Session 12: Giant Decisions

General Summary

A warm, heavy blanket of rain fell upon the companions as they continued their journey to Goat Eye Pointe, now without Worhana. They discussed several decisions that needed to be made as they traveled, and all of them had to do with the Wormborn in one way or another.
Svagnir asked Janicka if she wished to share the secret ritual to create new Eaters of Worms, as there was now a potential need for more Eaters, and a possibility Janicka could die and take the secret with her to the grave when it was needed by the living. Bjekmir had shared this secret ritual solely with Janicka before he had gone comatose, stating that he trusted her with it because of her disgust at being an Eater and knew that she would not misuse it. Janicka had been a faithful guardian of the secret, but now felt it was time to share the burden with her trusted companion Svagnir. And so the Vaettir taught the Ghost the secret runes to be inscribed upon the flesh of a corpse to bring it back to life as an Eater of Worms.
The companions then wrestled with perhaps an even a bigger decision next: did any of the living among them wish to become Eaters of Worms? It was very probable that they would encounter Wormborn again if they continued upon this quest, and becoming an Eater was the only known way to resist the corruption, but at such a cost. Mabd said she was already considering it but felt that she had to deal with the draconic curse that was already upon her first. Halstein and Ottar discussed many points. Halstein seemed interested in doing whatever was needed to accomplish the most good. Ottar pontificated on death, and how one chooses to accept it and face it, as the ultimate expression of individual freedom. Neither was ready to make a decision yet.
During the discussion Svagnir used Einar the Windy's sending stone to ask the Lodge for specific supplies the party needed, such as maps and an atlatl among other things. A gravelly voice responded, introducing himself as Skordal Skullkeeper, Second of Helka. Skordal went on to say he would be the party's point of contact, as Helka had "bigger storms to ride" at the moment, and to do his best to get the needed supplies. He also told the companions to clear the statue at Goat Eye Pointe by sunset.
As the companions drew nearer to their destination, and the curtain of rain showed no signs of abating, they came upon a snare trap that had recently been sprung and emptied. It appeared as if a half dozen small humanoid creatures were dragging away an elk or deer they had captured in the snare, and they were taking it to Goat Eye Pointe. The companions continued, keeping a tally on the tracks and also moving more cautiously.

Duantrolls are gross and stinky

Soon the companions came upon the source of the tracks they followed. A small band of 6 duantrolls, their stink muted by the heavy rains, were dragging a live young elk calf they had trussed up towards Goat Eye Pointe. Stealthily the companions moved into position to attack, and the shadowy Ottar was the first to strike. With lethal precision he sent one, then another of the duantrolls to the Tree with arrows directly into their throats. Before more blood could be spilled the less than courageous (and clearly outmatched) duantrolls surrendered. Although a common language was not shared between the duantrolls and the party, the companions learned that the duantrolls were bringing the elk back to Goat Eye Pointe to give it to something called a Thursir (or mountain of sickness in the giant tongue). They were doing this because the Thursir had their whelps, which were kept on his back somehow, and they were forced into doing its bidding.
In a surprising act of benevolence, the companions agreed to attempt to rescue the duantroll whelps from the Thursir, and Janicka even paid the little creatures a silver piece for the loss of two of their number.
The companions proceeded with caution and soon came upon some ancient ruins at the tip of a pointe that jutted out into the waters of the Throat. They had found Goat Eye Pointe. The ruins appeared to be an old temple of some sort, with its roof collapsed centuries ago. Fifteen-foot walls still stood mostly intact, along with an out structure for livestock and a dried up well. Inside the temple something massive stirred in its sleep. A cloud of buzzing flies rose up and then resettled. Halstein crept toward a break in the temple's walls and spied a foot bigger than him propped up on a ruined altar. The party spread out, surrounding the temple, as the brave Halstein entered through the break in the wall to discover a massive, obese giant sleeping inside, covered in a blanket of flies with his head propped upon a pack large enough to fit a horse inside. As the tomte approached, the pestilence given off by the Thursir giant filled his nose and caused him to immediately feel weak and ill.

Thursir are even grosser and stinkier

Halstein decided to take the opportunity to make the first blow and buried his short sword into the giant's foot with all his might! The Thursir awoke with a roar of pain and rage as the brave but wise Halstein scampered back outside the temple. To keep the Thursir from following Halstein, Svagnir summoned a haunting creature that took on the form of a dead girl to block the giant's path. The Thursir quickly squashed it with its massive boulder-headed club. The companions began a concerted attack from all directions outside the temple walls, ducking in and out of the giant's sight, launching javelins, arrows, and spells. Mabd cast her most powerful spell, a bolt of witchy energy, but unlike last time when it blasted from her hand, this time it erupted from her mouth, like the horrible breath of a dragon. The Thursir responded by hurling a boulder at the young witch. The selfless Halstein tried to block it with his own body but fell short, and the boulder smashed Mabd in the face, nearly killing her. Svagnir healed Mabd as the giant turned its attention on Ottar, who had landed a painful blow to the giant's back. In a stroke of luck or fate the giant fumbled and dropped its club when it was reeling back to land what was probably a fatal blow to Ottar. Speaking in giant's tongue, Janicka taunted the Thursir to attack her and not her companions. Along its path to the Vaettir, the giant stomped Halstein out of the way, but not before he got a wicked blow in on the giant's leg. Wounded a dozen or more times now, the bleeding giant rushed at Janicka. The Vaettir ranger met him by leaping into the air and burying her ykwla deep into its chest, and then tearing it open as she came down. The giant had been slain!
Unfortunately, Halstein had been exposed to the giant's pestilence for too long and had contracted a fatal wasting disease known as Thursir Rot. Svagnir promptly cured the disease with his druidic magic, potentially saving his small companion from a painful and long death. The companions searched the area and discovered the duantroll whelps in a dog kennel cage inside the Thursir's pack. They freed the young creatures, who were grievously ill, and helped them find their way to their parents who were watching the battle from not far away. They also discovered that the temple was an ancient elven site dedicated to the goddess of magic, Greyja, whose statue was the centerpiece of the ruins. Once again, the companions found it strange that Greyja had once been worshipped by the elves long ago. Was there some time in ancient history when the elves might have had reason to venerate Greyja, and why in this particular area around Coldlight Fjord? It would be a mystery for another time.

Greyja is anything but gross and stinky

The statue of Greyja had been defaced with many arcane symbols that the companions could not decipher, carved into the statue in more recent years as they were not as eroded as the statue itself. The companions also discovered manacles in the structure originally build for livestock, and wondered if not long ago this place had been used to keep prisoners of some sort?
After searching the area and feeling confident it was secure, the companions rested in a makeshift shelter that Ottar had constructed while they waited for the transportation and supplies the Lodge had promised. During the rest, the Eaters among the companions sensed the presence of Wormborn nearby, but the creatures were apparently content to just observe from a distance before skittering away. Apparently, Ana was keeping tabs on them.
As the rain finally subsided and day passed into night, the runes upon the statue of Greyja began to suddenly glow. The companions made ready for whatever was about to happen, as a paunchy old man magically emerged from the statue. He wore the skirts of women and a brassiere made of bones, along with a string of at least a dozen sending stones around his neck. In one hand he carried a blackened skull and in the other a large sack. This was Skordal Skullbearer, second to Helka of the Lodge Eldritch, come to both deliver and take.

Skordal is kind of gross, but he actually smells faintly sweet, like rosewater and lavender

The crotchety old man delivered maps, an atlatl, and a couple of magical items to help the party on their quest. Halstein took an enchanted feather that when broken would allow him to fly with giant eagle wings for a short time. And Svagnir took a potion called "Last Hope" that could invigorate and heal the one that drank it, but at the cost of their long-term health. Skordal seemed very frank and likable, even comically complaining about Helka wasting his time and energy by coming here to fetch her old boyfriend. Skordal said his magic could not teleport the party to the Elvish Gardens, and that another mage with a boat named Olav Farwalker (whom the companions crossed paths with in Draugr's Run) should be here in the morning to take them.
Skordal also took a moment to examine the strange markings on Janicka's hands. He said he could decipher part of them, stuttering to himself that they were in some very old elvish script, or maybe something more primal. He said he could read two of the many symbols: "god" on one hand and "killer" on the other.
Skordal also made a very subtle and veiled threat to Mabd, suggesting that she only remains safe from the Lodge if she and her companions stay true to doing the Lodge's bidding.
With his delivery now complete, Skordal took Bjekmir, the encoded braid message from the Ghosts that Virhis had passed to Ottar, and the bone talisman of Einar the Windy off the hands of the companions. Svagnir said a reverent farewell to the old warrior and for a brief moment Bjekmir stirred, as if he heard, before he was gone back through the statue with Skordal.
After the old mage had left, the party settled in to wait for Olav to arrive in the morning. Once again, they discussed if anyone wished to become an Eater. Ottar declined, wishing to keep the freedom of his death for himself. He offered Svagnir to release him from his duty if the druid found his decision unacceptable. Svagnir said his decision was acceptable and his skills were still needed upon this dangerous quest. Halstein, on the other hand, decided that becoming an Eater was the best way he could help others in this time of great need. Mabd was touched by the tomte's selfless courage. Svagnir agreed to complete the ritual. With Mabd holding his tiny gray hand, Halstein laid on the ground and bared his chest. Svagnir took Halstein's short sword and as quickly and as mercifully as possible, buried it in the tomte's chest, killing him instantly. Throughout the night Svagnir worked to inscribe the ash runes over Halstein's body, with Mabd ever at his side. Come dawn, the ritual was complete. Halstein awoke to his new life beyond death, with silver eyes and black blood and no dreams.
As the brave tomte warrior got to his feet, and the other companions awoke, a small and familiar vessel approached from the west, with a purple sail cut by one broad, white stripe. Olav Farwalker had arrived to take them upon the next leg of their journey: to find and slay the dragon that lairs somewhere in the ruins of the Elvish Gardens.

Report Date

02 Nov 2022