Session 12 - Veles' Minions
General Summary
The group arrives at Vasilii's home village Staraya Sloboda , where Vasili gets them hospitality with his mistress, Boiana. Vasilii informs Boiana that Hrefna, Vladimir, and Vadim are the servitors of Rurik Halfdansson, and have defeated three volkhvy. Vasilii informs her of priest of Veles' attack on the Bishop of Ladan'. Vasilii pulls Boiana aside and tells her how he does not trust Radu, who is accompanying them to Bychii Brod. Boiana offers Vasilii a favor - he can choose what he will, within reason, to bring with him on his travels.
The group have a warm bath except Vladimir who hates water, and uses prestidigitation instead. He has his own interaction with Boiana as she discovers he can shift into a cat and yet still converse with him. She then transforms into a cat herself and heads off.
To enter the sauna the Gaalites must remove their crosses lest they insult the bath house spirit. Vasilii asks Vadim about his past and makes a joke about healing him one day and cancelling out his faith debt to the Gaalite who healed him. Soon after they notice two glowing eyes who the serving woman tells them is the master of the bathhouse. It then becomes way too hot in the steam room.
Leontii Baikalov, Vasili, and Vadim head to the river to finish their wash. There they notice bloated purplish heads which seem to be attracted to them but not enough to come out of the river. Leontii heads back to the river to inquire about them while Vasilii and Vadim stay behind watching them. Leontii discovers they are sent by Veles.
Vasilii approaches the watchers of Veles with torch in hand and tells them he will continue to try to do as he promised Radogast but can not and will not force his mistress. The undead watchers sink back under water.
Vasilii tells Boiana how he promised to attempt to convince her and that he believes the undead are watching to see he fulfills this promise. Boiana says she will go to Radogast for she fears Vasilii is in danger if she does not. The party settles in for the night. In the morning Boiana sends word she has left. Vasilii asks for tents as a the favor from Boiana's servants.
On the road, while on watch, Vladimir spots an enormous bear during his watch and then curls into a ball for the remainder of his watch. The bear leaves silently.
At the end of the next day, the party arrive at Bychii Brod and settles in for a week.
While there, Vadim goes into the woods by himself in search of wolverine and tames one.
Leontii has some fish adventures and helps them stop a large bird from eating them. He discovers this bird is Radu shifted into a large Raven who informs Leontii Veles may be using bears to watch the group.
Vasilii prays to Mokosh and has vivid dreams of branches reaching out to him. He also sees a bright sun in a clearing, breaking through storm clouds.
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