Session 6 Prax 2

1629, Earth Season, Disorder Week, Fireday to Godday

Dramatis Personae

Events

Fireday, Disorder Week, Earth Season

The group returned to the village with Mernana and the other Ernaldans, at their leisure. Mernana went to talk to her husband, and the others settled to eat and relax and wait. While Berra was distracted, Kolyey was cornered by the weapon-thane Harvan. He wanted to know if there was going to be a Humakti-rules fight. Kolyey pointed to Berra, and suggested Harvan ask her. The weapon thane was not happy about that, for some reason.¹He wanted to keep things low key..

Berra called on Kolyey as dusk came, to ask her if she wanted to volunteer to go keep guard on the walls. Kolyey did, given that her commander already was, and the pair went up to watch the darkness for trouble, and maybe scowl at it a bit.

Varanis and Xenofos were left in Carasai’s house. After talking to others, they began to get the sense the locals were in support of their lad, rather than the outsiders, without reference to the facts of the case. They talked to Carasai about it, and he said he was glad they had brought it up, as he was going to otherwise. The feeling in the village was resentment about the absentee landlords, many of whom had been given prime space on the riverside. Other than a quick check-in at Sacred Time, they had not seemed to care about their land. In fact, they had only ever arrived when there had been trouble, and some people thought they caused it. Varanis and Xenofos agreed to make efforts, but neither of them mentioned that Berra was exiled. Varanis also kept quiet about the fact she intended to keep Berra company. Later that evening Carasai made a point of showing hospitality to Varanis and Xenofos, which seemed to lead to the community feeling he was showing them favouritism.

Varanis told the story of the return of the Goddess of Teeth and Salt to Prax, in an effort to explain things they had been doing. Some of the village were interested, as her performance was a good one, but it was not enough to make friends. Xenofos played the kithara, but badly – he was outdone by one of the locals on a homemade lyre, which seemed to please the room.

Harvan sat down next to Xenofos and Varanis, to ask guardedly about Berra being on the walls. Varanis explained this was always the case, and that it was not about the ability of the village to defend itself. Harvan then asked if Berra was likely to involve herself in any kind of challenge. He was angling to find out if he would be taking her on, and also explained how this village tended to settle things with spears until someone was done, so any challenge might not fall entirely under Humakti rules, although of course it would be fair. He was particularly concerned that Berra might try to be a judge.

They talked a while and established that Harmakt would be likely to accept a challenge despite not being trained in the spear. Harvan would likely be his cousin’s champion, as Jarrick was not a warrior, and mentioned he would try not to kill Harmakt. Varanis promised to try to keep Berra out of it, but said that she will be very disappointed in Jarrick if there was a challenge issued, as he was in the wrong. Harvan noted he would be disappointed too. He went to spread the word on the walls about how the Humakti guarding were just happily helping, not being distrustful, and that no insult was intended.

On the palisade, both Humakti failed to notice anything wrong. There was a flurry of activity and then a call for volunteers. Berra volunteered instantly, followed shortly by Kolyey. One of the fyrd who was volunteering said it was either Praxians or Telmori. They headed in the direction of a signal fire at a jog, so as not to arrive exhausted. Harvan advised them to try to scare off Praxians, but that Telmori would need magical weapons. Shortly after that, Berra noticed wolves closing in around them. The fyrd began to cast their spells. Berra put up a shield and Kolyey cast Bladesharp to ready herself to meet them. A horrible, one-sided fight ensued.

Back at the village, the message reached the chief’s hut at around the same time. Varanis and Xenofos went to put on their armour, and then went out to the walls, where Varanis performed a head-count of Humakti and did not need to look at her fingers. Both had obviously gone. Carasai had brought people out to the walls to stand guard while the guard are off in the wilderness, and explained they would stay there. Varanis and Xenofos approached to offer their services. After finding out how much magic Varanis had left, Carasai suggested she fly out towards the steading and the fire. He asked Varanis what Xenofos was good at, and was told to ask the scribe; when he did, he listened and then asked Xenofos to join the watch with javelins at the ready.

Out in the woods, things were going badly for the humans almost instantly. Kolyey managed to damage a wolf, but without stopping it, and she and Berra both had two to face. Berra was knocked down by a massive wolf which bit at her, taking her out of the combat instantly. Of the others, only thane Harvan was holding his own. Varanis flew into range in time to see Berra being knocked over, and realise that her friend was being mauled. She blasted the wolf with a lightning bolt, but she could hear Lord Raven’s panicked voice in her head, as he tried and failed to save the wyter priest. The Vingan called on Orlanth for divine intervention to save Berra and a blast of air moved from her to the mangled Humakti, blowing both the blood and the wounds away, and leaving great scars. The wolves all stopped to stare at Varanis, which allowed Berra to cripple one with the iron wyter sword. Varanis landed between the Sartarites and the Telmori and demanded that the fighting cease, but there was already little left.

On the walls, Xenofos caught sight of the shadowy figures of a half dozen wolves circling the village. He cast Lantern on his shield to light them up. They seemed to be hunting for something. As he watched, they stopped to sniff around the waterfall for a long time, before heading back into the wilderness towards the signal fire at a steady lope.

Varanis had the attention of the wolves completely, and in that relative safety, Kolyey did her best to patch people up. Berra, though no longer on the brink of death, was badly scarred on her face. She did also do her part in healing a wounded man next to her, but then got distracted talking to Lord Raven. After being commanded to leave by Varanis, the wolves began to slink away, but their pack encountered the smaller pack from the village. They conversed in the manner of wolves and the new ones decided to come have a look at the Vingan and other humans. After listening to Varanis tell them to go in peace and that enough had died already, they headed up towards the Cave of the Ancestors.

Kolyey reported on what had happened, informing Varanis that there was one dead. Harvan arranged for the dead warrior to be carried and suggested they continue to the steading to check on the people there. They were welcomed in and the corpse was taken to be cared for. Assured that everyone was alright given the circumstances, Harvan and Varanis decided to return to the village to report to Carasai.

Back at the village, Varanis had hoped to leave Harvan to handle the reporting, but once they were secluded from most of the villagers, he informed the headman that the Wind Lord had best explain what had happened with the wolves. She didn’t really have a clear explanation for why they’d listened to her. They’d been expecting the local pack of six, but now believed an additional pack had entered the region.

Once Berra had her wits back about her²Debatable – Lord Raven, she wanted the young Humakti brought back from the woods, where they’d been camping out. The party, Harvan, and a few additional warriors went seeking them. Nayale, who was meant to be on watch, had nodded off and was startled by the bright light shone on her by Xenofos’ Lantern spell. After a brief bit of complaining, everyone returned to the village before Yelmrise.

It was Wildday, now towards dawn, so Varanis asked for a chicken so that Berra could lead worship. Amazingly, there were several black ones in the village. The Vingan also recruited eight of the survivors of the Telmori attack to join the ritual. While Berra told the story and lead the ceremony for Varanis, Kolyey, Nayale, Harmakt, and the participating Orlanthi, Carasai took Xenofos for a walk.

The headman explained that Jarrick would not be allowed to bring a case against Harmakt and that he hoped there would not be a blood feud. He also remonstrated Xenofos for the lack of attention the party had paid to their responsibilities in Greyrock Fall. Berra was the only person taking active care of any of it, and that was because she was building a watch tower, and that in itself was reminding people of the danger of the goddess that had woken when the group first came to Greyrock Fall.

The group, and the village, rested after Wildday. Carasai had let Xenofos know when it was likely that Jarrick would appear; nobody travelled on Wildday if they could help it, so it would likely be the afternoon. Everyone was in on their best behaviour.

When Jarrick finally made his appearance, Xenofos took Harmakt aside and warned him to be patient and to accept the man’s apology when it came. Harvan tore a strip off his cousin, who then offered Harmakt the promised apology. The young Humakti had been spoiling for a fight and it looked like he might challenge Xenofos. Kolyey ended up taking on the challenge instead and rather swiftly showed the youngster how much he still had to learn. She tried not to do too much damage, but ultimately ended up stabbing him through the thigh. Berra had to yell at him to stay down, when he looked like he was going to try to fight on. Reluctantly he did, so Mernana healed him. Harvan discreetly promised to ensure the lad learned how to handle spears better in the future, meaning Berra did not have to ask him to.

• 1
  He wanted to keep things low key.
• 2
  Debatable – Lord Raven