Seeing the desperation of Yrsa’s situation, Randel reached
out to his god. In the Godtime, Issaries had forged an unbreakable bond with
Orlanth whilst on the Lightbringer Quest. To seal their friendship, Orlanth had
gifted Issaries with the power of flight. Now, following the Great Compromise,
devotees of Issaries retained access to the Rune power of flight. Thinking
quickly, Randel prayed to his god for aid, and felt his power flow through him
as he visualised the Air Rune spinning in the air before him.
On the roof, the Tarshite mercenaries warily watched the
window to the interior of Gringle’s pawnshop. Suddenly, the one nearest to
Yrsa’s apparently dying body gave a yell and jumped backwards as Yrsa’s form
rose into the air and glided silently towards the open window. As her body
quickly passed them, those within reach thrust their spears at her. But,
surprised by the turn of events and the speed of her movement, they failed to
hit home.
As Yrsa flew through the window, a relieved Randel caught her
and guided her into cover behind some barrels in the corner of the storeroom.
Reaching into his pack, he uncorked a bottle and carefully poured a powerful
healing draught into Yrsa’s mouth. A gentle glow seemed to suffuse her
rough-hewn features as the wound in her throat seemed to blur and vanish. With
a shout, Yrsa woke to the sight of her boon companion.
Meanwhile, Terrastal occupied himself with shooting arrows at
the only Tarshite he could see, being rewarded every now and then with a bout
of swearing as an arrow found its mark. Grinning evilly to himself, Terrastal
heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs from below. As he
called out a warning to Randel, Yrsa rose to her feet and grabbed a spear from
Terrastal’s pack. Shaking her head to clear the effects of Randel’s potion, she
blocked the door leading downwards with a barrel and readied her spear.
One of the Tarshite’s impetuously jumped into the room, only
to be felled by bowfire from Terrastal and Randel. Seeing this, the remaining
mercenaries prepared themselves for the fight by casting Bladesharp and
Protection. But still the heroic companions were able to fend them off until
only two foes remained. These were pursued by an enraged Yrsa and a gleeful
Terrastal, with prisoners being taken.
As the hero band took stock of their situation, they noted
the villagers, Gringle and Quackjohn gathering outside. The air was sundered by
the wailing of Dronlan Swordsharp’s widow, and sorrow hung in the air like a bitter
mist. Moving to join the villagers, the matter of what was to be done was
discussed. It transpired that the Lunar interlopers had left Apple Lane in the
direction of Runegate once it became clear that Gringle had determined friends.
After much debate, Bulster and his family decided to remain in the safety of
the Tin Inn, with the devotees of Uleria remaining also. That left some four families
to seek a new home. Gringle declared that he planned to travel first to
Asborn’s Stead, and from there to set a course for Nochet in Esrolia. As this
was a vast city of some 100,000 souls, Gringle felt he would be able to hide
from Lunar attention, at least for a while. Hearing this, the four families
decided to follow Gringle to Asborn’s Stead, and then decide their road from
there.
The companions were split; Randel felt honour-bound to ensure
the families were safe, whilst the others were keen to pursue Erianda and
Darsten to Runegate and hopefully take their revenge. Before they went their
separate ways, Gringle laid the body of Dronlan Swordsharp in the centre of the
Pawnshop and bade his salamander to consume the building and its contents,
before being released from Gringle’s service. The fire elemental set about its
task with relish, and soon a huge plume of flames reached into the darkening
skies. The sombre villagers watched in silence, the only sounds being the crackle
of burning timbers and the wailing of Dronlan’s widow.
As full darkness fell, the villagers prepared to leave their long-time
home. Bidding farewell to his companions, Randel walked into the gathering
gloom, calling out that he would meet them at Geo’s Inn in Runegate two days
hence. Seeing his form disappear into the darkness, the remaining companions
readied themselves to leave likewise. As they themselves moved off towards
Runegate, a crashing sound came from the Pawnshop as the roof fell in. Turning,
a huge fountain of sparks could be seen, shimmering in the night air. Truly,
they thought, this marked the end of an era in Dragon Pass.
The companions move rapidly through the remaining hours of
night. As Yelm the Sun climbed once more into the sky, they stopped only
briefly to accept a morsel of food and drink from villagers. Determined to
reach Runegate, they pressed on through the day. To their right lay well-tended
farmland and orchards, whilst to their left lay the ominous bulk of the Starfire
Ridges. As they rode, they beheld the spectacle of two winged humanoids
battling what appeared to be a Griffin in the air about the peaks. As they
watched, one of the Wind Children fell from the sky and was consumed by the
Griffin whilst the remaining Wind Child flapped disconsolately away.
As night fell, the walls of Runegate could be seen in the
middle distance, and the smoke of its fires made Yelm’s rays shimmer. By the
time they reached its gates, it was full night. As they approached, they noted
keen-eyed watchers on the walls, and braziers set out within bowshot of the
walls to light the land around the city. A group of riders emerged from a
postern gate and approached the travellers cautiously. It was evident that
these were seasoned warriors from the way in which they sat their ponies. Yrsa
remarked on their tattoos, marking them out as devotees of Humakt; the city lay
hard by the Upland Marsh, and Humakt has always been set against the risen dead
which often came from the marshes.
Determining that they were of the living, the companions were
admitted to Runegate. They were directed to Geo’s Inn for accommodation, and
instructed to attend the Temple of Elmal in the morning, where Selelmal the
True would hear their story. Passing a
quiet night in the common room of the inn, the local talk was mainly of horses;
however, on gentle probing by Terrastal, it became clear that Darsten Black Oak
was well-known locally as a bully and a braggart. Both he and his two-dozen
strong Black Oak Brotherhood were generally given a wide berth; of Erianda the
Red, no news was to be had.
The following day, the group rose early and presented
themselves to Selelmal the True, Lord of Runegate. After a brief interview,
they were given leave to remain as long as they kept the King’s Peace. Not
being able to restrain herself further, Yrsa set off for the Temple of Redalda,
which lay just to the north of the city in a vast stockade containing the priceless
Runegate herds. Running to keep up with her loping stride, Bofrost accompanied
her, ever willing to learn something new. The remaining companions busied
themselves in exploring the city, and waited for the return of Randel.
Yrsa approached the Temple of Redalda with her heart beating
heavily in her chest. She thought back to her strange vision of the Green Foal
near the Shrine of Idrima, and readied herself for what may come next. Whilst
she entered the temple, Bofrost remained outside, both from respect and in
amazement at how people could be so interested in horses rather than scrolls.
Entering the temple, Yrsa approached a broad, red-haired
woman who was clearly the High Priest. As she did so, the centre of her
forehead began to burn and itch tremendously, sending pain coursing through her
head and body. As her steps faltered, she cried out before she collapsed from
the pain. At her cry, the priest turned and caught her as she fell; a murmur of
wonder passed through those nearby as they witnessed the rune of Fire burning
bright on this newcomer’s forehead.
Seeing the commotion, Bofrost pushed his way through the
crowd that had formed, into the temple. As he did so, he heard a thunder of
hooves as the herds suddenly merged into one and ran joyfully around the
temple. From the astonishment of the crowd, Bofrost determined that this was unheard
of…
Yrsa awoke to look into the concerned eyes of the priest, who
introduced herself as Nallindia Horse-Mistress. From snatches of brief
conversation with her initiates, two things became clear: firstly, others had
come bearing the mark of Redalda, possibly marked by the Goddess for some
destiny. Secondly, once the rune had been awakened, the connection with Redalda
must be made firm through initiation or the aspirant would be consumed by the
heat of their own body!
As Bofrost stood vigil amongst the gathered crowd, Yrsa
underwent her long wished-for initiation.
In front of the crowd the Priest of Elmal and the Priestess
of Redalda re-enacted the marriage of Redalda and the Sun. Once this ceremony
had taken place the women and men separated; the men left for the temple of
Elmal and the women (a much smaller number) entered the shrine of Redalda. Here,
Yrsa had her weapons taken from her and began the initiation. Firstly, she was
tested on and recited the duties of an initiate: to guard the horses of Orlanth;
to protect, raise, fees and care for all horses; to never permit a horse to
suffer and to hunt the predators of horses.
At this point Yrsa was given an effigy of a wolf, covered in
part of the pelt of a wolf, which she was instructed to fling into a cauldron
of fire representing the Sun. The voices of the women were raised in prayer and
Yrsa symbolically became a horse: she was stripped, and a piebald pattern
painted on her skin using ash from the fire and limestone paste from the altar.
Her hair was braided like a mane and the lines of a saddle and bridle were also
painted on her in ash. At this point the priestess handed Yrsa a thin bronze
disc embossed with a horse’s head on one side and a Sun on the other. Covered
in finely beaten gold, the disc shone like the Sun. Yrsa then dressed and had
her weapons returned to her. She was now an Initiate of Redalda, Goddess of
Horses, Wife to the Sun and Guardian of the Steeds!
Meanwhile, Terrastal and Sandene were hailed by Randel who
had arrived at Runegate as the sun reached its zenith. Nervously, he recounted
what had transpired at Asborn’s Stead. Although they had been warmly welcomed,
there was not enough room to hold the new families and they would be forced to
seek elsewhere for aid. After a long evening of mead and counsel with both
Asborn and Gringle, it had been agreed that the refugee families would travel
with Gringle to the lands around Clearwine. There, Gringle would send word to Morganeth
of the Ernaldori, begging that they be given leave to settle on tribal lands
and accepted into the tribe, whilst he himself continued on his way. However,
they would need to be sponsored into the tribe by someone who would take
responsibility for them. Therefore, on behalf of the companions, Randel had
accepted both that burden and honour. Rather than exploding in anger as Randel
had feared, Terrastal had welcomed the news; truly, the mind of an Orlanthi is
unpredictable at the best of times!
Heading over to the Lightbringer Temple to give thanks and to
renew their link with their respective Gods, the band of heroes were reunited
with Yrsa and Bofrost. As they recounted their various news, the others cast
glances upon Yrsa’s forehead where the Fire rune appeared to glow with a soft
light.
Returning to the inn, the companions debated what to do next.
Randel was all for returning to Clearwine to pass on news to the Tribal Ring,
but Terrastal still wanted revenge on Darsten. As a result, the heroes scouted
the barracks of the Black Oak Brotherhood before falling into conversation with
the Humakti Gate Wardens. During this, one of the Wardens let slip that Darsten
and his followers often communed with their foreign god at grove of twisted and
blackened trees to the east of the city. Sensing an opportunity, the band set
off to investigate. Not put off by the blackened trunks of the trees, the weirdly
sinuous carvings of both Death and Storm runes or the sounds of thunder from a
clear sky, the heroes entered the shrine with Sandene in the lead. Almost as
soon as she did so, however, a Death spirit wielding an axe with a blade the
colour of moonlight appeared and reached out towards her, engaging her in deadly
spirit combat!
Artwork used without permission.
Artwork used without permission.
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