Careena 12 - Walking And Talking

   Last time, we ended with Careena swearing an iron vow to serve Gamana for a year and a day. I set that vow as extreme due to its length and it's my plan to fast forward through most of its length. Anyway, on with the story ...

---

Careena stood and asked Gamana, "Shall we go?" and then, "Which way?"

"Yes, my friend, we go north-west and talk as we walk," Gamana replied, and mentioning deeds to words, she picked up her load and strode north-westwards, with Careena following.

---

As they walked, they initially discussed the Augur ritual comparing Rhuddli's method with Gamana's. Gamana was surprised that Rhuddli chanted while the ravens' were present and could not understand its purpose - until Careena related the words of the chant.

It seemed that Rhuddli's chant was intended for him to hear the result of any Augur that was performed with it ... Rhuddli had intended to eavesdrop on Careen's Augurs ...

And then, when the result of Rhuddli's last Augur came up - that he should collect a debt - it emerged that he had lied about that; Gamana had never owed Rhuddli anything.

About the only thing that was true, was the attack of the Simulacrum. Gamana had never heard of a ritual able to pull its target into the dreamworld in the way that Rhuddli had described to Careena and severely doubted that it was possible.

As to why he would lie, they had no clue, and no idea who had Awakened the Simulacrum either! Unless Rhuddli had done that and faked the whole thing? but why?!

They could not discern the answers they sought without more information and resolved to use their rituals to try to learn more, but not until thsy had put more distance between them and Rhuddli. So their conversation moved on to other things.

Careena naturally wanted to know more about Dweomer, so asked Gamana to explain ...

---

Dweomer is the art of magic and mainly consists of manipulating the five elements - Aethyr (the spirit element that gives life to all things), Air, Earth Fire and Water in the environment and in creatures. Behind the elements and their Kings stand two forces - the Light and the Dark which are the two types of (mutually exclusive) Dweomer.

The Light requires the service of the practitioner, they must subsume themselves to it, freely allow it to enter their soul. It requires a life of service, putting the good of the many first and others' needs before one's own. Their beliefs and actions are summed up as 'Do as you would have others do unto you'.

The Dark Dweomer demands nothing of its practitioners, but even so, it still enters their soul making them grasping, greedy creatures, seeking nothing but their own gratification and continued existence. 'I will do as I will, for I am the only being that matters' is their credo.

Rituals are the way those un-trained in Dweomer can achieve magical effects - anyone that has learnt a ritual correctly can use it to mimic Dweomer. Only a few are able to learn Dweomer and the first step is always learning to open one's Sight. Without it, one cannot pierce the Veil and see the forces to manipulate them.

---

Rhuddli, Gamana said, did not have the Sight and all that he had taught Careena were lies, a waste of time, the only purpose of which that they could surmise, was to keep Careena serving Rhuddli.

Gamana could tell that Careena did have the Sight, she just had to learn to open it, something that Gamana was confident that Careena was well able to. Careena swore to herself that she would learn to open her Sight and take her first steps on the Dweomer-road.

   Swear an Iron Vow: I will learn to open my Sight (dangerous); 4 +2 [heart] vs 3,4; strong hit +2 mom -> 10

They walked the rest of the day, steadily but somewhat slowly to Careena's mind - still it was faster than Rhuddli walked ... until as night fell, they made camp.

   Make Camp: 6 +2 [supply] vs 8,10; miss BURN (mom reset to 2) -> weak hit, choose Focus +1 mom -> 3

It was a cold and wet night, and the new day dawned wet as well. "My lady," Careena began, but Gamana interrupted her.

"Careena, did we not agree that we are friends?", she waited for Careena to nod, "Then why do you call me 'my lady' - you do remember my name?"
"Yes, I do my- Gamana," Careena replied, "It is meant as respect, but if you insist I will stop."

"I do, it implies a position of power over you that I do not have, nor do I want. It may not seem an important thing, but it creates a position of mind that can effect your learning in a very detrimental fashion," Gamana explained.

"Thank you explaining, Gamana," Careena replied. "Before we set off today, I'll have to forage for supplies as those we have are running low."

   Resupply: 3 +3 [wits] vs 5,2; strong hit, +2 supply -> 4

Careena's foraging was very successful and quick, so they set off before the sun had risen very high. They did not speak for the morning - Gamana had told Careena to meditate upon what they had discussed the day before and that morning.

   Careena's learnt a lot in only one day, including that some of the progress that she had made was worthless, so I'm got mark progress on a couple of vows ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, -> 7/10
   Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, -> 2/10

Careena examined the lessons that she thought she should learn from her conversations with Gamana and examined them closely, before rejecting them each in turn, until none were left. As they stopped for their mid-day meal, Careena said to Gamana, "I do not know what I have learned. I am sorry."

Gamana was silent until after they had eaten and cleared everything away. She had Careena kneel and then knelt herself in front of, taking both of Careena's hands in her own - "You have put the most important lesson into practice, though you know it not. Never, ever, be afraid to say that you do not know. Being afraid to admit your ignorance is the first step on the road to pride. It leads to failing to admit to mistakes and then spirals down to the Dark Dweomer."

"Now we continue our journey, you will meditate further and I am sure that you tell me the lesson that you have learnt by the time we stop for the day at the Dark Rapids," Gamana finished.

Before long they were on their way and Careena was once again meditating upon their discussions. Once again, she examined them. This time, however, as Gamana had requested silence for the morning, she asked questions of Gamana.

Gamana seem pleased by Careena's speaking up and explained to Careena, "You listened to my request exactly and followed it the same way. In our learning that is something that you must do."

Careena attacked her ideas, until finally a new one settled in her mind. She examined it, tore it apart and rebuilt, becoming more and more sure that it was correct. She conjured counters to it and saw that none them held water.

She was so engrossed that she lost track of time and was surprised when Gamana called their final halt of the day.

"Gamana," Careena began, "My learning will be with you, not from you. It is a path that we are walking together, not one that you will lead me upon."

Mask-less Gamana

"Yes, Careena, that is quite right and now that you know that, you have taken your second step upon that road," and so saying, removed her mask, and Careena could see her beautiful smile for the first time.

   More progress I believe, so I'm going to mark it on her vows ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, -> 8/10
   Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, -> 4/10

And time to pause again; more soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 11 - A Change in Masters

   We left the last post with Careena delivering the Chief's message to Gamana, and Gamana making a strange pronouncement about visitors, so we'll pick it up there ...

---

"I need a new home," Gamana began, "Will you help me?"

"I would be happy to do so, my lady," Careena replied, "But I have something to ask of you. Will you be my master? I have learnt of myself that I am not a suitable student for Rhuddli."

Gamana looked at Careena for a long moment. "Of course I will Careena, and I must say that your turn of phrase is both excellent and does you credit."

"The only thing that I regret is that we have to tell Rhuddli - that will not be ... pleasant."

   This is a big change for Careena, and is worthy of ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, -> 6/10

"Well, we can't do that until he comes back, so let us begin on your home shall we?" Careena began, "What do you need?"

   Gather Information: 1 +3 [wits] vs 8,8; miss with a twist
   I'm not going to roll for the twist as I've had an idea that I can use here.

"Well, as to that," Gamana began, "The message that you brought me has completely changed the situation; my sister has invited me to return to the Tribe."

"Is that good news?" asked Careena, "I would have thought that you would be pleased, but you seem not to be ... it is hard to tell with the mask after all ..."

"I do not know, Careena," replied Gamana, "She was my sister once, but as I have said before, it has been many cycles of the seasons since last we met and I fear me that this may be a trap - it is unknown among our people for someone who lost in the circle to return to the same tribe."
Gamana stood in a thoughtful pose, unconsciously (or so it seemed) tapping the message tube against the bottom of her mask.

"Do you know the Sway ritual Careena?" Gamana asked, and when Careena nodded, continued - "Can you perform it for me please? I have always found that the answer is clearer when performed for someone else, and it may help with the Augur that I will perform after."

"Of course my lady," Careena replied - she was only to happy to help

   Ritual - Sway: 1 +3 [wits] vs 2,3; strong hit, answer given

Careena centred herself and spoke Gamana's name three times to the wind ... "Find old friends ..." came the reply to her which she passed to Gamana.

"Hmmm ... well, it helps," Gamana said. "Now, have you learnt the Augur ritual?" Gamana asked.

"I have observed it performed, but not done so myself as yet," Careena replied.

"Well, observe me - I would be most interested to see how I and Rhuddli differ in our methods," and Gamana began her Augur.

Gamana's version of Augur was much briefer than Rhuddli's and she spoke few words, none after the crows arrived - Rhuddli's had a chant that lasted from the crows' arrival to their departure.

As the crows circled Gamana, Careena - as she had expected - heard no speech in their cries, but she knew that Gamana would be learning the answer to her question - whatever it may have been ...

Their task done, the crows broke their circling and dispersed, returning whence they came.

"Well now I know what we - may I include you Careena?" Gamana interrupted herself to ask.

"Of course, my lady," replied Careena.

"Good - your answer gladdens my heart, I thank you," Gamana replied smiling - or so Careena though, those damned masks ...

"Well, I know what we must do. First, wait here and do what we must with Rhuddli. Then we will head north to meet the visitors I was told to expect - I believe that they are the old friends you were told of. And then, we will head east to meet new friends."

"Good, I am glad that we have a plan. I'll get the rest of my belongings from Sammay and yours that she carries as she is Rhuddli's pony and I am s certain as can be that he will insist upon taking her."

"Before you do that Careena," Gamana began, "Have you sworn a vow to Rhuddli, I would not have you an Oath-breaker on my account."

"If I did, then I am not aware of it and thus it would be no true vow. Neither, man nor god could, or would, hold me to it," Careena said with complete certainty.

Collecting all of Careena's and Gamana's belongings and bundling up produced loads for both of them. Careena's was far the larger but she believed that she could manage it and still match Gamana's walking pace. She would have to be quick about dumping it if it came to a fight though ...

They had just begun to compare the Augur ritual as Gamana had conducted it and how Careena had seen Rhuddli performed it, when Rhuddli returned to the glade, "Naming calls ..." muttered Careena to herself.

Careena strode across the glade to Rhuddli, and went down on one knee in front of him, "Master," she began, "I am leaving your service and entering that of Lady Gamana."

"What!?" shouted Rhuddli, "You cannot! You swore a vow to serve me!"

"I did not," replied Careena, "I made no such vow," Careena finished, the ring of iron in her words.

   I'm going to use a Face Danger move here to convince Rhuddli of the truth in Careena's statement. I'll use the An Immovable Object ability from the Dwarf-Blood asset here as her stubbornness is in play here.
   Face Danger: 4 +2 [heart] +1 [An Immovable Object] vs 7,3; weak hit, Endure Stress (-1 spirit -> 4)
   Endure Stress: 3 +4 [spirit] vs 2,5; strong hit, shake it off (-1 mom -> 7, + 1 spirit -> 5)

Careena's complete and utter certainty that she had sworn no such vow, left no room for Rhuddli to try and convince her, so he gave up trying and turned his ire upon Gamana

   I think that this - "A Dwarf never forgets their vows" - says that Careena has reached a milestone for her vow
   Reach a Milestone: I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf, -> 5/20

But Careena would not have it - "This is no doing of Gamana's - it is my choice. I will no longer be your apprentice - it is time for me to move on. I bear you no ill will Rhuddli, as I hope that you bear me none."

   I'm going to make a 'Test Your Bond' move here. At the moment I have no interest in maintaining this bond, but it will make for story opportunities further along the line, so I'll leave it to the move
   Test Your Bond: 3 +2 [heart] vs 6,9; miss, clear the bond & Pay the Price
   that answers that then ...

"You are determined upon this course," said Rhuddli looking closely at Careena, "and I can tell that nothing that I say will deter you. Very well then Careena of Hillbarrow."

Rhuddli strode to Sammay and took up her reins, turned to face Careena and said, "You have betrayed my faith and trust; you are nothing to me - do not seek my help or claim to know me. I pronounce my curse upon you and yours." With that he strode away into the forest, tugging Sammay along behind him.

   Right, time to Pay the Price which will be -1 spirit -> 4
   Endure Stress: 3 +4 [spirit] vs 4,10; weak hit, press on

Careena turned to Gamana and said, "I'll miss Sammay the pony more than him." She bent to retrieve her load from the ground, took her axe in her hand and said to Gamana, "Shall we begin our journey?"

"We shall my friend, for friend I name you because of the bond of friendship between us," Gamana replied

   Forge a Bond: 4 +2 [heart] vs 2,4; strong hit, mark bond, choose +1 spirit -> 5

"But first," she continued, "There is something that I need from you. Much as it pains my heart to ask this, the lore of the Elves requires it. For me to lead you upon the path of the marked and thence to the true magic - the Dweomer as it is called - you must swear a vow to serve me for a year and a day."

"The 'Dweomer'? But that is naught more than children's tales like the Wildfolf!" Careena responded.

Gamana made no reply. She stood perfectly still and looked into Careena's eyes.

Careena decided. She wanted to know and she wanted to learn, so she knelt before Gamana and took her right hand in both of hers. "I, Careena, an apprentice, do swear to you, my master Gamana, upon the iron in my soul, that I will serve you for a year and a day."

   Swear an Iron Vow: I will serve Gamana for a year and a day (extreme); 5 +2 [heart] +1 [bond] vs 4,7; strong hit, +2 mom -> 9

Time to pause once again; more soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 10 - Careena Returns

   At the end of the last post, Careena had completed her Keen ritual and set out upon her journey again, so we'll pick up from that

---

   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 2/10; 6 +3 [wits] vs 6,5; strong hit, prog 4/10

As the sun reached its highest, Careena reached the ford that Kenda had described and knew that she was both on the right track and making very good progress - the amazement at how fast she could travel without Rhuddli was beginning to become a resentment that he was holding back.

When Careena realised this, she was honestly shocked at herself for thinking of her master in that way, and examined her resentment for all sides testing its veracity and seeking its source. But she never stopped moving as she contemplated her feeling.

   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 4/10; 1 +3 [wits] vs 10,3; weak hit, prog 6/10, -1 supply -> 4

As evening drew on, Careena found the foul hovel that Kenda had described, its rotten overgrown timbers made the place look and smell foul indeed. Careena carried on until she found a thicket that she could crawl into. As she lay waiting for sleep to claim her, she reflected that travelling when you knew the landmarks that you wanted to see was a cursed sight easier and more enjoyable than when you didn't and that if she continued to crawl into thickets to sleep, she needed to get herself a mail shirt like one of Lady Mertree's warriors wore.

   End of the second day's travel seems like its time to ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver the Chief's reply to Gamana, -> 2/10
   Make Camp: 4 +4 [supply] vs 9,2; weak hit, choose Prepare (+1 to next UaJ)

Careena's journey through the forest the next day ...

   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 6/10; 2 +3 [wits] vs 8,6; miss -> Pay the Price

... but Careena was distracted. She had reached the conclusion that Rhuddli should no longer be her master - she would ask Gamana to become her master, but how would she do this? She doubted, knowing Rhuddli's petty nature that he would be happy about it ... Perhaps she should kill him?

She was seriously considering this idle thought that had somehow become a serious thought, when she rounded a corner of the deer trail that she followed when suddenly there was a bear on the trail in front her.

Acting quickly, Careena slipped out of her backpack to make her more agile if it came to a fight.

   Careena is trying to Secure an Advantage for a fight, but we don't know how the bear will react? Ask the Oracle will tell us, but the chance will be based on how the SaA move results ...
   Secure an Advantage: 6 +1 [edge] vs 7,4; weak hit, +1 mom -> 3
   ... ok, weak hit is going to be 50/50, 51 or more it attacks ... 47

But it seemed that the bear did not want to interrupt its day, so after a short, but VERY loud roar at Careena for her temerity, it meandered off the trail and into the trees.

It took Careena several hundred heartbeats for her to collect herself - not that long given how fast her heart was pounding ... and then she realised what had happened. She had been sent a warning - her treacherous thoughts about killing her master had lead the gods to warn her ... Careena offered up a prayer of thanks to them and dismissed the murderous concept from her mind.

She shouldered her pack once more and, suitably chastened continued onward.

   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 6/10; 4 +3 [wits] vs 6,5; strong hit, prog -> 8/10, choose Move at Speed (+1 mom -> 4, -1 supply -> 3)

Careena reached another expected landmark and soon after made her camp.

   Time for another ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver the Chief's reply to Gamana, -> 4/10
   Make Camp: 1 +3 [supply] vs 2,1; strong hit, choose Focus (+1 mom -> 5) & Prepare (+1 to next UaJ)

Careena expected to reach the area where Gamana had said she would locate her new home on the morrow, but she still had to actually find where it was - something she was not looking forward to. Given the way that Elves built their tree-houses, it could take days to find it ... Still that was tomorrow's task and losing sleep over it tonight would help no-one.

The morning dawned grey and wet. Careena was not surprised, the fair weather that had just ended was, after all, unusual for the time of year - the winter would soon be upon them and she fervently hoped that Gamana's new home would be ready before the first snows fell ...

   To be honest, I completely forgot about the weather until just now. One of the things clear in Ironsworn's default setting - the Ironlands - is the extreme harshness of the winters, so I wanted to bring that in to the game soon, but have decided to fore-shadow it a bit. Plus its oncoming nature can effect the plot - "winter is coming" anyone?
   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 8/10; 5 +3 [wits] vs 8,5; weak hit, prog -> 10/10, -1 supply -> 2)
   Reach Your Destination: The area of Gamana's new home; prog 10 vs 7,2; strong hit, make another move at +1
   But before that move, this is another ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver the Chief's reply to Gamana, -> 6/10

At what Careena guessed was around mid-day - the cloud had thickened during the morning and it was now impossible to see the sun - she came to the area that Gamana's house would be located. Looking around told her that someone had passed that way, two someones in fact with a laden pony.

   Gather Information: 3 +3 [wits] +1 [RYD above] vs 8,9; miss - "investigation unearths a dire threat"

The tracks that Careena believed were those of Gamana, Rhuddli and Sammay were soon overtrodden by some strange tracks that Carrena neither liked, nor recognised - they looked very strange indeed. They looked like they had been made by human feet, but Carrena had never seen a human foot with only two toes ... Careena followed those of her friends and was very happy when the strange tracks broke off to the south-west.

Careena - for a reason that she could not name - believed that these strange tracks were made by the figure that she had seen with the Varou Lord on the way to Thornfall and was none too eager to meet their owner ...

   Gather Information: 5 +3 [wits] vs 7,5; strong hit, +2 mom -> 7

Before long, Careena had found Rhuddli, Sammay and Gamana, and as they were when last she saw them, they were arguing bitterly in a small glade by a stream. Neither had noticed her arrival and they continue to harangue each other. Careena said nothing, observing their argument trying to learn what it was about before trying to stop it.

Careena is going to try and Secure an Advantage before stepping in with a Compel move ...
Secure an Advantage: 2 +3 [wits] vs 6,4; weak hit, +1 mom -> 8

Apparently, it was all about Gamana's new home - she had asked Rhuddli if he and Careena would help her build one while Rhuddli was refusing point blank. Careena could not believe Rhuddli's refusals - he was putting his own desires before Gamana's needs and she prepared to wade in on Gamana's side.

Compel: 1 +2 [heart] vs 3,6; miss

Despite Careena's best efforts, Rhuddli would not, as Careena thought of it, see reason. How could they just abandon her to freeze in the coming winter? Rhuddli stormed off in the end - something that Careena had come to realise, he did an awful lot ...

   Having ended the argument - entirely unsatisfactorily all round - Careena has an opportunity to deliver the message, so it's time for another ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver the Chief's reply to Gamana, -> 8/10

Rhuddli gone, Careena pulled out the tube and handed it to Gamman, saying "My lady Gamana, I deliver to you the reply from the Chief of the Thornbinders as I swore to do."

Fulfil Your Vow: prog 8 vs 7,1; strong hit, 2xp

"Thank you Careena," Gamana said, bowing over the tube as she took it from Careena. "You are always polite and respectful, if only your master would learn from you ..."

Twisting the end of the tube, Gamana opened it - and as Careena expected - a cloud of silver dust emptied from the tube, then coalesced into a spiral, spinning around Gamana's body before disappearing into her eyes and mouth.

After a few moments, Gamana opened her eyes and said, in a very distracted voice, "Well ... that is a surprise! I will have some visitors before long. But that is for another time, there are many things to resolve first ..."

   I'm going to spend some xp here and buy one of the abilities from Dwarf-Blood, that I think that Careena has learnt.
   Advance: 2xp to buy the An Immovable Object ability from Dwarf-Blood

And time to pause; more soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 09 - A Postie for the Elves ...

   At the end of the last post, Careena handed over the message from Gamana, so we'll pick up there

---

The Chief took the tube from Kendalanu, twisted off the end and tipped it so that the contents would fall out. Careena had been expecting a scroll or somesuch to come out, but the fact that Chief did not put here hand under the open end made her doubt that.

Even so, Careena was surprised when a cloud of silver dust, emptied from the tube and then coalesced to spiral around the Chief's body before disappearing into her eyes and mouth ...

Kendalanu moved not an inch, so Careena remained stationary as well, awaiting a reaction from the Chief. Nothing happened to start with - the Chief remained stationary, doing nothing. Careena believed that eyes were closed as well, but the light was all wrong for her to be sure - not that it mattered in the slightest. Then the Chief whirled upon her heel and strode to the rope ladder that still dangled from above.

It seemed that Kendalanu had expected this for she turned to Careena and without missing a beat said, "Our Chief thanks you for your efforts. Would you be gracious enough to wait and see if there is a reply please? Whether there is or no, I will escort you to the limits of our territory, whichever way you wish to leave. Also, our Chief has named you Guest-Friend of the Tribe. You may stay with us in the trees or here on the ground as you desire and may freely visit our Tribe in the future."

   I'm going to use this opportunity to add a bond with the Elven village - really need to name it too ...
   Forge a Bond: 4 +2 vs 8,7; miss BURN mom (reset to 2) -> strong hit, choose +2mom -> now 4

"Thank-you Kendalanu, that is most kind of you. If it does not offend though, I will remain here. Heights are no friend to me, and I would not inflict my Iron upon your people," replied Careena bowing to the Elf as she spoke.

"It is a wise person that knows their limits, and a kind one that puts others before themselves," she said, "But here now, you a friend of the village of Thornfall, home of the Thornbinders - for that is the name of our Tribe, which you may now know - and you may call me Kenda."

Careena had learned to recognise the smile in Kenda's voice and smile broadly back at her

"But I must attend upon my Chief. I will return as soon as I may," and with that she scrambled up the ladder.

   I'm not sure how I want the obviously difficult? strained? relationship between Gamana and the Chief - whether it's her sister Utamara or not - to develop, so I'm going to Ask the Oracle whether there is a reply, giving it a likely chance.  Actually, first I'm going to Ask the Oracle - is Utamara the Chief? I think that is likely as well ... for likely a roll of 26 or more is a Yes
   Ask the Oracle - is Utamara the Chief? d100 = 60; Yes Utamara is the Chief
   That's settled then; let's ask the other question ...
   Ask the Oracle - does the Chief reply to Gamana's message? d100 =38; Yes, she does.
   But what does she reply? Well "Let's play to find out" ...

Careena didn't expect to see the Chief or Kendalanu again until morning as it was now late in the day, so she prepared her camp for the night.

   As she has a bond with the tribe now, Careean will nut use Make Camp, instead she will ...
   Sojourn: 1 +2 [heart] +1 [bond w. Tribe] vs 3,3; choose Plan, +2 mom, now -> 6
   Wow! that bond turned a miss into a strong hit with a positive twist!

Her camp prepared, but not yet tired, Careena pulled out her sling from herr pack. She hadn't practiced with it for too long, and this seemed like a fine opportunity. Unfortunately, her sling seemed much the worse for neglect and the pebble bag had a hole - she'd lost most of those that she had collected ...

Undaunted, Careena started to practice, but it seemed that the tear in the sling's pocket was ruining her casts. She was at the point of giving up when she heard someone climbing down the ladder. On of the tribe had climbed down and came over to Careena. After some farcical hand gestures and miming, Careena eventually learnt that her new friend couldn't speak her language - they worked that out quickly! - and he was offering to swap his sling and pouch of stones for Careena's, which he would repair.

   Mechanically, this kind gesture is for the positive twist and gives Careena +1 supply -> now 5, and also an 'in' for the Slinger asset should I want to buy it at some point as I am considering doing.

Very grateful, Careena swapped slings, bowing frequently to convey her thanks to her benefactor. As he climbed the ladder, Careena took a few practice casts with the sling. It was much better than her old one and the pouch contained a lot of evenly matched stones, all worn smooth by a river or stream.

Extremely pleased, Careena settled down for the night.

When she awoke, it was to find Kendalanu - "Kenda now," she corrected herself - again crouched on her haunches watching. "Good morning," Careena said, rolling out of her blankets and beginning to pack her things.

"It is," replied Kenda. "The Chief will come when you have eaten," she finished in her sparse way.

So Careena, quickly ate her breakfast, packed her kit and began to wait for the Elven Chief.

In next to no time, the Chief descended the ladder and stood in front of Careena with Kenda at her side.

She removed the same silver tube from under her cloak and handed it to Kenda, who passed it to Careena.

Holding the tube in both hands, Careena bowed over it to the Chief, and said, "Chief of the Thornbinders, I swear upon the Iron in my soul that I will deliver this message to Gamana for you."

   Swear an Iron Vow: I will deliver the Chief's reply to Gamana (dangerous): 3 +2 [heart] +1 [bond w. Tribe] vs 5,4; strong hit, +2 mom -> now 8

Seemingly pleased, the Chief nodded to Careena, turned to the ladder and swiftly climbed up. Once she reached the top, it was pulled up after her.

Her tenure in the Elven village at an end, Careena put her backpack in place, retrieved her walking axe and strode off toward the south-east, where Gamana had said her new home would be.

As they walked, Careena questioned Kenda about the terrain she should expect upon her journey and any landmarks that she should look out for

   Secure an Advantage: 6 +3 [wits] vs 6,2; strong hit, choose Take Control for +1 on next move<

Kenda was full of helpful information, and when they parted in the mid-afternoon, having reached the end of the Thornbinders' lands, Careena began to jog with confidence.

   Undertake a Journey: Travel to Gamana's new home (dangerous) 0/10; 5 +3 [wits] +1 [SaA above] vs 7,6; strong hit, prog 2/10

Having made good progress and reached the 'Cave of Cold' that Kenda had described as Careena had hoped she might, she decided to camp for the night

   Make Camp: 6 +5 [supply] vs 6,2; strong hit, choose Focus (+1 mom -> now 9) & Prepare (+1 to UaJ when break camp)

With no Rhuddli to slow her down, Careena rose before the sun. As it had been several days since Careena had last performed the rtitual, she decided to conduct the Keen ritual upon her axe.

As she prepared her materials and her mind, Careena carefully considered that now there would be those that she had killed to keen for. Every time that she had conducted the ritual before, the slain had been those that her father or his father had slain ... Careena considered adding a new verse for the Varou and removing one that referred to her grandfather's deeds.

This seemed to be a right thing to do to Careena, but she meditated upon it for a while and confirmed her decision. Her song amended, Careena conducted the ritual.

   Ritual - Keen; 1 +2 [heart] vs 8,7; miss BURN = strong hit, mom reset -> now 2; ritual successfully completed
   I really wanted to Careena to make that roll, hence burning momentum because as this is the first time that she has amended a ritual - successfully (thanks to the burn), I'm making it a milestone.
   Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, now 5/10

Careena felt enormous pride at having successfully changed the ritual on her own, and so she set continued her journey with a broad smile upon her face ...

A good place to pause. More soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena - Restoring Her Supply

As I explained in the post Careena - Extending Her Supply I came up with a way of expanding the Supply resource into 4 separate tracks - Food, Healing, Ammo and Supply.

However, after using this method for two posts, I've realised that it:

• brings no benefit to the game
• adds un-necessary complication

So, I'm going back to just Supply as of post 8.

At the end of post 7, the supply tracks were Food 3, Healing 4, Ammo 3, Ritual 5 - a total of 15, so I'll set her Supply at 4

Careena 08 - A Delivery

   Well the last post ended with Careena having found an Elf - well more accurately the Elf had found her, so we'll pick up from that.

---

   First though, I think that this counts as ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 5/10

As had Gamana, this elf wore a mask, but unlike her this elf wore much less. She, or it could be a he there were no real definitive features visible, wore a cropped sleeveless tunic, shorts and open sandals that had laces twisting around their calves up to just below the knees. The clothes themselves seemed to be made of deer-hide, but their skin was the strangest thing - it was the colour of eucalyptus leaves; Careena had never seen the like before.

Careena had fortunately spent the time before she feel asleep focusing her well-trained mind on the difficult introduction that was to come, so she was able to take all these things in as she slowly rose to her feet and not gape like a fool - this time, anyway.

"I bear a message from Gamana," she said. The Elf continued to sit on its haunches, but cocked its head to one side, its mask hiding its expression completely.

With no sign otherwise, Careena continued, "My name is Careena Dwarf-daughter, and I have sworn to deliver that message to the leader of the tribe that she once belonged to; are you of that tribe?"

At this the figure deigned to nod once, a short sharp gesture, seeming to expend the minimum possible effort.

"Will you be kind enough to lead me to your tribe so that I can complete my vow?" asked Careena.

The figure stared at Careena for a long time and as it did so, Careena notice that, like Gamana's, its pupils had vertical slits like a cat's. Finally the figure nodded again and then spoke, "You are fair spoken Careena Dwarf-daughter and I believe your tale. We will not kill you now. We will take you to our chief and they will decide your fate. Gather your belongings and we will go." As she - Careena thought of it as a she because the tone of 'her' voice - spoke, other masked figures came out of the trees around them until there were six elves before her. Half of them carried spears with flint tips and the others held bows with flint-tipped arrows held to the strings but no tension on their strings.

As the group gathered, Careena noticed that there was some urgent, heated, whispering between them with not a few gestures in her direction ...

   Things could be turning bad for Careena, but she feels unable to intrude, so she is going to ignore and endure the conversation ...
   Face Danger: 5 +2 [heart] vs 6,5; strong hit, +1 mom -> now 9

While this conversation went on, the first Elf watched Careena, now standing in front of her fellows and seemed to reach a decision, "Good, you ignore them for the chattering jay-birds that they are. They do not like that you carry so much iron - nor that you are at least half a Dwarf. The iron that you carry and have in your soul makes us ... uncomfortable as we have no liking for the stuff."

She held out her hand, "This is how you greet new friends is it not? The touching of hands and the silly up and down movings?"

Careena shook her hand. As she did the Elf continued, "I am Kendalanu and my friends call me Kenda - but you are not one of them ... yet," Careena heard the smile in Kendalanu's voice and returned it to the impassive wooden mask.

"Come, follow me, and I will lead you to where it is needful for us to be."

   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 6/10

Kendalanu turned on her heel and began to walk westward so Careena followed her, and looking back saw that two of the elves followed her carrying spears, but there was no sign that the other Elves had ever been ...

They walked for the better part of the morning and as they did, the underbrush gradually cleared until finally they reached a part of the forest where there was none. Relieved of her ignorance by her foolishness at Gamana's home, Careena looked up and saw many houses in the upper branches of the trees, on many different levels with rope bridges and ladders linking the levels and houses together.

"Roads in the sky ..." Careena spoke with a kind of awe as she looked around drinking these wonders in.

Kendalanu stopped walking and turned to look at Careena, "You have not seen the like before?" she asked.

"Never," replied Careena.

"Truly, that is strange, for that is our name for them. I will tell our Chief of this, she will want to know that you seem to know our ways and words without knowing."

As she spoke to Careena, a rope ladder had descended next to Kendalanu, and when she had finished, she turned and scrambled as lithely as a squirrel up it. Fortunately, as far as Careena felt, the ladder was swiftly drawn up behind her. As she had expected, when Careena turned around her 'escort' had vanished as well.

Trying to project an un-disturbed, thoroughly calm air, Careena removed her backpack, took out a scroll from it and began to read its contents.

   Careena is not going to lose whatever game it is that the Elves are playing by the expedient of not joining in. So in game terms it's another ...
   Face Danger: 5 +2 [heart] vs 3,2; strong hit, +1 mom -> now 10

   Although these seem to me to be coming too quickly, it feels right for the fiction, so I'm going with it.
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 7/10

Something was tugging at the corner of Careena's awareness, so she took hold of it with her mind
and, as she had been trained to do, examined it from all angles. It was a noise - people whispering again. She must have slipped into a half-trance to not realise it before. Breaking her concentration and looking up from her scroll, she could see that the bridges and balconies closest to her were full of masked elves watching her and whispering to each other. As they gradually became aware that she was now watching them, they began to move away, still whispering, but no longer staring at her.

Masks seen by Careena in the Village

Packing away her scroll, Careena briefly thought that she may have been rude by reading a scroll like that, but she thought, I'll be cursed if I'll just sit here doing nothing ..." and then realised how childish that was.

After all, what matter to her if the Elves stared? It was likely that most of them had never seen someone who was not an Elf, so if she gave them a spectacle of interest for half a day, then all well and good. She could endure - knew that she had iron in her soul.

Some time later, a ladder dropped and Kendalanu came down it as swiftly as she had previously climbed it.

"The Chief comes," she said by way of greeting and moved away from the ladder.

Careena stood quickly and tried to make herself presentable, although she feared this was beyond a simple brush-down.

As she looked up from her clothing, another Elf had joined Kendalanu. A twin of Gamana in size and hair, even down to the carving on the mask, although that did seem to be of a different wood ...

"Careena Dwarf-daughter," Kendalanu began, "Our laws must be explained to you. Our Chief may not speak to anyone not of the tribe. When their words must be spoken to outsiders, the tribe's bard must do it and as I am the bard of this tribe, I will speak the Chief's words." A perceptible note of pride could be heard by Careena as Kendalanu spoke of her role.

"The Chief asks for the message that you claim to bear - produce it now." Kendalanu instructed. Careena reached into her jerkin, pulled out the tube and handed it over, saying as she did, "I deliver this message from Gamana and thereby complete my iron vow."

   Not quite as much progress as I'd like, but I don't want to string this out any further, so here goes
   Fulfil Your Vow: I will deliver Gamana's message, prog 7 vs 5,1; strong hit, 3xp

   With those xp, I'm going to buy the custom Dwarf-Blood asset that I've alluded to previously.    Advance - 3xp for the Dwarf-Blood asset

We'll pause here; more soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 07 - Careena Learns

   At the end of the last post, Careena was moving on to get away from the scene of the fight with the 3 Varou, so we'll start with the move part of that ...

---

   Undertake a Journey: 4 +3 [wits] vs 3,2; strong hit, prog -> now 4/10, move at speed, +1 mom -> now 3, -1 Food supply -> now 4
   Spending momentum on Sunderer in the fight last time, really ate it up, so I'm taking the supply hit to get some back

Careena, walked well into the night - her excellent night-vision serving her well - before finally she settled down in a thicket to try and sleep a few hours ...

   Make Camp: 2 +3 [wits] vs 2,1; strong hit, Recuperate (+1 health -> now 5), Focus (+1 mom -> now 4

What sleep Careena had was undisturbed and she rose with the sun and continued her journey

   Undertake a Journey: 1 +3 [wits] vs 9,9; miss with a twist
   Roll on major plot twist at Ironsworn Chartopia and get 'A secret alliance is revealed'
   My immediate reaction is an alliance between the Varou and a faction of the Elves ... but is that a bit obvious? hmmm ... I'll try the Discord oracles channel and see what they think ...
   So, after a chat with Arcane and emQueue (thanks guys!), I now know what's going on, but first, from the miss, Careena must ...
   Pay the Price: 'Your current situation worsens'

Careena walked all morning without stopping, but as noon approached she heard the beginnings of noise heading towards her. From the north. Where the Varou came from ...

Indecision struck - Careena simply did not know what to do! Finally she climbed the nearest tree with enough foliage left to give enough cover ...

   Face Danger: 6 +1 [shadow] vs 6,2; strong hit, +1 mom -> now 5

Against the odds, Careena's poor stratagem seemed to have worked - at least the Varou scouts that came out of the trees to the north showed no sign of being able to see her ...

As Careena watched, not daring to move, the trickle of Varou passing her continued to flow for most of the day. At first it was only warriors, but as time wore on she saw both the old and the young trudging south. At first, it didn't occur to Careena to count them, but then she started to do so, but gave up when she had got over the hundred ...

It didn't matter really how many there were - more than a hunting party, less than an army - it was an entire tribe.

The sun had crossed most of the sky and the Varou had stopped, when she heard raised voices and before long, what must have been the Varou rearguard came through the trees. The first thing she saw was a Varou head belonging to the tallest Varou she had seen all day. It was talking and looking down at someone.

As it cleared the trees, she saw it was a robed figure - far too short to be a Varou, yet too tall to be Dwarf or Elf ... and yet the hood was so deep and the sleeves too long for her to be able to see anything but the robe.

But the 'conversation' was the most disconcerting thing. The Varou lord - for that is what it must be - seemed to be conversing with the robed figure, but it made not a sound ... the lord seemed to hear answers, but Careena could not and neither could the other Varou - or so it seemed to Careena. But soon they too were gone - the same way the rest of the tribe had gone.

   Time for a move, I think. Has Careena really been able to ...
Face Danger: 3 +1 [shadow] vs 3,1; +1 mom -> now 6
     Yes she has!
   Also, having seen that there is or maybe a power 'behind' the Varou, I feel that Careena has been able to ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 3/10

Although she still did not dare to 'move' as such, Careena did, finally risk shifting slightly to relieve as many of her cramped, aching muscles as she could.

Careena waited a bit longer, but when she realised she was shifting so much that she would probably fall out of the tree, she lowered herself to the ground and prepared to resume her journey.

   Undertake a Journey: 5 +3 [wits] vs 8,7; weak hit, prog -> now 6/10, -1 Food supply -> now 3

Careena walked the rest of the day without incident, finding another thicket after the sun had gone down - her vision at night had always been excellent

   I've created an asset to represent Careena's Dwarven characteristics (call Dwarf-Blood) and this is a bit of fore-shadowing for when she has it - the default ability is Dwarf-Sight, i.e. excellent vision in the dark. Anyway, time to ...
   Make Camp: 2 +3 [wits] vs 8,3; weak hit, choose Prepare, +1 on next Undertake a Journey
   I would like to have taken 'Relax', but I don't see how Careena could in her current situation ...

Careena was up at dawn again and continuing her journey.

   Undertake a Journey: 4 +1 [from Make Camp] +3 [wits] vs 7,5; strong hit, prog 6/10  +1 mom -> now 7

Before Careena had left Hillbarrow with Rhuddli, she had never travelled further than Lord Metre's dun and that was always with her father and some of his workers. Then all her travelling had been with Rhuddli. Now walking alone, she was starting long before she would have with Rhuddli and stopping much later than they would have ... and yet she was not exhausted ... barely even tired really. Could she travel faster too?

Careena began to run, but she soon slowed down - she knew that she could not keep up running for long, but she soon settled down to a jogging pace that she found comfortable, and kept it up for the rest of the day, stopping long after nightfall.

   Make Camp: 6 +3 [wits] vs 5,1; strong hit, choose Relax (+1 spirit -> now 5) & Prepare (+1 to next UaJ)
   Much further from the Varou, Careena is able to relax and the Prepare worked well last time! and as Careena is making splendid progress, it's time to mark progress on her vow ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 4/10

Careena thought long and hard as she settled in her blankets that night. As she had sworn to herself, she was learning more about her Dwarven self and the heritage it gave every day.

And, she realised, that she had learnt far more about herself without Rhuddli than she had learnt in the months of travelling with him ... she would be better off without him. Perhaps he was not worthy of her as Gamana had told her twice now?

   Careena's discovery of her endurance and the first flowering of independence lead her to ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf, now 4/20

In the morning, Careena was up and ready even earlier. In the half-light of the pre-dawn, she began her jog, intending to jog all day - if she could!

   Undertake a Journey: 5 +1 [from Make Camp] +3 [wits] vs 5,5; strong hit, prog now 8/10

Much to her joy, Careena found that she could and did jog her way through the woods all day and began to see the tell-tale signs that Gamana had told her about that showed she had entered the Elven tribe's lands. She crawled into another thicket soon after that - she did not want to wander their lands after nightfall in case they took her for a threat.

   Will try to Reach Your Destination next, but first one last ...
   Make Camp: 3 +3 [wits] vs 8,4; weak hit, choose Focus (+1 mom -> now 8)
   Reach Your Destination: prog 8 vs 6,6; strong hit, with a twist! (missed the double 5 twist above)

When Careena awoke it was with the feeling of being watched, and sure enough, as she crawled out of the thicket where she had slept there was an elf crouching down looking at her.

Leaving her walking axe upon the ground, Careena slowly rose to her feet, her hands raised and empty to show that she meant no harm ...

Seems like a good place to end this post. More soon!

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 06 - Who Let the Dogs Out?

   At the end of the last post, Careena had just sworn an iron vow to Gamana - "I will deliver Gamana's message" which I quantified as a dangerous vow. Upon reflection, I'm going to up it to formidable and why that is, follows ...

---

"My, but you are an impetuous one aren't you!" Gamana exclaimed, but even without being able to see her face, Careena knew that she had both impressed and pleased the Elven Ritualist. "Polite and impetuous, what a delightful combination!"

But then she grew serious. "Careena, I will not hold you to that vow until you know what it would mean. Once you know that, if you wish to be bound and to serve me in this, then swear it again upon iron and I will know the quality of the iron in your soul, and you will know me for a fair and just person."

Careena started to speak, but Gamana held up her hand, "Wait, let me speak and then respond?"

Nodding, Careena gestured for Gamana to continue.

"Very well." Gamana sat and gestured for Careena to do likewise. At this, Rhuddli spun on his heel and stormed off into the forest. Careena started to rise and follow, but at another gesture from Gamana, she sank back down. "I told you that he is not worthy of you and nor is he fit to teach someone of your ability, but that is not the talk that we have now - that is for later upon our journey together."  As she spoke Gamana made gestures indicating wrapping something up and placing it to one side.

"Now is the time for speaking of my message," as she said this, Gamana withdrew a silver tube from within her robe and placed it upon the ground between them. "I know that you are worthy of my trust Careena, so I will be as honest with you as I may."

"I do not live here on my own through choice. My sister - Utamara - is the Chief of the nearest tribe of Elves - my tribe, but we had a ... falling out ... many years ago, and I lost the fight when we drew the circle to see who would lead the tribe. You do not know our ways, but you may come to learn them, if things that I have seen come to pass ..." Gamana's voice trailed away

Collecting herself, Gamana continued, "I lost, so I am exiled never to return to my tribe. But things have changed. These past weeks I have seen many Varou moving through the Deep Wilds close to my home. At first they seemed to be small hunting parties perhaps. But then I began to see their females and young accompanying them. This they do not do. These are no hunters. They were scouts for a migration. My sister and the tribe must be warned, but I may not speak to them, so I have created the message contained in this tube, and I ask that you travel to my tribe and deliver it to Utamara."

"Wait," she said as Careena began to speak, "I have not finished. I must move my home while you are gone and Rhuddli has agreed to help me." She paused. "After a good deal of unnecessary complaining, I might add, but probably shouldn't."

Gamana drew forth a silver tube from her robe. "This tube contains the message. It also, has a powerful spell upon it and if anyone but the Chief of the tribe that was mine should open it ... well let us say that their family would regret their actions. I added the spell when I created the message, knowing not who would carry it and it cannot now be removed."

"It is some days' walk due west to the village of my tribe. If you agree to carry the message, when you get close to the village you will be accosted by the tribe - speak my name and they will take you to the Chief, whether or no it is Utamara. It is many cycles of the seasons since I left that she may have passed to the Otherlands." This last was said by Gamana in a bitter tone of sadness. "If the Varou migration happens as I believe, there may well be many of their warriors between you and the tribe - the journey will be perilously formidable I believe."

"So, now that you know what you should, do you still swear that you will carry my message, Careena Dwarf-daughter?"

Careena rose so that she knelt on one knee, fished out the coin that she wore around her neck and held it in her hand as spoke, "I Careena Dwarf-daughter - for so you have named me - do swear on the iron in my hand and the iron in my Dwarven soul, that I will carry this message to the village of which you have spoken, my lady Gamana." Knowing what she now knew, Careena would not have been Careena had she done otherwise. The safety of the Elven tribe rested upon her shoulders - all knew that the Varou would suffer no others to live near them, as fiercely territorial as they are.

As Gamana and Rhuddli would need Sammay to move all the Elf's worldly possessions, Careena set about loading her backpack with the supplies and gear she would need for her journey. As she did this, Gamana explained how Careena would find be able to find them when she returned from the village.

---

   I'm going to do a couple of moves now as it seems ages since the last one, and then go straight to the action ...
   Undertake a Journey: Travel to the Elven village (dangerous), prog 0/10; 5 +3 [wits] vs 7,3; strong hit, mark progress
   Undertake a Journey: Travel to the Elven village (dangerous), prog 2/10; 1 +3 [wits] vs 10,8; miss, perilous event, Pay the Price
   Well the most obvious negative outcome is the Varou, so that's what it'll be ...

Careena had no idea that the Varou had even been there, until it stepped out behind her and swung its spiked club at her head.

   Enter the Fray: 3 Varou - formidable - prog 0/10; 2 +3 [wits] vs 9,4; weak hit, take init
   Strike: will take -1 mom for +1 harm (Sunderer), now -> 4 mom; 3 +2 [iron] vs 6,2; weak hit, harm = 2 [axe], +1 [keen], +1 [Sunderer], lose init; prog 4/10

Luckily for Careena, though, some intuition had warned her of the attack and by reflex, she ducked the Varou's attempted strike and swung back at it with her walking axe, the strike becoming stroke-that-kills without conscious thought, and the Varou fell to the ground clutching at its stomach, its guts blossoming outward in a shower of gore.

Shocked at the lethality of her unthinking actions, Careena merely gaped at the dying creature and was barely able to assume the low guard before its 2 companions were upon her.

   Clash: -1 mom for +1 harm (Sunderer), now -> 3 mom; 4 +2 [iron] vs 6,4; weak hit, harm = 2 [axe], +1 [keen], +1 [Sunderer], lose init, prog 8/10, Pay the Price - 3 harm
   Endure Harm: 3 harm, health -> now 2; 2 +2 [iron] vs 7,1; weak hit, press on

The second of the Varou fell to Careena's axe, now dead atop the first, but the last of the dogmen had spilt Careena's blood as well ...

   Clash: 6 +2 [iron] vs 7,4; strong hit, +1 mom -> now 4, harm = 2 [axe] +1 [keen], prog 10/10
   End the Fight: prog 10 vs 9,1; strong hit

The last Varou fell to its knees, Careena's axe wedged firmly in it skull. As it toppled forward, Careena wrenched her axe free and stepped back out of the pile of gore. Then, the battle-heat draining from Careena as if a candle had been blown out, she dropped to her knees and began to weep - she had killed living, thinking people and it hurt in her soul to know it ...

   This is a momentous event for Careena, time for her to ...
   Endure Stress: dangerous -2 spirit -> now 3; 6 +3 [spirit] vs 3,2; strong hit, -1 mom -> now 2, +1 spirit -> now 4

Even as she wept, Careena felt the iron in her soul reform and thought to herself, "This is what it means to have iron in my soul. I am a Dwarf. We endure. We continue, we never surrender, we struggle until we conquer or die trying."

   So, Careena has managed to ...
   Reach a Milestone: I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf - now 3/20

Careena stood, removed her pack, withdrew some bandages and bound her wound.

   Heal: 2 +2 [iron] vs 8,3; weak hit, +2 health -> now 4, -1 healing supply -< now 4

Once she had finished and sure that there were no more Varou in the immediate area, Careena's practical (and pragmatic) nature asserted itself and she began to loot the Varou's corpses

   Resupply: 5 +3 [wits] vs 7,3; strong hit, +2 supply.Since I'm now using Extended Supply, I'm taking that as +1 Food & +1 Ammo supply types, both now at 5. Careena doesn't need/use the Ammo, but I want to try the Barter move soon, so this gives her something to trade

Although the Varou were carrying plenty of meat as Careena couldn't determine its source, she decided to leave it and took only the dried apples and some fine arrows. Once they were safely stowed and her pack on her pack she set out to continue her journey

   Careena has now encountered the Varou and learnt that she can beat them - even 3 at a time, so that is significant progress on the vow, time for:
   Reach a Milestone: I will deliver Gamana's message, now 2/10

It was late, soon to be dusk, but Careena, wanted to get away from the scene of the fight before she thought about stopping for the night.

and we'll pick up Careena's trek in the next post ...

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena - Extending Her Supply ...

Over on the Ironsworn Discord server - you can find a link to it on the community page of the Ironsworn site, here : https://www.ironswornrpg.com/community

A user (mrSnout) had posted a document about Supply and Consumables in Ironsworn, which I thought had some great ideas but was unclear.

So, I've re-written it, made some changes and posted it to the 'Homebrew' channel on the server. You can also get it from this link:  ExtendingSupply.pdf

I'm going to use the new Supply types from that document for Careena and between posts is a good point to make the change which I'm going to do using the third method I've suggested, viz:

Multiply your existing Supply value by 4 and use the result as ranks assigned to the new supply type tracks

As Careena's current Supply is 4, multiplying that by 4, gives us 16 ranks to assign to the Supply type tracks, which are

• Food
• Healing
• Ammo
• Rituals

Since we've not established in the fiction (yet) whether Careena even has a missile weapon, we'll give Ammo 2 ranks

I've had some thoughts about giving Careena the Slinger asset at some point, so I will be giving her a sling in the fiction fairly soon and is why I'm not giving this track zero

Careena is a trainee Ritualist, and becoming one is the Iron Vow that is ruling her life at the moment, so I feel that 5 ranks in the Rituals supply type track is a given really

That leaves 9 ranks. As the reason that Careena had Supply 4 and not 5 was that some food was lost in the river (as per the fiction), we'll set the Food supply ranks to 4 and Healing to 5

I don't think you can have too many Healing supplies after all

I'd like to use the Pack Animal companion asset for Careena's pack-pony (Sammay as I've named her in the fiction), but not right now.  Maybe in the future - if Sammay lives that is!

Careena 05 - Boar-ing

Going to start this post 'in media res' - in the fight with the boar, so a couple of moves to do first. Also, just for info, as this is meant to be a short & sweet vow, I'm going to use the boar's health track as progress for the dangerous vow - I will kill the boar and take its pelt to Rhuddli (0/10)

Secure an Advantage: 3 +3 [wits] vs 9,2; weak hit; +1 mom -> now 8

Enter the Fray: vs Boar (dangerous); 6 +3 [wits] vs 9,8; weak hit; +init

Careena swung her walking axe in a low arc - the sweep-that-slows attack - across the boar's path as it charged her ...

Sunderer: take -1 mom to get +1 harm, mom -> now 7
Strike: 5 +2 [iron] vs 7,6; weak hit -> BURN mom = strong hit, mom reset to 2
harm = 2 +1 [strong] +1 [keen] +1 [sunderer] = 5; progress = 10/10

Well ... that was anti-climatic ...

Reach a Milestone: Careena's killed the boar, that's progress on dangerous vow - I will kill the boar and take its pelt to Rhuddli (8/10); I've set it to 8 as Careena has to return the pelt to Rhuddli - not that that is any great chore ...

... and was incredibly surprised to see the boar lower its head into the path of her axe. She had hoped to take out a foreleg and slow the creature - instead her axe was now wedged in the side of its head and the animal was dead at her feet. Careena was ... well, shocked. She had head that boars were dangerous animals.

Blessing her luck and thanking the gods, Careena set about the odious task of skinning and cleaning her kill - at least they'd have fresh meat for the foreseeable future.

whoops! forgot a move ...
End the Fight: progress 10 vs 7,1; strong hit - it's dead alright

Her task finished, Careena gathered the skin and as much meat as she could manage and returned to Rhuddli

"Master, I have the skin," She called as she reached the firelight that marked the camp.

"Let me see," Rhuddli called, standing up as he did, reaching for and taking the skin from Careena. "Hmm, that was an old boar wasn't it? Still the skin will do. Usually, one would dry and tan the pelt before using it, but we don't have the time."

Reach a Milestone: Rhuddli has his boar-pelt, progress on dangerous vow - I will kill the boar and take its pelt to Rhuddli (10/10)

Fulfil my Vow: progress 10 vs 8,7; strong hit -> 2xp

Feels cheaply got, but I'm going to take it anyway. I made a mistook & I'll not do it again

Rhuddli prepared the pelt for the ritual, with Careena watching carefully. When Rhuddli had finished his preparations, he swung the pelt onto his shoulders and began the ritual dance under the moon, with Careena doing her best to memorise the steps ...

Going to add Bind to the list of rituals Careena knows, but hasn't spent xp for, which is on her character sheet, but only as 'half-learnt' - those are some complicated steps!

Learning how to take the pelt, its preparation and observing a new ritual all feels like progress on Careena's formidable vow - I will become a Ritualist (4/10)

The ritual completed, and both of them exhausted, they went to sleep. It was only as she drifted off that Careena realised Rhuddli had not created his Ward ...  unfortunately, when she awoke, she had completely forgotten that (as it was to prove) very important fact.

In no time, they had packed up and set out, crossing the Arthedd ...

Undertake a Journey: Reach Gamana (troublesome) 6/10; 6 +3 [wits] vs 10,8; weak hit, mark progress now 9/10, -1 supply (supp) now 4
Reach Your Destination: progress 9 vs 3,1; strong hit, +1 mom -> 3

... without incident - well, except for the bag of oatmeal that fell from Sammay at some point; they only realised it had gone as they climbed up the bank.

But before the sun had marched much further across the sky, they reached their destination.

"Come on," said Rhuddli as he strode into the small clearing, "We're expected- I scried Gamana last night and told her we would be here."

Note: If the subject has Sighted, they know if they are being scried. If they know the scrier and have Scry themselves, they can 'scry the scrier' and have a conversation

"But where is she master? There's no-one here, no sign of a camp or home of any sort," Careena said as she followed Rhuddli and pulled Sammay into the clearing.

As if it had been waiting for her words to end, as Careena finished speaking a rope-ladder dropped into the clearing, unrolling as it did.

Another Note: I have been reading Tales of the Ironlands and love how the author has defined Elves, so a lot of my treatment of them is entirely derivative of their's

Gaping like a fool, Careena looked up into the branches on the far side of the clearing to see a robed figure standing on the balcony of a tree-house, and shut her mouth with an audible click.

Shaking his head and trying to suppress his laughter, Rhuddli started climbing the ladder, saying as he did so, "Wait in the clearing Careena. Make yourself comfortable, I may be a while ..." and he disappeared over the edge of the balcony.

It's just occurred to me that I've not been making any Make Camp moves ... oops! Well better late than never, I guess ...
Make Camp: 5 +4 [supp] vs 6,1; strong hit, focus -> +1 mom -> now 4

When it became obvious that Rhuddli would not be descending for a while, Careena set about preparing their camp and hobbled Sammy so that she could wander, but not far. There was quite a bit of fresh grass for her in the clearing after all. As she did this, she did her best to ignore the strident angry voices that she could hear drifting down to her from the tree-house ...

Before long, both Careena's master and the robed figure - assumed to be Gamana - descended the ladder and joined Careena in the clearing.

"Careena, this is Gamana. Gamana, this is Careena," Rhuddli made the rudely brief introduction - he was obviously angry about something.

The robed figure pulled back their hood to reveal a mane of shockingly black hair and a head fronted by a wooden mask. The eyes that looked out of that mask were a cold grey with pupils like a cats' - vertical slits. The owner had such an intense stare that Careena felt the owner was staring at her soul, examining it and measuring its worth ...

"My lady," Careena said as she bowed - able to move once the stare had released her.

"Well aren't you the polite one," the mask replied, a laugh in her voice, "I think that your 'master' could learn some lessons from his apprentice!" Rhuddli made no answer but scowled at Gamana's back.

"I think me that you have what it takes to be one of the marked, but there will need to be a testing to be sure ... hmmm ... I will work upon that while you are gone."

Careena looked at Ruddli, "Gone?" she asked

"Gamana has her own troubles my dear," replied Rhuddli. "She needs a message taken to the nearest Elven village and you are the one who will have to carry it."

Gamana's melodious voice rose in a strident tone, "Rhuddli, that is not right!" Turning back to face Careena, she said, "Your master is a fool and unworthy of you. What he should have said is that I need a message taken to the nearest village. I cannot take it and he will not. So, I wish to ASK you, Careena - would you be kind enough to carry this message for me?"

Unused to being asked her opinion and only now recognising Rhuddli's imperious ways, Careena's immediate reaction burst forth, "Of course my lady, I swear that I will deliver your message, if only you tell me the way!"

Swear an Iron Vow: I will deliver Gamana's message; dangerous; 3 +2 [heart] vs 6,3; weak hit, +1 mom -> now 5

Why is it dangerous? you'll see in the next post ...

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Careena 04 - An Iron Soul

I finished the last post with a question - has something happened to Rhuddli while Careena was filling the waterskins? I did this because, as I wrote in the Starting Again post, I want to use the Oracles more. So starting with a move this time ...

---

So, Ask the Oracle, has something happened? Well, I'll say yes as that's more interesting, but what? As I assumed above that it would be something happening to Rhuddli, let's go with that - but what?

Inspiration strikes! The attack has changed his immediate goal - not unlikely - so I'll ask the Character Goal Oracle which tells me 'Collect a Debt' - cool. What is the debt and who owes it? As the game says "Play to find out" ...

When Careena rejoined him, Rhuddli showed her his completed Talisman before putting it under his robe. Nothing seemed out of place, so Careena decided her spine-shiver had been just that and not a warning ...

The rest of the day passed quietly and when dusk arrived, Rhuddli began his Ward ritual to protect their camp, showing Careena each stage of the ritual as he completed it.

The night passed without incident, although every noise seemed to wrench Careena from her sleep - and Rhuddli judging from his puffy eyes in the morning,

Still, that didn't stop Rhuddli from using the Sight and confirming that no spirits had been inadvertently trapped by his Ward. Activating her own Sight was something that Careena was gradually becoming able to do.

Getting Sighted would suit Careena I think, so I threw in a bit of foreshadowing for its acquisition. Not subtle I know, but its my story. Anyway, onto the change of goal ...

After they had breakfasted and packed up their camp, Rhuddli turned to Careena.

"Pay attention my dear - I have decided to conduct the Augur ritual to help me decide what I should do now."

Careena watched carefully, memorising each step in the ritual and then watched as the crows swirled around Rhuddli, but as she had known, she couldn't make out any words in their multitudinous cries.

As the crows dispersed - the ritual over - a puzzled Rhuddli said, "Well, I didn't expect that! They told me I should collect a debt long owed to me ..."

"By whom, master?" asked Careena

"Gamana," Rhuddli, "You've not met her - she's an Elven wise-woman who lives not far from here in the Deep Wilds." He paused and looked consideringly at Careena before continuing, "And before you ask, the debt is a matter between her and I."

He looked around once more before stepping out towards the west and then stopped and turned to Careena. "I think me that you'll find Gamana very interesting Careena. She is one of the Marked - have I mentioned them to you before?"

"You said that they tattooed themselves, master, but not why."

"They have a lore that I have not learned - in fact, Gamana once told me that I wouldn't have been able to if I tried, so I never did. Apparently, I have the wrong kind of mind for it. But I think me that maybe you do, so we'll ask her when we get there."

With that, Rhuddli started walking westwards and Careena knew better than to ask more questions now ...

Having written all that I think it's time for something to keep me going ...

Reach A Milestone: Careena's learned even more, so time for progress on her formidable vow - I will become a Ritualist (3/10)

---

Time for a move, let's ...
Undertake a Journey: Troublesome (they are near their destination) 0/10; 3 +3 [wits] vs 4,3; strong hit, mark progress (3/10), reach a waypoint

I used Ironsworn Chartopia to generate a waypoint and got 'Fertile Grove' and 'you meet a fellow traveller' but ditched the generated traveller, as it's time Careena's 3rd bond was included in the fiction

As the day drew to a close, they reached the Fertile Grove (a place they had camped before), an area of abundant plant life nestled in a bowl-like formation in an otherwise unremarkable moor. As hey descended into the Grove, it was obvious that someone had already camped there as they could see a wagon ahead through the trees.

"Hail the camp!" called Careena, after all 'politeness costs nothing, but can still get things for you,' as her father said occasionally.

"Is that Careena and Rhuddli?" came a reply - both of hem recognised the voice as Llangol, a travelling merchant they had met several times before.

---

Unfortunately, my previous enthusiasm for introducing Llangol has evaporated, so a large lump of "handwavium" will zap us through to the morning and the resumption of their journey ... I might come back and write something here if I get the inspiration ...

---

Wanting to make a deal of progress that day, Careena & Rhuddli were leaving their camp with the dawn and continued their westward trek.

Undertake a Journey: Reach Gamana (troublesome) 3/10; 3 +3 [wits] vs 2,1; strong hit, mark progress, now 6/10, reach a waypoint - a river that marks the border of the Havens and the Deep Wild

As dusk drew down, the travellers reached the banks of the river Arthedd that, in this part of the Ironlands marked the end of the Havens and, on the other bank, the beginning of the Deep Wild.

After they had eaten and made their camp, Rhuddli spoke to Careena.

"There is a ritual I would show you, but I need a boar-pelt for it. Once I would have been able to get the pelt for myself, but those days are past, so I need you to find the boar and slay it for me. Will you do this task for me?"

Something in the way that Rhuddli spoke made Careena uneasy and she considered him carefully ...

"Of course I will master, though I know not where I would find one."

"Worry not," Rhuddli said, "I will ask the crows."

Again, Careena watched carefully as Rhuddli performed his Augur ritual and she was pleased to confirm that she had memorised it correctly. This time he got the answer he sought - there was an old boar in a small copse not far from where they stood. He had no sows and to be slain would be a mercy for him - better by far than starving in the coming winter ...

"Before you leave," Rhuddli said, "I need your vow that you bring the pelt to me - I would not ask, but as I am not slaying the beast myself, the slaying needs to be a sworn-task for the ritual."

Careena reached under the neck of her shirt and fished out the iron coin her father had given her long ago. Extending the leather thong that held it so that Rhuddli could see it, she spoke, "I Careena of Hillbarrow, daughter of Tuage, do swear on the iron in my hand and the iron in my Dwarven soul that I will slay this boar and bring it you, my master Rhuddli, as soon as ever I may."

Swear an Iron Vow: I will kill the boar and take its pelt to Rhuddli (Dangerous 0/10)

I'll be honest here; I was getting fed up with all this writing and no action, so manufactured the fight & vow to get some xp. It may seem an 'easy' way to get xp, but it should be fun - well so I can hope ...

Rhuddli nodded and Careena strode away from him and Sammay toward the copse of trees before she realised what she had said, "the iron in my Dwarven soul" ...

Where had that come from? Iron in my Dwarven soul? but as she pondered the thought, turning it round and round in her mind, trying to see it from all possible angles, just as Rhuddli had taught her, she knew that it was true. She was a Dwarf. She did have iron in her soul. And one day, it would save her ...

Reach A Milestone: The first Iron Vow sworn by Careena since her vow to 'learn what it means to be a Dwarf' has triggered a revelation in her soul; I'd call that progress on her extreme vow - I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf (2/20)

I hadn't thought of the 'iron soul' when I created the new vow, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss, so I've grabbed it, and I think it sits in the fiction nicely.

Seems like a natural break point, so we'll pick in the next post - I just hope the boar doesn't win!

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Careena 03 - By the Pricking of my Thumbs ...

As a hold-over from the last post, I have a match to resolve. As it was on the End the Fight move, I've decided to use it to end Rhuddli's 'problem' sooner than I had planned. I also realised that I neglected to use Sunderer in the fight - oops!

---

Careena stood over the fallen Simulacrum and kicked it a couple of times to make sure it was now inanimate and turned to see how Rhuddli & Sammay fared. Sammay was completely unperturbed - still munching the grass, just as she had been. Rhuddli, however, was in a completely different state.

Every muscle in his body seemed to have gone completely rigid - his face contorted horribly and his back arched like a bow. Rushing over to him, Careena knelt at his side and tried to awaken him again by shaking him roughly, although without any hope ... but this time it worked! Gradually Rhuddli relaxed and showed signs of waking.

Rhuddli

"Master!," Careena bellowed in his ear, "Can you hear me?!"

Rhuddli's head whipped round toward, "Yes!" he shouted back in an aggrieved tone, "I'm not deaf!"

"Sorry Master," Careena apologised, "I thought that I'd lost you."

"Not yet, my dear," he replied, "but you nearly - by all the Gods, is that a Simulacrum?!" Rhuddli had noticed the still form in the clearing ...
"I believe so, Master. It behaved as I had expected one would from your lessons, and it was certainly trying to get to you ... What did happen to you?" Careena finished

"I was attacked by an old enemy, someone I thought had long forgotten me - or maybe I just hoped ..."

Careena asked Rhuddli to elaborate and when he refused, she tried to persuade him

Going to try a Compel to persuade Rhuddli - not a move I've tried before ...
Compel: 3 +2 [heart] +1 [bond] - 8,7; miss; failure
so much for that then ...

Even as she spoke to him, Rhuddli was busy returning his bedroll to Sammay and then he untied her before turning to face Careena.

"I will tell you no more as you have not the knowledge to understand more and we do not have the time for it to be explained now," Rhuddli announced in his 'I am your master, obey me' voice, "we must leave now," he finished, before striding from the clearing leading Sammay.

With little - or more accurately, no - other option, Careena trotted after her master, her mind a-fired with curiosity ...

---

After hours of waking in silence - Rhuddli had even forgone pointing out herbs as they passed them - they reached the edge of the patch of forest they had traversed and about an hour later, Rhuddli stopped and announced they would have a meal, in fact they would camp where they stood. This was unusual enough to cause Careena some concern, it was much earlier than they normally stopped and there was no water near them - they didn't need any as they had enough full skins, but it still bothered Careena.

As they unloaded Sammay and readied their meal, Careena carefully watched her master.

Careena's trying to work out what's up & as it's time for a move ...
Gather Information: 4 +3 [wits] +1 [bond w. Rhuddli] vs 8,7; weak hit; +1 mom (7), no need to Ask the Oracle as I know what she sees ...

She could see that Rhuddli was moving slowly & deliberately, as if he was in pain.

"What ails you master?" Careena asked gently, afraid to be rebuked again.

Rhuddli was silent for a long time - Careena thought he was ignoring her until he finally said, "Food first, explanations after."

At least he had not slapped her down again. So after a silent meal, that made Rhuddli look a bit more like his normal self, he lit his pipe and began to explain.

"I mentioned earlier that I was attacked by an enemy, didn't I? Well this ... person ... used a ritual against me that I have only ever heard of before - neither seen it conducted nor seen its effects upon the victim." Rhuddli paused momentarily and then continued, "It drags the person effected into the dream world to confront the Ritualist that conducted the ritual. I would never have thought that it could work against someone who was awake ..."

Again he paused, and this time Careena looked up from cleaning her axe (her habitual task after eating) and saw a haunted look in her master's eyes - a look that frankly scared her ...

Shaking himself, Rhuddli continued, "Well, that is what happened to me this morning. The Ritualist conducted the ritual on me and drew me into the dream world, where we fought. Frankly, I was losing and trying to escape, when my enemy screamed, wavered and vanished, enabling me to escape and wake up. I believe, now, that they had planned for the Simulacrum that you destroyed to make doubly sure that I never woke up ... They must have made a mistake with their Awakening ritual though - that's the only explanation for today's events that I can think of."

He paused again and looked meaningfully at Careena. "When you destroyed it, the Ritualist experienced the loss of the life force that empowered it - something that should not have happened."

"So, from that, what can you tell me of my enemy?" Rhuddli asked.

Careena thought for a moment and then began to tick off points on her fingers as she made them.

"One - they believed that you were alone - if not the Simulacrum would have attacked me."

Rhuddli nodded at her logic.

"Two - I believe that they were rushed. The mistake in the Awakening ritual shows this - someone skilled enough to ensnare you like that should certainly have conducted the ritual properly."

Again, Rhuddli nodded, pleased at how Careena's mind was working the problem - all those lessons in logic had, after all, been learnt ...

"Three - your enemy was close to us. I believe that a flawed Awakening would have collapsed altogether if the Simulacrum had had to travel a long way - although I do not know this for sure."

Rhuddli raised his eyebrows at this admitted supposition, but Careena continued, "That said, I believe that the way you moved us quickly this morning supports this supposition enough to make it."

Rhuddli nodded and smiled indulgently at his pupil, "You are correct my dear - in both your supposition and your evidence. Any more?"

"Well there is master," Careena hedged, but then blurted, "This is not flattery, but my belief - this enemy must be a Ritualist of great power to ensnare you in that fashion."

"Thank-you. Let us just say that they are stronger than I am, shall we?" Rhuddli smiled at Careena, then continued, "Worry not though Careena. I can defend myself; first I will make a Talisman against my enemy, and at night I will create a Ward around us."

And so, Careena watched as Rhuddli created his Talisman. Although he instructed her how to conduct the entire ritual, Rhuddli sent Careena to find water, when he came to conducting it - "He does not want me to know his enemy's name," Careena realised as she trudged off with the waterskins ... "Why could that be?"

Reach A Milestone: Careena's learnt a lot about Ritualists in this conversation and I consider it to be progress on her formidable vow - I will become a Ritualist (2/10)

Water found, the skins all refreshed, Careena was trotting back to camp when a shiver ran down her spine - had something else happened?

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Careena 02 - An Awakening ...

"No, that's wrong. Do it again."

Careena had begun to detest those words - it was true, 'familiarity does breed contempt'. So she tried again, this time concentrating more on the tone of her Keen, rather than how she held her father's - no her - walking-axe

Move: Ritual - Keen;  5 + 2 [heart] vs 4,6; strong hit; +1 harm when Strike or Clash

"That's it - well done!"

Careena had to admit, much as she detested being told she'd got something wrong, the genuine pleasure that her master, Rhuddli, showed when she got things right made up for it.

"Well it's time we were on our way," Rhuddli said as he stood. "Get everything onto Sammay while I gather those herbs I saw last night."

Having had much practice at it, Careena soon had their tent and all the other gear onto Sammay's back. The pony gave Careena one of her much practiced hard stares, before accepting her lot in life and lowering her head to crop some grass in the forest clearing.

As Sammay munched noisily, Careena looked around. Yes, she had everything, but Rhuddli should have been back by now ... something was wrong - Careena could feel it like an itch on her back that she couldn't scratch. Slowly she turned the entire way around surveying the trees that formed the edge of the clearing as she brought up her axe to the high guard her father had said was the best for an unseen danger.

Still only sure that somewhat was wrong, but no idea what it may be, Careena made sure that Sammay was firmly tethered before carefully following the route that Rhuddli had followed from the clearing, looking around all the time, searching for clues ...

Move: Gather Information; 5 + 3 [wits] vs 9,5; weak hit, +1 momentum (mom) (3) & Ask the Oracle
Used Ironsworn Chartopia until found intriguing Action & Theme - Follow & Dream. I had thought there'd be a combat here - but this is much more interesting - a real case of "Play to find out"

Barely had Carrena moved out of the clearing before she found Rhuddli sprawled along the deer-trail he had followed. The full pouch he still clutched in his hand showed that he had been returning to Careena when something had happened to him.

Rhuddli

Kneeling beside Rhuddli's prone form, Careena gently rolled him over so that he lay face up. Apart from a bruise on his face obviously caused when he fell, there did not seem to be a mark on him. As she swiftly checked his limbs for any broken bones, Careena was startled to hear Rhuddli let out a loud snore! Amazed that Rhuddli had seemingly fallen asleep between one step & the next, Careena shook him violently in an effort to waken him.

Rhuddli continued to snore ... nothing she could do would awaken him. Perplexed, Careena sat back on her heels, trying to puzzle out what had happened to her master.

Gather Information: 5 + 3 [wits] vs 9,2; weak hit; +1 mom (4) & Ask the Oracle
Again, from Ironsworn Chartopia, I continued until Defeat & Oppotunity came up. An enemy of Rhuddli's has taken an opportunity to defeat him.

Unwilling to leave Rhuddli where he had fallen, Careena dragged him back to the clearing and retrieved his bedroll from Sammay before laying him out upon as comfortably as she could.

Still at a loss, Careena muttered a brief prayer to Wmm, god of knowledge, before whispering Rhuddli's name three times to the wind.

Ritual - Sway; 4 + 3 [wits] vs 6,4; strong hit; already know what the answer will be ...

"Protect him - the agent of his enemy comes ..." The answer came back softly in Careena's ear.

Reach A Milestone: Although she doesn't realise it right now, this is the first time that Careena has completed a ritual in a truly stressful situation, so I'm going to mark progress on her formidable vow - I will become a Ritualist (1/10)

Whipping up her axe to the high guard again, Careena looked about carefully and saw a figure approaching the clearing from where Rhuddli had fallen and she quickly stepped between it and where Rhuddli lay.

As it slowly stepped into the clearing, its strangeness became clear  It stood no taller than Careena's shoulder and had an even bulkier physique than Careena's Dwarf heritage gave to her. It's body looked like no flesh that Careena had ever seen, resembling clay more than meat and it had no features at all!

Staring at it as it continued its slow deliberate approach, Careena desperately searched her memory - she knew that Rhuddli had spoken to her of something like this ...

Gather Information: 3 + 3 [wits] + 1 [arbitrary for Careena's education] vs 4,3; strong hit - +2 mom (6), it's a simulacrum created from the Awakening ritual by an enemy of Rhuddli

Careena's axe

Recognising it as a ritual-created Simulacrum, Careena knew that it would be implacable in its goal
and that, apparently, involved Rhuddli ... Unwilling to risk whatever that might be, Careena stepped forward and swung her axe at it's knee in the boulder-that-tumbles stroke that her father had taught so well,

Enter the Fray: Simulacrum (formidable 0/10); 5 + 3 [wits] vs 10, 6; weak hit; take initiative. Although not ambushed, I'm using Careena's wits as she is using her knowledge of the Simulacrum to delay it - by attacking its legs- long enough to save Rhuddli

Strike: 4 + 2 [iron] vs 4,1; strong hit; +initiative (init), +1 harm; harm = 2 [axe] +1 [keen] +1 [strong]
Progress: Simulacrum (formidable) 4/10

The first time that Careena had struck a foe in combat and it flowed perfectly, removing both of the Simulacrum's legs at mid-thigh, pitching it onto its 'face'.

Reach A Milestone: Another first for Careena, the joy of fighting with an axe, part of what it means to be a Dwarf; progress on her extreme vow - I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf (1/20)

Undeterred, the thing pushed itself up and tried to continue on its stumps. Although shocked - Careena had known it would strive to complete its mission, but actually seeing it was something else - Careena struck again at where its ribs should have been with the stone-fang-strikes

Strike: 5 + 2 [iron] vs 4,3; strong hit; +init, +1 harm; harm = 2 [axe] +1 [keen] +1 [strong]
Progress: Simulacrum (formidable) 8/10

Another beautiful strike - Careena's axe swept through the thing cutting it into 2 pieces. Even so the upper half used its arms to drag itself toward Rhuddli. Raising her axe, Careena aimed the removes-the-crown stroke firmly at the centre of its head - or what passed for its head ...

End the Fight: 8 progress vs 6,6; strong hit; it is dead; a match, will think about that ...

Her axe split its 'head' cleanly and - finally - the Simulacrum stopped moving ... Careena had managed to sunder the magic that animated it.

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