Queen of Shadows - Episode 25

Previously: In our previous episode, when dawn comes, Eilwen and Scratch make their way back near the escarpment where their camp had been attacked two days before. Together, they arrive in the treeline and study the clearing where their camp had been. Amidst the din of cawing ravens and buzzing flies feasting on the fallen slaughtered horses, Eilwen finds that her brother, Aron, and Seith must have run into the woods, the same woods she had been in, just a different direction. For hours she and scratch follow the tracks through the verdant woods, and eventually see that they lead to some old human ruins deep within the woods, crumbling stone buildings under towering trees. There are human boot prints and also signs of the Varou. Near the buildings on now overgrown grounds, she sees a scorched and broken stone pillar and translating the angular runes upon its face, she learns this place was once called 'Greenhome'. She also sees a faint golden elliptical carving nearly worn away and barely visible on the stone pillar. She and Scratch enter the large multi-level structure, searching for any sign of Seith or Aron. Scratch noisily chases a creature in the gloom and enjoys a tasty morsel of squirrel for his afternoon meal. Proceeding through the main rectangular structure, she sees a broken stone throne and surrounding it the skeletal remains of both human inhabitants and also the remains of a bonewalker, a bone horror similar to those they encountered on the slanted pillar in the subterranean lake, its forearm blade piercing the ribcage of one of the humans. Another of the human skeletons still wore the tattered remnants of what must've long ago been an ornate dress. Investigating the throne's back, she sees again the golden elliptical carving. And here, largely preserved  from the elements, she can make out that the device resembles the very circlet of gold she carries. She suspects that this Greenhome must have been an abode of sorts for the queens of old, her direct ancestors. Websites: https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay Ways to Show Support: Join my patreon for free at https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay or as a paid subscriber and get additional content Give the show a positive review Share the show with others Reach out to me and say hello Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' and 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au) - released under CC-BY 4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com).