Session 16 - Parlaying with the Volkhvy
General Summary
The party left the caves, heading towards the sounds of a bear roaring. As they head off in that direction, a large, hirsute man named Borya, claiming to be a woodsman, greeted the party and asked why they were out in the swamp.
The party responded they were looking for a certain bear, and although Borya seemed to want more details, was willing to lead the party to where he had seen a bear leave the nearby cave. The party tried to follow the sounds, but were overtaken by vines and plants that seemed to be attempting to strangle the party.
The party used various methods to cut through them, poison, magic, and force of arms, and eventually continued on their way.
However, the sounds of the bear had gone missing in the commotion, and so Borya attempted to track the bear, unsuccessfully. The party, undeterred continued to look for the bear, but when a murder of crows started to alight on the branches of the trees, and darkness overtaking the daylight, the party decided to turn back to the volkhv encampment.
Upon arriving, it seemed like the camp was overtaken with fervor, both of lust and plant. Akulina sits near the fire, pupils dilated by some sweet-smelling substance, and invites them to join in. Liubov' sits near another fire, and indicates that the trials in the cave have transformed them in order to make them see who they really are. The party decided to wait for the "festivities" to end before speaking to their leader. While Lada remains behind to chat with Liubov' about her family, others proceed to speak to the volkhv leader's tent, where Irina threatened him with a ultimatum: give her Khoma, or else the church would bring a witch-hunt down upon them. However, Ivan tried a different tack, as most of the party (including Irina) wasn't in favor of this occurring. Ivan asked that the party have a chance to speak to Khoma, to attest to his innocence or lack thereof, and determine if the volkhv circle here would choose to protect this man knowing what he had done.
Ratibor agreed, and brought Khoma to the party early the next morning. Khoma confessed to his sin of casting away Gaal and the church, his actions to kill and cook Gavrilo, and why he hated him. It turns out that Gavrilo, as a child, had let Kochmaki into the town of Aleksandrovka, where they ended up killing many people, including Khoma's father.
As such, once he had completed his revenge, he left the town, to leave his wife to receive punishment on his behalf, and sought refuge amongst the people that he now swore allegiance, the druids.
Story complete, many of the party were very annoyed with Khoma, and the volkhvy that continued to agree to protect him. Vashti was especially annoyed with Khoma, who she calls a coward, and storms off into the woods. But the issue has become an issue of territory and ownership. Does Khoma need to be returned under the protection and justice of the abbey? Or is the abbey willing to fight to maintain ownership of the land to which the volkhvy lay claim? Ratibor says that the group must choose where they stand. Some waver, but Nogat says that he has come here to seek knowledge, and will remain behind.
Although Borya and Light-Heart hope the situation can be resolved peacefully, such as by an eating competition, everyone knows and is on edge that maybe it cannot be. Borya has come to the encampment looking for a special lily to cure his beloved, so he does not want to antagonize the volkhvy. Ratibor promises him that the lily will be delivered the following morning. Relieved, the man falls into a bogatyr's sleep.
Report Date
02 Oct 2022
Primary Location
Comments