Session 6: Ember

***"A hair perhaps divides the false and true."***

I always enjoy a good intrigue, but something about this investigation is particularly sinister. Why turn the minds of children? My concern is the lineup with full moons and the systematic way these changes are happening to the children. They are pre-meditated and targetted, what evil has befallen this humble village. The fey influence is pulpable, but how could it have gone so unnoticed in a place of Eternal Flame? My companions and I began the day in earnest. Although I had to quickly shrug off another of VIter's "great ideas" and shoot down the hypothesis that it is some kind of bard or troubadour. Truly, Viter? It doesn't help that Ivasar encourages him.

We started with Cherry's parents. We wound up helping more than getting information. Not only was Cherry's mother wrestling with pigs, she asked for us to help! Do I look like someone who gets dirty with barnyard animals on the regular? Perhaps that's what I get for adventuring with a rog--wizard and druid for so long. Luckily, Ivasar was able to communicate directly to the pigs to restore order in this sloppy chaos. It had been 13 days since Cherry's mind turned to that of a pig, and she's been unceremoniously tied up to her bed. Such a sad fate for a 9-year-old innocent. Unfortunately, her mind has completely devolved to that of a pig, Ivasar couldn't get through to her.

Cherry's mother informs us about Gervais and Alba, a couple who seem to be a common denomination between all the children as the two often provide daycare for so many of the farming families in this humble village. Viter, on his own accord, decided to infiltrate the Gervais and Alba abode from behind while I took the more straight approach--of course this would somewhat be our undoing and lead to untold damage.

While discussing the matter with Gervais, Viter responded from the upstairs. He didn't walk through the front door with Ivasar and I. Needless to say, Gervais lost his temper. He's an extremely emotional man. Perhaps even abusive. The domestic situation here is fraught and tense. My father would *never* have reacted this way. He was too noble a person--even if he had not been born into a noble birth or lineage. His character made him noble, not just his elite title. What information we did get before the man lost his grip, was that many of the children in the village are minded here. There is much talk that his and Alba's daughter, Celeste, is 15 and a ridiculous sort of person. Perhaps even dangerous, as we would come to learn. My suspicion lies squarely on her. Turns out I would be vindicated in my assumption later.

Despite Viter's foolish error in presenting himself, it was worth it. My small friend came across the pagan statue of three naked women surrounded by delirium--just like the one we came across in the rat's nest. This is a deeply troubling revelation.

We decided to speak with the Alderman and let him know immediately, and he obviously cautioned us to walk lightly and not land any accusations until we have evidence. Viter investigated his house while we spoke to him--it appears he's clean if not a total scoundrel for other reasons.

We decided to visit the Church of the Eternal Fire, and were greeted by Helena Obaya. She is a strong leader and it was quite a break to speak with another intelligent person without a belligerent-sounding accent. Helena informed us that this was an average village with varied believers, but Gervais is actually a Deacon of the Church. While I'm still suspicious of him, my working theory is that his daughter is caught up in the pagan/fey worshipping cult. But the information we've gathered lacks motive.

A new piece of information is that one of the other youths in the village, a young man who's the son of the local miller, disappears once a month. It's during the full moon. His mother will beg and plead with him not to leave in the middle of the night. They've barricaded him inside--all to no avail. Helena says he's a good lad named Kado, otherwise, but still. How does everything fit together? More to come there.

Viter decided to visit his merchant connection from Caspia, Chaching. Predictably, he failed at haggling. However, he was able to get excellent intel from her that could bust this investigation open. It's an open secret that Kado, the son of the miller who disappears once a month with zero explanation or reason and on a full moon, has been seen messing around with Celeste, Gervais's daughter. Particularly around the full moon. She also told us that the coin being used for the grain shipments to the cult outside the gates of Sacena is Caspian. Even more disturbing, is it seems to be linked to the High Flame Keeper of Caspia. This woman was close to my family, and I cannot imagine why she is directly supporting an insurrection to the very people who are rebelling against her faith--a faith she is a leader of! What is the meaning of this?!

With more questions flowing in my head, we visited Sally's home, another one of the children whose minds have been meddled with. Sally was the first whose mind turned, and the young mother, Elise, broke my heart. She loves her daughter and is doing her best. She mentioned that the night her daughter's mind turned was on a full moon. Curiouser and curiouser.

Another key piece of information we gathered was that the little girl brought home a "disgusting" token of some kind with her that was made of bone and fur. She loved it, she made it at Celeste's house. I must meet this Celeste, although I fear I may not be able to contain the fiery justice beginning to build within me.

We were able to track down the token (which I've sketched in this journal entry, above) in the bush next to Elise's home. The little piece of wood appears to be made of bone and dog fur, wrapped with tendons, and has a bit of blood on it. Disturbingly, we found it jutting out of the ground like someone stabbed it in place. It's a totem of fey magic, we're certain of it. We returned to Cherry's home and found an identical such totem.

We re-visited the Gervais home and were greeted at the door by the wife. Viter once again attempts to breach the home, but Gervais was up there waiting for him. The wife, Alba, gave us pointless information--we were just trying to keep her talking to let Viter gather info--although Gervais foiled our plan. We did learn that they've been Eternal Flame followers their whole lives. In one of Viter's rare moments of cunning, he created an image of the Alderman across the street as a distraction so we could get away.

We then visited one of the wooded areas behind the farm, to the southeast where the wife told us the kids can be found playing. I played hopscotch with the children who were there. One of the little girls told me proudly that Celeste was going to take her to the windmill ruins to make a totem on the *next full moon*. I advised her not to go. I made a lie up about werewolves--how little I realized this was foreshadowing of what we would find next.

My companions and I made our way to the windmill. The ruins had rotted wooden steps and we could see some parts of the wood had major gouges in it--caused by some monstrous claws. Obviously at this point, Kado is a werewolf. Etched in the wood at the second story of this windmill, were declarations of love between Celeste and Kado.

What I don't understand is how did Kado become a werewolf? Why is Celeste turning the minds of children into animals? Who else knows about this and how can I discreetly expose and potentially wreak justice on this incredulous young girl who deserves to be disposed.

We must continue on and gather more information, but it is apparent that these two youth are dangerous. Celeste is a worse threat--and whoever is abetting her actions.

Onwards.