GDD - Narrative - Chapter 6

  • Title: The Gathering
  • Description: Freyana teaches Adira essential gatherer skills, and the two bond while foraging — until a wild boar attacks and they must work together to survive.
  • Duration: 15m

What happens?

Poisoned and desperate, Adira goes back to Freya, who immediately notices there’s something wrong with her. Adira reveals the darkest of truths: she’s been bitten, she’s doomed.

And yet, for such a terminal thing, Freya hardly seems moved. She asks Adira what kind of snake it was, and realizes that, as harmful as its poison is, it’s hardly deadly. With some medicine, Adira should be good as new. Adira is ashamed — and conflicted; her father was such a knowledgeable man, with so much wisdom to share — but at least she has the mushrooms they need. Except that she doesn’t. Freya also explains the mushrooms she took may seem like the ones they need, but are actually a venomous kind — and unlike the snake, this one is lethal.

For the first time, Adira actually opens up to Freya: she wanted to be useful, but maybe her father was right. Maybe she is a child after all. A child who knows nothing of the world.

Still, they do need their ingredients, and since Adira also needs to understand foraging, perhaps Freya could take her this time and kill two birds with one stone. She can teach Adira.

This time, Freya takes Adira into the woods, where they pick up things together, while they have the chance to interact and Adira talks about feeling useless, about barely being able to survive on her own. Her father’s been gone for barely a moon and she’s already cheated death at least a few times — how many more until she runs out of second chances? Freya however is not quite so grim. She manages to see the positive side of things, and she feels happier opening up about her past. Her tribe and her family may be gone — claimed by the Ursa’s relentless conquering — but at least she’s here, she has a new friend, and they can help each other out.

Adira is still not convinced, when they’re attacked by a boar. For all of Freya’s resourcefulness, she’s no match for such a savage beast, and it falls to Adira to defend her. The boar is a terrible foe, but Adira manages to win. Finally, a win for Adira. She is strong after all. Perhaps stronger than she herself knows. And for the first time, she doesn’t feel like such a weight. They can go back with their findings and her pride.

And this would make for a great night, if the Ursa weren’t waiting for them back at the refuge.

How does it drive the story forward?

  • Progresses the main narrative by...
  • Reveals key lore or backstory through...
  • Evolves character dynamics, especially between...

What are the key moments in order?

  • Scene 1 – [e.g., Freyana shows Adira how to identify edible plants and avoid poisonous ones]
  • Scene 2 – [e.g., They begin to trust one another, sharing parts of their past]
  • Scene 3 – [e.g., A boar charges them; they survive by outsmarting it together]

What characters are involved?

  • Adira | Freyana

What locations are required?

  • Forest Glade | Foraging Trail | Boar Den

What music/audio is required?

  • Ambient | Emotional | Tension | Combat