Jaekob Searches for the Cheshire Cat

A little history for those unfamiliar with the River Lands and it's great port city of Cheshire. Cheshire was named for the port city of Cheshire, England which existed in medieval days and exists yet. Our Inn was named the Cheshire Cat Inn for an Inn that existed in Cheshire in medieval days and exists yet. And, of course, the Cheshire Cat Inn, had a Cheshire Cat. In Medieval days, it was believed the cat was magical and could vanish at will. So our Inn has always had a Cheshire Cat, sort of an Icon for the Inn and the River Lands. ICly Jaekob is very fond of the cat. And, everyone assumes it is just his gentle nature and his love for nature and all animals. But, there is more to it surely. And now, the cat has vanished. And Jaek in having noticed its absence has grown a bit worried. Today, begins the storyline, "The Missing Cheshire Cat."

Jaekob searches the Cheshire Cat Inn for the Missing Cheshire Cat

Jaekob Faolan: "But, the Cat has to be here somewhere, Betha" the Druid says nervously looking at her. "When was the last time you saw him?"

Betha Bronagh (NPC): "The cat has simply vanished, Jaekob. He was here last week before Market Day and I have not seen him since. But, oddly, we found several rat carcasses about the Inn. They seemed to have been killed and ripped apart."

Jaekob Faolan lets out a low growl, glancing over to the cat's food bowl which has been untouched for days. " That is odd hmmm? Why would there be dead rat carcasses about? Have you seen anyone.... well strange?"

Betha Bronagh (NPC): " No, Aran, no one. There is a new hobbit living upstairs, but he arrived after that," she says curtsying.

Jaekob Faolan: "Well I have to find him, I HAVE to.... find him." And he storms out of the Inn heading toward the gathering at the Market.

Jaekob Faolan approaches the group, "Has anyone seen my er.... the inn cat? He seems to be... missing," he stammers without noticing the stranger or being cordial.

Fiesty Lotus: "This be a new hobbit that has come to the lands."

Fitheach Eun bows slightly: " Nice to meet you Tangles; I am Fitheach but everyone calls me Fit."

Fiesty Lotus: "He be Tangles BarkFellow."

Tanglefoot BarkFellow: "I travelled from a far away Shire. A very small one."

Sunbeam Magic: "Not I Master Druid Jaekob"

Fitheach Eun: "Welcome to The River Lands, Tangles."

Saphira Mistwalker: "Greetings Lord Jaekob. No, we have not seen the cat."

Fiesty Lotus: "Tangles- meet me sister Druid Fitheach."

Talia.Sunsong: "I like to pet kitties, but I didn't take him."

Fitheach Eun: "Where have you looked Jaekob?"

Fitheach Eun: "And no, I have not seen him, but I have not been here in a week."

Fiesty Lotus looks at the Master Druid in alarm.

Tanglefoot BarkFellow: "Thank you for the most warm welcomes."

 Fiesty Lotus: "What be the matter Master Druid?"

Juste Rivers startles at the Druid's unusual behavior.

Fitheach Eun: "Indeed milord King, I think you owe us an explanation."

Tanglefoot BarkFellow: "Master Jaekob I have not seen the cat, although I did hear it scratch at my door earlier."

Jaekob Faolan: "The Cheshire Cat is..... is.... gone," he stammers. "Betha, says she has not seen him  since last Market Day."

Tanglefoot BarkFellow: "Oh. Perhaps that was something else scratching then."

Fitheach Eun: "Gone for a week then? That is not good."

Jaekob Faolan looks at Tangles, "When, where..... I need to go check and see if it was the Inn cat."

Tanglefoot BarkFellow: "The night I arrived here. That was four days ago now."

Saphira Mistwalker: "I will certainly keep and eye out for it as I wander through and above the forest Lord Jaekob. At least, it should have things to catch and eat if it is out there."

Talia.Sunsong: "We should make a catnip trap for the kitty."

Jaekob Faolans shows excitement over the male hobbit saying he saw him and he looks from one to the other, "Betha saw.... well.... cleaned up.... some dead rat carcasses around the inn the same night."

Fitheach Eun: "More than one rat carcass?"

Fitheach Eun: "That is unlikely to be all the work of the one cat."

Fitheach Eun: "Perhaps he has run off with a lady friend?"

Saphira Mistwalker: "Aye, not one that is well-fed."

Fiesty Lotus looks at the Druid worriedly.

Tanglefoot BarkFellow tries.. really tries to worry about the cat, but .. .there is food stuffs about ..

Sunbeam Magic: "If I come close to the cat I will begin to sneeze," sighs.

Meanwhile, Jaekob pulls Fitheach aside to talk with her privately while the Market Day chit chat continues.

Fitheach and Jaekob Talk Privately

Jaekob Faolan: "Fit, this is very serious. Ches is not just any cat," the Druid whispers to her.


Fitheach Eun raises my eyebrows: "Oh?"

Fitheach Eun: "What is he then?"

Jaekob Faolan glances around nervously, "The cat was......well," and he swallows hard.

Fitheach Eun looks concerned and waits quietly.

Jaekob Faolan: "He was a someone I knew long ago. He.... he was bespelled and has been under my protection. He is a.... human."

Fitheach Eun: "Ah, that put a whole different complexion on it."

Fitheach Eun: "Do you think he was kidnapped or harmed?"

Jaekob Faolan bites his lip hard, "He has been in this form for.... well since I was a student Druid. Some foul Mage," he growls. "I really don't know. But Betha said the day he vanished, there were rat carcasses about the inn so it sounds like mischief of some sort."

Fitheach Eun: "It does sound suspicious."

Jaekob Faolan: "Fiesty needs to know as well," he sighs. "I have got to find him."

Fitheach Eun: "We will help of course."

Jaekob Faolan nods, "For now, return to the market. I will keep looking and hopefully......"

Fitheach Eun: "Let me go bargain for some eggs and I will try to tell her we need to talk?"

Fitheach Eun: "Saphira's help would be very useful, too; she is a master hunter."

Jaekob Faolan nods, "Let's keep this between us three for now hmmm. But, maybe the others can help us find him."

Jaekob Faolan: "Maybe we should tell Saphira hmm?"

Fitheach Eun: "We can tell them just that you are very attached to your pet."

Jaekob Faolan: "Oh and another thing," he sighs.

Fitheach Eun: "There is more?"

Jaekob Faolan: "I had a visitor recently in Calenhad. He came with word that there are rogue Unseelie in nearby lands. Nothing serious, just causing some havoc."

Fitheach Eun: "Unseelie?"

Fitheach Eun lets out a long sigh; "I am so tired of mischevious fae."

Jaekob Faolan nods, "Yes, but I have seen none in these parts so am not overly worried. But, we should keep a watch for them."

Fitheach Eun: "We should indeed."

Fitheach Eun: "Ummm Jaek, those rats Betha found...."

Jaekob Faolan nods to the group, "Yes, what about them?"

Fitheach Eun: "Teeth marks in them at all? What killed them?"

Jaekob Faolan whispers: "I....I did not think to ask, Fit."

Fitheach Eun: "I will find out after I talk with Fiesty,"

Fitheach Eun: "We should go back or at least I should."

Jaekob Faolan: "You go, I will continue looking for the cat."