We do a little healing, do a little dealing.
We head into town to see about a priest for the dead (some stay at the manor house to guard the prisoners). The townspeople are milling about, pointing at the Manor. Seem disturbed.
HildThePaladin attempts to reassure the crowd (and the local priest, who is asking pointed questions). We go inside the humble church.
Hild: “Maybe not the man we were looking for. We were looking for a holy man.” Priest: “I am holy, you have brought evil here” Hild: “It was already here. Someone sacrificed themselves to the Wild Hunt”
We tell him we need some to perform the rites for the dead at the manor. He agrees.
We return to the Manor with the priest. He seems shaken, but begins to deliver the last rites.
AldwynnTheBattlePriest shows up during the ceremony. We fill him in on the situation. He asks the priest what he knows of the happenings.
The priest asks if any of us want to Confess anything (he seems to be intending to trick us). Some of us confess to no great sins. He leaves and the lynch crowd disperses.
AldwynnTheBattlePriest asks some questions.
We discuss strategy. Should we hole up in the Manor or try to soothe the townsfolk (or find the ringleaders of the lynch mob). UlfTheDane wants to find the ringleaders. WynchellTheAlchemist wants to stay here.
We go to town. UlfTheDane notices that the priest and the local town leaders seem to be plotting something.
We go back to the Manor
The next day, ThaneGwinalCalvez arrives with 50 men. Note, we are in the village of LowerWolford. He asks about BroggaTheBrute (he expected to be greeted by him). We explain the situation.
FriarGavin and 4 of the elders show up and accuse us of witchcraft.
ThaneGwinalGalvez asks to see BroggaTheBrute (we give him and his men over to them). His men take over the manor.
The Trial (Guilty and Innocent)
He asks HildThePaladin what our evidence is.
ThaneGwinalGalvez retires. Later he returns.
He asks us to help deal with an issue in a nearby village. Bandits are harrying the countryside. He would pay us 500 silver to remove the bandit problem. Leader of the bandits is GoldenGuylesRyelnn (traitor paladin). BjornBloodyHands is his second (UlfTheDane heard he was killed). We are to contact AldermanKeligLegleau and ask him why he has not dealt with the bandits (the Thane seems displeased with the Alderman).
He pays us upfront.
We leave the next day. A couple of days we come upon a woman standing to the side of the road. She seems washed out and devoid of color. She turns and vanishes over the rise. We try to follow her. We cannot pick up her trail. All we find is the white flower she was holding.
We head on towards the village
We arrive in town. Decent sized town, lots of local services. Near a “port” (small fishing village, really).
We go to the local tavern and ask around, getting the local lay of the land. The tavern keeper tells us that GoldenGuylesRyelnn is the leader (thinks he's charming, but he ain't). He also has a big dane with him. They do come into town. They have 3 accomplices and they have robbed most places in town, even AldermanKeligLegleau. We ask if the alderman is doing anything. The problem is the bandits seem to just appear. GoldenGuylesRyelnn likes to gamble. They don't know about any hideouts. He knows of a haunted house outside of town.
HildThePaladin throws the white flower on the table, and it turns to dust (WynchellTheAlchemist quietly sweeps it up).
A drunk tells us all about the “haunted flower house”.
Rumors
Holy Accommodations ... And Holy Visions
AldwynnTheBattlePriest insists we stay at the church (the inn is too rich for his vow of poverty).
The priest agrees, but seems to look around the road first. He also seems mistrustful of AigneisTheDruid. The priest pulls AldwynnTheBattlePriest aside. He says he sees us as a sign from god. He had a vision of a bell, book and candle. Our presence feels good to him. Then again, it might be nonsense of an old man. I think this ties in with the bandit fellows. Nothing about this seems natural. Perhaps demonic. He has seen signs (black cats, two headed calf).
AldwynnTheBattlePriest visits an herbalist and gets some good information. Then he begs breakfast for himself.
We ask around. Find out the last place hit was the Livery. We go there and ask around. Livery master complains about them stealing a prized stud bull and a couple of sows. HildThePaladin finds faint traces of dark sorcery on the pigs. A hint of the unseelie court.
We find some tracks. AigneisTheDruid thinks it might be a man/bull hybrid (bull hooves but 2 legged). We find a cartridge from a peacemaker!
WynchellTheAlchemist examines it. Seems to be a different powder recipe. Does not have all the right stuff (maybe substituting dark magics!). AigneisTheDruid says it is unseelie as well.
For 100 sp and one day, the smith can make a seax and six sling stones.
Next next day we pick up the weapons. In the distance, we hear shots fired.