Session 27 - Prokhor's Departure
General Summary
After the rest of the group left for the watermill, Vashti, Light-Heart, and Hamal stayed behind to convalesce and prepare to leave the village for the last time. Light-Heart refused to eat and slowly his health declined, and he bagan speaking of visions of some kind of doomsday figure: a five legged dog. Vashti, urged on by visions of Mother TIme felt it necessary to join the others at the mill, and left before Light-Heart's condition became markedly worse. The plan was for Vashti to head out, and for Hamal to tend to Light-Heart until he was healthy enough to travel. Soon after, Vashti's departure, however, Light-Heart died and the villagers began to gather near the cave, following rumors of a ghost. Hamal sensed it was time to move on.
Meanwhile, at the mill, Ivan had completed repairs on the mill house. Ivan felt that, should he tend the mill and prove his good intent to the Forest Tsar, he might be able to stave off the worst of the attacks by nezhit'. Unfortunately, as Ivan began to consider his next move, Prokhor became enchanted by a rusalka - a beautiful woman (or spirit?) living in the water and groves near the mill. Lada and Vashti learned that the rusalka had been wronged by a prince, and would not leave until that wrong was made right. The party attempted to keep watch on Prokhor until a they learned how they might be able to free him from the magical snare. But Prokhor stridently told them that fate had led him here to this woman, and his companions should stop trying to control him, and just let him go.
After a few days, the party noticed a Kochmak rider near the mill. Hamal knew -from personal experience- that the Kochmaki were rather harsh raiders. A scout meant a raiding party, and while there was little they might want from the mill, they may well choose to capture or mug the party (both being quite profitable). The party elected to wait out any danger in the woods nearby. Unfortunately, Prokhor refused to go, desiring to be closer to "his lady" rusalka. When reason failed, the party struck Prokhor, hoping to drag him far enough to break the charm. Their attempt failed, and with no option other than holding their friend indefinitely, they let him free. He dove in the river, and presumably, drowned soon after.
The party built a camp some distance from the mill where they could hide among the hills, and began scavenging, hunting, and laying traps for small game. There, nestled in the woods, they sensed an energy about the forest, that this mill was at a place of power. After two days, when hopefully the danger had passed, the party returned to the mill and committed themselves to setting this place of power aright.
Report Date
02 Apr 2023
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