Quests:Dun Barethsol:To Hunt a Thief
There are several ways of tracking down Alek Endhelm.
Pralines and Sweetmeats
When Marcella returns to Waste’s Edge, she might spot a boat at the docks that has just arrived. If she does not notice the boat, Oliver is almost certain to mention the amazing Master Cerfus and his unending parade of pralines, sweetmeats, and biscuits (by which he means shortbread cookies or spritzgeback). He comes into Waste's Edge every other week or so. Oliver, along with the other children, awaits his coming eagerly. Alternately, if Marcella asks Lucia, she might mention Cerfus as a wine merchant who brings her a few bottles of Cirda Rose every month. Few of her patrons drink it, but sometimes a wandering Syulvan will want som.
Aboard the boat or beside it at the docks waits Tinuv Cerfus, who will approach her if she gets near. He will ask her to deliver a package of finest pralines to Albrecht’s hunting castle. He has tried himself before, but was waylaid by robbers twice so far. He suspects that they know him, but hopes that Marcella may pass unharmed.
If Marcella accepts the job, the guards will allow her to enter the castle without much hassle. They’ll ask her to bring the pralines to Albrecht’s guest, who turns out to be Alek Endhelm.
A Vine Around an Axehaft Winding
As a witch, Ella of the Green has her own means of discovering Alek’s location. When Marcella asks her, she is willing to help, but not without something in return. Ella will ask Marcella to tell her some of her own past - life with the Gardners and what she has learned - or to learn songs Ella does not know and sing them to her, or even to help her golem and the spirits of the cemetery find rest. Marcella can accept any or all of these options.
Orphan of Green and Red
If Marcella is still dealing on friendly terms with Ella, she has heard the Song of the Fountain's Falling and some of her parent's life stories. Ella has found out about Marcella's own story and asks for more details about her upbringing as an orphan raised by Gardners.
Well of Songs
Ella's well is called the Well of Songs. When asked about it, Ella mentions that there are legends that a river once ran through her glade, flowing down from the mountains and out to the sea. The legend holds that a beautiful nymph-daughter of Cirda fell in love with a great old spirit-bear who was in the service of the Lord of Beasts. Then Cirda moved the river closer to its present-day banks, the nymph chose to remain behind, near the aging spirit-bear and to die with him. When the spirit-bear and the nymph died at last, they were buried by the spirits of the Wild Wood and sung to their rest by the many servants of the Winged Beauty. It is now held by many old and young, far and wide, that the water of the well shall remain sweet so long as the spirit-bear and the nymph-daughter hear new songs every year. Ella has heard no new songs of late, so she wants Marcella to learn some new songs and teach them to her so she, in turn, can sing these new songs over the well.
Guardian's Rest
Ella will also make mention of the fact that she has grown in power and no longer needs to keep her Knight's golem near her. She wishes for what remains of her knight's spirit to know rest. She knows that there are ghosts in the cemetery - one evil, one good. The evil is recent, the good ancient, but the ancient spirit feels weaker now than ever before and may perhaps need the help of another virtuous guardian.
Once Marcella completed Ella’s errand, the witch will reveal that Alek is staying at Albrecht’s Hunting castle. Ella might make the remark that Albrecht seems to have something bad going on. She will also show Marcella a hidden way into the valley where the castle lies. That way, she can approach the castle from the backside and can sneak in without the guards (and Alek’s thugs) noticing. Once inside, finding Alek shouldn’t be too difficult.
Spear in Earth
Fighting some bandits outside the main bandit camp and questioning the survivors will reveal Alek’s whereabouts to Marcella. Reaching him will probably require more fighting though, as the entrance to the castle is guarded and Marcella will not be allowed to enter without reason.