mind about the escapee scenario, and is proud of Prota. However, Prota has not yet expressed a preference about their thief hypothetical. (It may feel awkward to end this conversation without addressing Prota's original guess.) Glint wonders how Prota wants to handle finding a stolen vehicle. Glint's sense of justice is strong, but as punishments go he is more inclined to mischief than cruelty, at least for a crime of this magnitude. 

Prota may decide it's not worth pursuing because they don't know the truth. (This, too, is an acceptable outcome. The Player can choose what elements of the world to engage with. Alternative hooks can be established in the market and visiting Glint's other contacts.)