Letter Home: Vanera to his mother, Fall/Winter 451 TE

My Dearest Mother,

I shall acquaint you with the events of the last few weeks. A plague has broken out here, and there has seemed to be no cure in the village for it. We were told that there is an herb, Dead Man’s Kiss, that could possibly remedy it. We were also told that the left eye of a hyena could cure it as well. I personally, not wanting to have to bother with hunting a beast down for its eye, proposed that we go after the herb.

On our first day searching, we found some growing in a thicket. The only problem we faced being a Lesser Horned Beast and her litter of cubs living in said thicket. They were newly born, by my estimation. Tengelbur thought he would befriend her by feeding her every apple we had with us. I told him not to, for it would surely make the beast lose its fear of man and wander into the village to eat children. He did not seem to think it was an issue and continued to feed our apples to the beast. Reiana and I tried our best to get some cuttings of the herb, but unfortunately scared the beast, and she attacked Tengelbur. After that, we all started in on the attack, and I must say, it turned out to be a tough fight.

In this beast I saw a motherly instinct that I have often seen in you. She would do anything to protect her cubs, just as you would do anything for your children. How I ever became so fortunate to have you as my mother, I can never tell. For you are one of the most virtuous, most loving, most tender women that has ever walked the earth.

After we had defeated this beast, we discovered that the beast' boiling blood had destroyed the herb. We then spent several days searching for more of the herb with no success. We took what we had back to the village, then set out to find the hyena’s eye. Thankfully, before we had gone very far, we were approached by someone who knew of a cure. To keep a long story short, we were able to help her attain the cure.

I now come to the part I know will make you dance for joy. Anaris and I are planning on coming home for the winter. I will come baring my many sketches I have made of the North with much information, that I am sure you will wish me back there at once so you will no longer have to listen to my talking of it.

Sencankarr… It holds that which is dearest to me in the world. I wonder even now how I have survived without it. Pray, don’t plan too many social engagements for me. I should like to spend the winter quietly at the Royal Library reading. Though, I would like to host a dinner for my fellow adventurers. Perhaps we could host all of Tengelbur’s family for dinner one night. Tengelbur has grown to feel like a brother to me. He has his weaknesses, but really a good man when it comes to his heart.

I have talked to Anaris about Neras Garini. I think it is safe to say there is yet hope. At least on her side. I fear there could be some possible resistance on Neras side. But I am sure that if Anaris spends enough time in front of a looking glass with your help, he will overlook the imperfections in her personality and be mesmerized by her beauty.

I have many other things I could write in this letter, but why waste my ink when you can hear it straight from your son’s mouth. I shall be with you shortly, dear Mother. Give my love to my sisters and to Father.

Your son,

Vanera

Session 14: Well Women

As Reiana let out a fierce battle-cry of "Weixranbo! Weixunthara ka Weixranbo!" a long, stony appendage shot out from inside the shrine and pulled her in, bringing her quickly into close-quarters combat with the horrifying aberration, which appeared to be half-woman, half-stone tree. As Vanera and Anaris attempted to follow Reiana into the shrine, they were confronted by the guard at the shrine's door--Raoseina himself, the Gate-warden of the town and captain of the town guard. Owing to the noises of combat from inside the shrine, it didn't take too much effort to convince him that something was terribly amiss, and that the shrine needed to be opened at once. Opening the shrine, which was sealed with seven chains, was another matter. By the time it was opened, Reiana was unconscious and being lowered into the sacred well, which was by now clouded and stagnant. Vanera, Anaris, and Raoseina attacked. Talarja, the Scarlet Sister, supported the Company, singing an ancient song of power meant to purge the evil creature from the holy place. But it was Anaris the spear-maiden who ultimately landed the killing blow that ended the life of the horrifying creature.

The party repaired back to Raoseina's own home while Talarja remained behind to cleanse and re-seal the shrine. Raoseina sent word for Tengelbur and Tanurendal--who during all of this had been attempting, in vain, to escape from the town stocks--to be brought to his house. In the conversation that followed, it was agreed (or at least strongly suspected) that the creature they had fought was probably the same old crone who had given Anaris the task of burying the toe in the forest, and that the two events must be somehow related. According to Talarja, the woman was once one of the Sacred Sisterhood, but she had wandered into the Serth Hatama in search of the tombs of the Stone Kings and presumed lost. Raoseina had hard words for Anaris once he learned that she was ultimately responsible for the pestilence that had come to Cheykor. "I hope you will never forget this lesson, nor the names of those who died because of your foolishness."

Raoseina himself turns out to have been one of the last-surviving Dogs of Winter, the personal bodyguard of Prince Galal. With the prince gone, Raoseina is now loyal to Sir Ralus, with whom the party has already had some dealings. Learning from the Company and from Talarja of the positive existence of the Tauran-Tauror cult (which he has suspected for some time), he requested the party to travel to Sencankarr and ask for counsel from Norkur the Chief Scribe. Talarja advised against this, insisting instead that the Scarlet Sisterhood should be allowed to handle it. Ultimately the party decided in favor of Raoseina's plan, and plans were made to travel to Sencankarr...