The Black Fang and the House of Plenty

Audrey smiles at all the children and holds her arms open. "Come, my children, there is much to be done to get you settled in. I would like you all to think of me as your mother. I know it will be a difficult transition, but I am confident that each and every one of you will be able to handle the challenge." She then leads them to the Temple of Bane, with the company of her father and his servant.

(Hope me posting is ok, if no please feel free to delete)

Junaz had just returned to Shadowdale from one of her outings to Fox Ridge, and today had indeed been proactive and hopefully some of the information she had managed to collect would be of use to her superiors. Having just gotten out of her armor, cleaned and polished it, had something to eat at the skull Junaz headed towards the Temple to give her dayly Devotions. Wearing her old brown leather boots, thick red woolen trousers which the knees of which were worn and her blue top as well as amulet of Bane and last her red bandana, Junaz would walk towards the Temple only end up blinking in surprise at seeing the small procession of Children.

Bowing her head to the Blackfang as she walked over Junaz would look down at the nearst children and give them a wink and a warm, almost big sister like smile before Junaz looked to Audrey. "May I assist at all?" Juna would ask in her normal soft pleasant voice, her tone respectful but friendly.

The lord Unterminox' servant moves out unbidden from his shadow and picks up a couple of the smaller children, smiling at them and with the age old distraction technique, beginning to chatter gently about other things. For all her sinister appearance, she's gentle and perhaps, perhaps a few of the the disorientated and unhappy children might put a hand on her skirts

Ciel would stand outside the temple until they were all out of sight, slowly she would make her way inside to the Harvestmistress' office. After knocking on the door faintly and entering. A heartbroken Ciel would go on to speak.

"Is it time for us to depart, harvestmistress? I cannot stand the sight of those vile creatures."

You may depart my child. I will stay behind a few more days to finish a few things up then I'll depart. I don't think we are needed in this area anymore. Perhaps we would be more welcome in the Lathander settlement.

She wipes her eyes and sets to packing a few belongings.

Ciel would bite her lip, trying as she may to remain composed. Slowly she would shake her head.

"I will remain with you until you choose to depart harvestmistres." she moves towards the door, glancing back to offer the woman a faint smile.

"I'll inform all those loyal to the temple that we will depart in a few days but they may depart when they wish... T-try and sleep well harvestmistress, we will need our strength for the journey."

A tall grey-hooded human enters the temple moments after the Baneites have departed.
He stands at the door, scaning the temple-hall with watchfull grey-blue eyes before he strides over to the door leading to the chamber in the back.

He inclines his head to Ciel in a silent greeting and looks past her to the Harvestmistres.

"And so, the nature of the beast finaly comes to light."

He says in a low voice and inclines his head to the Harvestmistres.

"The Grey will see you safe to the Lathander-Settlement.
We will look for you upon your leave and do our best to see you and those that travle with you, safe though the wilds."

He offers a faint smile before turning to leave.
At the door to the templehall he stops and says with a grim low voice over his shoulder.

"A great wrong was done here today, I pray Shandakul, Gwaeron-Windstom and Chauntee that in time it can be put right....before it is to late."

With that the grey-wolf-pelt covered man turns to leave.

The Harvest Mistress would look to the man

We will see what happens. I am hoping to leave a few priests here but I don't wish to be here where I am of no use. I would be more use in Lathander at the orphanage there.

"One of the local farmers would watch the whole scene wordlessly, he slips out the door after the harvest mistress spoke to the man and makes his way to the Black Fang, he approaches her with a bowed head"

Honoured Black Fang, please forgive a humble farmer who dares to speak with you, but i overheard a talk in the temple of chauntea, the heavest mistress she said she will leave Shadowdale and move to the Lathander farms in some days. What will happen to our crops when she goes?

*the old man looks at her, his sorrows are apparent*

Ciel would firstly offer the man a solemn nod as he greets her and merely listens. As he departs, Ciel turns to the harvestmistress with a degree of surprise.

"Harvestmistress, are we not all departing? I fear for the safety of the remaining clergy without the temple and your protection."

She shudders, "I would not think they would let us leave so peacefully."

Then we will have everyone leave except me. I want you all safe and free.

The Harvest Mistress would look to her and nod and smile a wavering smile.

Ciel's eyes would go wide.

"T-That... Harvestmistress! No one would accept that!" she fumbles "U-unless you say it is your decision as our leader" she says softly, clearly troubled.

"W-why? Why don't we all leave Harvestmistress? We have tried. We have endured much! Let us all depart... Together." she resumes her pleee. "We will never forget these people, but we must continue elsewhere. To serve and perform our duties at our maximum potential rather than our current oppressed performances."

Audrey turns and looks at the farmer and nods with mock sadness. "Yes, it is true they wish to abandon you and your farms, but we will not allow this to happen." Her cold, impassive gaze settles on the temple, "The Harvestmistress will be staying. I will not allow her to leave you." The Black Fang drapes her arm around the shoulders of one of the older girls and gives her an encouraging smile. "You see, my dear, we are not heartless and deaf to your needs. You will soon learn the truth."

The farmer looks quite reliefed as he hears the Black Fangs words and bows his head again then walks off.

((Gah, sorry. I am confused, are the baneites and children still around? If so, ciel would not have said all that. She would have also waited until they were alone or amongst clergy before discussing something so personal.

((yeah, they were just starting to head to the temple and were stopped by the farmer's question. Sorry for the confusion!))

(( we were still inside. I had assumed the group had already left for the temple of bane

((seems I'm the one confused. Post is edited for a fix!))

The Harvest Mistress can be seen going to fetch water from the river daily and returning in about an hour. She seems to be the only one left in the temple so she does all the work. There is a guard that goes with her when she gets the water.

A man enters the temple one day early in the morning. He's dressed simply in the clothes of a farmer. He walks up to the High Harvest Mistress with a warm smile.

"Jim Dillon, ma'am. I noticed that there ain't a whole lotta folk around the temple these days and spring's comin' along soon. I thought ya might be needin' a gardener ta tend the grounds."

Thank you good sir. The help is welcomed.

Jim smiles back with a friendly farmer smile. "Thank ya, ma'am. I'll get ta gatherin' up some seeds straight away. Just let me know if the garden needs anything special." He moves his hand up to tip his hat, realizes that it's not upon his head and then heads out of the House of Plenty.

*A messenger in simple clothes enters the House of Plenty in Shadowdale, kneels in front of the Altar and says a prayer. After that, he delivers a letter sealed in wax with the holy symbol of Chauntea to the High Harvestmistress.*

“To The High Harvestmistress Glamerie Windbough

Greetings dear Glamerie,

I was informed about your last problems with the Zhentarim and I’m here again to offer you support. I know that you’ve resisted for years the idea of leaving the House of Plenty and Shadowdale, I was there by your side in the first years of the Zhentarim invasion and saw their terrible abuses, until they finally banned me for stand up against their alliance with Undeads, Fiends and all kinds of evil aberrations, the disrespect with our church, the harassment and assassination of our clerics and citizens.

I know that you resisted until now in an honorable attempt to protect the farmers, without our help their suffering would be even worse. But you lost half of the staff you had years ago, they were killed or expelled, and many of the original families who survived have fled and are living happy and prosperous here in Myth Drannor under the protection of our Shrine. Here we live in peace, our faith is respected and the City authorities are our close allies, and every year our crops are plentiful.

Sometimes we should think when tenacity and resistance could not start to be seen as stubbornness and collaboration, things that could begin to tarnish our reputation.

You did everything you could, you fought the good fight, but with this last insult against the orphans, you are of no use in Shadowdale anymore, it’s time now to retreat and abandon our beloved House of Plenty to live here in Myth Drannor, you are needed here. Please don’t leave anyone behind, and bring some seeds and seedlings from our holy garden to be planted here in our Shrine yard, thus we’ll be able to rebuild our Temple in the future.

Don’t worry, as I said to you in our last talk: ‘…If things become difficult to you, our clerics and followers, please know that you have allies and a safe welcoming refuge here with us’. I never forgot that and I’ll personally provide escort and an evacuation plan, we have many friends and allies who want to help.

For safety, please destroy this letter after you read it.


All the Blessings to you and our brothers and sisters,


Harvestmistress Julia Navarre Sallavarian”