Looking back at post 20, I noticed that I rolled a 1 on the first Strike against the Bonehorde; at the time I dimissed it as there was no negative result for the Companion to endure, BUT it should also have resulted in -1 Health for Radulf from the Masked asset, so his Health is now 4
The image of 'The Villain' below was created by, and used with permission of, 'rsek' on the Ironsworn Discord Server - thanks rsek! On with the game ...
Defeating the bonehorde counts as
Reach a Milestone: formidable vow "I will end the villain that created the Chimera", progress now 7/10
Delve the Depths: with observation => +Wits; 4 +2 vs. 7 & 5 => weak hit => on Wits table: 48, mark progress, now 8/10, Feature: 18 evidence of a foul ritual
This is perfect for the culmination of the Delve - evidence of the Chimera's creation
Locate Your Objective: progress 8 vs. 7 & 3 => make another move and add +1
A deep, gravelly, voice echoed through the cavern, "Who has destroyed my guardian? Who DARES to violate my home?" Apart from the way they had come, there was only one other exit from the stinking room, and that was where the voice apparently came from. Retrieving his torch, Radulf led the way, "Charun guide us," he muttered to himself.
Lili obvously heard him, for she responded, "And may Our Lady Vanth stretch out Her Hand and shield us!"
They headed for the other exit. A short tunnel led to another cave, which stank as much as the one they had left. Animal bodies and bits of animal bodies littered the cavern. Small plants struggled to grow amidst the detritus of the ritual to create the Chimera that had obviously been performed here. But what drew their attention was the black moss speckled figure, wearing a silvery iron mask that stood in the centre of the room.
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| The Villain |
"We are the people here to end you!" exclaimed Radulf dropping his torch and taking his Hammer-of-Charun in both hands, ready to destroy this foul creature.
It ignored him, however, and stared at Lili, who had moved to Radulf's left. "I knoowww you," it said slowly.
Radulf looked at Lili, "What's going on Lili?" he asked.
"I know not," she replied with a puzzled shrug.
"It is YOU!" the black figure said, "It is all your fault! It is all because of YOU!"
Still ignoring Radulf, it floated across the room toward Lili.
Enter the Fray: formidable foe - again Lili and Runbjorn reduce the foe's rank; facing off +Heart; 1 +2 vs. 7 & 1 => weak hit => take initiative
Strike: +Iron, +1 Masked, +1 ferocious Hound; 2 +3 +1 +1 vs. 7 & 6 => weak hit => lose initiative; 2 harm, +1 ferocious Hound; progress 3/10
Clash: +Iron, +1 Masked, +1 ferocious Hound; 2 +3 +1 +1 vs. 9 & 6 => weak hit => lose initiative; 2 harm, +1 ferocious Hound; progress 6/10, pay the price, pick 'person you care about is exposed to danger'
Radulf hit the creature as it floated by him, but it shrugged off the impact and hovered before Lili.
"YOU!! YOU!!" it shouted, if such a creature could shout. "YOU spurned me! You made me swear that vow!" it continued, seizing Lili with both hands. "YOU are the reason I cannot Rest!!"
"Lili!" roared Radulf striking the creature in the back as it shook Lili while Runbjorn snapped at the creature's legs, but it ignored the Hound just as it ignored Radulf's blows.
Clash: +Iron, +1 Masked, +1 ferocious Hound; 2 +3 +1 +1 vs. 9 & 9 => miss with a match, burn momentum, now +2 => strong hit => take initiative; 2 harm +1, strong hit, +1 ferocious Hound; progress 10/10
End the Fight: progress 10 vs. 10 & 7 => weak hit => victory is short-lived: existing danger worsens
Radulf wound up for a mighty swing and, with a prayer to Charun on his lips, he let it go. The Hammer-of-Charun swung through the creature. Its iron mask fell to the floor with a clatter as the creature broke apart, the bits landing on the floor of the cavern amidst the stubby plants. Dropping his Greathammer, Radulf leapt to Lili's side, cradling her in his arms as she had fallen to the floor when the creature did
"Lili, are you alright?" asked Radulf tenderly. But Lili was shaking her head in denial of something.
"No," she said, "It cannot be! It cannot be!" she paused as an expression of horror formed on her face. "Radulf," she said, "I recognised that - that thing!" she pushed him away and stood, taking up her sword as she did so.
"How?" asked Radulf, "How could you know that thing?"
"When I first arrived at Woodwatch, there was a man there. His name was Volhan and ... well we fell in love. I found him enchanting, he swept me off my feet, I was in heaven. But it was all a deception - he hid his nature from me. He wanted power. He wanted to dominate me as he wanted to control everyone. So I spurned him. I told everyone in the village his true nature and he was cast out." Radulf wanted to hold Lili, to wrap his arms around her and say everything would be alright, but she raised her hand when he began to move toward her.
"No," she said, "Let me finish." She visibly drew up her resolve. "Volhan left the village one night. Just vanished. No one knew where he went - to be honest, we were all glad to be rid of him."
"He had claimed to me," she continued, "That he had, before he met me, been an Ironsworn. Perhaps that explains what it said about a vow." She finished, lifted her sword up to her face, prayed to Vanth and kissed her blade.
Before Radulf could speak - not that he knew what he would've said - there was a metallic sound behind him. The creature's mask was rising from the ground and the pieces of its body were slowly moving towards the mask ...