Campaign6/session17
From Hebridonia Wiki
A Giant's Thunder
Trailer:
A Giant's Thunder:
Small labor toils underground,
for captured daylight.
-Haiku of contemplation.
Synopsis:
Assynt 35, 1022
The party wakes up to the sound of heavy rain on the roof of the guest house. It's looks like a lousy day to travel, so they light a fire and consider the trade options discussed the previous night. Around mid-morning Shimura invites them to share breakfast. The party accepts, and after a light meal of fruits, nuts and grains, Shimura suggests that they conclude trade arrangements. He also informs Triella and Anna that they have been invited to witness a birthing ceremony, a great honor usually reserved for close family members and friends. Triella and Anna accept and leave with one of the women from the kitchen, while the rest of the party remains behind to negotiate.
Passing through the village, the reach a well-appointed building with broad steps leading up to a wide doorway. The women enter , weaving their way down a corridor and past a small room with several basins and shelves with jars, finally reaching a large room where a woman is in labor. Their escort introduces Triella and Anna to Hoshiko, the woman giving birth, the midwife Mayako and her assistat Setsuko, and the mother-to-be's sister Naruko.
Back at the negotiations, Shimura finishes selecting the spices and tools that they wish to purchase with some locally cut gems and rough precious stones. Everyone seems satisfied with the deal, until Shimura indicates that there is more to discuss: "How much for the women?" Delicately, Feiruhn and Ban manage to convince Shimura that they are not for sale, but that they may be able to set up some sort of future trade along those lines. The details of how they're going to do this is left for another time because a messenger interupts the meeting, telling Shimura that the miners have returned early. Shimura's face is grim as he excuses himself to speak with the foreman of the mining crew.
Shimura returns a few moments later to explain that the miners have fled the mine because they broke through to an underground chamber, which blasted them with a fearsome wind, like the "breath of the dead". Shimura is about to explain further when the sound of the approaching giant is heard, rumbling and cursing down from the mountain path.
At the birthing, things are not going well, The baby has been born in a caul, but is quickly freed and appears to be healthy. Hoshiko is not doing well however... she is bleeding profusely, and it is clear to Triella that she will be dead in minutes. Without hesitation, Triella steps forward and applies healing magic to Hoshiko, stopping the bleeding and easing her pain. To cast the spell, Triella reaches inside a pouch to touch the Ysyryl to draw mana for the spell. In her enthusiasm, Triella over-casts the spell and begins to sparkle all over with magical energy. Then she collapses from the effort. The midwife and assistant are dumbfounded, but quickly recover when Anna tries to attend to her fallen friend. Naruko and Setsuko carry Triella out of the birthing sanctuary to another house where Triella can rest.
Triella awakens as they lay her on a sleeping mat. Naruko prepares tea and offers it to Anna and Triella, who fake drinking the tea but pour it in a plant instead. Triella closes her eyes again, and Naruko handles the Ysyryl briefly in an attempt to make her more comfortable. Triella wakes again at the sound of the rumbling giant. Naruko explains that Triella cannot be allowed to leave the village, that she is too valuable as a healer. Anna and Triella manage to convince Naruko that they can help more if allowed to leave and send healers back. Naruko then falls to her knees and tells Triella that she will bear the life-debt of her sister Hoshiko and protect Triella from harm until the debt is repaid.
The whole party reconverges near the lakeshore to witness the giant storm into town, uproot a small tree and toss it into one of the nearby houses. The giant calls for Shimura, who arrives a moment later in full ceremonial armor and flanked by his two adjutants.
Previously Session 16: Nemuro
Continued Session 18 Sleeping Giants
Campaign 6 Index
