In our previous episode, Eilwen calls the shadows to her, pulls one of them into her amulet which activates something. The amulet flares a bright sapphire glow before settling on a steady dim light. And in the amulet's swimming depths, she focuses on the shadow and sees… a series of three visions:
In the first vision, Eilwen becomes a child, the princess Morwen, in fact. She is in the old world, and she is witness to the murder of Morwen's mother at the hands of Medrynn the Black, who took the half crown and fled, chased by the queen's guards. Then a man with a gentle touch and gentle voice picks her up and urges flight and calls her his queen, and she sees the Heralds of Night attack her people as they flees to the boats together.
In the second vision, Eilwen becomes the adult and beautiful queen Morwen in her prime, sitting in power and majesty on her throne in Greenhome in the Ironlands. There she battles the Herald Nar Shiv and the Herald's summoned bonewalker. Many guards are slaughtered as they come between Nar Shiv and his prey, buying Morwen time to activate her wards. She use her powers, wrought of rune magic, to protect herself and eventually to trap Nar Shiv, causing him to flee, retreating upon a black mist.
In the third vision, Eilwen becomes the wizened Queen Morwen, replete with years. She interacts with the innocent child, Arwed, her granddaughter, Eilwen's own future mother. Morwen reveals that she and her line are still hunted by Nar Shiv, and she commands Freern, Arwed's caretaker, a warrior woman with red hair, to take Arwed to a place of safety where she will not be found. That the line of Queens will be through her. Freern is further ordered to teach Arwed the ways of their people and to teach her the runes. Freern is given the black iron discs of power. Eilwen returns to herself and wonders at seeing her own mother, an innocent child and what twisting roads she may have traveled.
[As we begin this episode, Eilwen's stats are Edge 2, Heart 1, Iron 1, Shadow 3, Wits 2
Current Assets: Archer (initial box), Cutthroat (initial box), Shadow-walk (initial box)]
Current Statuses: Supply 5/5, Spirit 3/5, Health 5/5, Momentum 7/10
Current Debilities: None
Failure Track: 5/24
Before we begin this episode, I wanted to revisit her quest milestones. The writings she saw and the vision she had in the last episode fulfill some milestones on her background vow to find the other half of the crown and become queen by her getting more information. Plus, she has the name of a concrete person who originally took the crown. Together, I think that’s worth two milestones. So her background vow is now 5/40 -- and remember, every four ticks translates to one filled box on a progress chart. So, she still has a ways to go here. I think this also fulfills a milestone in her vow to learn more about her mother now 2/10).
- 'The Long Dark' and 'Emergent' and 'Simulacra' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au) released under CC-BY 4.0.
- Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator.
- Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com).
