Connects to: 22.16, 25.15, 29.14.13, 29.14.14 and 29.14.20.
This rugged mountain country is shunned by most even among the Witch Clans due to its poor soil. This makes it the perfect place to remain unnoticed for the inhabitants of a small stone cottage here: a married couple of gnomes with seven boys, plus five men identified as ‘farm hands’ or ‘neighbors’ who are in fact agents of the nearby Temple Invisible.
Long ago, so the story goes, The Chimeric Siege of Shuttered (29.14.13) came to an end when a pact was signed between the deities Alberon and Chimalia. As part of the pact, it was sworn that Chimalia’s temple would always have a place in the Shuttered City (29.14.14). To further increase the insult, Chimalia specified that the temple must be overseen by a particular gnomess and by her descendants. This gnomess was named Gertja, and was the only survivor of the massacre of the wall-gnomes during the Siege (29.14.20). It is said that some few have seen Gertja’s descendant, the current priestess of the temple, whispering to the walls of the city in communion with her distant ancestors.
To maintain the Accords, the Temple Invisible (25.15) is tasked with protecting the matrilineal heritage of Gertja Traitor’s-Daughter. The gnome woman currently residing in Mazy Hollow is the sister of the current priestess, while her husband was brought in from elsewhere. She is currently pregnant with an eighth child, and is hoping once again for a healthy girl. The integrity of the ancient pact may depend on it.
Connection
- The Witch Queen is planning to use her witch-hounds to disrupt this gnomish line (22.16) by having them bite everyone.
Hooks
- What will happen if the line of Gertja Traitor’s-Daughter dies out? Will the gods really go to war again over such a small thing?
- Where was the husband brought in from?
