"Yes," replies the Proclaimer through the broken window. "Lady Dre extracted her wagon from the sinkhole and repaired it. She's waiting for you all at Uncle Polder's. It's too late to travel to Promise tonight, but Polder will put us up until morning."

You can see the red of the setting sun glinting off the dead fields outside.

"I'll be staying behind in any event. Is Kianna okay? Have you identified the scourge?"

There were still many pieces of this mystery left unsolved, and with Kianna still unconscious, perhaps no way to answer them. She frowns at Proclaimer Ward saying she would stay behind. What was her part in this story? She remembers the Proclaimer saying she had added Culley's drowning to the Awakening Song, and that was the song Kianna was singing to the monstrous 'Culley' in the cave. Balder moves up to Walt and indicates she wishes to talk to him, away from the Proclaimer's ears.

"Something's odd here, Walt. It don't feel right that the Proclaimer wants to stay behind when the answer to what happened here lies with Kianna, and the girl is coming with us. Can you get a sense of anything weird with Ward?"

Tuuli’s head comes up at the Proclaimer’s suggestion that they head out. “Uh, I don’t think we’ve figured out what happened, or why. What caused the thing calling itself Culley to come back? And if this is her house, Kianna should probably stay here.”

”With us,” she adds a moment later.

Walt steps aside and listens to Baldar’s concerns and nods in agreement. He is also concerned at the lack of closure here, but he is torn. His goal was to find and save Kianna and he thought they achieved that goal. But in the end, if the true source of the scourge is lying in wait, Kianna and the people of this region might still be in danger. He looks up, closes his eyes and whispers a prayer of guidance to the Wildmother.

Walt steps up and stands beside Tuuli as she questions Ward’s intentions. “Proclaimer, that monstrosity we fought in the caverns spoke to me. When it had me in its grips, sucking the soul out of me, it spoke to me…in my mind. It whispered terrible things to me.” He pauses and stares at Ward with a blank, lifeless gaze. He is watching her, looking for a flinch, an averted gaze or any sign that she might know more. “You know more than you let on, Proclaimer.“

Insight check: 19 (13+5+1(guidance)) - All rolls in game log. 
Deception check: 5 (just in case.)

Bendrak busies himself gathering up the recovering farmers and asking what they remember of the events leading up to their trance.

Ward indeed seems to have a depth to her knowledge that belays her young age. She soaks up Tuuli and Walt's words with a blazing intensity and curiosity, and clearly knows something of the nature of the fundamental evils of this world.

"My job is to seek evidence of the gods’ influence and the gods’ motives in all things," she responds to Walt. "I listen for the words you dare not say. I research magical manifestations across this land that I believe are signs of the gods’ power, or suggest challenges to it. I add everything I learn to my orders’ records to create new verses of the Awakening Song. The Proclaimers of the Covenant know what story needs to be told.”

"Danger and beauty walk hand in hand here in the Rattle. But why the land is turning against its people is a mystery to the people of Godsbreath and a matter the gods remain silent about. The members of the Covenant have our theories as to how the soil of the Ribbon could be revitalized and stave off potential famine across Godsbreath, but we cannot share that right now. The gods are becoming more active, shoring up their power. This could be a byproduct of their turmoil."

"I will bring these two farmers to Polder's to rest, then I will return."

She disappears from the window.

Sogo speaks up again. "I remember the story of Culley," he begins. "It was part of the song about Cradlelace Lake."

"Cradlelace Lake was an isolated farm, did well I guess, home to a large happy family. But during some terrible storm, a sinkhole swallowed the farmhouse, then flooded, drowning the house in muck. The family tried to escape the pit, but the farm’s owner dragged them back into the sinking house with her. When neighbors came, they found six pairs of severed, undead hands trying to escape the muddy water. Then, over the years, more people died near Cradlelace Lake, as if the dead wanted to add to their number. One was named Culley. He vanished into the water in front of Kianna, I guess. But they say his hand escaped the lake, and it found others of its kind, they say. But that was just the legend. But now, Kianna was talking like Culley was back. I remember it talking to my mind, too."

Walt shakes his head as Proclaimer Ward leaves. He thinks to himself "What's with all these riddles?! And who is the Covenant?". He shrugs his shoulders, shakes his head and listens to what Sogo has to say. Then a thought comes to mind. 

"Sogo, what are the other verses to the Awakening song?  Proclaimer Ward said that she adds new verses based on important events. Perhaps information on the other verses may prove useful." 

"Aye, what Walt said. Also, how far is Cradlelace from here? Have you been there?" Baldar asks Sogo, while she sits on the floor and rests her back against the wall. This was proving to be a very long day and the stress and uncertainty were wearing on her. She looks again at her shield and the symbol upon it; normally a source of strength for the dwarf, but now it makes her feel uncertain. 

"The Awakening Song?" exclaims Sogo with eyes wide. "It takes days to sing. There are thousands of verses. Only the Proclaimers know all the words. And it changes every year."

"Cradlelace?" continues Sogo. "I've never been there. It's maybe a half day's travel from here. Near Promise and Nightwater Cove."

Just then, Kianna stirs. She groans, opens her eyes, and looks around with confusion.

Tuuli hurries over to the the girl. "Kianna, are you okay? You're safe now."

Bendrak tends to Kianna, offering a drink and whatever food he has in his bag.

Walt walks over to Tuuli and Bendrak. “While you tend to her, I’ll take a look outside. Make sure everything is fine”

Walt walks out to porch on the western side of the building and look to see if he can see or hear lurking. He will then walk through the house and look out the southern entrance doing the same. 

Perception check: 17

Walt finds things quiet outside. The sun is beginning to set over the dead fields. He can see Proclaimer Ward slowly leading two injured women away. One is limping badly.

Kianna gladly takes a long drink from Bendrak's waterskin. 

"What happened?" asks Kianna hesitantly. "I remember hands... strange, shriveled hands. I remember an old friend from my childhood, but he was mean, awful to me, yelling at me. I'm so tired... I just want to sleep..." She hangs her head.

Bendrak supports Kianna. "Some evil magic was speaking to you, something that said it was your friend Culley. I don't understand a bit of it myself. Let's get you to Polder's for the night, maybe the Proclaimer can fill you in more."

Kianna sighs heavily and nods. She's clearly thoroughly exhausted. "Culley. I've... I've always blamed myself for his death at the lake. I remember hearing his voice – when I first heard it, I thought the gods might be giving me a chance to make amends. ...I don't remember much. Now I just want to return to Promise. Are any of you going that way?"

"Aye, we are, eventually. I think we all need ta rest first, but not here. No offense Kianna, but your house gives me the creeps." Baldar turns to the others, "If Kianna can't remember anything, then I don't think we are gonna get any answers on what exactly happened here. Let's find Lady Dre and go to Polder's house for a rest, then head back to Promise. It's been a long day. And I'm not feelin' like myself." Baldar says the last with a heavy sigh.

“All right,” Tuuli agrees. She holds on to her bag of wedding rings until the group gets to Polder’s house, because she is afraid of what Kiana might have done.

Just then Walt walks back to the group to hear them talking about going back to Polder’s house. “Okey,  if we’re gonna go we should get moving. Proclaimer Ward  isn’t too far down the road and it’s starting to get dark out.”

He walks over to Sogo and the other farmers. “Are you coming with us to Polder’s? Can the three of you help carry your injured friend here?” Says Walt as he looks at the unconscious injured old farmer.

The group makes their way slowly back through the dead fields to Uncle Polder's house, just as the sun sets. Sogo carries the old man. Kianna and the others are able to walk on their own. You meet the two women Proclaimer Ward found in the fields. One of them grabs a sturdy backpack full of tools from a nearby shed before leaving. She hands it to Baldar as a gift. "We don't have much in the way of wealth to properly reward you with, but here's a fine bag. The tools aren't much, but the bag is special. Take it with our gratitude."

They all remember only fragments of the past few days; Kianna's memory is the worst of all. She is desperate for sleep. But they seem to be no longer controlled by the thing that called itself Culley.

Lady Dre is waiting for them, together with Uncle Polder. She has her injured horse with her, and has been negotiating to purchase a second horse through Polder. Polder inquires about individuals from the farmers, and is dismayed to learn how many of his neighbors were slaughtered.

“And I found these,” Tulli says, handing over the bag with the wedding rings. “I’m so sorry.”