REFUGEVILLE

I think we should check the dead Dermilian first. Preferably starting with the note, then the bag. Either that, or the lab. Even if it's already been picked at, I wouldn't be surprised if someone overlooked a few stray bits and pieces.

The naked, dead Dermilian is an uncomfortable sight to behold. The masculine corpse bears a face of sheer sorrow, as if he made a prayer and was answered with a loud ‘no’. Mahfo reads the note left next to the body:

“This person, a soldier of the Dermilyu Kingdom, was found guilty by the Padabon Government on the charge of eighteen counts of murder. The defendant escaped from the trial after sentencing and was pursued by Zalugi Patrollers for two days. He refused to repent and resisted arrest, so we deemed him a threat to our society. Our Patrollers delivered the killing blow with a Fire-flash Spell. The deceased’s clothes were destroyed by the spell, and his body stopped functioning due to the extreme heat.

His name is lost to us, for we have found nothing to identify him. No known rank or title. His belongings, which are placed here, are meant for those who are oppressed by either the Signet or the Dermilyu Kingdom. We pray that his soul is forgiven by the ghosts of his victims.

If you are in need, take his possessions. We did not place any curses on the deceased’s items.

- Zalugi Court of Justice”

Seems the Zalugi can handle pyromancy quite well. Fire-flash is a difficult spell for most people to perform, as it demands total focus and quick reflexes to cast without missing the target. This dead Dermilian also shows that the Zalugi can reach this far, though as the note said, they were in pursuit for two days. It would be an impressive stroke of luck if you encounter their Patrollers now.

Nguda examines the small bag near the corpse. There is a ceramic dagger inside, along with a compass and 6 crumbits. These are all too useful to be left behind, so Nguda takes them all.

“Ceramic dagger” added to inventory!

This dagger has seen a lot of use, but it’s still sharp.

“Compass” added to inventory!

This device is actually quite large, probably because it was meant for Dermilians. It’s still portable though, and reliably points north.

“6 crumbits” added to inventory!

Inclined to investigate the bridge to nowhere, as the crates suggest the presence of something we may be able to salvage. Heck, might find a usable container.

But, ultimately I would advise investigating the walking skin first. I suspect something might happen if offered water, though what exactly I couldn't say.

Your explorers reach the Walking Skin, carefully. Comet doesn’t show any sign of discomfort, much to your surprise. Up close, it looks like it was very precisely removed from whoever used to own this piece of skin.



It is completely silent, but it doesn’t seem to be hostile. In fact, it’s indifferent to your explorers. Mahfo carefully approaches it and gives it some water, and it promptly stops moving and collapses into a heap on the desert sand. At first you think it died, but actually it’s just fallen asleep. It quietly breathes on the sand, posing no threat to anyone.

What a strange creature! It’s a relief to know it isn’t dangerous, but this is still unsettling to watch.

Mahfo and Nguda check the Bridge To Nowhere next.



The dead bodies don’t look like they belong to any tribe you know about. They are human, though, and the chains attached to them suggests they are slaves. They all look like they died from dehydration.

These poor people were forced to work here and build a bridge in the middle of nowhere. Your explorers carefully and respectfully examine their bodies. They had nothing of value, aside from some rags.

The nearby crates are opened, and most of them are empty save for one. It has some bottles of mead and wine inside! These should fetch high prices!

”2 bottles of Wine” added to inventory!
”3 bottles of Mead” added to inventory!

You are no expert, but you know for certain there are rich people willing to buy these luxuries. Maybe these were meant for the slave-owners? There’s also a box of matches here.

”20 matchsticks” added to inventory!

Nothing explains WHY this bridge is here, though. Another Signet mystery.

Hrmmm... actually, if we're particularly adventurous, it might be a good idea to consider going to the Brain Box to find some sort of offering to either Arara or Holkaborg. For the former, it might help restore his mind, for the latter, it's always good to have some way of countering things that we might not have a means to take on through normal means.

As you get close enough, you realize it isn’t made of wax. It’s made of steel! The steel melted! How could this be? Your explorers investigate.

The stench of rotting oranges is incredibly awful, but your explorers bear it and explore the interior of the Brain Box.

As for the stench, it’s actually a MIX of different food. Now that you’re inside, it’s not just oranges, there’s eggs, fish, beef… a lot of trash and food stains are covering the floor. Did someone live here?



The altar(?) in the center seems empty. There is a scroll next to it and a little piece of crystal.

Mahfo reads the scroll:

“This building, the Brain Box belongs to the Dermilyu Kingdom. Your presence here is an act of trespassing, which carries a penalty of 3 months of unpaid labor.

However, we will forgive you if you leave immediately because we understand how you might be ignorant of our claim, since we have no posted guards. We had to vacate the premises to avoid encroaching enemy threats.

In the future, we shall bring a proper military force and install guard posts. Be warned, for we will not be so forgiving when that time comes.

We have claimed the Signet artifacts within. They will be justly used for rebuilding our Kingdom.

-By Order of the Dermilyu Royal Authority”

So the Dermilyu Kingdom has been here. You wonder what those giants have found inside this place? Maybe the Zalugi could give you some clues, you’ll have to ask them later. Considering how much rotten food there is around here, you figure the Dermilians are… messy eaters. They might have been so used to having slaves clean up after them, they didn’t bother with basic eating manners.

Nguda picks up the piece of crystal. It feels very cold to the touch, and might actually be useful for keeping food from spoiling. Not even the desert weather could make it warm.

“Cooler Crystal” added to inventory!

take the book and dagger from the signet circle-to-be

The incomplete circle lies dormant, as it’s missing a few symbols inside it. Mahfo and Nguda examine the book and dagger.

The book is some kind of journal, written by a Signet worshipper. The pages are stained so badly with spilled ink and saliva (ugh) that much of it is unreadable, except for two pages. The first legible page reads:

42nd Day of New Purpose!
Forest FOR est FOREST! visit the eyes and see wondrous truth! there are no animals only trees
but first! before going to forest must finish summon brain thing!

The other one reads:

43rd Day of New Purpose!
this brain is no good. too rotten!!!! ugh need to kill a stranger now! signet please give me power to kill and find fresh brain!

The rest of it is unintelligible, covered in disgusting bodily fluids that have long dried. Your explorers drop it on the ground.

The dagger left behind is very high-quality despite it being caked in what is presumably blood… or maybe bile? It’s hard to tell. These are old stains.

“Steel Dagger” added to inventory!

As for the rotten brain sitting next to the circle, your people decide to crush it, just to be safe. No more worrying if it’s going to actually turn into a monster.

Your explorers feel like they’ve seen enough for today, so-

wait



…Isn’t the Chanting Forest too close?

Holkaborg contacts you urgently, almost screaming:

“Guardian Ghost. The forest can see you. Yes, YOU. YOU YOU YOU!”

You are taken aback, both by this revelation and the way she tells it. She continues, with dread in her voice.

“Guardian Ghost, the forest will chase you. It has been looking at you this whole time. It hungers for you. It wants you inside. It wants you. It’s been trying to control your two explorers this entire time. It moves now, after realizing I have blocked it. It will never stop. It knows you exist now, and it wants only you.”

Holkaborg didn’t say “the people inside the forest can see you”, she said “the forest can see you”. The forest itself is conscious.

As you look at the face-like Chanting Forest from above, you realize now that the trees which form its ‘pupils’ are pointing towards you. Your spirit-body moves just to confirm it, and sure enough the ‘eyes’, the tops of those trees, follow you. What kind of nightmarish mind controls that place?

As a Guardian Ghost, you must be in the vicinity of someone in your tribe. You cannot go anywhere without someone to anchor you. If one of your people actually enters the Chanting Forest… it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the forest will then have you prisoner.

Holkaborg warns you: “Beware, Guardian Ghost. It will follow. It will not stop until it has you inside… or until you find a way to kill it.”

You ask her, the Goddess of Madness, ‘Why is Rimewulf silent?’

Her answer is chilling:

“Because the Forest calls for him too.”

You ask her if there is anything she can do to help you, more than what her blessing is already doing. She responds.

“Sacrifice something of value to me, and I will trick the forest’s mind with illusions. I cannot say how long the illusions will last. I have never seen anything like this… abomination. Forgive me, but even deities struggle to defy the Signet.”

What do you do?

- Attempt to ford the river and then head west back to Refugeville!
- Try going south and evade the forest!
- Burn the trees on the edges of the Chanting Forest with the matches and wine!
- Tell one explorer to return and get help, while the other stays and buys time.
- Sacrifice items in your inventory to Holkaborg.
- Go east and travel as far as you can! Maybe you’ll find the Zalugi and they’ll save you!
- Enter the Chanting Forest. Confront this evil.
- Run back to Refugeville and prepare for war!

Mahfo: Wearing Mycah Wizard Robe, Armed with Stone Axe.
Nguda: Armed with Iron Knife.
Comet: Horse. Completely loyal.

Team Inventory:
2 Bottles of Wine, 3 Bottles of Mead, Ceramic Dagger, Compass, 20 matches, Steel Dagger, Cooler Crystal, Steel Knife

>_

Show Content

Spoiler
Population: 12 out of 24 shelter spaces

Allies:
Preeray Village - Gains Guarded Thoughts blessing for Refugeville, traded for 5 hunks of food daily
Padabon Village - Sends daily Care Packages

Wealth: 1 crumbit

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

Agriculture:
12 tapioca (growing, 17 days left)
10 mangould (growing, 13 days left)
20 underground mushrooms (growing, 10 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) - Still not back at Refugeville
Ogot (Building Materials)

Stockpile:
284 branches (1 crumbit for 4 branches)
5 beef jerky (5 crumbits each)
8 rabbit meat (2 crumbits each)
10 rabbit jerky (3 crumbits each)
20 fish meat (2 crumbits each)
5 dried fish filet (3 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
1 fishpond
1 rabbit hutch

Items:
2 Steel Hammers
Leather Bag
4 Treated Bandages
Construction Manual
Yaranga Phrasebook
2 Steel Pliers
2 Boxes of matches
1 Steel Chain

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.