[World] [Characters] Adventures [Humor]

The Search for the White Eagle…concluded

8/17/1310

 

Snogabaek Trommer – High Priest of Sif                               Clan Wolverine

Asmund Seaeyes – Scald                                                    Clan Wolverine

Val Valorian – Warrior                                                            Clan Wolverine

Triad – Giant Warrior

Volund the Vulgar – Warrior

Ungin – Warrior

 

Also at the keep:

Helga the Witch

 

36 Henchmen

6 Allies

23 Recruits

 

 

Part 1:  The Door

 

The party, after having been cast out of the halls by trying to open a pair of heavily ensorcelled doors, endeavors to complete their efforts to gain entrance to the meeting hall of the wise ones. The party takes care to discuss the various ways to reenter the halls and gain access to the double doors on the second floor.

Full frontal assault, sneaking in through the halls and a half hearted attempt to test the windows with a pebble (“One missed throw and we give up and walk away?!!”) are all brought up and ignored. Finally, it is decided to repeat the original track to the doors. Once the path is chosen the party arrives at the door and then contemplates opening them. The honor is of repeating the same attempt as before falls to Triad. He attempts to open the door and suddenly only Asmund and Ungin remain at the magicked door.

Asmund follows the philosophy of “if it didn’t work once, keeping trying the same thing and expect a different result”. Now Ungin, the only one left in the hall tests the magic by throwing a dagger at the door. Suddenly it dawns on him that the same freaking thing happened last time and everyone appeared six hours later in the court yard.

He heads down and awaits there arrival, then he remembers the disappearing knife. Six hours later, the first party members arrive to screams of “Duck! Duck!” from Ungin. The party is confused and kneels down looking for the duck. In their midst appears Asmund who is immediately told to search for the offensive fowl. A knife appears in mid air and falls harmlessly to the ground.

 

 

Part 2:  The Door Redux

 

The party again makes its’ way back to the Double doors. This time they would not be denied. Snogabaek calls upon his goddess Sif to dispel the magic of the door. Uncertain if his call was heard, Triad casts Detect Magic to see if the magic lock on the door had been removed.  It didn’t, so Snogabaek again called upon Sif to remove the magic on the door. Sif heard the second plea and removed the magic on the door.

 

The magic removed, the party of hearty warriors enters the meeting room. In the room they find a large table, 5 large chairs and 2 smaller chairs next to writing tables. Upon the left wall hangs three pictures and upon the right wall a mirror. Most of the party enters the room while Snogabaek and Val stay by the door. The party finds a writing block where the read the start of the reply of the council to the request to attack the Tower of Bosocta.

 

 

Part 3:  The Mirror

 

Triad with his Detect Magic still active scans the room and sees that only the mirror radiates magic. He goes over to study the mirror while the rest of the party looks around.  Triad finds a numbers of carvings around the edge of the mirror. He calls over Snogabaek and Asmund to see if they can decipher the meanings. While it seems familiar to Snogabaek, he does not glean the meaning of the carvings. Asmund does recognize their meaning and says “They are scenes from Ragnarock!” He then realizes that Snogabaek and Triad have disappeared. Pretty soon more of the party disappears. Asmund yells to Volund and Ungin not to look into the mirror. Of course they do anyway. Nothing happens. Then Asmunds’ bodyguard disappears.

 

(Then Elaine calls and Tom disappears.)

 

Asmund and the remaining party members pause and take stock of the room looking for clues to the mystery. He focuses on the three paintings. One is of a dark snow scene, the middle one of a scene of spring with a tree growing out of the ice, the final picture is of another scene of snow. Asmund recalls a story where "Odin sacrificed himself for knowledge by hanging on the world.”  From this he dredges the name of the tree, Yggdrasil. He also recalled that "Odin had a spear named Grungir which never missed its mark made from the tree” as well.

 

Asmund goes to the mirror and spoke the name of the tree, Yggdrasil. Upon speaking “Yggdrasil” many faces appear in the mirror including those of the party. With fierce reasoning Asmund discovers that by speaking the name of the tree and the name of the person in the mirror, that person is removed from the mirror back to life. He quickly recalls the party members from the mirror then with an astute guess calls the Ulfa the “White Eagle” to come forth. She does surprising the party as they were expecting a man. Instead there is a beautiful woman. Her name is Ulfa but goes by “White Eagle.” She is a warrior of Clan Wolf and the object of our search.

 

With some questioning Asmund recalls the Wise Ones of the Clans:

  1. Melmin – High Priest of Odin
  2. Barri – Master Scald of Wolf Clan
  3. Tryfin – Master Hunter of Wolverine Clan
  4. Selev – Master of Weasel Clan
  5. Kilfor – Dwarf visor from the Dwarven Hall

 

The party learns that it was Soti that used the mirror to trap them all one by one. Asmund then reasons that by saying “Ragnarock“ and the name of a person that that person would be put into the mirror.  That is how Soti trapped them all. 

 

Asmund then returns to the mirror to focus on the remaining six faces in the mirror. He reasons out that if he calls upon the occupant by number he can bring forth their face and speak with them.

 

The first face he summons forth calls himself Alec. He is from the Twin Kingdoms and is wounded from hi fight with the Sorceress Klira from Caminan. He was put in the mirror in 1304 so has been there for six years.

 

Asmund then gives three choices as terms of release:

“You can join us, you can leave, and if you are against us you die” (Something like that)

 

Alec accepts the conditions.

 

The next face that Asmund summons forth is that of an old woman. She calls herself Alvaris and is from the Misty Vale of Caimain. She also accepts the conditions.

 

The third face is that of Vicnar, a Captain of the Red guard of Duke Dalic of Galin. He has been in the mirror for 36 years. He accepts Asmunds’ conditions.

 

The forth face that Asmund summons forth is a beautiful woman in her 30’s and calls herself Klira. Asmund quickly realizes that this may be the same sorceress that Alec mentions so puts her on hold and goes on to the next person. We are uncertain as to what may happen if she is released. We expect that she may renew her fight with Alec.

 

The fifth face is that of a young boy around 15 years. He calls himself Mylo from the Southern Fief. He has been in the mirror for nine years. He accepts the conditions of release.

 

The last face in the mirror belongs to Selthor who appears to be a merchant from the Southern Fief. He accepts the conditions and is released. Once out he and is informed that he has been in the mirror for 12 years he starts to calculate how rich he is with 12 years worth of interest. Mylo interrupts him to tell him that the Southern Fief was destroyed six years earlier. This put Selthor in a foul mood to say the least.

 

Asmund then returned to the dilemma of Klira. After some little discussion it is decided to release her. At the moment of her release she recognizes Alec shouting “You!” With that she points her staff at him and a beam of flame rushes forth turning Alec into ash. The audience watches the event and a quick general consent is “I guess that issue is resolved.”

 

With the mystery of the magical mirror solved and all prisoners released the topic of conversation turns to what to do about Soti and company in the caves. It is about 7pm at this time.

 

Asmund’s seagull lands on the window and informs him that the Bear Clan troops from the ships ran into the two recruit patrols that Gioa was to bring back. The battle was going badly until Cullen led the Amazons and Gladiators into the fray. Volund’s hawk lands and mentions that some intruders are moving in and out of some caves at the rear of the ridge.

 

 

Part 4: Secrets Revealed

 

While this discussion goes on the Ufa the Ulfa the “White Eagle” speaks to Snogabaek in the Old Norse language. She relates the following:

 

Absorbing this information Snogabaek comes to a solution and casually walks out of the room. Once out of eye sight and ear shot, he calls on Sif to grant him the ability of True Seeing. The gift granted he walks back into the room to see what is revealed.

 

The additional information learned was:

 

Snogabaek also sees that Melmin, Tryfin and Barri are not at 100% as they were drugged before they were put in the mirror.

 

 

Snogabaek also sees that Freki (Asmunds’ brother) is listening to everything while Invisible. The most important item is the discovery of someone Scrying on the party from above the mirror.

 

 

Part 5: The Ruse

 

The discovery of the scrying launches Snogabaek into action. Assuming that Soti is listening to our plans, Snogabaek launches into a battle plan to attack through the caverns. The plan is quickly agree upon after a brief discussion (which is a miracle for our party) and we go forth. Once in the armory Snogabaek gets the attention of all and informs everyone that the plan was a ruse to fool those listening and that the attack will go forth across the glacier.

 

Snogabaek asks the newcomers to assist them in their fight against the traitors. All agree except Selthor and Mylo who are not very good at combat and ask to stay the compound.

 

Snogabaek also informs the “White Eagle” and some members of the party as to the true nature of Mylo. The “White Eagle” says she will keep a good eye on him.

 

 

Part 6: The Battle Plan

 

Using the knowledge of the scrying against the traitors, Snogabaek hoped to fool them and attack them from behind. The traitors used to knowledge in an attempt to flee without fighting instead.

 

The attack force of the heroes makes its way on a path that the traitors seem to be unaware and await their arrival hidden among some rocky crags. They see some puffs of steam come from the geysers as they make their way towards where the enemy is thought to arrive. It starts snowing. Snogabaek asks the Oracle about the traitors. The Oracle answers by showing pictures of the desired information. Twelve questions could be asked, unfortunately only seven could be thought of (“Hey! We’re Vikings!”)

 

 

At the optimum point the party plans the attack with the idea of trying to approach without being scene of hear.

 

Tactical Commentary:  In hindsight the idea of Asmunds’ to do Mass Invisibility was rejected but was probably the best idea. Instead Snogabaek cast Prayer, Spellturn vs Dispel Magic, Protection form Evil, 10 feet and Silence 15 feet. The Silence Spell was a bad choice because Snogabaek cast it on himself instead of on an object. We also did not think to look for scouts from the enemy party. He was very quite for a long time.

 

Ray G. (Asmund) has to leave to catch his train to get home to walk the dog before its’ bowels explode. Time 8:30pm.

 

 

Part 7: The Final Battle

 

The battle starts and the non plan falls apart. Various elements of the party scatter in different directions. The Silenced Snogabaek and Ungin run dead North. Val and Ungin take off in a NW direction. Asmund heads out invisibly to flank the enemy. Volund the Vulgar flies of into the sky. The two bodyguards Elmun and Zul remain behind, without a clue as to what is going on. Melmin stays to cast some protective spells; Barri, Ulfa, Vicnar and Kilfor move out to engage the enemy. Alvaris and Klira stay behind to work some magic to aid in the attack. Tryfin and Selev move forward slowly.

 

Sequence of events:

 

At this time Soti’s wife floats down from the sky to stand next to Soti. (I forget what her name is)  Facing Snogabaek she says that is them against him. The Ulfa the Ulfa the “White Eagle” staggers up to stand against Snogabaek saying “No it is we two against you.” (Not the exact quote). During the stand off Snogabaek assessed the situation. While it was probably possible to kill Soti, Both he and the Ulfa the Ulfa the “White Eagle” would have been killed leaving the entire part dead and defeated. With this knowledge Soti and his wife are allowed to depart. Thus the outcome leaves the Heroes defeated.

 

We killed 18 illusions and 12 others. Only five of them got away. (Assuming they can’t bring them back to life.)

 

Part 8: The Aftermath

 

Snogabaek and the Ulfa the Ulfa the “White Eagle” recovered the dead and using the magical healing gloves of Val Valorin the dead members of the party return from the dead to the living. The only person that could not be recovered was Melmin. He was killed by a cave bear that ate his head. Soti was also able to recover his dead from the field while “The Heroes” revived their own dead.

 

 

Part 9: The Future

 

“The Heroes” were defeated in their attempt to defeat Soti. The battle is not yet over. It will still take 4 days for Soti and his party to reach their boats. He must also take some time to heal his party. Now that we are recovered we must press the hunt. A fleet of our boats is coming down from the north and may arrive in time for a battle. If not we can get them to join us un the chase. We will prevail!

 

Remember:  They can use Slow, Haste and Fire Shield Spells.

 

 

 

Notes From the DM – remember for next time:

 

Snogabaek detected Scrying – not a device. Spells such as magic font, magic pool, clairaudience, clairvoyance and items like crystal balls and mirrors can be detected by True Sight. But the mage may move the area of observation if they are familiar with it – you may have been watched the whole time.

 

You have invisibility, silence, true sight, detect magic, an oracle, two familiars and divination spells plus a lot of sneaking abilities – scouting out the enemy before you fight is a good idea.

 

You asked when to attack the enemy, not how or from where. You stopped at the rocks to make the plan. No one said stay there – it was too far away for most spell/missiles.

 

It was near dark and snowing – you could have moved closer before attacking. (Invisible, silent, cloaks – Elvin and bear, flying, shape change).

 

Volund has Boots and Cloak of Elven Kind – had he activated them scouting would have been easier and he could have fired and remained almost invisible in the storm. Even in the sky, he could have faded out.

 

Ungin wanted to cast the spell so badly he did not wait for the others. Asking the Skald about the spell and scouting as to who were most affected would have helped.

 

Val and Triad kept themselves out of the fight for a couple of rounds looking for a target for their spells. Fighting hand to hand they could have done more damage than either of their spells, especially against the big guys.

 

Asmund and Val both forgot they can shape change.

 

Triad is immune to lightning – standing in the middle of the warriors he could withstand his own bolt and any others you wish to cast.

 

Silence on your spell casters is bad, on the enemy casters is good. Scout them out.

 

Review your spells, abilities and items before a battle. Share what you intend to do so everyone knows. Share items especially if it means greater firepower.

 

Ask the NPC’s questions – you think the Tribal Master Skald and Master Priest did not know of Soti and his wife’s abilities or who was with them? They were drugged, but may have helped if you asked.

 

Ignoring powerful NPC’s – the two ladies – pisses them off even if they owe you one.

 

Battle fields are three dimensional – look up once in a while.

 

Melmin, Barri and Treyfin were drugged, they were easy targets and not too much help in a fight, they should have remained behind – regardless of their willingness, they were too wasted to make a good choice or a solid contribution.

 

Now you know their abilities, but they do not know all of yours. Make plans for a battle before you get there. In case of a surprise or separation at least you have an idea of what the others will do and their skills.

 

When all else fails – cut your losses and run!! Here’s why –

 

 

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