Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse

by Hayley Thomas

Deary Diary,

Our evening's discovery left us breathless, but I must backtrack and conclude the events that followed. With the captive cultists securely detained, we handed them over to the vigilant guards of the monastery. Father Eton assured us they would be thoroughly interrogated before being transferred to the city watch for further questioning.

Seeking closure to our adventure, we ventured into the depths of the sewers, accessed through the hidden entrance within the cultists' lair. However, our exploration yielded only the desolate remnants of the abandoned dig site.
Upon resurfacing, Father Eton shared insights gleaned from the interrogation. Two of the captured cultists were revealed to be former members of the order, though their dedication had been a short one. The identity of the third one remained a mystery.

When we came back up, Father Eton informed us that two of the cultists had been former members of the order, but had never really fully committed to the faith, while the third one was unknown to them. It dawned on me that Marek, with his intricate knowledge of our order, might have recruited these disillusioned former brethren.

Liliana, with her newfound resolve, took charge and decided to personally interrogate the captives. To our amazement, her gentle demeanor transformed into that of a silver-tongued paladin, skilled in the art of persuasion. It didn't take long before one of the cultists cracked under her relentless questioning, especially when faced with the abandonment by their leader, Marek, following the disastrous events in the sewers.

The truth spilled forth like a dam bursting. The motley crew had been on a quest for one of Morhim's elusive spellbooks, rumored to contain the dark secrets of lichdom. Their goal was laid bare: to uncover this forbidden knowledge and defy death itself. I couldn't help but ponder the folly of such ambitions. In our mortal existence, the inevitability of death is an immutable truth, an essential part of the natural cycle. Once you come to terms with this reality, the fear of mortality loses its grip. Who, indeed, would wish to linger in this world indefinitely, when the beauty of life lies in its fleeting moments and the promise of what lies beyond?

Following a misadventure in the sewers, the cultists enlisted the aid of dwarven laborers to carry out their excavation, leaving them idle and restless. As the saying goes, idle hands are the devil's workshop, and it wasn't long before their mischief turned towards desecrating the sacred temple. Little did they know, their reckless actions would ultimately be their undoing.

In a stroke of irony, their sacrilege proved to be our greatest advantage. Had they not defiled the temple, we may never have been drawn to investigate, uncovering their clandestine dig site in the process. It seems the scales of justice have a way of balancing themselves, as karma came full circle.

With the interrogation concluded, Father Eton extended his gratitude, offering us unrestricted access to the monastery's extensive library. Though my dear brother harbored hopes of delving into the forbidden tomes, Father Eton made it clear that some knowledge was not meant for mortal eyes. Still, one couldn't fault him for his curiosity and ambition.

Gael, Luke, and I waved goodbye to the De La Roosts and Ileas as they headed home for the evening, leaving us to wander back to the cozy inn. The moment we stepped through the door, our senses were greeted by the tantalizing scent of roasted hen wafting from the kitchen. Instantly, the memories of our recent sewer escapade faded into the background as we eagerly anticipated the hearty meal awaiting us.

The inn's common room welcomed us with warmth and lively chatter as patrons mingled, laughter bubbling up amidst the clinking of glasses and the strumming of guitars. The aroma of food and the promise of good company chased away any lingering worries, and soon we were lost in the joy of the moment.

As the evening wore on, the jovial atmosphere only grew, with games of chance unfolding at one table while lively debates sparked at another. Music filled the air, drawing us into its rhythm and lifting our spirits. Outside, the weather took a turn for the worse, the sky darkening with the promise of an approaching storm. Yet, within the comforting embrace of the inn, we felt sheltered from the impending tempest, content to revel in the simple pleasures of friendship and camaraderie.

I finally mustered the courage to approach the enigmatic figure lurking in the shadowy corner of the inn. As I made my way through the bustling crowd, I couldn't help but notice the sudden hush that fell over the room, the curious gazes of the other patrons following my every move. I had anticipated concern or perhaps even suspicion, but instead, I sensed an undercurrent of amusement rippling through the air.

With a sinking feeling in my gut, I reached the table and beheld the object of everyone's attention: a scarecrow, positioned incongruously amidst the dimly lit corner. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had stumbled into the midst of an elaborate prank. The laughter that erupted around me confirmed my suspicions, but I refused to let embarrassment overtake me.

Summoning all my resolve, I enacted my plan without hesitation. With a subtle gesture, I directed Fiachna, my ever-faithful companion, to stealthily approach the scarecrow from beneath the table. Then, with a straight face and unwavering determination, I engaged in conversation with the inanimate figure before me.

The laughter faltered, replaced by a palpable sense of confusion and disbelief. A concerned patron approached, undoubtedly curious about the spectacle unfolding before him. Though he remained skeptical of my claims regarding the scarecrow's supposed spiritual inhabitant, his attention was diverted long enough to not notice Fiachna.

I returned to my table with a triumphant smirk, relishing in the knowledge that I had successfully turned the tables on my pranksters. "Never try to outwit a witch," I thought with a satisfied grin. Mathilda, the innkeeper, caught wind of the mischief and couldn't help but appreciate the cleverness of my ruse.

As a token of her admiration, she placed a delectable dessert before me, compliments of the house. The sweet treat served as the perfect finale to what had been a tumultuous day filled with unexpected twists and turns. With each indulgent bite, I reflected on the events of the evening, finding solace in the simple joys and camaraderie found within the cozy confines of the inn. Truly, it was a lovely ending to a day fraught with excitement and adventure.

6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse

Continue reading...

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