Having thought about it, I'm going to do an Escape move and if I miss, I'll do another Delve.
Careena retrieved her gear from the niche where she had hidden it, and set out for Thornfall to learn from Kenda where Gamana was.
Escape the Depths: 1 +3 [wits] vs 3,2; strong hit, +1 mom -> 3As she walked - Careena knew of no reason to hurry, the death of the adviser and Lord Akkan would neutralise the Varou threat - or so she hoped ... Careena resumed the lessons that Gamana had given her to open her Sight - not only for the practice, they were also a welcome method of pushing away the scenes from the Crypt.
Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, prog 6/10Before long Careena reached the edge of the ruined area called Zorkon's Stone and entered the deep forest surrounding Thonrfall. Deciding it was better to reach the village in daylight, Careena made a small camp.
Make Camp: 4 +4 [supply] vs 5,7; strong hit, choose Relax (+1 spirit -> 4) & Focus (+1 mom -> 4)An uneventful, relaxing night passed for the Careena, and, as usual, she was up with the dawn and on her way to Thornfall.
As Careena has now left Zorkon's Stone, I'm going to mark progress on her vow to return the Dwarf's remains
Reach a Milestone: I will return this Dwarf's bones to his kin, prog 1/20
I don't know if Gamana is at Thornfall, so I'll Ask the Oracle. I have a vague notion that her sister's request for Gamana to return is a trap, but am unsure if Gamana will have seen it for such and whether she'll have escaped it. So we'll start with the trap.Careena reached Thornfall before much of the day had passed where Kenda soon told Careena that Gamana was at Raven Ridge, a feature easily found slightly to the north of east from the village. Careena told Kenda of the demise of Akkan, Lord of the Otaan, and Kenda gratefully passed the news to the Chief. Deciding to take the time to recover from recent events, Careena decided to spend the rest of that day and the night at Thornfall, following her lessons regarding the Sight whilst she was there
Ask the Oracle: Is the requested return a trap? 50/50 low is Yes; 70 = No.
Ask the Oracle: Is Gamana at Thornfall? Unlikely as I see a lot of hostility between the sisters; 01 = No.
Ask the Oracle: Where is Gamana? Using the Ironsworn Chartopia Quick Settlement Name Generator gives me 'Raven Ridge'. This fits nicely with a Dwarf/Raven link from The Hobbit that I want to use in this game. I wonder why she is there? I'll leave that to the Oracle when Careena is closer ...
Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, prog 8/10Fully rested and the visions of Varou being eaten alive finally banished, Careena left Thornfall in the morning, heading to Raven Ridge.
Sojourn: 6 +2 [heart] +1 [bond] vs 3,7; strong hit, chose Consort (+2 spirit -> 5), Provision (+2 supply -> 5) & Plan (+2 mom -> 6)
As this is a 3-hex journey (see the Map page), I'm going to treat it as a Journey, but first Careena will try to ...She made good progress that morning ...
Secure an Advantage: 6 +3 [wits] vs 5,3; strong hit, take control +1 on next move
Undertake a Journey - Travel to Raven Ridge (troublesome); 6 +3 [wits] +1 [SaA] vs 5,8; strong hit, prog -> 3/10
Undertake a Journey - Travel to Raven Ridge (troublesome); 4 +3 [wits] vs 6,2; strong hit, prog -> 6/10... as she did in the afternoon, even though she was only walking. Untroubled by any need of haste, Careena made a small camp ...
Make Camp: 2 +5 [supply] vs 9,10; miss, Pay the Price 44 A new danger or foe is revealed, Ironsworn Chartopia Random Foes - Wolf (dangerous)
I've had an idea for this. I'm going to make this part of Rhuddli's revenge and a ghostly black hound instead ...
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| The Hound ... |
Rapidly gaining her feet and shaking off her blankets, Careena saw an enormous black hound running toward her ...
I'm going to (try and) use this as trigger for Careena to open her Sight - i.e. complete her vow and gain the Sighted assetSuddenly, she could see that the Hound was not real - it was a ghostly haunt, bound and sent to attack her by someone. This realisation gained from the Sight, Careena knew, left her time only to raise her battleaxe as the hound-shaped haunt leapt at her.
Fulfil Your Vow - I will learn to open my Sight: prog 8 vs 7,1; strong hit, was dangerous so 2xp
Advance: 3xp to gain the Sighted asset
Enter the Fray: Hound-Haunt, Dangerous; 1 +2 [heart] vs 1,9; choose +INITAs the Haunt leapt for her throat, Careena side-stepped deftly and used her battleaxe to cut the Haunt in two from throat to tail. The parts of the Haunt drifted slowly apart before dissolving into nothingness. As they vanished, something fell to ground landing on Careena's blankets. Bending over it, Careena saw that it was a cheap ring that she had 'lost' whilst with Rhuddli. He must have taken it and now used it as a focus for a ritual that bound the Haunt ... What else of the many things lost while walking the Havens had he taken?
Strike: 5 +2 [iron] vs 5,2; strong hit, +INIT, harm 2 [battleaxe] +1 [strong] +1 [keen] = 4, prog -> 8/10
End the Fight: prog 8 vs 7,7; strong hit w twist = Careena finds evidence that Rhuddli sent it
Thinking about this, Careena suddenly realised that the shock of the Hound's appearance had given her the impetus to open her Sight. Using the instruction that Gamana had given her, she found that she could open and close the Sight at will. Using it showed Careena a whole new world of auras that she had known existed but never before seen!
Reach a Milestone: I will serve Gamana for a year and a day; prog 2/20Careena was entranced by the glowing brown auras of the trees and plants around her until well after the sun came up. But she eventually made herself ready and continued her journey to Raven Ridge.
Undertake a Journey - Travel to Raven Ridge (troublesome); 5 +3 [wits] vs 10,4; weak hit, prog -> 9/10, -1 supply -> 4Reaching Raven Ridge without incident, Careena used the Sight in an effort to find Gamana.
Reach Your Destination: prog 9 vs 10,2; weak hit, arrive but unforeseen hazard or complication. The complication is what's the deal with Gamana
Ask the Oracle - using the Aspect and Focus Oracles from Delve: 66 Hidden & 20 Hideaway, Gamana is constructing a new home
Ask the Oracle - Are there caves in the Ridge? likely: 80 - Yes
Gather Information: 1 +3 [wits] +1 [Sighted] vs 1,1; strong hit w twist = Gamana sees Careena & calls to herShe ascended the ridge looking for Gamana and before long Gamana spotted her and called to Careena.
So why is Careena here. Ironsworn Chartopia Character Goal Oracle: Prove Worthiness and Secure an Object. Prove Worthiness refers to Careena as an apprentice, while Secure an Object is something that Gamana needs to find for an (as yet) unknown reason
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| Mask-less Gamana |
Gamana explained that she had returned to Thornfall, but some wounds went too deep and before long, she had begun arguing with Utamara. She expected that they could be reconciled, in fact Gamana hoped so, but it would take time. Realising this, and agreeing with Utamara that it was too soon for Gamana to stay at the village, Gamana had come to Raven Ridge and there was something here that she needed.
Before Careena could ask what Gamana needed or why, Gamana asked what had happened at Zorkon's Stone. The telling of that tale took some time and when it was finished, Gamana wanted to let the Varou twins know the events, so they built a fire which Gamana used to Scry the twins and tell them the news.
After that, Careena shared the news that she had opened her Sight, which led to the attack by the Haunt-Hound and Careena's belief that Rhuddli was behind it - which Gamana confirmed.
The reason that they were living there for the winter was for Careena to undertake serious training, and, if she wanted, Gamana would instruct her in the ways of the Marked - Ritualists who tattoo themselves to anchor their rituals with greater strength. Gamana's facial tattoos were part of her Marks.
They took the rest of the day getting Careena's belongings sorted out in the cave, and then completing various chores, before settling down for the night.
That's it for this post; more soon!