Captain Cynthia Stout

Shield Dwarf. Captain of the Kingsguard detail at Thornwall Fords. Was holding back 30 blocked merchant wagons due to the plesiosaur blockade on the Starwater River — two guards killed, three rafts smashed. Recognized Harold's letter of introduction and seal as legitimate. Offered the crew coffers, free passage, and a prime vendor spot in the market square in exchange for clearing the plesiosaur threat. Promised protection inside Thornwall Fords' walls, though acknowledged she could not send protection back out on the road.

Session 08: Paid the party 100 gold as promised. Collected the sabotaged control whistle as evidence, locked it in her strongbox, and intends to send it with her full report to her superiors. The whistle bears a small imprint of tally marks and antlers. Her recon guard returned with an order slip bearing a broken yellow wax seal marked with what looks like a 'V', reading: 'Hold the ford through market week. Feed it. Don't spend it. Coin follows the tally.' Guard also collected resin-dipped crossbow bolts from the ambush site. Stout took copious notes on the ambush, the brand, the barrels, and the body. Recalled Foreman Kaelin complaining about market routes being interrupted — potentially connecting him to the plesiosaur blockade plot. Does not personally know the king's whereabouts.

Session 09: Accepted the bloodied threat note and Wickett's sketch of the tally-mark brand as additional evidence, placing them in the strongbox alongside the whistle. Doubled gate watches and posted a guard at the strongbox. Bluntly told Wickett she has only eight spears across three locations and advised the crew to choose carefully where they sleep. Immediately recognized Wickett's description of the raft camp as Redwater Shallows, confirming long-standing suspicion that it is a ruffian stronghold she has never been able to get reliable intel on. Now clearly regards Wickett as the crew's spokesperson.