Is Lavorra able to find the Menhir?

Yes/No (Likely)

[6,1] Yes, but the ritual site is guarded

Lavorra makes her way onward, following Skrain’s directions without difficulty. She remains wary of the purple skies overhead, which seem to intensify as she nears her objective. In the distance, she can see the petrified trees of the Delwald.

Is that where you are, Melira?

Passing the scorched oak that Skrain had identified, she moves more carefully, placing her boots with care. A circle of stone lies ahead, and through the gaps in the henge she can make out a glowing purple shape, emanating waves of fell magic that she hardly needs her divine amulet to sense.

A figure passes in front of the glow, and Lavorra drops into a crouch, peering around a cluster of bushes.

Detail Focus [3S] Large (mystical)

The Menhir is towering, well over twelve feet, carved of black stone and veined with glowing purple strands. Three square runic shapes hum softly on its Southern face.

A pair of Daemonspawn stand close by, fully armoured and keeping watch.

Lavorra surveys the scene, getting a feel for the situation. Unless she’s very, very much mistaken, the runes should be what’s powering the Menhir’s magic. Removing them should either shut it down, or cause a catastrophic reaction.

Fun.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, she tells herself, straightening up, sword and shield prepared. This time, she is determined not to end up on her arse.

Does Lavorra manage to take out the Daemon guards?

Yes/No (Likely)

[6,1] Yes, but…

_

Lavorra sidles to the circle, pressing herself against one of the standing stones for a moment, and then swinging around, shield leading to catch one of the Daemonspawn in the side, sending him reeling.

She follows through with a sweep of her sword, channeling all the frustration, pain, and violation of her quest so far into the attack. She catches him in the shoulder, the borrowed blade sinking into the small unarmoured gap above his collarbone, cutting deep. The Daemon lets out a gurgling cry and slumps to the ground, its fleshly form already beginning to disintegrate as Lavorra’s divine strikes banish the spirit back to the Abyss.

She turns to face the second, only to find him baring down on her, swinging a two-handed axe her way. She raises her shield, but too late, the axehead hitting her too hard and forcing her arm to bend awkwardly, before striking her directly in the ribs, inches below her chest.

Lavorra gasps at the **** of the blow, eyes wide and staring. She chokes, expecting to see her life’s blood splattering the ground. The Daemon pulls back his axe, grunting in triumph.

But there is not blood, and even the Daemonic soldier seems surprised, Lavorra looks down, patting her stomach, and finding the simple leather and wood of the Alraune’s gift intact - in fact, reweaving a covering of bark over the damaged arena. Her head snaps back up with a grin, and she bats the axe aside with her dented shield, stabbing the Daemon in the throat with Zeya’s sword.

The Daemons dispatched and banished, Lavorra collects herself, feeling a newfound confidence, finally back in her element. She stows her shield and sword, and approaches the Menhir tentatively. This kind of magic is not her area of expertise - her domain is more “hit the spooky”, than “decipher the spooky”.

Still, she feels she is onto something with the runes. Taking a deep breath, she leans up on her toes, and begins to draw the first runic block away from the Menhir.

How great is the effect on the Menhir’s spell?

How Much [6] Extraordinary

Is Lavorra able to break its hold over the village?

Yes/No (Likely) [4,1] Yes but...

Immediately, the structure begins to shake, the purple veins pulsing amidst the stone, as Lavorra throws the first block to the ground, and seizes the second.

It comes away with a crack this time, and the entire stone circle shakes. The sky swirls, the eldritch purple energies above seemingly fighting the return of the natural blue.

The glowing is growing alarming, and the Menhir seems as though it might erupt at any moment. Lavorra steels herself - she knew this might happen. Removing the last block may well get her killed.

Which would leave Melira helpless.

But not removing it would mean condemning Zeya and the village women to torments unending.

Do or die. Or maybe do and die.

Fuck it.

She grips the final rune, tearing it free, and the Menhir explodes in a blast of bright white light.