Healed from their travails the day prior, the adventurers survey the lands around the keep and begin to make plans to establish a settlement.
Jabari orders the refugees to fetch fresh water as Kristov pulls the wise woman aside. She says her name is “Lucia Talene” and that the villagers would like to stay near the stronghold and farm the lands in return for protection. The peddler agrees to the arrangement and promises to slay the monster that ruined their village and rescue any survivors.
After giving orders to the refugees, the trio spends the morning training. Jabari parades about the training ground and hones his blade. Later, he instructs Kristov on martial arts and is thriving as a teacher. Unfortunately, Faus cannot develop a “throwing arm” and spends the morning aimlessly casting rocks about.
The wolfkin was so exhausted and thirsty from the work that he drank all the freshwater the refugees brought and most of his waterskins. Faus also depleted part of his supply.
At midday, the group prepared to leave, debating whether or not to take Tolu, the archer, with them. Or to leave him in charge of the keep.
“Do we really trust these foreigners to protect our keep?” Jabari asks.
Kristov believes the refugees’ story about the monster but plots a way to determine their intentions without much risk.
“They’re looking for a good situation,” Kristov says. “If we provide them a good place, they’ll help us.”
Pulling Lucia aside again, he asks her if she has any healing skills and if she could treat their hireling, Gwyn. Lucia smiles coyly and replies that “she knows a thing or two.” The wise woman dotes on the stricken swordswoman and proves she indeed has headling knowledge.
Kristov feels the refugees are good on their word but makes a note to keep an eye on Lucia. The wisened peddler intuits that she knows more than she lets on.
Heading north, Jabari leads the group along a trail to the Elya River. Heading into the hills, it isn’t long before Kristov spots something strange.
A loud and agitated voice cuts through the landscape. Someone is shouting out mockery and insults. When the group gets closer, they see a rickety wooden structure that rises several feet above the ground. At the top is a small orc with an upstage look. When the orc spots the group, he unbuttons his pants and urinates in their direction, spewing insults all the while.
Walking closer, the party learns that the orc calls himself Khardnal the “Great Provoker.” The deranged orc continues to sputter insults, trying his best to enrage the men while his pants remain open.
“Is that the provoker, or is he the provoker?” Kristov asks with a mischievous grin.
Stopping for a bit to marvel at the strange creature, the group comes to learn that Khardnal is convinced that he is responsible for driving away the Blood Mist. The orc expounds on how the people of the Ravenlands are “asleep” and must awaken their inner rage.
While Kristov, Tolu, and Faus continue to chuckle at the churlish orc, Jabari begins to growl at him. Eventually, the wolfkin gives in to his rage and charges Khardnal. Kristov shrugs his shoulders and says, “Here we go again.”
Laughing as the wolfkin runs toward him, Khardnal yells, “You think you’re strong, boy? I’ve seen pups with bigger biceps than you!”
Jabari slashes at the orc with his sword and slices off a toe. Khardnal laughs and flies into a more berserk rage. The duo traded blows, but it’s quickly apparent that the wolfkin has more endurance. Somehow though, Khardnal doesn’t seem to care and appears to relish the battle.
Calling upon his pride as a warrior, Jabari swings his sword with all his might and tears out the orc’s throat.
“Do you feel alive now?” Jabari asks as the blood sprays from Khardnal’s throat. The orc slumps to the ground but carries a grin into the afterlife.
“He died doing what he loved,” Faus says.
Pondering that, Kristov wonders if Khardnal was happy, knowing that his rage would live on in someone else. Aside from his armor, shield, and scimitar, the only other thing of value they find on Khardnal is an ornate bronze belt buckle. Jabari puts the orc’s toe in his pouch and affixes the clip to his pants before strapping the scimitar across his back.
After the battle, they decide to pitch camp at the makeshift stage the orc created. Kristov repairs Jabari’s sword while the wolfkin rests. Faus keeps trying to learn how to properly throw things but can’t seem to hit anything.
Continuing their march the next day, the party finally arrives at the Elya River — the border to Vivend. Jabari swims across the mighty waters and secures a rope to help the others. After another quarter day of hiking, they make it to the site of the ruined village.
They are met by three survivors — a young boy and two older men. Kristov offers to escort them back to the stronghold to which the men readily accept.
The survivors relay the horror of the monster’s attack. They claim it has no head and a gaping maw full of sharp teeth instead. The beast ate all their livestock, then gulped down their grain. It took almost all the men in the village to drive it off, and some were consumed in the attempt. The survivors believe the monster despises loud noise.
Joining the villagers around a campfire, Kristov asks what led to the attack and where the monster hides. The survivors tell the party about a nearby cave and that the furiously howling winds usually kept the beast away, but since the Blood Mist lifted, it has ranged further out.
The party learns that the village was founded by refugees of the Alder Wars hundreds of years ago. The village was trapped by the Blood Mist until recently, but they had little contact with outsiders as they had no need to travel. Later that night, the villagers pass on a legend about their region of Vivend:
A long time ago, before the time of the Winter King, there was a jealous lord. They sought a family member because of honor and traveled to a settlement, located a day’s march away in a dark forest toward the West. As the legend goes, it is said that they were murdered and that at the location, there is gold, lots of it, but also aggressive demons.
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