He evaded pursuit!

Chaos Factor: 6
Expected Scene: Ruven flees the Broken-Sword Rams' camp
Test Expected Scene: 1d10=9 - the expected scene happens

Chase initiated: 5 obstacles, each requiring 1 success; opponents move at 1/2 speed (because there's only one PC).

Obstacle 1: Tightly spaced yurts (DC 12 Acrobatics or DC 15 Athletics)

The stranger pounded through the encampment, Bethtali bouncing, dazed, on his shoulder. The yurts were closely packed where he had been given a bed, and flames leapt into being as the people inside were wakened by the shouting. A laugh ripped from his lips as he sprinted, legs pumping furiously. [Athletics vs. DC 15: 25, crit! He gets a +2 bonus on the next obstacle] In no time at all he had made his way through the yurts and out the far side. Bethtali lifted her head and, blinking through the glaze of semen still staining her features, saw that more torches were being lit on the far side of the camp.

Obstacle 2: Sheep flock (DC 15 Nature or DC 17 Athletics)

The stranger charged into the open space and nearly skidded to a halt. One of the wandering flocks that Bethtali's clan kept milled in front of him, thickly packed and too large to go around - fivescore head at least. Taking a deep breath, he waded into the woolly mass, murmuring quiet words as he tried to work his way quickly across the open space. [Nature vs. DC 15 (+2 bonus): 20, success!] "La, la," he murmured, surprisingly gently, and Bethtali felt the sheep part for him as inch-by-inch he made his way across the flock. As he got free of the worst of it he began running again - for the best, it seemed, as the torches were among the yurts now. She saw a blaze of light and heard shouts as several torch-bearing figures swarmed around the guest yurt - her kin knew, now, that both he and she were gone. No turning back.

Obstacle 3: Confused old man (DC 10 Intimidation or DC 12 Diplomacy)

"Who is that? Who goes there?" a quavering voice called. Bethtali, twisting, felt her heart leap into her mouth. A stooped old man was approaching, a torch in one hand and a cane in the other. It was Gentrim - the eldest of a family and the keeper of this flock, a beloved figure among the children of the clan. Gentrim's eyes widened as he saw the massive figure rushing at him.

"Move, old man!" the stranger roared. "I have killed enough already tonight!" [Intimidation vs. DC 10: 9]

But Gentrim, though he quailed slightly, did not step aside. "What have you done? Stranger who shared our fire, are you a violator of the guest-right? What are you doing with the lovely Bethtali, sent to your bed in good faith?!"

"I do not have time for this," the stranger snarled. There was a sudden flash of steel in the moonlight. [Strike vs. DC 12: 13] Bethtali screamed and Gentrim staggered back, bleeding, to collapse on the ground as the stranger ran onward. Bethtali desperately twisted to try to keep Gentrim in view as she was carried off.

"Stay still," the stranger snapped. "And next time some old man gets in my way, tell him to move yourself! He may live if your people help him." Behind them, she could hear the cries of their pursuers as they tried to herd the sheep out of their path.

Obstacle 4: Watchful Slingers (DC 15 Stealth or DC 15 Athletics)

The stranger slowed to a prowl as they approached the open land on the edge of the encampment. "There are guards, are there not? Around the paddocks?"

"A-Aye," Bethtali breathed, shaken from the chase. "They...they have slings to ward off wolves..."

"And precious little cover from them," the stranger growled. "Ah, well. Cover your head, wench."

"Wh - Ah!" Bethtali shrieked and curled herself as tight to his muscled body as she could as the stranger took off in a pelting run. [Athletics vs. DC 15: 23] She heard cries from the sentries and the whiz of slingstones through the air, but her rescuer-captor just laughed as he wove among them. He dashed for the high paddock fence and behind her, she heard someone cry, "Gentrim! He stabbed Gentrim!"

Obstacle 5: High Paddock Fence (DC 15 Athletics or DC 12 Crafting)

The stranger was tall, but wolves prowled the lowlands and the fence that Bethtali's clan kept their horses in was taller still and sturdily built. The stranger quickened his pace as he approached it and Bethtali, bouncing on his shoulder, feared at first that he meant to ram right through. But at the last moment, he leapt into the air. [Athletics vs. DC 15: 10] His free hand scrabbled at the top of the fence, but he missed his grip and staggered back, Bethtali's wind leaving her as she landed hard on his shoulder. He cursed as the cries of the pursuers began to get nearer, backed up, and charged again. [Athletics vs. DC 15: 8. Hero Point: 9] Once more he scrabbled at the top of the fence, but to no avail.

"No," he growled, though Bethtali thought she could feel him trembling slightly. "I will not die here. Not killed by fucking sheep-farmers!" She heard the sentries urging the pursuers on toward the paddock, and her heart hammered against her ribs. The stranger let out a roar and charged at the wall once more [Athletics vs. DC 15: 27, crit! of course], and this time he leapt so high that Bethtali would have sworn they flew. His feet barely touched the top of the wall as he vaulted over and down the other side, landing lightly but steadily on his feet among the horses.

Chase complete! Awarding him 30 XP and a Hero Point.

The stranger strode through the nickering horses, head on a swivel. "Where - ah, there you are." A huge black horse has wound its way through its companions, and nuzzled his chest. "Come, Nightwind. We must go." He put Bethtali down and hurriedly saddled the horse, experience obvious in his brisk, confident movements. As soon as he was finished, he leapt up into the saddle and, without missing a beat, leaned down to scoop up the still-bound Bethtali. She yelped as he wrapped a thick arm around her ribs, hoisting her easily up toward his lap. "No chance of riding in that, too tight," he grunted, and with a single tug he ripped away her waist wrap, leaving her nude but for her bangles. She gasped as he settled her onto the saddle, the leather cool against her bare thighs and still-damp cunt.

"Try not to fall off," he instructed, and she whimpered as he threaded an arm around her waist to pull her to him, his warm, firm chest against her back. "Hya, Nightwind!" The horse whinnied and took off at a gallop. Bethtali felt a surge of panic as the sturdy gates of the paddock loomed before them, but the stranger tugged on the reins and his horse reared to kick them wide open. They burst through into the open land, the encampment behind them now ablaze with torchlight and the furious cries of her kin. Bethtali heard slingstones whistle through the air and ducked her head, but the stranger clutching her naked body just laughed wildly as they galloped into the night, the stones clattering to earth behind them as his horse surged forward like a black bolt of lightning. Before long, the shouts of their pursuers faded into distant echoes and they galloped through the hills under a night sky spangled with dazzling stars.

Chaos Factor +1: 7
Added to Characters List: Bethtali of the Rams
Added to Characters List: The Broken-Sword Rams