Session 3: The Priestess Sings

As Taft's human eyes scan the banner, the fabric making it up seems to shift a little. Drawing his eyes, not to the scene, but to the craftsmanship, the tool-user catches something he hadn't seen earlier. The fabric it is made of is reminiscent of a spider's Web more than wool or leather. It's difficult to place the provenance of the materials, but the process of making the banner seems quite different to anything Kallbacken has seen.

As Taft touches the banner, the wolf next to him listens. Its pricked ears can sense a babble of information, only just intelligible, it seems to be sending in the direction of the rising sun. There's clearly a spirit, or something of that ilk, inside, and as the wolf listens it makes out more than that. The spirit is surveilling its vicinity, and constantly babbling that information back, whilst also seeming to have a different power, making people more afraid of going against the powerful. The spirit inside, if freed, would be Controlling of humanity, but Sycophantic towards other spirits, yet a powerful magic keeps it still.Ragna looks to Vasil and says "Sigrunshrine kept those who came to it. The three of us, the Sigrundotr, were the keepers after our mother died. It was just us three when the forces of the Tower came. They promised us riches beyond belief if we picked up our weapons, and went to join more places to the Tower. We never did, Torstead having been resistant long before anyone had found us, and Kallbacken being the next settlement along. My sisters thought we'd be safe." She pauses, and stops." I'll say more later, I need a little time to myself " before plunging into the woods, tears in her eyes.

Vasil looks to Eirikr, "What do you make of that?"

He glances back to the retreating Ragna, "I think that poor woman has known great loss."

Crawling on his belly to the crest of the hill, Vasil looks down towards the town, looking for Taft and Shadow.

A short while later, Ragna comes back, composure settled once more. She gestures down and says "They've been gone long enough and quietly enough it's either safe of deadly" and starts down the hill.

Vasil jerks his head in a let's go motion to Eirikr, and starts off down the hill after Ragna.

Eventually catching the former prisoner, Vasil stalks behind her, as she peers around a corner. She recoils upon seeing the banner.Vasil sees Taft and Shadow staring intently, he is ready to help if needed.Vasil gives Ragna a reassuring look, and walks into the town square to greet his companions, standing below the banner. Summoning a small flame to the palm of his hand for emphasis, he raises an eyebrow at Shadow. "Like last time?"

The wolf nods agreement.

"Eirikr!" Vasil calls over his shoulder, "We may have need of that axe of yours."
Vasil looks to the wooden post holding the banner above the square. The hair on his neck stands on end. Its smug aura mocks him.

As Eirikr hefts his axe and chops the pole, the wolf lets out a howl. Leaping upwards, it grabs the banner between its teeth, ripping it from the falling pole with its spirit-tearing jaws. It shakes its head hard, worrying at the banner before depositing it in a wet, ugly lump in front of Vasil. The wolf pants happily, meeting the blacksmith's eyes. "Fire tamer, do your work," it says.

Giving a nod to Eirikr, his axe slung across his shoulder, Vasil watches as the Wolf bites and tears at the banner. Though it looks no different from a dog tearing at the washing, there is a feeling in the air, an itchiness that suggests something more. Shadow looks satisfied, so Vasil kneels before the mound, focusing hard. He is getting better at this, but still has some way to go. Closing his eyes, he imagines himself pumping a bellows. His breathing becomes the rhythm. He places his hand onto the sloppy mess of fabric, and continues his focus. Unlike lighting a fire, there is pushback. The fabric is wet, but weak from Shadow's influence; yet still it fights.

Vasil hears a faint sizzling sound, as the fabric begins to heat...

Eirikr quietly follows Vasil, frowning at the sight of the banner. He draws his axe and swings at it, wanting to tear it to shreds.

Eirikr brings the pole to a lopsided bend with his first swipe. On the second, as Eirikr's axe touches the banner it finds no purchase, skidding off the smooth fabric.

By contrast, Vasil's flames and Shadow's Jaws eat away at the fabric, quickly reducing it to nothing. The wolf's special ears can hear screams and cries as the banner is destroyed. Taft sends swift, albeit weak, pushes of the air, feeding the flames and keeping the acrid smoke away from the four of them.

The steading feels a little safer once the banner has been turned to ash.

Taft looks silently down at the ashes of the Banner.

"They will know we were here, but they will probably not risk an attack until Spring, now. When they come, they will know we are ready to fight, and so they will come in great strength."

He looks up at Shadow.

"Our only hope is to ally with your pack, dear friend. Kallbacken cannot fight alone. We must work with the forest, as we always have."

Taft looks over the abandoned settlement.

"We could rest here tonight before we head into the deeper forest. This may be a good time to hunt and forage, and replenish our packs. Except for mushrooms, there will be less to forage in the darkness of the understory. Look, there are some rose hips. They are sweet like fruit at this time of year. I like them best right after the first frost."

"Vasil, can you lead Eirikr out to hunt and forage? I would like to set some traps here in the settlement. In the Spring, when the people of the Tower come again, they will certainly rest here. A few traps will make them think our reach is far, and slow their advance."

Taft passes Vasil his bow and arrows, with significance. These are Taft's treasured tools - they are almost a part of his body and never given to anyone else. "Here. You have seen me practicing. Nock the arrow like this, and aim like this. If you see a deer, aim right behind the foreleg. If you see a rabbit, then you will be very lucky to hit it, but try anyways."

With a measured nod, Vasil takes the hunter's weapon, handing him his own spear in return. It's been many years since Vasil has handled a bow.

"Let me know if you need and wood or metalwork done. I'm sure you can track is to where we are. There is sure to be a forge in this town."
Vasil turns to Eirikr, patting him on the shoulder.
"Come on lad, let's go catch dinner for us all. I'm starving from the march."

With a nod or smile to each part member - as is appropriate, Vasil turns and walks towards the forest. He ties the quiver of arrows to his hip, and balances the bow in his left hand, getting a feel for the unfamiliar weapon, its centre of mass. He gives the string a few test draws - careful not to dry fire, remembering a screaming drill sergeant many years ago.

The trees dampen the ambient light, making it feel later in the day. The temperature drops, for the lack of sun. Vasil attempts to note landmarks, significant trees, and the driection of the sun. He hopes this will be enough to stop him getting lost.

Eventually, Vasil reaches a small creek. Hoping the water will attract animals, he slows, and attempts to quieten his footfalls. One arrow knocked, but undrawn, he looks around, listening keenly.

Placing himself a short distance from the creek, he sits behind a tree, with a decent view of the area, believing himself obscured. Now he waits.

Eirikr quietly follows Vasil into the forest.

After a short while, Vasil realises the game will not come to him. He could crouch here for hours, and end up with buck all.

Looking to his feet, Vasil begins looking for tracks, signs of animals. He recalls watching Taft, asking him questions. Vasil looks for the shape Taft had pointed out as a deer print. He looks for an animal trail, with a downtrodden underbrush. Taking his time, he is as methodical as he can be, remembering to be quiet.

Vasil follows some tracks, after a few false starts, he gets onto a trail. What looks like a good size deer. Approaching the clearing, he steps on a fallen branch, the crack piercing the forest. The deer jerks its head toward the sound, ears alert. Vasil freezes, holding as still as possible. Eventually the deer returns to its grazing. Vasil slowly releases his held breath, shooting a relieved look at Eirikr, who stands a little behind him.

The hunter's son gives Vasil a reassuring hand gesture, demonstrating bow technique. Vasil steps slowly from behind a tree, draws the arrow to his ear, and aims for the deer as Taft told him...

Taft spends the day setting snares in the village. He uses a variety of techniques so that triggering one trap will not help find other traps.

Most of the snares would only cripple a human - a few spring traps that could break a leg, and a heavy log set behind an entrance that would fall on the first person entering.

He spends the majority of his time trapping the most prominent and secure dwelling - the one that people, especially a leader, would be most likely to sleep in. For this building, he uses his carpentry knowledge and his axe to weaken the entire structure. It is set so that someone lying on the bed would topple down the entire building, and hopefully kill whoever is inside.

Rolling Trapping - Fail

The woods are darkby the time Vasil downs his stag, and the creature’s falll snaps the final arrow of those Taft lent him. He turns to Eirikr, and they prepare the carcass for transport together. As they walk back, it quickly becomes clear that they’re not retracing their steps.

The woods are dark, and carrying their trophy between them is difficult. At one point Basil’s leg seizes up, and the two of them trip into the undergrowth, they emerge with grazes all over their arms and face, as they get up the string on Taft’s bow snaps from the torment of being strung for so long. It’s early light when the two wonder upon Ragna, who is swiftly searching for them, and leads them back to the Steading, showing them where Taft has laid traps.

Taft has slept fitfully, piecing together the steading’s traps, and is awake when his son and friend return with a worthy trophy, and no arrows!

Placing the stag on the ground within the clearing, Vasil turns to Taft and Ragna, "It is done." He gestures apologetically to the broken bow string, and empty quiver, "Not without cost, but we have food."

With surprising strength, Ragna grabs the buck by its antler, and drags it into the clearing, where she beings preparing the kill with her belt knife.

Vasil, still holding the bow, asks Ragna to save some appropriate sinew from the animal, explaining that he intends to make a replacement bow string. He holds forth a collection of broken arrows to Taft, "I saved the heads and fletching. I'm going to sleep for now, but when I wake, I will attempt to make you some more arrows."
He hands the bow, broken arrows and quiver back to Taft, shame in his eyes. "I'm sorry for damaging your weapon. My spear is yours until I have fixed this."

Vasil turns to Eirikr, who is assisting Ragna in the butchery, "Thank you for your help."

He goes to find somewhere to sleep.

Taft does his best not to look at the bow.

"That's a good-sized one."

He helps drag the buck into the camp. He quietly helps Ragna bleed and butcher the animal. He notes whether Vasil is watching or not, but doesn't say anything to him about how to prepare the animal. He can learn enough by watching.

Finally, when the meat is finished, he stands and faces Vasil. His arms are covered in blood up to the biceps.

"Where did the rest of the arrows go?"