REFUGEVILLE

One of the explorers should use the wood from the crates and the rags from the slaves by the Bridge-to-Nowhere to start a fire after the other leads the forest to.

The plan is put into action, and after a harrowing ten minutes, the Chanting Forest catches fire. What follows is an ungodly scream that pierces the sky.

Unfortunately, you’ve only managed to burn the trees on the outer edge.

Apart from Gloomy's plan, we must sacrifice something to buy us some time to enact it. We offer wine and mead to her, and a summoned animal if we must.

Nguda draws the Rune of Holkaborg in the sand…



…and places a bottle of mead and a bottle of wine as a sacrifice.

On a side note - twice now we've had allusions to the Signet's madness. Right now Holkaborg probably isn't strong enough, but in the future, I'd like to see if she can make the Signet more sane.

Holkaborg responds:

“I have tried to make the Signet sane. I have no power over them for their minds were not born under my watch.”

What? What does… what does that mean? Before you can ruminate further, she continues.

“Go east. I sense the minds of Patrollers. If you go now, you will meet them. Do not stop until you meet them.”

Heeding her advice, Nguda, Mahfo and their horse Comet rush to the east. An hour passes, and the Chanting Forest, angry and determined, still pursues you.

At last, you come across a pair of Zalugi Patrollers!



They’re inspecting some kind of tower. By all known laws of nature, this thing shouldn’t be standing, yet it does. The whole architecture just screams ‘Signet’.

The two Patrollers notice your two explorers, along with the angry forest chasing after them. The taller Patroller shouts out: “GET INSIDE THE BUILDING!”

With no time to ask questions, they get inside the strange structure along with the two Zalugi people. Strangely, the Chanting Forest just keeps going eastwards, as if it didn’t see your people climb up the ramp.

Inside the structure, the shorter Patroller introduces herself. She is speaking your language, with a strong accent.

“Greetings. My name is Golgora, of the Zalugi Nation. I reside in Padabon. You are from the west, and… you are from Refugeville?”

Mahfo and Nguda nod.

Golgora is delighted and continues “Very good! This is my partner, Yahfi. He is from Padabon, like me.”

Yahfi waves, and notes the confused looks on your explorers. He gives an explanation as to what this strange tower is.

“We in Padabon call this thing ‘The Argument Tornado’. It is shaped like a tornado, but it’s form looks different to different people. Tell me, what do the walls of this building look like they were made of to you?”

Mahfo and Nguda say that it looks like some kind of wood. Yahfi nods and says “Yes, just as I thought. People from different places see this building in different ways. To me and Golgora, this Tornado looks as if it was built out of marble. People from the Yaranga thought this was made of steel. The Dermilians thought this was made of glass. Very fascinating, very disturbing, no? So we call it the Argument Tornado, because everyone sees this building differently and the only thing we can agree on is that it’s shaped like a tornado.”

Your two explorers are dumbfounded. Try as they might, they really cannot see the walls as anything other than wood, same as you.

Then, Golgora speaks “We discovered something else, too. This building, everything inside it is invisible to monsters, the ones made by the Signet. We don’t know why, but this place makes a good shelter from their creatures… which is probably why that weird forest that was chasing you ignored you after you went in. So, travellers, my partner and I were ordered to confirm the Argument Tornado was here and then return before the sun sets. Would you like to come with us to Padabon?”

Mahfo and Nguda look at each other. Mahfo and Nguda politely decline, explaining that they are worried about their home. Considering the sheer number of threats out there in the world, the two Patrollers understand.

Soon, your two explorers return home. Kori the merchant is back as well!



The following have been added to your village’s stockpile:

- Compass
- 6 crumbits
- 1 bottle of Wine
- 2 bottles of Mead
- Ceramic Dagger

You feel relief at the sight of your explorers making it home.

Briefly.

A vision comes before you. Were it not for the fact you are conscious, you would have considered it as a mere dream.



The figure addresses you.

“Guardian Ghost, Sentinel Spirit, Protective Phantom. There are many gods in this cosmos. Many names, many fates. I am one of them. I am The God From Nowhere. Born without reason, free to roam, free to help, free to hurt.”

You ask if the God From Nowhere has a proper name.

“Call me whatever you wish. Make an offering to me and I care not if you insult me. I am the God From Nowhere, and what you get is what I wish to grant you. A boon? A curse? You may never know… but such is my nature.”

And in a flash, the vision ends.

You have now learned of The God From Nowhere. Though your people remain unaware of his presence, you may now sacrifice something from stockpile for an unpredictable result.

Rimewulf whispers to you: “Do not trust him. The God From Nowhere is a miserable mess. He has no purpose, born only because the chaos in our cosmos allowed it.”

Holkaborg speaks to you as well: “The God From Nowhere is desperate for purpose. He seeks followers. He might have learned of your people from your contact with the Zalugi.”

Rimewulf is taken aback: “That means at least one of the two people you met actually worships The God From Nowhere.”

Holkaborg reassures the God of Wolves: “We have nothing to fear from him. You should not regard him as an abomination, Rimewulf. You should instead regard him as an orphaned child looking for a home.”

Rimewulf scoffs, but says nothing. The two gods have ended their conversation, and you return your attention to the village under your protection.

Your people are arguing about what to do regarding the Dermilians. Some of them want to try and raid the Dermilian camp up north to steal supplies and free slaves. Some want to post a permanent lookout outside of the village to keep watch. Others think they should stock up on oil and use that to cook the Dermilians in their metal armor. A small minority believes the best option is to just hide in the basement if they see anyone from Dermilyu approach.

As Guardian Ghost, you can influence how their argument goes. What approach should they take, with regards to the giant slavers living north from your village?

>_

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: 7 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)
Ceramic Dagger x 1 (6 crumbits)

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

Guards:
Two Chain-Hook Users

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

Stockpile:
304 branches (1 crumbit for 4 branches)
5 beef jerky (5 crumbits each)
8 rabbit meat (2 crumbits each)
18 rabbit jerky (3 crumbits each)
20 fish meat (2 crumbits each)
5 dried fish filet (3 crumbits each)
9 jars of milk (4 crumbits each)
5 loincloths (1 crumbit each)
30 pieces of clay (2 crumbits each)
188 stones
1 Bottle of Wine (40 crumbits each)
2 Bottles of Mead (30 crumbits each)

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
1 Compass
1 Cooler Crystal (Refrigerates Food)

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.