Session 6 - The Start of the Great Fast
General Summary
The next day, on the last day of the Maslenitsa celebration before the fast , a funeral was to be held for Potap - the man who was killed by the Maslenitsa effigy. However, Dmitri - another man, one who was a footman for the prince of this region, returned to take care of his family in the town of Aleksandrovka. It was at the abbey that he learned of the events surrounding Khoma the blacksmith. Irina was hoping to get a trained soldier to assist the party.
Ivan also spoke with him, after assisting with the burial by breaking the icy ground and covering the body. He learned a few tips from the soldier, but ultimately Ivan just enjoyed the company. Lada also went to meet with Dasha - the lady Amadeo slept with, to determine whether she was with child. The method seemed sound, but whether Lada would and could influence the results have yet to be confirmed.
After the funeral, Ivan also went to speak to the potter's wife, Anna, while Sister Irina went to speak to Mother Feodosia about the allegations that the blacksmith was her son. Both decided in these conversations, on specific paths that should be taken once Khoma had been captured, but these were very different paths.
Vashti also provided medical aid for Lada, and met with Sister Evdokia - the keeper of keys to discuss and heal Irina's injury as well. She couldn't resist poking fun at the Keeper, but Irina soothed the circumstances.
* * *
(Part 2)
With the Great Fast beginning, an additional time day spent on healing and resting, as the injuries sustained by the party were not insignificant. Lada's injuries seemed to be healing remarkably quickly, almost supernaturally so, and Irina's showed some progress as well. With their fortunes improving, the party set off to the pagan town of Vlasovo. The trip should not have been more than 6 hours on foot.
However, the winter weather confused Vashti, who ended up taking a more circuitous route, and the party happened upon a watermill. At first the party wanted to avoid it, but it seemed untended. When the party searched it, they found bones scattered about, along with dust and mildewed grain. However, when Lada went to search the attic, Old Woman in a Black Cloak (pulled over her head and body) was resting on a bench. Ivan followed, and a cat left her cloak to speak, but Irina and Vashti decided to instead wake and speak to the old lady. The cat quickly hid back in the cloak when she did wake up.
Her raspy voice and insight into the events caused the party to be suspicious of her. When she explained that perhaps Khoma had been influenced by her to kill the potter and feed him to the town, confirmation of witchcraft and consorting with demons became the focus of this conversation; a trade of question for question with the mysterious old lady. Lada quickly left the attic, concerned, and Ivan left afterwards, confident in how the events played out with Khoma.
Regardless, some knowledge was gained, but many more questions were opened to the party. Now, the party wanted to learn if Khoma was possessed, cursed, and/or compelled to kill the potter, and heading to Vlasovo, they hoped it would have him and answers from him. Eventually, following the rivers at Ivan recommendation, then splitting from them by decision of the more reasonable wayfinders, the party came to the entrance of Vlasovo, later than they had hoped or intended, but before evening had yet fallen.
Report Date
22 May 2022
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