Session 48 - Bayara's Game

I really dislike AI. It's tricky to find the art I'd like through public domain sources, so I thought I'd start drawing. As you can see, I'm a bit of an amateur.

[Does Nisus Come With A Large Warband? Likely: Yes]

[Secure Advantage: Miss]

Smoke no longer rose from Fire Bridge. The city sat in the distance across the grasslands, too far away to see the gates. Nisus Rat Tooth frowned at it. Despite being surrounded by his tents and war band, he hugged himself and sneered.

His sister Dag, a strong, lanky, jackal-like woman, strode up beside him. "Getting cold feet?"

"No," Nisus snarled, his long fingers brushing the hilt of a fine sword at his hip. "We'll advance but only after we're sure what we're looking at."Kormak!" he called behind him, "Tell us what Doomaxe sees!"

A very large, bald man nodded and strode into a white tent that was painted with Bayara's sigil.

-----

Meanwhile, Kiah was in the Great Hall with her party, Overseer White Wing, and her Wadens. No torch was lit, the only light comming from the noonday sun shining through the windows.

What conversation there was, was hushed.

Suddenly, Song Hood sat up bolt straight and let out a cry. She then fell, and all went dark.

[Endure Stress: Weak Hit ]

-----

[What does the Psychic Battlefield Look Like?: Shield Barrow, Protected ]

Kiah stood in a grand hall that resembled a silver turtle shell, made of shields. Gentle white light streamed through the chinks. The floor was fine sand. The roof was as tall as a mountain, and the length stretched off farther than she could see. Before her stood a massive bald man, dressed in ceremonial armor etched with runes. He looked just as shocked as she.

"Kiah Song Hood, Kormak the Bear, I like you both too much," Bayara's voice echoed. "I won't pick a side. So you two fight it out, whoever's left standing may help their side."

"What?" Kiah exclaimed.

The Bear was already charging forward.

[Enter the Fray: Weak Hit]

The large priest roared and swung a club down at her.

[Clash: Weak Hit]

Kiah thrust with her spear, and it pierced into the man, but did not slow him. His club clipped her and sent her reeling.

[Endure Harm: Weak Hit]

The priest pulled himself off her 'stick' and sneered. "This is the end for you," he rumbled.

[Secure Advantage: Weak Hit]

Kiah focused her power, and her image shimmered, making it hard for her foe to tell where she was.

[Clash: Strong Hit]

Kormak raced forward and swung at her again, he judged poorly. Kiah's knife slammed into his side.

[Strike: Weak Hit]

"Shush!" Kiah yelled. Her guess was right: the Wyvern, spiritually connected to her, materialized in this arena and swooped down on her foe, raking him with her terrible claws.

Rather than turn on the wyvern, the priest focused his next strike against her summoner.

[Clash: Strong Hit]

However, Kiah's previous spell still held. His club struck a shadow as she slammed her dagger into his side once more.

[End the Fight: Strong hit with a Match]

Before the man could recover, Kiah thrust her dagger into his throat.

Suddenly, he was gone.

Her dagger was in an enormous thigh clad in black leather armor. Kiah looked up to see that she had struck Bayara Doom Axe.

[Endure Stress: Strong Hit]

The flaming-haired giantess let out a thunderous laugh.

Kiah pulled her dagger out and bowed in abject mortification. "I am so...ack!"

Bayara yanked her up. "Don't you dare apologize, that was wonderful."

Song Hood could feel the heat rippling from the giantess.

"You remind me of a little sister I lost," she said wistfully. "If you weren't already pledged to Nightdottir, I'd claim you for myself." "T-thank you, Goddess."

"I'm so pleased that you may ask of me a boon!" she said with a smile.

Kiah's eyes went wide, and her heart raced. This was no small thing.

She could ask for Great Mount's prosperity.

She could ask for a new voice for Gruff.

She could ask for her face to be healed.

However, deep inside her, she knew what she must ask. Even in this, her vows bound her.

"I ask for Aida to get her revenge on Nisus Rat Tooth."

The giantess eyed her ruefully, "That's not the wish I was expecting."

Kiah shrugged, "I swore a vow to help her with her revenge, so I shall by asking for your aid."

"In addition," she grabbed her black iron whale-killer amulet and swore, "I vow to meet whatever challenge you give me next."

[Swear Vow: Weak Hit]

The giantess considered this for a long moment. "You work an ancient, dangerous magic, Kiah Songhood." Then she craked a smile, "I approve!"

----

Back at Nisu's camp, Kormak the Bear strode out of his tent.

Nisus Ratooth sneered at him, "Well, seer? What did you find?"

The priest's grin was impossibly wide. "What did I find? Only that you're damned." Suddenly, the Overseer was in a long shadow of the fire-haired giantess.

He gaped in unreasoning fear. His wardens let out exclamations and curses.

Bayara Doom Axe let out a thunderous laugh and struck the earth with her black iron axe. The shockwave sent the entire war party into the sky.