Session S5-O-09

1629, Fire Season, Fertility Week, Godsday

Dramatis Personae

Events

The group rode back towards Queen’s Post, with Ornkarth getting a briefing from those who had been more present. He learned about the crocodiles, to his dismayed amazement, and checked that everyone knew. Meanwhile Irillo talked to the guards and promised them danger money if necessary. Irillo noted that there might be other changes not related to crocodiles.

As they got closer to the trading post, Ornkarth spotted someone ahead, and rode up to talk to them, dismounting to bring them back. He introduced the woman as Oriana, who had magic that would be helpful, and gave her into their keeping. After some discussion on what would be needed, the group split up so that Oriana would not get their latest error all over her, and most of them went off to see Hand of Offering.

They arrived at the tent of the Feathered Horse Woman, where Berra Humakti-bargained her way to the front of the queue by paying a surprisingly small amount of money. Irillo died a little inside. Hand of Offering listened to what the group had to say, and then invited Nayale to sit next to her and massaged her shoulders while asking pointed questions. Nayale squeakingly let her know everything, including about the crocodiles. The Feathered Horse Woman said there would be a judgement the next day, and sent them off.

Oriana worked out the magic that would be required to find the iron boxes that the group had described, based on the example that they had. Berra explained to Kolyey what had happened, including what a sorcerer was – she was dead wrong about most of it, explaining that it was a multi-god set-up of some kind, based on devout worship.

Ornkarth made dinner for everyone, much to the distrust of some of the group. Oriana brought the Geomancy spell into her mind, and had Irillo go out and find a map. Irillo and Ornkarth had to go halves on the price of it. Irillo squeezed Ornkarth over prices for Oriana’s work, as much as he could. There was a discussion on what to look for – Oriana could probably find the closest item pretty easily, but would have to take a risk on the other – if she failed, she would have used up the power inherent in the map. The group decided that they had to find everything, as the closest item might be the easiest to stop, but would not necessarily be the closest to Rhigos.

They were called for a judgement the next day. Berra was waiting by the gate where she could be found and called on. There was a temporary open ring of earth, most of a circle, with the Feathered Horse Woman and her advisors within it, and plenty of room to watch.

Nayale spoke of what she had seen. Berra noticed that nobody had named her as the killer, and stepped forward to say that this was probably her. From her position by Irillo she noticed that the leader of the attacked caravan was astounded to find out what he had been carrying.

Irillo managed to avoid heavy mention of the caravans having maddening magical items on board. It was decreed that the group had not been responsible for caravan-raiding, given the circumstances, but the deaths would have to be paid for. As the one who had killed people, Berra was on the spot for blood money, although Hand of Offering did not say that directly.

Berra pulled Irillo over to the merchant to say, “This man didn’t know what he was carrying.” All Irillo asked for was the name of the factor who unloaded the goods onto an unsuspecting merchant, which was given gladly.

Berra’s took the next couple of days to be quiet and miserable, although Irillo did offer to lend her the money. She turned down Irillo on the grounds that she did not want to owe his grandmother. Over the course of those days, the man they were watching, Jebedigg, took a few small bribes, and also handed over a leather tube of something to someone. Little else happened before Clayday, when they were ready to go out into the wilderness to cast the spell.

After some time with Oriana spent chanting, and the others guarding her, the earth seemed to rise up to meet them, and they could see further and feel the ground. A wave of something went outwards and then returned, and Oriana’s map turned to glass, with three spots of different colour. One was in or near Bagnot, one a little to the South of Duck Point, and one around Valadon, already in Esrolia.

After a brief conversation about where to go and how to warn people, Ornkarth left for Bagnot¹Oriana may have also sent a message using Speak To Mind/footnote], while the rest of the group prepared to go to Valadon. Berra had Nayale write a note for Geoffri at Duck Point, which was sent by messenger¹Probably Suuraki and Valseena. As they were riding out of the post for the last time, Ornkarth asked Berra if he could buy her blood-debts. She told him no on the grounds that he was a Lunar and she did not like or trust him, despite Irillo trying to point out that it would be of advantage to everyone, because Ornkarth could then investigate a debt he had, in Bagnot. Berra put her foot down and said that it was her problem and she would deal with it. They set off, leaving Salid to look after the caravan.

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  Oriana may have also sent a message using Speak To Mind/footnote], while the rest of the group prepared to go to Valadon. Berra had Nayale write a note for Geoffri at Duck Point, which was sent by messenger¹Probably Suuraki and Valseena