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21 Oltaran
We discussed what to do next to help the shrine withstand the attacks that were obviously draining it. May thought that she could do a ritual to strengthen the shrine, with help, though she's not done a ritual to help a natural shrine before. Cor remembered that last time she swam in the pond and met the guardian of the shrine; he suggested she swim again and see what the guardian suggested she do.
When she resurfaced, she told us that when she went to the center she saw long-haired Ovahon, including a pink one which was from the shrine, in a green grassy space. She learned that there are attacks happening to many shrines from this storm, and some of them have succumbed. This shrine will be all right for a couple of days, with renewal of energy during the daylight, but Night is building a house, a large one, made of ice. She saw a conical ice structure, with frozen Ovahon (other shrines) nearby. This shrine can't be helped without healing the plants (not currently one of May's abilities, nor mine, alas), so there is nothing our party can do beyond good intent. Darkness is trying to get the shrines, not attacking the blessed in particular. (So that bolt of energy the day before... was likely a shrine of the Father succumbing to the storm. It must be stopped. And then the all-wood healed.)
With the spirit storm attacking the shrine, we set up watches through the night. I took the first half of the night, to let the travelers rest more.
22 Oltaran
The shrine looked worse in the morning, the trees bad enough that I'd not want to enter the all-wood through them. Such a fast change; I hope the coming of the day will help more than yesterday did.
At the others' current rate of travel, it will take 3-4 days to get to Bionlear's Skull, and since we can't reinforce the shrine, we should move quickly to get to the town. Jack and I went out of the shrine to look at the weather, and the snow is a couple of feet deep, which is hard going. Jack wanted to go up in the shields to look around with his telescope, but visibility was poor enough that he couldn't see anything. I checked the weather, and it seemed natural, with heavy snow coming today and tomorrow.
We organized our party, with the shields in front (May's suggestion), pushing snow out of path (once I worked out how to tell them to do this; I must remember that they're truly instruments of conflict and battle, containing the warriors of the shield who talk in allies and foes, obstacles and protection.). I rode in the shields, directing them, since there were odd snow formations, almost stalactites of snow, that were obviously not natural, and we'd rather not disturb them. They were numerous, so our path was not the straightest as we went back to the road. Behind me the others rode on one of the three horses and two mules (one mule had no riders; we can change mounts and change order to keep the animals from becoming unduly fatigued.).
We stopped at midday, having made it to the road. I checked for spirits, and one horse had a minor frost spirit. Also, it seemed that Thymelickson had some kind of spirit, but no matter what I did, nothing was cast out. In the end, I assumed I was mistaken in having thought him infested, but I'll be careful in checking him this evening.
On the road, there weren't the snow cones and stalactites, presumably since Winter's King does not interfere with the Equalizer's domain on the roads. It's much easier going.
Halfway through the afternoon, some of the snow turned over by the shields in their passing was red. I stopped, and went aloft to see what I could. There were 1-3 inches of snow on top of the blood, leaving dark patches in a large area. There was some kind of battle here, not long ago, given the fast rate of snowfall, and the still-lingering smell of Burdez magic.
Thymelickson and Ragashor went to look, and Thymelickson had a blue halo over his head after he chanted. When he came back, he said that there was Burdez and other magic. There were also three bodies of Taalish people who had been hurt by the Burdez magic, but killed by something with claws that also bites. They had ragged winter clothes, and not just because of the burn marks. The people were frozen under the burn marks, though it's too soon for them to have frozen already, the battle so recent. Except that there were icicles coming out of the skin on the back; they'd been taken over by spirits long before, already dead men walking.
Cor found six more bodies on the other side of the road, one bitten in half. There was no one here who needed my help to pass on; I only wish that their passage was easy.
The group that fought these winter zombies had come to the road from the mountains in the west, and they were unusual, with three men on horses accompanied by two large four-legged hunting animals with claws and teeth. After the battle, this party continued south, presumably heading towards Bionlear's Skull as well.
We took the heads off the bodies, to make sure that they wouldn't be taken over by spirits again, then continued south, following the trail made by those who'd battled. We had to stop when May needed warmth; she was shivering uncontrollably. Jack wanted to take the shield to go on ahead, to find the party we were following, see what manner of people (and beast) they are.
We discussed what to do next to help the shrine withstand the attacks that were obviously draining it. May thought that she could do a ritual to strengthen the shrine, with help, though she's not done a ritual to help a natural shrine before. Cor remembered that last time she swam in the pond and met the guardian of the shrine; he suggested she swim again and see what the guardian suggested she do.
When she resurfaced, she told us that when she went to the center she saw long-haired Ovahon, including a pink one which was from the shrine, in a green grassy space. She learned that there are attacks happening to many shrines from this storm, and some of them have succumbed. This shrine will be all right for a couple of days, with renewal of energy during the daylight, but Night is building a house, a large one, made of ice. She saw a conical ice structure, with frozen Ovahon (other shrines) nearby. This shrine can't be helped without healing the plants (not currently one of May's abilities, nor mine, alas), so there is nothing our party can do beyond good intent. Darkness is trying to get the shrines, not attacking the blessed in particular. (So that bolt of energy the day before... was likely a shrine of the Father succumbing to the storm. It must be stopped. And then the all-wood healed.)
With the spirit storm attacking the shrine, we set up watches through the night. I took the first half of the night, to let the travelers rest more.
22 Oltaran
The shrine looked worse in the morning, the trees bad enough that I'd not want to enter the all-wood through them. Such a fast change; I hope the coming of the day will help more than yesterday did.
At the others' current rate of travel, it will take 3-4 days to get to Bionlear's Skull, and since we can't reinforce the shrine, we should move quickly to get to the town. Jack and I went out of the shrine to look at the weather, and the snow is a couple of feet deep, which is hard going. Jack wanted to go up in the shields to look around with his telescope, but visibility was poor enough that he couldn't see anything. I checked the weather, and it seemed natural, with heavy snow coming today and tomorrow.
We organized our party, with the shields in front (May's suggestion), pushing snow out of path (once I worked out how to tell them to do this; I must remember that they're truly instruments of conflict and battle, containing the warriors of the shield who talk in allies and foes, obstacles and protection.). I rode in the shields, directing them, since there were odd snow formations, almost stalactites of snow, that were obviously not natural, and we'd rather not disturb them. They were numerous, so our path was not the straightest as we went back to the road. Behind me the others rode on one of the three horses and two mules (one mule had no riders; we can change mounts and change order to keep the animals from becoming unduly fatigued.).
We stopped at midday, having made it to the road. I checked for spirits, and one horse had a minor frost spirit. Also, it seemed that Thymelickson had some kind of spirit, but no matter what I did, nothing was cast out. In the end, I assumed I was mistaken in having thought him infested, but I'll be careful in checking him this evening.
On the road, there weren't the snow cones and stalactites, presumably since Winter's King does not interfere with the Equalizer's domain on the roads. It's much easier going.
Halfway through the afternoon, some of the snow turned over by the shields in their passing was red. I stopped, and went aloft to see what I could. There were 1-3 inches of snow on top of the blood, leaving dark patches in a large area. There was some kind of battle here, not long ago, given the fast rate of snowfall, and the still-lingering smell of Burdez magic.
Thymelickson and Ragashor went to look, and Thymelickson had a blue halo over his head after he chanted. When he came back, he said that there was Burdez and other magic. There were also three bodies of Taalish people who had been hurt by the Burdez magic, but killed by something with claws that also bites. They had ragged winter clothes, and not just because of the burn marks. The people were frozen under the burn marks, though it's too soon for them to have frozen already, the battle so recent. Except that there were icicles coming out of the skin on the back; they'd been taken over by spirits long before, already dead men walking.
Cor found six more bodies on the other side of the road, one bitten in half. There was no one here who needed my help to pass on; I only wish that their passage was easy.
The group that fought these winter zombies had come to the road from the mountains in the west, and they were unusual, with three men on horses accompanied by two large four-legged hunting animals with claws and teeth. After the battle, this party continued south, presumably heading towards Bionlear's Skull as well.
We took the heads off the bodies, to make sure that they wouldn't be taken over by spirits again, then continued south, following the trail made by those who'd battled. We had to stop when May needed warmth; she was shivering uncontrollably. Jack wanted to take the shield to go on ahead, to find the party we were following, see what manner of people (and beast) they are.
