[HQ Ignorance] Scene 15: The Rescue of Makla Mann HeroQuest

[Nic Hughes]

Since the meeting with Arkat, Aalmon had been preoccupied.

After the meal and their introductions to the troll with the strange 
sense of humour he hade gone aside to meditate. For hours he had 
recalled the long days and nights of instruction from the priestess of 
Daretyries. He had pondered her warnings of the risks that everyone 
faced when a mystic fell into false insight, the hate filled path of 
Sheng Seleris, the false path of Gbaji. He remembered the face of the 
Mystic, distorted by hate, and took out his wax messenger’s tablets and 
began to draw.

Before they left he had quietly dealt with the troll merchants, handing 
over valuable coin for odd items, parchment, herbs and even a live bat.

As they journeyed he was often to be seen quietly sitting away from the 
others carefully drawing runes and crude pictures onto one of his wax 
tablets. The more curious of his companions noticed that the crude human 
figure looked like a charicature of the Mystic but the strange foreign 
runes of Aalmon's odd religion meant little to them.

When they arrived at the place of the ritual and the time of the 
crossing was announced he smiled and simply mattered “Of course” at the 
timing. When else but at the full moon could such events take place.

As Yelm became lower in the sky and the moon turned her face towards the 
questers, Baros and Aalmon took their leave to go aside and pray. 
Aalmon's axe spat white flame into a pile of logs, the Baros began to 
dance around the flames working himself up into a frenzy of worship. 
Aalmon walked around the flames chanting and praying, their paths 
different yet somehow combining into a subtle pattern. As the stars came 
out they turned to the south and Aalmon spoke. 'This night we follow 
your path to reveal the true lunar selves of those who attack us. Erelia 
grant us your eloquence, Verelia grant us your passion for the path that 
lies ahead.'

Then turning towards the moon he poured a libation of wine onto the 
sputtering flames 'Daretyries of the stories, by the light of this 
sacred flame we invoke you.' he hands something to Baros which he hurls 
into the flames releasing a sweet odour 'by these herbs we invoke the 
sweetness of your stories' he pauses as Baros sets the bat free the bat 
which - perhaps dazed - flies into the flames and is consumed 'we invoke 
the self sacrifice and liberty of your stories. With this oath of 
pilgrimage 'he hands a parchment to Baros who places it in the flames 
'we ask that the story of Erelia and Verelia be our shadow and our guide 
in this quest to bring liberation to those who suffer in ignorance'.

Eventually, their ritual complete, they return to the group. Perhaps it 
was a trick of the moonlight but there seemed to be a glimmer of 
hero-light around Aalmon as he took his place for the ceremony of 
crossing. He took out his wax tablets and slowly, carefully, wipes away 
the drawings and runes he had drawn. For the first time since their 
meeting with the Mystic he seemed calm and relaxed, almost too much so 
as for a moment he shared a private joke with his brother as they took 
their places and joined in the recitations of their parts of the ceremony.

OOC: if Aalmon gets a good enough success he is hoping to get a story 
spirit to help at the critical point in his plan, although any blessing 
should help. He will use a HP if it will make a difference.

The last part is an attempt to narrate a heroquest challenge against the 
Mystic.



Lev Lafayette wrote:
> Start: Wildday, Stasis Week, the 34th day of Sea
> Season, 1622
>
> Led by Arkat Trollking, whose darkness shimmers even
> in the brightness of day, the Fellowship of Talor and
> the hunter-troll known as "Beast" the group marched to
> the mountains west of Zorakarkat. A score of
> Darkpriests and numerous guards accompany the party in
> their journey to assist with the ritual.
>
> At midnight of Wildday the ritual begins. "Not the
> best season for such Questing", Arkat informs you
> gruffly. "Dark season would be much better. But I am
> hoping that choosing the Telmori day - Wildday - and
> during a week which minimises movement - Stasis - that
> an additional bonus can be provided."
>
> The Darkpriests apply make-up and costume to the
> assembled party and set the stage. Arkat once again
> recalls the stations of the Quest: the designing of
> the confusing path, reaching the encampment and
> bringing sleep to the Telmori, and the escape with the
> sacrifice of the trollkin.
>
> The first test however, is the crossing. To do this,
> the leader of the Quest (in this case "Beast"), must
> engage in veneration of ZorakArkat or use some similar
> ability, with augmentation from the assembled priests,
> other party members, and of course, from Arkat
> Trollking himself (which is quite substantial under
> the circumstances). The barrier is a standard 10W3.
> I'll need description from Beast and his fellows on
> how they engage in opening the barrier to the
> Godtime..
>
> ... and then shifting our gaze over a hundred leagues
> to the north.
>
>
>        
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