Chapter 1 - Change

The grey skies looming over  Caerwysg  rumble with thunder and rain begins to pour upon the Red Wolves and their companions where they are gathered around Branok's carriage and Jowan's unconscious body. The clouds are moving fast, unusually fast and Gawen notices this immediately. Magan, though busy, is a man used to living under the open sky and also senses a shift in the air, while Kara and Felix feel an eerily familiar sensation of static crawl across their skin as tiny hairs one by one stand to attention. The clouds billow out, expanding south over the Exe estuary followed by more booming thunder and sheet lightning that crackles out amongst the layers of storm clouds. A high-pitched screech rings out through the air across the city and Felix and Kara wince in response, but nobody else seems to hear anything other than the onslaught of the storm. To the south above the Exe a small hole opens in the clouds and a single god-ray of golden light shines upon the waters of the estuary. A crescendo of thunder rocks the city once more, louder than anything heard previously and Felix and Kara see something small and dark plummet from the sky into the dark waters below. Isolde bursts into tears and buries her face in the skirts of Kara's tunic, while Branok looks in concern up at the sky. Meanwhile Theli is still agitated by the fact that Magan and Felix have just dragged a badly bleeding man over to the carriage. Inside the nearby castle, Coelred stands on a balcony, looking out at the encroaching storm. He has met with little success in Exeter and will likely have to leave the city and continue on his journey soon. From his vantage point he can see across the moat to the bustle of the streets around the castle where the Red Wolves' carriage stands.

Magan winces, his head hurts like somebody rattled a training sword off of his helmet. He was being forced to accept a lot of things that he had never even heard rumour of before, perhaps this was the cause of his headache. Yet suddenly so many things made sense, and so much that he though he knew no longer did.The world was changing that was for sure, but so was he. Lessons from his past flashed before his eyes, things he learnt from his days training in the castle courtyard, things Jeffrey had shown him, patterns he had spotted living in the wild but never understood, how Felix had aimed his knives at Jowan's softer areas, rather than trying to break his bones. In a way they all made so much more sense now. Mistakes he had made, the cause of which suddenly obvious. His muscles twitched, he felt a little groggy, like he had been drinking too much ale. Is all this beyond me? Odin cannot be done with me or he would have claimed me by now. I have given him so many chances. One idea was much clearer than any other. It had already been there, but now it shifted better into focus. Odin needs us to defeat this new religion. They cannot coexist. Magan looks back at Jowan. Another thought. Do Jowan and Arthek even matter? Obstacles to be overcome, but they must not overtake our purpose. The thunder claps again, Thor beating his hammer, no doubt summmoning them to action, they have dallied too long and the war was beginning without them. If the heavens were mobilising then they must keep up, they mustn't be too late and miss the only battle that mattered. Everything snaps back into focus and Magan stands. He catches Theli's disapproving stare. "You prefer I leave men on rooftops to point bows at your carriage? You are paying me to deal with these threats are you not?" He doesn't wait for an answer. "Now Branok, can we get back on the road? We must move with more purpose now, our cause grows more urgent I fear."

Theli harumfs in grumpy acceptance and Branok hesitates briefly before giving Magan his answer. "Magan... the carriage's axle has been damaged. We were here to see a craftsman. He's told us that if we do a favour for him he will push this work to the top of his list, but we'll likely have to remain in this city for at least the rest of the day."

Magan bites his lip, clearly frustrated. "Fine, what's this favour?"

After the loud piercing noises, and the object crashing from the sky, Kara was uneasy and not really feeling this town, nor its people anymore. However, there was that items that fell from the sky, and it was close by to the area they needed to kill the pirates. It seems the Gods had favoured them. She tries to console Isolde as she looks around and says quietly to those gathered "We need to go kill this pirates, then find out what crashed into the water. The Gods are calling Magan, we must answer."

Magan gives a frustrated huff.  "Why do we need to kill pirates? What crashed into the water?" 

The loud thunder left a lingering ringing in Felix's ears, he winces and shook his head. The object that crashed into the water does intrigue him however, but they must not be distracted from the imminent danger. "Didn't you see it? Something fell out of the sky through the clouds and into the estuary..."  He turns to Kara and shrugs. "Also, don't forget this heap of flesh." Felix kicks Jowan's unconscious body,  "Ask him what we need and finish him, then we need to go murder Arthek before he comes for us."

Magan shakes his head "Too many things, first we have to wrap up with this one, and deal with Arthek. Then we can look into these pirates."

Kara sighs but agrees with Magan's plan, for it was the most sensible thing so far today she had heard. And in her life it had been a few unusual things, but things falling from the sky and pirates were not normal.

Magan looks over at Gawen, he can see the pain on his face still from his wounded leg, which in itself is odd, he had never been good at noticing such things before but now it seemed obvious to him. "Gawen, hand me some of that ointment, I'm going to wake this scum up. Perhaps you should use some on yourself whilst you're at it." He takes a very small amount and gets Branok to apply it to the wound.

The colour begins to noticeably return to Jowan's face as the ointment takes effect and after a few moments he returns to consciousness with a gasp. He starts and tries to push himself backwards, but finds only the wooden interior of the carriage and lots of hostile faces holding sharp things. He gulps and slowly raises his hands. "Clearly I'm not going anywhere."

"No, you are not. Now, what were your instructions exactly."

Jowan groans, still in pain. "Pick one of you off. Disappear."

"And go where? What next?"

"Back to Arthek," he spits blood and flashes a grin of red teeth. "Until it's time to take the next one."

"Just trying to level the numbers. Well I suppose it's time to end this for good. We had better let you off somewhere." Magan nods to Felix and then punches Jowan in the face to knock him unconscious.  "I saw an alley filled with beggars around the corner, seems a good place to leave him without catching attention. He looks like a beggar, nobody is going to investigate what happened to him there."

Acknowledging Magan's signal, Felix leans Jowan's head back and smoothly inserts a dagger into his brain through the joint of the spine, killing him instantly without drawing much blood. The two of them drag Jowan's limp body into the begger filled alley and Felix tosses a couple of coppers (7cp) to the nearby beggers. (Cornish)  "You didn't see anything, got it?"

The beggars scramble to gather the coins, barely paying attention to Magan or Felix. Jowan goes entirely unnoticed.

Magan looks around for a street urchin or messenger boy and a quiet alleyway. Ready to set his trap. Having found his quiet spot he takes aside a young lad.  "Hey lad, want to earn some silver?"  Having piqued the boy's interest he describes the inn where they had followed the man to, and the man himself.  "With that man is one called Arthek, find Arthek and tell him Jowan says things went better than planned. I took an opportunity and trapped them all in a cellar after I took out big red. Tell him to come quick and meet me here. You got it?" 

After waiting a few hours with no result, Magan frustratedly calls off the plan.  "Everyone to the docks then, we had better get the attention of these pirates. Kara, where do we find them?" 

Looking to Magan, Kara thinks back to the wheelwright words and says "They have a ship docked down at the pier. He said it should not be hard to find, and that if we just take out their leaders, they should scatter. He is inside the shop if you have anyrhing to ask him. You may get a better response than I." She pats Isolde on the back, and whispers in her ear that she has been very brave today.

Coelred starts to head down from the castle, gathering his supplies and preparing to leave Exeter. Before he does, he sees Magan, and after he grabs his stuff, he heads out to meet her.

As the lightning strikes, Gawen feels something inside him change, some new manifestation of the power that was his birthright, power that had been shaped by his training in the druidic arts but not fully understood. A primal voice from deep within whispers of arcane tricks known to his ancestors, and unlocked by his bloodline. Distracted as he is by the ominous weather and the clouds scudding too-fast overhead, he doesn't notice the death of Jowan until too late. "That was too-hastily done," he says regretfully. "The wagon was damaged by some sorcery, he could perhaps have shed some light on what it was. But what's done is done." He looks at Kara. "Did you see what it was that fell? How far out did it land? Something like that... it may be a coincidence, or even just a bird struck by lightning, but given the circumstances I'd like to find out one way or another. I doubt you were the only two to see it - we should head to the docks as soon as possible, both to accomplish this 'favour' and to find out what it was that fell."

Isolde smiles softly at Kara and tightens her grip around the woman's hand. Kara feels her hand tingle softly.

Anybody paying attention notices an armed nobleman striding purposefully towards the carriage, leading his horse behind him.

Magan sees Coelred approaching and swears violently.  Maybe he didn't recognise me yet.  He climbs into the wagon to try and keep his face hidden.  "Felix, try not to stab this one, but try to get him to move on." 

"Cerdic? Is that you?"

Magan sits quietly in the wagon, hoping one of the others will be able to get Coelred to move on.  What to do? Coelred is not the type to let this go. This is exactly the kind of thing that could start the rumours that I have managed to avoid for so long.  Magan sighs and leans out of the wagon.  "Coelred. It has been some time. I prefer if you do not use that name any longer though. My name is Magan now."  He sighs again, something he seems to do a lot these days. He looks around.  "I suppose I should explain to you all, but first we should get this cart into the workshop to prevent further attention. Coelred, have you travelled through Winchester on your journey here? Is my cousin still well? 

"I understand. I am sorry for my mistake, Magan. Yes, your cousin is well - I travelled through about a month ago."

The relief is evident on Magan's face.  "And my father? Is he worried?"  "Sorry everyone, this is Coelred, we knew each other as children. Coelred, this is Gawen, Kara, Felix, Branok, Isolde and Theli."  She points them out in turn, manoeuvring the wagon into the workshop as he speaks. 

"I spoke with your father. While he is worries, I assured him everything would be fine." He smiles at everyone on the wagon, leaning close to Magan to whisper in his ear. "I left because my father wants me to marry some woman to produce an heir... and well, I don't prefer women."

Since she was unable to fully appreciate or make fun of Magan and his friend, she bends down to be level with Isolde and whispers to her "It seems Freya has blessed you. You need nurture that connection little one."  Before glancing back to the group, still unsure why Magan seemed tense. If the newest arrival knew him, why is he not happy to met an old friend.

Magan smiles at Coelred, genuine sympathy but still a little uneasy with his identity being revealed. "I remember, you always dreaded that day." His tone grows more urgent. "Coelred, you cannot tell anyone that I am alive. My father cannot know me to be either alive, nor dead, he must always be kept looking for me with just enough to think that I might be alive. Do you understand." He can see the faces of his companion, unsure and confused. "I will explain, but not here. Perhaps we should head down to the docks and I will explain aboard the ship. Coelred, perhaps you would like to join us, we are going for a little sail?" Magan finishes putting the wagon into the shop. "Theli, Branok, I strongly suggest you come with us, given the recent events and the people trying to kill us all, it may be best if we stay together."

Branok nods grimly, quite aware of the situation, hefts his quarterstaff and beckons Isolde to him. The little girl reluctantly peels away from Kara's side and grasps at the folds of Branok's cassock. As Theli steps down from the carriage she is about to open her mouth, but then the step gives way beneath her foot, sending her plummeting forwards.

Magan reaches out to grab her, grabbing firm hold of her arm and pulling her into him preventing her from falling onto some upturned tools. An awkward moment follows while he holds her as he looks around the room before realising he should probably let her go. "You were not wrong, accidents really do seem to be following you."

Theli looks like she wants to make another sassy retort, but words fail her and instead the simply rests her head against Magan's shoulder until she has composed herself. Finally, she looks up, brushing fallen waves of snowy white hair back out of her face. Her pale skin makes the flush in her cheeks all the more apparent and she coughs quietly before beginning to speak again. "How am I to know that my possessions will be safe here?"

"We do not. We only have bad options, the cart is broken and he will not repair it unless we deal with the pirates. I do not want to leave any of you alone with so much danger about. If you have another suggestion I would be very glad to hear it, but you asked me to save your life not your possessions, and this is the way I know best."

Theli furrows her brow in thought, as though making a difficult decision, before filling a pouch with gold coins from her chest and tucking it inside her clothes. She checks the lock on the rest and nods to Magan that she is ready to go. Meanwhile, Gawen again spots more shiny residue smeared across the broken step.

Gawen bends down to examine the step, then looks curiously at Theli. "With luck like that it's a wonder you've survived this long. When did it start? What triggered it?"

Kara watches Isolde go but not in time to watch Magan play the hero, nor for her to truly grasp who the new person is. She shakes her head an mentions to Magan in Norse " We should get gone. That is the second time she has almost died near me. Let us hope she does not bring our new ship down."  She seems uneasy about Thelis safety and thiers now. They had to many people looking for them.

Gawen opens his senses to the dissipating aura of any magic that might have left the shiny residue on the step and it's nature quickly becomes clear to him. This is the remains of the touch of a fey creature's magic. More faerie dust. Theli pales almost imperceptibly in response to his questioning. "Only the last days. It befell associates of mine first. Now something hounds me. I do not know why." Somehow, Gawen does not believe her.

Magan grins at Kara. " Isn't bringing the ship down our entire plan? We are not forsaking someone just because they are suffering misfortune. "

Scoffs at him and shakes her head. "You know what I speak of. This has been plagued from the start. Perhaps we cheated our death and we not know it?"  She was unsure why, but this ship seemed cursed already, and they've yet to find it. And she would miss Isolde, and she touched the pouch that contained the raven statue. There was more here than they knew, and she didn't like unknowns to often.

Chip said: Magan smiles at Coelred, genuine sympathy but still a little uneasy with his identity being revealed. "I remember, you always dreaded that day." His tone grows more urgent. "Coelred, you cannot tell anyone that I am alive. My father cannot know me to be either alive, nor dead, he must always be kept looking for me with just enough to think that I might be alive. Do you understand." He can see the faces of his companion, unsure and confused. "I will explain, but not here. Perhaps we should head down to the docks and I will explain aboard the ship. Coelred, perhaps you would like to join us, we are going for a little sail?" Magan finishes putting the wagon into the shop. "Theli, Branok, I strongly suggest you come with us, given the recent events and the people trying to kill us all, it may be best if we stay together." "I understand. I am sorry that I did not know until know. I would gladly follow you for a sail."  He leans closer, saying, "I had found another lad like myself - prefers men, second son of the King of Kent... He finds himself in the same situation I do. If only the world were more enlightened..."

Gawen frowns at Theli's response. "Theli, if you want us to keep you alive we need to know as much as possible. Which associates? What links you all? Think, anything that might have happened when this first started, no matter how trivial. Something unearthly stalks you, and we can't help you indefinitely without knowing what it is."

Theli sighs and leans back against the side of the carriage, bringing her hands to her face and massaging under her brow with her fingertips. "It all started with Séamus. He is - was - a distant cousin from Iwerzhon . He came to the city a few months ago and said he had a 'business opportunity', but needed silver to get it going. He promised us all ten times what we gave him in return... and he delivered. A fortnight ago he returned with chests of wealth for each of us, and not silver, but gold! Then the accidents started. Séamus was first. His ship struck the rocks in the estuary and was lost with all hands... So you see, I have to get out of the city, before whatever it is finds me too." Her face is desperate with real fear in her eyes.

Gawen exhales slowly, shaking his head as the implication becomes clear to him. "I don't think getting out of the city is likely to help. The fae creature that lays claim to that gold has followed it this far and I doubt it'll stop till it's had its fill of revenge upon those who took it." He think hard, trying to recall stories of the Tylwyth Teg from the oral histories he'd had to memorise as a boy. "It's said that cold iron may provide some protection against the fair folk - supposedly they can be hurt by it, maybe even killed, though I'd advise against making an enemy of such a creature, even if we could see it. The safest thing to do might be to try to appease it with an offering - you'd lose the gold, but might keep your life. I'd hope the latter is more valuable to you than the former.

"...but... those are just stories and fairy tales!" Theli insists. "I won't throw away my fortune over superstition! Even if I did... I'd have nothing to pay you with. How can you want that? Unless you plan to take my wealth for yourself!" She shoots a hostile glare of mistrust at Gawen.

"These are strange times, Theli. Just yesterday, my companions and I were set upon by Cwn Annwn , spectral hounds from the otherworld." He shows her the wounds on his leg as proof . "I'd not heard of such a thing outside of legend till now. And yet it happened. The same could be true of your gold and whatever stalks it." Seeing the mistrust evident in her face, Gawen looks to Magan. "It may be wise to resolve this before making new foes, Magan. Whilst Theli is with us, we're all under the shadow of what haunts her - the power that caused her to fall just now is the same one that snapped the wagon's axle. We can't protect her from a creature we can't see."

Kara pats Gawen on the shoulder, as his words and face told a story familiar. She mentions to him "Perhaps we can see this foe if we look. And it would surely not target us if we recieved our pay, for that would be something only a coward would begrudge. Or one with no honor. If your fae folk are similar to the small ones back home, they should have honor. It lost its treasure for its lack of security. Do you hate your betters?"  She atleast felt the creature would not bother them if they forced the issue. Besides, its hard to give back something to one you can not see

Magan raises an eyebrow at Coelred. "I'm sure you have a lot to tell me, and I'm glad you found someone. I have a lot to tell you also, but somebody in my charge was almost killed in front of us. Now is not the time." He listens to Gawen's theory with interest, nothing really surprises him at this point. Fairytale creatures seemed a lot nicer idea than the hounds they had almost fallen to earlier, even if they were slowly taking his wagon apart. "Perhaps our first step should be to speak to them in this case. Determine what they want. If you were truly not the one who took the gold, then perhaps your ignorance to the source will make the owner merciful, and perhaps you can even be rewarded for the return of some of it. Gawen, how do we communicate with these creatures?"