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?

Return to Careena Index Page

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.

Return to Careena Index Page

Careena 01 - A Beginning

See page 253 of the Ironsworn rulebook for how I envision Careena's appearance
well ... sort of ... ish ... it's a good start anyway

Careena lived in the village of Hillbarrow - named for the barrow at the foot of the hill upon which the village stands.

Her father is a Dwarf named Lagon. Aside from the fact that he is a Dwarf, Careena has learnt next to nothing of what that means - Lagon was exiled as a young man for (Oracle roll - destroy tool) the crime of breaking a smith-priest's hammer. Why he broke it and what that means, he has never told Careena and she has vowed to herself that one day she will learn what her heritage means.

Background Iron Vow - I will learn what it means to be a Dwarf: Extreme 0/20

Her mother, Tuage, is human as the rest of Hillbarrow. Tuage was taken in by Elves when marauding Varou destroyed her home village and still has the Whisperwood mask that proves her one of the tribe.

Hillbarrow has never been a home for Careena - merely somewhere that she has lived - and she has taken every available opportunity to travel, often visiting Lady Mertree's dun with her father. Lagon blames Tuage for this - indeed, Careena has long suspected that only Tuage's long-term poor health has kept her mother in Hillbarrow.

For as long as Careena can remember, her mother has unashamedly used rituals to help Hillbarrow, often talking to fellow practitioners by Scrying* in the flames of their fire. Since Careena has been old enough to understand, Tuage has educated her daughter in their use and when Careena became an adult, Tuage taught her 2 rituals to help her survive as she finds her way in the world, knowing, in her heart, that Careena would not remain at Hillbarrow.

Asset - Keen
Asset - Sway

Lagon has also taught Careena how to survive in the world, although his lessons have been of a far more physical bent. Few in Hillbarrow knew how to fight properly, and seeing her father demonstrate his skills with an axe, Careena doubted that anyone in the whole of the Havens wielded one more effectively - and he taught those skills to Careena!

Asset - Sunderer

Accepting the fact that Careena would never follow in her father's footsteps (the overseer of the mine owned by Lady Mertree), when Tuage's friend Rhuddli visited and expressed an interest in finding an apprentice, Careena leapt at the chance to journey with him and learn the arts of a Ritualist. All of them knew that Tuage lacked the patience (& stamina) to be able to fully explore the boundaries of Careena's gifts.

Background Iron Vow - I will become a Ritualist : Formidable 0/10

So, months ago now, Careena left Hillbarrow and all those she knew behind ...

Starting Bonds - Parents, Rhuddli

Would she ever see them again?

As it says in the Ironsworn rulebook - "Play to find out" ...

* - In my Ironlands, if someone has Scry and is Sighted then they will know if they are being scried and by whom; if they Scry them back, they can talk to each other. (This is straight from the Katharine Kerr Deverry novels, a major source of inspiration for my game.

 

Return to Careena Index Page

Starting again ...

I've decided to re-start my Ironsworn solo campaign.  Since my first session with Kithayn - two weeks ago now - my thinking about the Ironlands I want to play my game in, has evolved considerably.

I want to use the rich culture and world developed by Katharine Kerr in her Deverry novels, and while that was basically the world that I envisioned for Kithayn, I allowed the Ironlands default setting to creep into it, which then made it change away from what I wanted.

So rather than try and mutilate the established fiction in Kithayn's game back to that of Deverry that I  envision, I've decided to start again, which should be easier and I'm going to try a bullet point journal initially as writing up the note format I did for Kithayn took far too long and is unfinished ...

Also, since that session, I've read some more actual play and have been impressed with the way that those players have used the Oracle tables to create and shape their stories, so I intend to do that

I want to tell a story involving magic, or Dewomer as it is called in the Deverry books, and I certainly have a much better ideas for the character's assets as a result

So now, I'm going to do a character page for the new character

Kithayn - 03 Pursuit

It was quickly apparent that Connu's wound looked a lot worse than it actually was and he was rapidly carried into the Wardenhome's compound.

Connu's warriors - Colme & Decha - were returning when ambushed by Varou. Colme was wounded but Decha got him home & gate shut.

Connu sends Decha on his horse to warn Lady Caelia. Kithayn refuses to go as has sworn to find her mother. Connu accepts without demur (friend). His servants have stripped the Varou corpses and Connu gifts a mail hauberk and fine steel sword to Kithayn - she is flattered

Replace OUTCAST asset with SWORDMASTER
Heal - 10,4 : 3 + 2 iron; WEAK; +2 health (3), -1 momentum (4)
Sojourn - 6,6 : 6 + 1 heart, +1 [bond w. Connu]; STRONG; Recuperate +2 health (5), Provision +2 supply (4), Consort +2 spirit (max 5)
Sojourn match: Action 86 Locate, Theme 15 Secret; Want to do a 'Delve' so Varou have found a lost site.

Regain war-darts, couple more from Connu. Don mail, tight, but will do

Per Ironclad asset, Kithayn is 'Geared for War', check Encumbered condition; max momentum 9, reset is now 1
Gather Information - from Varou bodies - 5,4 : 6 + 3 wits; STRONG; +2 momentum (6)

Prepared now, Kithayn leaves to find Mother's fate.

Milestone - Iron Vow - Learn Mother's Fate - 2/10

As the Varou were following the river - presumably to return home - Kithayn believes she can head north-west from Connu's Wardenhome, rather than west to the river and follow it north. She should find their tracks as she did at yesterday's dawn

Undertake a Journey - Find Varou (troublesome) - 1st segment
  9,1 : 2 + 3 wits; WEAK; -1 supply (3); progress 3/10

Stops early to forage and camp<

Resupply - 6,5 : 6 + 3 wits; STRONG; +2 supply (5)
Make Camp - 7,1 : 2 + 5 supply; WEAK; Recuperate +1 health (5)

Refreshed, resumes in morning

Undertake a Journey - Find Varou (troublesome) - 2nd segment
  6,1 : 5 + 3 wits; STRONG; progress 6/10
Waypoint - oracle - Corrupted Steading

Varou had strayed from River and seemingly stumbled over the farm. Dran, the farmer, killed trying to protect farm, no sign of Lenne, wife, or their children. Search

Gather Information - 2,2 : 4 + 3 wits; STRONG; +2 momentum (8)

Find children in their bolt-hole; Innach the eldest will take them to next farm. Kithayn solemnly vows to Boddua to find where their mummy has gone ...

Swear Iron Vow - Return Lenne to her children - troublesome 3,1 : 4 + 1 heart; STRONG; +2 momentum (max 9)

Starts to follow Varou trail

Undertake a Journey - Find Varou (troublesome) - 3rd segment
  5,5 : 4 + 3 wits; STRONG; progress 9/10
Reach Your Destination - 4,2 : 9 progress; STRONG; +1 momentum (max 9)

Find Varou - there are 2 outside a small cave that has a stream running out of it.

Milestone - Iron Vow - Return Lenne to her children - 3/10
Milestone - Iron Vow - Learn Mother's Fate - 3/10

04 - the cave

Having found the Varou - 2 of them - Kithayn finds a hide and watches as the tracks had indicated at least 8 or 9 of them ...

Gather Information - 8,1 : 6 + 1sh; WEAK; +1m (max 9)

Watches for rest of day and most of night, but no sign of others.  As night comes to close, one of the Varou is sleeping by their small fire and Kithayn determines to act ...

Face Danger - 7,5 : 3 + 1sh; MISS, BURN (9 -> 1), STRONG; +1m (2)

sneaks up on the Varou unnoticed ...

Secure an Advantage - 6,1 : 6 + 1sh; STRONG; +2m (4)

Leaps at the sentry from behind

Enter the Fray - 2 Varou (1 asleep) = dangerous  3,1 : 6 + 1sh; STRONG; +2m (6), +INITStrike - 4,4 : 1 + 2i; MISS, BURN (6 -> 1), STRONG; 2hm +1hm [STR] +2hm [swordmaster]  Progess - 2 Varou (1 asleep) - 10/10End the Fight - 6,1 : 10p; STRONG

Decapitating it as she passes and finishing her leap with her sword in the skull of the sleeper.

"A sword is soo much better than axe!" Kithayn thonks as she boots the Varou's head from her sword.

Inside cave are 4 human captives including a dead Lenne

Milestone - Iron Vow - Return Lenne to her children - 6/10

Cingi, Innkeeper of Northbridge is alive. Tells Kithayn that Varou found a door hidden at back of cave and all but the 2 outside (6) went in, taking some of their captives - including Mother

Milestone - Iron Vow - Learn Mother's Fate - 4/10

The 3 survivors are too tired to move now. Will wait in cave for at least day and then make way to nearest Steading - Kithayn gives them directions.. They loot Varou for weapons - Kithayn gives axe to Congi - it was his anyway!

Discover a Site - troublesome, Ancient Ruin - Nekun's Hole

Kithayn carefully explores the cave & checks with captives what Varou were carrying

Secure an Advantage - 5,2 : 4 + 3w; STRONG; prepare +2m (3)

and passes through the doorway discovered by the Varou ...

05 - Nekun's Hole

As short corridor entered a room, pit trap has Varou dead on spikes at bottom.

Delve the Depths - 3,1 : 1 + 3 wits; STRONG: progress, opportunity
Progress - Nekun's Hole - 3/10
Find an Opportunity - 18; terrain favours / hidden path; +1 mom (4)

Stairs down, impaled human on spikes up from stairs. Standing at head of stairs, feels air-current to side; quick search reveals a hidden door that reveals sloping passage parallel to stairs.

Delve the Depths - 6,3 : 6 + 1 shadow; STRONG: progress, opportunity
Progress - Nekun's Hole - 6/10
Find an Opportunity - 28; history / nature revealed; +1 mom (5)

Writing on wall has some of the same letters that are on her father's gauntlets. Kithayn had thought them just decorative, but the way they appear on the wall, they're clearly letters .. what alphabet? what language? not the time now - press on

Delve the Depths - 9,6 : 4 + 3 wits; WEAK: Wits: 24 progress, reveal danger
Progress - Nekun's Hole - 9/10
Reveal a Danger - Kithayn realises the obvious ...

From her secret passage, Kithayn can see torchlight through one of the spyholes ahead. Hang on ... how could she see the writing just now? she wasn't carrying a torch ... there was no light at all, but she could still see ... she'd always known she could see well at night compared to others, but to see with no light? what is this?

Endure Stress - dangerous : -2 spirit (3); 4,2 : 4 + 3 spirit; STRONG; embrace +1 mom (6)

Focus! Find Mother! She must know the answers!

Milestone - Iron Vow - Learn Mother's Fate - 5/10

blah

Kithayn - 02 Connu the Brave

Connu had not been the Warden for long. Tinau, the previous Warden, had been a fat, jolly, lazy man who had allowed the defences of the Wardenhome - its main reason for existence - to fall into disrepair. Connu's first step on taking up the Wardenship had been to repair the palisade and the wisdom of his decision was now there for all to see.

The palisade's gate was closed and at the base of the Wardenhome's rise, 5 Varou milled about, obviously confused and uncertain what to do - they must not have expected the palisade ...

As they yipped to each other in their strange language, Kithayn saw Connu risk a look over the palisade from the fighting platform inside the palisade next to the gate. As she watched, one of the Varou seeing Connu, launched one of their war-darts at him, but Connu had disappeared long before the missile had reached the palisade.

Uncertain how to proceed, Kithayn climbed a stout tree and looked over the area, assessing her options ...

Gather Information - 6,3 : 2 + 3 wits; MISS; Pay the Price: Stressful -2 spirit (3)

It looked hopeless ... she couldn't single-handedly defeat 5 Varou .. how could she possibly get through to Connu?

Endure Stress - 7,4 : 6 + 2 spirit; STRONG; Shake it off, -1 momentum (4), +1 spirit (4)

But as Kithayn despaired, it dawned upon her that the Varou at the gate were probably all that were left of the group that had left Northbridge for the Wardenhome ... which meant she could reach the palisade on the other side unobserved.

Backing away a piece, Kithayn circled around the Wardenhome and found that its other side did, indeed, have no Varou. She quickly scribbled a note and tied it to one of her war-darts. Checking yet again that there were no Varou visible, Kithayn swiftly ran up to the palisade and lobbed the war-dart over it sideways - the last thing she wanted was for someone to be hurt by it!

Her plan proposed, Kithayn waited for it to come to fruition ...

Secure an Advantage - 3,1 : 5 + 3 wits; STRONG; Prepare, +2 momentum (6)
Milestone - Warn Warden Connu - 8/10

As she waited, Kithayn prepared herself and before long the palisade gate opened and Connu rode out on a horse! Kithayn was nearly as surprised as the Varou, Connu must be very favoured by Lady Caelia to have a horse! Dismissing the distraction, Kithayn launched a ward-dart at the closest of the Varou, as Connu thundered toward them ...

Enter the Fray - Ambushing 5 Varou = Formidable
  6,2 : 6 + 1 shadow; STRONG; +2 momentum (8), +INIT
Strike - 7,7 : 6 + 2 edge; STRONG; 2 harm + 1 harm [STR], +INIT
Progress - Ambushing 5 Varou - 3/10

As Connu burst through the Varou, a downswing from his sword killed one of them outright, while Kithayn's war-dart struck her target in the thigh knocking it down. Now through the Varou, Connu wheeled his horse and charged back through the stunned Varou as Kithayn threw her last dart

Strike - 10,6 : 2 + 2 edge; MISS, BURN (8 -> 2), WEAK; 2 harm, -INIT
Progress - Ambushing 5 Varou - 5/10

This time, Connu wounded his foe and Kithayn killed hers - her dart lodging in the manbeast's throat.

But now, the Varou recovered their wits and the 2 of them that were uninjured chased down Connu, while the wounded one stumbled toward Kithayn. Her war-darts all gone, Kithayn ran towards a downed tree between her and the approaching Varou. As she approached the tree, she leapt on to it, turning the Varou slightly as it followed her movement, and pushed off the tree straight at her foe

Secure an Advantage - 9,4 : 3 + 2 edge; WEAK; +1 momentum (3)
Clash - 10,3 : 5 + 2 iron; WEAK; 2 harm, -INIT, Pay the Price: 3 harm (2)
Endure Harm - 3,2 : 6 + 2 iron; STRONG; Shake it off, -1 momentum (2), +1 health (3), +1 momentum [ironclad] (3)
Progress - Ambushing 5 Varou - 7/10

Kithayn followed her axe into her foe, bowling it over as she killed it, but even as it died the Varou managed to strike Kithayn in the hip. As she struggled to her feet, Kithayn saw the last 2 Varou pulling Connu off his horse. Even so, Connu managed to wound one with his sword, but the other stabbed the brave Warden in the back.

Kithayn charged the remaining Varou, screaming incoherently as she did trying to draw their attention from Connu.

Secure an Advantage - 6,3 : 3 + 3 wits; WEAK; +1 momentum (4)
Clash - 10,1 : 2 + 2 iron; WEAK; 2 harm, -INIT, Pay the Price: 3 harm (0)
Progress - Ambushing 5 Varou - 9/10
Endure Harm - 6,3 : 5 + 2 iron; STRONG; Shake it off, -1 momentum (3), +1 health (1), +1 momentum [ironclad] (4)

Kithayn's axe struck down the last unwounded Varou and brave Connu slew the last, even as he collapsed himself.

Turn the Tide - +INIT
Strike - 5,4 : 6 + 2 iron; STRONG; 2 harm, +1 harm [STR], +1 momentum (5)
Progress - Ambushing 5 Varou - 10/10
End the Fight - 8,5 : 10 progress; STRONG

Milestone - Iron Vow - Warn Warden Connu - 10/10
Fulfil Your Vow - Warn Warden Connu - 9,2 : 10 progress; STRONG; 2xp

Kithayn dropped her axe and bent over Connu wanting to help desperately, while the gate in the palisade swung wide and Connu's household came running to help their master ...

Kithayn - 01 Home Burns

"This is not good," Kithayn mused to herself as she knelt beside the last trail of her journey home. She could clearly see that a band of Varou had - judging by the freshness of their tracks - followed the trail within the last watches of the night. Although rare, it was not completely unknown for Varou to pass through her home steading of Northbridge - after all  it was the site of the most northerly bridge over the river Anfyn - but they sometimes caused trouble over the toll and it would be best if she were there to help old Glami, the warrior that manned the toll station for Lady Caelia.

But, never having been one to let her heart rule her head, Kithayn decided to search around to see if anything more could be learned ...

Gather Information - 4,1 : 3 + 3 wits; STRONG

Back down the trail Kithayn saw some of the small bushes at the trail's edge crushed as if a large animal had forced its way off the trail - or someone had crawled that way. Intrigued, Kithayn went over and crouched down to get a better look. She saw a Varou on the ground with its back to the trail. At first she thought it was asleep, but then noticed the stumps of arrows in its back and flies crawling around the wounds - it was dead.

Kithayn reached under the bushes towards the Varou with one of her war-darts and dragged the body to the edge of the trail. Seeing the paleness of its skin and the not quite stiffness of it limbs, Kithayn knew it had died since the sun's rise - it must have been straggling behind the rest of the band when it gave up the fight for life and crawled away to die. But as she rolled the body over and saw its face, the blood drained from her own ...

Shock of the revelation : -2 spirit (3)
Endure Stress - 5,4 : 4 + 3 spirit; STRONG; Embrace +1 momentum (3)

Kithayn had never seen Varou with red facepaint - all the other colours under the sun, but not red! She knew the stories - red is the colour of war to the Varou, only worn by them at war. This was no trading or secretive hunting band - these were raiders headed for her home!

The corpse in front of her must have been wounded in an attack, fallen behind and then left to die by the others.  Kithayn dropped the buck she had been bringing home and started her mile-eating fast jog along the trail toward Northbridge, seeing as she did that there were boot-prints interspersed with the Varou tracks - they had captives!

Face Danger - 10,7 : 4 + 2 iron; MISS; most obvious result - too slow

Cresting the last ridge before Northbridge, Kithayn could see a thick plume of smoke rising from where she knew Northbridge to be - she was too late! With a heavy heart, she continued without a pause knowing that she could no longer change what happened at the only home she had ever known.

As Northbridge came slowly into sight, she could see that the toll station and the Inn were burning fiercely; Glami lay dead in the yard atop a dead Varou and there was Sula, Mother's best friend, with her back opened from shoulder to hip ... There were no wounded - only corpses ... and no sign on Kithayn's Mother.

As she looked around and drank in the devastation, Kithayn's innately practical mind took over and she found herself at the log store where she hid her gear when away from home - she had learnt the hard way that some people would take anything they could find. She thanked the Gods that the Varou had not found her store and retrieved the gauntlets and helm that had once been her Father's along with the padded coat she wore when learning from Glami. Putting them all on, she began to feel her spirit strengthen and her spine stiffen.

Per Ironclad asset, Kithayn is now Lightly Armored [sic] 

Searching around the still burning buildings, a strange tale began to tell itself to Kithayn ...

Gather Information - 9,7 : 1 + 3 wits; MISS; unearths dire threat & unwelcome truth

The Varou had obviously fought amongst themselves about something and two separate groups had left the steading.  One (with all the captives) had gone north along the riverbank in the direction of the Varou tribal lands, while the other had followed the road toward the Wardenhome of Connu.

Kithan did not know what to do - she knew that her duty to Lady Caelia required her to warn the Warden, but her heart yearned to follow the captives in the hope that she could find her Mother alive amongst them ... but Mother could be lying dead, burnt to ash in the ruins of the inn ...

Indecision gripped her, but then Kithayn drew her Father's Iron Dagger, his mark of eternal shame, that she always kept inside her shirt where its leather sheath nestled next to her skin.

Gripping it tightly in her left hand so that its blade cut into her palm, she swore, "On my Father's badge of shame, I swear that I will find you Mother and learn your fate."

Swear Iron Vow - Learn Mother's Fate - formidable
  9,2 : 3 + 1 heart; WEAK; +1 momentum (5)

Gripping it again, so that it cut new lines of blood in her hand, she swore another solemn vow, "I swear that I will get to Warden Connu and tell him what has happened here, though my heart tells me to find Mother, I will do my duty first."

Swear Iron Vow - Warn Warden Connu - dangerous
  6,2 : 6 + 1 heart + 1 [bond w. Connu]; STRONG; +2 momentum (4)

Taking up her, Kithayn followed the Varou that had headed toward the Wardenhome. She knew a shortcut that would take her over the big ridge that lay between Northbridge and Connu's Wardenhome, while the road ran round the end of the ridge - luck might see at the Wardenhome before the Varou .. it was unlikely to be sure, but Kithayn felt that she had to try ...

Undertake Journey - Northbridge to Wardenhome of Connu : dangerous
5,4 : 5 + 3 wits; STRONG; move at speed +1 momentum (6), -1 supply (4);
Milestone - Warn Warden Connu - 2/10

Kithayn made good time, climbing the ridge without mishap until she reached the edge of the scree slopes that she had to cross before she could make her descent. She had crossed the treacherous scree many times, but never at the speed that she had to use now ...

Undertake Journey - Northbridge to Wardenhome of Connu; 2nd segment
  4,2 : 5 + 3 wits; STRONG; move at speed +1 momentum (7), -1 supply (3)

Luck? the Gods? her Father's spirit? something was Kithayn; she seemed to float across the scree with nary a problem and began her descent to the Wardenhome

Undertake Journey - Northbridge to Wardenhome of Connu; 3rd segment
  9,9 : 5 + 3 wits; MISS w. TWIST

What- or whom-ever had been with Kithayn on the scree, left her as ran her determined jog down the slope of the ridge toward the Wardenhome. As she rounded a boulder, she saw Clover, Connu's old milk cow, running across the path and away to her left. Distracted by the incongruous sight, Kithayn completely failed to see the 2 Varou that had been chasing the cow, spot her and change their target to the running woman.

Enter the Fray - Ambushed, 2 slightly wounded Varou = dangerous
  7,2 : 6 + 3 wits; STRONG; +2 momentum (9), +INIT

As they leapt out though, some sixth sense of Kithayn's warned her and her axe leapt up toward the first Varou.

Strike - 4,2 : 6 + 2 iron; STRONG; 2 harm + 1 harm [STR)]
  Progress - 2 Varou - 6/10 ; +INIT

Catching it in the thigh, the creature's artery sprayed its life out across the path and its compatriot. Not giving the remaining Varou time to recover, Kithayn's axe swept towards its head.

Strike - 8,8 : 4 + 2 iron; MISS, BURN (9 -> 2), STRONG; 2 harm + 1 harm [STR]
  Progress - 2 Varou - 10/10 ; +INIT

Striking deep down into its skull, Kithayn had put her boot on the Varou before she could tug her axe free.

End the Fight - 10,3 : 10 progress; WEAK
Endure Harm - 9,4 - 1 + 3 health + 1 ironclad; WEAK; -2 health (3), + 1 momentum [ironclad] (3)

The fight over, Kithayn realised that the first Varou had caught arm a nasty slice as it fell. Removing her pack, she found one of her bandages and bound her arm tight - stitching the wound would have to wait.

Heal - 7,2 : 3 + 2 iron; WEAK; -1 supply (2), +2 health (5)
Milestone - Warn Warden Connu - 4/10

Replacing her gear and restoring her pack to her back, Kithayn took stock. She was almost at the Wardenhome, but meeting the Varou here meant they almost certainly were there themselves.

Reach Your Destination - 8,3 : 6 progress; WEAK; unforeseen hazard ...

As Kithayn stepped out toward the Wardenhome, another Varou stepped onto the trail ahead of her - murder in its eyes ...

Enter the Fray - ambushed by a Varou = dangerous
7,4 : 6 + 3 wits; STRONG; +2 momentum (5), +INIT

Dodging the manbeast's first lunge, Kithayn brought her axe up in an underarm swing, intent on slicing open the ceature's groin

Strike - 10,4 : 6 + 2 iron; WEAK; 2 harm
  Progress - A Varou - 2/10; -INIT

Her blow almost ineffective, the Varou flowed from its own parry to a strike

Clash - 5,2 : 6 + 2 iron; STRONG; 2 harm + 1 harm [opening]
  Progress - A Varou - 10/10; +INIT

But Kithayn's own riposte opened the Varou up from throat to sternum and, as disbelief filled its eyes, it sank slowly to its knees ...

End the Fight - 6,6 : 10 progress; STRONG

... and Kithayn decapitated it with a double handed swing of her axe.

Milestone - Warn Warden Connu - 6/10
Milestone - Learn Mother's Fate - 1/10 

Looking up, there was the Wardenhome of Connu, on a small rise at the base of the valley