Daggerheart: Broken Lands - 6

According to Pettish rules, a player has a chance to Refocus when they suffer a setback. If the setback is major in nature then the rules state to make the move but, in the case of a minor setback, it’s my choice. In the last scene, Nyĩt failed their roll and suffered what I would consider a minor setback, so I’m not choosing to refocus here.

GM: A quiet descends on the crossroads Inn as Paas̊h and the two uninjured Fauns help Shůůkcha up to a room. After a moment, Paas̊h returns with the one that was sitting by the fire when you arrived.

GM (Faun): [Coming up to you and touching his index fingers to his horns] Thank you, Seraph, for tending to Shůůkcha. My name is Chyushko̊ and the other that came in with Shůůkcha is Tõnso̊. [He suddenly reaches out and grabs your hands, bowing his head and pressing them to his horns, tears in his eyes]. Thank you!

Kpeshyo: [I look a bit flustered] You’re welcome, Chyushko̊, merely my duty. And my name is Kpeshyo. Send your praises to Shesrééshaash. By her mercy was Shůůkcha healed.

GM (Chyushko̊): Thank you, thank you.

GM: At this point, Chyitshaa approaches Chyushko̊ and puts her hand on the young man’s shoulder. She gently encourages him to sit down. Paas̊h tells you that Tõnso̊ will be down in a minute.

From outside, you hear the cackling call of Si̊nhĩ, who seems disturbed.

Nyĩt: Hmm, I guess I should check on him. [Heading out to the barn and climbing up onto the loft] Hey buddy, what’s up?

GM: Si̊nhĩ’s sort of side-shuffling back and forth along the edge of the loft, looking around.

Nyĩt: I climb up onto the loft and place a calming hand in Si̊nhĩ’s feathers, looking around to see if I can tell what’s disturbed him.

GM: Okay, give me an Insight roll. Just let me know what you get.

Nyĩt: [Rolls the dice] 12 on the hope and 8 on the fear die, so 21 with Hope.

GM: Nice roll. You catch it, the feeling of movement around the inn. They’re a little distant, but there’s something moving in the gloom... perhaps prowling would be a better way to put it.

Nyĩt: That’s 4 Hope. That doesn’t seem good. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that it’s whatever attacked Shů and Tõnso̊.

GM: Even with a 21 you don’t get a clear look. A sense of movement from more than just one or two shapes, always at the corner of your vision.

Nyĩt: If I were to make a connection with Si̊nhĩ, would I be able to fly with him to scout? He has the Distrustful Watcher experience.

GM: Sure, you can give that a try. You’ll be flying out into the storm though. It’ll be dangerous.

Nyĩt: Let’s give it a try.

GM: Before we do that, I’ll shift the focus to what’s going on inside the inn. Tõnso̊ is coming down the stairs. It was a bit chaotic before, but let me give him a description. He’s the largest of the three Fauns, wearing sturdy work pants, a linen tunic and a pair of spectacles. Chyushko̊ goes to him and they touch horns, intertwining their fingers.

Sha’nesh: Lots of horn touching going on.

GM: Yeah, amongst the local faun population there’s a lot of cultural significance placed on the horns.

Sha’nesh: No wonder they respect Kpeshyo.

GM: The moment between the two is interrupted when one of the other guests, a Drakona close to six feet tall and wearing the same sort of worker clothing, strides over to them. They grab Tõnso̊ by the shoulder, getting right in his face. “You lot went to the ruins didn’t you! You twin-yolk fools. You disturbed the sleeper!”

Tõnso̊ slaps the hand away. “Yeah? What of it, Su? Someone had to! This weather isn’t natural, and when was the last time any of the farms made a proper observation of the renewal rituals? Of course things are bad. But we didn't get anywhere near the ruins before the... thing attacked us.”

Sha’nesh: Oh, this sounds like my kind of argument. I head over there.

GM: Chyitshaa is going to be there first, getting bodily between them and pushing the pair apart. "Su, not the time." Chyushko̊ is dancing from foot to foot nervously, each hoof causing a slight clack as it hits the ground. He’s clearly not quite willing to have Su’s ire turned towards them.

Sha’nesh: Forgive my intrusion here, but we seem to be getting caught up in your local affairs. Do you mind filling me in?

GM (Su): Mind your own business, shell-back!

Sha’nesh: I’m going to take it from your tone of voice that you intended that as an insult, but I do indeed have a shell which I’m quite proud of… scale-hide!

GM: Su splutters a bit, but Chyitshaa shoves their chest. “Go to the counter and pour yourself a drink, Su, then sit and cool yourself off. I’ll not have you being rude to my guests. And you, traveller…”

Sha’nesh: Sha’nesh.

GM (Chyitshaa): Sha’nesh, then. Su is right. You’re an outsider. Our affairs don’t need interference from passers by.

Sha’nesh: [To the GM] Well, they’re all being rude. Can I win them over?

GM: You can try. Make a Presence (15) roll.

Sha’nesh: [Rolls his dice] 11 with Hope. I’ll just mark that third hope down.

GM: You make a couple more attempts, but you’re met with a wall of silence. As you’re turning, Chyushko̊ tugs on your sleeve and mouths later.

Sha’nesh: I nod and back down.

GM: Probably a good call, tensions are high. Hey, Nyĩt, how are you doing?

Nyĩt: It’s cold, wet, and there are strange things moving around outside the inn. I’ve made my spell-casting roll to establish the connection with my companion. I got a 13 with Fear as I’m assuming I can spend a hope and use my companion’s Distrustful Watcher experience. 11 otherwise.

GM: You get the bonus for Si̊nhĩ's experience. Add a D6 to that roll. I’m saying you have Advantage thanks to the 21 you rolled earlier.

Nyĩt: Oh, in that case I get a 17 with Fear.

GM: Cool. What does this look like?

Nyĩt: I think we take off and do an aerial surveillance of the lands around the Inn. I grip Si̊nhĩ and bend low as the wind blows around us.

GM: Okay. With the aerial vantage point, you look down as the wind and rain beats at you and Si̊nhĩ. Si̊nhĩ fights to hold steady as he circles the inn.

And you see them. Creatures that look something like wolves skulking around the inn. There's something else standing a small distance away - a humanoid shade, almost lost in the darkness of the storm except for the red tinged glow of their eyes. A glow that isn’t lost on you, guardian of the boundaries. They’ve been touched by something from the other side of the Shimmer. Be it the Faelands or somewhere else, they have been influenced by something from the realms beyond.

Nyĩt: They look like they’re going to attack.

GM: They certainly do. And as you look, the shade looks up at you, then gestures at the inn before turning and fading into the darkness. The creatures begin advancing.

Nyĩt: Oh, this is going to suck. I throw myself off Si̊nhĩ and angle myself for the chimney.

GM: You know the fire’s lit, right?

Nyĩt: Yeah, obviously. I should be able to pull up, though.

GM: You should… with an Agility check. Otherwise you’re taking a bit of damage. Agility (10).

Nyĩt: [Rolls] 13 with Fear. I shoot up out of the fireplace covered in soot, shouting a warning.

GM: My fear economy thanks you for your service.

The warning provides enough time to let Chyitshaa and Paas̊h secure the doors. There is a thump at the barricaded door as something slams against it. It won’t stop the creatures, but it will slow them down. As a result, you all have time to scramble to your gear.

Howls echo and thumps can be heard against the doors. Everyone, get ready for the encounter.