Moon Goddess: Scene 23

Introduction to this thread: The Moon Goddess Is A Harsh Mistress
Explanation of Mythic elements: What's All This Mythic Stuff?
Previous Scene: Scene 22

SCENE 23
Wherein Katja confronts Nina about the sword as they prepare to drive out of the city before dawn.

CHARACTERS
The Silver Huntress (her deity)
Soldiers/Police
Drachen (her old warhorse)
Nina Yazov
Nina's Mother (Anna Yazov)
The Hard Man with the Nasty Scar
Susi
Yuliya
Igor
Deidre
Nina's uncle Ulrich
The Wanderer (the target of Nina's hunt)
Hamid
The Commissar
Fanquin Lanfeng
The girls from New Zealand
Crewmen from the smaller ship
Other passengers
Nora (the red-headed girl from New Zealand)
Marna (a brunette girl from New Zealand)

UPDATED THREADS
* Escape to freedom
* Solve the mystery of Nina's mother (though this is well along)
* Decipher the writing on the menhir
* Deliver antique sword to the target of Nina's hunt

CHAOS FACTOR: 5

********************
The scene occurs as expected.

Q: Did Igor appropriate a truck to help smuggle everyone out of the city [Likely]? Extreme yes (an excellent truck includes a driver).
Q: Is the other driver a non-descript Russian man in his mid-twenties [50/50]? Yes.
Q: Is it still snowing [50/50]? Yes.
Q: Does Igor hope to hide everyone amongst a regular cargo bound fore the countryside [Likely]? Yes.
Q: Is the cargo newspapers [Unlikely but would very ironic]? Yes.

A steady snow falls in the pre-dawn hours. Igor and another man are busy loading supplies into a "truck" (as Nora called it). Crates of food, blankets, and other supplies are hidden behind bundles of "newspapers". Nora explains Igor's reasoning to Katja, "Soldiers would never expect to find a fugitive in a truck carrying stories that identify them. At least that's the theory. Mostly, I just think that Igor has a weird sense of humor."

Q: Will Igor be coming with [Likely]? Yes.

Some of the other girls help Igor to prepare a small but comfortable hideaway, also concealed by the newspapers.

Q: Is Nina here [Likely]? Yes.
RISUS: Is she still wounded [rolls for cliche recovery]? She's effectively full strength (if a little bruised and battered).
Q: Does she object to the plan [Unlikely]? No.

Nina arrives with her bags fully packed. In addition to her own sword, she carries a bundle that must obviously be the cursed cavalry saber. Katja sees her and seeks her out.

Katja: "So you are going to flee with us?"

Q: Is Nina's tone more conciliatory [50/50]? Yes.

Nina: "Yes. It's a good plan."

Katja: "Then I won't have to ask you for the sword just yet. But you really shouldn't be carrying it. It's dangerous."

Nina: "I'm not sure I believe all those stories of it being cursed. Anyway, I've held it since yesterday and I haven't suffered any ill-effects. I should be fine."

Katja: "Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you. The sword has a will of its own. It's goals would seem to line up with those of mine... and your mother's."

Nina: "And what are those goals?"

Katja: "First, to protect our kin. By that I mean the followers of the Silver Huntress. We need to get those girls safely back to New Zealand. They are young and never asked to suffer such hardship."

Nina: "Well, New Zealand is close to Australia..."

Katja: "Yes, well, I haven't decided that I'm coming with you to Australia. You'll need to convince me of that. I have much work to do. I need to gather a flock and teach them old ways. The girls are a good start, but I need to make sure our numbers are self-sustaining. And then we must begin Hunt in earnest."

Nina: "The Hunt?"

Katja: "Those who must be hunted. The evil and the unjust, I assume. I'm not exactly sure, but I'm confident that I'll receive guidance."

Nina: "Good luck with that. Whatever. It looks like we're at least on the same path for a while. We'll talk about Australia when we get closer."

Kata: "Why wait? Why must you be so mysterious? Through Nora, Igor already told me about the Wanderer. What is it that you want to get him to do?"

Q: Does she answer that she'll use him to rebuild her base of power [50/50]? No.
Q: Does she answer at all [50/50]? Yes.
CQ: Specific task that Nina has in mind [Mythic Action/Subject]? Vengeance (for) Failure

Nina: "Kill the bastards responsible for ruining my country. That would be a start."

Katja: "Then are goals may align. We'll talk more on the road. It looks like Igor wants us to leave."

********************

CHARACTERS - Add the truck driver

UPDATED THREADS
* Escape to freedom
* Solve the mystery of Nina's mother (though this is well along)
* Decipher the writing on the menhir
* Deliver antique sword to the target of Nina's hunt

Updated Chaos Factor 4