From the journal of Lythande Syldorei
24th Lamashan, Toilday
Our dismay at learning of the kidnapped children has quickly made us more interested in learning about the children's fates rather than punishing the cultists. We wish to question the five women we have taken captive, but it is late and we are all weary. Speaking to them must wait until the sun rises again. I have told my companions that I do not think myself competent to participate in the questioning as I am too angry over the death of the child. Reislin also is unwilling to participate in the questioning for the same cause.
Chahana and Maria are more sympathetic to these women than I for they too have suffered hardships in their lives, while I can only count among my hardships the struggles of my people against Treerazer. I did not serve long enough among our defenders before the Guiding Light called me to experience the worst of the demon tree's depredations.
25th Lamashan, Wealday
After Chahana and Maria questioned the women, they learned that of the four children they said had been taken from their families three had been replaced by changelings and the fourth was sacrificed to Gyronna. I am more determined than ever to convince my friends that we should not permit the worship of that goddess within our borders, or at least if they are not willing to ban her faithful completely we should ban the sacrifice of any intelligent creature in the name of any god.
Zander says that changelings are the offspring of hags and other beings, and that at some point in their lives they are called back to their mothers although they are able to choose to deny that call, and their natures are determined by how they are raised and not by their hag ancestry. He knows a great deal about such things because he says he knows someone well who is a changeling and who is not a person of evil nature.
Chahana and Maria reported that one of them women we took prisoner was unrepetant and challenged their authority to make any judgment upon her, demanding to know why we could claim that those who come to Neotellus can make a new beginning here and yet we would require of her that she renounce her faith in the Hag. But we must have the rule of law, and do whatever we can to protect the people. If we say that we will allow anyone to come here, no matter what harm they do to others, we cannot claim to be leaders or protectors. Some must be willing to compromise for the betterment of all. Should we dwell in Cheliax that land no doubt bans the worship of certain gods who would oppose their demon lords, is that not so? I regret taking these women's freedom to worship what gods they will, but the Hag seeks to undermine authority and create strife, and we cannot have that.
While my companions questioned the women, I went out to perform my obedience and then into the town to grant some of the Dawnflower's mercy to any sick or injured person I found. These acts of devotion soothed my troubled thoughts.
During the time that Chahana, Maria, and Zander were with the prisoners, we all received a message that an army was approaching Lorewynd. We went out quickly, ordering our small contingent of guards to prepare and attempting to organize the townsfolk to assist, although that effort was less successful than I would have hoped. Our concern was unfounded, for when Zander saw the approaching group of people he exclaimed that they were his family. In truth I do not know how the guards though these were an army, for though they were armed they brought children, elders, and tents with them.
Zander used his magic to take flight and went down to greet them, and Chahana rode after him on her horse. I set about calming the townsfolk, who were still distressed at seeing people who appear to be Tiger Nomad tribesmen approaching our town. It was agreed that Zander's family could set up their tents in an area that has not been occupied by any structure. Zander then introduced us all to his betrothed, Ramakka, and it was then we knew how he had come by his knowledge of changelings, for she is of that kind. Zander had told us that changelings are almost always women and can often be recognized by their particolored eyes. We also met Zander's brother, Ben, who does not much resemble Zander.
After welcoming the Tiger Nomads, we returned our attention to the prisoners and the kidnapped children. Though we saw the potential for both good and ill doing so, we decided it was best to tell the families of the stolen children what had happened. Each family was approached with all possible courtesy and it was explained to them that their children had been taken and replaced by changelings. Each family reacted in a different manner. The first family regrettably immediately became hostile and rejected the child that was not born to them. The mother of the second child had suffered much in trying to bring a child into the world and refused to accept what she was told even when Reislin used magic to show her proof, insisting the changeling infant was her own babe. The third family decided that because they had already given their love to the changeling child they would raise it as theirs. Now we must consider what to do with the child who was rejected. For the time being the Tiger Nomads have agreed to care for it.
As we have no facilities here for holding a person prisoner, and we have decided that we will not execute her, the woman who would not repent of her service to Gyronna was tried and sent to Restov to be held. The other women were sentenced to provide service for the people of Lorewynd for a period of time as their penance.
With the matters of the cultists and the children dealt with as best we could, we decided that the reports of trolls we had received should be our next priority to investigate. Though the rumors we have heard in the past have often been exaggerated, we have yet to hear one that was entirely untrue. Thus it is likely that some creatures are indeed causing the citizens in outlying areas some difficulty, though it is possible that the creatures are not trolls, or that several people are reporting the appearance of a single troll. We shall soon know the answer.
26th Lamshan, Oathday
We determined that we should first make our way to Tiressia's grove to speak with her. We set out from Lorewynd, and at first our journey was quiet. But then Maria noticed that some creature or creatures appeared to be following us. When she moved toward the source of the sound she had heard she found nothing. Chahana climbed upon a large fallen tree to see if that would give her a better view of the surrounding area. Then Zander observed a hunting cat near Maria, and something stabbed Chahana.
An old man had appeared from near the fallen tree, slashing at Chahana with his sword. He was a wild-looking person with unkempt hair, overgrown nails, and soiled garments, but his appearance was familiar. He resembled our eccentric friend Bokken the herbalist. Chahana spoke to him and attempted to find out why he was attacking, but he only kept mumbling that "Only blood will quell the voices." I had been on the opposite side of the log from this person and now climbed over it to take up a position behind him, asking him why he attacked us and trying to calm him without success. When he did not respond I stepped between him and the hunting cat, which seemed to be his companion, and both of them struck me. Maria began attempting to stun the man or knock him down. Reislin created an image of Bokken and asked the man if this was his brother, as Bokken had mentioned to us that he had a brother living somewhere in the territory we have claimed. The man screamed at this image. When the cat sprang on Chahana, I joined Maria in attempting to render the man insensible but I am not accustomed to striking with the flat of my blade. The man responded by dealing me a deep wound. Zander then chose to strike without holding back. The man was quite nimble and darted out of range of his sword. Chahana brought the cat down, and after Reislin sent one of her missiles of magic at the man and Zander slashed him, he also fell.
Chahana took out the manacles she carries from her days as a bounty hunter and bound the man, and after the cat's injuries were treated it was released. We decided that we would carry the man back to Lorewynd and afterward send him to Ustalav where his madness can be looked after at an asylum, as he is clearly deranged. A short while later as we continued our journey we came upon a hovel that was likely his dwelling, for it was as disheveled and ill-cared-for as he was. I am sorry that what little curative magic the Dawnflower grants me cannot remove his suffering.
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