Setting: Road to the Fist
Cast: Tark, Ubak, Tobius
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Tark and Tobius have headed north to meet with the Redspear Tribe. They are passing through densely forested vallies, so they must make the trip on foot. The weather remains sunny and comfortable, though there is something ominous on the wind.
The vallies are very similar to Armstrong Woods, densely packed redwood forests with a mix of laurel trees and a thick carpet of clover covering most of the valley floor.
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Events
- Tark explains to Tobius who the Red Spear are. They are a peaceful tribe that avoids contact with humans, because it triggers their blood rage. Instead they live in harmony with the land hunting the great bison that roam the plains in northern Olivantia.
- The journey will be made swiftly and uneventfully. At one point a small party of boneater Orokh bellow a challenge from a nearby hillside, but Tark’s answering roar sends them scurrying back into the treeline. He decides not to pursue them.
- Early on the second morning they crest a hill and see the Red Spear village below. It’s comprised of small huts made from fallen redwood trees, and borders a wide plain. There are nearly six thousand bison on that plain, within a few miles of where Tobius and Tark are.
- Tark carefully approaches the Orokh tribe. He beats his sword against his shield and bellows at the top of his lungs as he approaches. He explains that this is a custom among Orokh. It shows that you aren’t trying to approach by stealth, which means if you are there to fight you consider yourself strong enough to face them fairly.
- A small group of young Orokh warriors trot out from the village. Their leader is a large Orokh with snowy hair and a broken tooth. He greets Tark by saying “I see you.” Tark introduces Tobius, then gives the Orokh’s name as Ubak Broken Tooth.
- Ubak invites Tark and Tobius to join him in his tent, which strongly resembles a teepee. The rest of the Orokh youth drift off, but stay close enough that they can observe. They are clearly fascinated by Tobius, and several greet Tark as an old friend.
- Tark, Ubak and Tobius share a peace pipe within the tent while Tark explains why they have come. Ubak listens to the tale in silence, but his features grow troubled as the tale unfolds.
- When the tale has finished Ubak says ‘This explains much’. He says that the Miagoma, the Susu and the Painted Men have all been conquered recently. All were taken by the Bone Eaters, swelling their ranks. Ubak worries that the red spears could be next. The Painted Men were the closest neighboring tribe.
- Tark says that he must get the information back to town. He explains that Tobius will need to bring the information to The Fist, as they are hoping the Fist will help deal with the bone eaters. Ubak offers to send an escort as the Red Spears have a very vested interest in the matter. If the Fist helps destroy the Bone Eaters it will remove a mutual threat.
- Ubak leads the scort himself. He chooses forty young braves to accompany him, but before they leave he asks Tobius if he has been touched by the storm. He explains that he too was touched, and that it guided him to the magic of nature. If Tobius wishes to learn such magic he is willing to teach.
- If Tobius accepts Ubak leads him to a large field next to the village. About two dozen bison of various sizes are grazing there. The largest are 10 feet at the shoulder, with the young being about the size of a horse. He tells Tobius to roam the herd. Study them. Become one with them.
- Tobius is approached by a calf that is nearly as tall as he is. It stares at him with soulful black eyes, and after several heartbeats Tobius feels a strange sense of kindship with the animal. It nuzzles at his shoulder and when he approaches Ubak the animal follows him. Ubak tells him that he has been chosen and that he must care for the animal, as it is now his brother.
- The following morning Tark heads back to Eben’s Spur, while Ubak, Tobius and the escort head off to meet the PCs.
