Session 9 - Ice and Shadow
General Summary
The party sought shelter from a dangerous hailstorm. They moved beneath a line trees between the fields and the village, joined by two villagers who also sought protection from the hail. Hrefna Haldorsdottir used her magic to dig a hole for additional safety, while Vladimir, in cat form, explored a burrow beneath the roots of a tree. Inside the burrow, Vladimir encountered a strange mole with golden fur and a human face. Vasilii attended to the villagers, and helped them rise to their feet, while Vadim helped guide them to Hrefna's hole. Once most of the people were inside, Hrefna also uncovered a tunnel system beneath the fields, although the group decided against exploring it too far, focusing instead on protecting the villagers. When the hailstorm ended, it was discovered that Yaromir - the village headman who had accompanied them to appease the field spirits - had apparently died from the hailstones. As a result, Klava and Igor - the two individuals responsible for burning the effigies were offered as sacrifices to the field spirits. One of the beings - a giant version of the mole-person seen by Vladimir earlier, came to parlay with the party members, but it appeared imperceptible to the villagers. However, later that night, while bathing with Hrefna, Klava was taken by a bath spirit, and dragged off.
With the village embroiled in these events, the party decided to move on. Vladimir, still dissatisfied with the quality of his craftsmanship, gifted the jewelry he had been working on to Borislav - the merchant accompanying the group - rather than selling it outright himself. The villagers thanked them for their help, and gifted them a ruble, apparently from a pouch the field spirits left behind, likely as restitution.
The party followed Vadim to Ladan', and from there, to Prince Vladimir Sviatoslavovich's citadel, where they learned that the Prince had hired a band of Rovers to guard the estate during his absence at war and the festival season. Vadim shared what he found in the forest and the Temple of the Lipovane with Sigurd Karlsson, the leader of the mercenaries. Vadim similarly informed Nikifor Ivanovich, the Prince's seneschal, who instructed Vadim to share the important information directly with him, only passing along minor details to Sigurd.
While in the city, Hrefna visited Anastasiya's mother, Olga Gostomyslovna, who expressed a desire to send a childhood friend to join Anastasia. Hrefna assured her that the party would ensure the friend's safe travel. She also warned Hrefna that the clique left in charge of the city while her son was away was a pit of vipers.
Meanwhile, the party secured accommodations at a hostel. Members of the group attended various religious ceremonies leading up to the Feast of the Occultation. By day's end, Vadim had been paid for his previous work, and the party prepared to navigate the complex dynamics of the brewing tensions between the various factions.
Rewards Granted
- A ruble from the villagers of Kabanovka
- A purse of coins for services rendered, from Nikifor Ivanovich to @vadi
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