They departed for Ashtim Yashfali's steading.

Chaos Factor: 7
Expected Scene: Ruven and Bethtali depart and make for the dwelling place of Ashtim Yashfali
Test Expected Scene: 1d10=10 - the expected scene happens

The next morning, Ruven lifted Bethtali onto Nightwind after they had breakfasted. She had by then served him twice more after he spent himself that night: once when he awoke, already hard, to groggily seize her hair and fuck her unresisting mouth, and again while he relaxed in the enchanted hot spring of the nyktera, ordering her to show him that she had learned something in the last day. She'd done her best to please him, driven by lingering fear, genuine gratitude, and the way that, as she crouched on all fours beside him on the edge of the hot pool, he'd reached a massive hand around to stroke her ass, rough, thick fingers sliding over her buttocks and around to play with the trembling lips between her thighs. She'd let out a whimpering moan as his fingers toyed with her, stroking her up and down and circling around her nub of pleasure, and felt herself grow dewy under his touch. She'd redoubled her efforts, thinking finally he would mount her as a man ought to, but he'd just chuckled as she bobbed up and down on his shaft.

"Good lamb," he'd murmured. "You see? You're made for this, not just for breeding."

He'd slapped her ass hard and left her wanting; and then, a few minutes later, pulled her firmly off his cock and pressed her head onto his thigh, pinning her down to finish on her face. She'd gasped as his thick, hot seed poured over her, coating her cheek and nose, glazing her lips, and even forcing her to close one eye as it spread across her face. When he finally released her, she felt thoroughly coated.

The nyktera seemed to approve. "What strength! What virility!" some of the ones watching from crevices in the chamber walls had chirped. "How blessed you are, to wear a hero's seed!"

But why then does he not mount me? Bethtali had thought to herself as she was released to wash up while Ruven saddled the horse. The warm water seemed to ease her aching jaw and sluiced the spunk from her face well enough, but it could do nothing for her throbbing cunt or the sense of shame she felt that he still had not seen fit to take her in that way. What about me is so displeasing that he uses only my mouth?

When she had washed herself, she donned the new robe - whisper-silent, hairs-breadth thin, the finest thing she'd ever worn - and met Ruven in the chamber. He'd beckoned her close and silently removed it, packing it in one of the saddlebags alongside some travel-ready supplies the nyktera had given them.

"Please, Ruven," she'd begged. "Might I not wear something? My people do not go naked outside the times that a man and a woman lie together..."

He'd frowned as he lifted her onto the horse. "Why should you hide your nakedness? Your body is alluring, and I would enjoy it." Bethtali swallowed and nodded, stifling a gasp as he seated her on the bitch-warmer. He leapt up lightly beside her as Chakchik once more alighted on Nightwind's head.

"We thank you again, o Ruven called the Skull Taker," the sprite said, offering a final bow. "If you would stay with us longer, we invite you to do so. We have great stores of food, can sing you songs or tell you tales of the wide world, or grant you space to bed your woman. Merely say the word, and it is yours."

"I thank you, Chakchik," Ruven said as Bethtali blushed, then raised his voice. "And I think you all, colony of the Jendel Breaking Valley! Your hospitality is well-received and will not soon be forgotten. But I must on."

"Where do you go?" Chakchik asked as the walls echoed with the chitter of his colony's cries of gratitude and well wishes.

"I hear there is a lord who claims these hills. Ashtim Yashfali. I would seek him out," Ruven informed the sprite. "Perhaps he will know the road I must take to complete my quest."

"I know of the man," Chakchik said, nodding. "His steading is known as Shafven Rorn, and lies a week's ride to the west. Follow the valley until you find a great river, then follow it upstream and you will come to its walls."

Ruven nodded. "I thank you, Chakchik. Be well and prosperous, both you and your kin."

"The honor has been ours, o Ruven called the Skull Taker!" The nyktera fluttered into the air, beating its wings to keep pace with them as Ruven nudged Nightwind into a walk, summoning his witch-light to guide them out of the hill and into the open air again. The sky was blue and clear, the air pleasantly warm (a mercy for Bethtali) as they set out at a steady pace through the valley of the nyktera - which seemed far less threatening now that it was day than it did when Bethtali was attacked by the temagyr the night before.

--Do they make it to Shafven Rorn without incident?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Very Unlikely, CF 7)
1d100=77 - no, and a twist!

--What's the twist?
Fate Roll: Random Event Focus
1d100=84 - PC Positive (everything's coming up Ruven)

--What good thing happens?
Fate Roll: Meanings Table: Actions
2d100=91, 68 - Threaten Peace

--On what day of the journey does this happen?
Random roll
1d6=1 - the first day!

They rode through noon at a steady pace, emerging from the valley of the nyktera and carrying on into its neighbor to the west. At one point Ruven reined to a stop, dismounted and, as Bethtali watched, made his way to a jumble of rocks lying on the hillside. Pulling a knife from his boot, he cut away a hefty clump of some plant and returned, plucking a handful of leaves from it as he came. When he leapt back onto the horse, he pressed the leaves into her palm. "Chew these," he commanded.

"What is it?"

"A plant we call maiden's weed. Do not swallow the leaves - they are bitter and might upset your stomach. Just chew them, swallow the juice, and spit them out when they are dry."

"Why?"

"You'll be happy you did," he said impatiently. "And happier still if I don't have to answer all your endless questions!"

--Does he convince her to obey?
Coerce (Intimidation) vs. Will DC 13
23 - crit!

Cowed, and feeling helpless, Bethtali did as she was bid. The leaves indeed were bitter, and she feared that Ruven might intend to poison her - or torment her. But long after she had swallowed their yield and spat them out, she felt no different - a bit bothered by her seat, as usual, but nothing else.

It was mid-afternoon when they heard shouting up ahead. Frowning, Ruven kicked Nightwind into a canter, and as they mounted a rise they saw a conflict below them.

--Is this conflict between some bandits and Ashtim Yashfali's forces?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Unlikely, CF 7)
1d100=64 - yes!

--Is it a Low-threat encounter for Ruven?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Very Likely, CF 7)
No - it's actually Moderate!

Two groups of riders were engaged in a running battle, with several dead and dying already on each side. One group all wore bright yellow headscarves, while the other wore motley. Ruven let out an exhale and Bethtali felt his arm tighten around her in excitement. "Know you these men?" he demanded.

"I - I think that those wearing yellow are the warriors of Ashtim Yashfali, the First Shepherd," she murmured. "I have never been to Shafven Rorn - his rule is light over the land - but I have heard good tales of his soldiers cutting down bandits and the like who would prey on ordinary men and women. The others...must be those..."

"Hrm. A chance to gain favor with this little lambling lord," Ruven said with a chuckle. "Excellent!" Suddenly he lifted her bodily from the saddle, placing her roughly on the ground next to Nightwind. "Stay here. I shall return - unless they kill me. In which case, go where you will. If the bandits triumph over me, they might enjoy your body, and would probably keep you alive." Bethtali's eyes widened as he grabbed his bow and cried, "Egrun! I ride for thee!" He kicked his heels and Nightwind sallied forth.

Ruven galloped down the slope [Command - Stride], careening toward the melee. As he rode, one of the riders turned and, with a cry of alarm, moved toward him. Ruven took aim [Strike: 23 vs. AC 15, 1 P] and loosed an arrow that brushed the man's cheek before kicking his heels to circle wide around the scrum [Command -Stride]. The one he'd loosed at kicked his horse into pursuit [Command - Stride] and raised a small crossbow, aiming with one hand at Ruven [Strike: 20 vs. AC 14, 3 P] and clipping him with a bolt. As he reloaded [Reload], Ruven turned, snarling, and stowed his bow to draw his blade [Interact]. He kicked his heels into Nightwind's sides [Command - Stride] and, as the horse galloped forward, swung the blade in a two-handed chop [Strike: 12, Hero Point -> 19 vs. AC 15, 11 S 1 spirit]. He beheaded the man with a stroke, and let out an exultant laugh as he raised the blood-stained blade. [Victory! 80 XP for Ruven]

--Did any of Yashfali's warriors survive?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (Likely, CF 7)
46 - yes

--Are there three of them?
Fate Roll: Fate Chart (50/50, CF 7)
97 - **** no! Only one survived...

As Ruven rode toward the battle, he saw that it was over. Egrun...I wish that I had more of a chance to wet my blade! Among the dead and dying, he saw one of the yellow-scarfed men on his knees next to an older one, clutching the elder's hand as that man, clearly gasping his last, murmured some instructions. As the older man died, Ruven raised his gaze to honor his passing. The younger one was muttering some kind of prayer and weeping slightly as he rocked and clutched the old man's hand.

"I greet you, stranger," Ruven called after a moment. One man's **** need not end all living. "I am Ruven, called the Skull Taker, of Kal-Dranor. How are you called?"

"I...I am Oshin Tofar, a warrior in the service of Ashtim Yashfali, First Shepherd of the Merrideen," the warrior replied, wiping his eyes. "Well met, Ruven of Kal-Dranor...had you not ridden down on us, these curs might have overcome my group. As it was, they nearly did..."

"You ought to learn to use a sword," Ruven commented lightly. "It is a good tool for killing men."

Oshin Tofar scowled, wiping his eyes as he clambered to his feet. "We know how to kill well enough with our staves," he snapped. "And a man killed by one is just as dead as a man killed by a sword. My people do not use edged weapons - they cut the wielder as easily as the foe. In the soul, if not the body."

Ruven snorted. "A silly business. But your life is your own." He glances around. Though neither **** had been large, it was still a bloody sight. "Ashtim Yashfali is the strongman here, no? Who are these who would attack his men?"

Oshin snarled in anger as he kicked over one of the bandits' corpses. "The hands of a bandit king who plagues my lord: Brax of the Red Stream, an old and wily buzzard who crouches in the caves and sends his dogs out to prey upon the herders of our land. He has of late become more bold, but this attack...we'd heard of them harassing herders and foreign merchants. To strike at us is unforgivable!"

"Hrm. Your headman needs help to defend his people, it would seem," Ruven said with a smirk. Oshin glared at him.

"You think that you can kill the wily old dog? I should like to see you try."

"Why not?" Ruven shrugged. "A man is just a man, and when you stab him he will die. We simply must get close enough." He leaped down from Nightwind, landing lightly on his feet. "These men had horses, and their tracks are fresh. If we can follow them to this Brax's camp, we can kill him for your chief and gain his favor and glory besides. What say you, eh? Will you ride with me?"

--Does he convince Oshin to come along?
Make an Impression (Diplomacy) vs. Will DC 15
6 - failure!

Oshin stared. "I...I should go back to Shafven Rorn. Report what's happened here..." He shakes his head. "To go alone against Brax of the Red Stream would be madness, Dranorrin. Do not try to follow him! Leave this to the riders of Yashfali."

Ruven scowled, and stepped toward the other man, looming slightly over him. "You coward. Weakling! Is this how you would repay your companions' deaths?! Ride with me, or may your shivering soul spend eternity in the cold darkness where cowards dwell."

--Does he strongarm the man?
Coerce (Intimidation) vs. Will DC 15
24 - yes!

Oshin flushed, looking furious. "I - I am no coward. I am under orders - "

"Orders from a dead man! Will you listen to a corpse, or will you be alive?!"

"...Very well," Oshin snarled. "I will ride with you to ****. I would not have you thinking the Merrideen are cowards - even if we are not such battle-mad fools as your own people!"

"Good!" Ruven bellowed with a laugh. "If you despise me, let that fuel your sword arm. Or that arm with a little stick, at any rate." He swung himself back into the saddle. "I have a companion I left behind - I will return. And then, we ride!"

He galloped back to where Bethtali waited on the hill. "One of your fellow sheep survived the fight," he growled. "And he and I are going to find and kill the bandit lord who's done this work. Come on." He reached out a hand to pull her up into the saddle.

Bethtali shied away. "Please - please, Ruven. Might I not put on the robe the nyktera gave you? It is...to be seen by one of my countrymen like this, when I am not being bred...it is not done! He will have many questions..."

--Does she convince him?
Request (Diplomacy) vs. DC 15
1d20+6=10 - failure

"Cease your prattling," Ruven growled. "I will bear you with me as I like." He paused, frowning. "Though there is no need to cause trouble with that sheep down there..."

--How does he handle this?
Triple-O: Obvious - keep her nude; Option - clothe her; Oddball - go too far
1d6=6 - Obvious!

"Bah!" he concluded suddenly. "Let him challenge me if he would. Come, Bethtali! There is glory to be won." He scooped her up, seating her firmly before him, and wheeled to canter back to where Oshin was engaged dragging his dead compatriots into a pile.

The young warrior's eyes widened as he took in Ruven's approach - Bethtali nude on the saddle before him, cringing and blushing as she attempted to cover her bosom with one arm. "By the gods," he swore. "If I see her tattoos clearly, that is one of my countrywomen you've got there. What are you doing with her, you brute? Have you killed her rightful husband and stolen her away in shame?"

"Bethtali came with me willingly," Ruven said as he swung down from his horse. "And now she is my woman, and I will keep her as I will. Come - we must be off quickly if we are to keep their trail!"

Oshin glared at him, glancing toward Bethtali. "Did you really go with this brute of your own free will?"

"I - he - yes. In a way," Bethtali said softly. Her gaze did not leave the ground, her cheeks and ears red.

"Leave her be, boy. Let us get to work," Ruven said.

"At least clothe her," Oshin hissed. "This - this humiliation! It is unseemly. A violation of her status as a sacred vessel for the people. Have you even mated her in ceremony?"

"I don't hold by your fool ceremonies," Ruven said coldly as he squatted on the ground, looking for tracks. "I take what I will, and let him who wishes to stop me use a sword to do so. Or a stick, if he will." His eyes flashed as he shot Oshin a hard glance.

The warrior bit his lip, clearly displeased, but sighed. "Fine, then. I must start my fellows' pyre." He returned to his task as Ruven scoured the ground.

--Can he find the tracks? (Yes, he can - at least for now.)
Track (Survival) vs. DC 10
Assurance (Survival) result: 13 - success

"Their tracks lead south," Ruven declared as he stood. "Mount up, Oshin Tofar. We shall follow their trail back to this Brax and pull him down!"

"Very well," Oshin said bitterly. He had lit a torch, and tossed it now upon the bodies of his fellows. It caught the dry grass he'd tucked among them, and began to lick at their flesh. "I suspect we go to die - but if I have even the chance of striking down Brax of the Red Stream, I will take it!" As he saw Ruven stoop to pull a ring from one of the dead bandits [worth 5 silver], he added, "Do you not wish to take some of their armor, as well?"

"Never," Ruven declared with a laugh. "I will die in my own skin or not at all!" He sprang up behind Bethtali in the saddle and snapped his reins, leading Oshin onward down the trail.

Chaos Factor +1: 8
Added to Characters List: Oshin Tofar
Added to Characters List: Ashtim Yashtali's Warriors
Added to Characters List: Brax of the Red Stream
Added to Threads List: Kill Brax of the Red Stream