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So there Eilwen was, cantering tirelessly to Maslin's place, glowing with pride at being entrusted with such an important mission, when suddenly...

She almost gets hit with a rock from some angry farmers lying in wait for her! She is understandably upset, as these are the same people who she had been protecting from dangers in the forest not 2 nights ago. After Eilwen calms things down a little, a spokesman comes forth and describes a beast that appeared that was vaguely similar to Eilwen. It had four legs and it spoke. This seems to have been enough for these people, but this beast went on to hurt people, including some children, so naturally the farmers and their neighbors are in an uproar.

The elder said that the beast claimed to have been sent to "Spread Punishment and Death against all Humans who are Ruining the Land". This is enough for Eilwen, who immediately sets off to track this thing down, and if not kill it, stop it from hurting anyone else.

The scene cuts to Emillie, Zalana, and Josette having a pleasant conversation about the man in all of their lives, Guilbert. Josette finally got up the nerve to ask Zalana, and Emillie for advice, much to the chagrin of Emillie, as Josette doesn't seem to know the same man that Emillie knows. Josette questions them concerning Guilbert's faults, as she doesn't believe he has any. Emillie responds with, "Wait, I have a LIST!" Josette's eyes seem particularly rosy in their outlook on anything Guilbert does, Emillie, and Zalana expound upon the matter of playing 'hard-to-get'. Josette seems to grasp the concept, execution, however, eludes her, nevertheless, she will attempt. Zalana and Emillie recommend Josette to the local matchmaker, for all intent and purposes, Guy. Josette worries about bringing things like this up in Guy's presence, and is encouraged to nonetheless take his advice, as they believe he can help.

Serge has just braced Jacques about sponsoring Guilbert to the order of St. Gerland, he looks upon it as merely a trifle, but in truth is keen to see Guilbert firmly in the seat of rule, even though Eustef's not dead, merely incapacitated. Etienne comes upon Jacques, and wishing to know more of him, invites him to a night of revelry at the Hen's Lips, the local tavern/brothel. Etienne is testing the measure of a man such as Jacques as he wishes to see him in more casual and social setting. Jacques agrees to go, and Etienne leaves to make preparations. After Etienne leaves, Jaques has another visitor in the form of the lovely young Aimee, who is infatuated by the noble knight. Small talk ensues.

Lucas, who had been laying unconscious in his room after his older brother had cold-cocked him, is dreaming. Not pleasant ones either, as he sees the fountain and shadowy figures emerging from within it. Snakes made of smoke boil out of it for an instant and then the flow shuts off. They slither towards the castle, into a chamber and crawl upon his bed. But it isn't Lucas' bed, it's Eustef's, and the snakes lunge toward him as he awakes with a shriek!

Zalana hears the ruckus in Lucas' room and rushes to see what the problem is. Lucas fills her in about the dream, and she has no answers, only more questions. The history of the place is explained that many years ago it was under the control of a snake goddess. One of Eustef's ancestors vanquished the snake goddess, and her son right on this spot. Then many years later, when they broke free again, they were sealed into the Spring Fountain. The anniversary of that event is the night of the Bitter Scales, which was just 2 nights past. Apparently it is a time when the barrier that seals away the Goddess and her son, grows weak. Which could have something to do with Eustef being stricken as he was. Probably not, has to be just a coincidence. You know how superstitious peasants are.

Guy is next seen talking with Josette, and encouraging her to see Guilbert tonight, he mentions the rendezvous at the Hen's Lips, and advises her to bring a friend for support tonight. Josette agrees to the meeting. This looks to be one interesting evening.

Eilwen is currently tracking this thing in the forest; the creature is not natural, as it has claws that are purely used as weapons. She finally runs it down, and gets her first good look at it. Take a stag, now put big fuckoff claws for hooves, and a mouth full of nasty pointy biting teeth, and a antler rack bramble from hell, and that’s what this thing looks like. Basically it gives it’s little spiel again, and Eilwen’s not having any of it. It’s on. It seems terribly one-sided at one point, as Eilwen gets the better of it, then when she’s going for the kill, founders on a patch of mud made slick by the creatures unnatural blood. Eilwen would have gone down at that point, but for Zalana, who finally escaped the castle, happens upon the scene, and together, they both manage to drive it off. Zalana describes it as a corrupted stag, or a Distorted, Angry Forest Spirit. Usually they are sent to punish, but why this, why now?