Session 82: Dark Revelations
General Summary
As the challenges conclude and Morthak's path leads her into the bones of the mountain, dark secrets are revealed.
Session Commenced:
The 6th day of Cyr, 1622 TER
(Day 559 of the campaign) Session Concluded:
The 6th day of Cyr, 1622 TER
(Day 559 of the campaign)
9 days since Departing Tor Sionis.
The Wildcards continued their hunt of the mighty Yur-Geiter, and with quarry in sight Two-Hands lead the charge, dropping from Yothtook's back to land in the snow next to the expansive creatures. He summoned forth mighty lightnings from his god, channeling them through his blackened hand. Skulk’s daggers were not far behind, intuitively striking at the Colossal creature’s more vulnerable points. Some of the party was sent flying by the beasts charges and mighty kicks, but only a few as the three mammoth-goats were quickly cut down. With trophies secured, and an exhausted Sofia safely aboard Yothook, the group returned to the Ashpeak Camp, Skulk leading them back down the mountain and deftly avoiding further interruptions, despite his itch to explore a large, claw-marked cave on the way down. Moving quickly proved fortuitous as Anenia's hunting party also arrived at the same time, but thanks to some shenanigans from Morthak in the form of a hypnotic pattern, they were delayed just long enough to secure our second victory. With two out of three challenges already won by the Wildcards, Gelkia, the Chieftain, pronounced us the victors and despite Anenia's fury, announced that we would be granted access to the mountain. As nightly meals were prepared, Skulk spent a brief time learning to scrimshaw one of his collected teeth from an elderly Goliath woman while Phaes took Sofia to bind her wounds and recuperate. After but a short rest, the Chieftain Gelkia bid Morthak to enter the mountains that night, and be gone with haste by the morrow, as her arrival had caused much dissent among the tribe. Morthak pulled Sofia aside to check on her, chiding her for withdrawing from the group after her comment about "talking too much" a week earlier. Morthak reminder her she had slain a dragon - she should remember to find her courage. Lenia stopped Morthak to warn her that the Mountain might not be welcoming to her, or her friends, and Morthak reassured her that she was expecting no less. The wildcards followed Morthak into the mountain, descending a winding path she seemed to know well. We were lead into a massive cavern filled with lava, with a small walkway leading into the middle. It was here that Morthak performed her rites to speak with the mountain, casting special stone into the magma and kneeling to inhale the fumes thus vented, losing herself in visions. While entranced in her vision quest the rest of us were assaulted by fiery wraiths who sent waves of magma towards the vulnerable and whose touched sapped the life from the living. Phaes was hit hard trying to defend Sofia, and Sofia used her magic to drag her to safety before she too was drained to within an inch of her life. Skulk was beset on all sides by wraiths until Two Hands summoned more lightning magic and a Giant draconic claw of lightning and fire, guided by Kord, which vanquished several of the wraiths. Morthak’s sight passed into the before, seeing moments of time the mountain had witnessed. She saw the terrible reason behind Anenia’s rage. She saw the heroes of old being cast into the magma, and she also learned the key to passing through to the Realm of Jotungaard, where Godgorger had been forged by the Giants during the first age of the world. And with that Morthak was awoken from her visions to the melee that had broken out. And in a timely fashion, as her shield cast a glowing radiance to cast off the Wraiths, just in time to save Sofia’s life, she stepped forward and spoke words in ancient giant:
The 6th day of Cyr, 1622 TER
(Day 559 of the campaign) Session Concluded:
The 6th day of Cyr, 1622 TER
(Day 559 of the campaign)
9 days since Departing Tor Sionis.
The Wildcards continued their hunt of the mighty Yur-Geiter, and with quarry in sight Two-Hands lead the charge, dropping from Yothtook's back to land in the snow next to the expansive creatures. He summoned forth mighty lightnings from his god, channeling them through his blackened hand. Skulk’s daggers were not far behind, intuitively striking at the Colossal creature’s more vulnerable points. Some of the party was sent flying by the beasts charges and mighty kicks, but only a few as the three mammoth-goats were quickly cut down. With trophies secured, and an exhausted Sofia safely aboard Yothook, the group returned to the Ashpeak Camp, Skulk leading them back down the mountain and deftly avoiding further interruptions, despite his itch to explore a large, claw-marked cave on the way down. Moving quickly proved fortuitous as Anenia's hunting party also arrived at the same time, but thanks to some shenanigans from Morthak in the form of a hypnotic pattern, they were delayed just long enough to secure our second victory. With two out of three challenges already won by the Wildcards, Gelkia, the Chieftain, pronounced us the victors and despite Anenia's fury, announced that we would be granted access to the mountain. As nightly meals were prepared, Skulk spent a brief time learning to scrimshaw one of his collected teeth from an elderly Goliath woman while Phaes took Sofia to bind her wounds and recuperate. After but a short rest, the Chieftain Gelkia bid Morthak to enter the mountains that night, and be gone with haste by the morrow, as her arrival had caused much dissent among the tribe. Morthak pulled Sofia aside to check on her, chiding her for withdrawing from the group after her comment about "talking too much" a week earlier. Morthak reminder her she had slain a dragon - she should remember to find her courage. Lenia stopped Morthak to warn her that the Mountain might not be welcoming to her, or her friends, and Morthak reassured her that she was expecting no less. The wildcards followed Morthak into the mountain, descending a winding path she seemed to know well. We were lead into a massive cavern filled with lava, with a small walkway leading into the middle. It was here that Morthak performed her rites to speak with the mountain, casting special stone into the magma and kneeling to inhale the fumes thus vented, losing herself in visions. While entranced in her vision quest the rest of us were assaulted by fiery wraiths who sent waves of magma towards the vulnerable and whose touched sapped the life from the living. Phaes was hit hard trying to defend Sofia, and Sofia used her magic to drag her to safety before she too was drained to within an inch of her life. Skulk was beset on all sides by wraiths until Two Hands summoned more lightning magic and a Giant draconic claw of lightning and fire, guided by Kord, which vanquished several of the wraiths. Morthak’s sight passed into the before, seeing moments of time the mountain had witnessed. She saw the terrible reason behind Anenia’s rage. She saw the heroes of old being cast into the magma, and she also learned the key to passing through to the Realm of Jotungaard, where Godgorger had been forged by the Giants during the first age of the world. And with that Morthak was awoken from her visions to the melee that had broken out. And in a timely fashion, as her shield cast a glowing radiance to cast off the Wraiths, just in time to save Sofia’s life, she stepped forward and spoke words in ancient giant:
Í nafni Annam sem skýlir öllum jötnum, leyfðu hér hinn forna stíg."Are you all coming, or what?" The Bifrosta opened to a portal beyond...
Morthak's Visions
As the smoke seems to surround you and envelop you, robbing you of sense or perception you seem to drift for a long moment. The acrid, burning cloy of the the smoke in your lungs fades and your consciousness drifts, until vision swims back into view as the smoke seems to subside. You see the cavern again, from your viewpoint at the edge of the lava, but you know - *instinctively* - that what you are seeing is not in the *now*. It is a vision of the past. In your vision you see the cross-legged figure of your mentor and master, Agrak, in the centre of the cavern. His grey skin is slicked with sweat from the heat of this place and his eyes are closed as he meditates. He looks younger than when you last saw him before he made his trip up the mountain. Behind him, from the shadows, the scrape of a foot on loose stone. A smaller figure clings to the darkness, on the threshold of the tunnel, barely a silhouette visible in the glow of the lava. Agrak speaks first, his back turned to the encroaching figure. "It's very dangerous for you to be down here." There is a pause, before the voice of a Goliath, a girl, not even yet a woman, replies. "I'm not scared." "That doesn't make it less dangerous," Agrak replies. Another pause, before the figure takes a tentative step into the dim red light of the cavern. A slim frame, skinny for a Goliath, wrapped in furs, her hair tightly braided and dyed purple with the juice of elderberry. "Aurmak came into my bedroom and hurt me again last night," speaks a young Anenia. From your vantage point, you see Agrak's brow furrow in pain, and you realise that from where Anenia stands, she cannot see the same. Anenia continues. "He hurt me, the way he used to hurt mama, before she died." Agrak is silent for a moment, and as you await his response you can make out more of Anenia's face. It is neutral, expressionless. Except for her eyes. Her eyes are filled with rage. After what feels like an eternity, the terrible words hanging in the acrid air between them, Agrak speaks, remaining motionless. "This is a matter for the Lamentor, child." "Aurmak gave the Lamentor a winter wolf pelt and thirty pounds of flesh, as well as ten pounds of mammoth fat." Anenia's voice still sounds emotionless, matter of fact, as she continues. "The Lamentor will do nothing." From your vantage point, you are a single tear well from beneath Agrak's closed lids, rapidly drying on his face in the heat of this place. Anenia continues: "Afterwards he dyes my hair with elderberry. He says it reminds me of her. Of mama, before she died. He says," and now, for the first time, you hear emotion in her voice - pain, and fury. "He says it's to show he *loves* me." There is another long pause, before Agrak speaks. "I cannot give you what you seek." Anenia takes another step forward. "If I were Hornbearer, he could not hurt me again. He would not have the power. *I* would." Agrak breathes deeply of the smoke of the mountain, and sighs. "I cannot train you, child." Anenia states at his back with dead eyes. "Why not?" "You heart is too filled with rage. The mountain would not give it's powers up to you. It would consume you." "Am I wrong to be angry?" "No," replies Agrak, emphatically. "But... I am sorry child. The power of the mountain cannot be yours." You notice Anenia's fists balled by her sides as her shoulders square and her face twists with rage. "And so another thing is stolen from me by what he has done." Agrak remains motionless. They both stay silent until he finally replies. "Our ways have protected us for generations, child. Please. Talk to the Lamentor. They will protect the tribe." "They'll protect the tribe, master Agrak. But they won't protect me," spits Anenia, before she turns and begins slowly waking back into the tunnel. As she walks, you hear the sizzle and smell the iron scent of blood as trickles run from between her clenched fingers and begin to congeal on the hot stone below. Amid the scent of blood and fire and smoke, your vision fades again.
The smoke swirls and recedes again and as it does so, you feel your *when* shifting again. The time is past. Centuries past. Over two and a half thousand years. Echoing through the ancient caverns and tunnels that lead to this place you hear the sound of voices, raised in song. Marching in step. Lights glimmer in the darkness and begin to grow as they approach the mouth of the tunnel, and two ranks of goliaths carrying torches begin to file onto the platform, chanting as they march. Between the two files, carried on a broad bier of wood carved into the shape of wyvern wings and wrapped in a shroud, is the unmistakable figure of Maathu, the goliath wyvernrider and leader of old. You have seen her life in visions. Today you see her death. Here, deep within the Minderhold Spires. Within the Ashpeak. The chanting ceases as the two files form a circle, and Maathu's body is laid down in the center. A tall, powerfully built goliath steps forward. "I was Maathu's second and her mosr trusted warrior. I thought none would EVER best her in combat. Whether with sword or spear, her skill was unparallaled within Dyrn." "Twice the Elves attempted to steal what was rightfully hers. Twice they broke the pact of Aevonmei. Twice they quit Wyvernspur to harrass us. Let it be known it took the force of an entire Elven fortres to bring down our leader! For Maathu!" And the surrounding Goliaths take up the cry. For Maathu!" As their voices die down, the bier bearers turn, and begin slowly carrying the funeral bier low, at waist height, to the edge of the platform - before slowly sliding it into the liquid magma below. It bobs and drifts for a moment as the base begins to rapidly char and blacken, soon catching aflame, as Maathu is dedicated to her afterlife.
This time your journey through the smoke seems to take longer. The acrid fumes drag hot tears from your eyes as your skins seems to crinkle in the heat. But invevitably they clear and you find yourself once more in the same place. This ancient chamber deep in the bones of the mountain. The sound of footsteps. Heavy, shuffling footsteps. As the last vestiges of smoke clear, you see a file of giants making their way out of the mouth of the tunnel and onto the platform. Some nearly 20 feet tall, the tallest needing to duck their heads as they entered the cavern, the lead giant stopped, raising a hand, before turning to face the magma falls filling the cavern and uttering a phrase: "Í nafni Annam sem skýlir öllum jötnum, leyfðu hér hinn forna stíg." There is a flash, and the roiling orange of the magma flow seems to fade for a moment as scintillating colours of red, green, blue and voilet beging to coalesce before you. With a deep rumble, a portal seems to open in the far wall, the magma flow diverting around it, and connecting with it a bridge through the air. "Bifrosta" murmurs a giant voice from the back of the file, who begin shuffling forward once more, passing through the portal one by one. As the last giant passes through, there is a short pause, before two giants pass the other way. One tall, deeply red skinned, with burning embers for eyes, the other of similar colouration, but shorter. In Giant, the shorter one speaks. "It is your best work, master Weyloun. To whom will you give it?" Weyloun looks down at his young apprentice. "This spear was crafted to kill the Gods themselves. I would trust none to wield it bar me." And with that, the vision ends.
Legend Lore
The voice is unmistakably feminine and powerful, the voice of a huntress and a goddess. The voice of Hiatea. "The remnants of a long dead god, dragged from a place far beyond our own reality, it lays cold and broken in the wild depths of spare... and it approaches." "Beware the adherents of Vhal'Atuan, for they are returning."
"The leader of the Atuani, those who adhere to Vhal'Atuan. They know her as the Navigatrix. She guides the followers of Vhal'Atuan to their ultimate end. The salvation of their race... and the extinction of all others. Towards Apotheosis. Deep beneath the sands the Atuani delve. The Path of Glass nears its completion.
Showcase
Up The Mountain
The Bones of the Mountain
Missions/Quests Completed
Goliath Challenges
Character(s) interacted with
- Anenia Lamentor of Ashpeak
- Gelkia Treewalker
- Lenia Hornbearer
- Oripeo Truthchaser Lakumalathi
- Agrak Hornbearer
- Aurmak Kulumiago
Report Date
18 May 2022
Primary Location
Related Characters
