New Warden Among Other Things (1/10/15)

King Feran Malwan sat by the General’s bedside, watching the old man breath. His moments of peace – though quiet – were more pleasant than the periods of madness where he would rave at unseen enemies and not even recognize the king’s face. Better for the old dog to sleep. Logically, he knew this was becoming all too common, but Feran’s heart refused to let go of the hope – hope that the old man would wake, give him that crooked smile and bark at him something like “a king should have better things to do…” He had been doing so well, too. For a few weeks he had been the old Regar. Storming around the halls, barking orders at the staff and mumbling about the elven threat. A relic from a bygone age, it didn’t seem he would ever change, but time wasn’t having that. Time was going to have the final say.

Brother Marty’s arrival was a mixed blessing. The boy’s touch was able to bring the Regar around and back to his senses, but Feran had barked at Euwyn, vented his frustration on the young prince who was only giving voice to his own inner fears. He would apologize later, but Euwyn had such horrible timing. When Regar looked at him and asked after the young priestess, Mjelde, Feran knew the old dog was back. “But for how long?” a tiny voice cried unheard deep inside him.

These days back in town, as fall settled in and temperatures grew steadily colder, were filled with numerous activities. Brother Martin subjected the General to a curse and a zone of truth attempting to get to the bottom of the man’s strange relationship with the King. He uncovered two things: one, Regar loved the king like a son, and two, Strom didn’t like Marty cursing loyal, Malwanese citizens. Lexington dispatched Lt. Kenny Ismort to Coronado’s Ferry to retrieve Mjelde so she could see to the general. The Councilor suggested Euwyn break off his relationship with the Bell family, but recanted when Euwyn mentioned love. “We’ll work it out, somehow,” she had said. Shelby stepped down from her post as warden, and after much debate the job eventually fell to her second, Captain (now Warden) Wallace Frasier, a young officer carrying Shelby’s support and the least argument from the nobles. Euwyn reached out to Yuri for help with Relania’s embattled family problems, and Yuri promised to fix everything.  A monster was spotted in the city. Long-limbed and hairy, it bounded across the rooftops of the bazaar. For a time, it was thought the Edgar might be the monster, but he had a strong alibi, having been present at the original sighting. Marty bumped into Lumi at the castle, and the two made up, at least far enough for Lumi to stop sleeping at the forge.

On the day Mjelde returned, Euwyn assembled his team to begin making nightly patrols in search of the monster. Lexington refused, calling the idea stupid. He and the Prince argued for a time, with Euwyn finally conceding that Lex’s help wasn’t essential. He had no idea of the Marshall’s plan of a secret triste with the Lady Bell that night. Euwyn and the rest spent a cold night wandering the streets until nearly midnight when Ilyana, transformed into a bird, spotted the beast near the castle walls!

Twidi Saves the Day (Date 1/10/9)

Biting her lip against the pins and needles shooting through her hands, Twidi Harraden worked her fingers back to life. Something was going on, she was sure of it, and she was going to need working hands if she was going to be of any use. What had been four trolls was now down to two. Only one of the boys and Big Mama remained.

Not long ago there had been the thunder of a rock fall which had woken her from slumber. Whatever it had been, it had called away the other male and led big mama to extinguish the cook fire. Maybe it was rescue... It had to be! She and minors had been trussed up like swaddled infants for days, and why? When the mine had been attacked, Twidi thought for sure they were dead. Her, her father, and all the other miners. Dead! Or at least they should be. The trolls obviously had no compunction against eating people. They had gobbled down the ones who had fought back, but once they were gone, the trolls had started hunting rather than eat the rest. It was weird. Many times the hungry males had leered at her, one even went so far as to lift her from the pen before being shouted down by Big Mama. She was keeping them for something. Twidi couldn’t guess what, and didn’t really care. Twidi was still alive. She wasn’t sure about her father though. He hadn’t moved since he’d been dropped into the pen. If he was still breathing, it was too shallow for her to see. Don’t worry about that now. She could hear her father’s voice. First things first. She prayed to Storm that he still lived, but first thing was escape, and for that she was going to need her hands. The knife hidden at her back would be useless without her hands.

Another sound, loud, like a cave-in but different, startled Twidi and the trolls. The noise was little more than a curiosity to Twidi, but the big mama troll freaked. She jumped at the noise and began barking orders to the remaining male who moved cautiously toward the cave mouth. It had to be an attack, a rescue! Twidi abandoned caution. This was it! Tonight it was escape or death. She pulled the knife from her belt and bent to work on her ankle ropes. No sooner had Twidi begun sawing before Big Mama came to the pen, pushing aside a mine cart as easily as Twidi might a campfire stump. Folding herself back up Twidi watched in horror as the troll matriarch hefted the man next to her. She was pretty sure it was Ward, but in the dim light she couldn’t be certain. It looked almost as if Big Mama planned to put the helpless minor into the strange harness on her back. Though most of Twidi’s mind was consumed in terror, a tiny voice pondered the harness and its purpose.

Twidi saw the steel first, then the man wielding it. Both had come from nowhere, and with their arrival, time turned to a blur. The man got swatted away. She hacked manically at her bonds. A troll roared in the distance. Other men poured into the cave. A huge troll shadow fell over her and great hands scooped her up. Unable to do more than twist in the unbreakable grip, she flashed out desperately with the tiny knife. Meat! A startled roar of pain. She fell. And then she was scrambling across rocks working to free the other miners. Another explosion rocked the cavern, this time dislodging a shower of rubble. Nearby voice shouted. Did they say, “The Prince”? No time to worry about that. The ceiling might give way at any moment, and she doubted her tiny knife would do much go if the trolls returned….

Suddenly it was bright as day, almost too bright to see. Gentle hands were pulling her away from her work. Soothing voices spoke of calm and concern. It was over. They were free! The magic Prince had come to their rescue. There he was, sitting across the cavern talking to a strange looking woman. She must be an elf! And this one talking to her, was one too. Lex, did he say? Such a strange bunch. There was the miracle man! And who was the huge one with the sword on a spear? Before she knew it they were gone. She could scarcely remember talking to any of them. Had she? It was all so surreal - like a fantasy. They hadn’t even waited a day, once the Miracle Marty had healed her father and the others, they were off, back to the city. Malwan… Before it had always seemed so far away, but today, it was her capital.

Bell’s Ball (Date 1/10/7)

Euwyn was a fool for showing up. Relania knew this clearly, but she had to admit to herself she was glad he did. If the Prince had done the wise thing and given her party a miss, that would pretty much be it for the Bells. Next would be a marriage to some disgusting, lusty, old, widower lording to pay off the family’s debts and excuse these latest accusations of scandal. Her parents could… what? Run a shop selling off the few family heirlooms they hadn’t been ordered to hock… Hire on as servants in the house they used to own… Get real jobs! Oh, it was all too horrible to consider, and – as it was – unnecessary. Prince Euwyn was here, along with half a dozen aunts, cousins and the like. Despite her family’s current financial woes, this newly budding scandal, and her advanced age – all of 19 – Euwyn was still interested. And only she knew why…

Only she knew the prince’s secret. Kenny Ismort! How could the Euwyn like, Kenny Ismort? Given, he was cute and could be charming when he tried – even she had been charmed by him as a girl – but his whole façade just rubbed her wrong. Everyone knew his family’s corrupt past – and present! They made so little attempt to hide it. Kenny’s attempts to rise above it all and “give back” to the community weren’t fooling anyone. He still came home for holidays. Still had his house paid for with Ismort ill-gotten gold. He was no saint. She would have to steer Euwyn to more realistic options once they were married. Someone a little more genuine, far lower profile, and a little less attractive wouldn’t hurt either.

She watched as her family fell all over themselves trying to please the Prince. No matter how many times she told them this was the exact wrong tack to take, they couldn’t help themselves. Taking the opportunity the momentary solitude gave, she examined his note again. Such a strange sentiment… Sometimes she wondered if maybe there might be more in his heart for her, but no— They had agreed, this was going to be a marriage of mutual benefit. She would give him an heir and protect his secret life, and he would provide for her family. She would help him with the intrigues of court and in turn, he would let her. He wasn’t the only one with a secret passion.

The gift was equally interesting, a magic bird that could actually fly and could carry notes back and forth. It was wondrous! She knew she should be more amazed – and she was – but part of her brain couldn’t stop thinking about the book that Lexington had found. So many mysteries! So much history! In her mind she had left this party behind and was flipping over pages with the dashing young marshal. But he was gone, off setting up the fishery and patrol routes to protect the kingdoms growing holdings. Maybe when he got back, she could send him a note…

Lexington’s party returned to find injured men come from the hills. Martin healed their wounds and the group told their tale. A fierce band of ogres had set on the mine, and they few had escaped. The rest of the miners and guards had been trapped in the tunnels and were feared dead. Assembling the team, the party rode forth at first light, arriving as sun set on the mine to find the shipping station at the base of the cliff deserted. Fearing the trolls might still be around, Lexington and Hedge were sent to scout. They found a single troll guard stationed outside watching the trail, a rock fall trap engineered to spring on any who would approach. Inside the cave, the miners were still alive! Three more trolls were there, including the powerful matriarch. They were eating mountain goat meat raw, while keeping the humans as prisoners. The most peculiar thing was that each troll wore a strange harness on their back.

The scouts reported their findings, and it was determined the harnesses were to allow the trolls to carry human as shields against the prince’s fire magic. This was a trap, and a terribly cunning one at that. Rather than spring it, Euwyn came up with a trap of his own. Lexington was sent invisibly to trip the rock fall, seemingly by accident. When the trolls went to repair it, they would jump the smaller band, dividing their forces. Hopefully the trolls wouldn’t bring their human shield to such menial labor.

We Have Seen the Enemy… (Date 1/10/4)

Marty broke down in tears, confessing his fault. He had thought he and Mjelde were simply talking about her fears at being left in Coronado’s Ferry as the sole carrier of Strom’s grace, but with one simple query, “Are you cheating on Lumi?” she undid him. It all came out in sorrowful torrent. She consoled him as he begged for some clue as to how to set things straight. “Come clean. Break it off with Drova. Confess to Lumi. And maybe, MAYBE, she’ll forgive you.”

It was a harsh recipe, but in his heart Marty knew it for truth. As the horses rounded the south-east corner of Black Lake, he confessed his fault to his friends. This sparked a long and rather fruitless discussion with many takes on the wisdom of the priest’s plan. The bottom line being the discovery that, Hedge’s world was VERY different from their own.

The rest of the group rode for town while Hedge and Marty headed down the side trail into lumber territory to face his fate. It was a clean cut, straight through. Even when Drova floated the idea that she would be happy just being his girl on the side, Marty stayed true to his plan and ended it. He didn’t look back to see her running out on the porch, watching as he left with tears in her eyes.

Lumi took the news about as well, seeming largely angry that Mjelde had been right and she had been wrong to defend Marty. Despite the late hour, she stormed off into the night saying she would be staying at her mother’s.

Prince Euwyn realized he was late. The Lady Relania Bell’s nineteenth birthday was only days away and he had no gift. Securing funds from the kingdom coffers, he secluded himself in his workshop working long hours to complete a magical present. Several matters sought to intrude. The town’s council had met and made plans to claim the land lying between the capital and Coronado’s Ferry, expanding fisheries along the route as they went. A tax holiday was also declared to encourage loyalty. The young Lieutenant Kenny Ismort made his report, and the Prince was so taken with the man’s outlook and temperament, that he promised the young soldier a place in his coming administration.

Lexington went a different route, searching old bookstores and the library archives for a book on Malwanese history and court intrigue, finally locating a tome about the Age of the Lost Twins as a gift for the Lady Bell.

Then Hedge got bored and enlisted Ilyana’s aid in finally exploring the depths of Black Lake. It was his hope that speaking with a bottom-dwelling fish, and perhaps exploring those same depths in person if needs be, the could shine the light of reason on the young prince’s superstitions OR if said, superstitions were found to be grounded in fact, shine that same light on a serious threat to the kingdom, one that needed to be dealt with. Securing a boat, he and the young druid rowed out to the scene of the mysterious stalk of high summer. Taking on the form of a water elemental, Ilyana summoned a deep dwelling catfish, who confirmed in no uncertain terms, that danger did dwell below. “Don’t go to the city of the fish-people!” Swimming down to the stygian depths of the lake she saw it all for herself. Drowned-looking humanoids with translucent skin and webbed hands and feet tended to kelp farms around a vast complex of tunnels in the lakebed. As she watched, the creatures seemed suddenly expectant, their attention focused on a large hole at the center of the complex. A horror emerged!

Fleeing back to the city, they hurried to tell the Prince what they had seen!