For Whom the Bell Tolls.CG: GM- David

Take a look to the sky just before you die
It is the last time you will

Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see

For whom the bell tolls…

-Song by Metallica

 “I am thee and thou art me and all of one is the other.”

“No animal has more liberty than the cat, but it buries the mess it makes. The cat is the best anarchist.”
― Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls 

Settings and Time Period: November 10, 1863, when the winters are long, freezing, snowy, and mostly cloudy. And the cold winds blow fiercely. Something is going on in the town of Kölsillre, north of Uppsala.

Valentina Mork (Wishmoon) 13yo young Occultist (now 8ft tall) whose mother died on Valentina’s 13th birthday, leaving her an orphan. A quiet, creepy girl, often frightened by the various beings that lie in her domain; thus, motivated to seek them out, and lay them to rest. She is accompanied by a black raven upon her shoulder.

Anders Karlsson (Bill) 48yo Hunter. Average physique and unkempt with piercing dark eyes. Thinning hair on head with long beard and yellowed teeth. Ever vigilant for the ‘thing’ (Wolf of Gysinge) that killed his brothers. Tracks with his 85lb hunting dog “Slim” (a Dalbo - Dalsland Mastiff).

Dr Tobias Engelin (Michalis) 44yo Physician. Worked at an orphanage. A tall and gaunt man always dressed in a two-piece suit and a white shirt, complemented by a blood red bow tie and top hat.

Mina Ornskog (Yeti) 38yo Writer. Mina to her friends, desires to understand -and improve on- the human condition. She passionately writes articles about women's suffrage, emancipation or labour rights. Only those won't really pay the bills; so, she also writes soppy love stories under a pseudonym and hates herself a bit for selling out. She is accompanied by her poodle, “Susan”.

Axel Hellqvist (Zack) 22yo Servant. 6’2”, ruddy complexion, tousled sandy-blond hair, clothes slightly too small for his burly size. Good-natured. Axel left the family farm and found employment on a wealthy estate as footman. Now at Castle Gyllenkreutz, he takes his job seriously but is often frustrated by the inability of the upper class to take care of themselves.

 

Vera’s Letter: Slim yelped and cowered at Anders feet as an ember “popped” out of the fireplace and landed on his haunches. The huntsman brushed the ember away (and ignored the burnt hair stench) as he listened to Mina read the letter from a “Vera Lindquist of Kölsillre. Widow returning home believing her widowed father would welcome she and his grandkids. Not the happiest partings nor pleasant return welcoming. Even the townfolk shun her. Nightly ringing of the original town’s haunted church tower bell. Now some townfolk more… friendly…indifferent? But her concern is for something, a feeling, of being followed.”

Valentina pondered, “I was thinking it the works of faeries. Perhaps research the occult side of the old bell. And see if there is any magic or trollcraft related to charming/changing others’ attitudes.” Tobias fumed, “Clearly it is a matter of bigotry against a woman who decided to free herself from the chains of her father's wishes and live her life the way she wanted to! They should be ashamed for trying to scare her with ghost stories and self-ringing bells. I will focus MY research on local customs and traditions, just to find out what causes those people to be so narrowminded and grudgy.” Mina seconded the opinion, “I very much agree with Tobias. It is obvious that the poor woman is being oppressed and punished for trying to lead a more enlightened life in the city. And that the grumpy father lacks the industriousness and capacity of his late wife to keep his business afloat.”

Anders scoffed, “Phugh... bigotry, chains of her father, oppressed and punished. You stand there blaming the father when it sounds to me like he is trying to protect his daughter and grandkids from something HE knows about. Perhaps sins of the father? Has he been dabbling in witchcraft in grieve for his wife? I will search for solid facts: tracks that follow Vera and tracks to the belltower to find who rings it at night. And if vaesen, then who summoned them or why does it now appear? How long has the bell been ringing? Is she the only one threatened or feeling threatened? Those are questions once we arrive.”

Research:

About 130km west of Sundsvall is the small town of Kölsillre. On November 15th, 1813, the old town center was flooded to expand the river Ljungan (originates near Trondheim, Norway and leads to the Gulf of Bothnia in Sweden). The river has been used as a trade route for centuries between the two nations. When the flooding of the old town center was decided by the local authorities, there was significant protest from the town. But with the relocation of the town and the expansion of the riverbed, the town became a transit and tourist point. Henrik Nordin was the old Lutheran Priest of the town and was a strong opponent of the relocation. Nowadays the tower still indicates the location of the old town center under the river.

With the connection to the ocean, associating Vaesen with water seem to focus on mermaids and or larger entities, but since it is a freshwater river not many vaesen are known to reside in them.

Known associations towards bells and magic result in the following information: Most Vaesen detest church bells or signs of Christianity, a vast majority of them are afraid and hate the ringing of the bells - can even harm them. Troll craft related spell can make someone fall in love with you. Curses or magic spells are known to be able to alter and change people’s behavior, but each varies significantly and is hard to identify without some form of proof. Fairy magic is even more strange and has potentially even more applications.

The local traditions are hard to pinpoint or narrow down - ever since the hotel closed and tourism stopped about 17 years ago, not much is being said about events or local customs. Other than its location on a water-route between Trondheim and Sundsvall.

Resources: Tobias entered the castle storage to retrieve a Medical Kit while Anders was handed a Chemical Kit “in case we need to analyze the dead.” Mina stuffed the Old Journal into her backpack, “It will make for good reading and research of specific vaesen if so needed.”

Anders Journal: if you are reading this then my hunt did not go well. Please deliver this log to the Castle Gyllencreutz staff. You will be rewarded for your time and effort.

To my family: at this writing I am in Sundvall preparing for my return to Kölsillre to hunt the wolf Valentina set free. The huge beast with yellow eyes I did not have time to confirm whether it the ‘Wolf of Gysinge’. The foul vaesen that killed my brothers 43 years ago. Mama, papa, I can only ask your forgiveness for my sins of old. For it was I who betrayed our hiding when the wolf appeared. Too young to understand the threat but that is no excuse. Their hands clamped over my mouth too late. The wolf plucked them and devoured them. I have failed to avenge their death.

To the staff: My full report of events that led up to my hunt.

We left the castle that cold and blustery morning by coach. Stopping here in Sundvall to check upon local legends and preview our destination. Yet none had heard of Kölsillre. Only sailor reports of an old sunken church bell tower frozen in the reservoir along their trade route. Kölsillre not even a delivery destination. Only the Lutheran minister knew of father Nordin who died 14 years ago. Replaced by Father Ørjan Cåstberg. No request to rebuild the church thus services probably held in a barn.

We rode west those 130 km, crossing a bridge to ride thru the village and its relatively newer buildings. Onward to the Lindquist hotel atop a small hill. Obvious neglect... overgrown ivy and rotting wood siding. Holes in the roof from missing shingles. An abandoned look. We knocked... No answer. Entered and called out and rang the desk bell that drew fourth an elder man missing his left eye and wielding a rifling and threatening. Especially focused on Valentina in his contempt. "You are not welcomed. Get out!" At least his daughter Vera appeared on the landing above to speak for us. "Father NO! I wrote and asked for them. Please excuse my father, Ragnar." A starring contest before he sighed and lowered his rifle and left. Leaving Vera with shoulders dropped as if broken and hopeless. On the verge of tears.

Mina was the first to greet Vera with a warm embrace. The poor woman looking so exhausted from stress and work. She had been preparing rooms for us for which Axel stepped forward to offer his services. Carry luggage and finishing touches. He used the opportunity to search the upstairs' 10 rooms. Where he met Vera's 17yo twins, Tomas and Linda. Introductions to learn they moved from Upsalla. Never met their grandmother and wished they hadn't met their grandfather. Axel related his own orphaned background to get then to open up. "Grandfather so mean. Demanded we leave at once. Mother had to convince him as we no where else to go. We do not trust the man. We tried to bond. Asked grampa Ragnar about grandmother but that just made him angrier. Spewed contempt as he stormed out, 'Never mention her again!'  Even the villagers are unwelcoming. A strangeness about everything."

I failed to mention the eeriness of the hotel. A sense of... wrongness? Even the dogs felt the same. I mistook my hunting dog's cowering in the corner as him about to pee. I took him outside, where his hackles rose higher. Him snarling yet footside with fear. Something lurked outside and his actions pointed to the backside of the house. 

Where I found the caged beast with its piercing yellow eyes and dripping spittle with the cage my only protection. Eyes locked on each other. Had I found the ‘Wolf of Gysinge'?!

I fired my rifle to call the others outside. Ragnar the first to arrive with his rifle drawn in anger, "You've frightened Fenrir!!" Another face off till Ragnar knelt to whisper to the beast. Tobias arrived, and after gaining composure from seeing such a large beast, tried to reason with Ragnar how I did not shot the wolf. Vera offered her apologizes, forgetting to tell us about the wolf, “Father had it inside when we arrived." But Ragnar had enough and wanted us gone "by morning!"

Meanwhile, Mina used her solitude to search the parlor. One old and dusty family portrait of child Vera at her parents' side. But strangely no other portraits of ancestry. Something to ask Vera upon her returned. Compassion and comfort to get Vera to open up. "I thought father would be more accepting. He kicked me out 17 years ago. 17 like my twins. Young and foolish and in love with Sebastian. And pregnant. My twins." Tears flowed in buckets as Vera hesitated to tell more. "The same night mother died. While I packed, she tried to reason with father. I heard them shouting below. I stood at the top of the stairs concerned for mother. And that is when I saw father fighting... with himself. The flash of a blade, mother trying to break it up. Then blood. Oh so much blood pooling around mother. I saw my father die, twice, fighting himself." Vera collapsed, lost in repressed memories, now silent.

All thought doppelganger. As Mina comforted the broken woman, Valentina and I left to confront Ragnar. Apparently Tobias followed at a distance. As we approached a back room thought to be Ragnar's, we paused at the sound of banging behind us, followed by Tobias' voice. Concerned, we rushed to our partner’s aid. Only to find him staring out a window. Valentina had the better angle for she apparently saw something, "I saw yellow eyes. What did you see?!" But Tobias deflected the question, "Nothing now. Enough about me, let's go ask the father."

[Tobias had heard the soft cough of a child, sobbing and pleading. He approached the room and opened the door. Finding a man standing over a metal table lifting and lowering something. His body blocking view of whatever on the table. Shielding whatever he was doing. Tobias' eyes were drawn to the window where, outside in the snow, stood a woman in black dress. Yellow eyes! And a canvas of yellow eyes behind her. Fear overwhelmed Tobias. Thus his stuttering and denial when the others arrived. Especially when he noticed the room empty of table or man nor yellow eyes outside. A dream? A nightmare? Tobias shuddered to think. Yet Valentina wise enough to know Tobias knew more than he spoke.]

We found Ragnar's room in the back of the hotel. It more an old dining room converted to a squatters den. Empty and minimalistic with a cot bed. The back door open, with footprint leading to the nearby cage. Once again the wolf snarled at our approach. Close enough to see Ragnar's prints ended at the cage door yet him not in sight. I found more prints within long arms length of the cage. Multiple human prints coming and retreating from the front of the hotel. I tracked, where I finally found drag marks. Ragnar had been snatched by someone or something strong enough to lift him from distance and carry him away. The villagers?

I returned to the cage where I found Valentina feeding Fenrir meat found within Ragnar's room. "We can release him to follow his master and we follow on horseback." I tried to reason the insanity of her plan, "Are you crazy?! If the wolf doesn't attack, me for threatening its master, it's long stride will easily outdistance any effort to follow. And horses, did you not see how the dogs cowered in fear?! And you expect horses to happily follow the beast? Are you out of your mind?"

She was. I raised my rifle when she brought forth a key to the lock. Tobias silent as if agreeing with her actions. Axel arrived to reason, "Woa, woa, whoa. Let's think this thru." My threats answered with her mumbling. Spellcasting I now know [Strike Fear]. Frozen in fear, I could only watch as she released the beast. That dashed in pursuit of the tracks before turning back to the hotel to sniff and scratch at a basement door, to then bound across the yard and over an 8-foot fence. All the while Valentina struggled with the reins to control the resistant horse. As for me, I broke free of the fear in time to take a shot while the wolf at the door. Whether I hit it... it bound over the fence and into the surrounding woods never to be seen again.

Valentina now the bigger threat but I held my anger in check as we followed Valentina now opening the basement door. Axel held his hurricane lantern at the entrance to reveal Valentina kneeling beside a shackled prisoner. Ragged, starved, destitute. And an exact replica of Ragnar! Except it was his right eye missing. Doppelganger? The original father? Mina now arrived to react aghast but quickly offered comfort, tending his wounds and sickly form. Axel too sad for the man as he broke free the chains. Then offered soothing drink to both this Ragnar and the troubled Mina, saddened by the sight of such misery and treatment.

It was near midnight when we brought him inside for warmth and proper caring and rest on a proper padded bed. And called fourth Vera to meet her real father. And it was then that Tobias questioned which Ragnar kicked Vera out, "is this her real father or the copy? And what about the villagers; are they also copies?"

That is when we drug out the old journal to research doppelganger. Tobias put on his reading glasses,"Faeries are said to curse humans who do not fulfill oaths by transforming then as Changlings. They have been known to swap babies of oathbreakers with changlings. There are spells that can alter age or looks. Here is mention of homunculus. Creation of human likeness from just a small piece of flesh."

And that is when paranoia set in. Tobias the first to express doubts, "If everyone can be anyone, copied, changed, then what is to say each of you have not been changed while you were out of my sight?!" He looked at Valentina with focused concern, "That mole on your cheek... was it on the other cheek?!" Tobias quickly rushed upstairs and locked himself in his room. (pushing a chair back under the doorknob for added bracing.)

Each of us scanned the referenced book passages. And each of us grew distrustful. Group paranoia. Except Axel, the only sane among us. I desperately read, searching for means to reveal and defeat such transformations. Fire, find the copy and removed what had been copied. All violent and cruel means, but reasonable.

[It was at this point, David {GM} asked each of us what was our character’s biggest regret. For his use in a later scene.]

Hours past midnight when my eyelids grew heavy. That drift into slumber… when the peal of a distant bell awakened me. Only Valentina to deny hearing such bell.

[David described the story-camera panning from the hotel, over the town and settling and zooming in on the ice around the church tower frozen in the reservoir. Ice cracking and peeling away to allow forms to emerge from a frozen tomb. The camera followed these dripping wet humanoids into the forest and toward the town, before the camera returned to frame the hotel.]

All of us gathered at the breakfast table ever watchful of each other. Valentina worn and haggard from staying up all night. Tobias the last to arrive, “I stayed up to find a solution. Using my medical kit, I have devised a test to see if you a changling or yourself. A simple cut to gather your blood droplets into this disk of poison. If it bubbles, then you are a changling. I tested myself… I’m human. Come, step forward and reveal your true self.” Only Valentina and I objected. The others willing to be subjected despite my objections, “So, your blood didn’t bubble. Whose blood did you use that did bubble? Ragnar’s? I thought so; no test to prove your theory. No thank you!” Which only inflamed Tobias to point at Valentina and I and condemn us “changlings!” As we left, Tobias led the chant that we were “going to meet up with their own kind.” Which caused Axel to reflect back when he arrived at Castle Gyllencreutz. And noticed discord between Valentina and other members. “Now that you mention it, maybe Valentina was a changling back at the castle. Perhaps there were traitors amongst us from the beginning. They’ve led us here for the slaughter. We must follow them and foil their plot.”

To get to the reservoir tower, we had to go thru the town. Most houses shut. Villagers exiting a bakery eyed me with raised brows, whether curious or detest, I was uncertain. Me, not the 8-foot-tall Valentina?! But that is when we also noticed a new church, maybe 10-15 years old. So, Father Cåstberg did gather the flock. Curious, we knocked and were let in by a church elder who closed the doors behind us. There was a feeling of peace and safety within. Father Cåstberg at the altar, “Come in, do come. You look lost.” Now, I must say, the priest ignored Valentina and focused on me. Just like the villagers. Unnerving. The priest offering me confession as if I the troubled soul. I ignored him and prodded for answers about Father Nordin’s death (natural?) and about the Lindquists. He chuckled regarding the dead priest and explained the Lindquists, “They have not put their heart into it. Yet. The villagers cold-shouldering Vera? Remember she has been gone a LONG time. Wouldn’t you be distrustful? Perhaps you can convince her to join the flock. Finding god and faith binds a community.” With Valentina’s obvious acceptance by the priest and villagers, I was surprised by her whispers “something is wrong.”

And that is when the others arrived at the church door. (They too felt peace and safety within.) Tobias flared with accusations the priest a cult leader. Questioned why WE were here. I must say Mina did try to soothe the atmosphere, “Can’t we be more trustful of each other?” And the priest asked, “What brought you to us? Absolution? Confession?” Valentina mentioned us from the Uppsala castle with ‘sight’ to see vaesen. The priest remained absolutely calm. Valentina repeated Vera’s story of her mother’s death and how the supposed intruder “wore her father’s face.” And still the priest calmly explained Vera “a lost sheep who has returned.”

But that is also when Father Cåstberg stepped backwards as he whistled and then put his arm around Valentina’s waist (he couldn’t reach her shoulders). Valentina did not flinch (that I could see) as the priest asked, “Is there something you want to explain to them?” But Valentina ignored him as she asked which was the true father Ragnar. The priest pressed the issue apparently trying to get Valentina to confess to something. Which prompted Tobias to ask, “Valentina? Does he know you?” Valentina’s answer was most peculiar, “We have not met but we know each other.”

And throughout this encounter, the priest knelt and quietly chanted beside the altar. I’ve heard prayers before, and that was NOT prayers. He moved about the altar repeating the same mantra. And that is when the church doors opened, and the pews began filling with villagers. And that is when there came a low rumbling as the altar began to slide backwards to reveal a trapdoor. Light flickered from within. And Father Cåstberg beckoned all to follow. Only Valentina and Mina complied. For I was distracted by the congregation beginning a hymn. Now I go to church and know Christian hymns. This was NOT Christian. Something was off. Unholy in my mind.

I was not willing to be a sheep led to its slaughter. Nor willing to just stand there like the others. So, I created a torch out of a candle staff and the altar cloth and tested my own theory on how to reveal changlings. Tobias read my mind and tried to stop me, but ‘Slim’ snarled and snapped at his coattail to keep him away from me as I waved the flames under the elbow of the closest parishioner. “How is this different than your test with poison? Our journal told of fire.” I expected skin to ripple and change when exposed to flame. It only burned and drew forth cries of pain from my test subject.

[Meanwhile, downstairs… Valentina and Mina were led to a massive shrine made of bones, claws, fangs. And from behind, under the stairs, emerged two figures as the priest walked past. Valentina and Mina were transfixed staring into a mirror of themselves. Mina freaked out but ever inquisitive, approached her likeness. Her self-image slapped her… hard, “You never looked for her!” Another slap brough Mina to her knees crying and pleading, “You’re right. So right. How could I abandon her?” Valentinas’ self approached her, spewing contempt, “Mother never was on our side. Why would we, should we, work for her? We can work together.” Valentina pushed away the offered embrace, “I will never give up. Mother is out there with explanations.”

And behind them, candles were being lit. The flare of light drawing notice. And Valentina and Mina noticed dark strains of hair emerge from the back wall. A woman in a dark tunic, golden chain, and her arms stretched forward presenting sharp claws as her yellow eyes almost penetrated their souls. There were more eyes behind her; wolf heads emerging and snarling. To Valentina, the woman spoke within her head, “Child, you are not born for such menial tasks. You will do great if you accept me. Will you?” And Valentina answered “Yes.” Relief seemed to flow over Valentina [as all her conditions faded] as for the first time Valentina felt at home.

And the woman spoke to Mina with a lesser offer, “Become one of my helpers. I can make your pain go away. Heal your troubled soul. Will you accept me?” The woman gently caressed Mina’s head which brought forth her answer “I heed.” And with that, Mina felt a lightness as if a heavy burden lifted. Memories faded. But there was a nagging feeling… something forgotten. Mina’s memories and depression of her abandoned and orphaned child erased from her mind.]

Tobias sighed with relief when Valentina and Mina emerged from the crypt, “Are you OK? Where is the priest? What did you find out?” Valentina simply responded, “It is not as we feared.” Mina added with a peaceful look upon her face, “It is all good.” And only now the seated congregation spoke, “She will set you free.”

Now what would you believe happened?! A crazy bitch enters a crypt and comes back calm and at peace. Mina was harder to read as she always portrayed a woman at peace. But there was something more to her calmness. Hell yes, I wanted to get out of there! I used my torch to fend off any parishioners who might try to oppose me. I did not wave and try to scorch them. I would have had them approached. But then I was disarmed. From behind, Valentina raised her bow and fired an arrow knocking the torch from my hand. Defenseless till I raised my rifle at Valentina… a standoff as she pointed another arrow at me. That bitch! But maybe she held sway over her kind as we were allowed to pass peacefully.

[Now, who is to say which version of the women emerged from the crypt?]

We returned to the hotel and explained all to Vera, pleading she come with us. But she and the kids had decided to stay. Thus, we gathered our belongings and climbed into the coach for a long return ride. Which brought us back to Sundvall. Where I left the group.

But now that I have had time to reflect, time to overcome my paranoia, maybe a hunt at this time is not appropriate. If I did hit the beast, a wounded animal is the worst to confront. Besides, I am still unsure if it IS the beast of my dark path. No, perhaps I should abandon the idea of a hunt. Seek assistance from fellow castle hunters. And return to the castle to warn them all about the events of Kölsillre. And back Tobias who holds suspicions of the women. For as he said, “They are in my crosshairs.” Indeed, one is definitely in MY crosshairs.

EPILOGUE

Anders returned to the castle 10 days after the others.

Mina wrote letters to Vera maintaining contact. Did she get replies?

[And the camera panned:

·         to yellow eyes under the brush, watching the coach drive past as it crossed the bridge. Snarling and drooling at the hunter who wounded it.

·         to the frozen church tower, the ice solidifying, covering and concealing the prior breaks. Closer panning reveals there is no bell in this tower.

·         to the new church where the priest speaks to his congregation, “I think we did good here.” And returns to the crypt where a likeness of Valentina and Mina are chained.

·         to the hotel, flying up and over into the woods behind before zooming in on frozen ground… where a terrified face of Vera stares upward.]

Valentina’s theories:

- Fenrir the Wolf and his pack are the shapeshifter kind of changelings, like Michalis said. Lycanthropy, possibly. Valentina has shown Fenrir kindness, while Ragnar and Anders tried to tame and hurt it.

- Ragnar the Human was the one hurting the changeling version of himself. This is the swapped-at-birth situation involving faerie baby-napping heist and troll changelings.

- Vera's mother was a changeling and her dad was human, so Vera is part-changeling, like Valentina. Either that, or she was a baby swapped at birth. In trying to hurt changeling Ragnar in the cellar, Ragnar wanted his original daughter back, but he didn't know for certain if Vera was changeling Vera (true) or human Vera (trapped in the ice)

- The bell tolls in the minds of those who sleep, which means that it separates regrets in life from the original person. The doppelgangers are more phantoms disconnected from the original person and, thus, wanting to chain them down to live out their own lives without those regrets. The people in the cellar are just the regrets left behind.

- The Church is trying to have people confess their sins and pray to be set free. By becoming free, they are casting their regrets behind to feed a darker god.