Upto this point, I have been using the challenging stat array (4,3,3,2,2) from Ironsworn Lodestar. However, I have increasingly felt that the game did not have the same level of difficulty as my first game, so I have changed Radulf's stats to use the normal array (3,2,2,1,1) by the expedient of taking one from each - see his character sheet to see how that feels. I may change it back at some point.
When Radulf came back to himself - he must have been unconscious - he was on a bed in the Temple-of-Vanth, with Lili, the Priestess dozing on a chair at the foot of the bed.
"Priestess," he said, bringing Lili out of her doze. "How long has it been?"
"A whole day Radulf," she replied. "You fought the Chimera during the night before the one that has just finished. Rooks have been sent and a reply has returned." She stood and came to the side of the bed, sitting on it, and put a hand on Radulf's forehead, continuing, "As soon as you are well enough, you are to return to Templemount and report to the First-Priestess-of Vanth, Lady Sibila." She stood. "It seems your fever has broken, which is good. I'll see to some food for you."
Descriptors for Lili - Doomed, Amicable, Romantic; what an intriguing combination!
As Radulf is currently at 1 Health & 1 Spirit, I think Radulf's recovery is an excellent time to Sojourn: +Heart; 4 +2 vs. 5 & 3 => strong hit => select Heal (+3 Health, now 4), Hearten (+3 Spirit, now 4)
It was another full day before Radulf was able to walk unaided and when he was able to leave the Temple-of-Vanth, he was embarrassed by the acclaim with which the villagers greeted him. They seemed to consider him a hero, but Radulf believed that he had only done his Duty and reluctantly at that. Without his Iron Faith and the strength that Charun had lent him, he would have run screaming from the Chimera, as would any sane man.
Radulf spent another day recovering before he was finally confident enough to face the prospect of the return journey. Lili had given him a letter for First-Priestess Lady Sibila expanding upon the brief report she had sent by Rook. As he left the Temple-of-Vanth, he found the whole village turned out to farewell him - which they did, cheering him to the rafters.
This seems a good reason to Make a Connection: Woodwatch, western village, troublesome, progress 0/10
Also, as Radulf is leaving Woodwatch, his last stop on his first Charun patrol, more progress on his vow "I will complete my first patrol as Charun"
Reach a Milestone: dangerous vow , progress now 8/10
Radulf's intention was to stay the night at Halfway (yet again) and continue to Templemount in the morning. He had heard rumours that a direct road between Templemount and Woodwatch was going to be constructed in the spring - but that rumour had been doing the rounds for years now. It would halve the travel time, so Radulf hoped it would be built at some point. Idle musings like these occupied his mind as he trudged his way through the snow. As usual Otaan was a tower of strength and Radulf kept ahold of the Mammoth's harness drawing on the indefatigable animal's strength to supplement his own.
They reached Halfway without incident, arriving in the late afternoon.
Is there anyone at Halfway this time? I'll rate it as likely this time
Ask the Oracle? 26+ is Yes - 18, so no
Once more, somewhat surprisingly, Halfway was empty. Having previously finished all the work needed there, Radulf simply went to bed. The journey from Woodwatch had been much more tiring than Radulf had expected - he was obviously not as recovered as he had thought. A good night's sleep did him a world of good and the next morning, after his prayers, he set out with Otaan in good spirits, looking forward to returning home.
Secure an Advantage: +Iron: 3 +3 vs. 9 & 3 => weak hit => +3 momentum (+1 from weak hit, +2 from Devotant asset), now +9 (max)
Undertake a Journey: +Wits; 4 +2 vs. 5 & 4 => strong hit => mark progress, now 9/10
Reach Your Destination: 9 progress vs. 8 & 4 => strong hit => +1 on next move
Nearing Templemount, the road became busier. For the first time in days, there were other people on the roads - some of whom Radulf knew, but as he was Charun, he could not greet them personally. Radulf and Otaan reached the gates and entered the fortress-town of Templemount. Leading Otaan to the gates of the Citadel-Temple, the brothers of the temple removed the urns from the sledge and took them away to their final rest. Later, as the last Duty in his role as Charun, Radulf would have to check the urns had been interred properly, but he had other Tasks first. He saw to Otaan, thanking the Mammoth for his strength and formally returned the animal to the stable-keepers
Radulf has finished his first Charun patrol, so progress on the vow "I will complete my first patrol as Charun"
Reach a Milestone: dangerous vow , progress now 10/10
Otaan back with his comrades, Radulf's next stop was the armoury where his Hammer-of-Charun was deposited - with the necessary prayers of thanks - for reconsecration and maintenance. And then the penultimate task - to the Citadel-Temple-of-Vanth and the resolution of his Vow.
In the Citadel-Temple, Priestess Ylva stood before the altar, waiting for Radulf. As required, he wore his Mask-of-Charun and knelt before Ylva, grasped her Holy Sword, and spoke, "I swear by the Iron of my Faith and the Iron of this Holy Sword, that I have given salt to the needy and collected those who made their final journey."
Fulfill Your Vow: progress 10 vs. 2 & 1 => strong hit => 2xp, +1xp from Bannersworn asset, 3 total
The vow lifted from Radulf and Ylva declared, "holy Vanth concurs," and replaced her sword in its sheath. "First-Priestess Lady Sibila awaits you in her office. Go to her when you have returned the Mask-of-Charun," she instructed Radulf.
Radulf did as instructed, returning the Mask-of-Charun to the vault where it too would be reconsecrated, cleaned and made ready for the next wearer. Then he ascended the stairs to Lady Sibila's office - somewhere he had never been before ...