Find Yee a Wise One (4/27/2026)

GM: Stras Acimovic
Players: April Walsh, Jeremiah Frye, Sean Nittner
System: Spell and Blade by Stras Acimovic

Jay couldn’t make it but we decided to press on through Town Phase. Next session we can likely do a scene with his Wizard mentor, a few quick actions and be ready for adventure.

I started this session with some goals. A few things Skanya wanted to know about (and now I realized I didn’t ask about, so I’ll need to do it next time if I can).

• The woman with tattoos. What’s her deal?
• Towers under Sky Mirror late. What’s up with those?
• Can priests of Akta still be thieves?
• Who are the Kadr Hakar? What are they doing so far north?

Last Time on Spell and Blade

• Sky Pirate Kadr Hakar. That captain (though we don’t know this): Brazia Ashblood
• Moontide is coming up soon.
• Giant crabs?
• Recalling our glorious exploits.
• Titans crossing the line.

The Play in the Thing

We returned to Rul late at night with a caravan of hungry and tired ice crab traders, including Leneya who needed medical attention and her husband Lintok, who had performed labor for the Kadr Hakar.

Skanya, after performing her duties in the temple was about to go to the Blue Barrel in to tell her parents (Skiva and Tippi) she was okay. On her way out of the temple she encountered Ydra Nightwing…who was also heading to the Blue Barrel Inn “Walk with me little moon-shadow” she said as we took the streets of Rul together. Just a totally normal red-headed teen and a totally normal 6’11” Black Winged Chosen of Akta, totally normally walking down the street together. Skanya found she couldn’t quote walk side by side with Ydra. She had to walk a bit in front of her so as not to bump into her giant black feathered wings.

“Can I ask you some thinks while we walk?” Skanya asked nervously.

“Is conversation not something you normally do while walking?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s just that you’re… and I’m…anywho, I have some questions. We found an ancient tower under the ice and we’re thinking of going there. Anything I should know about exploring such things?”

“Where beneath the ice did you find such a thing.” Ydra inquired.

“Beneath Sky Mirror Lake… I know it’s normally covered with snow drift, but he storm cleared the ice pack. The lake is so clear…and we saw a great tower beneath it.”

“Be careful of Ancient places. Before entering one you should ward yourself against Dreams.”

“I supposed not sleeping or dreaming while we’re in it, won’t be enough?” Skanya wondered, having no idea how to find such wards.

“Not dreams, Dream. Do you know how Ancient-Touch are made?” She let the question hang in the air for a moment. “Find yourself a Wise One, they may be able to aid you.”

“Great, Wise One. Check. What about the Kadr Hakar. We found one of their skyships crashed to the north. That seems way outside of their normal terrain. Also there was a woman with them who seemed to be important, but not in charge. She maybe worked on the engines, which had Blaze traveling thought them, not good stuff to fall into. And she had different marking. Do you know who she might have been.” Skanya described her markings base on one Loddi told her.

“There are sometimes families in charge of maintaining the sky ships. Sometimes they use wizards to do such work, but not always. You could inquire with the alchemists in Rul to see if they know more.” As we got closer to the Blue Barrel she stopped and pulled out two sacks of coin, one larger than the other “I heard about what you did for the ice crab traders.” She patted Skanya on the head “That was a good thing. Normally when people go out on adventure they bring home treasures or get paid by whoever sent them out.” Ydra revealed her arms, laced with silver marks indicating many, many oaths she had sworn and kept. “But since you didn’t do either of these, this time I have something to offer you.” She gave Skanya the smaller of the sacks. “Share this with your friends. Now, I have business with your father. Until I see you again little moon-shadow.”

Inside the Blue Barrel

Loddi’s family hadn’t arrived in Rul yet, but a few other Ice Wyrm Hunters were there. He was staying at the Blue Barrel in the common room and warming himself by the fire.

Gar was there as well, cavorting with her gladiator friends. Drinking in the ale and cheer.

Skanya showed them the bounty she had received. 45 coin, a small fortune! Loddi suggested that we each take 10, and give 5 coin to the ice crab traders, who were surely in a bad way after their caravan was destroyed by the Kadr Hakar. Loddi, he’s a good one.

Room to Improve

Between games I had been preparing my rap, er, ballad of Rulgara, so this seemed like the time to belt it out. Both the players and the character humored me (and Skanya) as we collectively performed:

Rulgara, my sister, the gladiator.
Fights smiths down in the crater.
They spit lies, she’s a traitor
But there’s never, been one greater.

She danced a path on lake Sky Mirror
Marked her trail, couldn’t be clearer
But when we strayed
The lighting she stayed
Rulgara the gladiator.

Coursed right through, and burned her arm.
Took the blow, so we suffered no harm.
Gar the Gladiator, now Rulgara Lightning Tamer.
Gar the Gladiator, now Rulgara Lightning Tamer.

Kadr Hakar, Barrier Raiders
Locked up those ice crab traders.
It wasn’t right, so she came to fight.
Rulgara the gladiator.

Akta blessed her to sneak in the night
Maya’s gave strength when she needed to fight
With some brew from her little sis
Gar gave life to a catatonic miss.
Rulgara the gladiator.

Snuck them all out, without a doubt.
Ice Crab traders give us a shout.
Gar the Gladiator, now Rulgara, liberator.
Gar the Gladiator, now Rulgara, liberator.

It wasn’t the best song ever, but Kikira (Rulgara’s #1 fan) was in the audience as well as friends and family, so Skanya’s performance was still met with cheer.

A difficult decisions

Later than night Skanya noticed Tippi, her father looking particularly thoughtful. She sidled up beside him and offered an ear “what’s on your mind papa?”

He told her of an incredible but costly offer from the Red Queen. The Blue Barrel Inn is named for it’s blue barrels, but in addition to the common liquors distilled in them, every so often, usually only once in a generation, a particularly potent batch is made, which are only opened for very special occasions, such as the day Skanya was born. He hoped that if she carried on his tradition, Skanya would one day make her own family barrel, which of course just made her feel all the more guilty, even though Tippi didn’t mean for her to. Now the Red Queen wanted one as a prize to offer the greatest gladiator for the celebration of the Sky Glass Arena’s 200th anniversary. 200 years since the great skyfire plummeted into Rul and made a crater full of sharp glass, where gladiators of all kinds tested them skills against each other.

The Queen had offered a great bounty, but what’s more, having our name attached the event would bring incredible prestige to the family and the Blue Barrel. He had only one barrel left, and giving it to the queen, would also be giving the last of his legacy.

She didn’t know what to say. It seemed a terrible loss to give it. A great opportunity for renown. Tippi could see the discomfort on Skanya’s face and patted on the back once more, assuring her all would be well, he just needed time to think on it.

Competing in Sky Glass Arena

Rulgara descended in to the arena to compete in this weeks game, forging steel in flame, pounding with her father’s hammer. She won the competition (of course she did, She’s Gar the Gladiator!) and afterwards, when the saw the silver oath mark on her sternum, the other competitors nodded and shared what they had heard:

• Some folks have seen “shadow folk” who look like mere silhouette of people but they leave footprints. Whenever people have investigate they have disappeared. Where could they be staying. It is too cold to live outside the city for long.
• When the Moontide festivals happen, Iskann the Seven Swords is coming to compete. It is said he has seven blades taken from his foes…all of them legendary!

Provisioning for our trek

Loddi gathered supplies, rations, picks, rope, and what not, as we expect would be needed to get to the Ancient Tower beneath Sky Mirror Lake.

In the Blue Barrel Inn, Skanya served drinks to seme of the Wyrm Hunters who had made it to Rul. She asked if any of them knew of a Wise One in the vicinity. The debated back and forth about which wise one was closest, and eventually suggested we go to the Whispering Caverns to the north, there should be a wise one that lives in the caves. “But be wary, they might snatch you up and make you a wise one too. That’s what they say Zafia Goldenfeather did!” Everyone knew the stories of Zafia Goldenfeather, who once traveled with Skana the Red Queen. Skanya thanked them for the knowledge, dropped a shot of whiskey in their beers and walked away noting that none of them had winds. Later, it some embarrassment she asked Loddi “So are you…part bird?”

Recovery by the Fire

Loddi, welcome at the Blue Barrel Inn, warned his hands by the fire, recovering spent vigor.

Big Hammer, Little file

Rulgara, with time on her hands, set about smithing some fine thieves tools for Skanya to use. These require a lot of precision and testing, so progress is going to take a while, but she got a few locks to test them with and when she has time, she’ll keep tinkering away [1/8 ticks on the Long Term Project clock]

Tending to the flock

Skanya spent time at the temple taking care of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those who seek out Akta, or those who seek Maya, but get a little lots on the way. There she met Lintok, husband of Lenaya. He was the man Skanya tackled out of the way of a deadly spear’s flight. He told her that Leneya was in recovery [Note to self, this is where I’m kicking myself that I didn’t ask for a rumor from him, see Thoughts below].

While at the temple, Skanya hear more of the impressive insights that Ydra Nightwing displayed and decided she would approach the Chosen as a mentor. She started by asking her father if he had decided what to do with the last of his famous Blue Barrels. Tippi was still undecided, but when he realized it would help his little red queen to accept the offer, that tipped him over. “Tell the Chosen she can buy my barrel on the condition that she train you.” This filled Skanya with a maelstrom of emotions. Sadness that her father was giving up his last barrel, possibly his legacy. Excitement that she might have a legendary Chosen as a trainer. Guilty that he was doing this for her. Anxious that she wouldn’t live up to his expectations. She cried and hugged him and said “You can’t” in the same breath as “Thank you papa!”

Visiting the Palace

Skanya approached the Red Queen’s palace (where Ydra was supposed to be) and realized this was the first time she had ever been there. She realized this because the guards were polar bears and this was the first time she had ever seen polar bear guards!

She had had a blue barrel stave (not from one of the eponymous barrels, just one that had been stained from years of aging iceflame whiskey) as a kind of identifying mark, and eventually was found bout a scullery servant who told her to wait in the kitchen and have a bowl of soup while the Chosen Ydra Nightwing delt with matters of the state.

One moment, Skanya was sipping from a wooden bowl, the next time the servant looked back the bowl was neatly placed on the chair but the moon child was gone. Thanks to her training as a thief [Stealth trait] and her climbing gear [gear die], she slipped in to the throne room unnoticed [Also pushed the stealth trait to avoid the consequences of detection].

She then listed to Ydra and the Ice Crab traders talk at length about replacing the caravan that was lost, new routes to the north, price of crabs, securing trade routes, and about a hundred other very boring topics. For a bit Skanya thought they must be talking in code, but no, it was just logistics. Sigh.

Eventually, when Ydra was alone, Skanya cleared her throat and stepped out from behind the Red Queen’s throne. She held the barrel stave as a peace offering.

“It’s not often that someone can sneak up on me.” The Chosen mused.

“Not often someone can steal one of Akta’s eyes either.” Skanya hoped this would not come off as arrogant.

“What brings you hear little moon-shadow?”

“I have news from my father. He will sell you the last of his famed barrels.” Ydra gave a nod of approval. “On the condition.” Ydra raised her eyebrow in interst. “That you take me on as a student.”

“Aha. And what would you have me teach you.”

“Akta holds many secrets.”

“Those are for her alone.”

“Yes, but sometimes she deigns to guide those who know where to look about events to come. I would like to learn how to peer into those mysteries.” [The Divination Trait]

“The more of the goddesses mysteries that you know…the more she asks of you. Is that truely waht you want?”

“Yeeeeees?” Skanya said with the conviction of a child choosing between flavors of treats. The truth is, it wasn’t what she wanted, but she believe that if anyone knew how to make her father happy, it would be Akta, so “Yes” was close to the truth.

“Ahem, well then I shall teach you.”

“Thank you High Preistess, er mam, er Ydra, er Chosen of Akta… I’ll let myself out. Without a climbing kit this time.”

Aventure!

With a lead on a Wise One, we set out for the Whispering Caverns to the north.

Loddi studied the land with his keen senses and aid from Nyx, his giant Arrgarr (wolf) and spotted the storm before it hit us. We made shelter so we could wait it out.

By the fire, after Rulgara had practiced with her prototype pick on the lock she brought a dozen times, we got to sharing stories. Gar told of the time when she first met Loddi, working as a guard for a caravan not unlike the ice crab traders (only she kept them safe, because she’s Gar the Great!).

Skanya asked about her travels in Verard to find the noble who killed her father. Rulgara got worked up telling the story of him slipping through her grasp. She had searched all the land, but his father sent him away, outside of her reach. Skanya promised that next time Rulgara went looking for him, she’d have her sister at her side.

Loddi was uncomfortable with all this sharing and went to go hunting but the storm would not allow it. One step outside and he was blasted with such piercing cold and powerful wind that he had to retreat back to shelter…and talking about feelings. I’m sure his shudder was from the cold wind.

We shared more stories about or time together, and eventually came to the topic of titans. Was the Red Queen away form the Palace because she was fighting them? Perhaps!

Blackwater Lake

When the storm finally broke, we set back out and crossed yet another frozen late with ruins beneath it. This one, however we all knew was a place there you must be silent. Do not speak a work, do not breath if you can (of course we had to breath, but that was the wisdom Skanya had heard). The ruins beneath the ice were lit with strange lights, not candles or lanterns, but glowing auroras. Skanya knew a few words in sign language, and there she learned a new one from her sister: three fingers placed over the mouth to look like fangs, the sign of undead she learned in Verrard.

Skanya, comfortable in quite places, went ahead to find the trail, and because Loddi was not busy pathfinding, he was able to follow Nyx’s nose to a campsite with two unexpected figures.

The Arctic Bat and her Messnger

We found a man and giant furry bat trying to warm themselves by the fire but it’s feeble flames could not thaw the terrible cold in their bones. We introduced ourselves and offered aid. The man was named Maritin and his flying steed was called White Wing. They looked as though they had faced a cold worse the the storm we just faced. From what we knew of messengers they were quite a ways off their route as well.

Skanya offered her Hearthfire, a deep maroon rum made from extract of ice wyrm heat glands. The brew increases blood flow and body temperature, enabling the drinker to shake off even the coldest winds of winter. We were not sure how it would affect a bat’s metabolism, but we learned that it worked incredibly well! A few draughts and both messenger and steed had their strength returned, long enough to get to the safety and warmth of Rul!

When we asked what they were doing, Martin said he was not so much blown off his course as he was blown on to it. We asked if he had seen sky ships or sky cities in his travels and he made a lie that was obvious to all of us “No, I definitely haven’t. Being here isn’t a coincidence, but there are times you have to do your duty, and there are time you need to do your Duty. This is one of those times. I cannot speak of it more.”

However, though he could not speak of it more, we did notice the letter he carried had a complicated silver wax seal with details we did not recognize. This was not a common seal. Could it be from a noble house? Or a Wizard?

One other thing we noticed that was strange. He was feeding fresh fish to White Wing and we were in a very land locked part of Iskanard.

Whispering Caves

As we approached the caves we saw many irregularly shaped ivory pillars. They were carved in a such a manner such that as the wind passed through them, a strange susurrus sound emanated from them. The looked to be made from the rib cages of beasts. GIANT beasts.

Once we made our way into the caves it was warmer, warmer than we expected. It was dark inside and Skanya thought she would be clever by leading the way by looking through the Eye of Akta, but it revealed nothing to her. She did not know why. Thankfully Loddi had a more practical solution, and lit a torch.

We saw paintings on the wall and ahead of use a giant deciduous tree (not common in these parts). At the base of the tree was a door, and a feint light coming form within. As we approached we heard a voice behind us “Knocking won’t help…be cause I’m not home.” The wise one looked us over and said “I don’t see any sick children or goats, so what do you need?”

Skanya was startled from the surprise and said “I was told you might abduct me and turn me into a wise one.”

The woman, who looked old and sturdy as the tree that was her home, laughed. She touched Skanya’s forehead [Stras asked how much mana I have, which is 6] and said “Not strong enough.”

She then invited us in and we shared that we were looking for charms so that we could safely enter an Ancient place without Dream changing us. After we got past the obvious, the safest thing was to leave such places buried in the ice, she offered to make us charms if we could do a service for her.

Loddi, with his incredible skill as a hunter caught her a giant fish, longer than the woman was tall.

Skanya offered fine spirits, something to enjoy in in the evening.

Rulgara however, showed both her might and skill, and used her fathers rul-hammer to repair the frame of stain glass window. When the window was repaired, better than it had been before [a crit], the windows shimmered and leaves of the tree turned green. Gar stepped back with some surprise “I’ve never worked on a window like that before.”

Racana Ice Root, the Wise One, was impressed! “Not many have. It’s a very special window. This is a special tree, and the window allows me to nourish it.”

We asked what it was that she did here. Why she lived in such a remote place.

“There are things that need to stay asleep (she nodded in the direction of Blackwater Lake) and it is my duty to make sure they stay that way.”

After the work was done, the wise one held up her end of the bargain. “I need some of your hair to make charms for you. When you go into such places wear these and the things there will mistake the charms for you. Whatever they would do to you, they will do the charms instead, up to a point. When you get out, keep them on for a time, maybe a week or so just in case anything follows you out, and then bury them deep in the ice.”

We thanked her for the magic of the deep, and the wisdom she shared. Skanya had to ask though “What died out side?”

“Whales.” Rcanana said as though it was common sight, which it was for her.

“Big Whales.” Skanya held her hands wide apart like she was describing catching a giant fish.

“Yes. Big Whales. Sky Whales”

To her companions Skanya whispered “I bet a sky whale could get to a sky city.” She winked as though this was a very clever supposition.

As we left the tree uprooted itself, or so we thought. When we looked again, we realized it was growing from the back of a giant turtle, which surfaced to snack on the giant fish Loddi has caught.

Deeds worth of song and story

• Sneaking up on Ydra Nightwing. Not many can do that!
• Repairing a magic window tied to the deep.

Thoughts for next time

For next time I’m going to ask for a bit of a retcon for Skanya’s carousing. Since she already knew about Ydra as a trainer, I’m going to see if I can get the rumor from Lintok. That was the more sensible thing to learn talking to him anyway! Maybe he can tell me about the Kadr Hakar!

Revelation for next game “I’ve got, I’ve got, I got it. All we need to do is win the 200 year anniversary challenge and we’ll get papa’s famous blue barrel back. How hard could it be?” Skanya’s great insight.

We should have asked Racana about the Messenger. Or asked the Messenger about the strange seal. Next chance I’ve gotta do that. And maybe ask Ydra another hundred questions about Akta and the messenger and what the Red Queen is doing. Also also ask my big sister to help me learn how to attune. And also look for an alchemist. And learn about titans. Are they made of metal? Oh, and Alchemists, who might know about the woman who repaired the sky ship engines. Much to explore. Much to learn.

Mechanics notes. Gear purchased no longer disappears at the end of an adventure, but that means flashing back to buying it need to cost more.

I hate wikis, but I fell like I need a wiki for all our NPCs and leads. Fuck me.