Session 20: Finding Direction and a New Friend?

General Summary

The dragon Scalding Rain lay dead as the Storm Eaters huddled around Svagnir, near death himself, but stable due to the barber-surgeon skills of Ottar. The group took stock of their situation. Svagnir was made comfortable and safe while he recovered, and then the dragon's hoard was looted. There were thousands of coins, and each Storm Eater took all they desired, or all their pouches could contain. Myriad other valuable objects were in the hoard, but none caught the fancy of the companions, or were too large to possibly carry. Several magical items were discovered as well, including a staff adorned with a goat's horn and human teeth (which Svagnir took in hand), an armor cuirass made of autumnal leaves (which Janicka put on), a torc made of giant bone (which Halstein placed around his tiny neck), and a wicked elven blade (which Ottar sheathed upon his ample waist).
The group also found a strange iron box sealed with a magical riddle. Initially the riddle had Halstein and Janicka stumped, but clever Ottar rooted out the answer, which was "a winged helm." As he said these words the magically sealed lid sprung open to reveal a winged helm inside, adorned with a large gem upon its crest and inscribed with arcane runes. As the companions studied the ornate helm a strange voice filled their heads, one after another, making various suggestions and promises. The companions grew wary of the helm, and decided to keep it isolated until Svagnir recovered and could examine it with this druidic knowledge.

Maldgrim the magical helmet looks pretty dope...and can change appearance to suit the wearer!

Janicka and Halstein decided to go outside the dragon's lair and check on Eiuin now that the hoard had been sorted. As they made to leave, while Ottar kept watch over the unconscious Svagnir, Vintior Bluehand suddenly emerged from the pool of black water within the dragon's lair. The creepy warlock called out to the Storm Eaters to pay their "tax" to the Sed Hellen in the form of half of the magical items they had found. The companions offered Vintior everything in the hoard except the magical items, which the warlock refused, saying he came solely for the enchanted items. To ensure his claim was taken seriously, Vintior then showed his latest prize to the Storm Eaters: a six-inch portion of Eiuin's horn he had broken off. The warlock claimed to have captured and hidden the giant Ibex as leverage. Janicka instantly gathered half the magical items and offered them to Vintior in exchange for Eiuin's location. Vintior took his prizes with satisfaction, and as he was making his way out of the dragon's lair revealed the location of the captured Eiuin. Janicka asked him to return the broken part of Eiuin's horn as well, but Vintior said he would keep it as a new lucky charm. Janicka could take no more, broke their deal and attacked Vintior. Ottar and Halstein joined in the fray, with the tomte warrior putting on the magical helmet in the process.
Vintior summoned a massive magical hand made of blue energy to help fight off the three Storm Eaters, but he wasn't having the best of luck as he was pressed rapidly by the tired but determined companions. But what killed the warlock was a surprise blast of magical fire from the helmet Halstein wore upon his tiny brow! Janicka, in a rage at the thought of Eiuin being hurt, then pounded Vintior's burned, dead face into mush with her bare hands before reclaiming the bit of broken horn.

Vintior Bluehand, a truly misunderstood and tragic soul who died before his time.

With Vintior slain and the threat eliminated, the Storm Eaters turned their attention to the helmet once more. It spoke aloud with a disembodied (and haughty) voice. It introduced itself as Maldgrim, and that it was happy to finally be free after spending nearly a century as the dragon's possession. Maldgrim asked the Storm Eaters to take it anywhere but here. Still wary and suspicious, the Storm Eaters asked what Maldgrim's intent was, as well as what they stood to gain by helping the sentient helmet. Maldgrim replied that he possessed powerful magics and a wealth of information, as he had been around for centuries. The Storm Eaters pondered this new information as Svagnir finally recovered enough to return to consciousness. He was brought up to speed on the situation with Maldgrim, Vintior, and the dragon's hoard.
At this time Janicka and Halstein left the dragon's lair to locate the captured Eiuin. They found the giant Ibex hobbled and tied to a dead tree, right where Vintior said she would be. Janicka immediately cut her companion free, who was unhurt, save for the portion of her horn that had been broken off. The sun was just starting to rise in the east on this 22nd day past Midsommar, and as Halstein scanned the horizon he noticed the dark shape of a dragon perched on a hilltop about a half mile away. It was Mabd the she-dragon. The tomte immediately dashed back into the dragon's lair to fetch Svagnir. Meanwhile, Janicka and Eiuin approached their one-time-companion-turned-dragon. Mabd called out in a booming voice before they could get close, "Stay back, friend, as I cannot be trusted. I have become a monster and cannot promise your safety." Janicka pulled back and waited for the rest of her companions to join her.

Mabd is still wrestling with her new draconic body

Moments later the rest of the Storm Eaters climbed out of the dragon's lair (including Maldgrim, who found a perch upon Halstein's wee head) to join Janicka in speaking to Mabd from the safe distance of nearly a quarter mile, yelling across the barren land to be heard. Mabd said she had been drawn by the scent of Scalding Rain's hoard, as treasure is an irresistible draw to dragons, who are said to sustain their magical essence from the wealth in their hoards. She apologized to Svagnir for hurting him and for killing Jutta (Ottar decided to keep his secret and let Mabd continue to live in undeserved guilt). She asked the Storm Eaters to leave the dragon's lair as soon as they could, as she didn't know how much longer she could resist claiming the hoard of Scalding Rain. Finally, she desperately asked Svagnir to stay with her and help her try to recover her humanity. Svagnir reluctantly refused, as his quest to end the Third Wormborn Plague took precedence, but he did promise to return to Mabd once his quest was complete. Mabd then told Svagnir that she loved him, placed something on the crest of the hill too small for the Storm Eaters to make out in the distance, and then flew off, presumably to return soon and claim Scalding Rain's hoard when she could no longer resist its call.
The Storm Eaters made their way to the top of the hill where Mabd had been perched, and Svagnir discovered she had left him one of her magical dolls of protection as a token of her love.
The Storm Eaters then discussed their next course of action. They knew they needed to take the last breath of the dragon within Halstein to the famous dwarven crafter Wrothgar of Svarthalla, but they had no idea how to get to him. They decided for the time being to travel north to Hafrsted, the closest city of any size, and weigh their options there.
As they left the hilltop northbound, they noticed a female figure struggling nearly shoulder deep in a meandering bend in a nearby creek. It was Brenka, the lone surviving Daughter of Hervora, seemingly delirious and zombie-like with exhaustion, trying to send two of her sisters' corpses downstream to find Valdryssil. Feeling pity on the elven woman, the Storm Eaters approached the creek where Brenka struggled. When they came within earshot, the elf pleaded in a raspy, dead voice, "help me." As the companions drew to the water's edge Brenka suddenly rose unnaturally out of the water, revealing her wrists to be slashed clean through and her entire lower body rotten and bloated with necrosis. She was clearly no longer alive (probably killing herself in shame after committing her fallen sisters' bodies to the creek) and had become a Rusalka; the undead spirit of a woman who had died tragically in water, now cursed to haunt that location and drown any that come near.

Swimming with Rusalka is not recommended.

Brenka the Rusalka seemed to focus her hate on Janicka, who had been the one to slay Siofra, Brenka's beloved leader. With whip-like tendrils of unnaturally long hair coursing with necrotic rot, Brenka entangled Janicka and pulled her beneath the water's surface in an attempt to drown her. The Storm Eaters burst into action, each attacking the Rusalka in an attempt to free Janicka. But once again it was the newcomer, Maldgrim, who laid the enemy low with a powerful burst of magical flames. Despite his condescending and haughty personality gaining him little trust with the group, Maldgrim was already proving to be a valuable addition to the party when it came to combat.
After slaying Brenka the Rusalka and freeing Janicka, the Storm Eaters proceeded north, following the old Elvish Gardens Road and the creek it paralleled. Svagnir summoned some fey dire wolves for them to ride for a short time to speed up their progress, but they were still limited by Eiuin who was too big to fit upon any beast the druid could summon. During their trek north, Svagnir was contacted by Skordal of the Lodge Eldritch via the sending stone given to him. The druid informed Skordal that the dragon was dead, and they had its last breath.
During the trek through the wild lands of the Elvish Gardens the companions avoided an encounter with an Ettin named Ruk-Rok who was panning for "shiny stones" in the creek, losing some valuable time, but clearly avoiding more pain and bloodshed.
That night the companions camped near the ruins of another of the Elvish Gardens. It was an uneventful night, save for the dream which came to Ottar. The rogue was visited by Helka through her spell of dreaming. It was a dream of temptation, full of food and flesh, as Helka believed she was dealing with a true mercenary and hedonist based on what she had been told of Ottar through her associates who had known Virhis (Ottar's former master). She asked Ottar many questions about his past, his loyalties, why he didn't become and Eater, and his ultimate intentions, trying to get an understanding of the peculiar man. Ottar illuminated on his oath to the Deathspeaker Druids, and how he felt it was now fulfilled when he saved Svagnir's life in Scalding Rain's lair. He stated that he was now looking for new purpose as a man no longer beholden to a life debt. Helka offered Ottar purpose in helping the Lodge Eldritch end the Wormborn Plague, which would save tens of thousands of lives and grant him the favor of the powerful Lodge Eldritch. Helka told Ottar to bring the keeper of the dragon's last breath to Thaneshall, where Skordal would meet them and lead them onto the next phase of the quest. Ottar disclosed that Halstein was the one who had inhaled the dragon's dying breath. Helka reinforced that the tomte was the key, and to be protected at all costs. Ottar said their plan was to travel on foot to Hafrsted and then hire a boat to take them to Thaneshall. Helka said to seek Herja at the docks in Hafrsted and a boat would be waiting for them.

Helka of the Lodge Eldritch, Eater of Worms, Hero of the Second Wormborn Plague

The following day promised cold rain as the sun rose into a leaden sky. As the Storm Eaters continued north, they discussed what Ottar told them of his dream communication with Helka. Although many of the companions had no love for the Lodge Eldritch, they didn't know what other options they had for finding Wrothgar in Svarthalla other than to go to Thaneshall and meet with Skordal. It was then that Maldgrim chimed in, stating he knew a way to Svarthalla through something called Hregg Rot. Svagnir and Ottar had heard of Hregg Rot, which to their knowledge was an obscure criminal organization of exiled dwarves living on the surface that had vanished centuries ago. When pressed for details, Maldgrim promised he would disclose more if the Storm Eaters helped him get a body. The magical helm said going north was fine for now.
The day of northward travel was uneventful, traveling by several of the Elvish Gardens and through waves of intermittent rain. Late in the afternoon Janicka received a magical message from Ana of the Traitor's Three. Ana informed Janicka that Worhana was well and being helpful toward their cause of destroying the Lodge Eldritch. She warned that it appeared the Storm Eaters were doing the Lodge's bidding, which made them potential enemies. Ana said this was their last chance to side with the cause of the Traitor's Three, and to join them at Blackwater Keep. Janicka replied with a simple, "taken under advisement."
During this day of travel Svagnir completed the last healing magics needed to close the gaping wound in Janicka's face left from the Ogn Troll blade. A nasty scar which constantly seeps just a hint of water from Ghostfalls was left as a reminder of Janicka's brush with death.
On the eve of the 24th day past Midsommar the Storm Eaters, soaked from walking all day through sheets of rain, came to the eighth of the nine Elvish Gardens. This one was not in ruins and showed signs of civilization. A handful of horses were tethered outside, along with a robust stack of firewood. A single lantern of red glass hung above the door. Ottar instantly recognized it as a house of ill-repute. The companions realized their trek through the no-man's lands of the Elvish Gardens was finally coming to an end, as this brothel was most likely on the edge of territory controlled by men. Maldgrim communicated secretly to Ottar, and the rogue took the helm and approached the brothel's door with purpose. He knocked with a hammy fist. A welcoming woman's voice beckoned him in.
What with the Storm Eaters find within this den of vice? A place to rest out of the cold and rain, along with some warm bodies to share their beds? Speaking of warm bodies, will Maldgrim find one of his own within this house of flesh? And in the grand scheme, which path will the party ultimately choose? Will they side with the Lodge Eldritch and take the dragon's last breath to Skordal in Thaneshall to end the Third Wormborn Plague? Or will they side with the Traitor's Three and their Wormborn horde in a bid to destroy the Lodge Eldritch and establish a new world order? Or will they take matters into their own hands, perhaps finding a way to take the dragon's last breath directly to Svarthalla with the help of Maldgrim and his secret knowledge about Hregg Rot?

Report Date

18 Apr 2023