This is a possible future. It is the day before the winter solstice, known as Midinváerne in the tongues of the elder races.
Tenth Day, Second Ride, Winter Eve, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is waxing, Darkmoon is waning)
Neamhan woke up just after the fifth bell from her reverie and heard noise coming from the kitchen downstairs. She found that Lauryn was assisting Ramsey in preparing for the solstice market on Steward’s Square, where he would take his sugar wheels to compete in the solstice treats competition. Ramsey had been hard at work the past two rides in perfecting his sugar wheels by giving them a cream filling.
An older man with a grizzled beard, a barrel chest and tree-trunks for arms, wearing warm travelling clothes, including a wool-lined burgundy coat and floppy hat, came down from the lodging upstairs and got ready to depart. He had arrived in Kingsport from White Fork, stayed at the inn, and Neamhan had seen him the previous evening in quiet conversation with another older man who was tall and handsome. The grizzled man paid what he owed and said that he still had quite a bit of travelling to do, heading west.
Outside snow had been falling steadily all night, and a thick, one-foot blanket of snow was covering all of Kingsport. When the grizzled man left the inn, he had to plough through the snow like a work horse. Neamhan’s connection to the weather told her that it would continue to snow a lot that day.
At sixth bell, Chakuq awoke and headed downstairs to join Lauryn and Neamhan for a cup of hot, brown, morning potion. Ramsey had packed up baskets of sugar wheels and loaded them up on a cart with Wojciech’s help. After one last goodbye, and getting all the well-wishing from the Wanderer’s regulars, he made his way through the snow to the solstice market on Steward’s Square.
Shortly after Luca woke there was a ruckus upstairs in the River room which sounded like Wynn was in distress. When the arrived in the room, they found the quickling pinned to the bed by an invisible but great weight. Neamhan responded swiftly and conjured a gust of air directly at the invisible assailant, throwing it off Wynn. Wynn jumped up and tried to diffuse the situation and avoid escalation. When Neamhan demanded to know what the invisible creature was, it slowly materialised into view, revealing a large, black feline, heavy with muscle. A grating, wicked voice spoke out;
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
the reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation,
of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name.
His ineffable effable,
effanineffable,
deep and inscrutable singular name.
The feline held Wynn responsible for the disappearance of Greatfather Winter, one of the subjects of Mab, Lady of Frost and Queen of Air and Darkness, whom Wynn also served. It was because of this allegiance that the feline charged Wynn with the recovery of the missing Greatfather Winter. Because Wynn had made his home at the Careless Wanderer, he had a responsibility under the Laws of Hospitality to ensure the safety of those who stayed under its roof. Any attempts to refute it by claiming that Blind Magda was a signatory of the accords was dismissed as folly.
Neamhan suggested that the heroes would find Greatfather Winter in Wynn’s stead, which the feline agreed to. Wynn stayed with the dangerous feline in the River room, while the heroes went downstairs to come up with a plan.
First, the heroes shared what they had heard about Greatfather Winter; they knew it was a common superstition about a kindly father who visits around the winter solstice to bring treats for children. There were many superstitions, all wrapped up in folklore, shared among humans and dwarves. Quickly, the heroes identified that the grizzled man who had spent the night was likely the Greatfather, and that he had gone to Steward’s Square to visit the solstice market before he departed the city.
Arriving at the solstice market, they found that the competition that Ramsey had entered, where different bakers and chefs competed against one another for the best solstice treat, had just concluded and that Ramsey had been crowned the winner. The judge for the competition was the man the heroes suspected was the Greatfather, and he had done so in the role of… Greatfather Winter. He was called Nicholas of White Fork and had been hired by Lodewijk, the Steward Square market master, to play the role of Greatfather Winter and judge the competition.
Nicholas also seemed to be trying to hide that he was suffering from amnesia; apart from his name, he could not remember anything from before arriving at the market to judge the competition. He had surmised from the old scars on his hands and forearms that he might have been a soldier or mercenary, and he feared that he was suffering from tabard madness. He did not know what to do with himself, so he decided to continue playing the Greatfather for the remainder of the day, handing out treats to the children that would visit the market, and hope that his memory would come back to him.
One of the other contestants in the competition, Dirk, the leader of the baker’s guild, drew the attention of the heroes. He was a wiry, sallow-faced man who was dressed in clothes that suggested his bakery was quite successful. The reason he was noticed was that he was loudly complaining that Ramsey had falsely won the competition. His protests and accusations drew the attention of the heroes, and they investigated by eavesdropping and spying.
The heroes overheard Dirk claiming that he was certain that Ramsey could not have won the competition, though was not willing to provide proof of his accusation. They caught Dirk in a moment of privacy talking to himself in frustration, during which they learned that Dirk had sabotaged the cream in Ramsey’s sugar wheels, and that he had been urged to do so by someone he had been indebted to; a person called Rike.
Rike had instructed Dirk to “talk to the herbalist, get the Mòthan flower, and replace the ingredients”. This would cause Ramsey to create a cream filling that “would stop Greatfather Winter in his tracks.” The tone of Dirk’s lament suggested it had not had the desired outcome, but he muttered that “at least I paid my debt.”
A quick trip to Ecgbrith revealed that Dirk had bought Mòthan flower – the Kaedwyni name for bog violet, or butterwort – and that the milk from the flower was sometimes used to help curdle milk into cream. It was also called “fairy bane” because superstition told that it was harmful to fey creatures. As it often was with Ecgbrith, the herbalist exacted a heavy toll, and Luca paid him an offensive amount of gold crowns for that information.
After some deliberation, and a tasting of the treats that Dirk had prepared for the competition – a delicious triangle of flaky pastry topped with sugar, filled with chunks of baked apple, and cinnamon – the heroes decided to approach Dirk. Emrys and Quentin managed to convince Dirk that they had a proposition for him which they wanted to talk over at the Careless Wanderer, and while initially reticent, he is swayed by Quentin offering a lucrative contract to supply pastries to the Beauclair diplomatic delegation at the Black Alder farm.
The others managed to convince Nicholas that he had fulfilled his duty as Greatfather Winter at the solstice market and that it was time to retire to the Careless Wanderer for a well-deserved spot at the hearth.
Quentin and Emrys left Chakuq and Luca with Nicholas at the hearth and moved to Emrys’ room with Dirk to discuss matters in private, Neamhan sneaking in after them, having taken the shape of a barnyard cat. Soon after, Chakuq and Luca snuck upstairs and stood outside the door to Emrys’ room, eavesdropping.
Quentin and Emrys buttered Dirk up with promises of business with the diplomatic delegation. Emrys managed to get Dirk to explain more about why he felt that Ramsey had cheated; Dirk was sure that Ramsey would not have been able to beat him in fair competition as Dirk had an unmistakable edge.
After more coaxing Dirk revealed that he had been guided and tutored by an influential patron for decades. They had been behind all of his success in life, and had never let him down. The way in which Dirk spoke about his patron it was clear that he felt he owed all his success to them, but also Dirk seemed vexed about being let down in the competition.
Quentin explained that the would not want Dirk to have any other obligations outstanding, and convinced him that it was time to renounce his patron and make a new beginning. He hesitated, mentioned how his patron had been instrumental in professional and personal success, but was eventually convinced to move on. He renounced his patron three times, but Neamhan saw opportunism underneath the façade of Dirk’s proclamation.
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, and thrice again to make up nine.
A contract was drawn up by Emrys, Quentin melted some wax to affix his seal, and then they stunned Dirk by asking him who Rike was. Dirk was silent for a long moment before explaining that outside of Oldridge, the village on the Powderham estate he grew up in, there was a tree which had been struck by lightning. A young man would often come to the tree to help the kids of the village. They could pose him questions or problems, and he would provide answers or solutions. In return, the kids would trade labours, favours, or secrets. Rike liked bread and pastries, which sent Dirk down his path to become a baker. “We give them bread to stay away…” he said absentmindedly.
Dirk continued by saying that his patron went by the name the Green Prince, but he could not rightly say whether Rike was the Green Prince or not. Neamhan, still in the shape of a cat, had taken place in Dirk’s lap and judged Dirk to be speaking the truth. The Green Prince had come to him explaining how to sabotage the pastries by replacing an ingredient in the cream filling. He had gotten the Mòthan flower from Ecgbrith upon direction from the Green Prince, did as he was told, and felt that it relieved him of a debt he felt he owed the Green Prince. Quentin seemed satisfied with the information they had received.
The contract was signed, and Dirk left the Careless Wanderer. Everyone came to Emrys’ room to discuss what to do next. With Luca entering, the dragonling materialised. The familiar focussed its attention on the barnyard cat and came close. Neamhan heard a warm voice in her mind, asking her who she was, and before she could answer, the dragonling reasoned that it was “the elfling.”
After a conversation with the dangerous feline that was holding Wynn hostage, in which the heroes learned a few details about the Green Prince, a decision was made to make way to Oldridge. The heroes had gotten directions, and it was east of Scatterfoot Farm, which some of the heroes were familiar with. It was around the fourth bell after noon and darkness was soon to fall across the city, so the heroes decided they would take a boat up to Lynnecombe rather than risk having to ride in the dark. Then they would make their way west to the Powderham estate of House Courtenay, where the village was located.
A quick search at the docks revealed that Astrid had just returned to Kingsport. She had been assisting Aram the Boatsman in his daily trips up and down the river Lyn. Aram was convinced to take a late boat upriver to Lynnecombe where he, his son, and Astrid would find a place in a barn to sleep until the heroes would be ready to return to the city the next day. Chakuq had learned that iron was a bane to the fey, and so he quickly picked up some iron pitons and filings, just in case they might have to do battle. A hunter is always prepared for their prey.
The ride upriver was uneventful. Aram steered while his son rode the ox alongside the river which tugged the barge upstream. Luca read, and Emrys was trying to strum his lute with frozen fingers.
After a few, cold hours, the heroes reached Lynnecombe where they parted company with Astrid, Aram, and Aram’s son. They headed west, walking dark footpaths through the hills of Northshire. Neamhan communed with two crows to get directions to Oldridge, and Chakuq helped centre everyone with a ritual in which repeated a hypnotic chant which helped everyone to remain unseen.
Mana rikusqa purinchik
Mana rikusqa purinchik
Mana rikusqa purinchik
…
Upon reaching Oldridge, a cluster of farms with a cluster of communal and residential huts and cabins, a soft glow could be spotted from the top of a nearby hill. A light plume of smoke could be seen in the light of the Bloodmoon. The heroes made their way toward the hill and found that the area on and around the hill was clear of snow. A well-worn path trailed up the hill until it reached a steep outcropping at the top. Standing stones, about four or five foot tall stood around the edge of the outcropping, and in their centre stood a large tree, once hit by lightning and since then forever smouldering. A soft glow radiated through a few cracks in its blackened trunk while a plume of smoke trailed into the sky.
The tree was, or would have been, very large. Perhaps not as large as Geolgothis, Neamhan thought, but close. A special tree. Quentin went up to the tree and called out to summon the Green Prince. He did so three times, but without result. A young boy named Sam showed up after a short amount of time, asking what the heroes were there for. They distrusted the child, but explained their reason for being there, and Sam explained that Rike only helps children.
“No one taller than the stone. Come to the blacktree, come alone. Tell no adult what’s been said, lest the lightning strike you dead.”
– Sam of Oldridge
While Sam repeated the rhyme, he walked around the large tree, holding his hand on the trunk. First he walked three times deosil, the way of making, then he walked three times widdershins, the way of breaking. The boy departed by walking down the hill, back towards the village. The heroes took up his example and walked around the large tree.
The Green Prince appeared from behind the tree. Tall and beautiful, crowned in green and gold, and wearing regal clothes in the same colours. His skin was a golden hue, and his eyes were like that of a cat.
The heroes found that the Green Prince had purposefully sabotaged Greatfather Winter for no other reason then to get into the good graces of his queen, Titania, the Lady of Flowers and the Queen of Evergreen. Because Winter stood at full ascent during the solstice, and Greatfather Winter would spread more winter as he travelled west, he thought it would please Queen Titania.
The enigmatic sidhe was willing to strike a deal by trading “favours, labours, or secrets.” A deal was struck where Chakuq and Neamhan, who were the only ones of the heroes who were not already burdened by a debt to the Summer Court, would owe the Green Prince a favour for “a year and a day.” In return, the Green Prince explained that the Mòthan root could undo the damage caused by the flower.
“I own you. Every part; tongue and teeth, heel to head, and name to nape of neck.”
– The Green Prince
Before the heroes departed, the Green Prince asked for his regards to be extended to the Grimalkin, King of the Malks.
The heroes made their way back to Lynnecombe where they found Astrid, Aram, and Aram’s son in one of the barns. They convinced Aram to head back to Kingsport. He protested heavily, suggesting that their downstream ride on the barge would be doomed in the darkness, but Chakuq helped the man improve his night vision through a ritual.
Several hours after midnight the heroes returned to Kingsport and immediately made their way to Ecgbrith’s cabin outside of the city walls, in the shadow of the Bastion of Restraint. The man had a well-tended herb garden, which looked lush, even in the depths of winter. He was reluctant to open the door and tend to the heroes, suggesting that it would harm his already dubious reputation. The Kaedwyni herbalist relented and let the heroes inside the cabin, which was rich in flavour due to the drying bushels of herbs that adorned his rafters. He was convinced to part with half a pound of Mòthan root in return for Neamhan’s promise to come and help him grow more herbs.
Entrance to the city was arranged by Quentin, who waved a writ of diplomatic passage in the face of the guards at the gate with an ease which betrayed his noble birth. Once at the Careless Wanderer, Durham opened the door while standing in his bedclothes.
The heroes quickly found Nicholas and cured him of his amnesia by administering the Mòthan root. The elderly veteran seemed to quickly regain his memory and vigour. In the morning, he departed the Careless Wanderer and resumed his travels to spread Winter further west. Wynn was released by the Grimalkin, and rest returned to the inn.
In the centre of the room was a circular shaft leading down. Chakuq took a look and found that there were ropes leading down to a landing far below. From that landing other ropes lead to an even deeper landing, and so forth. Emrys offered to provide flight to everyone through his magic, but Chakuq decided to climb down instead. As he did so, he found that the landings were the tops of large, stone faces set into the wall of the shaft. As Emrys descended and past the faces he was reminded of Jan the Custodian reciting the names of the faces;
