Changeling Hysteria
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The latest rumour in the Silver Valley is that hin youngster Trellin Bramblefoot has been reunited with his family. People say he was getting medical treatment at the Norwick apothecary and has recently returned home. Word has it that Silver Valley residents Dietrick, Benji, Mallis, Gears, and Ginger all had a part to play in his safe return.
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_One quiet, clear night in the valley, a few people may have witnessed the following:
Legionnaire Benji, Council Elder Tealeaf, and Aramuil, the elven Arcane advisor of Norwick visited Trellin's parents, the Bramblefoots. After talking in private for some time, they exited the Bramblefoot burrow and headed to the yard of the Stout Fellow, where they met up with Dragoon Captain Dietrick Dardragon.
After some casting of spells, the Bramblefoots disappeared. The rest of the group went into the Stout Fellow barracks. Trellin's voice was heard. A short time later, the group emerged from the barracks, and the Bramblefoots re-appeared. They seemed distraught. They left for home together.
The Dragoon Captain and the Arcane Advisor of Norwick went inside the barracks again. After a short time, the grim-faced pair exited. The Dragoon captain carried some farm implements bundled together.
The frightened voice of halfling youngster Trellin Bramblefoot is no longer heard in the Silver Valley._
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_While most people take great comfort in the precautions being taken in around their homes, ther's always a little voice of doubt in some of their heads. General calmness prevails, except for a few stragglers who still want to see Trellin strung up.
Trellin himself, shows now sign of hesitation in entering buildings dusted with iron several days later. Nor does he flinch at a blessed dwelling when he goes to visit home.
One two reports filter in of strange visitors seen peering in through peoples windows. Some point to prints found ouside the next morning as proof the blessings are working, the Fey can't get in. Others dismiss the tracks as just wild animals or even livestock and dismiss anyone who goes on about such stories of changelings and dream-stealing fairies as people who are little too friendly with their favorite drink or children's fanciful stories.
One stalwart cynic is heard, "Why do pepole waste their time worrying about drunkard'ds tales and bedtime stories for the litlte ones. We've got REAL things to worry 'bout like them hobgoblins and the harvest and..I cold go on!" It is known the old curmudgeon was deep into a second or third mug of ale at the time._
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Parsley decides, for his safety, to watch from a safe distance, say, Norwick.
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Yondalla Priests were being instructed to go from household to household, blessing each home with Yondalla's blessings and protections.
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For some reason, the angry mobs mostly fall apart with Peppy being wielded against them or around them. And with Trellin's family soothed over, one side lat least loses its fire. Those who want to string Trellin up only dissipate to avoid being toasted by a stray fireball.
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Peppy offers to examine anyone who is willing to be seen via True Sight spell and iron dust if needed, in public or private as requested. Any shouting mobs that gather near her are threatened to be dispersed via fireball if required, as she does not want to hear the noise. They are encouraged to protest by showing… not shouting when near her.
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_Dietrick seems confused as he never asked for Trellin to be kept in isolation. Merely having him stay over at the barracks instead. His friends and family are still allowed to visit him freely anytime they wish as he had said before. And other than him staying at the barrack instead, he is also allowed to go out freely if he insists.
Towards those who cry about freeing Trellin, Dietrick says to the crowd
"Me can allow Trellin to stay in his own home as before, but can you ensure he be safe? In norwick, there were children suspected of being changeling who have got killed by people in their town for that. If Trellin have no protection, how safe you think he will be now der anuther group claming him to be a changeling???If you continue insist for him to go back, I will see to it. But you -WILL- answer the consequences of this yourself, me will not be held responsible for any harm dat shud befall him outside. Think wisely."
With that Dietrick walks away from the crowd._
In addition, the dragoons are asked to seek out Pepper if she should be seen more urgently than before to perform the examination on Trellin.
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((To keep it simple, I will say ingots of iron per doorway you wish to have sprinkled with dust))
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_Council elder Tealeaf meets with Trellin's parents and assures them that their son is being held for his own safety, and that he will be returned home once he's deemed healthy. She confirms that he has regular meals and a clean, comfortable room.
Additionally, the Council Elder has been busy in the craft hall lately, grinding down iron ingots into a supply of iron dust for Councilor Peppy._
((Let me know how much iron is needed and I'll trash it or give it to you to trash.))
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_Trellin protests and makes a lot of noise general about being kept away from his home and family. During his strolls he goes to visit them often and begs his family to get him out. He swears he hasn't done anything and truly does not understand what the Dragoons want. Trellin seems uneasy about entering building Peppy has 'dusted', absolutely refusing to enter unless he is made to.
His family agitates for the release of their boy, insisting there's nothing wrong with him. They demand to know why the dragoons would do this to one of their own. A small but very vocal minority of the community rallies around the family. They stage protests outside where Trellin is usualy kept in isolation shouting chants of 'Free Trellin! Free Trellin! Free Trellin!" or "Stop Dardragon Now! Stop Dardragon NOW!" When dispersed that just reinforces the stories their side believes and spreads of Counselor Dietrick Dardragon is using hysteria over fairytales and bedtime stories as an excuse to grab more power for himself.
A second group forms counter to the first, driven by the fear that these people demanding Trellin's release are an example of the Fey's influence spreading and that every one of them must be a changeling. Soon everytime the 'Free Trellin' crow gathers to demand his release, this group gathers to demeand Trellin be brought out and strung up along with the rest of the changelings demanding his freedom.
Anyone in the 'Free Trellin' group tested as Trelin was show no signs of iron allergy as Trellin did. They go away more convinced of Dietrick's power hunger than before.
Both sides are relatively small compared to the whole community, but both sides have their less vocal sympathizers in the greater populace._
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_Trellin is asked to stay in the barracks from now on for his own protection since his peers may mean him harm. Dietrick instructs there to be one to two dragoons keeping watch over him at all times. His family and any friends are allowed to visit him. When he wishes to go out for a stroll, he is also allowed so, but with the escort of at least one dragoon usually who would follow him wherever he went.
If anyone like his family asked when he would be released, Dietrick answers that the councilor of arcane will be need to examine him first to check if he might have any "health disorders" before he may be discharged.
Aside from that, Dietrick advices that people can attempt to try putting a circle of salt around their beds before sleeping. As such may prevent feys from entering their dreams.
Last instruction was for the dragoons to inform Pepper of the finding of Trellin and that Dietrick beseech her help with examining the boy._
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Peppy begins walking the valley with a true sight spell on whenever possible. Most people avoid her, but she's seen to be sprinkling what appears to be black dust across the doorway of all the houses and buildings. When asked what is it, she calmly replies..
Iron dust. Don't bother it and it won't bother you.
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_A spike in local hysteria casts suspicions on anyone and anyone is even thought to be a bit eccentric when compared to the rest of the community.The Dragoons have their hands full to the detriment of other concerns for a couple days. When it becomes more wildly known that after all that fuss, there is only one possible changeling was found through the test.
One teenaged hin, Trellin, who still insists he is '…no farkin' faerie!' Besides the rash he seems to have developed on his arm where it was laid over the iron, there is no other evidence to prove he is not who he says he is. Tellin insist the rash is from from some plant while playing in the woods a few days before, not the iron.
Trellin's claims repeatedly and without fail that a few other boys his age who have a a habit of picking on him that were the first ones to level the accusations that he was a changeling. It is not easy to determine who first cast aspersions on Trellin, but witnesses can verify the boys did indeed pick on him before._
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_A new order is passed down from Councilor of Defense Dietrick. Citizens with sound reasons may now report to town guard dragoons of anyone suspected of being a changeling. All changeling suspects will be taken away by the dragoons into the barracks. There, an iron metal bar is laid upon a table, provided by Dietrick himself. The suspects are to lay their forearm against the iron metal bar for a short while, under supervision of the dragoons.
Orders are for dragoons to watch and see if suspects have any adverse reactions to the test. Those who do have unusual reactions are to be detained in an un-used room in the barracks by the dragoons. Orders are clear not to harm the changelings if possible, but to use force if necessary in cases where they resist.
In addition, Dietrick warns the civilians not to follow strangers and make deals they are unsure about, especially with suspicious strangers of dubious origins. All such figures to be reported, and the dragoons are to invite these people to the same "test" for changelings._
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Dietrick quirks his brows, sitting in the valley looking and watching, wondering if this is too good to be true, that the fey have decided to leave the people alone?
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_As time passes, the general hysteria has settled down. People exchange old wives tales and stories of different ways to keep the Fey at bay or to appease them or ways to test if someone is a changeling or not. There is not end to the endless variety in stories. Do they really work or do they just give the Fey reason to laugh. No really knows, but the masses in general take hope and peace of mind that there is something they can do. The important thing is the stories help them to no longer feel so helpless and settle their hysteria.
Many among the masses make regular rituals of the superstitions going around the grapevine..knocking on wood, throwing a pinch of salt over their shoulder, keeping their chosen deity's symbol near their bed and at hte ready. Incidence involving changelings decline.
As time passes, all but the most paranoid grow lax in their rituals. Are there really fewer changelings? Or have they just gone unnoticed…depends on who you talk to._
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Councilor of defense and security Dietrick assures the people to stay calm. Orders are given to the dragoons to watch the town more closely, and to stop any rash impulsive violence especially among the valley's own citizens against each other.
