Session 34: Öldungadalurinn Part 1

General Summary

Ivor's Plot

27th of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
Having followed Ivorr's spectral wolf form into the woods, Meara knelt when he transformed into his Leviathan form. He congratulated her on achieving so much while exiled from the Huntsmen, but said he was concerned about the path she has taken; pointing out that she effectively uses a blade anointed by the Fyra . He said the only reason he chose a "half-blood" like herself was because he knew she would be an "heir" and he expected her to retrieve the last piece of the tablet (what he referred to as "the gate") on his behalf so he could give it to Mantus. Meara noticed that when he tried to say the name his form flickered and it did not come out in common.
Meara said she refused, and no offer of power or reward was going to change her mind. Ivor said if she would not obey him, she would have to be destroyed, and he would convert the next heir to come after her. She pulled out her sword in defense, but as he reached down as if the grab her, her vision went dark, and she was suddenly lying in the snow, and all evidence of Ivor ever being there was gone.
Before returning to the ship, she heard a loud yelp from nearby. When she went to investigate, she found a lone black wolf caught in a bear trap. It's size indicated a dire wolf, but it lacked any of the other physical attributes of the dire variety, so she decided to help. She first hunted down a rabbit and fed it to the wolf, pried the trap open. She then healed it's wounds and the wolf began to look around for its pack. She knew as well as the wolf did that his pack was miles away by now, and convinced it that she would be his new pack. She named him Wulffric and brought him back to the ship.

Ethed's Calling

The following morning, Meara managed to wake before anyone discovered Wulffric and went to the kitchen to get him food. Malcolm and Zuko both noticed the extra food she was taking and followed her, reacting in shock to the discovery of the large wolf in their cargo bay. Kaylee also arrived in the cargo bay at the same time. Meara explained that she rescued him during the night, and then had to explain why she had left the ship in the first place. Kaylee explained the reason that Ivorr couldn't say the name of his master was because he was bound by rules preventing the gods from revealing certain things to them. She added that she also knows more about their situation than she is allowed to let on, and feels physical restraint when she tried to go outside the bounds of what she is allowed to say. She comforted Myra, telling her not to let Ivor get to her. She is her own person and can choose her own path. She doesn't owe Ivor or even the Fyra anything.
Meara agreed to move her quarters to the lower level and keep Wulffric under control. Then Kaylee asked if anyone had seen Ethed. Meara searched the ship for her while Malcolm and Arget Ethyn went to retrieve her personal belongings from The Welcoming Maiden, and Zuko raided the basement for supplies. Malcolm and Zuko then proceeded to Mind Over Metal and searched for anything of use, finding some raw materials and resell-able weapons and tools.
Serenity was then flown back to the local temple and they discovered that The Fool's Purse was burning to the ground with Ethed sitting on her chest of belongings and looking like she was 10 years younger. Zuko was upset that he didn't have the chance to raid the place for booze, and in response, Ethen handed over two bottles she had retireved before setting the tavern to burn.
Meara, while helping Ethed load her chest into the ship, pressed her for information on what had happened. Ethed explained that had a dream of places all over the continent burning and overrun with demons. She was asked if she would take an oath to fight against this future and accepted, and woke up feeling and looking younger and healthier. She said she didn't know much, but that the next part of her new path would be revealed to her in Anexa.
The survivors of the massacre were loaded onboard and Malcolm wrote ahead to Clambock Levut to inform him that Elta was largely destroyed, and they were bringing refugees. Clambock agreed to let them land in front of the Lord Mayor's court.

Friends in High Places

The Regulators and the refugees were guided into the court building; a large square building with a massive glass dome. They entered the circular central chamber and were greeted by Clambock and several other court officials. Clambock was excited to see Arget, revealing that he considered her a close friend. After hearing what occurred in Elta, Clambock asked for ARget to select a new leader for the people of ELta, seeing over both their well being in Anexa, and taking the position of Lord Mayor when the town was rebuilt. Arget selected her tavern hand, Miles. Clambock informed the young man of what his responsibilities would be and asked if he was willing to take up the challenge. Miles agreed and was escorted away to be fed and cleaned up for his first official meeting as Lord Mayor.
Clambock offered 40 platinum to rent Serentity so a detachment of the Earrenian Imperial Vanguard could investigate Elta first hand and shore up its defenses. Malcolm agreed, and in turn requested that Clambock allow Arget to stay in his estate, and hire Tidgrud as her personal guard. Clambock enthusiastically agreed to both. He passed on a letter that was waiting for them at the Anexa Spire; the inside of the letter was addressed to Malcolm's real name, and the content of the letter was confusing. He then noticed the date, and return address made no sense, and certain words in the letter were capitalized when they shouldn't be. They eventually discovered that the letter was in code, and the date, name and return address were a cipher. The true message of the letter was "meet me at Between Two Streams at six tonight, if you're truly the heroes people think you are."

The Wrong Foot

That evening they went an hour early to the tavern and chose a corner table to keep an eye on the place. An elderly drunk with his own personal flask wandered around the tavern drawing attention to himself, then eventually sat at their table, and dropped his disguise spell, revelaing himself to be Ardun Aaryanfar. He apologized for his demeanor the last time they met, and explained that he needed their help. It was vital that they retrieve the last piece of the tablet as soon as possible. Malcolm pointed out that the tablet should be safe where only they can retrieve it. Ardun asked what would happen if one of them died and the Cult of Mantus gets to the next heir before they join The Regulators. He added that if Alaric died, they wouldn't even be aware since he has wandered off, and reveled that he had been keeping a close eye on Alaric, but lost track of him.
Malcolm conceded the point, but demanded Ardun give them some answers about what is really going on. Ardun admitted that his superiors would not be happy, but he was willing to answer any question he could.
To be Continued... Session 35: Öldungadalurinn Part 2 

Report Date

30 Aug 2020