The Amberhollow Disappearences
In the fall of 272 P.C. over the course of ten days, forty-seven souls disappeared from the small village of Amberhollow. Despite a thorough investigation by local and national authorities the whereabouts of those whom disappeared are unknown and no remains that can be attributed to the missing souls have been found.
On the first night of Harvest Festival, the human farmer Rycroft Kehler left the festivities early, returned home and retired to bed. His wife, Odette, reported that she left the festival an hour or two later and when she arrived home she observed that Rycroft was in bed alseep. Odette stated that she went to bed as well at this point and when she awoke in the morning to the roosters and discovered Rycroft was not in bed, preparing to work, or tending the fields. After searching for her husband for a few hours, Odette alerted the town watch, who assuming that Rycroft was drunk, or had simply wandered off, did nothing.
The following evening, the second of the Festival an additional six people vanished overnight. Three were farmers, one was the wife of a local shop owner, one was a farmhand and one was a member of the town watch, an elf named Sihnion Qirieth. In each case the soul who vanished, seemingly did so in the middle of the night and right out of bed.
The additional disappearances, especially that of a shop owners wife stirred local authorities into action. A formal investigation was begun and aid from the nearby city of Clearport was requested.
The initial belief was that the missing souls wandered off. Each had attended the Festival the night before they disappeared and the investigation revealed each had drank alcohol at some point during the festival. Trackers however could not find any confirmed tracks leading out of the village belonging to any of the missing souls.
That night, three more souls went missing, however this time their was a witness in a manner of speaking. Local Crafts-person and drunkard Gunnga Hervedotr stated that when she arrived at her home after a night of drinking, she saw her husband, disappear into thin air while sitting at a table. With this new information the investigation, changed course. Despite the somewhat unreliable statement from Hervedotr, foul magic in the form of a wizard was now suspected. As a result the Order of Mages became involved in the investigation as well.
The next seven days were filled with dread for those who lived in Amberhollow. Thirty-seven more souls would disappear during the remaining days of the festival, including the head investigator sent from the Order of the Mages, Examiner Pagrus. Pagrus strongly believed that a local unknown and unlicensed mage was behind the disappearances, but he did not know, whom or why. In his notes however, he wrote that he suspected a local hermit, Alger Grund as being involved, but he was unaware of the extent. With Pagrus gone, the remaining investigators questioned Grund and could not find any evidence he was involved.
After the questioning of Grund, the disappearances stopped.
The First Disappearance
On the first night of Harvest Festival, the human farmer Rycroft Kehler left the festivities early, returned home and retired to bed. His wife, Odette, reported that she left the festival an hour or two later and when she arrived home she observed that Rycroft was in bed alseep. Odette stated that she went to bed as well at this point and when she awoke in the morning to the roosters and discovered Rycroft was not in bed, preparing to work, or tending the fields. After searching for her husband for a few hours, Odette alerted the town watch, who assuming that Rycroft was drunk, or had simply wandered off, did nothing.
More Disappearances
The following evening, the second of the Festival an additional six people vanished overnight. Three were farmers, one was the wife of a local shop owner, one was a farmhand and one was a member of the town watch, an elf named Sihnion Qirieth. In each case the soul who vanished, seemingly did so in the middle of the night and right out of bed.
The additional disappearances, especially that of a shop owners wife stirred local authorities into action. A formal investigation was begun and aid from the nearby city of Clearport was requested.
The Investigation Begins
The initial belief was that the missing souls wandered off. Each had attended the Festival the night before they disappeared and the investigation revealed each had drank alcohol at some point during the festival. Trackers however could not find any confirmed tracks leading out of the village belonging to any of the missing souls.
That night, three more souls went missing, however this time their was a witness in a manner of speaking. Local Crafts-person and drunkard Gunnga Hervedotr stated that when she arrived at her home after a night of drinking, she saw her husband, disappear into thin air while sitting at a table. With this new information the investigation, changed course. Despite the somewhat unreliable statement from Hervedotr, foul magic in the form of a wizard was now suspected. As a result the Order of Mages became involved in the investigation as well.
The Case Goes Cold
The next seven days were filled with dread for those who lived in Amberhollow. Thirty-seven more souls would disappear during the remaining days of the festival, including the head investigator sent from the Order of the Mages, Examiner Pagrus. Pagrus strongly believed that a local unknown and unlicensed mage was behind the disappearances, but he did not know, whom or why. In his notes however, he wrote that he suspected a local hermit, Alger Grund as being involved, but he was unaware of the extent. With Pagrus gone, the remaining investigators questioned Grund and could not find any evidence he was involved.
After the questioning of Grund, the disappearances stopped.
Cultural Reception
Many people believe that the Amberhollow Disappearances were a part of conspiracy to silence persons who were vocal challengers to Clearport's new taxes and regulations, which would strongly affect Amberhollow. Others in turn believe that Grund, was either a wizard or was helping one, take people for ill means.
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