Chapter I : For Old Time's Sake - The Adventure

 

 

The scenario is here.

Chimene recognised Ygritte's shock of red hair flying above the battlements - she had helped in the archer's healing when they had come to the Aifreweia, and then stood by Rashar when the priest of Mitra confirmed Chimene and Rudraige's wedding vows -  and decided to seek help from her.  She preferred to avoid Rashar, her superior, who could too easily order her to give up on her quest.  Kerim, although she had heard much about the co-founder of the Watch, was an unknown quantity.

The warrior nun's talents of persuasion were enough to sway the Nemedian.  The archer was listening one second, then acting the next, a bowshot taking down one of Gawayn's crossbowmen.  The two women pushed through the increasing flow of panicked guests and attendants, and the citadel's captain fell to Chimene's blade.

Whilst Ygritte held the crossroads, Chimene pushed forward, racing to the prison cells.  Tragedy unknowingly struck when the red-haired Nemedian put an arrow through Rashar, who had advanced towards her as if a threat.  In the milling crowd, friend and foe were mingled, as were civilians and armed guards, and Ygritte had barely time to choose her targets.  That said, she proved her ruthlessness during this rescue attempt, her arrows striking down men, women and children.  She might prove to be Gawayn's best argument yet for keeping lordship over Ardon...

Chimene pushed her way through the crowd that had gathered before the dungeon entrance, one man crumpling as he collided heavily with the stone wall.  Life potions thrummed through the warrior nun's blood as she clumsily picked the lock on the cell door, to reveal the horrible scene within.  Her anger was uncontrollable, and with one cold and deadly blow, she slew Zoraya's torturer.

The Turanian was too heavy to carry easily through the crowd, so Chimene let fall her armour and went back the way she had come.  Gawayn's guards were now few and far between, only a couple of spear-carriers who had come in from their patrol.  They formed a shieldwall blocking the corridor; but Ygritte broke it when she shot one, and Chimene was through, out into the courtyard, and free !

 

Victory for Chimene, who makes it to the exit on the 9th turn.  She had taken only a few scratches, although Ygritte, who followed close on her heels, had taken a wound.

For having defeated the Overlord, and discovered all five clues, both adventurers acquire +1 XP.  Ygritte, for having slain Rashar, gains an additional +1 XP, call it bitter experience. 

For the cost of saving Zoraya had been too high.  Ygritte's arrows left no doubt as to who had done the killing, and one was buried in a child.  The very abbot of the Aifreweia had perished.  Gawayn was now unlikely to step down, and would use his rival's atrocities against her.  Chimene might even have to choose at some point between Ygritte, Zoraya maybe, and her own ambitions...