The Children of Bohat II

A Duel between Fox and Child

The Moon tried to steal the Son  

Bees sting the King

Advice from a loyal Mercenary

2nd Riverday of Petals, Bohat

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

As Anastaz and Heldris speak with Yordanka, Milos looks out across the square at the children playing. His eyes narrow as they fall upon the girl with the blank stare and he tilts his head slightly. With a quick glance back at his comrades, he strides across the square and into the midst of the children. “Gentle children of Bohat, I am Sir Milos the Graceful, at your service! Renowned duelist. Fearsome hero. Once defeated by a goose.” He gives an absurdly deep bow – so deep he nearly tips forward, catches himself, and stumbles a step. His sword clanks and his hand gets caught in his cloak as if it had a mind of its own. All very undignified.

Referee

The children giggle and a little boy flaps his hands and honks like a goose. They laugh out loud when you almost stumble. The older girl just stares. Her blond hair is bristly and unkempt. “You are not a real Knight.”, she says in a monotone voice. The other kids fall silent. “Real Knights are dangerous. You are not.” She picks up a branch from the ground. “I challenge you to a duel, false Knight.” The little boy claps his hands in delight and shouts. “A duel, a duel!” but the other kids stay silent.

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

“Your mien is fearsome young one, more so even than the Goose, but I will not be cowed. I accept your challenge!” He picks up a stick himself and the duel commences. Milos makes dramatic feints and wildly misguided attacks at his opponent. Every movement punctuated with exaggerated expressions of ferocity and dismay. He responds to her attacks with terrified dodges, rolls through the dust, feigned stumbles, and other absurd acrobatics. Until she has him disarmed and literally over a barrel, ready to deliver the killing blow. “I concede to your great prowess my Lady! Please take mercy on this humble knight and spare him.”

Referee

During the fight the children relax, awed by your prowess and delighted by the comedic acrobatics. When you yield the girl looks down at you expressionless, the branch raised. “Mercy is for the weak” she says and tries to strike your face with unnerving speed and ferocity.

All the World's a Stage

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

"I've met someone else who had been very fond of those times," comments the Dove Knight absent-mindedly, "and who weeps for the state in which the Game Hall is in these days." His eyes come back to the old woman and he smiles curiously: "What kind of story would you tell today? What kind of inspiration have you found in good old Bohat?"  

Referee

“You have? And who might this be?” She looks absently at the Fox Knight playing with the kids.”I will praise the Seers with my tales of course and the moon and the stars and the wisdom of beasts. I will speak of tidings from afar and from long ago.” She looks back at you almost apologetically. “I don't know if you will like all my tales. One play is called The Duel of Salt and Iron. And I will tell stories that some might want to keep a secret.” She leans in and whispers: ”One play will be called The Great Escape, a tale a drunken guard once told me. A tale of betrayal or of mercy. I let the audience decide.”

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

The Salt Knight squints at the woman. "No. I don't think I will like your tales, my lady. Good day." And he stalks off in search of food and beds for his comrades.

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

You shall excuse Sir Anastaz, but what he means is that some things need to be told in the right way," Heldris explains, "lest their meaning is lost in cheer and laughter." The Dove Knight pauses for a moment. "He who mourned the abandoned Game Hall, was no other than the old king's nephew... or what of him still lingers there. If you have a noble purpose for your trade, your stories might be able to find a place at Farkash Citadel. Otherwise," he gives her an apologetic look, "you'd be better off following the Salt Knight advice."

Referee 

You sense Yordanka staring at you as you leave. The last villagers have drawn their water and the town square is now almost abandoned - only the white haired woman and two villagers stand at the well and talk. A couple of old peasants sit on the bench around the oak and smoke. Children are playing with the Fox Knight between the apple trees. From the Inn comes a smell of meat pie and cooked winter peas.

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

The Fox Knight slips to the side just as the blow lands on the wood of the barrel with a loud thud. His arm comes down on the branch and his leather vambrace breaks it cleanly in two. He leaps gracefully to his feet and faces his small opponent. Holding her gaze, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bit of red ribbon—frayed, nothing special. He lets it dangle between two fingers. “A gift, then, to end the hostilities. Red to match your ruthlessness. Freely given. You may refuse it without offense.” He carefully measures her reaction to the ritualized wording of the offer.

Referee

The children scream when the branch comes down and they shout in excitement when Sir Milos breaks it. The girl takes the ribbon and looks at it carefully turning it in her hands.”It is only just for the loser to give something up lest he would betray the honour of the duel … “ she feels the fabric with her thumb. “ … and it is pretty and I'll keep it.” Her voice does not betray any emotions. “What shall I give you in return?”  

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

“Perfect. An exchange of gifts that formally closes our duel. You are indeed polite, if somewhat bloodthirsty for one of your gentle years. Hmmm. He makes a show of stroking his beard in a scholarly manner and looking to the sky for inspiration. Grant me this then: tell me how you learned your very first courtesy.”  

Referee

She frowns and thinks for some time. You hear mothers calling their children for noonshyns and they scurry away leaving you and the girl behind. “I don't remember. One day I watched a wounded rabbit dying and I waited for a long time. It was the right thing to do.” You hear somebody calling with a hoarse voice: “Biljana, where are you? Come home now.” The girl looks at you:”Have I paid back my debt?”

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight 

“To witness suffering and death is a great courtesy and not always an easy one to offer. May the knowing that arose in that moment continue to guide you in the future. Yes, our game is complete now, fierce one. Now heed your mother's call. Until we meet again.” And the Fox Knight takes a sincere bow to the girl. 

An innocent Hare

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos plops down at the table where Anastaz is sitting. “Found you! Did you order food already? I’m even hungrier now than I was before, if that’s possible.” He is covered in dust from his romp with the children and has a couple of dry leaves in his hair. 

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

Anastaz makes brief eye contact with one of the inn's staff, about to bring out some meat pies. Turning back to Milos, he observes, "I suppose you'll need a bath as well."

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

Coolly, "I'm sure the Fox Knight has no shortage of eager admirers."  

Sir Heldris the Dove Knight

The Dove Knight enters the inn and looks around for Anastaz. Before he can spot the Salt Knight, his eyes fall upon a strange decoration hanging above the counter. A buck head, a common hunting trophy. But on a closer look one can see some yellowish spots all around its snout. As Heldris approaches the counter, staring curiously at the beast’s head, he realises he’s looking at several tiny taxidermied bees, all in the act of stinging the poor beast. And one, larger than the others, sits right at the top of the buck’s head: a bee queen. Even being a motionless insect, her stance of defiance is more than clear. As he stares at the scene, Heldris hears the Fox Knight’s voice coming from a table near the hearth. He approaches the two knights and sits with them, oblivious of the tension at the table. “So, how are the children of Bohat, Sir Milos?” He smiles, lost in some personal recollection. “I saw you sparring with them with the corner of my eye, it reminded me of a younger me. A pleasant memory for which I thank you!”

Coat of Arms of the King

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos laughs with no small delight at the Salt Knight’s quip as he welcomes Sir Heldris to join them. “I am glad to stir fond memories for you, my friend. By and large, the children seem well, although one young girl by the name of Biljana is certainly unusual. She demonstrates a speed and ferocity that suggests some kind of magical influence is upon her. I tested her and believe she is still who she says she is and not some Fae imposter. However, there is definitely more to learn here. Perhaps a pattern we can discern among the affected children.”

Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight

"In my vision, the Herald led children away from the village, but I did not see who was led back. Perhaps the children have not been replaced at all, merely changed by their time in the Elf's realm." He thinks for a second. "Then again, perhaps the vision was not literal, or is meant to occur at some future time." He sighs.

Sir Milos, the Fox Knight

Milos gives Anastaz a sympathetic look. “The inscrutable visions of the Seers often raise more doubts than they offer clear guidance. Nonetheless, we will get to the bottom of this, one way or the other. Perhaps Lady Inga's wise counsel will help us gain some clarity...”  

Referee

Ser Perilake, Inga takes you by the hand and leads you to the back garden. Her hands are cold and she is trembling. Outside Avert is riding a stick horse chased by the scarred mercenary. When Avert sees you he drops the stick and runs over and throws himself into your arms. He is small for his age and still looks like a child although soon he will be old enough to serve a Knight. “Papa you came!” he screams “Uncle Bartek told me he will let me ride his old war horse, when we get back to Farkash!” Inga tussles his hair. “Only if uncle Bartek sits behind you. Now, tell daddy what you told me … about, you know, what happened during that one night.” You feel Avert tighten in your arms and he embraces you again. Then he whispers softly into your ear. “I don't know why I woke up before dawn … but I did. And the animals were all quiet although I should have heard the chicken but … then the moon looked into my room, a round face and its eyes were shining like a cat's eye at night and I couldn't move and it tried to climb inside through the window and I was so scared and I still couldn't move … and then somebody made a sound in the kitchen and the moon was gone!” He rubs his snotty nose with his palm. “Can we go home now?”

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

"Yes, Avert, you and your mother will be going home." He holds his son tightly, then gently releases him. "Bartek here will take care of you until I can return. I have duties here in Bohat, and I thank you for helping me with them. I am proud of you." He turns to Inga, and the two need exchange no words. Their gaze says it all. They embrace fiercely, and Inga turns to their son. As Inga grasps Avert's hand and leads him away to their lodgings, Perilake nods to Bartek and holds the old warrior back a second. "I doubt it is the moon we face here, but some ill formed creature that the boy has mistaken. It seems focused on Bohat... but I would ask you to ride hard for Farkash and to spend no night on the road, short of risking further injury." Bartek nods deeply, nearly bowing. "Of course my lord, as you command. I - I will not fail you." Perilake raises a hand to his shoulder. "The boy is fond of you, Bartek. As am I. You must forgive me for this embarrassment, but I am proud he calls you uncle." The two men share a moment, both remembering a time of crossed blades, of blood and screams, when one held the life of the other in his hands. "I am proud of these years and what we have built together." Perilake says softly. "And I trust you. Go well my friend." A smile threatens to twist the scars on Bartek's face, but the gruff warrior merely nods tightly. As he leaves, Perilake observes the man carefully tidy away Avert's fallen stick before he stalks after his charges. A good man, in the end. Perhaps good enough to keep his family safe. The gilded knight searches out his companions.

Referee

As you leave the garden Bartek hurries after you. “A word my lord.” He doesn't look at you. ”If we ride now we'll have to spend the night in the …”He shifts uncomfortably “As you well know the hills are impassable and the bog ..., well at times paths lead nowhere and many travellers have lost their way. If we ride out before dawn we could just about make it to the Citadel or else we will at least be camping close to home and safe enough. Lady Inga is a fantastic rider and I will keep Avert close.” He grimaces, exposing his gold teeth and for a moment you see the cocky mercenary you once threatened to kill, fiercely loyal and unbreakable.“

Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight

"Then one more night in Bohat it shall be Bartek." Perilake ponders for a second. “Perhaps.... perhaps this offers an opportunity we would otherwise not have, loathe as I am for my son to spend another night with this... thing... afoot. I will speak to Lady Inga, and tonight Avert will have a guardian beneath his bed. I am sure the boy will enjoy the game, but if anything comes through the window once more then the pleasure shall be all mine... and Rzeźnik's."