RuneChad(s) Session 4: Dwarven Gold

Mostly peaceful lake outside
Currach Gladgell

This session picked up on Gwylltdydd, the 55th day of Moon Season. The RuneChads were represented by Malo the Once Dead picking up the pieces from the last session. As we approached the end of Moon Season, any hanging downtime actions would fall to the floor and there would be a lot of lost opportunity. As it stood, Malo met with the village chieftain and secured a bond of marriage with his daughter. The wedding was to take place over Sacred Time which was fast approaching. One problem Malo faced was the celibacy of Arawn Initiates...of which he was one. Fortunately for him, his eyes had been opened to the power of Manawydan, what with being brought back from the dead and all, so he made the mental shift of allegiance. That was a problem for Future Malo. Now Malo was faced with a dwarf who knew a lot but wasn't very talkative.

Stonefoot was introduced to the RuneChads by Captain of the Guard Arwyn after the giant was killed. Nobody really seemed to care who the dwarf was or why he was there, so he just started tagging along with them. He seemed very interested in not being at Gogifran's Keep any longer than he had to and was even more interested in getting further south as quickly as possible. After some discussion, Malo learned the bronze torcs were dwarven enchantments which fostered loyalty to Gogifran. With him dead, they were of no use magically but the dwarves to the south would pay a total of 700 gold Wheels for the 28 in RuneChad possession. They could be sold elsewhere around Cymru for much less, or they could travel to the markets on the Isle of Man and try their luck. Life is full of choices! He also learned that Llyr's Fountain was the proximate cause of the dwarven vault being flooded. Might bear some looking into by the RuneChads... Life is indeed full of choices.

Gold!!

Arwyn had also chosen to stay on. He, however, had rolled a critical reaction roll and was fiercely loyal to Malo now. Along with him came 9 or so of the men-at-arms into Malo's service as an armed retinue. The remaining men would stay on for hire, at least as long as they were heading south. They would make for Ty Rhiannon and put as many miles between them and Gogifran's Keep as they could before the Owl Witch asserted her power. 

Arwyn looking for stable
employment

This was all sorted for downtime actions. The clear and cool dawn of Gwylltdydd found Malo and his entourage heading south to the northernmost dwarven vault near Ty Arawn, a two days march to the south. Most of the men were on foot with only the RuneChads on horse...and Stonefoot on a mule. Given no delve and this essentially being a travel session, the RuneChads would travel as a team even though only Malo was present for decision making.

Very scary!

The entourage traveled the better part of a day when two of the men suddenly slowed to half speed. Something had ensourcelled them! Everyone began searching the area for anything out of the ordinary when one eagle eyed scout spied a strange fungal looking tree standing apart from the tree line up the hillside only 10 yards away. Malo ordered two of his men to go cut down the weird tree. They obeyed without hesitation. As they approached the tree, one of the men shrieked in rage and struck the other with his axe and began chopping him with wild abandon. Recognizing the trap they were falling into, Malo bravely sounded "run away" even as two more men were magically slowed. RuneChads mounted on horseback quickly moved away, only slightly ahead of a very motivated mule carrying an even more motivated dwarf. The foot men were not so fortunate. One of them was hewn down by the maniac while the others continued as through molasses trying to escape. Another fell pray to gibbering and writhing on the ground while a Slow man's eyes rolled up in his head as he turned back toward the Evil Tree and began walking slowly towards it. Shrieking and hideous distorted laughter followed Malo and his men through the hills as they fled further south. Malo felt the tendrils of madness grip at his soul and managed a critical save at a critical moment.

This encounter took way longer than I would have hoped. The combat mechanics were complicated and unfortunately very one sided. The Malevolent Plant Spirit was intelligent and sat in wait along the path until the lead element was close enough for Spirit Magic to work...and then not be able to escape well. Spirit Magic works at 50 yards, Rune Magic 150. Once they were slowed sufficiently, the Malevolent Plant could apply Madness at will and then selectively kill or Possess as it chose. The mechanics for Fleeing hinged on Encumbrance and Movement. It then became a march against the clock to move troops out of the way of attack as quickly as possible. 

Not very scary at all!

That evening passed mostly uneventfully. Somewhere in the second watch, a small flying creature made of living stone flew directly into the campfire and announced the humans were trespassing and needed to explain themselves. Stonefoot showed himself and exchanged words in a tongue unknown to Man. Reaction rolls again were very positive. The gargoyle saluted and flew away.  A half day's further travel and they were met by a dwarven armed detachment sent to bring them safely to the vault.

Sacred Time has fallen over the land. The RuneChads are safely in the region of Ty Arawn and will spend the season worshiping and preparing for the coming year. Experience rolls and POW gain rolls are made at the end of Moon Season. Additional POW gain rolls will be possible throughout Sacred Time which will hopefully allow a reset for the heroes to set forth again at the start of Dark Season. A Loyalty roll will need to be assessed for Malo's retinue given the disastrous encounter with the Evil Tree. Will Malo return to his betrothed? Given the intervening weeks, Gogifran's Keep will no doubt present a different challenge should they return. The landscape around Derwenlas itself may look very, very different. A lot can happen over a season!

Merry Christmas!!