Chapter 52
Consequences
Zulieka is unmoved by Elsie's aggression, as she gives it up and asks what they want.
They want reassurance that the den will not trouble Krezk any longer, Zulieka says the real threat is not them thanks to the death of Kiril, but the beast Ghol. She doesn't believe them when they say they killed Ghol. Eliza produces the stake from her pack, and Zulieka has Wencencia sniff it: it came from Ghol she determines. Zulieka's demeanor changes and her shoulders drop, she's relieved and impressed. Fabian asks to be let in to talk, and Zulieka allows it.
The group enters sans Ezmerelda who stays back hidden, past winding dark damp tunnels and chambers to a large cavern a hundred feet into the mountain, where a campfire, a wooden cage, and a statue of Mother Night also reside. They sit cross legged around the fire as a few other members join them, listen, and pass a water jug. It has a familiar atmosphere. Mother Night watches over the common room in the form of her statue, carved many years ago out of the rock wall itself. She leans forth elongated arms slightly raised at her sides, almost floating forth into the room. Her face is hidden behind a flat formless mask, framed by snaking tendrils of hair. A cluster of offerings rest at the statues feet, and a ruby encrusted silver necklace hangs on her neck, a center piece of the shrine. The party speaks with Zulieka, reiterating that Krezk must not be harmed. She apologizes for the loggers, denounces Kiril's actions, though she admits that the den must grow or their memories will fade into nothing, Kiril simply went about it the wrong way. She seems proud of her lycanthropy, they all do, and of the younger women launchs a taunt at Erros that he must miss not having his powers after murdering their father. She spits the last words, and Zulieka gives her a low growl that shrinks her back into place. Erros states matter of factly that he removed the curse already. You lie, they all accuse him, but he stands firm, and after Ghol's kill Zulieka believes him, though clearly is confused and slightly disgusted. Fabian recognizes the woman for the young one who they saved in their first fight with Kiril, but she doesn't seem to care to recognize her in return, like a wild animal trust rarely earned.
Pieron asks about the amber spike, about the amber temple and amber monks. Zulieka shares what she knows, the story of Emil and Kiril fighting, Kiril returning with Ghol, driving off Emil, that Ghol never changed back, they all feared him and kept distance, that he smelled of snow and sky, from the high mountains no doubt. She explains that Emil will return, that she knows him to still be alive and something is preventing his return. This was a year ago. She asked if they find him on their travels to aid him and set him on his way home.
Eliza asks about Athrin's body, Zulieka speaks unapologetically about Eliza's capture (after freeing her she sees Kiril wholly at fault and believes them even) She explains in detail what happened to the body, what they do to offerings to Mother Night, but that the body got up and left, bloated and covered in spiders. It fled south, they had no interest in following.
They got up to leave, Wencencia crossed the room to speak in an aside to Elsie: She recognized her. It was her aunt Wencencia, she said Elsie wouldn't recognize her since she was just a baby when she was turned. Elsie was hesitant but entertained the story: Wencencia asked after her brother, and Elsie told her he died. She's saddened, and explains how she turned, that she couldn't go back. She wishes her mother well, and Elsie just thanks her (not saying she's died). Then she goes back to what she was doing, like a passing friend.
They rejoin Ezmerelda outside and decide their next big adventure would be taking them up into the mountains, and they would first return to Vallaki to fetch Kasimir and ample supplies. They set off for several hours to get back to the main road through the mid day woods. There, Elsie feels a heavy sense of dread pulling her back to Krezk. She stops, and determines she cannot yet return, but pulls a raven figurine from her pack and sends it off to Krezk with a message for her father: that she was alive and well, that she and the foreigners had defeated the rumored beast and gained the word of the werewolves that they would cease their attacks.
They traveled the road to stop at Jeny's for the night. There they found the house seemingly empty, Ezmerelda gave a warning that (having been here several days ago) she doesn't trust Jeny, there's soemthing more foul than just mischef in her. They put their guard up when they see a scarecrow watching them from across the yard, and slowly go to investigate it. Elsie casts detect magic, and senses nothing from the scarecrow, but something from the base of the tree behind them. Jeny laughs, as she decloaks revelling in the prank, and the party groans dreading to talk with her again.
