Session 1 - A shocking murder at Rurik's estate

General Summary

Zayats - a hare - met Mikhailo - a bear - in the woods, at a makeshift shrine dedicated to some Old Gods. Mikhailo had been expelled by the monastery where he was learned after the hegumen beheld who he truly was, and he had been living in the woods since that time. But now, he was looking for work. Zayats told him he worked as a trapper for Rurik Halfdansson - a Rover who had recently acquired multiple villages in the area. Zayats offered to introduce Mikhailo to Rurik, and off to Bychii Brod they went. Along the way, they were menaced by three wolves they heard had begun to haunt these woods.
Back in Bychii Brod, Rurik said his goodbyes to his household prior to riding off the next morning. He explained to Taras - a falcon, and former ward of Rurik's father in law Prince Sviatoslav Igorevich - the need to protect his wife, Anastasiya Sviatoslavovna, while he went to fight against the Prince of Luzhinsk. His niece, Hrefna, was making plans to deal with Rurik's affairs while her uncle was gone, while Vladimir - the cat - napped in the great hall. Shortly after retiring for the night, Rurik was roused by news of visitors at the gates. After being introduced to Mikhailo, Rurik met with Zayats, who reported wolves in the forest as a possible cause of the missing livestock. After Mikhailo promised to fetch large quantities of honey from the forest, Rurik had both admitted into the estate to rest for the night.
The next morning, after Rurik departed, Hrefna quickly attempted to gather a group of fellow shapeshifters to tackle the estate's various problems. Tasked by Rurik to address the animal attacks and eager to improve the situation and her earnings, she acted promptly. She attempted to impress Taras and Vladimir into service, but the former was duty-bound to watch over Anastaiya and her young son, Oleg, while the cat was uncommittal. Giving him a sideways glance, she went off, but then met Zayats and Mikhailo, who were waiting on Ruslan the Steward to fetch supplies for Mikhailo's expedition into the woods, and, intrigued, struck up a conversation with them.
Meanwhile, Taras, planning to go off with Hrefna to show his mettle, sought someone to guard Anastasiya during his absence. Suddenly, an enormous wasp flew towards the open window of the tower where Anastasiya was with her baby. Taras rushed to the tower, while Hrefna sent Mikhailo to assist. By the time they arrived, Anastasiya had been injured and was bleeding out and sweeling. Though the wasp painfully stung Taras, he rushed forward and killed the wasp in one clean strike.
Without medical knowledge, Mikhailo attempted to staunch the bleeding, but failed. In his panic, a strange feeling came over him, and he froze up. Vladimir, after ignoring the chaos upstairs, finally bounded up the stairs, curious as to what he might find. He arrived to see the bear-headed Mikhailo trying to bite/suck the swelling injury from Anastasiya. Misunderstanding the situation, Vladimir pushed Mikhailo aside and helped Hrefna reduce the swelling and staunch the bleeding. Meanwhile, Taras tried unsuccessfully to calm Anastasiya's crying child.
Suddenly, Mikhailo lunged and killed the child, shocking everyone. Overcome with panic and anger, Taras and Hrefna attacked Mikhailo, and Taras swiftly struck him down with an axe.

Report Date

21 Jul 2024