Delve the Depths: 5 [+3 wits, +1 opportunity] vs…
The next tunnel inclined forward. Jaggar got the impression that they were getting closer to the surface when he noticed dirt and roots replacing stone along the roof. They climbed the tunnel and finally came to what appeared to be a dead end.
“Looks like we have to go back,” Serene said.
“Maybe so,” Jaggar replied, pushing on the rock column. His hand found a raised area on the otherwise smooth stone, and he pressed down on it with all of his considerable strength. The raised area clicked, and a low rumbling accompanied the column’s movement. It slid to the right about a foot, just enough space for Jaggar and Serene to slide through.
Inside this new chamber was a rusted iron cage, its door chained shut. Inside the cage, Jaggar could see familiar, if battered and bloodied, faces. The three people in the cage were villagers from Olgar’s Stand, his neighbors.
Serene rushed to the cage door, calling out to the people. She tugged on the door, her hands gripping the bars so hard her knuckles turned white. Jaggar reached out and took her wrist, gently pulling her hand away from the bar and clasping it in his.
“Mattick, Padma, and…” Jaggar started, but couldn’t quite see the third villager in the dim light of the candle.
“It's Vereena, Jaggar. The baker. She used to give us fresh bread when we were kids.”
“I remember,” Jaggar replied. His heart ached for his people, but the room was barren of all else, save the cage. He had no way of breaking the chain on the door, and he knew there was little chance that these poor souls could even walk.
Delve the Depths: 5 [+3 wits, +1 opportunity] vs 9 | 5 = miss (reveal danger)
Reveal a Danger: 16 innocents held in thrall
Mark Failure: 6 ticks (1 box, 2 ticks)
1d6 (to determine how many villagers) = 3, there are 3 wounded villagers
Oracle - Ironlander Names: 55, Mattick; 39, Padma; 58, Vereena
Ask the Oracle: Can these people walk? (unlikely) = 6 no, they are all wounded badly
“Serene,” Jaggar said, louder, as she continued to pull on the bars with her free hand. “Serene.”
“What Jaggar?” she growled at him, yanking her hand from his.
“We can do nothing for them right now.”
“What do you mean!? These are our people. My people.”
“You are not responsible for this, Serene.”
“I am the leader of Olgar’s Stand! These are my people rotting in this cage,” Serene choked back a sob, even though tears streamed down her face. “You know that Stonetower is going to use them for something nefarious. What if they use them for that ritual?”
“They will need more than three people to perform that dark spell,” Jaggar said calmly.
“You don’t know that!”
“No, you are right. I do not know it. But I am relatively certain,” Jaggar fought down his own fear and the tears that were threatening to brim over his tired eyelids. “I will come back for them.”
“Do you swear it on iron?” Serene asked, suddenly very serious.
“I will if I must.”
Serene turned back to the prisoners and called out to them. “Vereena, can you hear me? Mattick? Padma?”
“Chieftain?” said one of the women in a hoarse voice.
“Yes Padma. Jaggar is here too.”
“Can’t you help us?” Padma asked, her voice plaintive.
“We have no way of unlocking this cage,” Serene said, then looked at Jaggar. “Jaggar will swear an Iron Vow to return and rescue you as soon as we can get back to Olgar’s Stand.”
“Jaggar will come back?”
“Yes, Padma,” Jaggar said, stepping up and wrapping his big hand around the cage bar. “I swear on the iron of this cage that I will return and free you all.”
“Thank you, Jaggar,” Serene said, touching his back.
“I will return Padma, you can count on that.”
“We know your word is as binding as iron, Jaggar,” Padma said, speaking for the others.
Swear an Iron Vow: 6 [+3 heart; +1 bond] vs 7 | 4 = weak hit (+1 momentum)
A weak hit on Swear an Iron Vow means that you start the quest with more questions than answers. This is fitting since Jaggar still has to escape and reach Olgar’s Stand.
Delve the Depths: 9 [+3 wits] vs…
Jaggar took Serene by the hand and led her from the chamber and into another passage. The stony ground turned to sand and dirt. He was almost certain they were going to find the exit soon.
His heart ached for his people held captive, and fear gnawed at him for their safety. But he could not let himself be distracted this close to freedom. Olgar’s Stand would need Serene for what was to come, of this he was certain. His vow, now more than ever, must be fulfilled. She would prepare the people to defend the village in whatever ways she could.
As they wandered through the passage, Jaggar spotted a glow ahead. He squeezed Serene’s hand, and pointed toward it with the candle. She released his hand, and he crept forward to investigate the source of the light. The passage continued on, but there was a small room tucked into the cavern wall. Inside, Jaggar could see a rough-hewn table illuminated by a whale oil lantern. There was no one in the room, so he motioned Serene forward, and they went in to investigate.
Jaggar looked around and was surprised to find his sword, armor, and other gear piled in a heap in a corner. He stepped over to it and hefted the old blade. It felt right in his hand, and the uncertainty of their predicament seemed to fade in the strength of the iron blade. He gripped it tight, flexing his fingers over the familiar leather-wrapped hilt.
“Jaggar,” Serene said, breaking him out of his thoughts. “Come look at this.”
Jaggar gathered his gear in his arms and moved over to the desk where Serene stood gazing down at a leather-bound book. She had opened it to the first page, and he could see scrawled, in nearly illegible script, the word “Magister.” Other names were on the sheet, along the leading edge. Some of the words were in alphabets he did not recognize, others were unreadable from age or poor penmanship. The latest name began with an ‘R’ he could tell, but the text was smeared and he could not make out any more details.
“What do you make of this?” Jaggar asked Serene.
Ask the Oracle: Does Serene recognize the script the journal is written in? (Unlikely) 44, no
“Some kind of journal,” she answered, then flipped the page. “I cannot read this script. It doesn’t look to be in any language I’ve ever seen.”
Jaggar reached over and turned the page. He could not read the script either, but he recognized the shape of the rune inked darkly on the following page. It was the same three-pointed shape that they found in the ritual chamber, complete with the circle in the center.
“Is this what I think it is,” Serene asked.
“Aye, the same shape as the ritual chamber,” Jaggar answered. “Is this some kind of spell book?”
“I could not say. Perhaps Tanay the Seer will know more?”
“We should take it with us. I will seek her out once you are safely back in Olgar’s Stand,” Jaggar said, taking the journal from the desk and shoving it into his newly retrieved satchel.
Jaggar quickly donned his gear and sheathed his sword. He took up the oil lantern, leaving the nearly burned out candle on the table.
Delve the Depths: 9 [+3 wits] vs 6 | 4 = strong hit (+progress, +opportunity)
Find an Opportunity: 63 clue offers insight (+1 momentum)
Delve Progress Track: 8/10 (dangerous)
Momentum = +7/10
Ask the Oracle: Does Jaggar also find his other gear? (likely) 62, yes.
Locate the Objective: 8 progress vs…
The tunnel curved sharply not far from the Magister’s study and widened considerably. The stone walls of the tunnel were illuminated by a faint golden glow that Jaggar at first thought was a torch or candle. He soon realized it wasn’t moving and was only growing brighter as they approached. He picked up the pace, striding with purpose toward the light.
When he reached the end of the tunnel, he looked to the left to see the autumn sun shining down on the barren ground of the surface. He took Serene’s hand, and they crept to the edge of the cave. Jaggar drew his sword and stepped into the clearing, keeping low behind the scrub brush. He scouted the area, but saw no one. When he was certain there was no one nearby, he stood and motioned for Serene to come out of the cave.
“Let’s get you home, Chieftain,” Jaggar said, smiling at Serene.
Locate the Objective: 8 progress vs 5 | 4 = strong hit (+1 next move)
Vow (“Rescue Chieftain”) Progress: 8/10
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