Kundall is understandably nervous as you ride to the south, the sight of the Old Beldames hut does little to reassure him, though the thought his curse might be removed is enough to keep him steady.
The Old Beldame is overjoyed at the amount of Rattlecap spore balls you have gathered for her, paying you 100gp for each ball.
Loot
1800gp.
To your interest there is a wolf waiting peacefully in her hut, an old, scarred male resting by the fire and watching you all indifferently.
"Still a few days till the moon starts the curse dearies!" Cackles the much more cheerful Beldame. "It would be best if we wait till the moons grows full and the curse starts it's work before we try this."
What are you doing now?
"We have traveling supplies," points out Lisl. "We could stay encamped nearby - make a site comfortable to stay for a few days."
"That would seem to be a prudent suggestion." Freya says to Lisl's suggestion.
While waiting for others to chime in with their opinions, Freya reaches into her belt pouch for a bit of deer jerky to offer the old wolf, but before doing so asks Old Beldame, "May I?"
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"I'd prefer to go home for the next few days." Isabel says gently, turning pleading eyes to the Belledame and her husband. "Please Belledame, it is nothing against your hospitality but the little one is giving me a hard time and I really want my own bed for a while..." She says, rubbing her stomach, which is beginning to swell slightly.
"It's not much of a ride, I can come back easily enough at the right time."
Darian puts a comforting arm around Isabel. ”Yes, I need to get my wife home to rest. Would you prefer us to all leave you in peace, or would you be agreeable to some remaining here with Kundall until the preparations are complete?”
Josef shrugs. "I'm getting kinda tired of all this back and forth riding, ending up back where we started without really doing much. You run on back home, and I'll stay here with them. It'll be nice just to sit under a shade tree for a spell." He looks at the cursed man. "Work for you, Kundall?"
You have a peaceful week camping a ways off the old Beldames hut on drier ground, between your rations and the occasional game it is a relaxing break.
As the moon grows fuller the old Beldame calls you back to her hut, Kundel in looking nervous and unsure, bound in silver chains and kneeling in an arcane circle.
The old wolf is lying in another circle linked to Kundels, the sun is just starting to reach the horizon, it will be night in less than an hour.
Who will be staying inside to observe the ritual?
Darian remains for the ritual, for various reasons. He was curious as to how sort of things would be done, the outcome, and the safety of those he cared about as well as Kundall and this Beldame.
Freya sits by, watching the ritual. She is particularly curious about the wolf in the circle and how the aged creature will play into the ritual.
Trying to find a comfortable hole out of the way, but with a good view, Josef eagerly anticipates a display of power, wondering what it might look like.
Lisl seems to waver - finally she whispers to Isabel.
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She gives Lisl's hand a squeeze before turning her attention back to the ongoing ritual.
As the full moon rises you see Kundel begin to transform, but something keeps him from doing so, he seems to be in some pain, withing and biting back sounds of torment from the manacles. Sweat pours from his body and he slumps in his circle.
The old wolf is now on his feet, watching Kundel warily. The Old Beldame nods to herself and casts several handfuls of herbs into the prepared braziers. The air soon filled with an pungent aroma.
The lines connecting the two circles begin to flare up, showing some form of link is coming into being. Watching carefully the old Beldame begins to chants in a harsh tongue.
She is telling the Wolf spirit infecting Kundel that is cannot get out and control him. Telling it that it will soon be dead unless it chooses to leave him and go to the old wolf.
Finally, after several long minutes a misty wolf shape leaves Kundel and drifts quickly through the links to the old wolf, where it is absorbed with no signs of pain.
Kundel looks drained, but is no longer in pain, staring in amazement around him as he lays on the dirt floor.
The old wolf now looks much younger, his fur darker and his form stronger?
The Old Beldame slumps onto a stool with a tired cackle. "Ha! I knew it would work. Man and beast will never rest together well, but adding Wolf to Wolf?"
Even removing the silver shackles doesn't release any beast in Kundel, he is truly cured. "Well, that's that!" The old Beldame sighs, opening a locket she wore around her neck and shaking some dust out of it. "Expensive that, but well worth it in the end. Never liked Weres, messing up perfectly decent animals with human wickedness!"
Morning is a long time away, but the ritual seems to be complete.
What are you doing now?
As Kundel starts to transform, Josef begins rising to his feet, reaching for a blade. As it becomes obvious that he won't change, that he won't be moving even, for now, Josef settles back down.
The magical glow surprises Josef, and shifts a bit away.
When the misty wolf pulls out of Kundel's body, Josef stops all movement, transfixed as the form s$!!s to, and into, the old wolf, apparently giving it new life.
When Beldame declares the effort concluded, Josef actually applauds. "That was amazing! I'm very happy that you allowed us to watch. I would hate to have missed that!"
After she mentions how expensive this effort was, Josef looks at her with some confusion. "Expensive? What did this cost you? We are grateful for your efforts, and the results, but I don't think we intended for you to bear a price. Can we cover that cost for you, somehow?"
Lisl watches nervously and with trepidation as the paganic ceremony proceeds. Clearly, this civilized priestess is uncomfortable with the primal nature of this magic.
As the strange spirit whishes out of Kundal and off to the old wolf, Lisl gasps and she clasps her hands in front of her throat. Her wide eyes watch with fright at the animalistic creature - a demon-like spirit? - but she sighs with relief when Kundal is finally released from his shackles.
The Old woman smiles at Josef. "Oh it's nothing money can buy, just a few things I've picked up over the years. All given willingly, which was important for this, freely given to remove a curse forced on the unwilling."
She indicates her greenish skin and pointed ears. "Over the years the Fey blood in me has grown stronger. To a Fey gifts and debts are important. So something like this, pressed on someone without his knowing, well I could see where I could get a grip and peel it away. Where it went was the concern, luckily Old Two Bites here was agreeable. Add wolf to wolf and you get Wolf. Mashing two different natures together is what makes Weres so twisted."
She sighs, looking tired and sips a mug of hot rattlecap tea.
What are you doing now?
Darian was just as wary as Josef during the strange developments within the cabin. However, he remained back, allowing the woman to do her work and give those more trained in such things a clear view to make sure nothing was amiss.
When all was said and done, and Kundall appeared to be alright, he steps forward and asks the man "Are you alright? How do you feel?"
He then looks to the woman and says, "Thank you for helping this man. On behalf of the people of Silverhold, I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit our small village at your leisure. We will let our people know of what you have done here to help this man, and in turn, the rest of us. I hope this is the start of a friendship between us, and that we can continue to help one another in these harsh lands. Speaking of," he says as he looks to Isabel, "It's about time I get my wife and our growing child back home to rest."
After the farewells are completed, he helps Isabel onto her horse before mounting his own steed, prepared to return to Silverhold.
Freya sits, still stunned and amazed by the ritual she had just witnessed. Her grandmother had told her of fantastical rituals similar in nature, but never dreamed she would actually see such a thing.
"If you choose not to visit Silverhold, I would hope that you would not be terribly opposed to an occasional visit. From a personal stand point, there is obviously much I could learn from you if you were willing to teach."
Kundel spends the night trying to stay awake, but falls asleep in the early hours of the morning, awakening with a look of relief on his face, even after a night on a dirt floor. "The dreams! I didn't have the dreams of blood!"
He is overjoyed and swears his loyalty to you all, offering his magic great axe as a reward, and his service if you don't wish to take it?
The Old Beldame looks thoughtful at your offer. "At my age a few of the comforts of civilization would be welcome." She muses, "I will come to visit and shop, but I can't stand living in crowded places."
She gives you all a stern look. "And no babbling as to where I live, I certainly don't want sightseer's and curious fools traipsing around looking for the wicked witch!"
She gives Freya a more pleasant look. "You're welcome to visit anytime Dear. I can see you're more comfortable away from people and towns."
Back to Silverhold?
"I'm glad we could find a solution that let you keep your head, Kundel. I can't speak for the boss," he looks over at the couple, "but I think we would rather have your service than your gear. Like to work at helping keep the peace?"
"That is certainly the case." Freya says to Old Beldame's assessment. "I won't visit too often, knowing how you like your privacy."
Turning her attention to her companions and the subject of Kundel, she says, "I have to agree with Josef. If you are half the warrior that we fought when you were still cursed, you would be a very welcome addition."
Darian looks to the man and back to Josef and Freya, smiling as he added ”Truly. Though some sort of recompense will need worked out for the lives lost in your afflicted state. Not everyone in the village may be as understanding as we. Lisl, Freya, do you think you could provide an explanation to the villagers as to what happened and that he has been cured?”
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"Perhaps some sort of public works?" Isabel suggests. "Doing something useful and not necessarily pleasant, combined with real remorse would go a long way I think."
She smiles at the Beldame. "Thank you very much for your help. We really appreciate you being willing to work with us on this. You'll be welcome in Silverhold anytime you please."
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As the team returned home, Josef noticed that Kesten's men at the gate were flying yellow pennants, letting the few who understand the signal know that the one good external patrol is in Silverhold. Nodding to the royal party, Josef changed directions and headed for the barracks, stopping at the bunks right by the door, the ones nobody ever wants to claim.
He looked at the group, confused. "You're all here. Shouldn't you be out 'resting' instead?" Everybody knew the question didn't apply to Torrance, since Torrance needed to provide his report before he could unwind.
"We found a merchant going well out of his way to avoid Oleg's on his way into Silverhold. Not much reason to do that unless you're trying to hide something, so we took a look. He had what he called a feather mattress, but it felt wrong, so Lendt cut it open along a seam to look inside. It was full of poppies. Seems they've set up to make their drugs locally, but don't want us to find out. Turned them over to Kesten for questioning, and he said they revealed their contact real quick. Seems they set up shop in a room off the tannery. We asked Kesten to let us finish this, and he didn't argue, but he told us we had to wait for you. Well, we've been waiting." The group grumbled a bit before Tansie spoke up.
"Been watching the tannery. Nothing unusual about the comings and goings. Not even sure they're still there. We may have waited too long!"
Josef shook his head. "We can find out if they're still there. Won't be hard. Kesten's just trying to be careful. You know that. We don't need to spook the people, especially not with the werewolf killing people last month. I was watching a woods-witch cure the werewolf, by the way. AMAZING thing to see! But not what we need to focus on right now. Everybody, get some of the Guards' tabards on. We're going to peacefully walk into the tannery and see what we can find."
An armed party of warriors, dressed as the town watch and telling the owner of the tannery to cooperate under the orders of the Aulamaxans didn't find much resistance. One of the side rooms had a big stove which had been burning coal, with a big pot and a funny looking copper kettle with a copper coil running way from the top sitting at hand. The owner looked surprised at the sight. "Krist told me he had started filling this room with cuirboilli that he was going to shape into breastplates. I think you've shown me a problem I didn't know I had! Now, we put a storage trap in each of these rooms, a place to put bait and rat traps to protect the leather. It should be over . . .." The storage trap was almost empty. Two stray poppy petals decorated the floor. Krist was not in the tannery when the team started looking specifically for him.
The tanner willingly submitted himself to evaluation by Lisl, who found him to be innocent of all involvement, but possibly a little too trusting of his employees.
No one has seen Krist since.
Darian had sent a missive out to each of the various leaders to gather in the meeting hall of Silverhold Castle for a Council Meeting. Once everyone arrives, he makes certain they all have a glass of wine and allows everyone a chance to socialize a bit before diving into what he had gathered them all together.
”Everyone, if I may?” he asks loudly to gather everyone’s attention, raising his goblet of wine up to toast the table, ”Winter is nearing an end, and we and our people seem to have weathered it well enough. We’ve had our ups and downs, but in the end, things could have been far, far worse. I would like to thank you each and all for the hard work you’ve thrown in alongside one another to see this through.”
He takes a drink and allows time for the rest to finish their own before adding, ”That being said, the work is far from over. Isabel here is due any day, but by our best measure will likely give birth in the early days of Pharast. I expect the two of us to take some time then to become adjusted to life as parents, but come Gozran, we need to begin filling in this map some more. We also need to reach out to our neighbors and learn of them. See if they are interested in peaceful lifestyles with us, or if they appear hostile. Then we know if we need to be developing trade routes or defenses. We also need to decide on how to fill the void that has been left by Jory’s departure.”
As he speaks, one of the footmen brings forth a large copy of their map of the region and u rolls it on the Council Table. Darian leans forward over it and looks it over, then says ”I know what my own personal plans would be, but I would like to hear from everyone what you own thoughts are.”
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"Have you thought about names yet?" Isabel asks from her position flat on her back, half hidden in a large mound of pillows. "I'm thinking Cow at the moment. It's big enough and heavy enough to make me feel like I'm carrying one strapped to my waist."
She raises her head just enough to make eye contact with her husband. "Could I have a foot rub? Please?"
As Darian's strong hands work the kinks out of her feet Isabel makes some downright sexual moaning noises. "Oh gods that feels good! I haven't even seen my feet for months! We're never doing this again Darian - I love the little one and all but carrying them just sucks!"
Isabel stands slightly to one side, one hand placed firmly in the middle of her back. "The stockyard and the new settlement around Oleg's are doing well. It's a rich area, well suited for farming. We should keep building in there. We could feed an entire kingdom with a little more infrastructure." She smiles at the surprised looks from the rest. "What? I've had a lot of time to read reports and make plans over the past few months!"
"As for exploring, I saw we head east for now. Cover the open area of the plains across to our borders with that other group who were sent east. It's easier land to work with and we can cover it quickly. I don't want to be gone too long until the little one grows up a bit. We can leave the rest of the woods and the western side of the lake for later."
Having finished her drink, Freya says, "You know my stance on expansion, Darian. That being said, if you must continue to expand, you'd do well to fill in the region between here and the trading post."
Considering the map a bit closer, she adds, "Much as Josef, Akiros, and I went south to explore the region directly around the Tuskwater, we should devote some time expanding our knowledge of the region closest to Silverhold if we are to continue to have such a place...making sure that we give the Old Beldame as much space as she would like."
Kuthona is marked by the arrival at your gates of a large group of Halflings. Their party is well ordered and bring tools and building materials of their own with them on their wagons.
The leader, a sturdy Halfling woman with greying hair and rosy cheeks named Marra Fleet steps forward to speak with you. She wears the symbol of Erastil on her breast.
"Erastils blessing on you good sir. My people and I seek to establish settlement of our own to the south east of your fair city. While we wish to have our own village and lands we are happy to swear loyalty to your kingdom.
What are you doing now?
Darian smiles at the aged Halfling and steps over to them. ”Well, we’ve not turned anyone away yet. And I don’t think anyone has made any aspirations to build there yet to our knowledge. I think we could make some arrangements and work together to help each other out.”
Darian looks to Freya, noting the concerned tone in her voice, ”Yes, Lady Velson,” he says with a mischievous grin, ”I know your thoughts on it. But it is a necessity we cannot deny. As our city grows, so too will it’s need for foodstuffs to supply it, space for people to live, and people to protect it. Miss Fleet and her recent arrival of Halfling settlers is evidence of that. Word is spreading of what we are doing here, and we need to be able to anticipate and accommodate more settlers seeking to live here. But,” he pauses for emphasis, ”what we can do is make sure that our expansion is respectful to our environment and Fey neighbors. It is a delicate balance we are going to have to tread that will likely result in no one being 100% satisfied, but we will do the best we can.”
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Isabel screams and clutches at Lisl's hand as the contractions hit again. "Where's Darian?" She shrieks, "I'm going to kill him for this!"
After a long period of screaming, moaning and various threats of severe physical harm to her husband Isabel finally trails off, and the silence is broken by a completely different cry. The cry of an angry new life form, demanding to know what all the light is about and why it was pushed from its warm, dark home!
Darian is pacing frantically in the...throne room? Whatever this main chamber eventually would serve. He wasn’t quite sure. It didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was he was powerless to help his wife upstairs. Powerless to protect her. Just all around useless right now. Josef , Oleg, Kesten, Akiros, and several house guards and serving staff were there with him. A collection of men who were out of place in the delivery bedchamber.
When the screaming stopped, Darian became so weak that he slumped against the wall, his mind immediately darting to the worst possible outcome. So far gone was he, that he failed to even notice the healthy cries of the baby from above. He simply was propped against the wall with his face in his hands.
"Darian, while it's all well and good that you wish to fill your time productively, you do have other demands: You need to learn the business of being a parent, caring for a child, how to change and feed and comfort one. There are always a few children in the village, and I make a point of checking up on them to insure that their health is good. You'll be coming with me and you're going to help change some dirty diapers. My lord."
While it's said kindly, there's not even the hint of a smirk of amusement on Lisl's face. Either she's dead-serious, or this is Not A Woman With Whom One Plays Poker.
~~~~~~~~~~
The winter months have flown by, with Lisl focused primarily on the care of people with small injuries - a thrown back hauling firewood, burns from dropped candles and lamps, even a heart attack from shoveling too much snow in the case of one older fellow. Through it all she has remained as unflappable as ever. The winter seems to suit her: As an Issian she grew up in the snow, and the glistening crystals of ice that hang from the buildings seem to shine like jewels that accompany her glacial demeanor as she makes her rounds.
But today is a different day. A dangerous day.
Without magical intervention, twenty percent of all labors end in the death of the mother.
One in five.
Isabel is gripping the nurse's hand - Lisl needs both of hers - and straining with all her might. Yet the bearing, the screaming, and the pushing does not end. Lisl's hands trace expertly over Isabel's distended belly. The child inside is squirming, struggling to be free. Her water is long since broken, rags and towels scattered across the floor and the bed covered in sweat and blood and effluvium.
For a moment the priestess' eyes hold a spark of sheer terror. It is barely visible to anyone, but she squelches it quickly.
"You must survive to berate him," she says calmly as Isabel screams her rage at her predicament. "The baby must be turned. I will be as quick as I can."
She grabs a soiled rag and mops her forehead, her fiery hair drooping. She pushes it out of her eyes and reaches below the sheets. Her tools are primitive: flat tongs and a surgeon's sharp knife.
"Breathe... push... this will hurt but a moment." She intones a chanting prayer to Abadar. Strange, it seems to her, praying for the aid of a man in the middle of this kind of travail. But it is what she has lived her life for, there is nothing to be done now.
A swift cut and Isabel feels sharp pain, an odd pressure... then, finally, the child is turning, sliding, finally free. With it comes blood... so much blood.
A warm and soothing wave emanates from Lisl. For a moment Isabel fades, as if she is going to pass out. Then the warmth buoys her, lifts her like a tide, and with a final push she expels the afterbirth. Hands moving of their own accord, Lisl cuts the umbilicus and wipes the child down, wrapping the tiny babe in soft cloth.
The baby finally coughs up fluid and takes a breath, then begins a raucous, keening cry.
Lisl moves to the bedside, cradling the child, and she nods for the nurse to lift Isabel's hand. She offers the babe to the weak new mother. "It is a boy," she says. "You have a healthy boy."
The cleric passes child to exhausted mother and then steps back and sags into a chair, saying nothing about how close this incident came to tragedy.
Lisl pushes the nurse out. "Tell Darian he has a son." She leans over Isabel and checks her thready pulse and her forehead. She grips the sacred key of Abadar from around her neck. "Please, holy father, if ever you heard me - do not take this woman into her final fate yet. Do not let her pass from this world without knowing her son. Do not let this be her final bargain - one child for a life taken too young."
Pharast. As winter fades from the land and fresh growth is blooming everywhere you are again visited by a small group of people wishing to settle. This time the groups looks are varied, it seems a number of Tieflings have decided that now is a good time to try and form their own town and look to your new kingdom as a good place to try.
Their leader is a tall, stern man, marked by reddish eyes and small horns on his forehead, he greets you warily but politely. "Greetings your Lordship. My name is Varil Connec. My friends and I have spent a number of years adventuring and working to save enough coin and material to start our own settlement. We hope to be granted some lands in your kingdom and are ready to swear allegiance to you."
Responses?
Gozran. Winter is now fully gone and the fields and meadows are blooming. Disturbing reports have reached you of a number of Two-headed giants that seem to be attacking travelers on the main route to Olegs.
When the nurse comes to deliver the news, it snaps Darian from his melancholy and he bolts up the stairs, taking them three at a time, and back down the hall to his bedchamber where Isabel and Lisl was. Seeing the dire sight, he quickly covers the distance to Isabel’s side, working his own curative magic en route and passing it through her hand as he takes it.
”Are you alright? Lisl, is she alright?”
__________
With the second batch of settlers arriving wishing to set up here in their lands, Darian could feel the frustration Freya must be feeling without even seeing her.
She’s not going to like this. More mouths means more lands needed. But we will do what we have to.
”Your allegiance and desire for a life here is well received, Mr. Connec. I think we should be able to accommodate your request....”
Johanna had been in Silverhold for around a week. She has spent that time learning that the group had dispatched of the bandit threat. Doing this they received a charter from Swordlords granting them a kingdom. With a little time gathering information she learned the rulers could use some help. So she composed a letter to be delivered.
"To the Rulers of Silverhold. My name is Johanna Atsuko. I have traveled here on rumors of helping with the bandit threat. I commend you on a job well done in dealing with such. As I find myself here now I am a skilled trap finder. I spent some time mingling with the Sword Lords in Brevoy and know my way around the courts and social interactions as well. I would very much like to pledge my loyalty to you and your kingdom and join you in the continued settlement of this land. You will find me staying at the Inn. I hope we can talk soon."
Kind Regards,
Johanna Atsuko
Darian, exhausted with worry as he was, maintained a constant vigil outside the door to where Isabel and the little child rested and recovered. The only people he was permitting entry were handmaidens, midwives, Lisl and Freya. When the messenger arrived, he held up a tired hand and took the missive. He read it over, arching an eyebrow as it progressed. Before the messenger left, he looked to him and said ”Take this to Lord Orlovsky. See if he wouldn’t mind checking up on this for me. I would but am a touch indisposed. Make certain he knows I appreciate it and trust his judgement,” as he rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the messenger.
When the nurse comes to deliver the news, it snaps Darian from his melancholy and he bolts up the stairs, taking them three at a time, and back down the hall to his bedchamber where Isabel and Lisl was. Seeing the dire sight, he quickly covers the distance to Isabel’s side, working his own curative magic en route and passing it through her hand as he takes it.
”Are you alright? Lisl, is she alright?”
"She's going to be fine," says Lisl comfortingly. "You'll both be fine. You will have a wonderful family with a lovely baby boy." She speaks soothingly, drawing out the anxiety from Darian with practiced care. "It was a rough delivery but it's over. The worst has passed. She'll recover."