Session 4 - Plots and Rivals in Zaozerye

General Summary

The party settled down at the Lipovane heathens' temple for a rest, uneasier for some than others.
The elder volkhv performed his rites on the deer felled by the hunting party (Polkan, Vadim Vsevolodovich, Vladimir, and Artemisa), reserving the raw heart for its killer. The ensuing thunderstorm was a sign of Perun's pleasure, according to the old volkhv. He then tempted the guests to gaze into the flames to receive a vision. Taras and Vadim did, by offering their own blood to the flames. Taras saw a dark-haired maiden weeping in a tower, and after paying the volkhv in coin, learned she is his intended Yelena, an Irii princess already married to the prince of Dubno. Vadim is less willing to share his own vision nor pay the Volkhv for interpretation, but also does not know quite what it meant, if anything. Hrefna was given a vision involving the *dark haired male acolyte of the encampment. She decided to keep the details of the vision to herself.
The next morning, Artemisa led everyone back to Zaozerye by a different path than the previous day, this time passing a cave and following a stream. Vladimir reminded Taras that they are meant to bring those responsible for the attack on Rurik's household to justice in Bychii Brod. They decided to try to arrest Hegumen Sergii, who threw out a vulnerable Mikhailo "to the wolves" against Gaal's teachings. A particularly arrogant acolyte, Brother Aleksei, was the one to force the blind hegumen's hand and expel Mikhailo. When confronted, he claimed neither the prince nor Rurik had power here, and they would only answer to the bishop of Ladan'. The party left without initiating more hostilities, promising to bring those higher powers from Ladan' back to make the monks of the Monastery of Saint Caphtor to answer.
With some of them not having had a proper rest at the Lipovane temple, the party opted to rest early in the evening at the hunters' lodge in Zaozerye. They were roused from their beds before sunrise, when Magnus Ragnarsson, an underling of Sigurd Karlsson, and his band of a dozen rover mercenaries arrive to find berths as well. The party exchange their beds and polite greetings with the Rovers, neither disclosing their business in Zaozerye. Away from the lodge, the party discussed their concerns about Magnus' presence and decided to stake out the village from a hideout in the treeline. An old drunkard stumbled around nearby, and was given aid by Vadim before being sent to find drink elsewhere.

Eventually, the band of Rovers left the hunters' lodge and were seen then going into the forest in the direction of the Lipovane temple. The party retraced the Rovers' steps: at the lodge, the head trapper tells them Magnus asked where the head of the village lives. Calling upon him, they found Doman, the headman, in a sour mood, believing the party was here to shake him down for tribute - just like Magnus did. Magnus had come anouncing that the tax rate is rising, and payment is due soon. Magnus apparently went to see the Volkhvy in the forest for the same reason the party did, so after assuring the headman they are not here about the rate, the party heads after Magnus. It's likely the Rovers' methods would prove far less peaceful.

Report Date

01 Sep 2024