Loyel and other NPCs are Gone

[BluePsion]

I can't find any of the NPCs. I got to the point where the main ones (sorry I forget names) said they were off to Willow, but they are not there. On entering Willow I did get some text about someone growing up with an abusive father.
Loytel is gone. He was in Vernis and told me to contact him when Vernis had grown. The hearthstone is at Lvl 2 but he hasn't come back. I did at some point tell him to go to Meadow. I have none of these NPCs on the Bartender's list or any resident list.
Anyone ran into this?

[Iyasenu]

Did you accidentally place them into the Hearth Stone?
Click on the Hearth Stone and select the Recall option and check.

Also once Ashland and Fiama head to Willow they SHOULD be there.
Go back to Willow and use the Ctrl+F search function to check.

[BluePsion]

Thank you! Both Ashland and Fiama were jammed in a corner of the bedroom in Willow. I didn't know you could Ctrl-F NPCs!
Loytel the Alchemist and the Talespinner were all in the hearthstone at Meadow. Thank you so much, you saved my save! Hopefully your answer will help others too.