The Children of Bohat I

Sir Anastaz, Ser Perilake and Sir Milos ride to Bohat 

to investigate rumours of children behaving strangely.

Sir Heldris meets a proud playwrite

and Lady Inga is scared for the safety of her son 

2nd Riverday of Petals, South of Bohat

Grey cirrus clouds cover the sky as you reach the southern lowlands, rye fields and meadows illuminated by sun shafts. After galloping all morning your steeds are foaming at the mouth and their skin is steaming with sweat. The warm spring winds bring the smell of manure from the North and as you ride passed peasants mucking the lush green fields they remove their hats and stand still, staring at you in awe.

Rye fields in spring

Referee

On the edge of Bohat children abandon their game of hide and seek between blooming apple trees and run alongside your steeds, screaming cheerfully and announcing your arrival to the village. An older girl with bristly hair stays behind watching you blankly. In the shadow of an oak a woman with long white hair is preaching to the villagers who are waiting patiently at the well for their turn to draw water. When you arrive at the town square they are nudging each other whispering and giggling behind cupped hands. A chubby man stops sweeping the cobbled ground in front of the inn and leans on his broom. Next to the inn is a half timbered house, the home of Lady Wendela. Blackwyn sniffs the air and snorts. A groom is leading Pearl, Lady Inga's steed, towards the stables. An ornate wagon stands opposite the the well. A wiry middle aged woman in a vibrant red robe, matching the brightly coloured canvas of the wagon, lets two fat ponies drink from a bucket. There are stars and spirals painted on the wagon.

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

Heldris is led into town by Colmán, his steed, as he lets himself be lost in the gentle colours of the season, droning bees and children's laughter. As they turn the corner to the town square, he's snapped out of his musing by a sharp voice preaching about the Child. Children's laughter floods the air again and the Dove Knight sees his friends standing in the square, he joins them happily and hugs them for longer than it would be customary. "It feels like it's been an awful long time, my dear friends." He notices the young knight that stands with them, and greets him with a warm smile before introducing himself. "Word of your precious help and courage has already reached Karpat. Welcome to the Company of the Black Fleece."

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

Perilake's warm smile is distracted, and his eyes do not settle on Sir Heldris but on the stables, where Lady Inga's steed is being led. "I am glad you are with us, Heldris. We were told that some bewitchment had fallen upon the children of Bohat... but all seems well here." He glances over at the children scurrying back to their makeshift playgrounds in the orchard. "Still, there is much else afoot in our holdings. I will leave you to get acquainted with Sir Milos; I must be about a most pressing duty, and beg your leave."

He leads Blacwyn over to the stables, to host Blacwyn alongside Pearl, and ask where Lady Inga and his son Avert may be found.

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos stands next to Znaly, nuzzling her neck, praising her in a hushed tone for her strength and her speed. He looks up to see the approach of the Dove Knight and steps forward to greet him with an eager smile on his face. "Well met! I am honored to finally make your acquaintance on this auspicious morning. You are as imposing and noble a figure as the stories tell of. I pray I will be worthy of the trust you and your brothers have placed in me." They lead their horses toward the village stables. Milos tosses his head back in laughter at something Heldris says. But as they cross the threshold into the stables, the Fox Knight’s movements slow almost preternaturally, the voices around him recede and become indistinct, the tinkling of delicate bells is heard… Then a bemused lord’s voice rings clearly in his mind - “Your promise is never forgotten, my wayward knight.” Milos stumbles across the threshold and falls to one knee in dismay. Znaly snorts and stamps the earth, wide eyed and suddenly alert.

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

Anastaz, curious about the decorated wagon and the woman in front of it, is alerted to Milos's episode and helps the young man up. "Are you alright?"

Referee

Sir Heldris, Colman takes a step towards Znaly placing his muzzle over her neck whinnying softly as if to calm her. You see Sir Milos fall to his knees gripped by visions or a strange affliction when Anastaz steps inside the stable. Behind him Tibor is snarling menacingly at the other horses

Ser Perilake, the groom takes Blacwyn's reigns and tells you that Lady Inga just returned to the mayor's house from the river where she prayed all morning. At Lady Wendela's home you are welcomed by a servant and led to her study, a dark room in the back of the house and only illuminated by candles. Lady Inga stands at the window and has lifted the drawn curtains a bit to peak outside. When you enter she turns around and smiles, physically restraining herself from rushing over to you. You can see in her eyes that something is wrong and Avert is not with her. The old mayor sits on several cushions near the cold hearth. She must be in her 60s and her once round face looks pale and haggard. She grunts: “Gilded Knight. You made yourself scarce. At least you had the courtesy to send you better half to warn me about your arrival.” She cackles briefly and then coughs into a handkerchief.

Lady Wendela of Urban's home

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

The Dove Knight halts and with a worried look turns over to the young knight. "What ails you, Sir Milos?" As Anastaz helps the Fox Knight up, with a puzzled look Heldris tuns to the horses in the stable.  

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos grips Anastaz’s arm for support. As he looks up at him, his face seems bewildered and his eyes glassy. He speaks a few words in a tongue that the Salt Knight cannot understand but remembers vaguely from a faraway dream of fear and loss. The older knight’s breath catches slightly and the hair on his neck stands on end. Milos’s eyes clear as he slowly stands, never leaving his friend’s gaze. He glances over at Heldris and his cheeks redden. “I’m uh… I must have stumbled. Forgive my clumsiness. Perhaps the hard ride has tired me more than I imagined.” His face pleads with Anastaz to not press the matter, while his hand holds tightly to his arm.  

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

The Salt Knight frowns, but he clears his throat and looks back at Heldris. "Let us find food and a place to rest then."

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos sighs with relief. He loosens his grip on his friend’s arm and offers him a rueful smile. “Yes, breakfast seems like it was a lifetime ago.” He points across the town square to the woman next to the ornate cart. “Did I smell meat pies when we passed that wagon yonder? Perhaps the woman in red would part with some for a coin or a favor?” He raises an eyebrow to Anastaz, a hint of his familiar playfulness returning to his demeanor.

Referee

The horses all seem to be nervous, snorting and pawing the ground but whether the arrival of Anastaz' strange scaled steed has caused them to be jumpy or if something else is the reason is difficult to ascertain. The stable boy finally manages to calm down most of the steeds, bribing Tibor with a treat. “Boy! I need to ….” Just as you all leave the stable you almost bump into the woman in the red tunic with her ponies. She curses under her breath and looks at you with cold eyes apparently unimpressed by your status. Only when she recognizes Heldris by his missing arm she casts her eyes down and apologizes.

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

Heldris responds with a slight bow. "No need to apologise, we are in the way." He eyes the woman, her ponies and the red wagon. "My name is Heldris, what is yours? What brings you to Bohat?"

Referee

She looks up and musters all three of you thoughtfully. Her eyes widen for a brief moment when she recognizes the Everflask at Anastaz' side and then straightens up and clears her throat. “I am Yordanka.” She smiles proudly and performs a big flourish.” A bard and collector of stories, if you will, roy... “ she bites her lips “ … distinguished playwright and performer. I travelled West to revive an old tradition that has been abandoned for too long, to bring tidings and joy and wisdom to … this realm.” She hands over the reigns to the stable boy. “I can't pay you right now” she says to him ”but you can sit in the front tonight.” The boy shrugs and leads the ponies away.

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

"It is good to see you again too Lady Wendela." Perilake smiles wryly at the old woman's barb. "Bohat may be in Kranach's domain," He says pointedly. "But we are proud of our neighbours and our friends come second only to our own duties." "Thank you for your hospitality to my good lady wife, though to call her my better half does Inga a disservice. She is more than half or even the whole of what is good in both myself or this world." He takes his lady's hands, and squeezes tightly as she smiles warmly back at him, their love undiminished by the years, though Perilake notes the worry in her eyes and sobers. "The Fox Knight brought us word that something was amiss in Bohat. That the children were affected by some strange influence. Tell me, both of you, what is happening here and how may we help?"

Referee

Wendela scoffs which turns into a cough again. “Strange influence! Cough More like superstition and nonsense.” She tries to raise herself up and then closes her eyes painfully. “Some of the kids … these rascals just need a proper spanking to come to their senses. Apparently they have thrown stones at old Ružika … because she is ugly they claimed! Can you imagine?” She smiles sourly. “Nothing that a good old beating with the cane couldn't handle.” Inga who has helped Wendela to sit up and now stands beside her, rolls her eyes at Wendela's words. “Aunt Wendy, you need to rest now. If you feel better in the afternoon, we can walk to your herbary.” She looks at you meaningfully. You can see that she wants to speak to you in private.

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

Perilake bows. "We will let you rest, Wendela." He takes Inga's arm, and allows her to lead him to a quiet place to discuss matters.

Referee

Inga closes the door behind her, turns around and falls into you arms, covering your face with hot kisses: “I'm so glad … you here … thank the river that Avert is with Bartek … I will take him home … he saw … he saw... “She takes you face in both hands and whispers breathlessly. ”Listen to me, my love: He saw someone at night at his window .. staring at him. I spoke to the children … they are … they don't … they aren't human. We can't leave Avert in Bahut!” She leans against the door, with tears in her eyes.

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

"What tradition?" Anastaz asks."And why now?"

Referee

Yordanka has deep wrinkles around her mouth that makes her look unhappy. She forces herself to smile. “When I was a girl I visited the Game Hall with my father back when Castle Barow had a different name. They were plays and dances and games and you wouldn't find an empty seat and Vassals would stand outside and crane their necks. The plays were about life and the Seers and the seasons and afterwards everyone was elated and they would talk until the early morning about what they had witnessed. “She frowns. “Why now? Under King Barow the tradition had died and the Game Hall is empty but … until the Game Hall is restored I have my own little stage to perform.”

The Children of Bohat

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

He holds Inga tightly, then pulls back. "Of course. Let us fetch him now, and Avert can tell us what he saw, and you can tell me why you believe these children are.... no longer themselves." His hand rests on his sword subconsciously as he speaks. "If they can be saved, we will save them."