Ethelinda Ebersfarb

*"The younger Ebersfarb daughter, Ethelinda. A member of one of the magnate families. The ones with real power."*

"Ethelinda Ebersfarb will be my intermediary for now. She has been quite eager to see the Forest for herself."

*"Making big gambles with magical creatures is how the Free City was founded, you know."*

*Ethelinda is also spitting out like every death flag in the book*

Honestly screw Ethelinda

## Description

A circle of armchairs has been set up in the middle of the large room, and a short woman in navy blue is sitting at one of them.

Ethelinda wears a veil-like hood, and her long hair frames a large nose. Bearded Anders and thin-faced Helmut stand taller than her as they salute Silvius.

"My name is Shatch, of the Unbroken Shadow, by the way," she adds, with a smile of embarrassment.

"A fellow necromancer!" Ethelinda cries out, and then collects herself.

## Connections

Ethelinda thanks Silvius for the lovely meal, and then pets the Fox as thanks for its own contribution. It preens and pants happily.

Lady Ethelinda sweeps her way up. The Pilgrim Fox is by her side.

Ethelinda seems intrigued as well by Einar's suggestion of transformation.

"I appreciate the possibility of having your strength as my shield inside - and am looking forward to observing your altered shape."

Cutting the thorny vines as quick as he can, Einar will occasionally look up and give Ethelinda a little "look at me! I'm a hard worker!" grin.

Ethelinda smiles back at Einar.

There is an incredulous wolf listening to Violet's priorities.

"No, I think Violet has a point." adds Ethelinda, tugging thoughtfully at a strand of hair.

"At first I was indifferent - but what has a guardian, has value."

Lady Ethelinda has been mumbling something under her breath about Constanze, but smiles.

"I don't want to force my protectors to risk their lives. I will, however, offer a 100 silver bonus to anyone who brings the Black Rose to me."

## Accuracy

Ethelinda shoulders her mighty crossbow and fires - hitting one of the Taxiermied Fox's lecterns. It is hard to know what she was actually aiming for.

Ethelinda gives her crossbow to Constanze. "Load this for me."

Ethelinda offers Tristan her crossbow. "I suck at it." She says.

Ethelinda willingly hands the crossbow to the Ferret. "I'm just wasting my valuable bolts anyway."

## Shedding

Ethelinda smiles sweetly at Violet.

"A little secret, my dear Violet. I was told of the Lords Below of this place by someone from the Forest. The same Forest where you got your changes.
"They told me that power over it could be ours - if we got permission from the Forest's masters. What approaches - is almost certainly one such master.
"Think of the power that can be ours, as long as we do not fear to reach out and take it!"

During the long rest, Lady Ethelinda identifies her Black Rose - and devours it.

Immediately, lines of black ink bloom under her skin, following her veins, spontaneously forming themselves into patterns like rose flowers on her cheeks.

Lady Ethelinda also looks much, much stronger and healthier. Maybe even a little taller.

Those who have accepted changes from the Black Rose Kindred should make mental saves as their augmentations respond to the Change affecting the room.

Ethelinda's black hair is now also interspersed with heavy Black Rose flowers. Constanze shows no change as she tries to help the noblelady find a hat that will hide them.

Ethelinda appears to be whispering to herself. "This isn't so bad...this isn't so bad...they look fine...they look fine..."

"Just wait a moment with me Einar." Ethelinda says, backing away into the blinding snow. "Destiny comes!"

Einar tries and tries to stop her, but Ethelinda's unexpected strength drags him along. He will not abandon her. Finally accepting it is too late, Einar awkwardly lets go of Ethelinda. He trots after her.

"Oh, bollocks. Come with me, sir ferret. Always was a sucker for a pretty lady." He winks into the snow. "And a pretty lord,for that matter. They're both barking mad though."

And he runs off after Einar and Ethelinda.

Shatch will hop up and punch Ethelinda directly in one of her tits. "Ow." Ethelinda says.

"She's the one who's supposed to PAY ME!!" Shatch makes two like, chopping hands, gesturing to Ethelinda.

"And if she dies, I get nothing! I'll have come in here, gotten mutated, spent one of MY healing resources, and had nothing to show for it!"

Ethelinda looks rather upset. To put it mildly. "Einar, help! I'm being attacked by our companions!"

Tristan catches up to hear this last. "I know I just ran over valiantly, making the hero's choice... But I must say, he's got a bloody point. The lady seems to be out of her god's damned mind."

Ethelinda fumes as she recovers from the punch. But composes herself, seeming not to want to make a scene in front of her future benefactor.

"Enough of this. I'm going to talk to the Lord now."

Ethelinda hesitantly collapses onto a chair. Part of her is astounded to have made it this far. She can barely comprehend what is happening.

"I...I must say what a beautiful Garden you have, sir!" Ethelinda begins.

Before Ethelinda can say another word, something slams down the glass of ice, shattering it, and splashing wine everywhere.

*Silence.* Ethelinda shuts up.

*Your ambition is well-known to me, necromancer.*

*It is trite.*

*You already formulated the bargain in your head.*

*Pay the price, and the power shall be yours.*

"I accept! Of course I accept!" Ethelinda says - and is immediately frozen in place.

## Death

*Gere, are you ready for your first command?*

He nods.

*Obey Ethelinda's next command.*

The paralysis on Ethelinda ends. She turns to Gere like a puppet with its strings cut.

Only two words has she to say.

"Kill me."

The blood pours out with surprising rapidity, soaking into the snow that has accumulated around the foot of the table. It begins to blossom into the buds of black roses. Thorny vines reach out from the soil underneath.

The ruined petals and thorns twist around themselves with chagrin and shame. The form of a body of stems takes shape. Twisted arms. A familiarly shaped head.

*Depart from here, Most Shameless of the Kindred.*

*You know the task you appointed yourself.*

*Go accomplish it.*

The black rose creature bows its head, and shuffles away through the snow.

## Legacy

This mother's day we gather to remember a necromancer named Ethelinda. She had no children. Except herself???

But she had an undeniable motherly quality to her

she once stood up for me when I lassoed a fish

Ethelinda's Grimoire would go to her immediate relatives, if any exist.

"Indeed. I understand there were secret bargains at play." Prang frowns. "I wonder what was offered to her, that she accepted at such cost."

Discussing Ethelinda's fate seems to be exceedingly perturbing to Prang. He sits down in one of his armchairs and begins to stare into space, lost in thought.