REFUGEVILLE

Bidabog, Holkaborg, Astalti, and Zalana all seem appealing.
I'd prioritize Holkaborg, then Astalti. Protection from Signet-madness is probably not more important than general healing, but it's also a threat that we have fewer tools against.

Just as your people decide which deity the Preeray should make sacrifices to, the very voice of Holkaborg herself echoes through the air. It is otherworldly, yet soothing.

“From tomorrow onwards, your minds will be safe from the Signet’s influence. I offer no guarantee of protection from ailments of the mind that come from within, but I will help you recover if such a thing occurs. I am Holkaborg, and by my Word, your minds deserve to be free from monstrous influence.”

It seems Holkaborg prefers speaking directly to her subjects, like Rimewulf. Although the Preeray have not done anything yet, she already decided to bless your people. According to the Divine Canon, Holkaborg can read minds. Perhaps her short speech means that she’s read the Preeray’s minds and saw no intention of not upholding their end of the bargain.

As the Preeray return home, your people are tired from the little celebration and go to sleep.

Dawn arrives on the next day. Kori is not here. Ogot explains that she had to leave to get more things to sell to your people, and should be back the next morning. If the villagers need money, they can sell their goods to him instead. Your people understand, and they make use of the Call of the Wild blessing to summon a chicken.



It’s a hen! Hasn’t started laying eggs yet, but she has already begun scratching the soil for worms and such. Luckily, this kind of hen is of the resourceful Mighen breed.

Holkaborg whispers through the wind, and into your incorporeal ears:

“Explore. The world is big. Very big. Such size should not be wasted.”

You could send some of your people exploring, since you have a horse now for fast movement. Aello the Winged Woman is still too fearful to go exploring, claiming that the Signet’s monsters are watching the skies. Your people let her be, not wanting to draw the attention of more horrors.

You recall there are several places they could see…

TO THE SOUTH:

Big Skull:
This enormous skull with three eye sockets seems to move when nobody’s looking. Something it’s half-buried in the sand. Sometimes it’s floating just a few inches above it. Sometimes it’s upside down. Sometimes, it sings.

Tower?:
A very tall metal object, perfectly cylindrical in shape. It has no entrance. There is no crater, no sign of any construction work, as if it just appeared here. At night, it glows and the light blinks.

The Twins:
A silent, gigantic killer. It has no eyes, but making noise near it is dangerous. If it wakes up, it will smell for flesh. Its body looks as if it’s made of snot. Fortunately, it never moves far from its nest. It is called ‘The Twins’ due to its two heads, but the head in the rear is false.

Hole:
A large hole that smells of flowers. It’s so deep that if you dropped a torch into it, you would stop seeing the light before any sound is heard.

Loud Graveyard:
An unpleasant noise perpetually emanates from the graves here. It sounds like a chorus of angry children. The gravestones themselves all bear valuable gems, but touching a gem results in the noise becoming so loud your head would burst.

TO THE NORTH:

God Box:
Situated in a town covered by moss, guarded by an invisible creature.

Chicken Blood Pond:
A pond filled with dead chickens. There might be something underneath.

Skull Pile:
A pile of skulls, of unknown origin.

TO THE WEST:

Aniro Village:
According to the Preeray, there are only three people living here, but they are all consumed by madness and hostile. The village is far larger than it should, with many decrepit houses and shops.

Explore the EAST:

Not much is known about what’s in the east, aside from the existence of the Brain Box.

==

You may ask the Preeray for help, but if the Preeray tagalong dies that will have an unpleasant effect on your relations.

>_

Population: 12 out of 24 shelter spaces
Allies: Preeray Village

Wealth: 1 crumbit

Animals:
1 Dog (Relief)
2 Cows (Bilin, Daina)
1 Horse (Comet)

Plants:
12 tapioca (sapling, 18 days left)
10 mangould (sapling, 14 days left)

Weapons:
Iron Knife x 1 (4 crumbits)
Stone Axe x 5 (2 crumbits)
Stone Shovel x 1 (2 crumbits)
Steel Hooked Chains x 2 (Equipped by Guards, 8 crumbits each)

Vehicles:
Crude Wooden Raft (Kori won’t buy it)

Guards:
Two Chain-Hook Users

Merchants:
Kori (Miscellaneous Goods)
Ogot (Building Materials)

Stockpile:
320 branches (1 crumbit for 4 branches)
5 beef jerky (5 crumbits each)
19 rabbit meat (2 crumbits each)
30 fish meat (2 crumbits each)
6 jar of milk (4 crumbits each)
5 loincloths (1 crumbit each)
30 pieces of clay (2 crumbits each)
188 stones

Buildings:
1 stone house (with basement)
1 shrine
1 palisade

Items:
Leather Bag
4 Treated Bandages
Construction Manual
Yaranga Phrasebook

Fishblood Lantern - A lantern that uses fish blood as fuel. Provides light and warmth. One adult fish from the river should be enough for one night. Easy to carry, even for a dog or a wolf.

Copy of Hildevert’s Journal: Hate Box - The Signet have been hunting a man named Hildevert for the past month, and he continues to elude capture. This book is about what he saw in a place called the Hate Box, a place where powerful prisoners are tortured for amusement.

Mycah Wizard Robe - Doesn’t grant magical powers, but Mycah spells are woven into it that protect the wearer from undeath. The spells repel teeth and rotten meat, so it’s perfect for fighting ghouls.

Acid Jar - A jar full of liquid that will melt anything metal. Extremely useful against armored opponents and locks.

Divine Artifacts:

Shrunken Head of Asimuth - Screams when an agent of the Signet sees Refugeville.

Blessings:

Devoted Wolfpack: Rimewulf’s followers can transform into wolves at night, granting faster movement, enhanced senses and combat strength.

Call of the Wild: Once per day, you may summon one animal to appear in the village. The animal will always obey your people and never harm them.

Arara’s Shade: Your people can endure heat that would normally cause heatstrokes. A common blessing for desert-dwellers and those who wish to endure drought.

Guarded Thoughts: Your people are protected from mind-altering poisons and curses. They cannot be brainwashed or mind controlled, not even by the Signet.


Curses:

Marked By The Signet: The Signet will never stop sending scouts.