Content Warning:
Violence, Animal Harm, Deals with Fae
Mystery of the Missing Path
During the opener there, I discovered Baz the Grocer and the well-to-do town of Wolfbrook nearby. Let's say it's 3 days out by foot. I put all that here after the fact for aesthetics. Again though, I might sometimes make snap decisions in this regard. If I do, I probably won't call them out in spoilers. Back to the regularly scheduled spoilers.
Let's Swear the Vow.
Now, I'm swearing this vow to travelers on the road, to Stormfall itself, and to the Iron Priesthood (in the sense that I am doing my job here). Because of this last, my Banner-Sworn Asset comes into play, giving me a reroll if I need it and boosting my XP if I solve it. I also get a +1 on the roll for swearing it to my bond. We'll call this introductory inciting incident Troublesome.
+heart: 1+2+1=4 vs 3 and 10. I'll reroll the 1 and the 10, getting a 1 on the Challenge die and a 3 on the Action die. New total 6 vs 3 and 1, Strong Hit. Puts me at 4 Momentum and it is clear what I must do next.
It's clear to me that I need to investigate the phenomena myself before I make any decisions. I've come across too many opinions on the matter already. Baz had insisted someone was playing a prank on an old man and had covered the path, leading to him getting lost in the surrounding woods. The lady before him, a warband novice returning from distant training claimed it was "damned invisible demons." And the man before her, a farmer visiting his son, was very confident it was fae.
"Magic is precious but Magic is dangerous," I recite to myself, ruefully adding, "especially in the hands of otherworldly creatures." I rub the back of my head, the newly shaven undercut prickling my palm, and set off. I am now only a few minutes walk from Stormfall so it takes me no time at all to find the familiar, wide path that leads up to the idyllic village atop the falls.
It's tempting to go say hello. I'm welcomed here, which is a unique experience. But no, I have a job to do first. And it's already getting dark. I look around and trace the edges of the path for a few meters. Hmm. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. I need more information.
Gather Information
I have Lorekeeper, so I'll search my memory for any kind of magical effect that mimics this whole missing path business. Just roll that into the normal Gather Info for checking the area out. I'll leave off the bond bonus for when I actually talk to someone in Stormfall, if I do. Lorekeeper gives me +1 normally but I think I have a couple of hours to really delve into it (which gives +2). First, I need to find out if I'm near an Iron Pillar. If I am, I can access the Archive directly. If not, I'll access it remotely by moving to stand on one of the connecting ley lines between the two nearest pillars. Let's ask that question.
Oracle, is there a Pillar nearby (Likely)? 19, no.
Will the Ley Line pull me off the path (Almost Certain)? 22, yes. Far (Unlikely)? 25, no. So it'll just pull me into the woods. That's a mixed bag, for sure. Probably the best way to examine the phenomena is to experience it directly but doing so means I'm gone for several days.
Gather Information:
+wits: 3+2+5=10 vs 7 and 5, Strong Hit. Another +2 Momentum (now at 6) and helpful, specific info. I think I do get sucked in then. Let's find out what's causing this.
I'll Reach a Milestone here and mark progress, 3 boxes for Troublesome.
Nothing for it. I raise my arms and clang my iron bracelets together. I watch the soundwaves reverberate visibly around me, as though a thing alive searching. The waves continue to undulate and, as I concentrate, they become shorter to the northwest. The waves increase in rapidity as I step off the path and into the woods. And lo, there does the Iron call to me. There do I hear it speak my name and there I move to be. I can taste the metal in my mouth. The waves fade back into sound, which fades into the normal sounds of the forest. A thrill runs through me. My link with the Archive is taught as a bowstring.
I can see the Archive in my mind's eye and it is almost as if I have astrally projected myself into that space. Zooming through the Stacks, endless volumes pass by. Each one is the record and resting place of some spell, artifact, or creature's power. For one trained in its use to a great extent, the essence of creation is at their fingertips. For me, well, I've been in the Priesthood for years and I still barely understand the scope of the Iron Archive. Enough to pull out some useful prestidigitation every now and then. Ah, here we go. I slide a book off the shelf. And come back to myself.
I look behind me. Naturally, the path is gone. Night has somehow fallen. I've lost track of time, then. I am now a victim of whatever sorcery is afoot here. I use the small cantrip I've just pulled from the Archive. My senses sharpen noticeably. The darkness between the trees brightens to an almost daylight level and every sound of the forest is laid bare to my ears. Any magic veils are stripped away. I'll only have a few minutes but it should be enough to find a clue.
What are we dealing with?
We know it's something helpful and specific. Let's ask the oracle some questions that come to mind.
Oracle, is this a horror, a fae creature (50/50)? 96, absolutely.
What is the nature of this horror? Is it violent (Unlikely)? 95, it is. Hm, so it's violent but three people recently walked away from it.
Is it me that makes it violent (Unlikely)? 68, no, but just barely. So it's more violent toward me than others. Or, well, it's more dangerous toward me.
Okay, you know, I think I know what this is then. I envisioned horrors as creepy, faustianesque fae anyway. I think this particular one takes days from people, lifeforce. They sit in limbo and it drains them quietly. I'll need to hunt it.
The smallest of sounds to my right. I snap my head in that direction and catch the barest glimpse of a bone white mask ducking behind a tree. One, two, one, two...it's faint but...it's running! I give chase, barreling through the underbrush like a boar. I can see the creature ahead, fairly skipping along as if gravity held no real dominion over it. It glances back at me, that cold bone face assessing my progress. Impossibly, it increases its speed and I soon lose sight of it. But to a skilled tracker like myself, it has left a trail to follow.
The Hunt
As a Slayer, when I Gather Information tracking a horror, I get +1 on the roll and +1 Momentum on a hit.
Gather Information:
+wits:3+1+3=7 vs 7 and 3, Weak Hit. +1 Momentum (bumped to +2 for Slayer) and a complication. Momentum at 8 now.
What's this complication?
Oracle, is there someone else in here (Unlikely)? 45, no.
Some other dangerous creature then. Another fae (50/50)? 10, no. A Beast.
Is the beast magical (50/50)? 75, yes.
Got it. Oh, that's interesting. Princess Mononoke influence incoming. I think there's an Iron Blighted beastie in here. And...oh, hold on.
Oracle, are the horror's intentions here evil (50/50)? 43, no...no, they're not. The fae is trying to heal the creature with siphoned lifeforce. That's definitely a complication! Especially since we know that Iron Blighted creatures are maddened.
I think it will attack anything nearby and I think I've been led into a trap.
The oversized buck comes smashing through the trees, hate and fury in its eyes. I can see forest fires in those eyes. It stands a good 15 feet tall, its antlers soaring even higher. It's skin is patched over with plates of bloody iron, burrowing into painfully infected flesh. It moves through the vegetation as though it isn't even there. I've been led, foolishly, into a trap. I catch a glimpse of the fae creature more fully in my peripheral. The bone white mask, the black velvet get up, peeking at me and the woodland spirit. But I have no time to focus on it now.
Woodland Buck Spirit
This thing is maddened so it's main tactic is going to be charging me and trying to gore me over and over. It looks like I won't have to fight the fae...it seems disinterested in direct conflict. This sort of creature would normally be an Extreme rank but I think its not in full control of its faculties and is already hurting. That, combined with the fact that I am a Slayer (from a narrative standpoint, the asset isn't giving extra or anything), means I'm going to rank it down to Formiddable.
Enter the Fray and Combat
I've been ambushed, so I'll roll wits.
+wits: 3+4=7 vs 4 and 4, Strong Hit with a Match. +2 Momentum (puts me at 10) and Initiative. The match is my realization that I can strike the iron to bring this thing down faster. For the purposes of this fight, then, my fists will be deadly weapons doing 2 Harm instead of 1.
Secure an Advantage
Normally, I'd say striking the plates would require precision but its fairly covered in this, so I'm going with overwhelming aggression. Slayer is giving me a +1 either way.
+iron: 2+1+6=9 vs 8 and 10, Weak Hit. I'll spend my momentum and cancel them both, giving me a Strong Hit instead. Momentum resets to 2. Goes up to 3 from Slayer. I take control, getting +1 on my next roll.
Strike (while the iron's hot)
+iron 2+1+6=9 vs 6 and 5, Strong Hit. +1 Harm, retain Init. Deals 3 Harm total, which is 3 boxes.
Secure Advantage
+iron: 2+1+5=8 vs 5 and 9, Weak Hit. +1 Momentum (2 for Slayer, up to 5 now). But no bonus this time.
Strike
+iron 2+5=7 vs 4 and 4, Strong Hit with a Match. +1 Harm, retain Init, call it...+1 more Harm for the Match. 4 Harm, up to 7 Boxes filled. One more round.
Secure
+iron: 2+1+6=9 vs 9 and 5, Weak Hit. +1 (+2) Momentum (at 7).
Strike
+iron 2+3=5 vs 10 and 3, Weak Hit. Lose Initiative, 2 Harm done (9 box). But I can't end the fight yet.
Turn the Tide - Strike
Steal Initiative. +iron 2+1+1=4 vs 6 and 4, Miss. I'll burn Momentum again (second time this combat, this is scraping by with a win for sure). Strong Hit. Momentum back to 2, up to 3. Full Progress.
End the Fight
Challenge Dice: 8 and 3 vs 10 Progress, Strong Hit. I don't want to kill the buck so I use my last slobberknocker to knock it unconscious.
Winning this fight is a milestone, so I'll mark progress, up to 6 boxes now.
As the great beast comes at me, I center myself and brace to dive out of the way. I might be able to survive the charge of a lesser creature but this big guy can smash apart thousand year old trees into kindling. I move. I keep moving. The creature lowers its head and plows a deep furrow in the soft earth. I barrel roll to the side and it comes up short against some tree roots. As it struggles to free itself, I realize its flesh is more mottled with the disease than I previously assumed. No doubt the poor thing is in a great deal of pain. I resolve to at least give it some relief by way of a nap. It frees its antlers from beneath the woodland floor and swings its head around to find me. With a wide, powerful haymaker, I send its head snapping back in the direction it came from. My fist finds purchase on the iron growing near its snout and it lets out a low bawl.
I waste no time, taking no pleasure in this creature's suffering. I move in close, drop into a wide legged horse stance and punch with both fists simultaneously, one a foot above the other, into the wounded creature's ribcage. A broad plate festers there and I can feel the skin of my knuckles break against it. The Great Buck stumbles but does not fall. I duck under as it sweeps its antlers around, nearly decapitating me. This puts me in the perfect position for an uppercut to its lower jaw. Doesn't do much, fighting animals is a whole other affair from fighting people. But it gives me the time to step up onto one of the fallen trunks. With the height advantage, I leap down and slam my fist down somewhere near the occipital bone. The hit rattles its brain in its skull enough to send it down into unconsciousness. It topples over with more thunder than any of the trees it toppled itself.
Breathing hard, I look up from the fallen spirit to lock gazes with the fae opposite the newly made clearing. Even through its impassive mask, I perceive its slight head movements as it considers my Iron Bracelets. To make a point, I shake my bloody fists out. The Iron beads jangle loudly. "Okay, creature. I'm ready if you want to try it."
The fae is standing in the open now, perched on one pointed foot and held aloft in perfect balance. The effect is unnerving. It's dressed resplendently in a black velvet suit and vest with gold filigree trim. Its head is completely encased in a smooth, startlingly white bone mask with two wide pitch black circles for eyes and a single, small black circle for a mouth. It has the look of being both perpetually surprised and eternally curious. But not in a cute way. Curious in the way that it looks at me like it wonders what my insides would look like decorating this clearing like holiday garland. I decide I don't like this look, not one little bit.
"I don't like the way your mouth says 'creature,' human," it says to me slowly.
"That's tough," I shoot back.
"I'll forget it soon enough. You know what seems tough, human? You." It tilts its head to stare at the Buck Spirit, laid low at my feet.
"Compliments?" I ask.
"Observations," it returns as it goes back to studying me.
"Mm. So. I think I understand the situation but I don't understand your motives. You're helping this creature." It was a statement. "Why?"
"Your brain draws conclusions quickly. You are apart from the others. And I saw your magic, priest. I help the Buck because the Buck helps me...but only if it is healthy. A dead Buck is of no use to one such as I." It sways a little in the wind, like tall grass in a field or a reed in the water.
"I don't like the way you say 'priest,' creature. What use is a woodland spirit to you?" I ask.
"That's tough," it muses. "The Buck, in any case, is useful to me because, absent this cursed disease, its wellspring of lifeforce is overflowing and unending. I borrow from these travelers so that I may combat the sickness. With the Buck, I need not concern myself in the affairs of mortals. Your hands...they are too dangerous." The fae creature glances at my fists again. The sway seems more deliberate now. I tense. It stops swaying.
"If I end you now, creature," I say seriously, "you won't be feeding on anyone at all."
Before I can so much as slide into a fighting stance to prove my intention, it counters, "Yes, that's true. But you will never catch me to end me, priest. Your legs and hands simply aren't...fast enough."
I think of Sarria now. She'd try this thing anyway. Her sheer bullheadedness wouldn't let her do it another way. But I saw how the fae avoided gravity like the ground itself was akin to the clouds in the sky. I saw the effortlessness with which it led me astray. I look down at the Buck, breathing hard into the dirt. I think also of Sarria's own condition. I don't like it but maybe the creature is right. Maybe this is a piece of the puzzle I need to solve the Blight. If it is true that the Buck's lifeforce is regenerative, would it really be such a harm to leave them to their odd symbiosis? I just don't know. I don't have enough information.
I unclench my fists and stand down. "Fine," I say to the creature across the broad, sleeping body of the Buck, "I will allow you to proceed for now. I suspect the only reason the Buck has made it this long is because you are standing above a magical network. A connection flows through here."
The creature looks surprised; though again, that could just be its mask. It glances down, as though capable of simply seeing what takes me a great deal of concentration and effort to conjure. "So it does," the creature says.
Uncomfortable, I proceed. "Take the creature to an Iron Pillar. There is one to the northwest. Don't stay near it but instead return three times a day at dawn, midday, and dusk. For the creature, this will be but a temporary solution. Do not harm any other travelers. In return, I will see what I can do about a more permanent solution."
"Why would I accept these terms?" the creature asks.
"Terms? I'm telling you what you will do. And you will accept that because I am the only one of us capable of travel. I may seek out the solution. You will play nursemaid to your deer friend."
"Deal." It makes a sound like a chuckle and crouches down to watch over the Buck carefully.
Mark Progress
I can Mark Progress on both my quests, I should think. Brings us to 9 boxes on the Mystery of the Missing Path.
Fulfill your Vow
Challenge Dice: 8 and 8 vs 9 Progress, Strong Hit. I can't remember if you do Matches on Progress Moves but I'll keep it in mind. Something favorable has come of this. I get 1 XP for completing it and 1 bonus XP for Banner-Sworn.
Brings us to 1 tick on the Epic goal. This is kind of a cheat in the sense that we already knew about the Pillar's properties from the Truths and the character background with Sarria we did. But I'm going to count this scene as a counterpart to that, showing how the Blight affects other creatures and how magical creatures risk their magic to get rid of the Blight (or slow it, however we're doing that). I think that's enough extra info to warrant the tick.
Side Note: I completely forgot I had Iron Knuckles. Let's just say he couldn't get to them in time.
I am somewhat taken aback. Have I just entered into a contract with the fae? And here I thought I was the clever one.
Next: Issue Two
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