Runequest - The Coming Storm - Episode 3

Voranga and Borngold take the group to a nearby swamp, named 'Stagland Sour'. They gingerly pick their way through the swamp until they arrive at a remote, still pool. At the bottom of the pool they see glittering gold and silver - previous gifts for Wandle. Kerolar throws his gifts into the pond, and after a short time a beautiful woman emerges from the pond - Wandle.

Voranga and Borngold ask why she has cursed the clan - and Wandle transforms into a terrifying hag. Kerolar flees in terror - the others stand their ground.

She screeches that she has been betrayed - and shows an image in her pond - of Farantir, the boy they met at the longhouse of Jarastor Three-Strikes. She then recedes into the pond. Confused, they return to Vorastor's cave to sleep overnight, and try to work out what the plague, missing children, and Farantir have to do with each other.

The next day they return to Red Cow Fort. Before they can look for Farantir, though, Konalda Otherways arives and says she has been told to bring them before Brodi. The chief sends all others out of the room and furiously berates them for killing the Kunars - the clan has had to pay a weregild of 100 cows for the deaths. They are told that if they go against his wishes again, he will not be so merciful.

They leave and go look for Farantir. But he's not around and nobody has seen him for a day or so. Finally they find Farantir's younger sister Renadala and explain to her, quite sternly, that they must find Farantir very soon to rescue the lost children and cure the plague. She crumbles after Wando hectors her on her loyalties to the clan and says that Farantir went through the secret tunnel. She agrees to show the adventurers where the 'secret tunnel' is. She says that Farantir goes to meet his girlfriend Malani. She leads the surprised adventurers tot he far side of the fort, and then down a winding path down the steep, nearly cliff-like far side of the fort hill. In the side of the hill is a small cave.

Carefully they enter the cave and are led a long way, past several side caves, by Renadala. some are filled with water - they appear to have natural springs. Finally, the tunnel rises. They sense that they have travelled under the river. The exit on the far side is well hidden and they emerge carefully. They travel a short way and crest a hill, and see a small stead with smoke rising. A horn sounds. They sense they have crossed over into the Emerald Swords lands.

12 men approach them - one man introduces himself as Rostakos Twice Outlawed and demands to know what they are doing here. They are definitely in enemy clan territory now. They say they are seeking a boy, Farantir, who might be with a girl, Malani. At the name of Malani the men are shocked - after a short while the two youths are dragged out - Rostakos calling Malani unseemly and judgemental names, and cursing the boy for leading her astray. They protest that they are in love, but someone throws a rock and it strikes Farantir in the head. Wando stands up and challenges Rostakos - who counter challenges him to a duel, in a weeks time. Wando is duty bound to accept. They take the boy and retreat, ducking into the tunnel when out of sight.

Rostakos

Once safe, they demand to know from Farantir what is going on. He explains that he found the caves, and in one pool he found a beautiful woman (Wandle) and made love to her. But on the other side of the tunnel he encountered Malani, his true love, and he has not revisited the cave. It seems that Wandle feels herself spurned.

Farantir takes them to the cave with the spring. There they see the missing children, far below the water, swimming and playing quite happily. It seems Wandle has taken them. Then arising from the water Wandle appears. Farantir flees in terror. Wandle takes on a fearsome countenance, and declares herself betrayed. She says she needs a lover. Wando steps forwards and offers to make love to her, and does so. Satisfied at last, she releases the children. Still smiling and laughing, they clamber out of the water - and they notice each child has a pair of gills which do not disappear.

Jostal is overjoyed at the return of the children, and says he owes the group a great debt.

A week later they travel to Dangerford to meet Rostakos Twice-Outlawed for the duel. Wando tries to call down Orlanth's lightnig to defeat him, but Roastakos is barely singed, and quickly strikes down Wando, who yields. Satisfied, Rostakos leaves, but Wando's reputation is nonetheless enhanced for duelling this fierce warrior.