TC3 Crystal Guard S1: "Long Live the Baroness"
General Summary
Deciding first to claim the legendary Aos Sidhe blade "Save the Queen," they sought out the Lady of Caofinn Lake - the sidhe maiden Eurielle. Having plead their case, Eurielle agreed to provide the sword on one simple condition; that our noble adventurers put a stop to the accursed beast slaughtering its way through the Barony of Seymour. A border territory, Seymour is on the first line of defense of the Empire against potential invasion from the Vennican Dominion and its people suffer profoundly under the burden of the beast.
The party agreed to her terms and made for the castle village, seeking information from the local innkeeper, Markus and his adult daughter Maddie who suffered from a horse kick to the head as a child. From him, they learned that the beast attacks most every night, sometimes taking people and sometimes taking livestock but leaving a trail of blood in its wake a mile wide. From Markus, they also learn the name of a local rancher who has suffered multiple losses to his cattle heard, a man named Devon.
Seeking out Devon on his ranch, they learn that the beast has been stealing the entrails of animals - and that there is a wise woman in the forest who might have more answers. Devon couldn't give them directions but did explain that she can be found by anyone who wanders into the forest in need of her services.
Before attempting to find the wise woman, the adventurers arrange to speak with the Baron in the castle. Baron Artur himself is an old warrior, fit enough but with much of his potential spent to the years. His wife, the Baroness Mary, is far younger and seems rather unfazed by the attacks which plague her husband so. Through some investigation, the party learns that Mary is the daughter of a duchal family in Ensign, the capital of the Durasian Empire, who has married well below her station.
Unable to provide much assistance himself, the Baron directs the group to speak with his personal physician, Edward Cunnings, who has been dispatched to investigate the human killings. The good doctor seems rather detached from the matter - perhaps growing accustomed to such things by virtue of his profession or, just maybe, he is preoccupied by the brand new, as yet unused plague mask discovered in his offices. He does, however, point the party once more in the direction of the "Witch of the Wood" and informs the adventurers that an inquisition has already been called to deal with the woman he is convinced is behind the problem.
Having come no closer to discovering the nature of the beast and with darkness looming, and with it the threat of another attack, the group takes Maddie out into the woods and, much to their surprise, discovers the wise woman's hut. Inside, they meet Deirdre the "Witch of the Wood" who explains that while she does have some connection to the attacks it's not the one our adventurers might assume. She is not responsible for the beast but has been tracking it when it leaves the castle each night and using an elixir to bring it under her control long enough to lead it to livestock instead of people. As a benefit, she has been using the beast to collect entrails as part of a counteragent to a plague that is coming within the next few seasons.
Armed with this knowledge and with night already descending, the party uses Deirdre to track down and confront the beast before it can kill again.
As the rest of the party prepares for battle, Balthazaar's quick thinking leads to the Moonlight spell being cast upon the beast - revealing a naked Baron Artur still slavering and furious beyond his mind.
Balthazaar offers the Baron one opportunity to surrender but Artur, too lost to his curse to possible comply, only snarls his fury.
Merciless and direct, Balthazaar unleashes a storm of magic and fire, reducing the Baron to so much ash in the middle of the street.
In the morning, Vosier and Damara return to the Baroness to inform her that her people are safe, but at the cost of her husband's life, to which news she seems utterly non-chalant simply providing the adventurers with the reward promised by her husband and sending them on their way.
Returning to Eurielle, the group explains that the Lady's quest has been completed - if not by the most orthodox means. Eurielle mourns the loss of Baron Artur and the harsh conditions his people will no doubt suffer under the influence of his hard-hearted wife, but agrees that the quest is, indeed, done.
And, with that, she transforms into the Save the Queen.
The party takes up the sword, and Serena sends word to Dame Alaise, a Magus of the Dominion, that the Barony of Seymour has suffered a major, strategic loss leaving them ripe for the plucking.
Now only two more tributes remain - The Crystal Circlet of Niamh in The Siegenthal, and most dangerous of all, The Maiden's Tear Rose hidden deep within the Vennican Dominion...
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