Blood and Silver

Ellák, Knight of the Sidhe.

After their troubling encounter with the Saytrs at Dryad's Rest, the Dreamers make their way further down the road to the supposed safety of Fort Dogwood. On the way, Lucius and Doc learn a valuable lesson about scavengers and the Entity tries its hand at cooking.

## Plot:

Gwendolyn Snow looks pale and distracted; she says that she needs to take care of something, so she will meet the party at Kher Leon. The party gets a good look at The Entity’s repair matrix for the first time, which is interesting but very alien. Sir John suggests pressing forward to the fortress Dogwood, led by Captain Norbern. The party agrees to press forward with the allure of fresh food and cots on the horizon.

Before continuing, The Entity convinces Mans, begrudgingly, to give up his horses saddlebags he had been carrying since the horse was stolen. Emelya likewise first displays her use of her Bag of Holding, taking other people's belongings so that people may ride the pack horses. Despite being wounded, Mans and Trumpets refuse to ride the horses on principle.

As they continue on the road, Lucius spots a cart off the road and some splatters of blood on the road. Doc joins him to investigate, finding a full cart with a broken wheel and no people or horses in sight.

Scraps and Emelya keep an eye on the road in the meanwhile, after a time noticing the broken brush and moving patch of cloud in the sky. She motions Doc and Lucius back, to no avail.

Doc and Lucius find a chest, and attempt to haul it back to the road, before a giant vulture drops out of the sky in front of them. The group makes short work of the vulture, butchering it for meat. Emelya convinces John it would be worth repairing the cart to take with them, and he acquiesces after some prodding.

Doc apparently has much experience with woodworking from his travels and Emelya manages to repair the cart within an hour and be on their way. After some more time traveling, the party realized they left Saoirse back inside of the giant vulture, and went back to get her. While at camp, The Entity discusses the concept of names with Sir John, then accidentally cooks an amazing meal out of the leg of vulture. Doc and Emelya discuss Doc’s relationship with Mercy, which seems to be a physical being with power and influence.

On the road again, a long trail of blood went along the road until it stopped, though the drag marks stayed. Emelya tasted some blood, remarking it was not human, aberrant, or beast, but familiar.

Rounding the bend, they come upon the fortress, blockaded with spiked barricades. On one of the spikes was a dead werebeast. As they come toward the fortress, they are greeted by a mustachioed man who seems to be familiar with Sir John, calling himself Sir Gavron. He mentions how John used to work at the fortress, before serving Lord Baotha son of Bathadon, lord and liege of Kher Leon. Sir Gavron mentions to the traveling group that they may not be all that welcome, as odd strangers called the Sidhe Knights have been staying and causing trouble in town demanding payment.

Doc negotiated with a local carpenter with a speech impediment about the repair of the cart. They eventually decide on paying to have the broken wheel replaced.

Emelya and The Entity go to the Smithy, owned and operated by a younger woman called Yu’ei. Emelya puts in a commission for a Brace for the wagon as well as a blade for a dagger. The Entity also suggests buying handaxes for themselves and Lucius, and Emelya haggles down a reasonable price to pay the smith before returning to the cart only to witness the commotion from the tavern. (Doc talked to the bar patrons, Saoirse talked directly to the knights and learned their names: El-lak, Su-ran, Tar-hos, and Lucius went to the Captain to discuss the situation with the knights.

The captain explained that the Sidhe knights were contracted to investigate and find information about the recent deaths and disappearances; instead the knights grabbed a townsfolk and brutally slaughtered them in the woods, mounted the mangled body on a spike in the front of the fortress, then demanding 3000 silver pieces in compensation.

When the captain argued that they did not do what he had asked, and that the amount they requested was far too much coin, they relegated themselves to the tavern to await their payment.

Back at the tavern, when the tavern patrons began to become violent by shouting and drawing weapons, an incident occurred and a man was left with burns and a severed stump of an arm. Carried into the medical tent, the local physician along with Doc, Emelya, and Saoirse attempted to save the man's life, but ultimately failed. Doc determined that the man did not die from losing his limb or from loss of blood.

Testing the man’s flesh against the werebeast, Emelya was able to tell that they were unrelated, but the man was definitely cursed, and that was likely the cause of his death. The townsfolk catching wind of this information, pressed the captain to run the knights out of town. After much deliberation, it was determined that the knights would be offered what silver the town had and be asked to leave; otherwise they would resort to force.

After a short rest, Lucius gave the Knights their ultimatum as they sat in an empty tavern, while the fortresses population of able bodied people were armed and angry.

Understanding their prayers in Deep Speech, The Entity raised their rod of rulership, The Knights leader countered that they would take the downpayment in good faith, and expect the rest of the payment tomorrow. When this was denied, he calmed asked Saoirse to explain the fortressed plan for The Knights.

Seeming to be unable to stop herself Saoirse empassioned explained her version of the events, perfusing apologizing afterward. Realizing that Saoirse had be magically charmed, Emelya was reminded of days of constant toil in her village, at the mercy of the whims of people with power and pretty words; she angrily declared that they weren’t knights at all, but common brigands and thieves looking to exploit the fortress for coin simply because they could.