Session 26 - Homeless Hunter

The party stand in the desolate rubble of the cave that had sheltered them overnight. The hope of freeing Rurik from his curse is gone as Ashkeeper appears in his hand. He shrugs off the failure, but everyone feels it's impact. They continue along the riverbed. Elnorin shows his ability to adapt to the environment by turning into a giant bear with thick white fur. Rurik and Braith are wrapped in furs from the wolf which attacked them the previous day. It is cold. Heskan is the only one who does not seem to feel it.
Keeping an eye out for more of the dangers Drix warned them about, they spot footprints crossing the riverbed in front of them. Braith recognises the careful stride of a hunter tracking prey. They decide to try and make contact hoping to learn more about their situation. The tracks lead them to a large, deformed humanoid and her wolves. Behind her is a figure dressed in leathers, gagged and tied to a stake. Rurik casts a spell to understand her words as they approach. She is saying how much she is looking forward to eating them.
The monsterous humanoid lumbers forward locking Rurik into a bone crushing embrace. The rest of the party attack. After a brief but fierce battle the monster, which Elnorin identifies as a T'saint, is dead and her wolves have fled. Her prisoner is the hunter they were tracking. He has never seen anyone like them before and is initially afraid, especially of Heskan's draconic features. The party release him from his bonds and with the help of some basic gestures communicate that they do not mean him harm. He tells them, via Rurik's magical ability to comprehend his language, that he is named Bankanir and was on a quest to mark his initiation as an adult member of his tribe. Being captured by the T'saint means Bankanir has failed this quest. He is now an outcast and cannot return home.
After a quick party discussion Rurik places a hand on Bankanir's shoulder points to the others and indicates that he could join their group. Bankanir explains that among his people, hobgoblins of the Iron Tide, for one tribe to claim a member of another after they have failed their quest the champions of both tribes must face trial by combat. If the new tribe win he is claimed and saved from death in the wilderness, if they lose Bankanir will be executed. The party decide to try and save him.
As they recover from the fight with the T'saint Braith tries to learn a few words of Bankanir's language and find out more about the world they have arrived in. There are no horses here. In addition to the wolves and hounds they have already encountered Bankanir draws pictures on the ground showing giant birds and a creature like a bull with a mace for a tail which he calls a Catoblapas. With Rurik translating he tells them that the Catoblapas suck people's souls with their glowing red eyes, smell terrible and are considered a local delicacy. When Rurik produces an illusion of a raven Bankanir falls back in alarm and declares ravens to be the domain of the raven queen and not to be taken lightly.
Heskan is exhausted after spending the night awake to allow the others to recover from the cold. The party ask Bankanir to take them to a cave for the night to ensure Heskan is ready for the trial before heading to the village. He leads them to a large cave but as they approach they are hit by a horrific smell coming from the entrance. 
Emerging from the darkness come a pair of glowing red eyes and wicked horns, a Catoblapas. Heskan and Elnorin the bear take the brunt of the attack with Braith and Rurik firing from behind. The Catoblapas' spiked tail swings round inflicting wounds so vicious that those at the back find themselves staring straight at the beast as the giant bear in front of them shrinks back into an elf for a brief second before reappearing with a roar. In the darkness of the cave behind another pair of glowing eyes appear. The beast is not alone. As Heskan lands a mighty blow the Catoblapas turns it's head and targets him with a red eyed stare as his essence is sucked from his body leaving him shaken and weakened. Another stare brings Heskan down. Seeing him fall, the companions rally to deal a final blow to the heavily injured Catoblapas and then round on it's mate bringing an end to the fight. 
Heskan is revived and Rurik uses magic herbs to bring back Bird, who is now a rat, to check the cave. The party do their best to remove the smell of the Catoblapas. Bankanir sets to work butchering the carcasses, somewhat embarrassed at having led them into danger. Bird/rat investigates Bankanir's pack and finds a super strength alcohol which is used to tenderise meat and can also be drunk, if you are brave or an indestructable aspect of Rurik's personality. Bankanir prepares a meal of Catoblapas over a fire which springs up from a magic runestone he carries. Although the party are not entirely convinced that the meat is a delicacy, all agree it is better than wolf.

Day 3

In the morning the party set out towards Bankanir's village. When the village is in sight Rurik stops to perform a ritual so he will be able to understand the language of the tribe. As he is casting it they are approached by a couple of warriors from the village who speak to Bankanir. The warriors seem impatient and the situation becomes tense but Rurik finishes the ritual and they continue into the village. For the first time since their arrival the party find themselves in familiar territory. They see a central wooden structure covered in hides which seems to be similar to a Vannin mead hall and recognise the everyday activities of village life. 
A group of shamans gather as they arrive. In the midst of them, wearing her ceremonial headdress of intricately carved wood and bone, is the leader of the tribe. The party are greeted in the language of the fey which is spoken by the tribal elders. Elnorin responds in the same language. He is told that the trial will take place at sundown and continue until one of the combatants yields or is forced out of the circle. It is a test of skill and strength, no magic is allowed. Until then they are offered hospitality and a tent but warned that leaving the village will forfeit the duel.
Bankanir shows them around. It is clear from the reaction of those they pass that because of his failure Bankanir is no longer welcome here. The party discover he is the son of Eskani, leader of the tribe and was expected to do well. When they return to their tent Bankanir is withdrawn and quiet. Braith and Rurik sit nearby. Braith attempts to show Bankanir the history of the party, different races and tribes coming together to form a new group. She checks with Rurik to see if she is understood. Heskan prepares himself for the duel. Elnorin heads to the main hall to speak to the shamans. They invite him to sit with them and he learns much of the land, it's history and it's people including the mysterious raven queen. As they speak Elnorin notices links between the history of this land and the legends of his own people. When he returns to the group he tells them they may be in a place known to the elves as the land that will be.
Heskan warms up with Bankanir who shows him some Iron Tide fighting moves and then it is time to head to the trial. The gathered tribe part to let them through. A circle has been drawn on the ground. Off to one side is a stake hammered into the earth with shackles hanging from it. Bankanir walks over, attaches the shackles and they are snapped shut. On the other side of the circle is Heskan's opponent, Vortiga, warleader and champion of Dushnikh Yal. Strong and fierce she carries the thick layers of chain and leather which make up her armour with an ease that indicates she is more than a physical match for the Dragonborn warrior facing her.
A hush falls over the crowd as the opponents step into the circle. There is a brief acknowledgement between warriors, a slight bow of the head, and then the fight begins. One moment they are paused watching, the next they are a blur of motion, a flash from Heskan's shield as Vortiga's blade is blocked, a counter attack and repost almost too fast to see as she strikes through. There is a murmur from the crowd. Even among a tribe of skilled warriors this is something special. As each attack is met, each blow returned and each challenge answered it becomes clear that the fight is evenly matched. As a targeted lunge from Vortiga comes close to sending his sword spinning from his hand and out of the circle Heskan spots an opening. He lands a few good strikes putting Vortiga on the defensive. They parry and feint back and forth until finally Vortiga stops. Bloodied and weary she yields raising a fist to her chest and bowing her head in honour of a worthy opponent.