Session 53: Getting to Uppsala Report

General Summary

The team eventually reach Uppsala. This is after passing a group of burial mounds where the Norse they are traveling with refuse to stay any length of time around. When they approach, they see the entrance with a large yellow banner with a black stripe down either side and in the middle an eye design with a line down it.
When in, they see a wooden building to the left, a tree straight ahead, and a crowd over to the right. The tree has 9 bulls, 9 boars, 9 goats, and 9 humans, all dead hanging from it. They are told they are sacrifices to the Allfather. They are shown by Jarl Magnus Ulfsson to the wooden building which is a temple. There they are introduced to the lead Hofgothi (priest). He tells them that Magnar is there, and they bring him out. He is delirious and semiconscious with a wound on his shoulder that is infected with something diseased. Anselma thought that they were going to be sacrificed but when she is told no such thing was going to happen, she wants Magnar back in. They use a bit of the Mistletoe's Blood Clot and some herbs to try to clear the wound. It will take 3 to 5 days to heal. The Hofgothi also tried using the remains of Mistletoe' Blood Clot that was attached to a chair and is one of the reasons the Undead are to attack the site. And the remaining part is a sacred well. They agree to help with the defence of Uppsala to give time for Magnar to stabilise and are given a small vial of holy water to use on weapons which are not magical or spiritual in nature. They also see the Jarl & Floki Bigbeard in praying at three different stands to the gods, one with a carved figure with wheat, one with a carved hammer, and at the head a figure with a spear & missing an eye.
A scout comes running in & tells the Jarl that the enemy has been sighted in the north-east, and they have at least three zombie Mammoths they have raised after digging them out of the permafrost. The place is filled with non-combatants while the rest start to prepare for war. Most people who can fight are armed with basic weapons & armour and start forming up. A group of about 30 heavily armored Dwarves with spears, shields & axes march out into the nearby town to the north east with two smaller groups of Wood Elf Skirmishers breaking off to either side, and a unit of heavy armoured High Elf bowmen stand behind the Dwarves near the gate of north-eastern gate. The team make their way down to this part and start to work their way round from the north-west to spy on the army. Heavy footsteps & breaking trees can be heard. There they see coming down among the trees and the rough road, the army. About 200+ troops, a creature on a zombie mammoth is surrounded by 20 Hunnic undead cavalry, and a mass of skeletons & zombies march around it with more behind protecting foot troops of some other kind of undead similar in appearance to the Huns. Another zombie mammoth is in the center here too.
When back at the town, everyone is in place and the heavy tread of the horses & the first mammoth can be heard. They come running up with the horses going to scatter to either side. The Wood Elves & High Elves open fire after being told to do so, with some of the horses going down and more being trampled with the mammoth. The latter is shot with some arrows with small oil pouches attached. Anselma lights a fire and lights an arrow that she shoots directly into the mammoth setting it ablaze. It panics and starts to stomp wildly through the cavalry while the undead on it's back gets ready. It plows into the defenses and drops while the undead jumps off landing and throws its cloak of which is lit.
Grimmaz & Reolus, backed by Kulug, rushes to the attack. Anselma stands back with her bow ready. They attack, and get some blows in, though for a while Reolus is temporarily poisoned by the stench of death & decay coming from the creature. Anselma hits him with a burning arrow on the eye, yet he takes no damage from it being on fire & pulls it out the back of his head. They eventually defeat him and Reolus overcomes his poisoning.
They are waiting for the rest of the enemy when Anselma hears a commotion behind her and some of the High Elves moving. An attack is taking place at the southern gate and the doors are being torn down by mounted troops. She rushes down and starts to try swinging with her daggers at the enemy. Pulled back by Floki Bigbeard, she hears someone shout out: Trolls, they have two trolls.
The other follow and the troops fighting in & around the town withdraw far enough to the temple area to start to regroup. Enemy troops are still trying to fight at the north-east, and the southern gate gives way. Two trolls followed by skeleton troops pour in. Two units of berserkers (5 each) charge shouting: We got them!!!, charge the trolls. What troops that could be mustered start to hold off  these troops. What Grimmaz realises with the help of Reolus is the leaders are Draugr. One on a zombie horse, and two other undead Hunnic warriors enter the fray, and they start to make for the temple. Grimmaz attacks, taking the Draugr's horse down and fights him with Reolus. They finish him off, and one of the other undead has a torch taking it towards the temple. They quickly finish this off, and the whole time Anselma is helping the Norse troops deal with the threat of the skeletons by taking a few out.
After this the skeletons back off, giving everyone the chance for a quick breather. By this stage Grimmaz has a minor cut, Kulug is a tad injured, and it is pointed out the berserkers are all dead. It seemed they took the trolls down with Floki Bigbeard is dead, with large gashes running down his body, and his chest crushed. He is lying on his back, and the troll is lying on down with its arm across is legs.
At this point, some more skeletons come in, and five horsemen come in. Four of them are Hunnic, and the one in the center is a Draugr carrying a greatsword. The undead & the Norse form up properly, and the former start to form into a wedge shape pointed at the temple on a hand signal by the Draugr.
At this point, they know this is likely going to be the last stand, and the fate of Uppsala decided. The team & the Norse are outnumbered but that hasn't stopped them yet.

Rewards Granted

6900 XP.

Character(s) interacted with

Jarl Magnus Ulfsson, the Hofgothi, Floki Bigbeard, Kulug Jocki

Notes

Floki Bigbeard killed in action against a troll.

Campaign

9th Century Earth Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign

Protagonists

Grimmaz Fyrwin

Neutral Human ()
Fighter 14

144 / 144 HP

STR
18

DEX
18

CON
18

INT
14

WIS
14

CHA
14

Report Date

08 Jul 2023

Primary Location

Temple of Uppsala