Anselm, did you have a question for your nobility roll?
Elen knows that Lord Kastner and Baron Okerra are allies in the Senate, often assisting each other with legislation and other issues. She doesn't think they meet socially, more than what is helpful to do their jobs anyway. She'd also know that Lord Kastner rarely leaves Oppara. Oppara is 5-6 days by coach to Stachys.
When you began, you were viewed by pretty much everybody as glory hounds, or incompetent nobles.
”You are right, Anselm. There has been a lot of progress,” Kort agrees stiffly. ”And yet there seems so much more to do. I had hoped to enjoy some quiet time, now that I’ve retired, but it seems that there is always something more to do.”
Kort listens to Anselms’ ideas about who to approach, thinking about the best way to go about things. If it were up to him, he would continue with the improvements for another month or two, rather than rushing to battle without the people behind them. And he says so.
”I am in no rush to engage the nobility just yet. I would prefer to work on the common people first, ensure that they are behind us. I would continue to focus on improvements to our land. That is what I would suggest.”
Baroness Voinum, while well respected, is a bit of a complainer. So she won't likely sway the other nobles much.
However, you do know that the bulk of the guards and other heavy hitters in the County come from her town and may be loyal to her above their own bosses. She spends much of her free time assisting in the training of folks in her military school.
"Well, she may not be our best help in winning over the other nobles to our cause, but I still think she'd be a good choice for broaching the subject. She has influence in other key institutions within the county..."
"Hmm. Did anyone get to know Lady Lucretzia Marthane? Even distant cousins might be of help in the end."
North, east… south, west…
Elen shrugs.
”I’m afraid there are many nobels who would be terribly inconvenienced with an invitation on such short notice -- they’re all so far away. Pity though, they will miss one hell of an opera.”
”I am in no rush to engage the nobility just yet. I would prefer to work on the common people first, ensure that they are behind us. I would continue to focus on improvements to our land. That is what I would suggest.”
”Oh, yes!” Elen exclaims. ”That’s a grand idea Major Kort! Let’s help the farmers, and maybe start building a mill!”
Kamari knows little of Lady Lucretzia Marthane. It's possible she has returned to Cassomir.
The party spends some time deciding who to invite to the Opera (though once you come to a consensus, we can say the invitations went out earlier for convenience). You also spend a few more days starting fresh projects - focusing on the farms and mill for the next wave.
- You begin Basic Farm improvements, including repairing irrigation, pulling stumps, and marking outlying roads. (-900gp)
- You then invest in Mill repairs, confident that in about a week, the mill will be fully functional again for the citizens of Stachys. (-900gp)
With this your projects fund is down to 3,700gp (I forgot a 2,000gp bump in the tally, so you have a bit more than you might expect). You also have over 15,000gp in undistributed funds, if you want to earmark more of that to projects.
You awaken well rested on Gozran the 27th, a Fireday, as the servants stir and prepare your breakfast, and generally tidy up behind you as you make your way to the stairs. In the upstairs common area (area A17, link) you find a note pinned to the wall with a dagger.
The butler is eyeing it cautiously, but has not yet removed it. ”My lords and ladies, apparently we had a visitor in the night.” she says dryly examining the damage to the wall and fine grass-cloth wallpaper.
The note (link) reads, ”Parasites, BEGONE! This land has run out of teats from which your piggish lot may suckle! I bear this warning before I bear arms, for I am generous - LEAVE the county of Meratt, and take as many of your noble swine with you as you would see saved from slaughter. My next message comes on a spear’s point.”
From the swan drawing signature, it is clearly a note from the Night Swan!
”Oh, but -- the very space you take up, is this not temple enough in all it’s beauty with what you choose to share within? I think perhaps for now we should keep Stachys's multi-deity shrine intact.”
~~~
Elen is fine with whoever the group decides to invite to the Festival.
~~~~
Elen recites what ever she may know about Lady Lucretzia Marthane.
~~~
~~~
”I’ve updated Lady Martella about ours and the County’s status last night. She knows about the evil tax collector, the woes of Sepsinia and Lucinia Mad… what happened previously and currently in the Telus Barony, about the Midnight Swan… the sad little hunt, yes. The whole play by play.”
~~~
”My lords and ladies, apparently we had a visitor in the night.”
Elen notices the damage and wonders. ”Blunt, Wink and Nod? Did you see or hear anything during the night? Someone back stabbed our wall!”
As the contents of the note are revealed Elen mutters. ”’Begone’?! … I do not think that the word ‘generous’ means what whoever wrote that think it means. ‘Spear’ point? Should we put up a wall with a target? Is this supposed some kind of threat?”
"Night Swan is just a persona... maybe there's a clue around here as to who it is hiding behind that persona!"
Elen pulls out her notepad, puts the pencil to the paper and pauses. She shrugs, and puts it all away. Got nothing here.
Kort examines the note, taking it back into his library (where he has spent most of his time) to read again and again. He mentally applauds Elen's questioning on the fae, as they are charged with security of the manor.
"M'Della," Kort inquires of Mama D, offering her the note. "Is it possible for magic to help track this back?" Kort sniffs the paper, and looks at the ink. "Or track back more of that paper stock? Something?"
Know (Local) - paper?
Linguistics - anything about handwriting? gender? lefthanded?
"We don't exactly have a stronghold here, but a night visitor is disturbing. Perhaps we should take some precautions to secure our residence."
Kamari will take a walk around the place to see how the swan gained entry. She looks around the ground at the usual collection of footprints and hoof prints.
"Anyone have any tracking skills. I'm afraid my urban upbringing has left me lacking in this area."
Kamari sets about writing her own note and stabbing it to a tree outside the house with the same dagger.
"Dear Ms. Swan, we are new nobles with new views. We should talk. Please feel free to knock next time or choose a time and place to meet."
“It is so good to have new fans. Perhaps our fey friends saw something. I would caution: I’ve may seem to have similar ends, but trying to woo her too publicly may harm our efforts with the other lords and ladies. And dealing with her harshly may alienate those subjects who rightly think she has a point.”
Anselm looks for signs of the Night Swan, and then magically prays for insight into how the people of Stachys view the Swan, as well as anything or -one unusual they’ve seen recently
Kamari sets about writing her own note and stabbing it to a tree outside the house with the same dagger.
”Nah, you should use a really BIG piece of paper, and a spear -- but write like it's a small piece of paper so they have to get up close to read it anyway.”
Elen knows nothing further of Lady Lucretzia Marthane. Which is odd, as she thought she’d know something.
Later in the day, around lunchtime, Elen’s eyes grow wide and she grows quiet a moment.
You may mentally reply immediately, you have 25 words only.
- - -
The kitties did see a figure moving away from the house. A woman with blond braided hair and a mask. However, they didn’t see her enter, or within the house, so they didn’t awaken anyone. That tells you that whoever this Night Swan is, they’re pretty stealthy (the Domovoi have a +7 perception and are nocturnal).
Elen knows that the Night Swan is purported to regularly raid the Oppara Highway near the southern tip of Lauchlein Lake. You all might further remember a rumor that the Night Swan is a spirit of Lauchlein Lake - that Count Lotheed stopped sacrificing virgins to the lake which has angered the spirit. According to the rumor.
Major Kort knows there’s only one place to buy paper in the County, and that’s from Randolphus. He’s owns the shop in Lotheedar where you purchased the magical scrolls. Further, the handwriting slant suggests a left-hander, though the drawing looks to have been done by the right. Tricky…
Kamari and Anselm poke around on the grounds and find two windows unlatched - in the dining room and the front guest room (A13). However, they do not find any tracks beyond that (though there was that soft bit of ground outside the guest room, making more likely the Night Swan went through the dining room).
Anselm believes the common people like the Swan a great deal. For the most part rumors are positive, and the Night Swan doesn’t seem to attack commoners, so they feel safe. He’s also likely correct about woo-ing the Night Swan publicly. The nobles in general have been sorely treated by the Night Swan, and so would react poorly, possibly angrily, to your public support.
As for unusual events in Stachys, Anselm puts his ear to the ground, but comes up surprisingly empty. There have been more visitors of late, many craftspeople coming through for all the work you’re doing, and also other visitors - mostly ogling all the work that you’re doing. So there’s more turnover around town as you might expect. Of course that also makes it easier for someone to enter town and leave without being noticed.
SIr Gul Gusairne did stop by, likely sniffing around for trouble, but he didn’t linger, heading back to the east toward Pensaris.
”Randolphus! Of course, its probably his paper,” Kort says, grinning with faint hope. ”It’s tricky, but he might have a list of purchasers of this paper, we can track it that way. Unless there is a magical way, M’Della?”
Kort puts the thought aside.
”Anselm? Should we worry about this more? Or just focus on the good progress we’ve made so far. Surely, and eventually, our work will bear fruits and the Night Swan will find something else to do.”
"I'd agree. The swan will definitely come back to us. No need to chase her down. Let's concentrate on showing exactly what kind of nobles were are."
Anselm ponders. "I think it would behoove us to visit Lotheedar this week, while our people work. Sell the goods we've found, perhaps gird ourselves for future efforts. We could investigate Lauchlein Lake on our way. Perhaps draw the Swan out."
”Lotheedar it is then,” Kort agrees stiffly, happy to have a plan. ”We do need to sell and shop, let alone see what books might be added to our library. I’ve been wanting to visit the Lake.”
Kort considers the matter decided (unless it is not), and will make himself ready to go on the morn, provided M’Della provides the horses.
The party travels east, then north, presumably in their comfortable carriage driven by Myrna and her silent partner with his crossbow (even nicer looking then you remember), Virgil. Well, relatively comfortably. You’ve spent some time and money improving the roads around Stachys so they’re a bit less treacherous than they had been - but there’s still a long way to go, and the county roads aren’t in much better shape.
But you manage. You travel about a half a day, planning to picnic by the carriage for lunch near where the road turns, and head overland to the lake on foot while Myrna and Virgil linger, waiting on your return. As you approach a likely spot however, you see another small wagon train from Pensaris has thought to do the same.
Unfortunately, it’s on fire!
You see a couple arrows, with large bulbous heads, land among the three wagons, and explode as hot alchemy fires! It further fans the flames which the merchants are keen to put out. A pair of guards launch crossbow bolts to the northeast trying to pin down the archer or archers, but they seem to be shooting wildly rather than targeting something specific.
Myrna speeds the coach to a gallop and heads right into the thick of things before screeching to a halt. Virgil stands on the roof and looks in the direction where the arrows had come, but he sees nothing to shoot at in the heavy tree and brush, so he holds his fire for now (ready).
"Fire!" Kort dismounts stiffly (move), and checks out the situation lest they wander into an double ambush or the like. He's been in enough conflict to be wary of such.
Perception
He will draw his crossbow and load it (as 1 move action). He will cast Divine Favor and find cover (stnd and move).
Mama D plays a hunch and casts a spell (see invisibility ) and looks around. “I hope this helps!”
Kamari leaps past the elder half-elf and heads for the wagons.
"Is anyone still inside?!" she shouts to no one in particular.
Elen joins Virgil at the top of the carriage and draws her Naginata.
"Night Swine! Show your cowardly self!"
for
No fan of rampant fire, nor the smoke it produces, Anselm calls upon Shelyn for help.
"Oh, Eternal Rose, let me speak with your watery servants."
His head full of new words, the youngish Lord Basri then calls down wee water elemental.
"Kinai i ke ahi! Wikiwiki, e kuʻu hoaaloha!"
"Quench the fires! Quickly, my friend!"
A gush of water shoots out at the most enflamed wagon.
Mama D eyes the area with magic, though nothing is particularly revealed (your target has cover from you at the moment). She also gets out of the carriage and takes cover behind it drawing her wand. Kamari exits and rushes to help with the fires. A quick ”No!” lets him know there’s no one in the wagons. He reaches them, seeing a couple merchants trying to throw dirt on the fire to put it out. Elen leaps to the top of the carriage, looking to defend it (I’m not sure you could smack away an incoming arrow without the deflect arrows feat, but I might have let you try it just for the visuals). She sees nothing of particular note in the bushes. Anselm prepares new languages, and summons a water elemental who moves up and begins to put the fire out on one of the wagons. Major Kort prepares his crossbow, and himself, before venturing out of the carriage and scarcely into the brush. He thinks he sees movement to the northeast, but not enough for a clean shot.
Then, for just a moment, you see a woman with a cloak made of swan feathers (image) gesture to you to back off as she takes flight, her cloak somehow catching the wind and enabling her to fly! She stays low, using the trees and shrubs for cover as she retreats to the north (she’s about 15’ up, and under effectively improved cover (-8)).
Virgil looks to Elen as if to say, ”Do I shoot her?”
- - -
One of the merchants, upon seeing her, shouts out, ”It’s the Night Swan! Damn that Lotheed!” He then swears, clearly thinking that there’s a reason Lotheed is at fault here. Beyond the usual lack of caring.
The merchants continue to put out the fires (though rather less effectively than a water elemental) though the worst seems to be passing.
The woman is flying away at a decent clip (40’ move) but she’s forced to weave and weft to maintain cover, so she’s actually moving much more slowly away.
Two more rounds please, let me know what you do. If you let the woman go and don’t give chase, we’re out of initiative.
”Hold your fire!” Kort commands, almost like he’s said or hear such things before, like all his life.
He walk stiffly after the feeling flier, trying to get a good look at her. He has no intention of shooting the Night Swan, only wants a good look.
She appears human, but knowledge nature checks please.
- - -
Know (Nature)
Kort holds his tongue, wondering if he saw correctly.
"Is everyone okay?"
Kamari looks about to see if anyone is in dire need of healing. She does not offer pursuit of the Night Swan.
"What happened? What did they say? Anything taken?"
Anselm wishes he'd spent less attention on the fauns and satyrs of the Erlking's court, and more upon the ladies. He calls out, "Wait! Are you the Night Swan? Why did you attack these folk? Is your issue not with nobles like us?"
He continues to urge Shelyn's watery servant on, directing it to the other wagon as soon as the first's fire has been quenched.
Once the fires are quenched, he calls forth another of Shelyn's beautiful azata friends. He instructs the lyrakien, "There is a woman with wings flying through these woods, with a cloak made of swan feathers. Find her and send out a light to mark her location."
”That’s my cloak. She’s wearing my cloak…” she mutters in response to Virgil.
”HEY!” she calls after the Night Swine. ”How is stopping the sacrifices of virgins a bad thing?!” she demands to know.
“Tis a truly bad neighbor that takes flight at the first disagreement! Return, that we might discuss the end of such hostilities! It is a futile effort, but at least an opening for possible talks sometime in the future.
Her attention turned to the wagons and their prior inhabitants, Mama D looks for any injuries or other ways to help.
Kort returns to the party, using his cane to walk after putting away his crossbow.
"Well, I'm mostly sure that was a real Swan Maiden, but didn't get the best look. But it was enough. I'm just not sure why it would be attacking without good reason. Like Elen suggests, something must be happening that is worse than sacrificing virgins for it to attack like this. Might be that we would do well to figure out why there was an attack here...might be something in the wagons that *earned* the attack. Let's check that out," Kort suggests, moving to the wagons.
He will carefully examine the wagons and the contents, burnt and unburnt to see if he can figure out the reason for the attack.
"But ... but this Swan Maiden has short hair... didn't the Domovoi say they saw a woman with golden braided hair? That Swan Maiden's hair is way to short to braid! Assuming she's not wearing a disguise now, that means she's not our Night Swan!"
Elen observes what is left of the burned out merchant vehicles.
- - -
Mama D can’t quite identify her, so she turns to help the wounded. Kamari continues to battle the flames, though the water elemental should have things in hand in a moment or two, so he checks in with the merchants. They do have some minor injuries, one of them got hit with one of those flasks and has suffered some burns. Elen calls after the retreating woman, heckling a bit, but letting her go. Anselm tries calling out as well as she retreats toward the lake, however, she seems firm in her decision to depart. Major Kort calls out to hold fire as he ponders the nature of the person running into the forest.
Far enough away for safety, the woman makes a leap into the air, and becomes a beautiful swan, flying gracefully to the north. We’re out of initiative, such as it was.
Virgil follows the woman, and then the swan, with his crossbow, keeping his sights aligned. In the end though, he does not shoot as the swan flies further away. He looks somewhat perplexed, but seems to be getting over it pretty quickly. It's hard to know the will of a noble. From his vantage point, he sweeps the region looking for other threats as he settles back into his seat.
Once the fires are quenched, he calls forth another of Shelyn's beautiful azata friends. He instructs the lyrakien, "There is a woman with wings flying through these woods, with a cloak made of swan feathers. Find her and send out a light to mark her location."
By the time the fires are fully out, and you summon your azata, the swan is quite far away. It’s more of a survival/perception thing at that point. Even at a few minutes a summons, you’re not likely to find her so easily, especially as a swan, but it’s not impossible if you want to make some rolls. That said, this technique will help any continued search for her quite significantly.
He will carefully examine the wagons and the contents, burnt and unburnt to see if he can figure out the reason for the attack.
Major Kort, quite rudely blusters his way past the thankful merchants and starts rifling through their boxes and barrels. Too shocked to immediately protest, the merchants, and their guards, look on with surprise as the Major investigates.
Major Kort finds a lot of fish from Pensaris being shipped to Lotheedar for sale. Elen sees the same as she watches.
”I see how nobles treat the merchant classes.” harrumphs one of the merchants with some irritation.
He laughs then, and shrugs, taking it in stride. ”The Night Swan managed to miss our luncheon. Why don’t you join us? Fresh smoked whitefish from Pensaris, freshly caught and cooked!” he passes a plate piled high with the delicacy, along with some crackers to go with it.
Wine is passed around (just to counter the dryness of the crackers you understand), and it’s a party. Or do you immediately hunt after the swan maiden?
Anselm moves to pursue the swan maiden, pausing only to call forth his azata ally. "Thank you for your offer, grateful fellows, but we needs must pursue yon maiden."
Kamari passes on a glass of wine for once and follows Anselm into the forest.
"pursue yon maiden"? Such... fancy?
"Oh -- you mean follow her to the lake!" Elen agrees. She calls over her shoulder to the merchants, "Surely you can find another way to deliver that delicious whitefish!"
Once on the road she announces to her companions, "I suppose now is as good a time as any to mention this -- Lady Lotheed sends word that she will reach out to us soon, as she is almost finished up with what she's been doing."
Major Kort, quite rudely blusters his way past the thankful merchants and starts rifling through their boxes and barrels. Too shocked to immediately protest, the merchants, and their guards, look on with surprise as the Major investigates.
Kort seems confused when the wagons seem to hold normal goods and nothing too offensive.
"Strange. Then why would the Maiden have attacked? Seems odd to me. There is something weird here that I don't understand yet."
"From where was this fish acquired? Fished from the lake, I assume?" Kort asks the merchants stiffly.
"From where was this fish acquired? Fished from the lake, I assume?" Kort asks the merchants stiffly.
The merchant says, smiling, ”Of course we fished it from lake Pensaris. Lauchlein lake is too swampy for the fish to grow very large. Best you can hope for there is catfish, and other bottom feeders.”
You press on into the wilderness, leaving the merchants to share their lunch with Myrna and Virgil as you pursue your quarry!
Anselm feels he sees the swan here and there through the trees as you rush along, but when you reach the lake after a short jog, you find your luck changing. Lauchlein lake is shallow and choked with frogs and water plants, making it an ideal home to all sorts of aquatic birds. Including swans.
From here, you can follow the lake northward or easterly (eventually also turning northward on the backside of the lake). It’ll be slow going, as you need to take some time to identify the various swans you encounter to ensure none is your swan maiden.
It’s hard to know for sure how good her shape changing is and whether she’ll perfectly blend in with the other swans, but surely there’s a lair of some kind. Right?
Which direction do you go?
Anselm follows the late north, calling out in Sylvan,
“ Mo bhean eala, nach ndéanann tú conradh linn? In ainm an kith is sine Agus is cineálta.”
“ Milady swan, won’t you make treaty with us? In the name of the Eldest and kindlier kith.”
As he tracks, he keeps an eye on swans within view to see if they betray some comprehension.
Kamari follows along, but voices her concern.
"So, are we hot on her tail or is this more of an exploratory adventure? Too bad we don't have something of hers to do the same thing we did with finding the manticore's lair."
Kamari winces.
"Oh, we do...back at the estate."
Kort leaves Anselm to his swankery, and instead keeps his eyes on the swans for signs of reaction or something that might belie a Swan Maiden.
Perception (+2 to see through disguises)
Sense Motive
Know (Nature)
How hard can it be to find a Maiden amongst the swans?
"Let us continue northward," Kort suggests as he keeps up his monitoring.
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"”Of course we fished it from lake Pensaris. Lauchlein lake is too swampy for the fish to grow very large. Best you can hope for there is catfish, and other bottom feeders.”
"And yet," Elen states evenly meeting the eye of the merchant, "even they have their niche."
~~
"Too bad we don't have something of hers to do the same thing we did with finding the manticore's lair. Oh, we do...back at the estate."
"I wish there was a way to know for sure, but something in my gut tells me that this Swan Maiden did not leave that dagger at our estate. Someone is masquerading as her, for why I can not guess. But you are right, maybe there is some way to tell, then we might know who is masquerading, and also discover why."
She gathers anything of real value from the carriage as Virgil and Myrna tarry.
Anselm follows the late north, calling out in Sylvan,
Elen agrees with Kort. "She may be wild, in which case I say let her be. Let's leave a gift, perhaps even if it just be our departure. Though we might egret it, just maybe instead she might consider coming to us in good faith."
Traveling north with your eyes and ears open, you go for an hour or two without any assuring sign that you’ve found anything but one swan after another.
Eventually, you come to a path, which leads to a clearing, which contains a round set of sacred stones and looks, to Anselm at least, like a fey court, though it only has one fey in it at the moment. One angry looking fey with a bow, the power of flight, and a quiver full of arrows.
”These stones are holy, and I’ll not have you soiling them with your presence.” Her voice, while loud enough to reach you, and stern, slides along the register and makes you feel somehow more relaxed. Like a nice wind through the trees, or the call of a far off loon on the lake at sunset.
”Now, what is it you want?” She seems exasperated, more than anything, having perhaps been softened up by the entreaties of Anselm and Elen.
You’re still quite some distance away when you see her rise above the brush, flying effortlessly in the air, once again in humanoid form, her swan-feather cloak billowing in the wind around her.
Unarmed, Kort pauses. He won’t be making any sudden moves and will definitely retreat away from fey hallowed ground.
”Surely you can see that we are here to talk? Anselm?” Kort looks to Anselm for he has the gift of gab that Kort stiffly refuses to pretend to have.
Anselm's bow and hand gesture are almost as ornate as any spell you've seen. Such is diplomacy among the fey. He greets the swan maiden in the fey tongue.
"Is í mo bean uasal, Anselm, iar-bharda Erlking ar na Foraoise Verdura. Níl aon dochar i gceist againn."
"My lady, I am Anselm, former ward of the Erlking of the Verduran Forest. We mean no harm."
"I do not think you are a woman who calls herself the Night Swan. It seems there is another who would commit murder in the guise of the swan maidens. Am I right to think that?"
"What caused you to attack those travelers? Is there something we can do to correct a harm to your court? We are lords of people who travel these roads, and wish only peace with our neighbors."
While confident in her ability to negotiate, Kamari lets Anselm leads negotiations with his greater experience with the fey.
"Is í mo bean uasal, Anselm, iar-bharda Erlking ar na Foraoise Verdura. Níl aon dochar i gceist againn.”
”Tá aithne agam ar an Erlking.”, she nods lightly. ”Cloisfidh mé do phléadáil.”
- - -
"I do not think you are a woman who calls herself the Night Swan. It seems there is another who would commit murder in the guise of the swan maidens. Am I right to think that?”
As Anselm switches to common, so does the swan maiden, ”I do not hunt at night.”
"What caused you to attack those travelers? Is there something we can do to correct a harm to your court? We are lords of people who travel these roads, and wish only peace with our neighbors."
”You? Are lords?” She seems quite incredulous that you are representative of the local aristocracy. But she continues none the less. ”An accord was broken, and the penalties have accrued for more than a season now. That is unacceptable.”
”So the road, so close to the lake, is forfeit. As per the accord. I take what I please.”
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Kort finally feels he has room to speak.
”What accord? What were the terms? We are new to these lands and would hear them,” Kort asks stiffly. ”And to what lands to the accords apply?”