Northlands Pt 4

Draught of Widsom

Corrigan drinks the water from the Well of Wisdom. It's described as much cooler than it should be. Corrigan's draught tasted like apples. Once he has swallowed, his eyes become unfocused, staring at nothing.

Corrigan himself can no longer see his allies. He sees a light, beckoning him forwards. He steps towards the light and finds himself on a well worn path. Visible signs showing the passage of others. He crests a small hill with hazelnut trees, surrounding a stone well decorated with a lantern. An elderly man is sitting at the well, holding a nobbly pipe, a staff, and a large black raven. The old man is Odin or his representative (Mymere), and he knows of the dwarf's theft of the water. He questions Corrigan on the meaning of wisdom. Corrigan explains that Wisdom does not equal power, only informs the wielder where and how to use power. The old man lets Corrigan know that Sycron was there previously, but he was only searching for the hazelnuts.

Corrigan seeks sight to see what he can not percieve. In exchange, Corrigan is willing to give up his ability to hide/disappear from sight. Corrigan may be giving up more than he expects, giving up a part of himself, his racial heritage. There is no means to go back from the deal bing proposed. The deal will redefine what and who he is, he will walk for all to see, and all who seek him will find him.

The lantern rotates and opens, revealing a decapitated head (Mymere). The head speaks:
-- blockquote this
This one will see, this one will know. This one will face him. Gain the knowledge you seek. When nature opens wide it's gate, things walked the land that had not walked it before. The Wyld Hunt Rode(Twilight Times) again, hounds baying across the land. The hunters became the hunted. Before this is done, you will know what it is to be their quarry. May or may not be the end, but it is where you must go. Must use his wisdom to know.
--

Corrigan's eyes refocused on this world, one eye appearing to wander. Perazada asks if Corrigan gained any wisdom. He responds by gaining his new found power and determines that Perazada was sent by her tribal leaders.

Verut realizes something is different with Corrigan. Foreflower was dismissed and replaced by with Munin, a raven sent by Odin to learn for Corrigan.

The Challenge

The Circe is surrounded by druids. The challenge is to display knowledge and wisdom. It takes a Question & Answer format.
Only the questions have been recorded here.
Corrigan -> Roundstone: Why is it cooloer in the North than the South?
Roundstone -> Corrigan: Concerning Faeries and Trolls; Why do gifts of strength and wisdom not share the same vessel?
Corrigan -> Roundstone: What wisdom is had by the City and not by Village, as well as vice versa?
Roundstone -> Corrigan: If all magic is other worldly, why are certain magics considered evil?
Corrigan -> Roundstone: (Corrigan uses his vision power, what topic is to close to speak clearly on?) How can a village remain protected by Druids with the destruction caused by the Star Druids?
Roundstone -> Corrigan: What is it you expect to gain that will not attend Sycron/ What will the songs say about deeds done for the challenges?

After much deliberation between the judges, the contest is declared a draw.

Directions

After the circle has dispersed, Roundstone and Frenya approach the group. They explain the gate is near the fair folk, hidden in a valley marked by high cliffs. The valley will appear as a fissure in the rocks, just large enough to squeeze into. Walk into the valley for 3 dozen paces. The stone around the gate will be deep blue, streaked with white. They also warn of the evil gnomes guarding the gate. The gnomes are described as twisted things with a deep cunning, and a never ending thirst for blood (aka spriggins).

To the Gate

Corrigan again summons the phantom stteds. The group crosses the river uncovering a river troll in the process, this they leave to it's own devices. They identify the fake gate, a spire with a green arch with Runic inscriptions claiming to hold that which felled a god. The fake gate is being watched by something small.

They continue on towards the real gate. Corrigan uses Munin to pick a path through the woods. The group stops for lunch and invite the Alfen female following them to join. The Alfen women gives Ellia a snake ring, who returns the favor with a ring pilfered from Perazada.

Over the course of lunch, the group learns that three challenges are to faced inside the gove.

1. Riddle - may not be the hag
2. Dragon - fire
3. Unknown - there is a god within

She also warns of the Raven women, Iridnis(warrior, strength) and her sister Cidnera(runes, cunning). She also gives some advice on the approach to the gate.

The Valley

Even forewarned, the trip up the valley towards the gate proved a challenge the group. To make it up the valley and find the gate they employed the following skills:

Corrigan	Arcana	success
Verut	Nature	success
Perazada	Endurance	fail
Ellia	Perception	success
Verut	Athletics	success
Corrigan	Perception	success
Corrigan	Dungeoneering	fail
Ellia	History	fail

And with their ineptitude, they realize a band of 5 spriggins have found them and they have the upper ground. The band consists of 2 Powries (swords), 2 Giantsouls (rock throwers), and 1 Witherer (shaman).

The Spriggins

The battle actually took it's own session.
I decided to record it here.
Session date would have been Aug/Sep

1			- - -	- - -	2
	Powrie 1	knocked Perazada prone, 5 ongoing				Powrie 1	climbs up
	Powrie 2	knocked Verut prone, 5 ongoing				Powrie 2	hit Verut
	Witherer	spear of fire @ Corrigan, miss				Witherer	hit Verut, Corrigan. Knocked Corrigan off cliff
	Perazada	hit Powrie 1, 8 dmg				Perazada	Missed GS 1
	Giantsoul 1	miss Ellia				Giantsoul 1	Miss Ellia
	Giantsoul 2	hit Corrigan, 12 dmg				Giantsoul 2	Miss Perazada
	Verut	missed Powrie 2, sv vs dmg				Verut	Hit Powrie 2
	Corrigan	call raven, repelling burst, miss With, hit Pow 1, GS 1				Corrigan	Hit Powrie 1
	Ellia	Satire of Bravey, hit GS 2, miss Pow 2				Ellia	Hit Witherer, grant two rolls on next atk
3					4
	Powrie 1	climbing				Powrie 1	hit Perazada, 5 dmg
	Powrie 2	miss Verut				Powrie 2	moves to Ellia
	Witherer	hit Ellia, 12 dmg				Witherer	hits Verut, 8 dmg
	Perazada	hits with Ellia's help, GS 1				Perazada	miss
	Giantsoul 1	hit Perazada				Giantsoul 1	miss Perazada
	Giantsoul 2	miss Verut				Giantsoul 2	miss Verut
	Verut	double mv to witherer, AP: Hits				Verut	hit Witherer, Earthgrasp
	Corrigan	miss Powrie 1				Corrigan	moves up the slope
	Ellia	miss Witherer				Ellia	Vicious Mockery, hits Powrie 2, 17 dmg
5					6
	Powrie 1	miss Perazada				Powrie 1	DEAD
	Powrie 2	knocked Ellia down				Powrie 2	moves towards Perazada
	Witherer	moves away from Verut				Witherer	Wind, pushes Verut, Ellia, Corrigan
	Perazada	hits & kills Powrie 1				Perazada	hits GS 1
	Giantsoul 1	misses				Giantsoul 1	hit Perazada, 15 dmg, prone
	Giantsoul 2	moves up				Giantsoul 2	hit Verut
	Verut	hits Witherer				Verut	hit & kills Witherer
	Corrigan	fireball, hits all but Witherer				Corrigan	hits Powrie 2 & GS 1 fire strike
	Ellia	healing, misses Pow 2				Ellia	hits Powrie 2
7					8
	Powrie 2	hits Perazada, 5 ongoing, punts				Powrie 2	DEAD
	Perazada	moves up				Perazada	hits GS 2
	Giantsoul 2	hits Verut				Giantsoul 2	runs
	Verut	returns hit on GS 2				Verut	misses GS 2 with Trident
	Corrigan	no action				Corrigan	Magic Missile GS 2, dead
	Ellia	kills Powrie 2				Ellia