- GM’s note: This session covers a number of days as Grant heads to the Tower of the Hawks and Ethan covers for his absence. We are very close to the next full moon, and the next sacrifice. However, the PCs don’t know yet who that sacrifice will be.
Day 22 - Towerday – 7th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- The next morning is cold but still the rain keeps coming. Grant rises early and departs, heading south. Just after midday, he leaves the road and heads through the forest in the direction of the mountains and the known path that leads to the Tower of the Hawks. Late in the day, ‘Brick’ is tired and needs to rest. He finds a small shrine that seems to have sunken into the hillside and goes to investigate. There he finds a small domed temple dedicated to Lady Beethania, the wife of Lord Wynterlyr, and the one who has supposedly trapped her husband in a well which lies deep in the forest. Grant recognises her when he sees her statue. He’s met her before in the Courts of the Shadow Fey. (GM’s note – This adventure will be run. We will come back to it. We just haven’t run it yet. I gave David a choice as to whether Beethania had a connection to Grant or to Ethan and he chose Ethan) Beethania was one of the faeries who was trying to persuade Ethan to remove Isabelle’s amulet.
- At the feet of the statue lies a piece of metal – a third of a metal ring. Grant remembers seeing a stone statue holding the completed ring in the river caverns. He remembers what Oldroot said, that Lord Wynterlyr could be freed if the three pieces of the ring were reunited and it was returned to him. Grant thinks on this – no one has been here in a long time – and he decides to leave it be.
Day 23 - Wineday – 7th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- At first light Grant heads further into the mountains, hoping that he will be in time to rescue Tam. It is cold and overcast but at least it is no longer raining. Just before he departs, he offers a prayer to Lady Beethania, asking for protection for the town against the Lurkers. He leaves a flawless gemstone at her feet in return.
- ‘Brick’ isn’t used to long journeys and the horse tires quickly as they continue to climb. The view over Tyland Woods is impressive and the distant Tower draws closer as the day wears on. Grant keeps his eyes out for large birds, figuring that the Lord of the Skies will probably have giant hawks looking for intruders. In the afternoon, he spots one but to his surprise, the great grey hawk lands nearby and knocks its beak against a rock, tapping out a basic message. The grey hawk wants to communicate with him.
- They can’t converse normally, but the hawk clearly understands what Grant says and can tap out yes/no answers to questions. Slowly, Grant gets more information about what lies ahead. ‘Grey Feather’ claims to be the lord of the hawks but things changed when a wizard arrived. The wizard is a danger to both the hawks and the people of Tyland Woods. Not only can the wizard control the hawks, but he is also merging the ‘people with two legs’ and the ‘birds with two wings’ into a new type of human-hawk hybrid. ‘Grey Feather’ is the only one who has been able to avoid being controlled by the wizard.
- At last Grant reaches the Tower, and he decides upon a direct approach. Shapeshifting into a small bird (something he can only manage for minutes at a time without disturbing Gossamer Reality), he flies around the tower, looking at the upper level where he has been told that the wizard resides. Catching a glimpse of him in his blue robes in what appears to be the early stages of a ritual, Grant charges through the arrow slit and returns to his normal size. Grant flattens the surprised blue wizard, who promptly hisses at him in a most inhuman way, and Grant knocks him out. Tennelgast’s two hawk-hybrid apprentices move to defend their master but Grant deals with them very quickly.
- He has arrived in the blue wizard’s laboratory and Tam is cooped up in a small cage. In another cage there is a healthy-looking giant hawk. It looks like Tennelgast was just about to start a ritual to merge them.
- Grant frees Tam and goes to look for other prisoners. What follows is a battle up and down the tower where hawk-hybrids attack viciously but are quickly subdued by Grant. When the Tower is secured, Grant finds lots of odd things. There are catnip plants at the windows. There is a chained-up goat for producing milk. Tennelgast has a huge throne with a comfortable cushion. In a golden goblet there is … fresh milk. Grant wonders if this wizard is some sort of cat-hybrid, or cat-touched or just a shapechanged cat.
- Finding the Book of the Skies, Grant uses some minor magic to break the enchantments in play (a very low-key use of Umbra) and then realises that he will need Vendra (Tennelgast’s master) to undo the spells that have created these hybrids. He has also rescued a handful of prisoners, some of whom are in very poor condition.
- What follows is that Grant negotiates with Grey Feather to take Tam back to Tyland Mills and inform Ethan what is going on – that the hawks are now their friends are not to be fired upon. Grant then instructs two of the hawkmen to take the Book of the Skies back to Vendra and ask for her help. Grant will head back to Tyland Mills with Tennelgast to ensure that he cannot reassert control over the Hawks.
Day 24 - Thunderday – 9th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- The next morning, Grant forces Tennelgast to drink a sleeping draught that he has prepared, and then he heads back along the road that brought him to the Tower of the Hawks. The sun finally breaks through the clouds and it is a fraction warmer, but it is still chilly in the mountains.
- Grant reaches the shrine to Beethania but does not take the ring fragment. Late in the day, he attempts to talk to Tennelgast but finds the wizard both rude and arrogant. Despite the horse being very tired, Grant presses on to reach Tyland Mill, arriving well after dark.
- To his surprise he finds that there are many horses at the Good Omen Inn and a few new merchants in town. He finds Sergeant Parth standing guard outside the Sheriff’s Tower. Parth is pleased to see Grant but says that there is no space for the captured wizard – the tower is full of prisoners. Grant asks what has happened, and Parth defers to Ethan to explain.
Ethan’s Story - Day 22 - Towerday – 7th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- Ethan pours Grant a drink and they sit down to go over what has happened. Ethan explains that he arrived back in Tyland Mills two days ago and found that he had just missed Grant. Mayor Prigg filled him in, including that Grant had hired three new deputies and that Thorn’s poor daughter had been found in the catacombs. Ethan was quite concerned about there being tunnels beneath Tyland Mills and he wanted to investigate, but the cell door was Warden-locked and Ethan figured that Grant must have had a reason for that, so he didn’t go further. Instead, he met Parth, looked over the river caverns again and went on some basic patrols. Nadia seemed to have recovered from her poisoning and her sisters offered Ethan a free meal to thank him. Ethan went to visit Thorn and pay his condolences. Thorn gruffly accepted and explained that he was waiting for the rain to end so that he could burn Jinny’s body.
- Ethan mentions that a merchant named Saena arrived with two wagons, and a messenger named Squire Ventor arrived and left.
- At this point in the retelling, Grant asked as to whether Marian had met with Red. After a pause, Ethan said that she had but the meeting had not gone well.
Ethan’s Story - Day 23 - Wineday – 7th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- The rain finally stopped so Thorn started work on a funeral pyre. There had been no word from Gareth, Rein or Pyke but Ethan wasn’t about to start chasing after them and leaving the town undefended. So he kept Parth and Tellurian on duty in the village itself while he went on patrol.
- Ethan explains that he’d heard that the Steel Eagles sometimes acted little better than bandits, and one of the children came running into town saying that their farm was under attack. Ethan told Parth and Tellurian to hold the bridge into Tyland Mill and he charged out. The farmstead itself was only two miles away and when he arrived, the ten Steel Eagles were busy pillaging and looting everything that they could take with them.
- Ethan didn’t have a bow with him – Grant had taken that – so he simply moved to ‘arrest them’. The Steel Eagles didn’t want to surrender to one lone deputy, so Ethan ended up killing two of them and capturing eight of them – and six horses. It took him a long time to get all of the prisoners back to Tyland Mill and even then, there wasn’t enough space in the dungeon. He had to convert the first floor into a holding cell. Parth was quite surprised – he apparently hadn’t thought much of Ethan when they had first met.
- Ethan only joined the Jinny’s funeral after the pyre had been burning for many hours. He didn’t hear what Lady Marian or any of the others had said at her funeral. He said a few words to Thorn, and stayed with him awhile, and then got back to work.
- It was late in the afternoon that the hawk carrying Tam arrived in the village and Ethan received Grant’s message.
Ethan’s Story - Day 24 - Thunderday – 9th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- On Thunderday the town started working to smoke out the Nyrathi Bees. They had already brought a lot of lumber to the area, covered it up and now it was time to use it.
- Ethan missed pretty much all of that as Parth and Tellurian were keen to be involved, and this left Ethan in charge of the Tower on his own. It was during this time that Squire Ventor returned without his horse, or his precious message. He’d been robbed by Red’s bandits the previous day and had to walk back to Tyland Mills. He was not very happy at all and demanded action.
- In addition, Lady Marian tried again to meet with Red again to try to reach some sort of arrangement. This meant that she was in the Sheriff’s Tower when the bandits decided to take advantage of the fact that most of the township were busy smoking out Nyrathi Bees – and they took this moment to try to free Red.
- Ethan explains that about a dozen of them turned up and tried to persuade him to release Red. They seemed to have no knowledge of him, except that he was in the Sheriff’s employ. Ethan says simply that he captured most of them – a few fled and he didn’t feel like chasing after them given the number of prisoners already in the tower. Ethan chuckles when he tells Grant of Red’s reaction and Marian’s reaction. Neither one of them expected one man to be able to do that.
- All in all, Ethan explains that there are eight Steel Eagles and now eight of Red’s bandits (including Red) in the Tower. It’s become quite crowded.
- Ethan pours Grant another drink and says that he doesn’t know what to do with the prisoners. Feeding them is costly.
Day 24 - Thunderday – 9th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- Back together, Grant tells Ethan about his adventures. He mentions the statue of Beethania and Ethan notes that he saw a similar statue in the old temple to the west. He expects that he will be a target of the fey for the foreseeable future, ever since they went to the Courts. (GM’s note – more on that will be revealed at a later date) Grant tells Ethan about Tennelgast and his hawk-hybrids. He hopes that Vendra will be able to turn them back.
- Ethan remarks that the Festival of Bees is only two days away (on Swordsday), and they need to figure out what to do with Red’s men and the Steel Eagles. Grant suggests that they move out of the Tower temporarily and stay at the Good Omen Inn but leave a guard in place. Ethan agrees.
Day 25 - Fireday – 10th Day of Rainmoot (Spring)
- With the weather finally improving, the townspeople of Tyland Mill and the arriving merchants begin setting up stalls in the town squire. Grant leaves Ethan to manage any security issues that come up and he decides to press the Lurker to tell what it knows.
- The Lurker has been docile and refusing both food and water for days. Grant tries to talk to it – it is very hard because although the creature clearly understands, it is unwilling to say anything. It seems to want to die. Grant decides to use a little Umbra to weaken its resolve and it starts to tell what it knows. The Lurker doesn’t know anything about Cutting Field – it had been in the tunnels beneath Tyland Mills for almost two months, tasked with protecting its kin who were clearing the clogged passages. It stares blankly at Grant as he presses about sacrifices at the full moon – it doesn’t appear to know anything about the plan, or who these ‘Three Servants’ might be. It does know about the Crawler, the god who is sleeping and will return, but seems ignorant of any plans which might be useful.
- Grant is disappointed and decides to head to the Millhouse to meet with Lady Marian. On the way, he finds that she is coming to meet him. They talk on the way back and Grant explains about Tennelgast and the hawks. He also points out the number of prisoners that are currently in the Sheriff’s Tower and that he needs Marian to provide some guidance as to what to do with them.
- Marian and Grant pause at the edge of the township, and Grant suggests that he talk to Red on her behalf and sound him out – figure out some sort of bargain that both sides would accept. Marian thinks for a while and accepts this proposal. She would like him to explore options but makes no promises as to whether she can accept what he proposes.
- While Grant heads to the Tower to talk to Red, Marian seeks out Ethan to talk with him. Marian had no idea that Ethan was a competent warrior until she saw for herself how he handled Red’s men. She is curious about him – where he comes from and why he travels with Grant. Ethan answers her questions with deference to her station. He explains that he and Grant have been friends for many years and have had many adventures together. She asks if he thinks that Grant could be persuaded to stay as Sheriff of Tyland Woods. Ethan pauses and suggests that she ask for herself as he cannot speak for Grant. Marian chuckles at the diplomatic answer and asks whether he will stay. Ethan’s thoughts are with Isabelle, Abbie and Hilda but he admits that he may stay longer if there is still need for him here.
- Grant releases Red from his cell and invites him to the kitchen to talk. Grant explains that punishment for banditry is quite severe but the massacre at Cutting Field has given Red the opportunity to ‘turn over a new leaf’, make a deal with Lady Marian and stop being bandits. Grant is very persuasive. Red doesn’t really want to be a bandit – he wants a title and lands, but he is very protective of his men. Red admits that his men are at the old Silvertrout Manor, on the eastern side of Chestnut Creek, and he would want title to that manor house as well as some sort of title to go with it, and a pardon for his men.
- They discuss options. Lord Korab has proven himself to be hostile to the Mill Lady and the Lurkers seem to be numerous enough to wipe out a village of almost a hundred people. The Mill Lady needs Red and his men. The alternative is that they hang them all and either Korab or the Lurkers will likely wipe them out.
- Red is intrigued. He has no problems siding with Marian, his half-sister, and likes the idea of one day becoming the Lord of the Weeping Castle (once he has proven himself). But he wonders whether Marian would accept that. His people have done terrible things to survive. There are thieves and murderers amongst his people.
- With this news, Grant returns Red to his cell and then goes to find Ethan. They talk for a while. Ethan wonders if Red is willing to say anything to get free and whether he will keep his end of any bargain that is struck. Grant points out that he did reveal where the bandits are based. Ethan wonders if he could be lying but Grant is sure that he was telling the truth. He and Red seem to have developed a rapport and he doesn’t think Red would directly lie to him. Red doesn’t seem like a bad guy – Grant thinks that he can work with him.
- Ethan comments that the preparations for the Festival of Bees seem to be going well. A troubadour named Ander Half-Elven has turned up, and he already seems to have developed a bit of a following as he plays merry tunes. Most of the stalls have been set up, and already the Good Omen Inn is full of merrymakers.
- Grant excuses himself and goes to talk to Marian. She listens to the proposal and agrees that it is worth further conversation. Red is released once more and Marian talks with him whilst Grant listens. After an hour of negotiation, they have reached an agreement. Red and his men will be given pardons for all past crimes and released. Red will be made Lord of Silvertrout Manor, and Protector of Tyland Wood. She expects the banditry to stop and for Red to adhere to the laws of the land. That also means that he’ll need to dispense the King’s justice where required or defer to herself or the Sheriff where he cannot. The property that has been stolen is to be returned.
- Both Red and Marian seem pleased and relieved that an agreement has been reached.
- The three of them then talk about what is to be done with the Steel Eagles. Grant suggests that they kick them out of Tyland Mills without their horses so that they have to walk home. It’ll serve as a lesson – this was actually Ethan’s idea but Grant likes it. Marian and Red agree to this.
- Marian leaves to organise the paperwork for Red’s release and Red is returned to his cell. He gives the good news to his men and there are cheers from the cells.
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