Chapter 9: Hermits Find Themselves With Allies.

So....

Kallbacken-Wise - determine composition of Flodmynningstead Ob2 doubled to Ob4

Vasil rides stealthily into the town. Final test to open Riding.

Taft gives save advice to Vasil as he clambers onto Shadow's back.

This was against Ob2, doubled to Ob4. This was the last Beginner's Luck test. Failed by 1, but Riding is now open.

Sneakin' an' grabbin', grabbin' an' sneakin'.

Circles test - do we know the two people that Shadow and Vasil picked up?

Ob4

Persuasion B4 +FoRK Almanac Forest Wise Haggling +2D Help Ob4

Travelling with the Watercarriers in tow, the group cross the river back into Flodmynningstead.
Scouting around the Stead Vasil and Shadow grab two scouts. Upon dragging them back to camp, both women are known to the group. Froda, the sister of Bohn; Taft's hunting companion, and Sofia; who once helped a wounded Vasil.

Put bluntly, Taft and Vasil described their intent to remove the Tower's influence from the Stead. They narrowly convince the women to go along with their plan. Approaching the Stead under the cover of a setting sun, the group have plans to extinguish fires, and extinguish lives.

Vasil is using Ugly Truth (beginner's luck) on Froda and Sofia - "If we cannot convince him, he has to die..."
First step towards convincing Vaccar to step outside of the steading.

Ugly Truth - B4 + 1D Help from Taft + 2D Help from Shadow + 1D Help from Vakseli + 1D Help from Summer + 1D Persona

Deceiving Vaccar

Vaccar, Sergeant of the forces of the Tower, watches Vasil fetch the jerky.

Vasil reaches into the fire to grab the discarded jerky. Casual like.

Vasil is trying to keep the Firetaming subtle.

Vasil attempts to force an alliance with Vaccar. He offers the possibility of a sword that can cut men of stone.

Persuasion B3 FoRKs: Fire Artifice + Artisan Wise + Ridiculous Request Wise + Oratory
Help: Hunting, Persuasion

+ 2 Persona

11d6 against Ob4

Taft, Shadow, and Vasil spoke with Froda and Sofia about the leadership of the Steading.
They discover that the Steading is lead by a man named Vaccar - a huge iron willed warrior from the West. A survivor of The Tower's spread through Vasil's homelands. Vaccar leads his people as best he can, having been defeated by the Tower's forces.

Assisted by Summer and Vaksii, the group extract information from Froda and Sofia about Vaccar - his motivations, his desires.
Shadow crept into the Steading, where alongside the Longhouse, spoke softly into Vaccar's mind, beckoning him into the nearby forest with promises of rewards.

Ambushed by the great wolf, Vaccar was held to listen to Vasil. Eventually, the two spoke over the campfire, while Shadow and Taft hunted game.

Vasil reached calmly into the campfire, to retrieve some fallen meat, and received a small burn for his troubles.

Together, the group was able to convince Vaccar to shift his alliances - no longer an enemy, but not yet a friend. Promises have been made, and hopes stoked.

The situation is primed: the group has a place to leave the water carriers. They'll need to take care of themselves, but may fit in well with another group of liberated Tower followers.

If Vasil is able to forge Vaccar a weapon capable of fighting spirit and stone, he may buy an ally.

Taft Forest-Wise Ob3 B5 +1D fork Orienteering +1D Help

Taft informs the group of an island - Flovaer, where the group might perform the ritual to summon Wildfire.

Venturing forth to the island promised by Taft, the four travel through the forest.

Vasil riding upon Shadow's back, Taft and Summer jogging alongside.

Ob2 riding test. +1Ob for Vasil's burnt hand.

Failure condition:
"Unbeknownst to the four of them, there is another cohort of the forces of the tower on this side of the river, closing in.
...but not quite yet. We'll come back to that."

Taft Warmth-Taking Ob3 (Ob6 Learning) - Will B6, Shadow Help +1D Vasil Help +1D Working Carefully +2D