Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
Keith says, If you take these folks to Marali, get my kettle back from her. She borrowed it a week ago to make that potion she was talking about and I want it back. I miss the ease of a cup of tea before bed.
Karen stands up and says, Yes Papa, and then fetches a cloak from a hook on the wall. Her cottage is just to the east of here. It’s not far. Fifteen hours and ten minutes?Karen turns and says to Marvin. That doesn't seem very long.
You follow Karen through the tiny hamlet, and notice no more than seven or eight small cottages, and surrounding these are several stacks of cut peat, laid out on wooden poles to keep them separated as they dry, which in this country must take weeks.
Marali’s cottage is large, that is it is spread out and looks more like it is a combination of three different cottages and a short, round, stone tower.
Karen knocks on the door of a small white building, attached to the tower. The door opens and you se a heavy set, bent at the shoulders, crone. She is a human woman, not ugly, but she is certainly old. Her hair is silvery, and poorly braided. Her skin is a deep tan color, wrinkled, and marked with white scars too numerous to count. She wears a thick, but sleeveless shirt, of wool died deep orange and she has a tattoo on each of her arms between her elbow and her shoulder. On her left arm is a panther, while on her right is a sword, blade pointed down, piercing a scroll with the words, “Tremble Deep Society” written on it in a flowing script.
Who is it? the old woman asks, her tone is neither dismissive, nor friendly.
Grandmother, Karen says, and takes the old woman’s left hand. We’ve had some visitors arrive here in the village and I’ve brought them to see you. They have questions about the beast that has been plaguing us these last weeks. I’ll let them tell you who they are. May we come in?
Oh, buckets and bellwether, heavens no, the house is a mess. Here, The old woman takes a staff from out from behind the door, and pushes out toward all of you, Follow me. She places her free hand, once Karen has released it, against the wall of the house and says, [/b]Karen, tell you father I broke the kettle, I got it too, too hot, and it split right open. I’ll pay for a new one. Anyway the potion was ruined, and then begins walking briskly around the outside of the cottage until she comes to a fence. She opens the fence and then keeps her hand on the rail as she follows it to a low roofed building. I had wanted to build a tavern here, but I ran out of money. The walls and the roof are sound, but I never finished the floor or the bar. There are some chairs and a nice fire pit in here. We can be cozy and talk all day if we need to. I bet you are heroes, adventures, aren’t you, eh, eh, I want to hear all of your tales. And if you can stomach it, I’ll tell you some of mine.
She leads you through an unfinished doorway, there is no frame to hang a door upon, and into a long empty building that is about thirty by twenty feet. In the center of the room is a well constructed, stone fire pit, and a copper flue, suspended on strong chains, hangs above it to carry smoke up and through the roof. There is a stack of fire wood near the pit and Marali throws several logs into the pit, and then snaps her fingers and a fire begins to blaze almost immediately. All around are several well built wooden chairs, all of the same design. You arrange the chairs around the fire, and take a seat.
Well, what is it you want to know? Marali says as she sits down, and drags a chair close to her own, pats it, and then Karen sits next to her.
|
"Well, to start, we understand that it was you who finally managed to drive the monster away - even injure it, which, to hear it told, was no common feat. What did you do, if we may ask, and do you know anything more about the creature?"
"It goes without saying," Sasithorn continues, "that any aid in any form you were willing to offer our own efforts to deal with the creature would be unequivocally appreciated."
Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
The old woman looks toward where the speaker’s voice is coming from and says
Who are you, and didn’t my granddaughter say there was a group of you here. Don’t you think you should tell me who you are and where you came from before you start asking me questions. Oh, well, young people today I suppose.
She shifts in her chair, seems that she is now uncomfortable, and then says
Anyway, here’s the situation, heroes, this strange thing has been seen all over in these parts for about three weeks, maybe a month now. At first we didn’t know what to do, lucky for us it hadn’t killed anyone here in our little hamlet, but it’s killed a couple of folks over in Sewardhome, that’s southwest, but a priest I know from Sewardville had some luck driving it away with spells that attack it with positive energy, so I grabbed my wand of healing and, using my ears, which are still pretty good, I managed to get close enough to the thing when it had young Peter on the ground and managed to hit it a couple of times with healing spells. It must not like that at all, and eventually the thing gave up and ran off into the night.
"That is useful information," Marvin states. "This party is a group currently in pursuit of the creature and would be interested in knowing the direction where the creature fled. This unit is identified colloquially as Marvin and also inquires on your identification symbol of 'Tremble Deep Society'."
Diarmal muses over the creature's distaste for holy energies. Like the beasts that attacked back in town, it bore a dark and evil taint. A chill ran down his neck as he remembered the sudden disconnection from Lady Aisling's graces. Whatever the beast was up to - whatever was really going on here - it didn't bode well.
"That was very brave of you, my lady. It seems your efforts saved not just one man, but this whole village. Clearly the eyes of Lady Aisling were upon you. Could you tell us more of the plight in Sewardhome? If the beast has been plaguing them, perhaps it has made a lair nearby. Or perhaps it has fled its lair, sending it straight through your home."
It looks lahk, we are going ahuntin for beasty
The old woman turns her head toward the sound of Marvin’s voice, and smiles.
Actually, I have no idea what direction it fled, haha she points at her milky eyes
When Marvin looks toward Karen, the young girl shrugs and says, I wasn’t there, but I’ll go and ask around to see if anyone saw, or knows. Grandmother, will you be alright if I leave you with these people? And then maybe you can go with them back to our house, when you are done, father is making stew for them and we would love to have you join us for lunch.
Marali frowns at the mention of Karen’s father, but then licks her lips at the mention of stew, Oh, I do love your father’s cooking. Alright, I’ll go. Eh, what’s that Marvin, oh the tattoo. Yes, the Tremble Deep Society, ahaha, that was the name a band of friends and I adopted for ourselves, a sort of loose club you might say. Oh, those were good times. We founded the society as a sort of promise to each other that we would always try to stick together, and help each other out in times of need. We chose Tremble Deep, because we all were underground during the big quake of eighty seven. Scared the pants off us, but we survived. Of course, they’ve all passed on now, and I am the last living member of that old club.
When Diarmal mentions Lady Aisling, she brighten, raises her head a bit, and says, Lady Aisling you say. Ah, would that mean you are one of the fair skinned elves from Drasbia? A highlander? Oh, I could tell you stories of Erdrik MacHarthor, what a man, what a specimen, a real handsome one he was, and oh what a temper. I never went a day without wishing it was I who shared his tent and not that little sorceress Deeliah, from Basconde. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I loved her too, but boy, what I would have given to be the object of his eye instead of her. A lair you think? Hmmm, maybe, though that’s hard to say. It has attacked Sewardhome a few times, this I know from talking to Volkgrahme, the Beauvingian priest who lives there. Now, that would probably be a good place to start your hunting. You can get to Sewardhome in a few hours walk, it is northeast of here, and there is a good road that takes you right there. The road passes us, to the north, just a a half a league away, if you follow Tangle Creek, out of our hamlet north you come to a bridge where the road crosses the creek, once you’ve reached the bridge, just take the road east from there
"Then it would be logical to follow your instruction. Would you be willing to create a letter of introduction to Vokgrahme to speed communication? Your assistance would be and is appreciated."
Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
Oh, well I can dictate a letter for Karen to write, yes, he is a stuffy old coot, Volkgrahme, and he will take kindly to that sort of formality in a snip snap. You could reach there easily before noon if you set out soon, but I guess you’d better have a meal first, and believe me, my son in law isn’t much upstairs, but he is a great cook. You’ll love his stew.
Karen, be a dear and fetch a paper and a pen and ink from the house, we’ll meet you by the gate, and then we’ll all go to your house for lunch.
Ribat manages to quit staring at Fonidea long enough to ask where he can find a new net.
"Marali, I would like to procure a new net, but I cannot currently afford to purchase one outright. Do you think anyone would be interested in trading a net for two pounds of darkwood, which I believe should be of equivalent value?"
The elders will not be happy when they find out I bought something personal with the darkwood, but I have to make it back alive for them to find out. And there's always the chance that I can manage to replace the money later.
Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
Darkwood, you say, Marali whistles, as she gets to her feet and takes Karen’s arm. Oh, I’ll gladly give you fifty gold pieces for your darkwood. I’ve been wanting to enchant an axe head and been waiting for just the right material to show up for the handle.
If you want to buy a net, Patrick and Robert Botham, two brothers who have cottages to the north of mine, near the river, have plenty of them and I’m sure they’ll sell you one of theirs for half as much as I’ll give you. Let’s have a look, haha, I mean, let me take a feel of your wood, sir. I didn’t get your name?
50 gold pieces? That's enough to buy the net and still report a profit. Nature be praised!
Ribat extends his hand for Marali to shake. "The name's Ribat, ma'am." Greeting complete, Ribat rummages around in his pack and eventually pulls out some darkwood. Is this the wood you want?"
Marvin stands by, continuing to keep a methodical look-out.
Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
When Ribat shakes the old woman’s had, at first her grip is friendly, but then with suddenness he was not expecting it grows intensely tight, and she yanks him forward
What is this! A bullywug! How dare you think you can just walk into our village after what your people did to our work! Explain yourself quickly swamp dweller, I’ve got enough strength left in me to take one of your kind if I have to. Where did you get this darkwood?
Grandmother, wait. He’s not a bullywug Karen shouts, Well at least he doesn’t look anything like the bullywugs that live around here.
Diarmal can't help but smile, knowing full well that he'd made the same mistake. Granted, he didn't have the handicap of blindness - but then, not many of Ribat's people lived in, or even happened through, the Drasbian Highlands.
"Indeed, Marali, Ribat is a good man. Do not presume him to be as dangerous as his distant kinsmen."
Marvin follows standard procedure and keeps their gun at ready should anything arise.
"Once, just once, O nature spirits, may I go somewhere without being mistaken for one of those savages? I am not a bullywug; I am a grippli. got the darkwood from my clan. I'm a traveling salesman, of sorts. I take out darkwood to sell and bring back money and/or trade goods that might be of use. Please release me, or I daresay I will be forced to extricate myself."
Day 2, Saturday, The Hamlet of Peat Farmers (approximate time of day, 8:40 am) (Turn 53)
The hunched, old, blind woman, releases Ribat’s hand, and suddenly brightens, her smile is wide and welcoming, and she lets out a loud exclamation of,
get out!*
As she playfully, but forcefully shoves Ribat with both hands, and then reaches back to find her chair and pulls it close to her as she sits and goes on to say, A grippli, I’ll be go to the nine hells. Hah, what a delightful surprise. You must be from Eysturlun then, yes? Of course you are. Ah, the memories I have of adventuring in those dense jungles, the hidden temples, the flooded cities, oh what a time that was, and…
meanwhile, when Marali is satisfied with Ribat’s news, she will go with the group back to Karen and her father’s hut, where the stew is ready, and everyone can enjoy a hot meal. It will be just a little after noon by then. Marali will dictate a letter for Karen to write and she will give it to Diarmal. The party can set out immediately, or rest in the village tonight and leave in the morning
Stop yer wailing, froggeh here is fine Xor says with his usual tact.
The old woman hears Xor's voice and then says
Is that the dialect of a Dwarf I hear? From all the way across the sea in Holdandun, my, this is a very special day
Aye lassie ima dwarf...Xor from the clan chucksalot
Day 2, Saturday, Keith’s Home (approximate time of day, 11:00 am) (Turn 67)
Marali fetches the 50 gold pieces from her home, while the party waits, and then she accompanies the group back to Keith’s home, where the stew is served for lunch. While the group is eating, Marali mentions to Xor
Chucksalott you say. Hmm, about twenty years ago a pair of brothers from Holdandun, by the name of Chucksoffun came though these parts. They were prospectors I believe, searching for the source of the gold that is often panned in the river to the northwest. Great fun those two were, a regular pair of characters. I don’t suppose you’re related?
The stew is thick, hearty, and delicious. Though there is little meat, the vegetables are not over cooked, and plentiful. When you have had your fill. Marali asks Keith for paper and a quill and ink, and dictates a letter to Karen on your behalf.
While she is getting the letter written, Ribat can visit the Botham brothers and purchase a set
The letter is ready and folded and given to Diarmal. The group can leave whenever you are ready.
Aye, that be my second cousin on my third mothers good side
Marvin nods to the old woman and immediately starts heading out.
Diarmal sets the letter into a pocket on the inner folds of his traveler's garments with a courteous bow. "Many thanks, milady. Your hospitality is indeed a blessing. Worry not, for we will see the creature brought to justice before the light of Lady Aisling." Seeing Marvin hastily depart, Diarmal grabs his pack and quickly follows behind the strange man.
Day 2, Saturday, Keith’s Home (approximate time of day, 11:00 am) (Turn 67)
The old woman hears Sasithorn's remarks, and says
Well I know what I saw, and I know that the hardest part about knowing that what I saw was what I think it was, is that you are absolutely right. Some people work very hard at making things difficult to see, and that means that even when it has been seen, it hasn't. At least that's what everyone will tell you if you try to prove it has. Right?
She winks, and it is a disquieting display. then she says
I think your friends are leaving now
yes please.
Ribat regales the old woman with as many tales as he can think of, always making sure to paint himself in the best light possible and periodically casting an unobtrusive look in Fonidea's direction to see if she's paying attention. When it's time to leave, Ribat says, "Well, it was a pleasure doing business with you, madam. I should be going to pick up that net of which you spoke earlier." He looks around at the rest of the party. "That is, if you all don't mind making a short detour. I hate to be a nuisance, but I daresay I will be of more use to our common cause with the net than without."
Day 2, Saturday, North of the farming village (approximate time of day, 1:00 pm) (Turn 79)
Ribat meets the fishermen on the river, and they happily sell him a piece of strong netting, that they attach a length of rope to for him, and he is once again ready for danger.
Before you leave the village, Paulina informs you that she cannot go with you. She tells you that she has already been away for too long and must check in with her people (whatever that means). She asks the people in the village for directions back to Connie’s Bright, and they tell her how to reach that village, by following the river, to the north of them, to the east, and that it will eventually take her to the town.
Ribat
Fonidea
Sasithorn
Xor
Diarmal
and
Marvin
set out for the village of Sewardhome. They follow a small, shallow river that flows west to east at the northern most part of the moors. Here the ground along the river is mostly dry, except for a few places where a small stream breaks away from the river and flows into the moors.
You walk along the river bank, where you can, and from here you can see a forest to the north and beyond the trees hills rise in the distance.
After a few hours you begin to see farm houses in the distance, and then after a little while longer you approach the village of Sewardhome.
It is a large village, the trail and the river you are following pass directly though the center of the village, and there is a road, on each side of the river once you get closes. Buildings line the roads, they are mostly single story buildings but one or two of them are two stories tall, and one of these is obviously an Inn, with a sign in front of the place painted with a broom and a mop crossed over each other, their business ends up in the air.
There are a few people out on the streets, some standing together talking, and others going about their own business. Before you enter the village proper, you can decide where you want to go.
From the east, looking west, you can see the roads pass through the center of the village, and most of the buildings. To the far west of the village, on the south side of the river, is a single tower, the first floor is made of stone, but the rest of the tower, reaching some forty feet in the air, is made of wood. There is a belfry at the top of the tower and you can see a bell hanging there.
Marvin points at the tower. "This unit concludes possibility of Volkgrahme residing in that building to be highest. This unit suggests heading to that location first."
I betcha I can hit that bell from here
"While I have no doubt you could, Xor..." Diarmal carefully guides the dwarf along, trying to get his mind off the destruction of church property. Lady Aisling would not approve of desecrating any god's sanctum, let alone the humans' god. "Volkgrahme might just throw us out of town if we break it. We'd best locate him with all due haste."
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 80)
As Diarmal and Marvin lead the group toward the building with the tower, Marvin recalls the last thing Paulina told him before set left for Connie’s Bright
The group moves down the main street of the village, and many people stare at the group in disbelief, some even pointing and whispering. When the tower building is only a few yards away the bell in the tower rings, Diarmal looks back suddenly, but Xor is only whistling and looking off in another direction.
When the bell rings, a tall, burly looking beauvingian* man, bent a bit at the shoulders, but with thick arms, and a an even thicker beard, comes from the other side of the building. He is dressed in a dark green robe and heavy black leather boots with a brown cotton cord belt. He carries a long handled pointed head shovel.
He sees your group approaching the building and he walks towards you.
You meet him at two small pillars of stone that flank a path running toward a pair of tall doors in the front of the building.
Good afternoon strangers, travelers, and friends. I am Olikk Volkgrahme, and this is my home and our temple to the Goddess of the world, Hamth. Tell me, what brings you here? Are you lost? Looking for
Connie’s Bright, or Harbor Town I suppose?
Marvin doesn't speak, only waiting for Diarmal to give the letter to Volkgrahme or for one of the party to speak up.
We are heya from the town of....Ah it don't matta, Wees alookin for this dark thing that has been runnin round boy
"Indeed we are," Diarmal adds as he retrieves the letter and offers it to Volkgrahme with both hands. "This should help clear things up. It is to our understanding that this beast has caused much trouble for your village. We hope to help."
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 80)
Olikk takes the letter from Diarmal, and carefully unfolds it, resting the handle of his shovel against his shoulder.
Mmm hmmm, mmm hmmm, The Beauvingian mutters as he reads the letter Yes, well, she was always good with introductions, I’ll give her that. Marali is an odd duck, but she is trustworthy to a fault. Welcome to Sewardhome. Come inside and rest your packs and backs. I’ll tell you what I know, and where I think you can find the beast.
He turns and begins walking toward the church, then turns again, and says with a grimace, I think it can be killed, and I’ve been preparing something that just might do the trick.
He leads the group into the church.
It is an open structure with wooden columns supporting the high ceiling. The columns look imported, are carved with images of every kind of plant an animal life one might imagine, the wood is dark red in color, and the thickness of the columns is greater than any trees that grow in the marshes.
The interior of the church has long low benches, without any backs, and it would seem that people, worshipers of this faith, sit here and face the western wall of the church. The western Wall holds a large wooden sculpture that is eight feet tall and five feet wide. It is a statue, of sorts, of a beautiful Beauvingian woman, with four arms, each arm held out away from her body. She is seated on a cushion, and her legs are folded, her face is serene. All around the base of the statue, carved into the base and the cushion like portion of the sculpture, are images of all the known intelligent races , or Panura, of the world of Hamth. The back of the sculpture is a rounded relief showing a carved interpretation of several different realms of existence coming together in a swirling motif. The Beauvingian woman is meant to be an idealization of the Goddess Hamth, the World Goddess, mother of all things (Hamth is also a word use to describe the Prime material Plane, as well as all that exists in this universe that is material in nature, living and non living things combined).
Placed in front of the statue of Hamth is a large collection bowl, also made from red wood, and in it currently there are a few coins, and some small offerings of unused candles, lamp oil, and new garments meant to be distributed to the poor.
Olikk leads yo to the north end of the building where there is a small unadorned door in the wall. Through the door is a small set of rooms that appear to be apartments, and a generous kitchen and common room. You see a flight of stairs, narrow but well made that go in a back and forth pattern up and up in this part of the building where obviously the bell tower must be.
Olikk seats you all at a long dining table, and helps each of you with your packs, placing them against the wall, and then serves you warm bread, from a stone oven next to a large fireplace. He calls to two young Beauvingian females
Belenatha, Daranee, bring warm water, and towels so that our guests may refresh themselves and clean the dirt from their faces. the two girls are attractive, for Beauvingians, an look strong and fit. They both wear their hair long, but tied in at the back of their heads.
We’ve been attacked five times by this monster, in last three months,Olikk begins to tell you as bowls of hot water and small towels are placed all around the table. He eyes Fonidea and Ribat for a moment and then says. But we have managed better than some of our neighbors. Two peaceful villages of Bullywugs have been utterly destroyed, their populations, those that have survived, are scattered and lost, some fleeing deep into the moors only to be made slaves by their less civilized cousins. This thing, whatever it is, has only been seen at night, and most of us who have been close to it, believe it is harmed by the light of day. We have buried four, but there are still three others of our village who are missing. When last it attacked I drove the beast away by repeatedly channeling the positive energy, but even this seemed to only annoy the creature. Our weapons do not seem to cause any harm to the creature, and it feeds on death, and grows stronger when it kills.
Ardun and Growan, two of our strongest warriors, followed it one night into the hills to the north, and they returned the next day, rather than follow the beast to its lair in the dark, and managed to discover a trail left by the monster that goes up a short embankment near a creek in the mountains to a cave some twenty feet above the ground. The two men believe this cave is where the beast sleeps during the day, but they could not find the courage to enter the cave during the day, for fear of what the monster would be like trapped in familiar ground and for fear that the cave may in fact go deep into the ground from the high entrance to flooded chambers. The monsters seems completely at home in the water, we’ve chased it into the moor, and it is quick and silent once it is submerged.
Bele, fetch the lamp from the shrine behind the statue. he tells the taller of the two Beauvingian girls, and she quickly retrieves a small brass oil lamp. It is ornate, and bejeweled with small flat blue stones.
This lamp is a relic, given to me by a high priestess of our faith. It can summon the light of day three times between the hours of sunset and sunrise, but it must be held with both hands. It also enhances the power of any effort to channel positive energy, but I never removed it from the church for fear that the monster might attack me and carry it off should I be killed. Please take it with you and use it to help you in your fight against the monster. Also, I’ve been working on special vials of holy water that I’ve prayed over every morning for a week. The pots are made from brittle clay and will shatter if thrown against anything hard, but I warn you, the monster’s flesh is soft and gives considerably, so the only way they may be of use is to throw them at the hard ground directly below the beast and hope that the splash catches the monsters legs.
He gathers four hand sized jars with cork stoppers and sets them on the table.
There is no way to describe the creature. Its form seems to be always mutating, changing, its limbs grow long and thin, or short and fat as you look upon it. Its body is long, like a horse of a large elk, and it has a head on a thick neck that has one great eye and a huge mouth filled with small sharp teeth. For arms, it seems to have as many as it needs, and the touch of the monster burns with the cold of death from the negative plane itself. When we have managed to cut a limb, the thing burns and turns to ash in the light of day, but when the monster returns it is no worse for the injury and seems to be able to grow limbs at will. It can run, leap, climb, and swim with great speed, and its strength is tremendous. When it kills, it seems to draw energy from the death throws of its victims, the more horrible the death, the stronger the beast becomes.[/b]
You can rest here for the night, the creature will not enter this sanctuary, and we have watches all night long, if the monster appears a horn will sound and then I will wake you by ringing the church bell. If it does not attack this night, I will see to it that you are given directions to the cave where we hope the monster dwells, and then maybe you can discover a weakness and somehow draw or drag it into the light of the day where I pray it will be destroyed and you will have killed the strangler of the shadow moor once and for all.
So we attack durin the day. How far away iz itz ome?
|
|
"It doesn't sound like we want to do that," says Sasithorn with a small sigh, not bothering to look at Xor. "It will be in this lair of its, and enjoying the nurturance of darkness at all times - and this relic will be quiescent, then. I would suggest attacking in the gloaming hours, and perhaps hoping that once we find and engage the monster, we'll be able to lure it outside in due time for dawn."
He then turns his focus on their host. "What else can you tell us about these caves?"
Marvin looks around the church but only seems to regard the area with tactical scrutiny instead.
They listen to Volkgrahme's story, but doesn't seem to be interested in speaking up, waiting for the answer to Sasithorn's questions.
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 80)
The caves, Olikk says are not too far from here, to the north. You can find the caves easy enough, just follow the river west of the village, and there is a creek, we call it Abele’s Fork, that goes into the hills to the north, follow it through a valley to its source, a spring in the foot hills of the mountains. The caves there are salt peter caves, and several times each year miners from the west make a a camp there and used to collect salt from the mines. It sells well in the ports of Basconde, but I fear the miners will be in danger the next time they return if the monster is still living in those caves.
You are all welcome here. Rest, for as long as you like. If you set out for the source of the spring in a couple of hours you would reach the caves after sunset. I’ll go to the men who tracked the beast and try to get a map or some description of the features of the particular caves you are looking for, but unless you can catch the monster coming or going I don’t know how you will find exactly where it lairs. The coming and going of the beast is so random that there is no way to prepare for it, no way of knowing what village it will attack. Perhaps the goddess herself will guide you. All we can do is pray for help in these times.
Perhaps a trap, a lure as you say, stranger, but I can’t imagine what you would use as bait.