Estrella's Unusual Contact (Story)

*For the normal Encounter without a token or Estrella's Mark, see Estrella's Unusual Contact.*

*"And, now, let us see how queens are made... and how they fall."*

## Event

*"If we are to defend Far Water from the Empire, we will need help." Estrella leads you through town until you reach the cellar door of an abandoned farmhouse.*

*"My contact is of the Silt-ears, long thought lost." Estrella pulls aside the heavy cellar door and waves you in.*

*You follow Estrella through damp corridors that burrow deep into the earth. "Through here," she says. "And... watch your step."*

**The player enters a Maze of Traps.**

*Estrella smiles. "She doesn't enjoy visitors usually. The Empire have been after her for years."*

*Estrella opens the door to a dimly lit cavern.*

*A giant humanoid rat sits on a pile of rags. A tattered hood casts its face in shadows.*

*Immense and grizzled, the rat's long snout is gray with age.*

*You find your way past the cellar door of an abandoned farmhouse and to the cavern hideaway of the last Silt-ear.*

*It bares sharp teeth and rasps, "What goes?"*

*"Elder Queen, it is Estrella of Far Water." Your companion steps forward and bows. "It has been many years since we last spoke, but I seek your help. A great army marches to take this town."*

*The rat's milky eyes blink for a while, before her ancient head nods.*

*It taps a claw at a box full of artefacts - some old and rusted, others shining and new. Then it draws a symbol in the dust and raises one finger.*

*Estrella nods. "She wants the artefact Empire's Burden."*

1) Give your Empire's Burden artefact.

*You place the artefact at the Silt-ear's feet. The rat paws at it, before pushing it into a box at her side.*
*Estrella bows again (the Silt-ear doesn't appear to notice) and exits the cave. "It will take some days for her to craft the upgrade."*
**The player gains this card's token.**
*"Meanwhile, we should head west. Captain Bellmare is leading a scouting party there. He is an old ally and good friend, he may be convinced to help defend Far Water."*
2) Ask about the Silt-ears.

*The Silt-ear hisses, "No... no... none left... only Rat left..."*
*Estrella frowns with guilt. "Long before either of us were born, the Silt-ears were a significant presence in this land. Then, I believe, a past Emperor decreed that they must be...purged."*
3) Ask Estrella how she came by such an unusual contact.

*"When I was a child, I stumbled upon this underground maze and the Elder Queen quite by accident."*
*"This was of course long before I was even a soldier, before the propaganda campaigns declaring the Silt-ears monstrous vermin to be eradicated."*
*Estrella shakes the bad thoughts from her head, and gazes sadly at the ancient rat. "She saved my sister and me from an underground wyrm once - she was quite the fearsome fighter back then. I suppose she's getting quite long in the tooth now - she must be at least 300 years old."*
4) Ask if the Elder Queen really is royalty.

*Estrella shrugs. "This was all before my time, so I can't be sure. When I was child, when she was less... old... she referred to herself as 'Elder Queen', now she just calls herself 'Rat.'"*
*"The Empire doesn't have much official interest in their history. From what I've heard, the Silt-ears did have royalty - kings and queens and princes."*
5) Leave.

*The old rat's white eyes stare unblinking as you exit.*

## Token unlocks

*"A gift for a gift: a respectful way to deal with the last of the Queens of Plague. I miss them: my original cohort. Yet their time has passed; it will not come again."*

*For enlisting the help of a Silt-ear in your fight for Far Water...*

Empire Captain Bellmare

## Notes

As the Dealer comments, the Elder Queen in this Encounter is the last of the Queens of Plague from *Hand of Fate*.