When in Sylvan's Cradle, I hit "Travel to Respite" after filling my recruits inventory up with ore, ingots, and various other materials from clearing the map.
Upon loading in, all of those items had disappeared and I was not able to locate them anywhere else. Lots of materials now vanished to include Synchronous Lotus items.
Have you guys looked for a Follower's Belongings chest around where you returned to Crossways from?
My realms were littered with them after bouncing back and with Invite to Realms and Return to Crossways a week ago.
I'm having the same issue! Mine was when loading up from my original estate (where my respite is located) and then hitting "return to crossways" (where my new estate is located, and I"m moving items to). All my survivor's inventory except her equipped items disappeared, and it has happened more than once.