Session 13: Wolves in Hunting Attire

In later hours of the feast at Castle Orvallée, Duke Harold de Pompedeux’s youngest daughter fell dreadfully ill. Volodomyr stepped up and offered his aid to the sick child, an endeavour that would preoccupy him for the next couple of days. As the Auroran cleric did his best to bring the girl back to health, the rest of the party went to bed. 

During the night, Zalia once again found herself in the burning landscape, chained among her victims, as a shadowy figure walked about and brought great pain to those it passed. Zalia made an attempt to free herself and attack the being, but her magical powers seemed to have vanished. The being now approached her, scolding her. It told her that she was nothing without it. This seemed to be her patron. Zalia begged forgiveness, and was made to swear her loyalty once more. She would also have to prove herself. When she awoke, still with chainmarks around her wrists and ankles, she found a new name in her book. Esteme de Paramont. 

Zalia got dressed before she quickly made her way over to Jane. She told the samsaran about her troubles as of late, and how she got them by killing someone not outlined in her book. Now that she finally has gotten the chance to get back in her patron’s favor, for the first she doubts the righteousness of her actions. Jane, worried not only for her companions sake but also for the sake of everyone in her direct vicinity, asked her to talk to her before acting on her books commands. Zalia promised to keep that in mind. 

The next day the group gathered only to conclude that they would have to set off without Volodomyr. And so they did, after Ki’tor made a short stop at the nearest peddler of magical goods. After travelling across the helonian plains for quite a while, they suddenly found that the sunshine began to subside. Fog rolled in and darkened the area, when they finally reached a crooked crossroads between skeletal birch trees. There they found a stone well overflowing with fog, as well as an old blind woman. Her cart laid broken nearby, its wheels half-sunken in the mud. When they approached she croaked:
“Spare a drink for an old soul, and I’ll grant each of you a wish. But mind your words, the Ancient King will remember what’s spoken here.”

Whilst Ki’tor immediately offered the woman a drink, Jane thought back to the ancient myths of Helonia and remembered a particular story. Stories of the Wishing Wight, an ancient Helonian spirit bound to crossroads where oaths were broken. She could not harm those who speak the truth, but would curse liars. Jane promptly told the Wight that they would leave it alone and leave. After which an unaware Ki’tor offered the wight food, rendering Jane’s statement untrue. Thus Jane was inflicted with the wight’s curse, muddling her mind a bit. When she finally managed to convince the group to peacefully leave the crossroads, she began to thoroughly scold Ki’tor for his careless behavior. 

Later that day, as evening approached, the group arrived at a large vineyard, surrounded by humble farms. When they reached the main residence, the Majordomo Andrew met up with them and welcomed them to the De Paramont Residence. On behalf of the Lady of the house he welcomed them to stay at their home. They accepted, but would not get distracted with feasts or wine. Although Zalia quickly realized who her target was when they arrived for dinner and met the lady of the house. Lady Esteme de Paramont, the mother of Sir Melwin de Paramont. Although Zalia did stay her hand, at least for the moment. 

The next morning they head out towards the cemetery, from which the undead would rise that very night as the moon rose full. The cemetery and the lake itself was located barely a day away. Before they left, the group stopped to interrogate some local peasants about the undead. They told them that so far only one person had died since the people were safe inside their homes. Information also surfaced about a strange light coming from the cursed tower on the island in the middle of Lake Medainne. The peasants also told them about a group of large wolves that seemed to stalk the area and attack the undead. These wolves also seemed to stay away from the people’s livestock. With this knowledge they left the vineyard.

As the party reached the woods that led down to the lake, they also met a group of hunters. Four to be exact, Sirion, James, Peter, and Remy. Despite Geneviève’s theory that these were most probably poachers, they chose to walk with them. They lived in a small fishing village and it turned out they hunted by the grace of Lady de Paramont. The party on the other hand managed to uncover that these were lycanthropes. They were the large wolves that the peasants had seen around. But as they seemed to be good natured the party decided to leave them be. The hunters even agreed to lend them a boat that could take them to the island. 

After a swift investigation of the cemetery, they realized that the people had buried their dead again every month. Jane also figured out that only the graves touched by the light emitted by the tower had been emptied. Thus they realized that they needed to reach the tower to get to the bottom of this. They made their way to the hunter’s village and as they stepped on the boat, a rider approached. Volodomyr had managed to catch up to them. Together they set off towards the island.