A Meadowtide Festival

The Journeyman’s Call

As the event began, Pebbles chatted with Gurgis Smolk, a professional Mudlark, making the young Halfling nervous about their future career. Meanwhile, Burley rehearsed the path to the Gongfarmer’s trowel, grimly determined to continue his family’s legacy.

Ilyad attempted to peek through their blindfold, but collected a nasty clonk on the head; after another attempt, they managed to avoid grabbing the implement of their guardian, Sir Hugo Dire. They also saw Bruno Welgemoed trying their darnedest to seize the role of Hedgewarder.

Pebbles was chosen by Burt Wilton, the Rag & Bone Trader; Ilyad, peeping through her blindfold, grabbed the knucklebones of the local Sooth, Robbie Pallabar; and Featherfew snagged the vane of the Weather-eye Rimple Welby. Den found his path with a curious character, the acrobat Candlefoot, who tousled the boy’s hair and wordlessly strode off.

To the delight of his assembled family, Burley became a Game Warden, under the guidance of Menny Reedfellow; he also kept Menny’s horn, merrilyly blowing it throughout the evening. Enid managed to snatch the herbalist’s pestle, belonging to Town Elder, Ma Marigold.

As the event concluded, Ilyad saw their crestfallen guardian, Sir Hugo Dire, standing next to their new, smirking apprentice, Bruno Welgemoed.

The Bonfire

Den, Burley, and Pebbles attempted to leap the bonfire. Pebbles impressive jump was immediately bettered by their friend Burley, who cleared the flames by 7 inches. Den, receiving a boost from Burley, attempted a showy flip, but narrowly avoided being scorched.

Tithing Day

Enid dutifully watched the whole ceremony, accepting a bright green acorn from Father Enther Kendrick. She attempted to help Ma, but was rebuffed; instead she was put in charge of an old dog, who was part of the ritual. As the event concluded, Enid spotted some strange things: deer hooves walking amidst the crowd, and a strange woman, her hair floating about her face as though it were underwater. The odd lady offered Enid a gift in exchange for her acorn; Enid would only agree if the lady vowed to protect the people of the Dower. This seemed to get her back up, saying that Enid was trying to bind her to an oath. Upon hearing that she was Ma’s apprentice, she spat ‘She always wanted a daughter,’ and stalked off.

The Carnival

Ilyad and Featherfew raced south over the Old Bridge, to the carnival. They listened the rhyme of the Hurdy-Gurdy player, then Ilyad offered a button for their song.

Joined by their pals, Den, Burley, and Pebbles, they all watched the acrobat, Candlefoot perform his stunts. Den then attempted to join their mentor atop the high wire; though a couple of dangerous slips almost saw the child take a nasty tumble, if it weren’t for the uncanny intervention of the mute acrobat.

The kids then played some carnival games, vying to win an articulated faerie dragon marionette puppet. Pebbles spotted the carny attempting to cheat at the shell game, while Den figured out that the target game was using weighted arrows. Burley, oblivious to the weighted mallet, struck a mighty blow and rung the bell. Featherfew fired a bolt of flame at the target butts, exploding the rigged game with a stunning fireball.

Seeing his step-sister Evelyn robbed of her wonderful prize by Bruno and Cam, Den accompanied by his friends, chased after the bullies and the furious Evelyn, sprinting out of the town.

Cross Corners

In the shadow of the Widows, Pebbles offered a gesture of respect to the totems, discovering other tributes at the foot of each idol. The gang decided to free the old dog, Winstanley, despite Burley’s muttered protests about not taking anything from the Widows. Enid chose to plant her acorn at the foot of statue where the dog had been.   

The Witch’s Hut

Travelling through the woods, the kids reflected on childhood fears and superstitions. Having spotted that the hill upon which the witches hut perched was not, in fact, stone, but rather a horribly contorted and disfigured giant humanoid, Ilyad and Den crept up the side, before assisting their friends. Within, they saw Bruno leaning over a bubbling cauldron, bowl in hand; Cam gazing into a mirror; and Evelyn huddled in the corner. Creeping up on Bruno, the kids initiated a confrontation, which saw Burley having to fight off an animated doll dressed in Evelyn’s clothes, Ilyad tackled to the ground by Cam’s mirror doppelgänger, and Den losing his cool and attempting to stab Bruno, thinking he was responsible for his step-sister’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Pebbles was almost engulfed in sticky, animated Damson jam. The fracas came to an abrupt halt when a candle, resembling a splayed human hand, became fully lit, freezing everyone in place.

The witch appeared and stole something from each of you. Featherfew lost the colour from his eyes, Pebbles his sense of fear, Ilyad her cleanliness, Enid her honesty, Burley his sense of direction, and Den lost his laugh. Cam lost the colour of his hair and Evelyn her singing voice; Bruno vanished entirely.

Following this assault, you remember the chime of a bell, and Ma Marigold appearing, banishing the witch and rescuing you all.

You learned to live with the things that you lost, in one way or another, and the years passed. But you never forgot that Meadowtide, or the witch in the woods.