Clan Eyebright

*"And so, we see the home of the Northerner... and his reasons for leaving."*

This is the first of Colbjorn's companion-specific Encounter Cards.

Please note that, in addition of being necessarily blessed, you cannot earn this card's token if you are cursed.

## Event

*Colbjorn returns to his home village to partake in Toil, the ritual cleaning of his people's ancestral grave-mounds.*

*He invites you to accompany him.*

1) Accompany Colbjorn to his village. (Requires 1 Blessing)

*Clan Eyebright's village, hidden in the forests of Mount Freydis, is a burned-out husk.*
*You see no inhabitants within the collapsed walls and fallen roofs.*
*Colbjorn leads you through the trees to the grave mounds - a flat snowy field dotted with body-sized hillocks.*
*A few villagers are here, kneeling by the cairns in prayer. You realize they are all either old or enfeebled.*
*Your stout companion kneels before three graves. They look fresh - the grass has yet to grow over them.*
*He empties a flask of Aramoor Spirits over the mounds and lets a blessing fall onto the cold earth by them.*
*He motions you to do the same.*
**The player must choose a Blessing to discard.**
*You kneel on the cold, hard ground beside Colbjorn as he bends his head in prayer.*
*The tranquility is shattered by a jagged rock bouncing off your companion's back.*
*You draw your weapon and turn to see an old Northerner woman, bent over with age, clutching a basket of rocks. Fierce hatred burns behind her eyes.*
*"Get out! get out of here, betrayer. Life-burner!" The old Northerner tears her hair in grief as she continues flinging rocks.*
*Colbjorn flinches as the stones rebound off his flesh but does not move to defend himself.*
*A group of villagers gather around you. They do not join in, but they do not intervene either.*
A) Intervene.
**Chance Cards Gambit** (2 Success, 2 Failure)
Success
*You step in front of Colbjorn and declare that he has done no wrong.*
*The villagers cannot help but laugh at the suggestion.*
*An elder, his head wreathed in bone and blossom, comes forward. "Foolish one, his only duty was to die, so they burned our homes and our people."*
*The elder sighs. "We have nothing. Only anger drives me now."*
*"Betrayer Colbjorn, prove yourself in the Hoarfrost Trial. Prove you are worthy of dying for Clan Eyebright again."*
**The player gains this cards token.**
Failure
*You try to step in front of Colbjorn but he stops you with a raised arm.*
B) See what happens.
*The barrage continues until the snow is stained with blood and the woman is on her hands and knees, weeping uncontrollably.*
*An elder, his head wreathed in bone and blossom, steps forward, his wrinkled fists clenched with anger. "Why have you returned?"*
*Colbjorn waves a massive hand at the three grave mounds.*
*"Your duty was to die for this clan or your hearth... but you were too cowardly to do either."*
*"Why couldn't you do it?" His stern tone breaks into a sob. "I had a daughter. Your sons! They burnt everything, all because you could not die for us."*
*Colbjorn merely stares blankly into the distance.*
If you have any curses encounter ends here.
A) Pay the villagers 30 Gold to see reason.
**Dice Gambit** (Target: 10)
Success
*The elder looks hungrily at the gold. "Coin will buy us food and warmth. Perhaps it will ward off the other clans from coming to pick at our remains."*
*He accepts the gold. The villagers seem less angry now, though their sadness remains.*
**The player loses 30 Gold.**
Failure
(insert text here)
B) Appeal to the villagers' mercy.
**Dice Gambit** (Target: 14)
Success
*The villagers of Clan Eyebright consider Colbjorn's sombre, stoic form and feel some pity.*
Failure
*"Some of the villagers laugh at your suggestion. They have lost their homes, their family - they don't have room in their hearts for mercy."*
*Colbjorn turns and leaves. The villagers take some satisfaction in this.*
*The elder sighs. "We have nothing. Only anger drives me now."*
*"Betrayer Colbjorn, prove yourself in the Hoarfrost Trial. Prove you are worthy of dying for Clan Eyebright again."*
**The player gains this card's token.**
2) Politely decline.

*Colbjorn nods his great head in acceptance.*

## Token Unlocks

*For convincing Clan Eyebright to give Colbjorn another chance...*

Hoarfrost Trial