22: Jorvik, Land of Grey
General Summary
After the long, tiring experience dealing with the Haunting Hydra Sea Serpent, the group made the decision to stop at the next town for a chance to stretch their legs, get repairs to the ship, and stock up with more provisions. The skies were crisp and clear as they neared the small city of Jorvik. Jorvik, they learned, is a city of hearty Northmen, a broad people clad in leathers and furs.
The idea of having a simple, restful stop immediately went overboard when, as they docked, the group noticed some commotion in the city. Northmen were gathering in the streets and moving inward. Bits of conversation told the group that the citizens were worried about something, and that they believed a recent earthquake to be caused by something supernatural, perhaps as vengeance for something. These citizens left behind their children, urging them to stay safely inside until the adults returned.
As the group followed the crowd, they found the destination--a stone coliseum. Some members of the crowd stayed outside, but the group joined those brave enough to go inside. They took a seat in the stands, curious to see what was happening. They saw a group of five northmen standing in the middle of the coliseum, apparently waiting. They did not have to wait for long, for the sounds of large footsteps echoed, sounding ever nearer, and soon a large Frost Giant entered the ring, stooping under the entrance. It was a woman, her blue skin covered in leathers and her white hair hanging free except for a few braids. She stopped, took in the crowd and the lack of a tribute presented to her, and spoke with a cold fury. "Where is the tribute?" She asked.
For a moment no one dared to respond, but then a redheaded viking with a thick beard and thicker chest stepped forward. With a calm, practiced voice he responded. "There is no tribute," he said. "There will be no more tributes."
The murmurs of the crowd showed dissent in their response. Some supported this decision, and others trembled in fear, certain that they would be punished with another earthquake when the first had already greatly damaged half of their town. Enraged, the giant left, promising revenge if the humans did not change their stance and present them with the tribute they required.
After the crowd calmed, the man in the center addressed them, urging anyone with a brave heart to step forward to take down the Frost Giants. He promised a reward of riches and renown for any who did. None stepped forward immediately, and many began to leave the coliseum, the group included. They were here, after all, for rest, not adventure.
While leaving the coliseum, Vash was nearly knocked over by a cat-like man running through the streets. He heard a quick "Sorry!" as the man continued on, tailed by city guards, yelling at him to "STOP!"
"I'm just looking for help!" yelled the cat-like creature who did not stop running, hounded as he was by the guards.
Instead of helping the guards capture the runaway, the group blocked the guards, asking what the problem was. The guards make quick enemies of themselves, pointing out that "outsiders" weren't allowed in the city, and making it clear that what they meant was non-humans. "Creatures," they went on to say--creatures like the Ice Tabaxi who had run on by. Rowan sent an illusion of the tabaxi running in the other direction, leading the guards away.
The group knew two things from this encounter. One, the tabaxi must have had a good reason to be risking his life in this city, and, as Vash declared out loud before running off "The children are in danger!" The children, meaning the groups' adopted non-human orphans who were meant to be enjoying a day of shopping in a new city.
Knowing Vash could handle himself, the rest of the group went to find the tabaxi. With Fern's help, he was quickly located. He told his tale, about how his younger sister had gone missing and how he feared she had been taken by the frost giants. Knowing that the city had their own issues with the giants, he thought perhaps he would be able to find assistance here, despite knowing he'd be unwelcome. The group agreed to help him, and planned to meet him outside the north gate after having gathered Vash. Rowan gave him invisibility to get out of the city.
Vash was down at the docks, enraged at the situation unfolding at the off-ramp of their ship. A group of guards stood at the base of the ramp, weapons drawn, yelling at the children to stay on the ship! A tense confrontation occurred, in which Vash nearly took on the guards but was talked down by the rest of the group when the others arrived. A tense agreement was reached, in which the guards left and the children would wait on the ship for them to come back after having defeated the frost giants. One of the guards, Burick, who had enraged Vash the most, left the docks with his own piss dripping down his leg.
Before leaving town, the group decided to meet with the council to discuss their reward for this quest, and to go shopping for useful supplies. The shops had very little in stock, but Gabriel did promise the apothecary to search for an enchanted Mortar and Pestle that the Frost Giants were said to have, as well as mushrooms from their caves. The council, they were find, were mostly cowards who wanted to give in to the demands of the giants. The man from before, who had turned the giant away, was named Ulfric Redcloak, and he agreed to speak with the jarl about the treatment of the group's adopted children. He joined the group on their journey. They shouted in the streets for more volunteers, but none stepped forward. The guards even disappeared down side-streets to avoid them entirely.
As they finally made their way to leave the city on the adventure they did not want, the group saw an elderly woman berating guards who were posted as their ship. She made them let her pass, and delivered home-made pies to the hungry orphans. The group thanked her heartily, and Gabriel happily took a pie for himself, packing it away for later. Aralia wanted to pay the woman 5 gold for her kindness, but the woman refused. Nonetheless, the gold was snuck into the woman's pockets before she left.
Finally, in the early afternoon, the group met up with the tabaxi man, who they learned was named Leif Snowpaw, and his clan leader Kari Stormchaser. Together, the group made their way across the snow towards the mountains, following rough tracks in the snow and Fern's keen nose. As they trekked, they learned more about their temporary partners. Kari, Leif, and his missing sister Tora were the last of their clan, as the others had all died. Leif was sad to inform, when Vash asked, that he did not have power over snow, but that his little sister did. (Vash was hoping to bring Bucky, the Boson of their ship, some snow to make him happy.) Ulfric, despite hailing from the racist city of Jorvik, was happy to travel with the Tabaxi, and sympathized with Leif's worries. His little sister, they learned, had been the last tribute to the Frost Giants.
Their trip spanned one night and into the next day. They faced multiple dangers, but handled each with cleverness and skill. A yeti was lead away with pie and food, and two trolls were taken out in battle. Then the group found themself in a run-down village, small in number but large in the size of the buildings and tools they found.
Fern lead them straight to the nicest looking building, though it too was in disrepair. They entered, opening the enormous door with some trepidation, only to find an empty room with a very large bed and chest. "Fi fi fo fum," shouted Vash, "come on out and get some!" There was no response. They changed tactics at this point and asked Fern to locate someone who smelled a bit like their new tabaxi allies. Fern lead them straight to a door on the other side of the room, which they learned was locked. While they tried various methods to get break through the door, they also looted the chest.
Vash even attempted to meld through the stone wall beside the door, and fell into the chasm on the other side, straight into the cold water below. He quickly rescued himself, melding into the stone of the cliffside and popping up through the floor, wet and cold.
The tabaxi were confused by the actions of their allies and decided to move forward on their own. They peeked out of the large hole in the wall on the other side of the door, and jumped from the room to a wooden bridge. From there they opened the door and the group walked on, through a large crack in the mountain. Gabriel gathered some mushrooms on the way, remembering his promise to the apothecary in the city.
Soon they found themselves at an enormous set of doors, but had no difficulty getting in as the door was left just slightly ajar. Inside was a massive stone keep. They crept along, following Fern and her trusty nose. The next door they found was also left just slightly open, and they stepped inside, pausing when they heard voices arguing within. A woman, seemingly the frost giant from the coliseum, was arguing with a man, beseeching him to be content with the tributes they had already reaped, and to move on from this chapter of their lives. The man, it seemed, was not content with this idea, claiming to need more to ensure their survival.
Vash shouted out, and they were beckoned into the inner chamber. Stepping through a large door which had not been shut all the way, they found themselves in a large room with an enormous circle on the floor adorned with runes. The only other living creatures appeared to be the two frost giants. What followed as a back-and-forth of stubborn arguing, as the group tried to convince the frost giants to stop taking tributes and to explain what their tributes were even for, and the frost giant Jarl telling the group to mind their own business.
Eventually the truth was spoken. The tributes, the children, were transformed into Frost Giants. They were told of the tragic history of the frost giants, wherein the northmen of Jorvik and surrounding tribes hunted and slaughtered nearly all of the frost giants. In response, both to boost their numbers and bring retribution against the northmen, they began to demand their tribute. "Each willingly chooses to stay," explained the Jarl "Yeah, because you changed them into one of you!" Accused Vash.
It would seem each side of the conflict had a part to play in both the tragedy and evil.
When questioned about the tabaxi's little sister, the Jarl seemed genuinely confused, Finally, Fern and Aralia snuck away, following the tabaxi scent to a side room, which she found left ajar. Inside, with her tail sticking out from under a large bed, Aralia found a young tabaxi child. She calmed the child's fears and took her back out to the main room, allowing for a tearful reunion for the siblings. Tora explained that she had snuck into the Frost Giant keep all on her own, hoping to convince the giants to help the clan with their problem of being hunted by humans. However, she had gotten to scared when she saw how big they truly were, and hid instead.
In the end, a peaceful agreement could not be reached. It needed to be settled with strength, as was the way of their people, and for the Jarl. If they could defeat him in battle, they would earn the right to make the decision for them to move to their new settlement without demanding any further tributes.
They prepared for battle, prepared to take on the enormous Giant of Frost. Before anyone else could even make a move, Aralia took action, polymorphing the giant into... a small bunny. She picked it up and handed it to the Jarl's wife, who, holding back a grin, stated that the Jarl would have to see this as a rightful win. She honored their agreement.
Before leaving, Ulfric stepped forward, wanting to see his sister and wanting to ensure that no further conflict would take place. It was decided that he would go with the giants, and that the group would tell the Jarl of Jorvik, who they learned was Ulfric's brother, that Ulfric had given himself up as the final tribute.
Their trials were not yet over. In Jorvik, the Jarl did not want to believe that his brother had truly simply given himself up as a final tribute. However, Rowan used his pipe of remembrance to show the events that had occurred, carefully showing only what was needed. Even with this knowledge, the Jarl would not promise to leave the situation alone, not taking further action against the Frost Giants. Further, he would not promise to end the racist ways of the city, no matter how much Vash terrified him.
The group left the longhouse and discussed a plan outside. Gabriel consulted his God, Ilmater, who informed them that the city would be better without their current Jarl in charge. Rowan took action, spinning an illusion, a waking nightmare, for the Jarl. He saw how he and his people would suffer if he were to continue on his ways. He also saw that his people would suffer no matter what if he were to remain leader. Scared, affected as he was by these visions, the Jarl ran out of the longhouse and shouted a name, the name of his one relative.
"ROLF!"
A young man with bright red hair and hardly a whisker on his face came running, only to be taken by complete surprise as the Jarl handed over his right to rule. "The fate of Jorvik rests on your shoulders now," he said at the end. "I, like my brother, must find my own path."
Rolf, confused but pleased, promised to take this burden seriously. The pie lady came forward, beaming with pride. Edda, as they learned was her name, pulled the boy into a hug and stated how proud she was of her son. Rolf and Edda promised to turn the city around from their old ways, and to gather even more for their reward for handling the issue with the Frost Giants. After being told the full tale, Rolf promised to honor Ulfric's wishes.
In the following days, the group, including the children, were allowed to wander and shop in the city. The few dissenters that emerged were quickly silenced by other members of the city, or by members of the new guard. Nearly all members of the previous guard were fired or reassigned to other duties, they learned. Burick, specifically, was assigned to latrine duty indefinitely, to honor Vash.
After a week the ship was repairs, provisions were obtained, and the children were ready for the sea once again. Tora Frostpaw had created a small snowing cloud above the deck, just for them, which left a layer of slow-melting snow on the deck, much to Bucky's pleasure. The tabaxi clan was invited to join the crew, but they declined, opting to stay in the snow instead. Just as they were about to leave, the ground trembled. Many citizens panicked, shouting about another earthquake as they ran to hide. The truth arrived moments later, as some twenty or so Frost Giants reached the outside of the city, having received word via Aralia's bird friends of the changes in the city.
What followed was a miraculous turn of events. Families were reunited, finally learning that their missing children were not dead, but merely different. Old northmen even got to meet grandchildren, and great grandchildren, that they did not know existed. They may have been enormous, and blue-skinned, but they were loved none-the-less. Giants worked together with architects to help rebuild the city from the previous earthquake, which everyone now realized was simply a natural disaster.
As the ship pulled away from the dock with its crew on the deck, watching the scene unfold, Ulfric, much larger, much bluer, with a beard that still shined in the sun, appeared at the city. Beside him was another giant with hair just as red and a grin that ran wide across her face. They knelt down to greet someone, and though they were too far away to see from the docks, it must have been the old Jarl and maybe Rolf and Edda.
It was an adventure they did not want, and one they even tried to avoid, but in the end they had been a massive force of good for the region, catalysts for change that was desperately needed.
They sailed onward, towards the dwarven lands in Berwyn, and their abandoned mine, Modiminir. There they hoped to find the legendary treasure that Dao, the Earth Genie, had informed them about.
Rewards Granted
Listed on the Master Loot List
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