Desire

NPCs

 

Witold - The Abbot at Lenzen

Przydarlow - Elder of villagers

Sofie - The old wise woman of the village

Rebekka - Apprentice to the old wise woman

 

Synoposis:

The local Lord would like (a) Gael not to around during the summer while the workman complete the majority of the chapel and (b) He has a letter from a very old friend of his in need of help. Albus agrees to help and sends of an expedition that includes Gael.  They travel through Geneva, a strong, walled city with guards that take a dislike to the Magi.  Sylvie is miserable in such a large town.  They hook up with a merchant named Fanislow and head up the trade route to Stratisburc.  The local noble and his men charge a toll for keeping the roads free of bandits.  They part ways with Fanislow at Stratisburc and hook up with another merchant.  They travel to Spyra.  Travel is uneventful and bandits decide not to mess with them.  Spyra is another major city.  It lies atop a small knoll surrounded by a beautiful ancient forest.  The knoll runs down to the Olza river.  The bridge there is the only the only crossing place within a reasonable distance.  It's guarded on both sides by very solid towers.  The city is surrounded by high, thick stone walls.  The buildings inside are crowded together making the streets narrow.  This is the city famous for the Well of Three Brothers.  It was once a spring where the founders of the town first met, famous for it's pure clear water that has cured many ills.  In truth it's guarded by a faery named Katerine who does not like anyone strongly tainted with magic from a non-fae realm.  She favors old men and young children.  Sylvie proves to have a difficult time at the well when watched by a cheeky guard.  From Spyra they make their way to Scwinfurt.  Along the way they encounter a Frankish regiment which gives them some problems due to Stephan's presence, but they get through.  In Scwinfurt they hear the following rumors:

 

• Charlemagne was here in late spring

• The Aborites are using eastern mystics to win battles

• Charlemagne was gravely wounded last week and may die

• There are secret negotiations with the Saxons to give them their own province if they swear fealty to Charlemagne and help him against the Aborites

• Aborite women fight alongside their men. They are like the Amazons of old and are deadly with the bow

• Aborite war dogs and their horses are fed on a meal made of their enemies flesh and bones

From Scwinfurt they head north to the Hawthorne covenant. 

The covenant is headed up by Istivan, a member of House Diedne. The other magi in residence are Noboro (Bjorner) and Sybelle (Criamon, prophetess). They are very concerned with protecting the wild areas and fear the constant encroachment of men will cause their vis sources to dry up. They are in favor of the war. Anything that kills more men who ruin the forest is okay with them.

Sybelle has a vision about the group:

• Stephan rides in darkness, chasing the light like a will-o-the-wisp. Though he rides faster and faster, the light remains just out of reach. Only when he stops riding, does the light come and settle on his brow

• Bernardo moves through a crowded city. There is blood in his footprints, but no one seems to notice. A beautiful maiden catches his eye. She smiles sweetly at him and goes about her business. He is reminded of his own lost innocence. He continues on and treats with merchants, shopkeepers, and tavern owners. All the while keeping his eye on one man. Finally the man stops long enough for Bernardo to slip something into his drink. As he slips out of the tavern, the maiden enters. Two steps out and he turns to run back in. Too late, he sees the woman has joined the man he was stalking and is now drinking from the cup

• Hanse travels a fearful road. Surrounded by danger on all sides. Eventually he finds a child alone on the road. The child is scared. He promises the child he will take care of him. As they travel the find another child and another. Soon Hanse is leading a whole group of children down the path, dodging the danger on all side. Then a man steps out and confronts them. He is a filthy man. His armor hangs on his skinny frame, obviously he was once a much larger man. He eyes the children and smacks his lips. Madness lights up his eyes. He licks his lips and steps forward, knocking Hanse out of the way. He grabs the first child, who screams, and says “meat for the pot”. Hanse draws his dagger, but his hands tremble and he watches helplessly as the man drags the child away

• She will give no reading on Sylvie. She says the end for Sylvie is too horrible and she cannot bear to watch it 

From there, they head to the Sorbes region where Lenzen is located. 

Abbott Witold is happy and surprised to see them. He had not received word they were coming. But the introduction letter they bear opens all doors for them. The other monks avoid most of them (Hanse being an exception). The Abbott tells them sad stories about the horrors of war and the effect on the poor people who live in this area. The village of Sommervild is nearby, or at least what's left of it. Some of the villagers are here and the will lead the party to the camp in the woods.

The camp is makeshift at best. The people have managed to stash away some of their supplies, but armies and bandits have taken most of them. They have a few carts and oxen, goats, and chickens. Here they will meet with the elders and the wise woman. The initial meeting will be tricky and set the tone for their relationship for the immediate future.  They learn the following about Old Sophie: 

• She sees Gael as a grown man at the height of his power, stronger than any man she's met. She sees a beautiful woman at his side, and then the vision is suddenly interrupted. In her experience this usually means that there a momentous event on the horizon that will shape his future

•  The villagers love her because she's so helpful

• She is fearful of the magi (she's heard the stories)

• She claims to have no gift, but merely knows herbcraft

• If she feels the heat and is given the opportunity, she will leave at night

• Villagers will mistrust the magi if they just kill off old Sophie

• Among the villagers is Rebekka, old Sophie's apprentice

 

 

While at the camp they are attacked by raider from the Aborite army.  Rebekka takes a liking to Gael. Gets his help getting things from her old shack.  She knows a way to break his curse. If they go to the Giant's Grave, she can get what she needs.  They go to the grave.  The giant was so large, his "grave" is really his body that has decayed into a set of hills.  They enter and go through the passages to where his heart would be.  They fight off undead giants (much smaller than the original giant) and manage to get his heartblood to break the curse.

Old Sohpie slipped away during the night, but the remainder of the villagers return

 

 

Pre-Game Lore:

[From the email]

In the spring, Albus and Hanse traveled briefly to the Monastery and the manor of the local Lord. Both are interested in seeing the village near the covenant re-populated and given a chance to flourish. The local Lord (name escapes me at the moment) has promised some stores for the winter and a small amount of livestock next spring if we can re-establish the village this year. The Abbot has likewise committed to provide a few of the brothers for help in repairing some of the physical damage in the village as well as collecting donations of clothing and household goods from the surrounding towns. The Abbot had two more thoughts on the matter. First, he thinks it would be best of Gael was not around during the summer. This summer should see the Majority of the chapel completed (God willing) and there will be many craftsman in the area. Some may be watching for Gael. Second, he had just received a letter from a a very old friend of his. Obviously the timing of the letter was God's work. He shared the letter with Albus and Hans (contents to follow below). The Abbot also asked that everyone at the covenant pray for Father Raymond. His last report (from the very end of winter) mentioned that the good Father was still unable to see, but was otherwise doing reasonably well in the village.

 

[Additional Information at game time]

Indeed workers have shown up and there is a lot of activity around the chapel. There have been a few clumsy attempts at spying. One or two of the workers that accompanied the Master Builder to the covenant wandered off on because they were “lost”. But they were quickly “found”. One of them left shortly afterwards without any notice.

Gael, Sylvie, and crew departed for the Abby at Lenzen a few weeks ago as soon as the weather began to hold. The local Abbott recommended a route and provided a few sketched out maps. With good weather and no difficulties, they hope to make it back by the end of summer.

Since there will be no harvest of note this year, the coming winter looks to be tight. Albus has provided Hanse with some coin (200 silver marks) to purchase supplies and some of the coming harvest from towns and farms on the return trip to get everyone through the winter.

There is also a small covenant, known as Hawthorne, near Erpesfurt a few days travel from the Lenzen Abbey.

Figure out grogs, vis, magic items, etc. that you have taken with you.

 

 

The Letter:

My dearest friend,

I do not know if you have heard the news or not. But as the great King Charlemagne continues his campaigns here in the East, the Saxons have broken the peace. The Aborites have joined with the King against them. But the poor villages near my abbey have suffered terribly in this war. We have taken in as many as we can, but the refugees tax our resources. I remember you once mentioned a struggling village near your abbey. If there is any way they could overcome their aversion to people from so far away, I give you my word there are many decent, hard-working Christians here that have lost everything and would be grateful for a chance to start over far away from the strife that seams to plague these lands.

I am sorry to burden you with such bad news. I know you are still recovering from that mysterious illness that brought you so close to leaving this world. I pray for your continued recovery every day. If there is anything you can do to help, please let me know. I am afraid that winter here will be very grim for these people.


Your brother in Christ,

Witold
Lenzen Abbey
Vohūman 249

 

 

Background:

In the spring, Albus and Hans traveled briefly to the Monastery and the manor of the local Lord. Both are interested in seeing the village near the covenant re-populated and given a chance to flourish. The local Lord has promised some stores for the winter and a small amount of livestock next spring if we can re-establish the village this year. The Abbot has likewise committed to provide a few of the brothers for help in repairing some of the physical damage in the village as well as collecting donations of clothing and household goods from the surrounding towns. The Abbot had two more thoughts on the matter. First, he thinks it would be best of Gael was not around during the summer. This summer should see the Majority of the chapel completed (God willing) and there will be many craftsman in the area. Some may be watching for Gael. Second, he had just received a letter from a a very old friend of his. Obviously the timing of the letter was God's work. He shared the letter with Albus and Hans. The Abbot also asked that everyone at the covenant pray for Father Raymond. His last report (from the very end of winter) mentioned that the good Father was still unable to see, but was otherwise doing reasonably well in the village.

 

Pre-Game Notes

- The date on the letter is approximately February 795 on the Gregorian calendar
- Lenzen Abbey is near modern Brandenburg, Germany
- Aborites are also known as Obodrites
- Linonen is an Aborite tribe near Lenzen

 

General Background Information

The main tribes[1] of the Obotritic confederation were the Obotrites proper (Wismar Bay to the Schweriner See); the Wagrians (eastern Holstein); the Warnower (the upper Warnow and Mildenitz); and the Polabians proper (between the Trave and the Elbe). Other tribes associated with the confederation include the Linonen near Lenzen, the Travnjane near the Trave, and the Drevani in the Hanoverian Wendland and the northern Altmark.[2]