S01E04 - Shadows over the River Festival
General Summary
S01E04 - Marshal’s Report: Riverdate, Third of Tattermoon
Filed by Ennis Glave, Red Marshal of South Crossing
Classification: Internal – Village Watch & Council Records
Morning Watch
The sun rose slow and solemn over South Crossing on the final day of the River Festival. Despite the cheerful bustle of festival preparations, the village still bore the weight of the Sablekin attack from the night before. Elder Stape—our town’s anchor—was seen speaking with Brutus Vogar, the farmstead’s quiet giant. Their spirits were momentarily lifted by a traveling storyteller who had brought light and laughter to our shaken streets.
Still, not all was well. Elder Stape awoke from a dream of the ancient bridge, whole once more, and the soft voice of his late wife, Lilibeth, still echoed in his mind. By his bedside sat a scorched book, its edges blackened from the prior night’s fire. Its presence remains unexplained and unsettling.
Preparations and Precautions
Brutus returned to his home, his mood darkened by what he had seen and done during the initial chaos. Davrim, our town blacksmith, had taken it upon himself to keep watch overnight. By dawn, he was already planning repairs to damaged festival booths.
As they checked over the bridge and discussed preparations, the camaraderie among Stape, Brutus, and Davrim remained firm—though tension hung in the air like a gathering storm. Harlan Stoke, a local councilor, approached Stape with concerns about continuing the festival in light of the attack. After thoughtful discussion, Stape agreed. Patrols were doubled, and the bridge was inspected. Though damaged, it was deemed structurally sound.
I submitted my own report regarding the previous night’s events and advised that we increase our guard presence during the festival’s final hours.
Festival Resumes
Davrim and Brutus, never short of resourcefulness, convinced young Finnick to assist in checking the village wells by promising him a crate of apples. As twilight deepened, the festival square shimmered with lantern light and bonfires. Music rose once more, and for a time, it felt like South Crossing could breathe again.
The entertainer Lucius charmed the crowd with a lively tune, and Elder Stape offered a speech of gratitude—both heartfelt and sobering. But the evening’s tone shifted when a masked storyteller took the stage, spinning a tale of a nameless child and a bride lost to the fog. The villagers listened with held breath. The similarities to our own recent events did not go unnoticed.
The Disappearance
Shortly after the tale concluded, Thesara approached Elder Stape in desperation. Her daughter, Alira, had gone missing while adjusting her costume. With little hesitation, Stape organized a search party. Davrim and Brutus joined without question.
They soon discovered Alira’s wounded suitor, who claimed she had been taken by “small creatures.” Davrim tended the boy’s wounds and pressed him for answers. The story was grim but clear. A trail of blood led into the woods.
I accompanied Elder Stape and several villagers into the forest. We found nothing but yellow eyes in the dark, watching us. Then, a dreadful realization struck Stape: the creatures had drawn us out. The village itself was the true target.
He ordered a swift return.
The Bridge Transformed
As we approached South Crossing, smoke rose from the rooftops and panic rang out across the bridge. At its midpoint stood masked figures and a woman in white, dancing in silence. The bridge itself had changed—longer, sturdier, eerily whole. It was no illusion.
Meanwhile, Brutus blundered into a trap intended for smaller prey. In a moment of unintended comedy, he lifted Davrim and a fellow villager off the ground in his effort to escape. But the moment passed quickly—urgency drove them onward.
Elder Stape reached the square and sounded the alarm. The MistVeil pulsed like a living thing. Shadows crossed over. The bridge no longer marked a boundary.
Final Note
This report is submitted not as a chronicle, but as a warning.
The Mist is not to be prodded.
The bridge is changing.
And the stories we once treated as tales for fireside telling… may now be unfolding before us.
Stay vigilant.
Notable Developments
- Sablekin Presence Confirmed: Small, masked creatures were seen near the bridge and in the woods beyond.
- Alira’s Disappearance: Teenager abducted under mysterious circumstances; presumed involvement of Sablekin.
- Bridge Transformation: Visibly altered structure—longer, sturdier, possibly magical in nature.
- Masked Storyteller’s Tale: Eerily parallels real events. Possible prophetic or memory-linked function.
- MistVeil Activity: Responsive, possibly alive. No longer passive.
Key Figures
- Elder Stape: Alderman of South Crossing. Leadership under pressure; linked to visions and a strange book.
- Brutus Vogar: Local farmer, physically powerful and emotionally grounded. Integral in combat and rescue.
- Davrim: The town’s blacksmith. Demonstrated quick thinking, tactical sense, and deep loyalty.
- Ennis Glave: Red Marshal. Fielded the official investigation and authored the report.
- Lucius Trace III: Mysterious entertainer. Possibly more than he seems—origin unclear.
Tactical Observations
- Sablekin Movement Patterns: Operate in packs; rely on ambush, confusion, and misdirection.
- Forest Diversion: Likely tactic used to draw defenders away before assaulting the village directly.
- Trap Use: Crude but effective—indicates planning and foreknowledge of terrain.
- Bridge Surveillance: Strongly advised. Current structure is no longer consistent with known records.
Brutus Vogar
Elder Stape
Davrim Harrows
Cherry
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