Northlands Pt 4
The Real Thoren
The group is racing back to stop the consummation of the marriage between Gunnar and Brita.
While the group races back to the mead hall riding shadow steeds, Ellia and Corrigan discuss the possibility of publishing a book on their Northern Adventures.
Upon arrival at the mead hall, Thoren carries his sword across the threshold, calling for Gunnar. Gunnar has already left for the marriage site. The group follows his trail to a small hut, finding Gunnar's amulet along the way. As they approach the hut, Corrigan notices some from the mead hall watching the hut and warns the others. Verut keeps the mage light, while the watchers move forward.
The group is able to catch a few of the guards by surprise.
| S | | | | |
| | Corrigan | Fire shroud on 3 guards, removes 1 minion | | |
| | | | | |
| 1 | | | 2 | |
| | Outrider(p) | Hit Ellia | | Hit Perazada |
| | Outrider(s) | Hit Thoren | | Hit Verut |
| | Perazada | Miss | | Miss outrider (p) |
| | Ellia | Horse Destroyed as she went for the door | | moves away from door, hits warrior (1) |
| | Warrior 1 | After Ellia | | guards the door |
| | Warrior 2 | After Ellia | | hits Perazada, knocked prone |
| | Warrior 3 | Miss Perazada | | No attack |
| | Warrior 4 | Miss Thoren | | ---- |
| | Corrigan | | | Repelling Sphere warrior(1) + door |
| | Verut | Hit outrider (s) - knocked prone | | Hit outrider(s) |
| | Gunnar | ---- | | dazes Corrigan while dealing 10 dmg |
| | Thoren | Speaks with the Barbarian | | Horse killed |
| | | | | |
| 3 | | | 4 | |
| | Outrider(p) | Miss Perazada | | Hit Perazada |
| | Outrider(s) | Miss Verut | | Miss Verut |
| | Perazada | hit outrider (p), helped by Ellia | | hit warrior |
| | Ellia | | | outrider(p), 21 dmg, heals Perazada |
| | Warrior 1 | | | |
| | Warrior 2 | Flanks Gunnar | | Targets Gunnar |
| | Warrior 3 | | | |
| | Warrior 4 | Hits Perazada, knocked prone | | |
| | Corrigan | Attempts to hide in stream | | Hit Gunnar 21 force dmg |
| | Verut | hit outrider(s) | | miss outrider (p) |
| | Gunnar | charges Ellia, hits | | misses Thoren |
| | Thoren | charges Gunnar, misses | | hits Gunnar |
| | | | | |
| 5 | | | 6 | |
| | Outrider(p) | hits Perazada, prone | | hits Perazada |
| | Outrider(s) | hits Verut, prone | | hits Thoren, bloodied |
| | Perazada | hit outrider(p) | | hit outrider(p), hit Gunnar 14 dmg |
| | Ellia | hits Gunnar, 9 dmg | | hit Gunnar, heals Perazada |
| | Warrior 2 | hits Gunnar, bloodied | | hit Gunnar |
| | Corrigan | frees Grita | | moves |
| | Verut | hits Gunnar | | dazed |
| | Gunnar | hits Verut, crit | | misses Thoren |
| | Thoren | misses Gunar | | Gunnary surrenders |
| 5 | | | | |
| | Outrider(p) | hits Perazada | | |
| | Outrider(s) | downed Thoren | | |
| | Perazada | hits outrider(p) | | |
| | Ellia | Healing word Thoren | | |
| | Warrior 2 | Misses Gunar | | |
| | Corrigan | Thunder wave - Gunnar & outrider (p)(dead) | | |
| | Verut | Knocks out outrider(s) | | |
| | Gunnar | (surrendered) | | |
| | Thoren | Checks Gunnar into Hut | | |
With the battle over, the group pillages the fallen bodies, after congratulating Yurik on recognizing the truth behind Thoren's words.
| Misc Treasure |
Magic Items |
Weapons |
2 Silver Rings
1 Bronze Ring
95 gp
|
Bottle of Green Liquid: Water Breathing(1hr)
Scroll (Unglaca Accord)
Rune of Strength
Long Sword - +2 Lightning, Blitzen Sax
|
2 Seax
4 Scram-a-seux
2 Large Ax
2 Morning Stars
1 Dagger
|
The group spends the night outside the hut, while Brita and Thoren spend their wedding night together. On the morning, Thoren appears well rested. The group separates the prisoners, good from bad, and everyone returns to the mead hall.
Good-bye Thoren
Thoren gives the group notice that Gunnar was out of favor with the southern druids. He however was in good standing with them. Thoren provides the group with the druid password to gain access to their grove. The password was Halgal. The thane bestows gifts upon the group:
- Perazada is given a white dire wolf fur mantel from Brita
- Corrigan is given a rune amulet which should provide boon rights from the fey, given by Bjord (runemaster).
- Verut is given an honor ring of Thoren's hall.
- Ellia is given a Drinking Horn of snow (snow storm).
These gifts were on top of two jugs of mead and general supplies.
The group takes their leave, riding on the shadow mounts summoned by Corrigan. Heading south?, they reach a bowl-like valley in the afternoon. In the open space, they see a monument of standing stones. It's identified as the Nest of Flafngar, a bird hatched from a mountain which laid seven eggs, the thunderbirds that drive the storms.
The Druid's Grove
The group leads their horses in on foot as they notice movement within the little village of approximately 20. Druids in white, an elderly woman and a younger male, approach and accept the group's passphrase. The elderly woman gives her name as Frenya, the Grove Mistress. She calls their village Lyra. Corrigan announces the groups purpose. Frenya leads the group back to the village, saying we must speak with the circle to determine the way forward.
Corrigan asks about the vial of clear liquid. It's identified as either Blood from the Salmon of Wisdom or directly from the Well of Widsom which would make it extremely dangerous.
The price for what we seek is usually steep, we have not yet earned the right. As the group waits for the circle, they swap stories with the initiate druids.
The group is lead back to the circle of druids, where most the druid community is waiting in the center. The group is challenged by the druids to explain why they seek the mistletoe. Ellia relies on diplomacy and the history of southerners moving north, Verut his shared reverence with nature, Corrigan brings in Sycron's history with the North, and Perazada recounts the recent slaying of Hrothgralm and Unglaca.
The group is lead back out of the circle to await the druids' decision. 20 minutes they wait for the council's decision. Upon their return the circle, the druid's announce that the group has conducted itself as Northerners. the druids will share their knowledge with the group. Corrigan challenges the most elder, Roundstone to a friendly test of knowledge, which is accepted.
The druids explain that the Gate to the Grove of Baldur lies in the land of the fair folk, with fey guardians. It is a natural flint archway worked with giant runes and rests across the northern bank of the river hiding between two mountains.
One other name was made reference to: Nored Stoneborn.