The proprietor of the Swinging Sword is Kaylessa Irkell (female Illuskan human commoner). She is the fortyish matriarch of her family and a pleasant, sturdy woman. She is increasingly worried about “what’s gathering in the dark” in Red Larch and brings up her concerns with any likely adventurers who stop by (see “Kaylessa’s Tale,” below).

Kaylessa is friendly to any adventurer who seems likely to tarry in the vicinity, because she believes every monster that is slain makes Red Larch that much safer. If the characters don’t approach her, Kaylessa tells them of recent disturbances near Red Larch. She’s heard many tales about fogs that persist in the Sumber Hills even in bright sunlight, and sudden gusts of hot wind sweeping west out of the hills where breezes have always been cold. There have been more violent sights, too, such as sudden bolts of lightning stabbing up from the hills into a clear sky. “Fell magic,” Kaylessa terms it, though she admits this was an opinion shared with her, and she’s seen none of this herself.

Kaylessa has also noticed some Red Larchers looking both frightened and furtive, and tersely turning aside innocent queries. If pressed, she names Mellikho the stonecutter (area 18) and Luruth the tanner (area 19).