Picture from here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Schnorr_In_den_Schluchten_des_Balkan_Illustration_056.jpg
Storms happen a lot in this game. Granted, they should. Missed journey rolls are an excellent excuse for bad weather.
[Fulfill Vow - Sing Praises to Leucia Nightdotter in Wood Hill: Strong Hit]
[Forge Bond -Bleat the Bat: Weak Hit]
[Forge Bond - Wood Hill: Weak Hit]
[Oracle - What Else Do They Want? Avoid War]
Kiah woke up by painful degrees. Every small noise caused her head to pound.
Bleat the Bat and Kiah's companions stepped lightly around her, letting her rest.
[Sojourn: Weak Hit]
Thanks to this rest, and Bleat's special bean soup, the bright woman recovered completely. They sat in Bleat's den while Kiah finished the last drop.
"We'll always remember last night," the overseer stated. "You've more than fulfilled your vow."
"I'm glad," Song Hood answered warmly.
"That being said," Owena stressed, "we should get going on the morn."
Gruff nodded.
"I understand," stated Bleat. After a moment he added, "I take it you'll be heading for the Althing?"
"Yes," answered Kiah. "My circle was engaged in war with another. We have to plead our case."
"I see," considered the troll. He sipped his tea thoughtfully. After gathering his courage, he looked at Song Hood apologetically and asked, "I hate to push more on onto you but I must beg a favor."
The wardens glanced at each other uneasily.
"I will hear it," answered the Great Mount overseer.
"We have offerings; gold, jewels and an heirloom. I would have you bring them to the Althing to sue for peace."
Kiah blinked, "You are at war?"
"We are close," stressed Bleat. "Whenever my brethren travel east, they are harassed by humans and we are never kind when they make it this far into the Deep Wilds," Bleat admitted. Then with a frown, he added, "It's tiresome, I hate it. I hope they accept this gesture. If they do, tell them to send a messenger to us and we can discuss terms of passage."
"Not a bad idea," Owena admitted. "If it can be done, it'd open trade with Long Wick."
Song Hood glanced at her brother. He seemed agreeable to the idea.
At that, Kiah grasped her black-iron whale killer amulet and said, "On this iron I swear, I'll bring your offering and terms to Axe Brook."
[Swear Iron Vow: Miss] The Miss will come about in a moment.
Bleat sighed and nodded. "Thank you."
-----
Given the heavy cloud cover the little troll, holding an umbrella just in case of errant sunlight, was able to see the travelers off. Gruff's pack was heavier, with treasure. Gold and gems. On his belt hung a sword, a fine blade that must have come from a royal family.
Before they could proceed down the hill, the towering form of Stoad the Hunter blocked their path. Spotting the sword at Gruff's hip, his glowing eyes narrowed. "Leaving with gifts are we?" He rumbled.
Wood Hill's overseer stepped forward. With a snarl and wave of his hand he hissed, "Step aside Stoad. We all agreed, a treaty with the humans is for the best."
Stoad snorted, "I agreed to no such thing." Then to Kiah, he threatened, "Listen little one, while I apricate your music and devotion to our mother, I cannot let you walk away with that blood money. Hand the offerings over, now," he growled and gripped his knotted club.
[Enter Fray: Weak Hit]
[Strike: Strong Hit]
[End the Fight: Strong Hit]
Suddenly, a white flash whooshed past Kiah with enough speed to send her cloak flapping. In the blink of the eye, Stoad was awash with blood and on the ground. Before he could stand, Shush the white wyvern landed before him and hissed in his face.
"It would seem the companion Bayara Doom Axe sent me, disagrees with you. Perhaps you should let us by without any more fuss?" stated Song Hood.
"Point taken," the hunter gasped.
Bleat the Bat just laughed. "You did that to yourself Stoad. You knew she is also known as Wyvern Sister."
-----
The wardens, the witch, and the wyvern strode down the hill and back trough the forest. They reached the thicket of brambles and strode through the path Kiah had found before. They set up camp on the other side.
[Undertake A Journey: Weak Hit ]
The next morning the party broke camp and strode on. A light rain sprinkled through the trees weighing the green buds down. Bird song echoed about.
"This is lovely," Kiah sighed.
Gruff nodded in awe.
Owena, used to the Deep Wilds, just shrugged.
[Resupply: Weak Hit]
Suddenly the Wolf Warden paused and raised a hand, signaling her party to halt.
Gruff grasped his axe. Kiah froze, bracing her spear.
"Strawberries," the Wolf Warden answered and immediately crouched down in a bush.
"Oh," Song Hood sighed. "Very well." The three spent a good part of the afternoon gathering.
After taking their fill, the three and the wyvern struck off east. As the sun began to set, they reached the mouth of a cave.
[Make Camp: Weak Hit]
After a quick scout, Gruff signaled the cave to be safe. With that, the party spent the night there. Enjoying a warm fire and the literal fruits of their labor.
The next morning they broke camp and, after a short walk, stepped out of the forest to find a land of rough hills and scattered forests. The grass ripped in the wind.
Song Hood smiled behind her mask, "The Havens, we've made it."
Gruff let out a sigh and took a moment to soak it in.
Even the Owena looked wistful, "Never thought I'd make it here."
Shush took to the skies and circled around.
[Journey: Weak Hit ]
[Resupply: Strong Hit]
The party enjoyed a stroll through the rolling hills for the morning. Near mid afternoon, they spied the wyvern suddenly dive behind a hill.
"We better check that out," stated Kiah.
Gruff nodded.
The three picked up the pace and soon turned the bluff. There they saw Shush crouched over a deer.
"Let's let her have her meal," the bright woman suggested.
"Agreed," Owena answered tersely.
Thus the three waited. When the wyvern was done, they were able to cut off some of the remains for their night's meal.
As the sun set behind the Deep Wilds in the distance, the party found a wood in which to shelter. They set up camp and enjoyed some venison.
Given Shush's pleading, it would seem that she preferred other people's food to her own.
[Journey: Miss ]
[Pay the Price: It's Harmful]
[Oracle - How Is It Harmful? Affect Path ]
The next morning was cloaked in dark cloud. Lightning flashed and rain pounded down on their camp.
[Face Danger: Strong Hit]
"Over there!" Kiah yelled over the the downpour. "We'll take shelter on that side of the hill!"
At her direction the wardens packed up camp in record time and they rushed to the shelter Song Hood had picked out. While they were still soaked, the wind pushed the rain against the other side of the hill.
Song Hood let out a short whistle and Shush joined them. Kiah wrapped her pet in a hug and stroked her head calming her down.
With a flash and a boom, a bolt of lightning struck where they had been in the woods, causing a burning tree to fall.
"Good call," Owena noted.
Thankfully the deluge soon ended. The party waited an hour or two more before Kiah suggested, "Shall we continue?"
"I think it's wise," stated the Wolf Warden.
With that they trudged north.
[Journey: Strong Hit with a Match]
[Reach Destination: Weak Hit]
By late afternoon a palisaded city on a hill came into view. Tapestries of blue and gold were slung over the wall, a golden axe in a river.
They reached Axe Brook.
We'll deal with the hit with a match plus the weak hit on Reach Destination in the next session.
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