Grungir's Decision

SESSION 17 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 7th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 5th/6th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/6th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 6th level Ranger (Justifier)
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

 

NPCs

Brundhilde, a Frost Giant Princess

From the Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

With the Stone of A Thousand Winters Destroyed and the unnatural blizzard at an end, King Leonis' army began preparations to march on Caer Terma and end Althyria's invasion of Beltigost. Having warned the king of the prophecy given to them by the Three Sisters of Fate and the Mad King's secret alliance with the Frost Giant King Grungir, it was decided that the companions would travel ahead of the army into the northern mountains to return the Grungir's daughter Brunhilde to him and hopefully break the alliance. Leonis' army would split into two and follow a day behind. The main force would march straight on Caer Terma, while the smaller force would circle through the mountains and flank the Althyrian force.

It was decided that Lady Tyra and the druid Kieren would stay behind at Northax while the others pushed ahead. A troupe of rangers had gone into the mountains three days prior to scout out the pass, but had not returned. The companions were tasked with finding out what happened to the Rangers and then somehow making contact with Grungir.

About a day into their march, they discovered the slaughtered remains of the rangers and their horses. As Eswin went up to investigate the scene, the snow exploded around him and ten Yetis ambushed the party. After recovering from their initial surprise, the companions made quick work of the savage brutes however and they were once again on their way.

Grungir, King of the Frost Giants

After that, it was not long before they located the mountain pass. As they traversed the pass, they were once again ambushed, this time by a band of mercenaries sent by Ragan Doon to prevent them from  making contact with Grungir. The leader of the mercenaries, an Iskal berserker by the name of Rolf Greybeard, was accompanied by two ice bears, and shadow mage, two archers and a winter elf assassin. The battle was treacherous along the narrow moutain pass and Rolf's savage attacks reined down on the dwarf champion Dubner, as the Icebears tore into Shaw and his new winter wolf companion. Talos squared off with the shadow mage, while Brendel made short work of the archers and then set to battle with the elusive winter elf who had a cloak that allowed him to turn into a gust of whirling snow to escape attack. In the end however, the wild Rolf, despite his savage prowess, fell to the ancient hammer of Dubner, as Shaw severed the limbs off of the ice bears. Once again, the companions proved vicorious.

With the assassination attempt foiled, Brunhilde then led them to her father's camp. A tense negotiation ensued. Grungir agreed to quit the field of battle while the companions tried to convince him to join their cause. In the end, Grungir decided it would be settled by combat. If the heroes could defeat his champions, he would agree to aid them.

In a large icy chamber, the heroes faced off against Hakon, a Frost Giant champion and his mate, Sheldira, a Frost Giant Witch Doctor. The battle proved to be less climactic than anticipated, as Talos summoned black tentacles to wrap up the Witch Doctor, while the remaining companions reined blow after blow upon Hakon, felling him without too much trouble, Though once again the sturdy dwarf Dubner took quite a beating. With the companions victorious, Grungir severed the heads of his champions and declared that he would aid them in the coming battle. Together they would make a desperate assualt on the Mad King himself at Caer Tema, the Fortress of Endings.

 

Sacred Waters

SESSION 12 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Eswin, 6th/1st level elven Thief/Fighter
Brendel, 5th level half-elven Fighter (Archer)
Kieren, 6th level Druid

NPCs
Oliver, Man-at-Arms

From the Journal of Oliver, Initiate of the Three-Faced Goddess

I was lost, but now have found my path.

I had been a drunken lout and ne'er-do-well in the teeming city of Vodymsira. I knew I needed a change in my life or I'd end up in an alley with my throat slit. When the travelers came looking for men-at-arms to bolster their company, I was glad to accept. We fled the city and made our way west to the village of Brysgod. I was told only that we were in search of Mo Ander, the great druid.

From Brysgod we made our way into the Greycloak mountains and found a cave complex that the druid Kieren said would lead us to Mo Ander's sacred grove and the heart of the Unicorn Run. My employer, one Talos Redwand told me that we were in search of the Sacred Waters there, as only they could lift a curse on the Three-Faced Goddess that they were bound to complete.

Grell

Within the caves we found ourselves attacked by deep horrors known as Grell. Their tentacled arms lashed out at us paralyzing our number and we quickly succumbed. But the elven thief had a trick up his sleeve. Using a magic card he had secreted away, he was able to reverse time and save us. Armed with the knowledge of the Grell, we decided to attack them once again. Better prepared for the danger that awaited us, we made quick work of them.

After we defeated the Grell, we came out into a grove of natural beauty. Following a river we soon came to the fabled Unicorn Run and were met by Mo Ander and his druidess servants. The great druid agreed to give us the sacred waters we sought so long as we proved ourselves worthy. We were taken to a clearing where stood a huge oak tree and told to await our test. Some time passed, and eventually the tree in the centre of the clearing came to life, an 18ft tall monstrosity that threatened to squash us all into a pulp. With hard work and not a few scrapes, we managed to bring the behemoth low, mostly due to the lightning spells of Kieren.

With our test successfully completed, we were given the waters we sought. Amberle, one of the great druid's apprentices accompanied us to see our task of lifting the curse of Eurayle done. Mo Ander created a mystical pathway through one of his trees and upon entering we found ourselves in a stone-cracked courtyard of a ruined monastery. I later found out that this was the forgotten temple of the Three-Faced Goddess, Phaetus. My companions told me to be on guard, for there was a deadly woman in the courtyard who could turn us to stone with a mere glance.

Brendel the Archer

Three giant sword spiders crept over the walls and assaulted us, taking us by surprise. A little welcoming gift from the cursed lady. While the spiders dealt wicked blows to us on our flank, the cursed lady appeared in all her horrible magnificence. Lutien the fighter and myself could not look away from her deadly beauty and were turned to stone. I know little of the battle after that.

When I came to, we had defeated the lady and her spiders. Talos informed me that once the lady was defeated, the sacred waters were poured upon her body and Amberle, our druidess companion became the new vessel for the goddess. I was told that the two other goddesses, along with their cured sister were the ones who restored me to the flesh. I owe them my life, and so I dedicated myself to their cause.

The travelers have left with their reward and are on their way to Beltigost, in hopes of preventing the king of that fair country from being slain in battle with the mad king of Old Althyria. There is much work to be done here and many have been called to serve the Three Sisters. I have stayed behind, pledged to become a cleric in the service of the Ladies of Fate. I look forward to the challenge of rebuilding the Order of Fate and the Temple of the Three Faces, and wish my benefactors much luck in their travels and success in their efforts, for if the king of Beltigost falls, my new-found purpose may not survive long.

A Brief Interlude II: Fate of the Three Maidens

As Told by Father Johann of Oak Hill Cemetary

Long ago, when the Althane first arrived on the green shores of Inolba, life was hard and their very existence was in doubt. To ensure the survival of their chosen people, the gods of the Althane descended from their celestial palaces to walk among mortal men. Many and varied were their adventures and deeds, but this tale concerns only Althar the Protector, All-father of the Althane people, and the Three-faced goddess known as Fate.

It is commonly believed that Althar is a covetous god, always seeking to consolidate power. Many believe that this is why his chosen people are prone to war and conquest. When Althar heard that the Three-faced goddess was also living among the mortals, he visited her so that he might benefit from her vast knowledge of the future.

It came to pass that Althar appeared on the steps of the Three-faced goddess' temple, demanding to know the hour of his own demise, so that he might prevent it. For it is well known that in the end of all things, the gods themselves will die as surely as every mortal must.

In exchange for their mighty knowledge, the three sisters of Fate required a sacrificial gift, as they did from all those who sought their knowledge. Prideful Althar refused to pay the price, thinking that he was above paying the tribute that all others must. And so Althar was denied the knowledge of his own end.

The All-father's wrath was legendary. If he were to be denied the knowledge he sought, then so would all. With his mighty magic, he stripped the daugthers of Troentad of their prophetic knowledge and destroyed their essence.

Thus it was that prophecy in the land of Inolba was lost.

The Daughters of Troentad

A Brief Interlude I: The Origin of Fate

As Told by Father Johann of Oak Hill Cemetary

Troentad, the Father of Time was shunned by all the other gods because each knew that he held the knowledge of their ends in his great withered frame. They feared his presence in their extravagant halls for they worried that upon his calling their own times were at and end. Thus Troentad found himself alone for many an age, growing ever more sullen at his plight.

It came to pass that Danu the Earthmother, cradle of all life, took pity on the lonesome Troentad. She, of all the gods, giver of life, was not afraid of death. She came to Troentad in his cold and musty demesne and laid down with him to ease his loneliness. Thus Danu begat three goddesses from this union - the Three Maidens of Fate - who had in their power the knowledge of prophecy and the knowledge of the lives of all creatures, from their births up unto their ultimate ends.

And from that moment, Troentad was no longer alone.

Danu comforts Troentad