Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Dear Diary,
 
After another day of traveling through Lorewood without anything happening, hence no entry for yesterday, We finally arrived amidst the rolling hills surrounding our first real stop on the way to Keralon. Hillfield, a city which has not stolen its name. The woods made way for more open ground with hills and fields. The weather has also turned warmer again, finally leaving winter behind, as well as the sense of doom and gloom that has accompanied us this entire trip so far.
 
As we approached the city, some of us noticed guards and hunters tearing down menhirs along the side of the road, but no-one seems to know why this is being done. We later learned that this was being done on the orders of Lady De La Roost, the mother of Liliana and Alistan, but that would be getting ahead of myself.
 
Alistan kindly proposed that we could all stay at the mansion of their family for as long as we paused in Hillfield, and while most happily accepted this offer, Gael did not. He opted to stay at the Iron Shield Inn, which had been arranged for the members of the caravan by Orvyn. As I did not feel like leaving my newfound elven friend alone there, I offered to stay with him instead. Besides, spending time at an actual Inn sounds more exciting than spending time with some nobles.
 
I am not one to be easily impressed, but the sight of Hillfield left even me a bit speechless and overwhelmed. This city is grander and louder than anything I have seen before and I can only imagine how much bigger Keralon must be still. I already miss roaming Lorewood. As we entered the city and had to wait for the other wagons to be checked by the guards, I wandered to one of the shops near the entry gate. Drawn to food as always Luke would say. While I was contemplating which of the delicious smelling pies I wanted to try, a group of satyr accompanied by blink dogs rushed out from the alleys and started attacking people in the street! And not just some mischief, no, they were fully intent on killing as many people as they could while the guards were distracted outside of the gates. They picked the wrong time to do so though, as our little group made short work of them, this time actually managing to not kill all of them, but capturing quite a few instead.
 
When the fight was over and the dust had settled, the guards had finally arrived back at the gate. They rounded everyone up, demanding we drop out weapons and started interrogating everyone. Alistan explained what had happened, and when their captain arrived, a man named Berris, he also informed him who exactly it was they were dealing with. Having the name of the leading noble family certainly helps. With that cleared up, captain Berris told us that the satyrs have been causing trouble for a while now, raiding the surrounding area, and sometimes also the city, all in the name of some upstart self declared baron in the east. As Ileas is also a satyr, and apparently used to be part of the same clans in the north which are causing trouble now, they took a special interest in him. But we quickly explained that Ileas is not part of the clans, and instead belongs to the De La Roost family. So he was left in the care and responsibility of Alistan, and warned that it would be unwise to roam around the city alone. Sound advice to follow considering the tension between the people of hillfield and the satyrs.
 
When we were finally allowed to pass on, we headed first to the Inn so Gael and I can settle in and leave our things, before heading to the De La Roost mansion and meeting the sibling’s family. The inn itself is huge, with four or five stories and it could probably house all the people from Tarn all at once. A very slender half-orc woman named Mathilda, half of her face horribly scarred from some burns. That definitely put her on top of my list of people to talk to around here, next to the obligatory mysterious stranger sitting in the darkest corner of the inn. The room we were given was the one highest up in the tower, and it has an amazing view of the city!
 
With our things unpacked, Gael and I headed back down to the rest and we crossed the road to the De La Roost mansion, probably the largest building in the city, next to the monastery. Liliana and Alistan seemed to be a bit surprised that the mansion has guards at the gate, and it took a bit convincing to let us in. Not made easier by Liliana apparently expecting to be recognised instead of just mentioning her name. Either way, Alistan showed his signet ring and soon we found ourselves inside, greeted by Sofia De La Roost, the sibling’s mother, an elegant woman with dark hair. She invited us into the common room for some tea, and informed us that her husband was not in Hillfield, instead being out with some of the guards to deal with the raids while waiting for reinforcements from Keralon. As the servants have all already gone to bed, Ileas was asked by Lady Sofia to make tea…and then to make the beds for the guests staying there, something he jumped to without hesitation. Apparently he has been a servant here for many years and is still expected to do so. The casualness and entitlement of it all is one of the reasons why nobles never sit quite well with me.
 
Not wanting to say anything about this, Instead I inquired about the menhirs and why they were being taken down. Lady Sofia explained that she had been reading up on them, and that they were part of some ancient fey curse that an ancient kingdom wanted to enact in a war with another fey kingdom. Immerglade and Neverhold I presume. The curse was never completed, but in case anyone had the idea of completing it, she had decided it wiser to remove them. I inquired if I could read through some of the old books, which she graciously allowed. Engrossed in the book, I only half listened to the conversation between Alistan and his mother about Ileas and peoples place in the world.
 
While this is a discussion I would normally love to join, the book was simply more interesting. Even more so as lady Sofia was not telling the whole truth. From what I can tell the menhirs formed the border of Immerglade’s power and influence, but they have been dormant since the fall of the ancient fey kingdom. No mention of a curse though, nor of the war. So why lie about it? And why remove the stones unless you’re somehow afraid of Immerglade returning. Which is quite possible as we’ve learned from the prophecy surrounding the Bramble Trials. There is certainly more to this, and we would soon find out what.
 
Shortly after Edward and Elsa arrived, who had been dealing with business for their father, Lady Sofia went to bed and Gael and I decided to head back to the Inn. I was eager to have a talk with Mathilda and with the mysterious stranger, and wrap my head around what I had found out.
 
Back at the Inn Gael and I sat down at the bar and after ordering drinks for the two of us, I asked Mathilda about her story, why she had come to run an inn in Hillfield. Except for Luke, I think people are sometimes a bit taken aback by my forwardness (or bluntness as Luke calls it), but it does get people to tell you things. She told us that she had done some bad things in her youth, much akin to what the satyrs are doing now, raiding and killing. But she chose to give up that life and move to Keralon to make amends. It did not turn out well though, as some mob got ahold of her and burnt her. After that, when she recovered, she moved to Hillfield with her brother. He served as a cook here at the inn while she served as the bouncer for the previous owners, and when they retired, the two of them took over and kept it open. I must admit I like the woman. Her openness about her life is refreshing.
 
When we were about to turn in for the night, Alistan contacted me by means of the Immerglade stones we got at the Bramble Trial, informing us that they had found an active menhir in the garden of their mansion. So Gael and I headed back over there to check it out. It is active alright, with its runes glowing. The runes are different from those on the Immerglade ones though, similar, but different. Luke informed us that part of the magic was meant to protect it and part was used as a conduit of power to channel energy between a fae realm and our world. Not a good sign.
 
Alistan rushed inside to go and ask his mother about it, and then a few minutes later shouting at us from the window of her room, saying we had to come up because she wasn’t there and he had found a secret passage. more intrigue and more mystery surrounding this family with every passing moment. So we headed in and after a short discussion with one of the servants, headed down in the passage. It led all the way down to the basement and then out of the mansion itself, ending up in a small underground room below where the menhir is standing in the garden. The sight inside was a shock to all, and especially Liliana and Alistan. Their mother, dressed in robes and wearing a frightful fanged mask, chanting and praying to some rune covered altar. A prayer of protection to some creature named Ulther. Alistan wanted to question her immediately, but she urged us to let her finish the prayers and she would explain everything afterwards.
 
So ten minutes later we all found ourselves back in the common room in awkward silence while waiting for Lady Sofia to explain herself. It took some prompting from Luke and myself to get her to talk. I don’t think she likes us much anymore after this evening. So, apparently a long time ago the De La Roost family made a deal with High King Ulther, the hobgoblin king of Neverhold, in order to strike down the leper revolt and gain some wealth and prosperity for the family. In return they have to do small task for the King, such as praying and removing bothersome menhirs. This worries me, because why would they want them removed now? That means he is afraid of Immerglade’s return isn’t he? Anyway, that is not all there is to the deal, as Liliana revealed that each second child is supposed to go to Neverhold and serve the High King Ulther for some years. And they seem to follow this tradition blindly, which left Luke and I baffled. For starters is making a deal with fae creatures a bad idea to start with, and sorry Ileas, but no, that is not racism or prejudice, but making a deal to get the service of every second born of your family in perpetuity? Who makes those kinds of deals?
 
So a hearty discussion broke out between Luke and I on one side, and Lady Sofia, Liliana and Ileas on the other. They don’t seem to have any problem with sending Liliana off into slavery for a few years. “It’s tradition, things have always been like that, it’s her choice”. While Luke and I argued that it is exactly a lack of choice. She’s simply following a tradition she’s been indoctrinated to follow and see as right. We of course didn’t manage to convince them, and only managed to anger Lady Sofia and Ileas. I wonder what they would do if their deal and allegiance to High King Ulther conflicts with their duty to the king of Keralon? As they think duty is sacred, which will they choose? Duty to their land and king, or duty to their deal with a fey? I truly wonder.
 
When we decided to leave, Luke no longer comfortable staying at the mansion anymore so joining Gael and me at the inn, Alistan spoke to Luke and me, saying he shares our views and would request of us to help him break the deal, first and foremost by finding information on this hobgoblin king. Something we happily promised to do. At least one member of the De La Roost family has common sense.
 
Dated 6th of Lug, Year 121 era of the Tree