He found Bethtali in peril!

Chaos Factor: 7
Expected Scene: Ruven tracks down Bethtali
Test Expected Scene: 1d10=7 - Altered scene! And I have an idea...

Ruven rode through the low hills at a brisk trot, looking for signs of Bethtali's passage. He found a few clues pointing him onward, and had only ridden a short distance when a feminine scream split the night. Kicking Nightwind into a gallop, he rode at speed toward the sound.

--Is Bethtali in trouble due to some wild animals?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Likely, CF 7)
98 - **** no! It's something supernatural!

--Is this a Severe encounter for Ruven?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Very Likely, CF 7)
09 - **** yes - oh no, it's ****!

As Ruven came onto a small rise, he saw Bethtali before him - fleeing in terror from something that made even his blood run cold. The thing chasing her looked like a massive hound, at least five cubits long, but where its eyes should be were only swirling motes of darkness. Shadows seemed to cling to it as it loped after her [Stride] and, even as she screamed in terror, lunged [Strike: 20 vs. AC 16, 6 P] to sink its teeth into her leg. As Bethtali stumbled it broke free, but then it turned and lunged not at her, but at her moonlit shadow [Shadow Bite, DC 17 Fort save: 15, 5 P and the temagyr gains 2 temp hp]. Bethtali moaned as it worried the darkness, claws impossibly raking scratches into her bare skin where it touched her shade. She tried to run [Reactive Strike: 21 vs. AC 16, 5 P], but even as she did it lunged again and snapped at her leg. The bleeding woman desperately [Is there a tree nearby? Fate Roll, Fate Chart (Likely, CF 7): 61 - yes] dashed away [Stride] and leapt for a tree [Climb (Athletics) vs. DC 10: 17], hoisting herself into the lower branches and [Climb (Athletics) vs. DC 10: 11] clambering higher still in terror.

Ruven unsheathed his blade, and it gleamed in the light of the just-risen moon. "BEAST! Face me!" he bellowed. Kicking Nightwind's sides [Command an Animal (Ride feat auto-succeeds)], he streamed down the rise toward the creature and [Strike: 22 vs. AC 16, 13 S 1 spirit] sank his blade into the unnatural beast's side. It let out a howl of rage as Ruven [Command] snapped the reins and rode Nightwind away, attempting to lead the hound off.

The shadowy dog bayed and dashed off in pursuit [Stride], lunging upward at Ruven [Strike: 22 vs. AC 14, 6 P] and sinking its teeth into his arm. Ruven gritted his teeth and shook the beast off, whereupon it whirled and sank its teeth into his shadow [Shadow Bite, DC 17 Fort save: 16, 7 P and 2 temp hp for the temagyr...], worrying it as Ruven howled. Bethtali crouched in her tree, eyes wide, watching as Nightwind whinnied and wheeled toward the beast. Ruven bellowed and swung his blade [Strike: 21 vs. AC 16, 5 S 1 spirit]. A glancing blow failed to drive the beast back, but as Bethtali watched the hand-and-a-half sword he carried began to glow. Under the sounds of snarling hound and whinnying horse, she thought she could distantly hear a strange, atonal singing. Ruven let out a mighty laugh and whirled his blade to stab again [Strike: 19 vs. AC 16, 12 S 3 spirit]. The glowing sword sank into the beast's chest and it screamed, slumping as the shadows swirling around its head melted away, leaving only empty eye sockets behind. Even as it died, the sword surged with energy and Ruven sat straighter, his eyes gleaming once more as the bite on his arm closed up [Drink of My Foes: 7 HP back to Ruven]. [Encounter done - 160 XP!]

--Does Ruven know what this thing is?
Recall Knowledge (Nature) vs. DC 17
1d20+3=6 - no lol

Ruven leapt lightly from the saddle and scooped up the shadow hound's corpse. Tossing it roughly across Nightwind's haunches, he took to the saddle again and rode at a sedate pace toward the tree in which Bethtali sheltered. Reining up a few yards away, he gazed coldly at her hiding spot. From where she crouched in its branches, he seemed impossibly tall and broad, lit by the pale moonlight and the fading embers of dusk.

"Have you learned the lesson of the wilds, Bethtali?" he called contemptuously. "Will you return to my side? Or brave the cold and hungry night alone, far from the fires of your people?"

Bethatli trembled, and the leaves on the branches around her shook as well. "What are you?" she cried. "What magic sword do you wield?"

Ruven barked out a laugh, and drew his gleaming blade. "This? This blade I call The Way of Hunger. It has guided me some years, now...but it is not magic." He smiled up at her, confident and terrifying in equal measure. "I am no ordinary man. My mother died in birthing me, and it was said that it was because she consorted with dark spirits. She sought to bring forth a son stronger than any other man of Kal-Dranor - and she did!" He snorted mirthlessly. "At the cost of her life...but now through the Way of Hunger I sup the blood of my foes. I call on the magic she granted me when I must. I am more than a man - I walk the earth with a spark of the divine dark in me." He sheathed his blade. "So I ask again - will you ride with me? I will leave you here, if not."

It took several seconds for Bethtali to **** herself to move. Slowly, though, she descended from the tree to stand trembling and naked before him. Limping slightly from her wounds, she approached. As she neared, Ruven leapt to the ground. He gazed down at her as she came into his reach, stern. "Do you know your place, little lamb?"

Bethtali swallowed, eyes wide. For a moment, she looked like she might run - but then her eyes darted to the massive eyeless hound, lying still and dead, slung across Ruven's saddle. "Aye, Ruven," she whispered. With a wince, she knelt before him, then bent forward to kiss his boot and clasp his knees in thanks. "I am sorry. I am grateful. You have saved my life, I think...please, forgive my foolishness."

Ruven smirked. "Hm. You will thank me properly, in time. But come. Your wounds look bad, and I am no healer." Bending, he scooped her up and with surprising tenderness placed her on Nightwind before leaping up behind her. Steadying her with one arm, he clicked his tongue, and Nightwind trotted off into the night the way they had come.

Chaos Factor +1: 6
Also, since it's been 5 scenes, Hero Points reset to 1 (which is how many Ruven had, anyway).