Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 2 49
1627
Night saw young Berra in calm meditation
Drinking but water and praying to Humakt
Holding the Sword in her mind’s grasp within her
Seeking no joy in the feasting around her
Morning brought news of attack by a night-force
Wounding by secrecy out of the darkness
Hearing the tale Berra thought of the Lunar
Onjur who slew without mercy or honour
Calling for trackers she ordered his trail found
Asked of Varanis to speak with their host-king
Begging for cavalry fresh out of Glasswall
Herengvot gave them in honour of guest-rights
Knowing the chance to find glory in battle
Berra gave orders to chase after Onjur
Hot in her heart was the thought of his capture
Cold in her mind was her plan for the chasing
First she called horses and bison for chasing
Gave up the infantry troop that would slow her
Orders she gave to Sorala the Vingan
Swift be retreat if a battle is threatened
So cautious Berra gave precepts to follow
Giving the Vingan instructions for caution
Berra had learned from her skirmish beforehand
Knew of the treacheries Onjur held in him
Then they went fast for they knew anger in them
Cavalry streaming across all the landscape
Following tracks that the Lunars left fleeing
Speeding on ground that was travelled before them
Soon on the road that the Lunars had followed
Berra’s sharp eyes saw the shape of a carcass
Ridden to death lay a horse on the roadway
Berra’s quick mind thought of how Onjur used things
Berra gave orders to pause in the chasing
Long enough only to make preparations
Soon they moved on and the trap was shown to them
Shown by the bison of stout-hearted Rajar
Tied to his bison the carcass was taken
Dragged from the trap that shrewd Onjur had left there
Up came a spirit of madness and moonlight
Rajar cut loose from the horse and he galloped
Berra had words pressing swift from the tooth-cage
Thoughts had flown fast and her answer was swifter
Magic was ordered as cavalry cantered
Keeping the flow of the chase as they cast it
Yet all their chasing was slower than Onjur
He had brought remounts and Berra’s force lacked such
As they approached Skyfall Lake and the Mountains
Berra called halt for the foe had escaped her
She would not harry past sense and good thinking
Into the trap that was armoured against her
Sad for the chance that she missed for the battle
Berra turned back for the good of the war then
Saving her troops and the troops out of Glasswall
Berra returned to the shade of the city
Keeping the infantry company roadwards
Backward-uniting the force she had sundered
What Really Happened
The group was feasted by Herengvot, who was very impressed by Rajar having nearly managed to kill Onjur. There was singing and feasting. Berra spent most of it being calm or cheering Rajar on in a very impressive drinking feat. The next morning an attack on their camp was reported, and the group was sure it was Onjur. One of the warriors had been struck with a bolt fletched with duck feathers. Valseena found a horse-shoe with bison hoof prints under it, made in bronze.
They gave chase, taking on cavalry from Glasswall, and leaving behind the infantry, but they did not manage to catch Onjur, whose troops were on remounts. However, they did come across the carcass of a horse, which had the three remaining horse-shoes on it, and had been killed on the road. Valseena spotted something red beneath it, but was prevented from pulling it out. Instead, Berra ordered the cavalry on, and told Rajar to pull the horse away using his bisons. When he did, a Lune came out, and attacked him, but he cut the horse away from the animals and managed out outpace it for long enough for cavalry volunteers to destroy the Lune.
After a little more chasing, seeing that Onjur was getting further away, Berra ordered the retreat to Glasswall, rather than go too far on a wild goose chase or worse. They picked up the red gem that had held the Lune, on the way, and butchered the horse for food.
Show Session Quotes
Berra rides beside Xenofos for a bit during the next day, and says, “You’re getting rested for a bit.”
<<raised eyebrows>> – Xenofos
“No need to explain commanders decision, Berra.” – Xenofos
“No need, sure. But you need it, so you should take it. We’ll be getting people used to other voices, and I’m hoping to have time to find out who’s most workable.” – Berra
“Berra, should we stop to bury them?” – Varanis
“Yeah.” – Berra
“Battlefield thing. Fast.” – Berra
“You’ll make sure the spirits are dealt with appropriately?” – Varanis
“Yeah. But it’ll take an hour or so.” – Berra
“Berra’s probably just being Berra.” – Berra
“She does that.” – Berra
“Berra’s moving things up into battle order for when the cavalry does stupid things.” – Berra
“Give yourself into custody!” – Enemy Commander
“All of us? If we do, can you feed us?” – Berra
“When they say ‘turn the other cheek’ to Humakti, they really shouldn’t. That one’s got a Death Rune on.” – Berra
“More welcoming than Boldhome…” – Aranda
( You’re more wanted here. ) o . Berra
“Berra digs in as soon as she’s made sure nothing served to her is vegetables.” – Berra
“Berra subsides a little once there’s going to be no shouting.” – Berra
“Berra doesn’t give much attention to the song after working out what it is. She’s just telling Rajar that yeah, she knows he loves her, he’s like a brother to her too.” – Berra
“Berra wants to try standing up on the back of this bison. But is being sensible.” – Berra
“Not tracking. In command.” – Berra
