Battle is joined. The warriors burst out of the undergrowth and attack the Lunars. Wando attempts to summon lightning, but is only partially successful. Harolaran wheels around and impales a Lunar on his lance. Kerolar hangs back, bravely avoiding combat. They manage to kill all of the Lunars, and then summon Ashart who leads them inside the hill. Ashart slits the throat of the cow, and guts it, and takes the offal and puts it on the altar inside the cave inside the hill. Soon a ghostly figure appears - Many-Breath. He appears as an ancient clansman, and recites a prophecy of the Hero Wars. Much does not make sense although they know enough to recognise some references - for example - to the arrival of the Crimson Bat. He tells them that the sickness and the missing children are related - and that Wandle, the water spirit, or sprite, of the Creek, is displeased with the clan. Her water is not safe to drink. With that revelation, he disappears again.
Ashart seems deeply concerned - he tells them that he must leave immediately, to inform the Old Wind Temple of the prophecy. The warriors attempt to hide the bodies of the Lunars, but do a terrible job of it, although they are convinced they did amazingly and the bodies will never be found.
They return to Red Cow Fort, and report back to Brodi, who orders that no more water is to be taken from the Creek for drinking. He decides he will go and speak with Wandle to find out the source of her displeasure. Meanwhile the adventurers ask around, and they learn that the person who is closest to Wandle is Voranga Many-Sorrows. They decide to stay and find out what the chief reports. They are given the use of a bothy to sleep in.
The next day they are waiting around the fort for news, when they are approached by Farindar Orlinson and Dana Longcoat, who smirk and welcome them, quietly, to the rebellion. It seems word has spread of their activities against the Lunars, and Dana and Farindar are reaching out to them as fellow conspirators. Dana says that Wandle had refused to meet with Brodi, and she suggests that the adventurers go talk to Voranga Many-Sorrows, and see if they can speak with Wandle themselves. She gives them directions, and they head off. They learn that she is fond of honey, so Wando acquires some for her as a gift.
They find her living in a remote but comfortable cave. She is a middle aged woman, good looking and flirtatious. She explains that Wandle is upset, and that in order to speak with her they will need to fetch Borngold Blueskin, an initiate of Heler, and also that they should bring a gift for the spirit. Harolaran and Kerolar return to the fort, while Wando is invited to star and perform the rainmaking ritual with Voranga, which apparently involves having sex in a field, something Wando is not averse to.
Within a day the others return with a treasure for Wandle, and the three of them set out to find Borngold Blueskin...
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