02-12 to 02-16 963: A Challenging Night and A Challenging Day

Continuing with the fight against the Wendigos, the party members surrounding the remaining visible dealt significant blows against the creature. Chedvah took a moment to size up the Wendigo and summoned a Flaming Sphere on top of it, recalling that such a creature would likely be susceptible to it.  The monster turned to retreat back to the darkness, but fell to a punch in the back of the head from Luci. 

As Dendra led her horse away from the scene of Jeffrey's death and calmed it down, the party drew in to await any further incursions.  In an attempt to uncover what sort of thing the Monolith was, Sinata struck it with great force. With a nearly broken hand, he then began packing up the camp, in case they had to make a quick exit.  From the darkness, in the direction that Luci secured Nexus's Horse, sounds of dying horse and tearing flesh emanated in the dark.  Though they were initially hesitant, Chedvah led the charge to protect the other horse.  Trying out something he had learned while at the Tower, Nexus hastened Dendra, who then went shooting ahead into the dark on wings of pure light.

As she flew through the trees, the remaining Wendigo leapt out at her, slashing with its razor claws.  Dendra engaged the creature, giving Rasen a little more satiation as Chedvah moved into range, positioning her Flaming Sphere to defend against the Wendigo.  Luci came around behind the treed monster and did some damage, which was quickly repaid with a devastating bite.  It then bounded into the mist, in attempt to ambush again.  

As Chedvah and Luci followed after it and were unable to locate it.  Nexus caught a glimpse as the creature leapt across the light cast by the flaming sphere and pulled the creature down the ground, crushing it in the process.  In a last ditch attempt to finish what the previous Wendigo started, it burst from the mist at Chedvah, but only managed to hit the ground as Chedvah brought down her ready mace.  She then finished the fight by immolating the Wendigo with her sphere.  

In the silence that followed, all that could be heard was the faint whinny of a horse from the direction Luci had left Nexus'.  Cautiously going to check, Luci found only the horse he had left hale and healthy.  Meanwhile, Chedvah returned to the dome to try and decipher what the Monolith did. Entering the clearing, neither the Monolith nor any sign it had ever been there remained. Luci returned with the horse and the deer skulls of the three Wendigos, which Chedvah Identified as simple deer skulls with bite marks over them. 

Somewhat confused by what Sinata was doing, everyone returned to sleep and left the events of the night to history.  

Continuing toward the Capital, a new horse was procured for Sinata in Calina before carrying on.  As the terrain continued downward, farms and pastures became increasingly dense, with spring planting well under way.  Eventually, on the 16th of Koren, the party topped the last rise and Sutol came into sight.

Known as the Great Walled City, Sutol features two tall hills. One has a walled fortress while the other sports a massive palace.  Miles and miles of many different heights enclose the city, without much discernable pattern.  The party approached along the Crown Circuit and passed through the North Gate to find masses of celebratory people.

Luci explained that it was the Day of Challenging, the Holy Day of Kord and a time for feats of will, skill, and strength.  It was a time to settle issues, with Priests of Kord officiating contests of any stakes and any means agreed to by both parties. So long as it was witnessed by an ordained Priest of Kord, it was legal in the eyes of Gods and mortals.  

Talking to a very knowledgeable pie-seller, they found out that noble folk tended toward jousting and dueling over toward the Barley Circuit. After a quickly abandoned suggestion by Luci that maybe they could just have some fun and mess around in contests for the day, they decided to head over to where the most well-to-do people were.  They entered Pedron's Call, with the name of Bellestair getting them through the gates, following Luci to his family's manor house in the city. 

In the front garden they met Declan Mallowyn, the short and portly goliath man who is the caretaker along with his wife Deirdre.  On showing them inside, Deirdre was overjoyed by having Luci come to visit so soon after the Lady Allison and her companions left.  Luci asked where they were heading, but Deirdre said she left fairly quick and didn't say where she was going.  She said that she would have rooms and dinner ready for them by this evening.  The party then left to head to the Dueling Arena.

Making their way over to the Barley Circuit, they entered and saw a crowd of very wealthy looking young people watching a duel below.  A quick plan was made for Nexus and Chedvah to socialize and scout out who might have a suitable collection to scope out. Meanwhile, Dendra, Sinata, and Luci would enter the dueling tournament to try and gain some notoriety among the nobility and gain access that way. Luci gave a run down on dueling etiquette and they spoke with a very smarmy man in charge of entrance into the tournament.  Luci entered as the "Servant of the Moon" of House Bellestair, while Sinata explained that his house was in a village to the south, where the smarmy man would certainly not want to visit.  After having it explained, he entered as Sir Doctor Venma, a Knight of the Church.  Dendra entered in the name of the House of Pelor.  Sir Smarm informed them that they would be gathered when it was time for them to prepare.