With Caelan vanished into the forest, Olvir and Song sat and talked in quiet tones over what could be done. Olvir reluctantly brought up the unsettling option Strikes as Thunder had told us about: one of us could kill Daras, drink his Heart’s Blood, and take his form. We couldn’t allow Daras to go ahead with the ritual and his insidious plans for Hengethorn but that didn’t make the taking of his Heart’s Blood any more of a palatable option.
Thus the circus gave a rowdy and cheerful performance while we considered less delightful things. None of us slept well that night and gathered in Song’s caravan before breakfast the next day to talk over the situation some more, but the night had not presented any new options. Caelan advocated direct confrontation: challenging Daras and fighting him if needed. It would solve the problem, but Song cautioned against it; if we were to kill Daras we’d have no evidence of what he was doing and we’d likely only stir up trouble for ourselves and for the circus. Plus, depending where we attacked him the chances were we’d have to fight at least three blood apes. Erymanthoi were tough creatures and the First Hoplite was probably tougher than any other Blood Ape in Creation – with Daras an unknown quantity as well.
With the smell of Southern spiced tea warming us, we talked over possibilities - however our debate was short lived as Olvir’s sharp ears caught the timbre of a familiar voice across the camp. It gave us warning before Jeret knocked on the wagon door... he’d heard our message via the coin and halted his plans to travel south to find us.
As Song made him tea we caught up on what had happened since we last met, though were a little wary and skipped a few details. Olvir was less worried and spilled the beans about his own Exaltation quickly, but that did at least mean that Jeret didn’t ask in too much detail how we were able to fight off the incursion of darkspawn in Jadespike. He was surprised – he’d not met anyone chosen of Luna before.
We had an important question for him before we went into any more detail though. He’d mentioned when we last spoke that he’d been involved with Yozi worship, but left after his Exaltation. So why was he still listed in the book Song had liberated from Daras’ house the day before, and what did “the Gatekeeper” refer to? We were suspicious, not wanting to suspect him of involvement in nefarious ends but hardly willing to ignore the danger either.
Jeret sighed – understanding why we asked, but not too comfortable with it. He was keen to see the book though and asked if he could make a copy, as the list of names would be useful information for him as well. Explaining, he told us that there were bloodlines across Creation with a unique power: the ability to open doorways to the demon realm of Malfeas, doorways that existed in fixed places but which only those with the talent could open. He was one such person... hence the sobriquet listed in the journal.
Seated together in a huddle – Song’s caravan not being large – we cast ideas around and sought options. Convincing the citizenry of Hengethorn of their danger without implicating ourselves was our main aim and Jeret’s arrival had given us a new option. If we could trick Daras into revealing himself in the presence of the coin, the sounds would be heard from its twin which Jeret carried. A plan began to form. Song would go to see Daras but unlike her visit the previous day would pretend to be a Yozi devotee herself and try to trick him into revealing himself. She’d carry the coin and the other would be with Olvir and Caelan, who’d be listening with the town council. Jeret would stay near Daras’s house – just in case the false priest wasn’t fooled.
With details agreed, Olvir went to find the councillors and tracked down Blane and Wren in the Laughing Maiden. He arranged for a private audience with them later that afternoon and confirmed the time with Song, who was sitting with Jeret trying to learn all she could about how to act as a Yozi worshipper whilst stringing a necklace of coins and beads to wear to incorporate the ‘listening’ coin so as to not look out of place.
Caelan meanwhile, having already studied Song’s rough sketch of Daras’s house in case he needed to charge in and mount an intervention, wasn’t sure what he could do and feeling frustrated at his lack of action, found himself by the altar to the Firefall, the White Lady of Hengethorn. He’d learnt that she approved of blood offered up to her as a sacrifice and sent a prayer to her for their success fuelled by his own blood.
He met up with Olvir soon afterwards to hear the plan, and after lunch, both met with the three councillors where everything rolled into action. Caelan explained they’d hear some unpleasant things and apologised it had to be done this way – but they needed to know without doubt what was going on in their town. He gave a simple explanation of the coin’s purpose and placed it in a small singing bowl to amplify the sound. Wren, the eldest of the council, understood and confirmed to the others – he’d come across such sorcery before.
Meanwhile Song approached Daras’s house and knocked, on the pretext of returning with the ritual supplies he’d requested the day before. Invited in, her Charm allowed her to see the three blood apes in the room with him, but she pretended not to notice their presence and sat down where the charade began.
‘I am Cariad of the Blackened Blade, and I work for The Motionless Heart’, she said, before he had a chance to question. ‘You’ve not heard of him, but you’d be wise to be wary of his name. We’re a part of what you and your wider conspiracy are up to, though on the outskirts – but we’d like to become better acquainted’.
He looked wary and suspicious, but he denied nothing, and she continued. ‘Well done, you responded just as you should have done yesterday, when I asked about Yozi worship.’ Pausing, she added a question. ‘Is Daras your real name?’
He spluttered somewhat and gave a reply, though said little which could be counted as admissible evidence. Song wasn’t about to let him get away with it.
‘I know what you’re up to, here, and I’m impressed, though your security is sadly lacking.’ Perhaps a slight threat would work better, she thought. ‘After all, I could take these...’ and she produced the books she’d stolen the day before and laid them on the table before him, ‘...without any resistance at all! You need to be more careful. Do you know what these people would do to you if they knew you’d exposed them?!’
She let the silence hang in the air. That was enough to get him talking, and he grudgingly admitted his part in the cult, saying how he was simply a representative of a larger faction and others who’d come later.
She asked if he was responsible for the murder of the priest, telling him, ‘Good work, no-one suspects a thing.’ The slight praise made him puff out his chest a little and admit to it. Song was relieved – though sad for the council to have to hear Brem was murdered.
She moved onto the hangings, asking how he’d convinced people to go along with it. But as he talked about the ways he knew to summon demons and how it was designed to cause chaos and empty the town so the manse could be claimed by his Lord, it was too much for the First Hoplite, who suddenly materialised and grabbed him by the throat, choking off his words.
Song faced off against the demon, certain she mustn’t let fear show but wondering if she could fool it sufficiently to let her walk away. A few tense moments followed as the demon told her it knew what she was, (a Lunar? An Essence user? Or was it bluffing?) but she kept to her story – that she was simply a devotee of the Yozi and wanted the same things it did - and took her cue to leave as soon as possible leaving Daras to deal with the fallout. Breathing a sigh of relief when she left she quickly headed to meet with the others.
Caelan and Olvir were dealing with the revelations handed out to the council who were shocked and saddened and more than a little angry, though unsure of what could be done. Caelan reassured them we could take care of it, showing more confidence to them than perhaps he felt (but not by a lot). Song arrived and apologised for the necessary deception, reassuring the council she wasn’t ‘Cariad of the Blackened Blade’. We left the council to think on things and took the long route back to the circus encampment, talking over what could be done as we walked.
Jeret was sitting on the steps of Song’s caravan when we got back and she invited him inside where we discussed how the inevitable combat against Daras and his erymanthoi should take place. We’d talked about it on the way over and Caelan and Song also had their own revelations to make of their newly-acquired Celestial nature and why they’d waited before telling him. He was understandably surprised at meeting two Chosen of Lunar in one day and pleased to have encountered another like himself.
Blood apes were born warriors and tough opponents even for we Chosen of the Celestials, Song explained as we discussed tactics. Jeret had fought them before and had taken down two on his own but it had been a tough fight. There were four of us now, but three of us very new in our Exaltations. We talked over options of luring Daras away from the house, or of attacking him within it but there remained no plan that seemed to offer us a reliable victory.
Our thoughts turned back to the Manse and Song suggested she try and attune to it. She’d soon find out if another held the attunement – it would be useful to know and if they didn’t, it would prevent anyone else from claiming it for now. Olvir also suggested we enlist the aid of the town’s deity and Caelan told us of his prayer earlier. So we went first to the altar to the White Lady and offered up a prayer, before going on to the Manse.
With the focus of the prayers from four Celestial Exalted, Song felt certain we’d been heard – but it seemed to drift strangely far away. The god of Hengethorn, Firefall, was known for spending time materialised and amongst her subjects, embracing the community and blessing the fertility of the surroundings. Yet she’d not been seen for a little while... and it bothered Song. Gods could be killed, though rarely was their existence truly ended, instead they gradually reformed in their sanctuaries – if they had them, though most did. That process could take over a year. Perhaps the same fate that befell Bran had also befallen Firefall? Keeping the local god out of the picture would certainly have made life easier for the Yozi cult.
Pondering it as we made for the Manse, Song found an isolated spot to shift into the form of a butterfly and alighted in the centre of the henge. It took a long time to attune to it but she completed it – no-one else had claimed it, to her surprise. She flew off to find the others in the nearby woodland and took great delight in shifting back to her human form as she flew up, showing off her shapeshifting to Jeret.
Glad we didn’t have the manse to worry about for now, we made our way back to the circus. Olvir went to find Selene and give her an update on things. She asked what our plans were next and mentioned she may well be able to help, but that it was probably more Song’s department... at which point he went off, found Song and brought her back with him where Selene declared, somewhat airily, that she ought to be able to help. She talked around the subject a little and implied there were several ways of going about it... but made the suggestion she’d use sorcery and her goal would be to banish the First Hoplite instead of us having to fight him. Song was a little surprised to hear Selene mention she practiced sorcery... in all the years she’d been with the circus it hadn’t been mentioned, but Selene perhaps enjoyed her secrecy. Either was we were glad she could offer aid. Five blood apes was a more manageable number.
Caelan and Jeret had taken themselves to a quiet tavern to share their experiences as Chosen of the Sun and spent a few hours talking. They were joined later by the others – Olvir in owl form perched on Song’s shoulder (he’d been out hunting). Telling them of Selene’s aid, we planned when to attack and discussed options before agreeing on a dawn strike. It would give the town’s council time to make sure people nearby weren’t in their homes and people were warned to expect a disturbance, so with the plan finally agreed on Caelan and Song went to warn the council while Olvir went to check the routes into and out of town.
As we all left we noticed the mood of the people seemed odd – a little lethargic. It only reinforced our desire to act swiftly. Skywards, Olvir was reassured to find the trade caravan still a couple of days away, and in Hengethorn the council were happy we’d stepped in to take action - but wary as we warned them what they might see and (since they’d likely see them at dawn tomorrow anyway) when we lit our caste marks in demonstration. They agreed to our suggestions however and promised to act swiftly to make sure people were not near danger.
We spoke briefly with Selene and got what sleep we could before waking at dawn. Song had a refreshing pot of tea brewed and vials of her more potent potions to offer, to grant strength of spirit or resistance against injury and the five of us quietly made our way to Daras’s house where Song, taking bird form briefly, confirmed he was asleep upstairs.
With one solid kick from Olvir’s mighty boot the door splintered and crashed inwards. As one, the blood apes turned and charged, but they’d been prowling the house and the hallway was only narrow enough for two. The First Hoplite materialised and launched himself at us but Selene cast a single grain of the Endless Desert towards him and muttered the incantation to return the creature to his Malfean home. And then... nothing. Selene swore, quietly, under her breath. She hadn’t been expecting to lose the battle of wills.
Jeret, glimmering in the morning sun in an orichalcum breastplate, surrounded us with a Charm preventing any demon from materialising within it. It didn’t stop them materialising outside the circle however – and three did just that. Both Solars moved as warriors born cutting down the blood apes while trying to avoid the rain of blows while Olvir grappled another. Selene was determined to get rid of at least one without resorting to violence and this time, pulled a handful of lotus blossoms from her robe and cast them towards it in a fragrant storm. This time, her spell worked and a demon vanished into nothingness, his form sent back to Malfeas, leaving nothing but an impotent howl of rage hanging in the air.
Soon all the demons had materialised to attack. Olvir had near pummelled one into the ground while Caelan and Jeret had each killed another. The First Hoplite was ferociously attacking the two Solars while the final ape tried to leap through a window and surprise us – Song spotted it and her hatchets bit deep before Selene finished it off. Olvir managed to grapple the Hoplite and give Jeret and Caelan time to land sound blows before it wrestled free, but a final strike from Jeret finished it. The sudden commotion went still, but only for a moment.
Olvir and Caelan charged up the stairs to the bedroom. Song paused to pick up the pouch which had fallen from the First Hoplite’s belt as it melted back to Malfeas; she had a suspicion it contained the Manse’s hearthstone. Olvir was ahead of Caelan by a few steps and thus was the first to collide with the bed which Daras had pushed in the way, but his momentum cleared it neatly out of the way for Caelan who chased the false priest to the window, and one look at the young Solar meant Daras didn’t think twice as he leapt through the opening. Song followed a few paces behind, saw him leap and followed, landing and pinning him to the ground, knocking the breath from his lungs. Caelan followed a second afterwards and pressed a knife to Daras’s throat. He and Olvir soon had him bound and dragged back inside the house. Olvir went to find the Council, let them know what had happened and reassure them the demons were all dead. Selene and Jeret went outside to make sure none of the locals were thinking of intervening and Song searched the house, finding the remains of the book she’d taken with the list of names in the fire grate. It was a good thing Jeret had taken a copy.
That left Caelan with a bound Daras in the front room of the house. Caelan, normally a quiet soul more tending towards troubled thoughts than angry actions, was anything but calm as he deliberately sharpened a knife, and then, when Daras wasn’t forthcoming with answers, stuck it right through his hand. Daras howled, then started sobbing.
Caelan wanted to know what the conspiracy had planned for Brightwater. Daras didn’t know all the details but he knew the city was important. People had been there for months. He had only been put in place in Hengethorn by others and given the blood apes as a bodyguard – he didn’t summon them himself. As for the mysterious Glissa Longshadow, she was a figure with the apparent ability to change her appearance and simply arrived to tell him what to do and then leave – he knew no choreography to her movements.
He knew of Water Shapes the Land, too, but only as a contact and someone to ask if he had issues. His job was just to cause trouble, ensure some demons found their way into Creation and that was it. Angry and frustrated at the false priest’s inability to give him the answers he sought, Caelan knocked him out with the pommel of his daiklaive and swore loudly.
Song returned suspecting trouble when she heard him swear, but realising Caelan was not in danger simply bandaged Daras’s hand roughly, to stop it from bleeding, and commented casually how easy it was to fall on your knife when leaping from a window. As such, Daras looked no worse for wear when Olvir returned and Caelan continued questioning him some more.
He worshipped Malfeas, who he called his Lord, and Kimbery, another Yozi. He truly believed the Creators of Creation (as he called them) would return and elevate him into a position of power for his beliefs when they reclaimed what was theirs. He boasted there were many like him and would continue to be more. It transpired it was Glissa Longshadow who’d given him the blood apes and his orders for Hengethorn.
Jeret nodded. He told us Glissa was very old and had been a member of the cult for many decades, if not hundreds of years and more active in the last four or five years. He spoke of Glissa without gender or even any intimation they were human – he didn’t know what ‘Glissa Longshadow’ was. But having grown up in the cult he’d heard the alternative histories of Creation and the beliefs ones like Daras held.
He’d seen them install cult members in positions of power and destabilise existing communities to claim them for their own nefarious ends. They had a long term plan, but Jeret hadn’t seen all of it. As a young man he’d wandered through his Gate to Malfeas, and only the powers of the Unconquored Sun had allowed him to survive. Granted Exaltation he’d left the cult and had fought against them ever since.
We left Daras in the care of the Council and the town guards who hauled him away. He would be sacrificed that night to the Henge in the ritual he has planned to usurp. Song asked Blane, the councillor, if there was anyone in the town who could perform the ritual, aware she could probably do it herself but keen for someone of the town to carry it out, if possible. Blane thought Cold Night probably could – he’d been Brem’s assistant before Daras arrived and he’d returned to work in the fields. He found someone to go and fetch him.
We left the house but hadn’t gone far before a familiar metallic rasping of feather on feather indicated our little god companion had returned. He was keen for us to move on and find airship plans now we’d dealt with the trouble... weren’t we? Song commented on how he’d missed all the fun – and asked if he would be able to find the White Lady. If she was wrong and Firefall was alive it would be helpful to speak to her. Van-Oris asked why we worried and Song explained – quick-tongued Van-Oris managed to bite back a tart response when Song pointed out that often, her prayers were heard and this time, she had concerns. However the little bird went to find out, grumbling quietly at our protestations that we still had things to do before moving on.
A little while later Blane reappeared with a young man who he introduced as Cold Night. Song explained briefly to him what the situation was and asked if he felt he’d be able to conduct the ritual that evening - thankfully, he said he would be, and the two talked over what had to be done. Olvir wanted to check on the trade caravan – he was concerned it might not just be a trade caravan. Finding a quiet spot and shifting to winged form, he went to check it out.
Caelan was still less than happy after his interrogation of Daras and full of fears for his home. With Song speaking with the newly-elevated priest and Olvir in flight, he found Ariorn and went for an early morning ride alone. He was upset with himself for leaving Brightwater when his friends or family could be in danger, and truly unsure whether to ride back into camp, or turn and ride home now without second thought.