They found the boundary of Brax's lands - and a guardian.

Chaos Factor: 8
Expected Scene: Ruven, Bethtali, and Oshin follows the tracks, riding toward Brax of the Red Stream
Test Expected Scene: 1d10=3 - Altered Scene

--What's the alteration?
Fate Roll: Scene Adjustment Table
1d10=8 - Make 2 Adjustments
2d10=2, 6 - Add a Character, Add an Object

South Ruven rode, Bethtali before him and Oshin behind. He set a pace that made Bethtali gasp and blush, but paid her no attention, his gaze ever on the trail ahead. They soon passed out of the valley and into the rugged lowland hills that surrounded it, where the trail led them among winding passes and ever upward, toward the steeper hills beyond.

Sundown was nearing when Ruven reined up, staring toward a pass above them. Oshin reined in beside him and uttered a foul oath as Bethtali let out a moan of horror. A tall wooden spike stood beside the trail, at the summit of the low pass, and on it three heads had been driven. Dead some days, they crawled with flies, their features distorted beyond recognition - but they had been rammed one after the other down the spike with great ****, and caked with a browning paint that could only be blood. All three heads still wore the yellow scarves of Yashfali's warriors, which flapped in the wind as they stared, sightless, at the travelers.

"This place is forbidden to those who serve not Brax of the Red Stream!" a voice boomed. From behind a hill stepped a massive man - taller even than Ruven, he wore bronze armor and carried a massive shield bound in brass on his arm. A huge ax was held loose in his hand as he stared down the slope at the warriors. "I know you not. Begone - or suffer the wrath of Brax, as I add your heads to the spike."

"We spit on your headman!" Ruven roared. "Brax will perish at our hands, and you first, if you will have it so."

The man's lip quirked. "Brave words, Dranorrin. Come, if you dare! Try to take this hill from me!" He laughed, loud and deep, and hefted his ax.

--Is this a Moderate encounter?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Very Likely, CF 8)
84 - yes

Oshin and Ruven leapt from their steeds, seeing that the pass was too narrow for two horses to move abreast, and Ruven charged up the slope, blade bare in his hand [Stride]. [Does the guardian start within 40'? Fate Roll: Likely, CF 8: 1d100=90 - yes] He laughed as he pointed his blade up at the armored man. "Know that this is your last day, guardian! For I am a soul of no common ilk, and darkness abides in me." His eyes flared green, and a mote of greenish light burst from his mouth and flew toward the man, bursting in a spray of acid [caustic blast: DC 16 basic Reflex save or 7 acid: 11]. The armored man let out a cry and staggered, raising his ax in a futile attempt to ward off the burning liquid.

"Treachery!" he cried. "What sorcery is this?!"

Oshin gritted his teeth and raced up the slope [Stride twice] to stand ready with his club in the path. "Come on, brute! We do not fear you!" he roared [Demoralize (Intimidation): 12 vs. Will DC 15].

The armored man, recovered from the acid though his flesh looked red, scowled. "You will," he grunted, and - bearing his great shield before him - rushed down the slope toward Oshin [Shielded Charge]. He swung his ax with a bellow [Strike: 19 vs. AC 16, 10 S], cutting into the young warrior's side with a shocking wound and getting a cry of pain.

Ruven just grinned. "Now you come!" With a delighted laugh, he surged forward [Stride], standing side-by-side with Oshin as he swung his mighty, glowing blade with a bellow [Strike: 16 vs. AC 19]. The warrior fended off his blow with his shield, and Ruven grunted. His eyes glowed once more, and a floating disc of **** appeared to ward him [shield] as he adjusted his grip on his blade, eyes narrowing. Oshin circled, limping, to flank the man [Stride], then lunged with his club [Strike: 19 vs. AC 17, 8 B], cracking the guardian in the back as the big man tried to keep both Oshin and Ruven in view. The strange, atonal singing of the Way of Hunger began to fill the air, just on the edge of hearing, as Oshin lunged again [Strike: 15 vs. AC 17], but the warrior dodged his blow.

"Two against one - hardly a fair fight with sorcery," the huge man complained. His shield thrust out toward Ruven [Shove: 26 vs. Fort DC 17 - success], knocking the Dranorrin back down the slope, then his ax whirled [Strike: 12 vs. AC 16] toward Oshin, who parried the blow desperately with his club. The huge man circled upslope, away from Ruven [Stride], keeping his eyes on the younger warrior. Oshin lunged as he did so [Reactive Strike: 10 vs. AC 17], but the other man knocked his club away. "Ha! You're quick," he said with a bloody grin.

"Don't flee my blade!" Ruven bellowed. Leaping forward [Stride x2], he charged up the slope and whirled his sword [Strike: 11 vs. AC 17], but the blade availed him not. Oshin lunged into the opening [Strike: 25 vs. AC 17, 9 B], though, and smote the bandit on the head. The man staggered back, bleeding, and dropped his ax, raising a hand to his pate in wonderment.

"Like I said..." he murmured. "Hardly...a fair...fight..." Then he slumped to the ground and moved no more. [Encounter complete! 80 XP for Ruven]

"Ha!" Ruven bellowed in triumph. "Fairness has no place on the battlefield. Well struck, Oshin!" He clapped the other warrior on the back.

"Indeed," Oshin said dryly. "It would seem that my blows were the ones that felled the bastard."

Ruven's eyes narrowed. "And mine was the first one to draw blood," he growled. "Do not forget that. Unless you would like to experience the curse of my ancestors first-hand?"

After a second, Oshin shook his head. "No," he said. "But I will not lie: I mislike your magic. What kind of sorcery is this you wield?"

"The direst kind, product of a mother I never knew consorting with darkness," Ruven said with a wolfish grin. "But come! The man is dead. I do not want his armor, but if you do, take it. It was your blow that felled him. But once you've stripped him, we must be onward before our trail goes cold."

Oshin shook his head disgustedly. "I would not use that ax against a man. Nor do I desire such armor." He paused. "But his shield seems sound...I will take that, at least." He bent to wrest it off the dead man's arm and dragged the corpse to the side of the trail as Ruven strode back to where Bethtali waited with their horses.

"What was that you did to the man?" she asked with a shudder as he leapt up behind her.

"Called the curse of my fell ancestors down upon the man," Ruven grunted. Oshin, limping, clambered onto his horse next to them.

"Are you well, warrior?" Bethtali asked anxiously, her gaze on the ground. "That looked a fearsome blow..."

"It will heal. Thank you," Oshin said curtly. "Let us carry on! I long to see the head of Brax struck from its shoulders." They spurred their horses and galloped forward, past the grisly spike and into the bandit kingdom.

Chaos Factor +1: 9
Added to Characters List: Oshin Tofar
Added to Characters List: Brax of the Red Stream
Added to Threads List: Kill Brax of the Red Stream