The Lover's Noose

The Lover's Noose is the fifth episode of The Broadswords.

Summary

Synopsis
Mépris' attempt to put the tent together is thwarted by yet another pole being thrown supernaturally into the woods.

Yllairies attempts to look threatening to whoever might be out in the dark and give the others some time to sleep. Shortly after there is a ghastly shriek. They get no sleep yet again and now have three points of exhaustion.

In the morning a spectral figure appears to them. It is Silanna. She snarls and heads toward Borovik. There is a red impression of a rope on her neck.

Yllairies and Keilah distract her with questions and find out that she thought Borovik no longer loved her after he was taken by Hamara. They reason with her and, being soothed, she says that she will watch Borovik and wait until they can be together.

She fades into the morning mist.

After a short search they are unable to recover their tent poles, so they carry on their way to the town.

Borovik leads them into Irling.

They meet an innkeeper who recognises Borovik and makes arrangements to bring his daughter to meet him.

Two women - one in a large half mask adorned with majestic antlers and dressed in fine robes, another in a mask with raven feathers around it in normal brown robes - enter the tavern and take him away.

The broads stay and settle in since they are tired and hungry. The innkeeper explains that they can stay the night but must leave the next day. He also explains that the Hathryn rule Rashemen. The country has a king, but that person is chosen and advised by the Hathryn. As an additional reward for bringing back Borovik, the innkeeper jokingly gives them a bottle of jewelled Rashemi Fire wine.

Locations

 * The Green Chapel - an inn located in Irling
 * Irling Wood

Main

 * Yllairies
 * Mépris
 * Keilah

New

 * Seilaf - A middle aged man with dark hair, starting to bald. Innkeeper of the Green Chapel.
 * Nithra - spokeswoman for Yhelbruna, leader of the Hathryn. Wears a large half mask adorned with majestic antlers and dresses in fine robes.

Returning

 * Borovik
 * Silanna - A witch. She had long dark hair, and died in her mid 20s. She carries herself regally and with the air of someone used to being respected. She was married to Borovik. She went to the Moss Stones after her husband's disappearance and was thrown into dispair upon seeing him with Hamara.