Long Dead Warrior

This is a **Forest** exploration event. It can occur once per playthrough and offers the chance to acquire  Orichalcum Bead,  Saga Axe and  Sage Powder.

## Inspect

An armoured corpse with an ornamental helmet is sitting against the old stump of what probably once was a tall tree. The warrior is long dead, and the tree seems to have been cut down with great force, though only the stump remains. In the hand on the corpse hangs a tarnished pendant with an engraved symbol. A rune, without a doubt.

## Examine pendant

Relevant Skills: **Wisdom**

As you take a closer look at the pendant, you feel observed. A quick glance tells you there's nobody around, and yet... This is definitely a rune, and a mighty one. You can feel its energy radiation, and you know it isn't a power to trifle with.

* **Try to remember (Wisdom)**

Failure
Despite this feeling, and your best efforts, your memory fails you, and you can't recall what this rune stands for.
+  Depression
Success
It is \*ALGIZ, the mark of protection and higher self, the rune of the divine, linked to the realms of the gods. It teaches courage in the face of fear.
+ Wisdom experience.
## Take the pendant

Relevant Skills: **Courage, Strength, Constitution**

You reach out to take the pendant, and can't help but notice the skeleton's hand. It closes at the same rate as you approach yours.

* **Pull the Pendant (Courage)**

Failure
You stare in disbelief at the skeletal hand that mirrors yours. Are you losing your mind? You hesitate. The dead should...stay dead.
+  Depression
The survivor has  Nightmares for the next five nights!
(You are cycled back to the same set of options)
Success
You grab the pendant, and pull it toward you, but the corpse holds it tightly. Its hand is firmly wrapped around the string, which seems too solid to break.
* **Pull harder (Strength)**

Failure
You pull with all your might, but the corpse’s hand stays as firm as stone. It's useless.
Success
You keep pulling. The corpse doesn't show any sign of weakness, but neither do you. Through sheer will, you keep puling. Your muscles ache.
+  Fatigue
Finally without warning, the skeleton opens its hand. But when you lift the pendant to examine it closer, it crumbles between your fingers and turns into ashes. Something feels different, as if the imperious power you've felt before had vanished.
* **Kick the Corpse**

You kick the corpse as hard as you can, but before you can hit it, its other hand grabs your ankle and squeezes it hard.
+  Injury
You're in an awkward position, not to mention the fact that the corpse did not let go of your ankle.
* **Try to break free.**

The more you struggle, the harder the skeleton's grip becomes. It’s hopeless.
+  Injury
(You are cycled back to the previous options, but can no longer choose to *try to break free*.)
* **Wait.**

You wait... You wait for so long that you start to get hungry. Yet the skeleton shows no sign of fatigue.
+  Hunger
* **Keep Waiting. (Constitution)**

Failure
You wait longer. You are weakening. You can't go on like this forever, unless you want the next explorer to discover two skeletons.
+  Hunger
As you start to release your grip on the pendant, the skeleton simultaneously releases its grip on your ankle. You open your hand and let go of the pendant. As you do this, the skeleton’s hand goes back to its initial position.
Success
Finally without warning, the skeleton opens its hand. But when you lift the pendant to examine it closer, it crumbles between your fingers and turns into ashes. Something feels different, as if the imperious power you've felt before had vanished.
* **Release the pendant.**

You open your hand and let go of the pendant. As you do this, the skeleton’s hand goes back to its initial position.
* **Release the Pendant**

You open your hand and let go of the pendant. As you do this, the skeleton’s hand goes back to its initial position.
## Remove the helmet

Relevant Skills: **Agility**

As you reach for the helmet, you notice the many sharp-looking spikes protruding from its surface. It will be difficult to grab without hurting your hands.

* **Avoid the Spikes (Agility)**

Failure
You start pulling, but you feel the rusted metal cutting through your skin. you let go of the helmet straight away.
+  Injury
Success
You manage to slip your fingers right between the spikes, and start pulling. However, you quickly notice that your efforts are useless. It's as if you were trying to remove part of a statue. And yet, while holding the head of this dead warrior between your hands, you feel a brief moment of intense communion. It's just a glimpse of a presence far greater than what your mind can conceive. But you have a hunch that something or someone is watching you.
-  Depression
## Remove the Helmet (after taking the pendant)

Relevant Skills: **Courage, Strength**

You carefully put your finger around the various spiky parts of the helmet, and slowly try to raise it upward.

* **Use Your Muscles (Strength)**

Failure
You pull hard, to no avail. You're under the impression the helmet could move... if you had more strength.
+  Fatigue
Success
After some light resistance, the helmet comes off easily. You were expecting a faded skull, but the dead face staring at you is well preserved. It is yours!
* **Reflect on the futility of life (Courage)**

Failure
+  Depression
Success
Courage in the face of fear. This is what you strive for, what allows you to carry on, what will lead you further.
+  Courageous 1
The frightful vision of your dead face fades away, and is soon replaced by a grinning but harmless skull. There is a shiny object in its left eye socket. It's a small copper-coloured sphere. The skeleton and its armour fall into pieces and turn to dust when you take it.
+  Orichalcum Bead,  Saga Axe,  Sage Powder