Evienne, Witch of Woodendale

Part 1: A Very Stormy Day

In a little cottage in the woods, a monster by the window stood...
Well, not a monster, per say, but a witch. A vampire bat witch, to be exact. And her name was Evienne.
"OH, why won't it stop raining?!" She lamented. "I've needed to go out and collect morrell mushrooms for 5 days now, and yes they love rain, but it's so soggy I can barely even step out the front door. And heaven knows that specters run amok more so than usual on rainy days. It's easy for one to fall prey to their tricks of illusory magic and fall into a deep hole with spikes at the bottom, or off a cliff to one's death. No, no, that simply won't do!" She seemed to speak to the air, but something moved in her hair, crawling down her sleeve and dropping to the floor via a thread, and suddenly there was a cat, black as night, rubbing up against her stockings and round and round about her skirts, purring loudly. "I agree, Voidbane. I shall wait until the rain stops. The Fae may be out and about then, but I shall take a protection amulet to not fall to the jests and tricks of the Faerie people. Now, how about some goats milk??" Voidbane meowed loudly, as if to say, 'I'm hungry. Feed me.'

Evienne turned with a rustle of her skirts away from the window, and towards the fireplace. She pried up a plank of wood from the floor, and took out from the assorted containers and kegs a flagon labeled 'Goats Milk', and stood, replacing the wood plank with her foot. She took a shallow bowl from the pantry, and poured some milk into it, setting the well decorated dish on the counter. Voidbane hopped up onto the counter, supping the liquid with relish. "Hmm..." She sighed contentedly, seeing her beloved immortal pet drinking the sweet liquid, then turned to make herself a cup of tea. Moments passed, the tea was made, and she poured herself some and went to sit down in her favorite chair to review her spellbook. Moments before her bottom could hit the chair, however, a knock rang out from the front door. A mix of surprise and frustration rose within her, but she stifled it. Setting her fresh brew on the side table, she stood and went to answer it. A soggy man, drenched from 5 days of rain, dressed in a green cloak and brown shabby pants, stood before her. "P-please, miss, I desperately need your help. I know people say that you're evil and will devour anyone who dares disturb you, but I REALLY need your assistance. My name is Beo of Woodendale. May I come in? I'm soaked to the bone out here."
Without another word, Evienne quickly did a truth check, and seeing that the man was indeed mortal and truthful, she ushered him inside quickly and locked the door behind him.
Once Beo had gained his bearings, only then did she speak. "I can do all things within my knowledge of power. So, tell me good sir, what is it you need so desperately that you would trek three plus days, avoiding Fae, specters, and magical beings abounding to see me? Not to mention the difficult territory, war, traps, and bandits lurking on the path to my cottage. It must be terribly important to you." With a flourish, she turned and set a small plate of cookies and tea before him, and waited impatiently for his answer. "Mind you, I don't do my services for free. Everything costs a price. We shall see what that is after you tell me your wants and needs, however. Well go on, don't just stand there gawking. Spit it out."

Beo was indeed, staring at her, spellbound. He finally closed his mouth at her statement, took a sip of tea, and spoke. "It's my daughter, miss. She is gravely ill with the plague. I don't know if she is even still alive... I pray she can hold on until I'm back. She's only 9, miss. She doesn't deserve this fate. Please, I'll do anything! Just help her. Please, miss... anything." He was groveling at her feet at this point. She sneered, slightly disgusted. "Get up, fool. I won't have anyone treating me like some deity. I may be immortal, but I'm not omniscient. STAND, I SAY!" He did as he was told, tear streaks staining his dirty, sorrowful face. "I can help your daughter, even if she has passed. Are you willing to do something for me in return, though? Even if the cost is great?" "Literally anything, miss. I would jump into the lair of a harpy if you told me to, if only she would be spared." "Alright, then. First, I will need some of your blood." The man looked pale for a moment, then agreed. She took her blood letting tools, and placed the pan beneath the man's arm. She bade him to sit on a stool, and glanced at his ghostly face. He was staring out the window at the still pouring rain, obviously trying not to think of the impending pain. She rolled up her sleeves, and grasped the scalpel. "One, two, three." A neat slit was sliced deep into his forcep on the underside of his arm, and he winced with pain. Blood dribbled into the pan via a funnel she held under the red liquid, and once she had enough, she stopped the bleeding with a cloth, covered in a poultice that would prevent the cut from getting infected. She wrapped the injury with a practiced hand, and tied it neatly and securely. "There, now. You didn't really think I was going to let you bleed to death, now did you?" She handed him a leather pouch. "Take these bitter herbs, chew some of them and spit it onto your wound when you change the dressing. It will prevent infection." He looked somewhat surprised, but said nothing. Evienne ushered Beo towards the guest room she kept for these circumstances. "Sleep. I took alot of blood, so rest is essential for the recovery of your strength. I won't allow you to leave until you do. Don't worry about your daughter. I'll have the potion ready when you awaken." Again, he did as he was told. Far be it from him to disobey this immortal being of vast knowledge and spellbound beauty. He laid down to sleep, and soon was snoring.

Without another word, Evienne got right to work. She began by consuming some of the blood, giving her vitality and strengthening her powers. She poured the rest into a vial, storing it under the same plank where she kept other cold items. She flew into a frenzy, gathering items from her shelves, grinding dried herbs and mushrooms into the proper dosages, and the final touch: brewing them into a potion. The last step, adding in Beo's blood after the concoction cooled, giving the potion life giving and healing properties. She stood back, satisfied with her work. Time had passed, and it was now dark. She carefully placed the potion in cold storage, cleaned her cauldron, oiling it and adding fairy (not to be confused with the Fae) dust to increase its magic power, and cleared the remaining ingredients to their respective places. Taking her now extremely cold cup of tea, she retired to her chair, where she had first meant to be this afternoon. Voidbane shape shifted back into a spider, settling into her hair for the night, his favorite place to be. She read long into the night, with the thunderstorm crashing outside obnoxiously like cymbals in the heavens, until at long last, she retired to her bedroom, sleep no longer a choice for her to make.

She woke the next morning, bright and early. Late nights and early mornings were her routine. No time to rest when there's so much to be learned and done. She donned her daywear and washed her face with a sponge. Voidbane crawled down from her pillow and became a cat once again, stretching deeply to ward off the cramps of the nights rest. "Beo! Get up sleepybones. Tis time to begin your trek homeward." The weathered man stirred, but did not get up immediately. "Hmm. Some boar liver, Bacon and eggs should get him out of bed!" She went to start the fire, which had fizzled out overnight. Pretty soon, She had a hearty breakfast cooked up. She returned to the guest bedroom, and shouted his name.
"Beo!!" "Huh?!" "Breakfast is going to get cold if you don't hurry!"

He rose from his bed, his weary bones aching after the three day trek. Evienne was not one be kept waiting. Her hospitality had reached its limit. Beo ate, dressed in his still damp, worn clothes, and put on his shoes, then turned towards the witch. She carefully placed the prepared potion inside his leather bag, saying, " Do not worry, for even if she is three days passed when you get home, put this potion to her lips and she will be well. Fear not, my friend. The only thing I ask is that you tell nobody what you experienced here. I like my peace and quiet!" And with that, she opened the front door, and bade him to leave. Peering outside, she smiled. Finally as if by some miracle, The sun was shining through the dappled leaves on the forest floor. The rain had stopped after 5 days of continuous pouring. She watched as the weary traveler lumbered towards home, worry clearly smeared across his work-worn brow. She waited until he was out of sight, then spoke to Voidbane.
"Well what do you think? Shall we go collect mushrooms now?" She collected a Fae protection amulet, made from the pointed ear of a Fae, from a nearby shelf and placed it around her neck. "Mrrooww", The sooty-black creature on the floor said. "I quite agree. Now where is my mushroom collecting basket?"