Eawulf’s tale
My shame is eating me, I have heard of weirling things, of beserkers, or curses and think perhaps I might be afflicted? Could I be? Would I know?
I look to Tiw for answers but there was only silence, now it seems the ghods have found me wanting too. There must be a way to redeem myself, but I know it not.
Ercongotasted is the site of the start and end of this tale, perhaps there is a lesson in it. The reeve, Econgota is worried for Frythe, a farmer to the south some 2 days away, as he has not been seen for some time. Econgota bids us go and find out if he is all right, or what has become of him. It is here that the bowman, Aculf, appears (the father of the boy I slew) and rightly he wants my head or weregild, and annulment of his outloaw status.
Ercongota acts as intermediary, as it was she who places the outlaw status on Aculf. If I offer my head, perhaps all this will be over, but Econgota brokers an agreement which sees me pay weregild of my finest (and only) arm ring, plus coins, and Aculf is to accompany us on this mission as he has information that proves useful and he knows the area. He tells us that he was in with a man called Redmond who could talk to the pucklefolks, and by cunning he found the pucklenest and had some big ideas planned involving it. Aculf went along with these things though he claimed unease.
Redmond had secured the services of a beast called a Thurse, a large puckleman, a wight, and dim of wits. The Thurse had been used to attack Osgar’s stedding, smashing in the door, and after a fight it started to eat Osgar’s wife! A few weeks ago a similar attack had been made on Frythe’s farmstead, after which Redmond had been using the farmstead as a base. He keeps captives there and it is these captives he uses to pay for the services of the Thurse.
Aculf’s tale leaves us no option but to explore and take action as Ercongotasted is surely the next target. We might be able to do some damage, thin their numbers or at least release some captives. Aculf’s superior hunting skills come immediately useful as he spots an ambush on our way south by a band of pucklemen. We race in and are victorious by dint of our wits and skills, or just plain luck in some cases.. After resting at Aculf’s cave we move further south and find a bothie in which a watchparty is set. Undercover of darkness, we approach and Aculf once again provides useful by picking off the man on watch while we attack the door.
It proves a tiring task, and eventually they are talked into surrender, and we give word the men, Petewald and Cuthwyne will not be harmed however the woman with the gut-shot is unsavable and Nothgith dispatches her mercifully. Upon interogation, the men reveal that Redmond is away to treat with the Thurse and has been gone 6 days. He’s due back probably the next day in the company of some of his better warriors, but even so there are perhaps 9 more fighters at Frythe’s.
Resolving to use the rest of the night to our advantage we move to the small holding. As we guessed, 3 men on watch, probably 3 more inside the hall, armed and 3 more resting. Gaining access to the compound over the wall hidden by the barn, we manage to overpower one guard, but the second is alerted and runs for the hall. Aculf again takes the watchman in the hall down, but he is able to call alarm. I chase after the second guard intent on stopping him gaining the safety of the hall while Wulf, Lyttleman and Nothgyth free the captives from the barn.
At the doorway I catch him, only to find two more coming out. A brief skirmish, arrows zipping past and I see what I must do. I run and lead the newcomers away from the barn, shouting whatever I can think of to draw attention to myself and giving the captives a chance to gain freedom. Running in the dark, with two warriors on my heels, we dodge, fight, feint and I run some more but my luck will run out soon. Then I see what I must do and I call to Tiw, offering myself as a meagre sacrifice to ensure the safety of those captives. I know not if my pledge is heard, I continue to jink and lead a merry dance, this time towards the main gate. I am almost done for, the spear wound I took earlier has leaked nearly all of my blood away, though by luck I make a few yards distance from my pursuers. I might make it after all. I hear shouts, I see my fellows racing to my aid, captives being herded out, I notice a fire in several buildings for the first time, shouts and cries behind me as I gain the safety of the main gate and we regroup with the help of one of the leaders of the captive band.
Despite some of the weaker captives being put to the knife rather than face being eaten by the Thurse, we manage to save a goodly number. Damage to the farmstead will hopefully put paid to its use, and there are several casulaties in Redmond’s group. Furthermore his payment to the Thurse will still need to be paid out of his own men, a grusome if not exactly undeserved outsome for them.
Upon making the bothie we untie the two men we found there. There are calls for their deaths from the remaining captives, Aculf is hard pressed to deny he’s given an oath that they shall not be harmed but before he is outnumbered I speak up for him and declare that, as a Priest of Tiw, I witnessed this oath and it is binding and they all would know the reckoning if such an oath was broken. This appears to calm the baying crowd, and I convince myself that there is a very slight appreciation by Aculf for my action, I figure it is the least that I can do for him.
Upon recounting this tale to Ercongota when we arrive at her farm it is reckoned that we have done well in this thing. Perhaps the shame has lifted from me a little, I have done good, my god is perhaps approachable once more and I can move on from a dark place in my life.