Chapter 6 - The Webs of Winterball

General Summary

The first of the cities that the party decided to summon the druids of Kirkwall to their side. They took the archer Monroe le Goth with them. The party travelled north and camped for the night, where they were watched by spiders. These spiders terrified John, who warned the rest of the party. Uhtric managed to cast a light spell to ward the spiders away for the night.
The next day they arrived in Kirkwall, where Caoimhe was given the mission to confront the druids on King Aethelred's call to action. Her father, Aesir, served as Arch-Druid in the Kirkwood Forest. She told her father the issue, and Aesir mentioned how the druids have been unable to act unless the treants told them to. Aesir mentioned that the treants have only been speaking to Caoimhe, much to his annoyance, for they chose her as their mouth. Caoimhe then travelled alone to talk to the treants.
The treants told Caoimhe that they were willing to help King Aethelred, if the foreign spiders in the forest could be ridden of. The treants then told Caoimhe that the spiders were drawn into the forest because of how Brigid was angered by the presence of Gromherjek, and she has turned into the aspect of Lolth. The spiders needed to be cleansed and the threats of the Danen eliminated of if Brigid was to be happy again. Caoimhe agreed to this, and rounded up the party to find the area of taint.
Caoimhe led the adventurers to the area of taint. First they met a group of owlbears, where Ardor managed to distract with his familiar Ash (much to the familiar's dismay). Then they met a group of spiders, whom Caoimhe tried to reason with, but the giant spiders seemed insistent on keeping them away, and afraid to talk against "their mother". Monroe shot some of the spiders, and the party quickly eliminated them. In the distance, the party spied on the "mother" who was a Drider named Lila.

Drider by BenWootten

A battle commenced, with Lila using her phase spiders to attack Uhtric and Eogun, while the other spiders scurried to web up Caoimhe. Caoimhe eventually freed herself and summoned two brown bears from the forest to come to their side. The bears, and Ardor's fire magic, eventually overwhelmed the drider and she was slain, as well as the other spiders. During the battle, Ardor's wild magic made him immune to getting drunk. The party then investigated a nearby dwarven tower, where Ardor saw the dead bodies of Dwarves in the astral plane. In the tower, it warned the party about misusing the Bifrost.
As the party walked back, Monroe began to talk with John. He told John that he knew the nature of his separation, and warned him that in killing the second John, he too would die. John suspected something off about Monroe and questioned him. Monroe revealed himself to be more than a meer ranger: he was an agent of Bghonah, King of the Unseelie, and was sent to fix the John situation. It turns out the second John had betrayed Bghonah, and the fey king did not take kindly to that. John agreed that he would like to come back together, but kept a close eye on Monroe.
With the party returning back to Kirkwall, the Treants agreed to help the men of Albion. The adventurers finished their quest on the first day of Winterball. The party then spent the rest of the seven days partying, with Ardor winning drinking contests, and all around enjoying a small moment of joy despite the last month of terrible events. In the last moments of Winterball, John made a wish: that he would find the second John soon.

Date (in world)

Winlustra 22nd-30th, 4350

Report Date

20 Dec 2021

Player Characters

Uhtric Godwinson, human Paladin of the Crown and the Earl of Beton. Once he was scarred by the Danen for defending his hometown, and has sworn to protect Albion with his life.

Ardor Pelota, dark elf Wild Mage and Wizard. He is a prolific student of evocation magic (especially fire) and a bit of a prodigy. He is joined by his familiar Ash, who has a bad attitude.

John Harvard-Hemming, half-elf Trickery Cleric. A very logical man, John has been seen as a nihilist, having little moral sense yet devoted to his mysterious god.

Caoimhe Kirkpatrick, human Shepherd Druid. Caoimhe is fanatical about myths and legend, but has been sent on a quest by the Ents of Kirk to stop a legend from being created. She is joined by her wolf ally, Fenrir.

Eogun MacOncett, human Rune Knight. Eogun comes from a clan with no claim to fame in the lands of Keller. Armed with Giant runic magic, Eogun seeks to make a name for his family within the lands of Albion.