Brokk suddenly slips away from the old river offerings, clutching a small stone marked with a pale blue river-line. He hurries toward the fern-hidden passage.
Brokk
I left something important near the fish racks. I am going back for it.
Poru rises sharply from the blankets, her rust-red tunic brushing the frost-laced threshold. She reaches after him, but stops short of the dark passage.
Poru
Brokk, wait! Mother said we stay together!
Brokk
I am not letting the guardians decide what happens to me. I can find it myself.
The mother wolf rises between Poru and the passage, scarred head low, while the wolf pup tenses beside her. Both wolves watch Brokk, caught between following him and guarding the girl.
Outside, the Bon-rion warriors remain at their watch beyond the cave mouth, unaware of the sudden choice inside. Brokk reaches the fern curtain, the marked object tight in his fist.
“Mera enters the cave as Brokk is attempting to leave and she stares at him. Her iceblue eyes are cold as she takes on the role of the chieftain's wife, not mother "So you think you are your father, and not his child?!" she is angry that he is attempting to leave "My husband said to keep you safe. He rules tribe. I am your ruler. Anything under my teepee is mine. that is how this works. Where do you think you are going?"”
SUCCESS (Great Intimidation, rolled +1)
Mera enters beneath the fern curtain and fixes Brokk with her ice-blue stare. The mother wolf lowers her head, the wolf pup freezes beside Poru, and the cave falls silent.
Mera
So you think you are your father, and not his child?! My husband said to keep you safe. He rules the tribe. I am your ruler. Anything under my teepee is mine. That is how this works. Where do you think you are going?
Her innate spellcasting answers the command. Frost blooms from the threshold around Mera’s boots, and the cave’s cold gathers behind her voice, making her authority feel vast and immediate.
Brokk
I was going to the fish racks. I left my river stone there. But I will stay, Mother.
Brokk releases the fern curtain and steps back into the chamber. The mother wolf eases between him and the passage, while the wolf pup settles close to Poru’s side.
Brokk
I will not leave the cave without your word. I understand who rules here.
The marked stone remains clenched in Brokk’s fist, but his feet stay within the frost-laced shelter. Poru reaches for his sleeve, and he lets her hold it.
“"River stone?" she shakes her head and she goes outside. She finds a stone that was smooth, one that was in the river once for a long time and has rounded. then she takes it to Poru and kneels "Poru. Will you pray with me to bless this stone? So your brother has one and won't leave you?"”
SUCCESS (Superb Persuasion, rolled +1)
Mera
River stone?
Mera shakes her head and steps beyond the fern curtain. Beside the guarded bank, she finds a smooth river stone, rounded by years beneath the current, and carries it back inside.
She kneels before Poru and places the stone between their hands. Her innate spellcasting follows the river’s cold trace, while Guides Through Danger reads the safest spiritual path through the blessing.
Mera
Poru. Will you pray with me to bless this stone? So your brother has one and won't leave you?
Poru
Yes, Mother. Then Brokk and I can carry the river together.
Poru bows her head and joins Mera’s prayer. Frost threads through the stone without cracking it, and a faint blue river-line brightens across its rounded surface.
The blessing settles quietly. Mera gives the cool stone to Brokk, and he closes both hands around it, remaining beside Poru within the sacred cave.
+ New Item Acquired
Blessed river stone
“"I need you safe. Your father, and I, need to get to the drowned stair. And people are after you. They tried to steal your sister, Brokk.And I want answers, and blood. You need to be safe. Understand? "”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -1)
Mera
I need you safe. Your father and I must reach the drowned stair. People are after you. They tried to steal your sister, Poru. I want answers, and blood. You must stay safe. Understand?
Mera’s voice fills the sacred chamber, and her innate spellcasting draws frost in a firm circle around both children. The magic gives her command a spiritual weight they cannot mistake.
Brokk
I understand. Father and you go to the drowned stair. Poru and I stay here, and no one takes us.
Poru
They tried to steal me? I will stay with Brokk. We will guard the stone and wait for you.
The children’s agreement settles into the cave like a binding vow. Frost follows Mera’s spell across the threshold, marking the shelter as forbidden to any hurried departure.
For one breath, Mera’s certainty falters under the weight of the drowned stair, the pursuing city, and the blood she has promised herself. The hesitation passes, but both children see it.
Brokk
We understand, Mother. Go get your answers. Come back to us.
“She smiles and calls the tribesmen into the cave that are going to stay and guard the children. She builds a fire in the center of the cave and invites them all to pray to the spirits with her. Chanting to asks for the protection of those she leaves behind the ones she loves most, and those that stay with them.”
SUCCESS (Superb Persuasion, rolled +0)
Mera smiles and calls the Bon-rion warriors from their watch. They enter beneath the fern curtain, while Poru and Brokk remain together beside the blue-marked stone.
Bon-rion warriors
We stay with the children, Mera. The cave is our post, and no outsider crosses it.
Mera builds a small fire at the chamber’s center. She draws her bone spirit necklace through the smoke, and its pale charms click like quiet teeth.
Mera
Kneel with me. We ask the spirits to protect the ones I leave behind, the ones I love most, and those who remain beside them.
The guards kneel with the children. Mera chants in the old tongue, her innate spellcasting feeding the fire as frost circles every beloved presence within the cave.
Guides Through Danger finds the safest spiritual path through the blessing. Blue-white light settles into the stone, the threshold, and each guard’s shadow without harming the living flame.
Bon-rion warriors
River spirits hear. We guard Poru and Brokk until Mera and Kaelen return. This cave stands protected beneath the old powers.
“The loving mother warmth is present as she kisses and hugs both her children. As she hugs the guard that will remain behind. but when she rises and gathers those that will escort her back to her husband her expression changes. She is as cold as the winter she was born under. As hard as the ice spirit that bonded, or touched her "Any that are not friend, are meat. They die." she leaves that instruction as she leaves the cave”
SUCCESS (Great Intimidation, rolled +1)
Mera kneels and gathers Poru and Brokk into her arms, kissing each child’s brow. Her warmth fills the cave as she holds them close beside the blue-marked stone.
She rises and embraces the nearest guard, cheek briefly resting against the warrior’s hair. Then she releases him and turns toward the others who will escort her downstream.
The tenderness leaves Mera’s face. Her silver-blue eyes become winter-hard, and frost gathers around her boots as her innate spellcasting answers the command forming in her.
Mera
Any that are not friend, are meat. They die.
The words settle through the chamber with the weight of ice. The guards straighten, their shadows edged in blue-white light as the blessing carries Mera’s lethal authority into them.
Bon-rion warriors
We understand, Mera. Friend enters under our eyes. All others meet the river’s judgment.
Mera gives Poru and Brokk one last coldly protective glance, then gathers the escort around her and leaves through the fern curtain toward her husband and the drowned stair.