Tiding 18: Forces in Play

## Content Warnings

*"There are those historians who like to look back after events, after they've transpired, and state how they would have done things differently. They presume the privilege of being able to look at an individual 's choices and actions and diagnose perfectly what they did wrong. Worse still, argue that if it were them, in their place, crisis would have been averted."*

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*This is always misguided. We cannot weigh an individual's actions against the broader forces of history. It is tempting, when we follow Vilte's journey, to fall into this same trap: to ask how events would have been different if she had been the one who entered Eulogy instead of her allies; to ask whether the disaster that met Cenja could have been stopped. But to do this is to ignore all of the different forces already in play. It is to ignore the Splintered Breath, that group of renegade Snarls, already planning their audacious robbery of the monks' library – willing to risk everything to find a trace of their absent prophet. It is to ignore those opposing them: Snarl-hunters of the Conclave of Sima, who would let the whole library burn, if it meant that they caught their quarry. It is to ignore, too, the ambitions of the monks' supposed allies, the Satraphy of Pheretrere, who, fearing the Conclave’s interference, moved to reaffirm the loyalty of the Revenant Chorus by whatever means that would take. In the face of that, what different would Vilte's presence have made as the wolves circled? What could the still-recovering Weaver have done to protect the monks from their fangs?*"

―The Counterfeit God: A History of Corpus by Avyn Fiir Vorunt

## Summary

After a night's rest on Tiller Bract's farm, trouble catches up to the camping trip. They find themselves caught between their melancholy host and people who would do them harm. Bris babysits, Challa sings songs, Venz makes threats and Belka stands firm.

## Synopsis

A loud knock on the door rings through the house, and a loud voice announces that it is Captain Aloma Labrencis of the Satraphy of Pheretrere, representing The Revenant Chorus. Aloma demands that Tiller opens the door and goes with the guards. Immediately, Belka, already up and awake from their night-time snooping, spreads their arms wide and stands in front of the door to prevent anyone opening it. Tiller reassures Belka that it's alright to open the door, but they look nervous and stressed. Aloma repeats the demand, that Tiller and those they are harbouring come with the guards. Belka refuses.

Challa takes Korrin and Fenrir to a small, very dark and dusty side room to hide, while Bris positions herself against the wall with her sword out. Venz climbs from his sleeping bag and informs the guards that the people in the house are under the protection of a Snarl. Aloma replies that they have orders from the monks of Eulogy, co-signed by the emissary Torsil Calx, to bring in both Tiller Bract and a representative of the group of refugees travelling through Eulogy. Venz chooses to go, and Belka realises they have to go too, to protect Tiller from having more memories taken from them (taking away sadness and leaving gaps is fundamentally wrong, and even more so where consent isn't given), and opens the door. Outside are three soldiers in regal but shabby purple-detailed uniforms with ceramic helmets and halberds.

Bris asks what Belka and Tiller were talking about, and reiterates that she doesn't like the weirdness of Cenja. Bris asks Aloma what he knows about the caravan, and ascertains whether the guards intend harm to the refugees. Aloma says they are safe and will be fine as long as they don't do anything untoward (although other forces in play in Cenja may not feel the same, particularly as they are travelling with a Venz, a Snarl). Additionally, they might still intend Tiller harm. Aloma seems to have come to the house feeling in control, but this is no longer the case - he is looking with some consternation at Venz. Bris looms over and says that since the Caravan is heading to Eulogy anyway, Aloma might as well just announce their presence and meet them there. Despite Bris and Venz' presence, it seems the guards are most interested in Tiller and Belka, and delivers an ultimatum for someone to prepare themself to go with them, at which Bris replies "or what?" The guards immediately stand to and the group argues about who should- or shouldn't- go with them. Eventually it is Belka that will be going, but nobody is very happy about this.

Back in the room of Tiller's house, Challa looks around and sees a bedroom that clearly hasn't been used in a long time and which is being used as storage for sculptures. Fenrir wonders what kind of room it is, and Korrin runs his hand over a statue (the one Belka saw Alison carve for Tiller). The group wonders why the bedroom is full of clutter, and why Tiller sleeps outside. Challa sees a shuttered window that could be used for escaping if the guards came in, and notes that they could hide under the bed. She looks around for some kind of interesting book or diary that might record some of Tiller's history, but doesn't find anything- it seems Tiller doesn't keep books around.

When she looks back around, Fenrir has gone very quiet and still, and the skin across his hand seems to have turned into something resembling the paper of a wasps' nest, spreading up his arm and body. Fenrir is unperturbed, reassuring them that this happens sometimes. He asks them to take the statue from him, then slumps down at the foot of the bed, pulling the material to cover more of himself. The others are still perturbed, asking what's happening and if he's alright; he tells them that this is how he grows, and that it might take a while.

At this point, Bris walks in upon the scene. She tells them that they have to go, but Fenrir isn't in a state to walk. Belka just tells her to carry him, at which she panics slightly. Belka and Tiller make sure Fenrir is alright, while Korrin is playing with the cocoon material (for which he is reprimanded).

The group separates: Belka and Tiller with the guards (Aloma Labrencis, Civis Macule and Inclementia Quiv; Tiller knows and talks to the two guards, although not Aloma); Venz following behind at a distance; Bris, Fenrir, Korrin and Challa back towards the caravan, borrowing one of the Occant.

## Quotes

**Challa and Korrin (singing)**: "Little wooden ship launched from our shores, carry us safe and dry
When the ocean wakes and the waves come high, carry us safe and dry
Little wooden ship built with our hands, carry us safe and dry
When the sky grows dark and the deep things prowl, carry us safe and dry!"
**Bris**: "Can you *please* just shut up!"
**Challa and Korrin (louder)**: "Little wooden ship carved with our names, carry us safe and dry
When the winds blow hard and the rains pour down, carry us safe and dry
Little wooden ship blessed by the gods, carry us safe and dry
When the food runs low and our belts grow tight, carry us safe and dry!
Little wooden ship..."

―*Challa and Korrin sing to Fenrir on their journey*
## Game Mechanics

* Venz rolls 6 in Scared with Manipulate to get the guards to back down. Fail, but Belka uses a Bond on Venz to assist and add +1, making the roll a 7. *You owe them tribute; You need to do a favour first*
* Bris rolls 14 in Powerful with [[Read A Person to see if Aloma is telling the truth about the caravan. *Are they telling the truth? What are they feeling right now? What are their intentions?*
* Venz uses Demand Action on Belka to get them not to go with him. This erases a bond Venz has on them.
* Belka uses Stand Firm on Venz to refuse the above. Belka promises not to do anything rash.
* Challa rolls 1 in Scared with The World of Ryne: Gameplay#Tempt\_Fate to snoop for interesting books in Tiller's room. Challa is rolling at -2 due to being Spiked in Peaceful. Fail (mark XP)

## Plot Notes

**Warning! There may be spoilers ahead!**

Narration: People and places

* Vilte Gosditte, the Weaver travelling with the caravan
* Eulogy, the capital of Cenja
* The Splintered Breath, a group of Snarls
* The monks of the The Revenant Chorus
* the Conclave of Sima
* The Satraphy of Pheretrere
* Corpus

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