Chapter 9: Hermits Find Themselves With Allies.

Taft Nature of All Things Ob 2 (Ob4) - B6 Will +2D Summers Fourth Howl +1D Shadow

Vasil begins the ritual to summon Wildfire.

Ob3 Firetaming.

B4 + Materials Wise + Carpentry + Scavenging (Shadow Help) + Carpentry (Taft Help)

Ritual (Beginner's Luck) Ob5 (Doubles to 10)

6D + Working Carefully 1D + 2D from Taft + 1D Help from Shadow (reluctant) + 1D Help from Summer + 1D Knowing the Spirit's Name.

Session wrap:

Vasil came to the group with a plan - a multi-stage process to summon the spirit Heart of the Wildfire.
Wildfire is a greedy, dangerous spirit, left unchecked, it will consume forest as far as the eye can see.

Vasil's plan was comprehensive, but Taft's was better. "What if we just did it on an island?"
This was much better. No enchanted axes, and water jugs imbued with Taft's frost. Just an island. It so happens that Taft knew of an island nearby.

Vasil rode upon Shadow's back, while Taft and Summer loped alongside. Taft made a bridge of ice to allow Vasil to cross safely. Shadow and Summer swam happily in the water - claiming it a pleasant temperature.

Once on the island, Shadow lead Taft in a spiritual investigation, teaching him the beginnings of a new lupine philosophy, a new path into understanding the world.

Vasil, assisted by everyone began the ritual to summon Heart of the Wildfire; carving its symbol upon a tree, before setting it alight.
The fire was easy, the ritual was not. Still barely-understanding ritual spirit etiquette, Vasil was just, barely able to summon the great conflagration into essence without causing offence.

It spoke its terms:
A larger mark upon the flesh of the one who would wield its power. A limb.
In return, it will teach Vasil to summon flames of a heroic ferocity.

The price is too high, however tempting the prize. A freedom fighter cannot function without his limbs.

A negotiation shall be had.

Vasil attempts to sway the great spirit, Haggling B4.
Help from Shadow: Man-wise
Help from Taft: Haggling

Persuasion, Firetaming, 3 Persona

Haggling 11d6

A profoundly bad failure. The spirit wishes to burn Taft. Vasil rejects this offer. Wildfire attempts to consume the four of them.

Vasil will snatch up his spear and lunge at Windfire, distracting it. Now that my jaws are active, I will bite at Wildfire, ripping and tearing at its essence until it cowers before me and my humans.

Warmth-Taking - Taft throws himself at Wildfire's retributive flame, sucking away the heat to protect his allies. Intent - to subdue Wildfire and entrap (Lock) it in a lack of warmth.

Ob 4x2 = 8: Will B6 +2D Help from Summer's Fourth Howl +2 Persona +Fate

Die of Fate - 1 means Wildfire is relationship: Enemy

DoF - on a 1, the Spirit Wildfire is a permanent enemy.

Clambering across the ice in the dark. Vasil's lamed leg causes problems.

Speed B4 vs Ob3 + 1 for Lame.

Testing against the cold of the ocean water.

Forte B4 vs Cold Water Ob3

Slowest and loudest - Stealthy as we climb back onto the shore.

Speed (Stealthy Beginner's Luck) 4 -1 for Tax (3)
1D help from Summer, 1D help from Winter, 1D help from Taft.

6D unskilled.

End of session recap:

Vasil stood before the great fire spirit, and offered many things. He offered violence in the spirit's name, he offered precious goods, favours. None would sate its appetite.

The attempt at haggling was a disaster, the spirit asking even more - for Vasil to burn "an innocent" a friend or ally.
He rejected its offer outright.

The spirit attacked the group, offended. It desired to see them all burn. The group fought back - Taft sapping the heat from its flames, as Summer called spirits to assist. Shadow called upon its ancestry, using its powerful jaws to crush the spirit, pinning it. Under duress, the Heart of the Wildfire acquiesced, yielding to terms far more favourable to Vasil.

It would still get to possess Vasil's body for a period - something that should happen before the longest day, the solstice.

The group left the island, with Taft creating an ice bridge. Shadow's keen ears noticed humans lying in wait on the far shore - an ambush of the tower's forces, it would turn out. Though Vasil fell into the water, shocked by the cold, the group successfully made their way to shore without alerting the ambush. The wolves made quick work of the scouts.

Sitting around a fire, the group discussed how they should respectfully dispose of the corpses of the slain. Taft sang a song of lament for the fallen. Their bodies would be left to the creatures of the forest, to nourish the soil. The iron of their weapons and armour, Vasil collected in the light of the morning, ready to be melted into something new.