[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 21: A Life Restored, A Life Lost

 From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

3rd Lamashan, Toilday

We stood in shock after the Dancing Lady fell and we realized that Reislin's last breath had come and gone before any of us could help her. She was still entangled in the vines, and we could not move her body until the magic waned. While we waited we searched the chamber for any objects of use. We found several things that looked like they might have been brought their by the fey woman, such as a harp, jewelry, courtly garments, and a white bearskin. In a coffer we found a potion, which Maria determined was a love potion and sadly not one of healing.

Once the magically summoned vines vanished, Maria looked at the scrolls in Reislin's bag to see if she had anything in her possession that would help her. She did in fact bear a scroll containing a spell that would preserve her body from decay for a limited time. We realized that this would benefit her as we would be obliged to transport her to another place, likely in Brevoy, to seek a priest who could bring her back to life. We knew that no such priest lives in Lorewynd, nor is it likely that Jhod at the shrine of Erastil would be capable of casting such a spell.

Maria and I both searched our memories and concluded that as best we knew, it would be possible for a cleric of sufficient advancement to bring Reislin back from death but that it would likely be necessary for us to travel to Brevoy to achieve this. New Stetven seems the most promising place to seek such a service.

I picked up Reislin to carry her down to our wagon. The chamber in which she had fallen also contained an antique water clock and an alabaster figure of a beautiful nude elven woman, but these we deemed too heavy to carry, though the others thought they might be worth enough coin to aid in acquiring the spell for Reislin. But I felt that the statue ought to remain in the tower as it may have been made for that place. 

We intended to exit the fort through the gate, but as Zander approached it his foot struck a hidden tripwire that very nearly dropped a heavy portcullis on him. Maria endeavored to lift it but was unable, and we were obliged to exit as we had entered through the broken section of wall.

We traveled for a few hours until it grew too dark and then made camp in the forest. As we sat by our fire we began to discuss what we should tell the good people of Castle Lorewynd when we returned. All of us agreed that telling them of Reislin's demise would be very shocking and disheartening and we desired to spare them that pain, though we were not entirely comfortable with telling them untruths. 

For the two days it took us to return to our castle we discussed this topic. At first we though perhaps we would keep her body in the wagon outside of town while I went to seek out Amis the shrine keeper to ask him to cast the preservative spell upon her, but in the end we came to the conclusion that this would arouse too many questions among our citizens. Furthermore we have been away for some little while and no doubt there will be various matters awaiting our attention. It would not be responsible of us to creep into the castle like thieves and then depart again.

5th Lamashan, Fireday

When we arrived at the castle we took the wagon inside and bore Reislin up to her own chamber to be laid out. I went to find Amis, though we had to wait as he was not at the shrine. When he did arrive he appeared somewhat anxious and also seemed to have a blackened eye. When Maria asked him what had happened, he told us that he had asked one of the women who came to the shrine of Gyronna about it and she told him it was not his business and slapped him hard enough to leave a mark. He was anxious because he was uncomfortable in the presence of the dead, but after examining the scroll he agreed to cast the spell for us.

We will have many things to look into when we return, but for the present Chahana has sent a raven to Leveton to ask Svetlana if she will come and take charge of the castle in our absence.

7th Lamashan, Starday

Svetlana has sent a raven that she is on her way. Despite the sadness of Reislin's demise, I can't help but be amused that Svetlana chose to warn us that should Leveton be in flames when we come there, she is sorry for that. 

9th Lamashan, Sunday

We have reached Leveton. The town has grown since the last time we visited, and the road is much busier. Svetlana will be pleased that nothing has caught fire in her absence. There is no shrine in Leveton, and though we found a traveling priest who could cast the preservative spell again as the first one has faded, she cannot do so today. In the interest of speed we have decided to forego waiting for this.

11th Lamashan, Wealday

We have visited New Stetven previously but I am still impressed by the quantity of large stone structures here. Reislin was not deeply faithful but she did venerate Nethys, however there is no temple to the All-Seeing Eye here. The temples here are devoted to Abadar, Gorum, and Pharasma. We decided that the best option would be to make our way to the temple of the Lady of Graves to request our boon. 

As we arrived at Pharasma's fane, we found that the temple was hosting a large funeral service for someone of wealth or importance. The priests were all busy with the attendees. Chahana went inside to seek someone with whom to speak about our request. After a time she was able to talk to a priest called Salost, who directed us to bring the wagon to a side entrance and arranged for Reislin's body to be borne inside.

We waited with her until the chief priest could meet with us some hours later, though Chahana and Zander did leave us for a time to acquire lodgings and stabling for our horses. After they returned the high priest came to meet with us. This worthy elder, Ambrose by name, was most kind and accommodating, explaining that the service to bring back the dead comes in three parts as it is practiced in the house of the Lady of Graves: first, they must determine if the soul is willing to return to life and is a suitable person, then they must seek Pharasma's approval, and only after the first two have been given favorable responses can they cast the spell to return the soul to the body. They ask a donation to the temple of ten gold pieces for the first service, three hundred for the second, and five and a half thousand for the third as it requires a great quantity of diamond dust to fuel the magic. Maria had already estimated how much this service would cost us and we had brought with us all of the private funds at our disposal to make the payment.

Ambrose had brought with him two people of an unusual appearance, both tall and slender and near identical in appearance. After we agreed to the cost and the stipulations these two performed the actual magic. It required several more hours of ritual preparation, but in the end, all praise to the Lady of Graves, Reislin was returned to us much weakened by her experience. 

We remained in New Stetven for two more days after acquiring a spell from the temple that can remove some of the deleterious effects of being summoned back from the afterlife. I feel some regret that I lack the riches to give such a gift to other deserving folk, but Reislin is my friend and we need her wisdom and knowledge to help us protect and serve the people of Neotellus.

16th Lamashan, Moonday

We have returned to Lorewynd. There are continued rumors of trolls preying on settlers to the south, which we shall have to see to soon. We have also heard of a monster on an island in Lake Candlemere, and a rumor that the Stag Lord has risen from the dead and is leading an army of unliving bandits. A rumor regarding a creature knows as a shambling mound seems to have come from Bokken, as it speaks of the creature as being useful for growing herbs.

But the matter of first concern is that Zander has learned of a meeting of the followers of Gyronna, and a rumor that they plan some trouble. Followers of the Hag are wont to disdain any form of authority or governance. We must meet them and try to dissuade them from bringing harm to the people of our new country. Zander has heard that they are meeting in the barn of a farm outside the town this very night. We will go there and attempt to have a civil discourse with them if they are willing.

The farm was darkened and silent when we arrived after dark, and there was no sign of anyone in the barn. But Zander found a trapdoor in the floor leading to a cellar. We did not make any effort to be quiet. Climbing down the rough steps hewn into the earth, Maria, Chahana, and I brought out our shields but drew no weapon. When we entered the cellar we found it lit by a few lamps and occupied by a group of half a dozen or more women in ragged garb. One woman clad in blue shouted out for them to slay us as soon as Chahana called out to introduce us. 

Then Maria spied something horrific lying on a table: the body of a naked infant, pierced by a dagger. When her exclamation drew my attention to this terrible sight, I lost all desire to extend the Cleansing Fire's mercy to these women. They swarmed on us in a frenzy, goaded by the blue-clad woman. A dagger of magic began to attack Chahana. I had drawn my scimitar when I heard the woman shout for her followers to kill us, and now I did not stay my blade from their flesh. Any who did not object to the murder of a child in the Hag's name would receive no mercy from me. 

Reislin granted us swiftness, and though the Hag's priestess tried to weaken us with her goddess's magic, Zander slew her and the rest of us slew several of her followers in the ensuing skirmish. Zander took flight and pursued several of them when they fled from the cellar, and I also ran after them with a heart full of anger. Maria was more forgiving than I should be despite having been the first to see the evidence of their sin. She took two of them prisoner. 

When the remaining cultists were free of their frenzy and were questioned, we learned another alarming fact: four families at Lorewynd had suffered the kidnapping of their children and had those children replaced by changelings. I pray to the Dawnflower that those children did not all suffer the same fate as the poor infant.

Next: part 22, Seeking Justice and Finding New Friends

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux , part 20: A Death in the Family

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei 

3rd Lamashan, Toilday

The ancient watchtower we have stumbled upon in the forest has suffered much in the unknown number of years it has stood. The tower on the northwestern side is the most fallen, with the other four outer towers also showing much age and decay. Everything is covered in overgrowth of greener, and when Chahana peered through one of the gaps where the outer wall had crumbled, she described the courtyard within as full of trees. 

We spread ourselves out to look at all sides of the structure, Chahana, Reislin and I going one direction and Maria and Zander the other. 

Maria and Zander found some tracks near the tower that resembled those of a creature like ourselves rather than a bear or wolf, thought they could not make out whether those tracks were of a shod being or a creature going barefoot. They have been able to determine that this creature or person must have left the tracks within a week of our arrival at the tower, but whoever or whatever passed by might only have been passing. There was no way to see if it had entered the tower, only that it had come and gone. 

Closer examination of the walls revealed that they have some runes or symbols carved on their surface, so there are too many vines and patches of moss covering the stones to easily make out what the symbols are.

Zander climbed up the wall to find that there is a walkway along the top of the wall. When I climbed up myself I observed that curiously there are no doors leading out of the towers onto the walk. Perhaps there were ladders or steps of wood that have since decayed. 

Zander then climbed down a tree that had grown up in the courtyard. There he discovered that in the lower level of one tower the vines were twined around many skulls like those of people. Then one of the vines reached out and attempted to grasp hold of him. He looked into the tower and spied a creature he at first took for one of my kindred, clinging to the wall like a spider.

Zander stepped away from the menacing vine, warning us that it was a kind of plant known as an assassin vine, which was slow-moving but would attempt to choke us if it could gain a hold on us. The mysterious being climbed up toward Maria, hissing at her, while the assassin vine attempted unsuccessfully to reach me. Maria took flight under the influence of a spell that Reislin cast upon her and attempted to identify what the creature was, but it withdrew out of sight before she could determine that. I foolishly wasted some of the Dawnflower's might on the vine, forgetting that such a creature cannot choose its nature. The other creature reappeared and slashed at me with long claws but they slid off my armor. 

Zander meanwhile was wounded sorely by a third creature that moved very rapidly and could scarcely be seen. He was obliged to heal himself. Chahana had also been granted flight and now flew up to fire her bow at the wall-crawling creature, her arrow piercing it deeply. Reislin had managed to clamber up onto the wall herself and now the creature turned its attack on her, wounding her so badly that she fell from the wall onto the ground below. The creature then climbed out of reach. I slashed the vine that was still attempting to grab hold of me, and Maria struck it a final blow. The creature, which we had by this time assumed to be one of the dark fey, descended to the courtyard and disappeared among the trees there.

Chahana and Maria heard something give a sinister laugh from the courtyard, but I heard nothing. Zander climbed up the tree to get out of range of the swift and nearly invisible attacker. A small voice called out to him, "Come back! Let's play," but the creature, likely another dark fey, did not reveal itself. Reislin prepared to cast a spell to deprive it of its near invisibility should it reappear, while Chahana threw a flask of alchemical fire into the area the voice seemed to have issued from. Maria then had to put out the flames that threated to harm a nearby tree, at the same time casting a spell upon herself that she hoped would allow her to catch a glimpse of the fast-moving fey. 

When at last the fey reappeared Reislin did cast her spell upon it and it stumbled away. We all tried to converge on the fey, but it vanished from our sight again and no matter how we fast we ran we could not match its speed. 

With both of the fey fled, we began to explore the interior of the structure. In the center of the circular wall stood a much taller and more ornate tower which was also in better repair than the four towers that were connected to the wall. This tower still bore its many-pointed roof and had an intact door. But before we sought to enter it we checked the other four towers. One of them had a strong door that was barred from within, but because the wooden floors inside the tower had fallen into significant disrepair, Reislin was able to fly inside and have her invisible servant remove the bar such that we could enter. Inside Maria found a chest containing several items of jewelry, a sword, and a moonstone. 

The other three towers proved less appealing. One appeared to be thoroughly infested with rats, and one had suffered a partial collapse and was filled with rubble. The fourth tower had evidently been the home of one of the fey. It was disturbingly decorated with the carcases of small animals attached to the walls, or so we thought, until Chahana realized they were actually scalps. Stored on the broken floor above was an urn filled with gems. 

When we had satisfied ourselves that the outer towers held no enemies waiting to emerge against us, we turned our attention to the central tower. Reislin and I chose to enter first, being attracted to this relic of our people from long ago. As we stepped inside a violet mist filled the entrance. It had no effect on any of us, and we continued, Reislin eagerly ascending the ornate filigreed staircase past murals of our ancestors engaging in various pleasurable pursuits such as dancing and hunting. 

At the top of the stair we found a beautifully decorated chamber, its windows still set with glass. Then the clawed fey we had encountered below or one like him slashed at Reislin and she fell insensible to the floor.

Inside the room stood a woman, who at first resembled one of our own kind but when I spied her claws and fangs I realized she was no kin of mine. Chahana came running up the stairs behind me, and a moment later Maria also rushed in, warning me that the woman was yet another dark fey who would attempt to entrance us with her dance so she could drink our blood. Yet if we slew her she would curse us.

This fey woman attempted to cajole me into bringing the fallen Reislin to her with a promise to heal her, but I did not listen. I bent and let the Dawnflower's healing rays flow from my hand into Reislin's still body, but this did not revive her. She was not breathing. "You cannot deceive us with your lies," I said to the fey woman. She began to move about, attempting to enthrall us with her dance, but Maria engaged with the other fey, a grimstalker. I girded myself with Sarenrae's battle power and moved on the dancer. Zander joined me. Maria slew the grimstalker. The room filled with vines, which tried to wind about my legs and hold me fast. I struck the dancer several times, until I missed my aim and the vines trapped my limbs. Praise the Dawnflower, the dancer could not bite me. She tried to flee down the stairs but Zander leaped down ahead of her and blocked her escape. I broke free of the vines and set my blade into her flesh once more and that was the last of her. As she died I felt a wave of some force pass over me. Something is amiss with me, but I do not know what it is.

And Reislin is dead. 

Next: part 21: A Life Restored, A Life Lost 

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 19: Meat Is Meat

 

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

Fireday, 29th Rova

As we stood outside the walls of the lizardfolk village, the two lizardfolk standing guard over the log palisade seemed disinterested in conversing with us. I called out, "May we speak with you?" as the sound of a child's fearful weeping from within the palisade increased in volume. The lizardfolk made no reply to this. 

I asked again, this time requesting that someone come out to speak with us as we would have to cross the water to reach the gate and we knew not how deep it was. One of the lizardfolk sentries asked why we wished to speak with them. I explained that we were seeking a lost child and wanted to know if they had seen him, as I didn't desire to accuse them of having taken the child when we had no idea why they had taken him or how many of their kind were within the village. 

The sentries then began to talk with each other, their voices too low for me to hear, but Chahana told me that they seemed to be conversing about the boy. One of them appeared to feel they should hand him over to us. They then gestured for us to approach closer to the palisade. This was not an action we were eager to take as a stretch of water perhaps ten times my height stood between us and the lizardfolk village. But there was nothing for it other than we should try to cross. The river bed was thick with mud and within a short stretch we found ourselves unable to touch it with out feet as the water was too deep. I was glad then for having chosen not to wear such heavy armor as Maria does, though it was difficult enough to paddle through the water with my shield and spear on my back.

The palisade itself stood on a hillock that was twice as tall as I, with some tree limbs or roots buried in the earth to form rough steps to the wooden gates. I could now see the sentries more clearly and observe that their armor and weapons were of no great skill in making, but they did have mouths full of fangs and fingers ending in sharp claws that they could no doubt use to do harm. 

The child's wailing grew louder still now that we were near to the wall. One of the sentries asked if we had come to take the man-child, to which Chahana responded that we had. The second sentry stated that the child was not theirs to give. The sentries opened the gate for us, and after a brief consultation among ourselves we decided that we should enter to show them trust. We stepped just inside the gate. We asked if we could speak to their chieftain, and one of them began to walk away, saying, "Come take the man-child." 

We looked at one another and then fell in behind him. The sentry led us among simple mud huts with geometric designs painted on their walls in red and violet. He took us to one such hut, where the child's weeping was even easier to hear. A glance through the opening let us see a large lizard of a kind known as the Narlmarch mugger within this hut - a poisonous creature, but its venom is not very harmful. This one wore a collar studded with crystals and was held by a long rope of plaited vines so it could not quite reach the human child who was similarly restrained on the opposite side of the hut. The mugger kept lunging to the length of its lead and clawing at the bone-littered floor of the hut, its threatening movements eliciting more cries and tears from the boy. 

Zander did not hesitate to enter the hut and begin untying the sobbing child.the lizardfolk who had shown us to the hut grasped the mugger's lead and pulled it away. As Zander released the child, the flap covering the opening of the largest hut at the center of the small village flew aside and an exceptionally tall lizardfolk emerging bearing a trident in one hand. He stood half again as tall as any of us. Though the features of lizardfolk are difficult to read, it seemed likely by their reaction to this tall one that he was their chieftain. This one gruffly demanded to know what we were doing there. Chahana replied that the others had told us to take the child. This clearly displeased him, though he indicated that it was their tribe's shaman who wished to keep the boy. Maria attempted to bargain with him, trying to offer something he might desire more than one small human child, but he would not accept any offer, not even when Chahana joined her words with Maria's. The lizardfolk chieftain declared, "I am King Vesket. You cannot take the man-child."

I tried to convince him by praising his warriors and asking if they could not find better meat than one child, as I remembered that the lizardfolk do not differentiate intelligent creatures from simple beasts when they hunt and would as soon have human flesh as that of fish or fowl. But my words did nothing to persuade Vesket. His demeanor toward us was entirely hostile. When he mentioned their shaman, Stisshak, we asked if we could speak with him but Vesket said Stisshak would speak only to warriors of their tribe. Chahana used Reislin's magic to suggest to me that I say to him they should be able to find something better than a weak child. 

Then the sentry who had guided us spoke up, saying that what they had done to the boy was not meat but torture and was wrong. More lizardfolk had emerged from their huts by this point and I sensed that perhaps half of them agreed with the speaker. Maria said to Vesket that the strong shouldn't need to prey on the weak, and offered to trade them meat for the child. This only seemed to enrage Vesket more. He thrust Chahana away from him as he suddenly saw Zander carrying the child toward the gate, and shouted, "They are stealing our meat! Kill them! Kill them!" Then he let out a mighty roar, which he no doubt hoped would cow us. In that he would be disappointed. The Dawnflower lends me her courage, and when my comrades stand near to me they also gain a measure of her strength.

Reislin cast her spell upon us all so that we might move more quickly and we drew our weapons. Chahana stepped back with her bow in hand. Zander ran toward the gate with the boy under his arm. Vesket had brought out two of the local caimans when he emerged, and one of these snapped at Chahana while the other tried to close its jaws on Maria. 

I attempted to taunt Vesket, saying to him, "You would die for a man-child? Who leads this tribe, you or the shaman?" But my words did not sway him. He thrust his trident at Maria, piercing through her armor. Though I did not see this at first, Reislin took flight behind me and Zander began to battle a lizardfolk brave who pursued him. Maria swung her sword at Vestek. I slipped between him and one of the caimans to take up a flanking position, which was not the wisest move I could have made as both Vestek and the caiman were able to strike me and sorely injured me. But I thrust my spear into Vestek several times all the same. Maria's sword also dealt him several harsh blows.  

Reislin's magic blinded the caiman that was nearest to Maria, while with a few more well-placed arrows the caiman nearest to Chahana died and she turned her bow against the blind one and against Vestek. Zander returned, having left the child outside, and with a mighty two-handed jab he brought Vestek down. The two caiman had also been slain, and this seemed to take the fight out of the other lizardfolk. 

But we were not done yet. We had expressed our regret for having slain their chieftain and had just begun trying to convince the lizardfolk that they should not hunt humans when I felt a dark presence behind me and I could see that Maria felt it too. Stisshak had appeared - though he was not a lizardfolk as we expected. It was Maria who realized the creature that floated from behind me was a will-o-wisp, thought it did bear the appearance of a lizardfolk skull wreathed in a strange energy. It hissed at us, "Only I will decide what meat they eat. And I shall feast on your fear." 

Of course I was protected by the Dawnflower, but my companions were too far from me to gain her blessing. Despite this none were affected by whatever the creature tried to do, though it did wound Maria with a blast of lightning. It was floating overhead but we approached to strike at it with our weapons while Reislin relayed to us that no magic could harm it other than one of her missiles and it could also become invisible. A moment later she realized that it was draining energy from one of the caimans that was not quite dead, and she used a missile to slay the beast. The will-o-wisp did not become invisible, and it was not a hardy creature and did not withstand our blows for long. But it also struck me with its lightning and by then I was so weak I had to lean against a hut while I healed myself with Sarenrae's light.

Fortune smiled on us that the lizardfolk did not turn on us then. As Autumn comes they are slower in their movements, and they were more concerned with choosing a new chieftain. They did not entirely seem to accept Reislin's words when she explained that Stisshak was not the spirit of their shaman but a monster that fed on fear and death. Still, they asked us if we would cleanse his hut for them with our magic. None of us are priests who can remove the curse of evil, but I did fill the hut with some of the Dawnflower's healing fire, which had the advantage of healing some of my own hurts and those my friends had suffered. 

In the center of the hut, which appeared to have been unoccupied for some time, we found a heap of bones, feathers, and other items that seemed to form a kind of shrine though we knew not to what god. There was also a collection of offerings, including a longspear that seemed to be made of cold iron, an assortment of gemstones, a jade ring, and a feather which Reislin said possessed a magical aura. The ring had such an aura as well. She could not determine what magic affected the ring until the following day, but the feather could transform into a tree like the tokens we had previously used to restore the trees at the nixie's grove in the forest. I have asked if I may keep the spear.

Starday, 30th Rova

It took us a day and a half to return to Lorewynd, arriving late in the evening. The boy's parents were naturally joyful to have him safely home. 

Sunday, 1st Lamashan

Autumn has come to these lands. The leaves have begun to shed their green for gold and fiery orange.

Though we have been back at Lorewynd for only a day, we have decided to leave again to pursue other explorations while the weather is still favorable. We will seek out Tiressia the dryad and her satyr companion Falchos to find out if they know of the old woman in the swamp, the Old Beldame. Chahana wishes to ask them to act as our go-betweens to mend the trouble between us. 

Moonday, 2nd Lamashan

We found Tiressia and Falchos, hearing Falchos' singing first before we saw him. At first it seemed they did not know the Beldame, but with a bit more conversation it became apparent that they had not seen her for many years and knew her only as a much younger woman. In the end Falchos offered to go and speak with her as Tiressia didn't wish to leave her tree. Chahana gave him a magic garment to gift to the Beldame as a token of our apology to her. Tiressia and Falchos say that her name is Elga. 

I think that we remained with them longer than we meant to. The fey folk do not follow time as we do, and when in their company it is easy to overlook its passage. 

Toilday, 3rd Lamashan

We parted from Falchos and Tiressia after telling Falchos how to find Elga's hut. We have learned from them that the 'mad hermit' we were told of lives somewhere between Tiressia's tree and the Beldame's hut. They also gave us information that makes the rumors of the dragon and the hodag in the south seem more likely. 

As we made our way to the south, we came upon a most unusual sight: a very tall, old pine tree that was partly surrounded by a ruined wall. Closer examination demonstrated that it was made long ago by Reislin's and my people, perhaps even before the Earthfall when our kin dwelled in these lands. Zander collected a few bits of tile decorated with trees and stag, intending to take them back to the museum in Lorewynd. Reislin speculated that the ruin might once have been a watchtower.

We went on from there toward the Hooktongue Slough region, which was given into the hands of the Ministers of Restov to claim and is not a part of our granted territory. It was later in the day that we came upon another tower, this one still intact though damaged in places, its walls so overgrown with vines and moss that it was difficult to see among the trees. Though the arched entry was empty of a gate, the circular central structure and its four towers still stood solid. Reislin was very eager to enter and explore it. 

Next: part 20, A Death in the Family

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 18: Little Boy Lost

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

As Reislin rode to the north upon her summoned horse, Chahana suggested to the rest of us that we move away from the old woman's cottage and set up camp for the evening, after which she wished to speak with us. She and Maria found a location they felt was suitable and we set up our campsite in silence. Chahana then told us she wished to be left to herself for a short while before speaking to us all.

When she sat down upon a fallen tree trunk, she asked that we not interrupt her until she had finished. Then she spoke to us of how she felt that up until this time she felt she had done well in the role of leader, and that if we concluded she was not fit for that role she hoped there would still be a place for her in Neotellus.

Zander was not at all interested in this discussion, but immediately spoke up when Chahana had finished, asking what we should do about Reislin who was on her own in this wild region that we had yet to fully explore. He felt that we should set off in search of her at once. Maria concurred with his opinion.

Not wanting to disregard what Chahana had said, I commented that perhaps rather than going at once to speak to the old woman we should have investigated the disappearances first and spoken to the parents of the children who vanished. My comrades reminded me that the other rumors we had followed had proved to be largely true and we had no cause to assume this one was untrue, and also that the old woman in the cottage certainly had behaved in a manner that would give the local folk reason to be fearful of her.

In the end we set aside discussion of Chahana's leadership in favor of following Reislin to make sure she was safe. Hoofprints that were presumably those of her steed were soon discovered. We traveled into a marshy area along the southern shore of the Tuskwater when we came upon another set of tracks that resembled those of the troll we had encountered during the past winter. Zander asked Chahana what we should do, and she replied that we should investigate them and deal with it if it should prove to be a danger. Zander then asked Maria what should be done, and she stated we should find out what the presumed troll was up to. Zander wondered if we should try to approach stealthily, but Maria suggested we try to get closer and observe if we could.

Soon enough we confirmed that the tracks we had found were those of a troll. This one was accompanied by half a dozen kobolds of the same purple-scaled tribe we had run afoul of before. This we knew was unusual, as trolls and kobolds are seldom friendly.

The kobolds noticed us at once and began hurling slingstones at us though it seemed their aim was only good when they were aiming at Zander. Chahan drew nearer to them and fired her bow. The troll jumped up from where it had been sitting and rushed up to us roaring, bearing no weapon but its claws and teeth. I drove my spear into it with both hands. Maria flanked it as the kobolds encircled us, but they didn't prove serious foes. Neither did the troll, who fell soon enough though his trollish healing ability prevented him from dying until Zander methodically cut him to pieces and several vials of acid were emptied upon the bits to dissolve them.

We had managed to take one kobold prisoner and questioned him. Zander asked if we should slay him or let him go after we asked our questions, to which Chahana replied that this depended upon his responses. The kobold told us that their leader was 'King Troll', who was described as a mighty warrior capable of slaying dragons. The kobold claimed that they had no encampment but were wandering hunters, and that there were "many twenties" of kobolds in their band. The kobold professed not to have seen Reislin. He also claimed that their troll king would take our land from us and the kobolds would eat all the people of Neotellus.

In the end we let the kobold go, as several others had fled when the troll fell and we hoped they would all tell the Troll King that his enemies were more worthy than he thought. The kobold attempted to elicit some information from us before running away but we did not fall for his tricks.

There was no sign of Reislin around the place where the troll and kobolds had rested. As it was close to dusk by this point we again made camp, the others being unwilling to let me lead them through the darkness.

We returned to Lorewynd on the following morning. Before we set off, Chahana told us she had received a message from Reislin during the night assuring her that she was well and had already reached the town. When we arrived the guards at the gate were quite dismayed that we had come separately from Reislin. Reislin did not wish to meet with us at that time, and after leaving our gear in our rooms we each went about our own business. I have taken up a practice of walking about the town and castle and extending the Dawnflower's healing to anyone I find who is ill or injured. When next we speak of inviting more merchants to our fair town I shall recommend a baker, so that I may ask the baker to bake some loaves of Dawnflower bread if I am able to acquire sunflowers.

26th Rova

Chahana summoned us all to meet with her in a parlor of Castle Lorewynd, and asked if any of us wished for her to step down from her role in our new land. To this I replied that she had made only one mistake, one that did not result in anyone's death or any endangerment of Neotellus. Maria then told her that perhaps she should remember a leader is not required to fulfill all roles and she should allow the rest of us to take on more responsibilities. To that end Chahana suggested that henceforth when we wish to meet peacefully with folk she will allow me to speak first, as Sarenrae has granted me the gift of speaking kindly, which Chahana herself finds difficult.

We also had a discussion of whether or not the land on which the old lady has built her cottage is in fact part of Neotellus. In the end we concluded that we cannot lay claim to it, at least not yet, as we have not acquainted ourselves with all that surrounds it. Some among us felt that our writs from Brevoy granted us all the land between the Narlmarches and the Tors of the Levenies to east and west, and that land from the southern border of Brevoy to Lake Candlemere north to south. But after we talked of this I am convinced that we have only been granted the right to lay claim to those lands, but our claim has not been established yet.

There was a great deal of conversation surrounding what had happened at the old woman's cottage and how everyone had behaved, which I will not transcribe here. Chahana wishes to contact Tyressia and Falchos and seek out their knowledge of the old woman. She has now become convinced the old lady is harmless as I at first thought. I saw no evil in her soul, but I must not forget that she can be dangerous without having an evil nature.

Later that day we were approached by a man who asked if he might have our support to found a new village near the old tatzlwyrm den. Chahana has agreed that once we have secured that area for their safety he and his family are welcome to settle there.

As we were about to part, a distraught couple came to us begging us to find their young son who had been missing for three days. This couple, the Tannorsens, are known to us, and Reislin seemed to be aware of their boy Tygg. It seems he is fond of exploring the shore of the Tuskwater and had not returned from his last foray. The guards had been unable to locate him. After telling the guards to send someone to tell us if the boy returned, we gathered up our traveling equipment again and set out in search of the child.

28th Rova

On our second day searching along the edge of the Tuskwater to the south of Lorewynd, we came upon a small shoe that appeared to made for a child. It did not have the appearance of something that had been lying in the open for many weeks. We had also come to the shore of Lake Candlemere, and had spied a ruined tower on an isle in the center of the lake. Reislin much desired to find a way to reach the island and explore the ruin, but we were focused on finding the missing boy and determined to circle the lake.

29th Rova

Lake Candlemere is not a large body of water. We found a river that runs from the lake into the Kamelands. This river is surrounded by marshland, and this was where we noticed smoke in the near distance. We had heard of lizardfolk in this region and decided to investigate the source of the smoke. Soon enough we came upon a hillock that rose above the marsh, from which several columns of smoke as from cooking fires rose into the sky. This hillock was surrounded by a palisade of sharpened tree limbs. On one side was a gate, over which lizardfolk stood guard. As we were looking at this, we heard what we all felt was the scream of a human child, perhaps in fear or pain. Immediately we began to make our way to the gate, observing as we approached that the guards did not appear to be hostile toward us.

Next: part 19, Meat Is Meat

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 17: The Witch's Spell

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

Sunday, 17th Rova

When the bats began to return to the Lonely Barrow, we took our leave of that place. After one of the undead in the barrow had touched me I felt a general malaise, but by the following day this had passed. The upcoming Toilday would be a holy day for Iomedae, and we wanted to return to Lorewynde for the celebration.

While in Lorewynde we heard rumors of violent lizardfolk in the south, more tales of the green dragon we'd heard rumored previously, a mad hermit who lives in a hollow tree, and a witch in the swamps who eats children. It sorrows my heart that there are never rumors of anything favorable.

The next few days were uneventful as we made our way to the hills at the foot of the Tors of the Levenies and reached the banks of the Gurdin River. There was no good fording place readily found there, but when we headed into the hills near the Tuskwater on the 20th of Rova, we came upon a good spot to cross.

Sunday, 24th Rova

As we headed south toward the Tuskwater we came upon tracks of wagons. We had heard of farms established near the Tuskwater, and soon enough we came upon a man carrying several fishing poles in the early afternoon. Chahana greeted him, and upon learning who we were he quickly advised us of a difficulty he faced in his fishing: a large creature he referred to as "Old Crackjaw" kept stealing his catch. He told us he would give us a magic ring he'd found if we would deal with Old Crackjaw. Questioned further, he explained that he had come from the Lake of Mist and Steam in northern Brevoy while he showed us to his favorite fishing location where his boat was moored. At this point we could see the bottom of the lake through the water for a short distance and then it appeared that there was a sharp drop where the water became much deeper.

As we stood on the shore near Arven's boat, Reislin decided to summon a horse to appear in the shallow water. Just after the horse appeared Maria observed a ripple in the water. When she pointed this out I readied my spear. A large turtle shell, of a size that an elf could curl up within it, appeared moving toward Reislin's horse. Maria and Reislin were standing close to the edge of the water and this large turtle made as if to lunge out of the water at them. Both of them stepped aside to avoid it. The creature had rather dismaying tusks in its mouth. I decided to reposition myself nearer to Reislin and Arven's boat that I might better reach it if it emerged from the lake.

Crackjaw crawled out of the lake and snarled. Zander began to wade out to get behind the turtle, and Maria followed. I heard Reislin speak the words of the now familiar spell to grant us all the ability to move faster. She also lifted off the ground and flew upward, coming to a stop more than three times her own height. Her horse moved away from the turtle. When I looked out I saw that Maria in her heavy armor was struggling a bit to avoid sinking. I moved forward to get closer to the turtle and asked Chahana if she thought we should slay it or merely drive it away. Crackjaw circled, snarled again, and charged toward Maria and Zander moved toward the turtle while Reislin raised her wand to send her tiny missiles at it. Chahana plied her bow, but her arrows couldn't penetrate the turtle's shell. Now that I could see it better I recalled that this type of turtle was called a hookjaw snapping turtle, which could be powerful and dangerous enough to destroy a boat. This one by its look was old and aggressive, which made me realize that driving it away would likely not be adequate to remove the threat it posed to anyone attempting travel on the Tuskwater.

Zander sliced at Crackjaw with his sword, and I waded into the shallow water myself to thrust my spear at it. Maria had recovered her footing and swung her blade as well. Crackjaw thrashed about as it bled its last. When it fell still, we dragged its corpse onto the shore and Zander began to cut it apart, desiring to have its shell transformed into armor.

Arven rewarded us as he had promised with a ring that will allow a falling person to float to the ground like a leaf. Discussion of this ring reminded us of another ring we had recently acquired, which Reislin said would allow a person to go without food or sleep without suffering any ill effect if one wore the ring for a week to attune to it. Both she and Chahana thought this ring's enchantment would be most useful, but Zander had no interest in it at all, stating that he was too fond of eating and sleeping to dispense with either activity.

Before we departed from that part of the Tuskwater, Chahana noticed bones in the mud that resembled the bones of an elf or human. Among these bones she found a blue crystal the size of my fist. When she showed this to Reislin, Reislin determined that it was a magic gem capable of summoning a water elemental, though after one use it would become inert. We searched around the area for anything else of curiosity but found nothing. We have no idea who the poor person bearing the gem was, or why that person was unable to use the gem to save himself or herself from whatever fate befell them.

We returned to Lorewynde in time to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. While there we heard the rumor of the swamp witch, which I mistakenly stated we had heard earlier. We decided that as this tale dealt with children we should investigate it first when we left again.

Here my tale grows disheartening, and I am reluctant to write it down. Yet I shall, for it should be recorded lest I forget.

We came upon a small cottage surrounded by a fenced garden with a scarecrow standing watch over it. We wanted to ask the occupants if they knew of the rumored swamp witch, but we stopped at the garden gate and called out a greeting, Chahana taking the lead in this. There was no response at first. Maria called out a second time in a louder voice, but this still brought no reply. Chahana then decided to open the gate and walk up to the door. Just as she did this Maria noticed there was a bell hanging on the gate post. Then someone looked out through a window and shouted to us, asking who we were. The speaker's tone was not welcoming. Chahana explained that we had come from Lorewynde, to which the speaker called out that it lay to the north, leading Chahana to think the person in the cottage could not hear well. Further attempt at an introduction only elicited demands from the cottage occupant that we go away, and accusations that we meant to claim her land.

I added my voice to the others, endeavoring to persuade the old woman to allow us to speak with her and demonstrate that the rumors of the swamp witch did not refer to her, but it was to no avail. Chahana determined to approach the cottage and try to speak with the woman without shouting from the gate. As soon as she stepped inside the garden, the scarecrow began to move. Masses of fireflies few out of its head. Maria and Reislin found them fascinating to watch and lost all interest in speaking to the old woman.

I readied my shield and stepped up beside Chahana. Chahana readied her own shield as well and drew her sword to defend herself from the scarecrow. Maria shook off the effect of the fireflies and tried to strike the scarecrow but immediately fell under the spell of the fireflies again. Zander joined us and averted his gaze as he swung blindly at the scarecrow, which meant that he was unable to strike it. The scarecrow then attacked Chahana, slamming its body into her twice. She had also been entranced by the fireflies, but recovered herself. She and Zander flanked the thing, yet because they didn't dare to look directly at it their blades could not touch it.

I put my shield up between my eyes and the scarecrow and attempted to hit it with the shield on the theory that the larger surface of the shield might give me an advantage to touch it when I couldn't see it, but this availed me nothing. Chahana backed away and took out her bow to fire an arrow at the scarecrow. While we were all trying to hit it Maria recovered again and realized that it must be some variety of construct, which would be immune to attacks that carried cold energy or magic that could affect the mind as it didn't have one. Then Zander struck it and it shattered. With the scarecrow gone Reislin was freed of the entrancing fireflies.

I lent some of the Dawnflower's healing mercies to Chahana, who had suffered some harm from the scarecrow. As I did this I asked her what we should do. Chahana still desired to speak with the old woman. Maria reminded her that we hadn't yet declared our claim on this land, and Reislin stated that she thought we should still investigate the rumor. Chahana then called out again, insisting that we would speak to her about these charges. I felt some discomfort at her tone in this pronouncement, but I did not object, though I wondered what she would do should the woman continue to refuse to speak with her. The woman did not answer, and then I voiced my concern. Should we drag her out of her cottage and threaten her with harm to make her speak?

Maria looked around the garden and observed that there were some poisonous plants within it. She shared this information with the rest of us. The garden was also full of small fetishes, the purpose of which I did not know. Reislin examined them but she also was unfamiliar with their purpose. Then the door opened and the old woman looked out. She looked older than anyone I have ever seen before, with a cast to her features that perhaps spoke of fey ancestry. Her demeanor was hostile and she began to speak and gesture as though casting a spell. Reislin warned that this spell was meant to frighten us, but the Dawnflower has lent me a mantle of her power that is proof from fear and because Chahana and Maria were next to me they also were protected but not entirely immune. Zander was not within the spell's range and Reislin was still by the garden gate.

Maria cast a spell of her own and stepped forward, attempting to intimidate the old woman. I also stepped up and tried to soothe the woman's ire, but it was too late. Chahana implored her to speak civilly with us but she cast another spell at Chahana, Maria, and Zander. Zander attempted to get inside her house but was unable to get through the doorway. The woman swung her walking stick at him. Maria swung her sword at the old lady, moving oddly slowly, and her blade drew green blood. I availed myself of Sarenrae's power to perceive evil in the souls of creatures but I saw no evil in her. Perhaps the hue of her blood came from her fey ancestors. I attempted to persuade Maria to forego attacking her because she was a frail old woman. Maria then somehow struck Zander. Chahana shouted out for us to back away and continued pleading for the woman to talk to us. The old woman cast another spell and Maria fell over.

This must have distressed Reislin, for she began to cast spells at the old woman. A spider's web covered the little cottage, trapping the woman within but not hindering her from using her magics. Chahana realized that Maria was asleep. I tried to convince my companions that the woman was harmless and we should not accept the rumor without proof, but the old woman's anger coupled with our own anger and fear led us all to foolish reactions. Reislin kep trying to cast spells at her while Chahana attempted to forcibly drag Reislin away. Zander bore Maria's sleeping form out of the garden and woke her, but she was confused and began shouting at Chahana that she was a poor leader. Zander walked away rather listen to all of this.

When Chahana let go of Reislin, Reislin angrily summoned another horse, mounted it, and rode off to the north. I said a blessing over the garden before we departed, leaving behind a furiously angry old woman.

I fear this may have caused Reislin to abandon us, and also has broken Chahana's confidence in her ability to lead us. But I will pray to the Dawnflower and hope that she will show me the way to restore our faith in each other.

Next: part 18, Little Boy Lost