Balvonier

Blethela and her companion are chilling to encounter. We know that Blethela was mentioned as the Stoneblood who was engaged to the Glasserunes, is she back for revenge? Why do they hate Nira's god and the fey so much? What do they have to do with the fire temple, the cemetery, and everything else suspicious in this town?

Could the male vampire be Gardsvair, the man from a legend similar to the bogeyman?

Onyx has indicated these are his parents. How does that work? What will they do to get him back?

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What is creating the evil pollution of the waters in the temples below Stoneblood Manor? Why are there undead creatures re-animated with this acidic slime? What is the source of this water? Furus gave a sample to Yvaine Stormhold at the Bubbling Candle Apothecary and found that it is part acid, part necrotic damage, and an unknown poison. Tey sent the water away to see if they could find more answers. At the Abbot House, the well is filled with the same water, and Sundrop says that the well overflowed and then evil plants came, trapping her in the yard.

What is creating the evil pollution of the waters in the temples below Stoneblood Manor? Why are there undead creatures re-animated with this acidic slime? What is the source of this water? Furus gave a sample to Yvaine Stormhold at the Bubbling Candle Apothecary and found that it is part acid, part necrotic damage, and an unknown poison. Tey sent the water away to see if they could find more answers. At the Abbot House, the well is filled with the same water, and Sundrop says that the well overflowed and then evil plants came, trapping her in the yard.
While being attacked by a Drowned Maiden, the group prayed to the spirit of the water. Wonderous glowing jelly-sifh like creatures came from the canal and defeated her, saving Nira.

Adalia thanked them, and they asked her to help save their water. She agreed.

​Their list of favors owed grows ever longer.

The Abbots: Neil, Jolie, and their daughter Hannah, have been missing about 3 weeks. They are part of the Feyblossom chapter, and moved to Balvonier to investigate the missing children. They were heading to Spindledown in their last message, then no contact. Derek Fennburn is worried about their safety, and this is Belladonna's chance to prove herself. The house seems to be wildly overgrown for only 3 weeks missing, with deadly plants. Inside they found a notebook, outside they found a hidden tunnel.

The Baron's death was suspicious to say the least. The "family curse" is apparently real, and darker than imagined. Who took the family sword and why? Why are there abandoned and hidden temples under the castle? How will James choose between honoring his promise to his love and his father's promise to the Tanglewoods? Blitherby's strange almost-Shinze braid and the strange temples under the house make him a prime suspect--but what did he do?
Blitherby's letter was quite suspicious. Now that Elaine's relationship to James as his fiance has been revealed, how does that impact the baron's death? Should James honor this contract or follow his heart? The group agreed to speak to the Tanglewoods, but when they arrive in Thornyside, the Lord and Lady are gone, and they are told that Elaine is not herself, though they have yet to find her.

Blitherby's yellow braid had black beads, which is sacrilegious for any true follower of Shinze. This combined with the strange corrupted type of Shinze temple below the manor is strange.

What about those weird notes?
The series of temples found below Stoneblood Manor are full of strange symbols, ominous streaks of blood, and corruption. Not to mention the rift that opened when Nira dropped her blood on the crystal altar. Now that they all connect to the cemetery, how do they relate? James seemsa unaware of their existence, but could Blitherby be involved with the corrupt Shinze splinter sect under the manor?

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This symbol has shown up several times now. Belladona saw it under the mountain, the goup found it on a deck of cards in the corrupt Shinze temple, and again in Thornyside, in the Hightown Church and Tanglewood Manor.

The other major temple under Stoneblood Manor was for K'rah K'halle. Who has been (recently) worshipping her as evidenced by the fresh blood?

The Baron's death was suspicious to say the least. The "family curse" is apparently real, and darker than imagined. Who took the family sword and why? Why are there abandoned and hidden temples under the castle? How will James choose between honoring his promise to his love and his father's promise to the Tanglewoods? Blitherby's strange almost-Shinze braid and the strange temples under the house make him a prime suspect--but what did he do?

James has begged the group to help him stop his arranged marriage, which he was trying to do before his father died.
He asks them to swear on the Dumbraava, the heart of the forest, that they will not tell anyone what he says. Galia whispers to the group that local legend is taht if you break an oath on the heart of the forest, the fey will kill you in a horrible manner. Galia then swears, and Adalia follows her lead. Belladonna begins to walk out. Carindrina asks him to swear on the heart of the forest that the promise they make won't harm the people in this village. James agrees. Carindrina, Furus, Venus, and Midna all agree to swear. Galia goes to Belladonna, and begs her to help. Furus tries to help, telling her that if the fey come to kill her, it is her chance to stab their eyes out. Adalia shakes her head and says, if we don't break the oath, there isn't a problem. And the unlikliest of friends, Galia is the one who finally gets through to her, telling her that she can tell that Belladonna is an honest and noble person who would never break and oath she takes, if she doesn't feel comfortable ytaking the oath, the group will try to guide her towards decisions that will help the community. Galia explains that she made a promise not to force people to do things, so she is asking as someone who cares very much for the people of this town, if she would please help them. Belladonna agrees to come back and makes the oath.

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James thanks them for taking the oath, and explains that his father had wanted him to marry the daughter of another noble family, The Tanglewoods. Her family follows Liguaquide and his family follows Shinze, which is how his family has operated for centuries, and now he knows thanks to information from Carindrina, that it is actually important for his family to be set up with that worship. However he doesn't love her, he loves someone else. He is worried that now that he knows this, he should end his relationship so that he doesn't inflict the curse on the town. His father hadn't made a decision when he died, they were going to talk about it in the morning, but in the morning he was dead.

​

Carindrina says she understands the need for secrecy. Adalia asks how involved Blitherby was involved. James explains that Blitherby is instrumental in organizing meetings between the families, as Tricreche is run as a council of the families and not a king, but Balvonier is the capital so Blitherby does organize many of the meetings. Adalia tells him they found a letter from Blitherby to Elaine Tanglewoos sayings "This was not in our agreement. Where did you put it?". James says he doesn't know why she would need aletter from Blitherby since her parents run the town, unless she was beginning to take over. They didn't have any agreements other than their engagement, which while it has been in motion for several years, wasn't officially announced.He asks when Blitherby mailed the letter. Adalia tells him that they knew the sword was missing. but initially he didn't tell Blitherby, he only told him just before he met the group. He has only seen Elaine a few times, but he didn't feel anything for her.

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Furus asks him to clarify why it weighs so heavily on him. James said it wasn't weighing so heavily on him until his father died, and now he feels that he needs to follow through with his Father's final wishes, and now that he knows the religions and the promises are so important and tied to the curse. They also need to keep agreements with the other towns on the Roueda or the roads can be dangerous and peopel can go missing. Carindrina asks if he has made a promise to the Tanglewoods or the girl he loves. He says he has to the girl he loves. Cardrina says she understands that, but thinks he needs to honor his promise. He is unsure because if his father made the deal for him, he needs to honor it, and he knows that if he asked his love she would let him go for the safety of the town. Carindrina says she thinks honor comes from within. He asks if they will go talk to the Tanglewoods and ask them to release him from the engagement.

Two rifts have opened into other worlds, once in Stoneblood Manor in Baron Hanburn's room, and once in the temple under the manor when Nira's blood touched the crystal altar.

​Where do they come from?

Where do they go?

The beautiful girl and her child are clearly fey-touched or fey. Who are they? How did they meet? How can they ever hope to be together?

In the Abbot's yard, hidden by a tent, was a cave entrance that led to a series of tunnels. Four stone archways marked with letters atop the keystones: S, W, B, T, presumably leading to the four main towns: Spindledown, Weatherby, Balvonier, and Thornyside. Will these be simply tunnels, or will these be portals? How deep do these run? Is this where the Abbots went?
Not only those, but the tunnels recently found underneath the Red Pony Tavern are also labrynthine.

The group swore on the heart of the forest to not reveal James' lover or child.

He asks them to swear on the Dumbraava, the heart of the forest, that they will not tell anyone what he says. Galia whispers to the group that local legend is taht if you break an oath on the heart of the forest, the fey will kill you in a horrible manner. Galia then swears, and Adalia follows her lead. Belladonna begins to walk out. Carindrina asks him to swear on the heart of the forest that the promise they make won't harm the people in this village. James agrees. Carindrina, Furus, Venus, and Midna all agree to swear. Galia goes to Belladonna, and begs her to help. Furus tries to help, telling her that if the fey come to kill her, it is her chance to stab their eyes out. Adalia shakes her head and says, if we don't break the oath, there isn't a problem. And the unlikliest of friends, Galia is the one who finally gets through to her, telling her that she can tell that Belladonna is an honest and noble person who would never break and oath she takes, if she doesn't feel comfortable ytaking the oath, the group will try to guide her towards decisions that will help the community. Galia explains that she made a promise not to force people to do things, so she is asking as someone who cares very much for the people of this town, if she would please help them. Belladonna agrees to come back and makes the oath.

​

James thanks them for taking the oath, and explains that his father had wanted him to marry the daughter of another noble family, The Tanglewoods. Her family follows Liguaquide and his family follows Shinze, which is how his family has operated for centuries, and now he knows thanks to information from Carindrina, that it is actually important for his family to be set up with that worship. However he doesn't love her, he loves someone else. He is worried that now that he knows this, he should end his relationship so that he doesn't inflict the curse on the town. His father hadn't made a decision when he died, they were going to talk about it in the morning, but in the morning he was dead.

​

Carindrina says she understands the need for secrecy. Adalia asks how involved Blitherby was involved. James explains that Blitherby is instrumental in organizing meetings between the families, as Tricreche is run as a council of the families and not a king, but Balvonier is the capital so Blitherby does organize many of the meetings. Adalia tells him they found a letter from Blitherby to Elaine Tanglewoos sayings "This was not in our agreement. Where did you put it?". James says he doesn't know why she would need aletter from Blitherby since her parents run the town, unless she was beginning to take over. They didn't have any agreements other than their engagement, which while it has been in motion for several years, wasn't officially announced.He asks when Blitherby mailed the letter. Adalia tells him that they knew the sword was missing. but initially he didn't tell Blitherby, he only told him just before he met the group. He has only seen Elaine a few times, but he didn't feel anything for her.

​

Furus asks him to clarify why it weighs so heavily on him. James said it wasn't weighing so heavily on him until his father died, and now he feels that he needs to follow through with his Father's final wishes, and now that he knows the religions and the promises are so important and tied to the curse. They also need to keep agreements with the other towns on the Roueda or the roads can be dangerous and peopel can go missing. Carindrina asks if he has made a promise to the Tanglewoods or the girl he loves. He says he has to the girl he loves. Cardrina says she understands that, but thinks he needs to honor his promise. He is unsure because if his father made the deal for him, he needs to honor it, and he knows that if he asked his love she would let him go for the safety of the town. Carindrina says she thinks honor comes from within. He asks if they will go talk to the Tanglewoods and ask them to release him from the engagement.

The door to the Abbot's home said "Only those freely given the mark of Star of the Forest may enter."

Venus, Belladonna, Adalia, and Carindrina entered with no problem.

What is the Star of the Forest? Is this related to being a ranger or is this related to the Fey?

The Nereid is unable to be free without her shawl. The cold ones have it and Adalia promised to help her find it.

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Blitherby's letter was quite suspicious. Now that Elaine's relationship to James as his fiance has been revealed, how does that impact the baron's death? Should James honor this contract or follow his heart? The group agreed to speak to the Tanglewoods, but when they arrive in Thornyside, the Lord and Lady are gone, and they are told that Elaine is not herself, though they have yet to find her.
Welben also informed the group that her parents are missing as well.

The Glasserune sword was found under a pit of flesh and bones in a partof the stoneblood dungeons long ago locked off, it led back into the mausoleum in the cemetary. It was very suspicious. After returning the sword to its sacred altar, the group worried they would not be able to get it back for the ceremony to bury Hanburn, but it worked out.

The Children have been found, but the question remains: who took them and why?