Priestess of Freo, Part IV

Spells of Freo

Love rides upon the foundation of marriage, children, and kin- unquenchable, granting life, and free (otherwise, two cats can pull it). See also spells of Freya (in Volume I) to substitute with or expand upon these.

1st Level: Cure Light Wounds, Detect Magic, Purify Food & Drink, Protection From Evil, Remove Fear, Resist Cold, Sanctuary, Animal Friendship (D, cats or boars), Allure*, Charm Person*, Shield*, Sleep*

2nd Level: Augury, Bless, Delay Poison, Reveal Charm, Speak with Animal (cats or boars), Charm Person or Mammal (D), Find Plant (D), Obscuring Mist (D), Locate Object*

3rd Level: Cure Blindness (reversible if priestess is unclad), Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Remove Curse, Speak with Dead, Summon Animal I (D, cats or boars), Clairaudience*, Clairvoyance*, Suggestion*

4th Level: Create Food and Water, Cure Serious Wounds, Divination, Exorcise, Sticks to Snakes (reversible), Neutralize Poison, Protection from Evil 10’ Radius, Charm Monster*

5th Level: Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Contact Other Plane, Summon Hyllan (see Part III & stats below), True Seeing, Commune with Nature (D), Secret Chest*

6th Level: Find the Path, Heal, Guards & Wards* (usable in a home) 

7th Level: Astral Projection, Control Weather, Regenerate, Restoration, Cat Chariot (as Fire Chariot, D, but rather than being fiery, the cats drawing can attempt to charm whoever first attacks it), Limited Wish*, Mass Charm*, Permanency*, Sympathy*

Lost Love

an Anglo-Saxon Encounter

The Matter

Geatfleda & Tondbert are suffering from dire issues of love, brought upon by some unknown factor. The party will likely first uncover just the names of those involved. Further investigation will yield generalities of the following, while specifics  remain the Referee's, all the while risking the party's own entrapment as well.

The Party's Involvement 

They... (roll 1d5)

1. Are approached by Eadgyd, a priestess of Freo (see below), to remedy the matter.

2. Receive a divine sign from Freo to do the same. 

3. Uncover contact with Aenswythingia, a hyllan (Anglo-Saxon nymph, see below) who tells of her bondage in return for a promise of temporary service to her liberator(s).

4-5. Stumble upon the people involved when passing through the area.

6. Already know of the couple and have heard of their recent troubles.

Tondbert: practical farmer and husband of Geatfleda. Still, he has been taken with Hildegyth and her milky thighs of late. Unless intervention occurs, he has a 75% chance of breaking his vows within 1d3 day's time, likely causing Geatfleda to seek his death.

Geatfleda: idealistic housewife of Tondbert. She has taken interest in Theodgar and his long seax though. Further investigation will find this odd, since both a potentially unfaithful husband and wife with the same vows at the same time is likely a rare (not consequential) event, even rarer wanting to slay each other as a result. 

Theodgar: raucous warrior and currently unbethrothed. He finds Geatfleda fetching, but would never wish to betray Tondbert (who is also his friend). Still, Geatfleda seems strangely seductive, so he has a 75% chance of doing so with 2d3 day's time, likely causing Tondbert to seek his death.

   Lvl 2 Anglo-Saxon warrior, Align: N, MV: 35’, AC: 4, HD: 4, Atk: 1 (long seax), Dmg: 1d7+1, Mor: 10, Items: (when so equipped) chainmail, helm, shield, long seax, short seax (1d3+1 damage), gold-inlaid comb, 1d20 gold pieces.

Hildegyth: striking seamstress and widower. If pressed, she insists that she does nothing to encourage Tondbert's interest as she slowly and luxuriously winds thread upon a spindle as she smiles.

Eadgyd: friendly priestess of Freo. She has grown concerned with the issues amongst the couple and the threat of their indiscretions causing permanent misery to all concerned. She is quite happily married herself to a cleric of Woden who is currently off on a mission.

   Lvl 4 Anglo-Saxon priestess of Freo, Align: L, MV: 40’, AC: 8, HD: 4, Atk: 1 (staff), Dmg: 1d4, SP: Hyllanish II (+4 bonus to please & comfort; same penalty to all rolls if someone sees her exposed back in a non-loving way), spells prepared (1st: Cure Light Wounds, Detect Magic, Remove Fear, Sleep*; 2nd: Speak with Animal (cats or boars), Charm Person or Mammal (D), Find Plant (D), Obscuring Mist (D), SV: C4, Mor: 8, Items: holy symbol, cloak, staff, silver locket, 3d20 gold pieces.

Considerations: As the party investigates, they will experience strange bewitchings of their own, occurring in ways as to have them be so taken with Geatfleda, Hildegyth, or even Eadgyd too (or the men involved if they are female party members). One random party member will be affected for every 2d3 turns spent in investigation, only being able to resist with a save vs. spell/ Will save DC 15. Those who fail and give into their urgings will earn the ire of the affair's spouse, likely having to slay them in the process and then being branded an outlaw, despite any short-lived pleasures.

The ultimate culprit can be determined at random, though if unsure, it will be Hildegyth. Whoever it is has gained the service of Aenswythingia the hyllan  of course (see also Part III for her other powers). Unholda (the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of Unharmonia - see Volume I) has taken an interest in all the heartbreak the situation can cause, and has thus foully empowered Aenswythingia's Charm Person ability to work on others instead while causing murderous jealousy in their partners too.

Who's the Culprit? (d4)

1. Tondbert: he actually wants Hildegyth and is tired of farming without her milky thighs in his life. He initially used the hyllan he found to help Geatfleda to be happy with Theodgar, but of course the magic didn't work as planned.

2. Geatfleda: she really does want Theodgar. and is tired of Tondbert and his practicality. Her prayers for salvation were unfortunately answered by Unholda...

3. Theodgar: he actually always wished for Geatfleda until Tondbert got in the way. Finding the hyllan gave him the opportunity to remedy both.

4. Hildegyth: a dabbler in witchcraft for years, she actually slayed her previous husband for infidelity, and now wishes to ruin all other marriages too, taunting men with her milky thighs and seductive spindling. Unholda was only too happy to oblige.

Aenswythingia the Hyllan (an Anglo-Saxon nymph)

Align: N, MV: 40’, AC: 8, HD: 1-1, Atk: none, Dmg: none, SP: spirit, Charm Person* (at will, modified as described above), along with other abilities (see Part III), SV: T1, Mor: 4, Items: none.

Next week: our series on Anglo-Saxon divinities continues with Woden!