Sacred Time started in Boldhome, and the Prince of Sartar began the Stationary Lightbringers’ Quest. Rajar caused a minor fuss by backhanding a pickpocket so hard the man broke, which drew the attention of Eril, and the Wyter-sword of Humakt. Nala elected to meditate and received a vision, showing a red moon to the North and to the South, and the earth drying as red rain came down. She went to tell Kalis, who sent to tell Eril as head of the Fyrd – Berra caught his attention, and was therefore nearby as the message was delivered.

He told her to gather those she trusted and scout to the North, while he called for others; she went off to do his bidding, gathering Mellia, Serala and Rajar as well as Nala, and entirely ignoring Dormal. Rajar brought Billy, and beer, and they all rode out of North Fort and up the narrow North Road.

Towards the end of the day, they found an area of crushed grass, and a body, plus accompanying ghost. The evidence was that the man, a Sartarite peasant, had been killed by multiple arrows. This was complicated by Rajar deciding a Walktapus had done it, and attacking the body with an axe. Spirit combat ensued, which Rajar was probably winning when Berra managed to throw him over her shoulder, using her feet; spirit combat stopped.

Nala talked with the ghost, getting the details of its death from it. Between five and ten mounted men had come along the road. He ran for Boldhome but they killed him with arrows and threw his body into the brush, returning down the road. They laid him to rest, and Berra sent Serala back with a report to Boldhome, and elected to continue in the dark, slowly, to try to find out more. She and Rajar quickly came to the conclusion that they would likely die, but that this would be fine as Nala could escape with further word of numbers and positions. They shared beer, to toast their approaching possible-deaths.

Serala got back to the North Gate, and was allowed in, and found that D’Val the Sword was waiting there; he took the message, wrote a copy of it for Eril, and had a runner take the same message by mouth and ear to Koraki, down by the Lightbringers’ Quest. Then D’Val had Serala help him mount up on her horse, and they returned to help her friends.

Meanwhile, the heroes had found that the road opened out, and there was a longhouse near to where alpine meadow began. Nala could identify the spirits of at least two people on watch, and a couple more inside the house’s rough stockade. Berra sent her back with Mellia, so that Nala could discorporate and send a message back fast, with details of what had been found. Nala did this, but was chased by a red power of some kind, which worried the Priestess she talked to in Boldhome, so that they called for Kalis.

Then Nala snapped back to her body, around the time that Serala arrived at the redoubt. By now, Rajar had been hit by and arrow and the pair of warriors were both in cover. Berra had persuaded Rajar to hold back on berserk fury for the moment, until he had a better set of targets. D’Val had some words for Berra about tactics and handing over command, but attempts to put Serala in charge of the troop failed miserably, and D’Val did not seem to feel the need to command himself.

With Serala (and her cats-eye Runespell and archery) present, they were in a better position. Serala loosed a couple of fire arrows at the stockade, and when they failed to light it, threw a Light spell, making daylight and providing targets for those with bows. The Lunars rushed out, and several were wounded before arriving. Berra broke the shield spell of a magic user and killed him with a single arrow, and she and Serala shot at human targets for the moment. Nala took down horse targets instead, until the Lunars were close enough that Rajar could charge them. He did so with Protection, Shield, and Berserk all active; this was very fortunate as all of the archers that were free concentrated on him, and he was badly wounded by the time they closed. He continued forward, with the Humakti using him as a shield and trying to kill anything that could attack him from the sides.

In short order, the Lunars were dead or had fled, and Rajar had been put to sleep and healed by Mellia. Berra ordered the bodies laid to rest, and the position repaired against the risk of further attacks.

“Your nice local co-GM will help you.” – GM
“Too hung over to care.” – Co-GM Berra

During the Heroquest:
“Rajar goes to intervene and then remembers this isn’t the done thing.” – Rajar
‘”No. She’s more competent than I am.’ But quietly, from under my breath in the Humakti ranks.” – Berra

“Look around for someone selling something on a stick” – Rajar
“And show the nice Eurmali where you keep your money.” – Berra

“I will go find my friends for the first time in a while. ‘Hail. Hello. Hi.'” – Berra

“Then you feel a sword on your shoulder, resting there gently.” – GM
“I trust you have a simply splendid explanation, which I shall be delighted to hear.” – Eril
“I was on the way over there, and now I’m wincing. But watching.” – Berra

“One of my companions is of your order.” – Rajar
“I am aware of your involvement with Berra Jarangsdottir.” – Eril

“Any day you’re not crapping your guts out is a good day.” – Rajar
“That is a low bar to squat over.” – Berra

“So. You have been picnicking at me, Rajar.”
“I have. Hands across another rat on a stick” – Rajar
“It was hilarious. Thank you. No…” – Berra

“Berra’s looking hungrily at the rat on a stick, and looks thinner.” – Berra

“Wander about the Holidaying town sensing chaos and eating and drinking and enjoying it all. Freely offer Berra food and drink” – Rajar

“Oh, I’ll eat in the city, but I’m trying not to keep eating without doing all of the running. Apparently it’s important to eat right. But I have missed Billy.”
“Berra looks faintly guilty. ‘Missing things is probably not Humakti.'” – Berra

“She says to get Scouts and go out, and you’re in charge of the Fyrd.” – Nala
“I am aware of that fact. Thank you, earth lady.” – Eril
“Wow. I just managed to keep my mouth shut.” – Berra

“Jarangsdottirrrr. I believe you know the Ramp.” – Eril
“Yes, my Lord.” – Berra

“Take a group you trust, scout along the North Road.” – Eril
“… People I trust is the PCs minus Dormal.” – Berra

“Don’t mind me, you head out, I’ll take care of the city.” – Dormal
“All the loose change in it?” – Berra

“Is he talking about the duck?” – PC
“Eril’s not a duck.” – Dormal

“So, the order was to Scout – which means not engaging. We’re going to want you to spot things, and we’re going to need to get information back.” – Berra

“He appears to be polishing his hand.” – GM
“Is that a -” – Serala
“Is that a euphemism for Ernalda’s bounty?” – Berra
“I’m in Berra’s head and I don’t like it whimper” – Nala

“Rajar. You’re no longer in spirit combat, and you’re on the ground by the road.” – GM
“Stand, say, ‘STAY, RAJAR!'” – Berra

“Eril put Berra in charge of scouting.” – Berra

“Here is where we stand.” – Rajar
“3 warriors.” – Rajar
“Serala’s gone back to town.” – Berra

“And I will kill many to act as my servants in the afterlife.” – Rajar
“Berserk is… well, that means I might die. If that is the best course, we should, but that means you have to pile in first, and I’ll come in after.” – Berra

“Berra, I am torn. You will need me. On the other hand, I might be the difference between Nala getting that message back and dying on the way.” – Mellia
“Berra looks at Mellia, and bows. ‘I am a servant of Humakt. Death, to me, is the next step in protecting the world. I fear failure, but not death.'” – Berra
“Then I will aid Nala. May the gods smile on you both.” – Mellia

“You! Duck! Berra trusts you!” – Serala

“Nala, take the message.” – Berra
“Nala repeats, slowly, ‘In the physical world, or the spirit? Either works.'” – Nala
“If it’s faster to go physically, then that.” – Berra

“I could pick him up, while I’m in the city.” – Serala
“Dormal is not a casual pick-up.” – Nala

“I have principles!” – Dormal
“If you don’t like them I have others” – Dormal

D’Val pauses. Reaches up to his helmet. Removes a feather. Scribbles on vellum that he suspiciously has available. ‘Thiss to the High Priestd. And relay the sthame messsage to Koraki in the Sacred Space.’ – GM

“I’m coming with you.” – D’Val
“On one condition. We never speak of this again.” – Serala
“Agreedt.” – D’Val

“D’Val holds on grimly….” GM
“Like death.” – Nala

“Can you make a scan roll, Serala? I suppose I should make one for the duck as well.” – GM

“Eyeballs…. MmmmMMMMmmmm.” – Serala

“If the Lunars were the ones who made that hole in Whitewall. If they could do that here, they could do a lot of damage. There’s no temple here to destroy, but still…” – Berra

“Arrows!” – Berra
“Cover!” – Rajar

“3-rune Shield, with 2 points of extension. I’m settling in for the day.” – Berra
“And hoping they don’t hit me with a dispel Magic, because I’m going to be unhappy one way or another, and this might as well be it.” – Berra

“Scan roll at -50 please, Berra.” – GM
“13/24.” – Berra

“Hmm. Rajar. That hollow…. oh, that shouldn’t be bleeding. He’s in a hollow that way. I’ll keep an eye out for if he moves.” – Berra

“There are Lunars over there right?” – Rajar
“Yes, and our task is to hold them up.” – Berra
“We going to them or they coming to us?” – Rajar

“He has 90 in swim.” – GM
“That’s not doing him much good, is it?” – Serala

“If they can do the thing that was done in the Humakti temple, then it doesn’t matter how many are here now.” – Berra

“Does D’Val want to be in charge? I’m happy to hand over to him.” – Berra
“If you put the duck in charge, Serala will shoot him… 0_0” – Serala

“The Bolg drops.” – Berra

“THESE people, yes.” – Berra
“The ones in the city right now?” – Berra

“Eurmali the Murderer is a thing…” – Berra

“Be prepared to inconvenience him.” – Koraki
“Okay.” – Dormal
“It’ll either be when they make a move, or when I do.” – Koraki

“One of usz can ssee in the dark at the momentd, and it’s notd me.” – D’Val

“Can I see movement?” – Berra
“No, it’s a Rune.” – Nala

“Not yet, Rajar. We can kill more if we wait.” – Berra
“So, I trust my companions. We’re going to kill them all.” – Rajar
( Phew ) O o . Berra

“He’s bleeding.” – D’Val
“Have you ever tried to stop a Storm Bull from charging?” – Berra
*points to Rajar’s wound* “Yes. That’s how you do it.” – D’Val

“8 4 1 1 2 = 16 to left leg.” – Berra
“That’s technically severed, but it’s an arrow so…” – GM

“Stay back. I want to see them before we go in, if we have to.” – Berra

“Dormal needs to have more of his face visible.” – Serala
“All I can see is the top half of his head…” – Serala
“Best part of him.” – Berra

“Ok cast. Shield and Beserk and go for it” – Rajar
“At least we have a Mellia.” – Berra
“GO FOR IT” – Rajar

“Dispel Magic, with eight magic points.” – Berra
“You feel something crumble.” – GM
“14. Hit!” – Berra
“6 1 2=9 to 19.” – Berra
“Serala, you’ll want to change targets for your last arrow.” – GM
“Out the back of the helmet!” – Berra
“Helmet?” – GM

“Look to Mellia. ‘Bring Rajar down if we need it.’ And then D’Val, as Billy goes past. ‘Into the gap he makes.'” – Berra

“Did he just decapitate a horse?” – Berra
“Yep.” – GM
“Hmmm…” – Serala
“Well, he can’t reach the riders.” – GM