Session 21: Maeldun's House of Delights

General Summary

On the eve of the 24th day after Midsommar, with Valdryssil's dead boughs looming across the twilit sky, the Storm Eaters entered the brothel built into the ruins of the eighth Elvish Garden. The stuffy, warm air was filled with the smell of sweat, sex, and livestock. The entire brothel was built into what once was the grand entrance hall to this Garden. A half dozen whores, of human and elvish descent (and a couple of them noticeably pregnant), plied their trade and served food and drink. A couple of half-elven girls less than the age of 10 maintained the fire and tended some pigs and chickens, which were housed in the same space. A drunk warrior wearing a boar skin cloak named Hjorn guarded the establishment from just inside the door with less than earnest effort.
Ottar immediately procured some food and hired a couple of the pregnant whores to clean and polish Maldgrim. Another whore, a comely but bedraggled human woman with platinum blonde hair cropped short, attached herself to Ottar's side with enthusiasm that bordered on desperation. She introduced herself as Gretchen and casually stroked Ottar's back between the shoulders. It took a moment for Ottar to realize Gretchen was surreptitiously tracing letters and words onto his back with her casual strokes. If he had it right, she was spelling out, "help me she took my baby."

Gretchen Tulkkisdauttir, a desperate mother

A clear, commanding woman's voice then called to the Storm Eaters from the far side of the brothel, beckoning the strange travelers to meet the proprietor of the establishment. The Storm Eaters, minus Maldgrim (who was getting a good polishing), plus Gretchen (who remained attached to Ottar's side) approached the voice at the far end of the brothel hall. There they met Maeldun, a middle-aged redhead with fading beauty and a toothy smile who constantly ran her fingers through the flame of a candle by her side. She asked for introductions, as such interesting travelers rarely came to her brothel. Maeldun then asked for news of the world and what brought the adventurers her way. After some discussion, the party quickly discerned that Maeldun dealt in information and secrets as much as she dealt in flesh.

Maeldun, peddler of flesh, secrets, and so much more

The Storm Eaters traded information with Maeldun, learning that Hafrsted is currently vulnerable with Jarl Cyanth and most of the fighting men being away to battle the Wormborn, as the giants of the Ten Thousand Giants Wood are threatening to raid. They were told that one of the Jarl's Huscarls by the name of Rorik Rockchin was most likely commanding Hafrsted in the Jarl's absence. The Storm Eaters shared that the dragon Scalding Rain was slain, which fascinated Maeldun and led to a slew of other questions.

During this conversation a savage looking barbarian of the Grey Ear tribes was standing by Maeldun's side. He looked feral and quite dangerous, with a wreath of trophy ears worn about his neck. He said nothing and stared intently at Janicka, as if fascinated by the Vaettir. Janicka eventually confronted him, and the savage introduced himself in very crude Common as Breg Wind-In-Ears. Maeldun then dismissed him with a wave, and the barbarian left the brothel. Janicka and Halstein followed.

Breg Wind-In-Ears is a big fan of goats and women with antlers who wear wolf pelt cloaks

Outside Janicka and Halstein found Breg petting Eiuin with surprising affection and reverence. And even more surprising Eiuin seemed completely content to let this stranger touch her. Janicka immediately snapped at Breg to remove his hands from Eiuin, which he did without issue. Breg then asked where the party was going and offered his services as a guide and protector through the wild lands between the Elvish Gardens and Hafrsted. Janicka and Halstein said they would consider his offer. Breg then went off into the night, saying he would seek out his brothers-in-arms who were off hunting moor cats. Janicka returned inside while Halstein kept Eiuin company.
During this time Ottar found a space away from Maeldun to have Gretchen feed him while slyly whispering her desperate plea in is ear. Ottar learned that Gretchen was the daughter of the Elderman of Gardenholm (the next closest human village, just a few hours to the north). Gretchen went on to say that three days ago she gave birth to a baby boy and Maeldun took him. She said Maeldun often takes the babies her whores give birth to, and they are never seen again. She begged Ottar to help save her baby and offered any reward she could give.
While all the conversation and dealings were happening between the party, Maeldun, Gretchen, and Breg, Maldgrim was busy sending a slew of telepathic messages to anyone with a body he deemed worthy to bear him. Breg largely ignored him. Gretchen and the other whores were scared by the sudden voices intruding into their heads, which led to Maldgrim reluctantly presenting himself as more than just a fancy helmet. Using his mage hand magic, Maldgrim floated about the brothel and joined the conversation with Maeldun. After studying the floating helmet, Maeldun mentioned she had seen a drawing in a history book that depicted the legendary hero Cyuli wearing a helmet that looked like Maldgrim. Maldgrim redirected the conversation, neither confirming nor denying the insinuation. Maeldun offered to buy the sentient helmet, but the Storm Eaters insisted he wasn't for sale, so other deals were struck.
Janicka purchased the freedom of the two young half elf girls with her magical wolf pelt cloak going to Maeldun as payment. Janicka told the girls to pack warm clothes for the road, as they were leaving with her. The girls asked if their mothers were coming as well, to which Janicka said yes, although she didn't have a plan for that yet. Meanwhile, Breg returned from outside, apparently returned from checking on his companions who were hunting, and Maeldun gave him Janicka's magical wolf pelt cloak for reasons unknown. Was it a gift? A payment? The relationship between Maeldun and Breg was unknown. When later asked by Janicka, Breg said he did not work for Maeldun, but often stopped by her brothel to trade her news from the roads and wilds in exchange for her services.

Hjorn, the drunk warrior guarding the door, was bought with rare Aelvallan coins and various bits of information by Svagnir. This was done to provide Maldgrim with a body, a decision Svagnir did not find appealing, but the least distasteful option compared to letting the helmet host upon one of the women or children. From this exchange Maeldun learned that the heroes were Eaters of Worms attempting to end the ongoing Third Plague, but she did not learn their exact plan concerning the dragon's last breath and the godtrap of Wrothgar.

Maeldun also took great interest in the Crone's Tooth Staff Svagnir had procured from the dragon's lair. She claimed that she had seen that staff before and it was cursed. She wouldn't elaborate on the curse, but did offer to buy the staff and get the evil thing off of Svagnir's hands. Unsure if Maeldun was telling the truth or not, Svagnir refused to let the potentially cursed staff go.

It was now Ottar's turn to deal with Maeldun. The rotund rogue was the most liberal in his dealings with Maeldun. He told her many personal facts about himself as well as that he and other Storm Eaters had slain the dragon in order to gain "fuel" needed to capture the great wyrm Nydaugg and end the Wormborn plagues forever. In addition to this valuable secret, Ottar offered to stay the night with Maeldun and share his ample charms. In return, Maeldun shared a tale about a woman named Ravel, who was one of the original apprentices of Svain, the father of magic. Maeldun claimed she was the eighth daughter of Ravel, which if true, would make Maeldun thousands of years old. Maeldun also said that her mother Ravel went by many other names, such as "The Great Mother" and "The Sleeping Queen". She also said that Svagnir's staff belonged to her older sister, Bheurhild, and implied that her wicked sister had used the cursed thing to sodomize her as a young girl. Again, Maeldun offered to deal for the staff, but Svagnir refused. Maeldun added that her sister, Bheurhild, could always sense the staff and would come for it.

As everyone turned in for the night the party slept in several separate locations. Halstein, Janicka, and Eiuin slept outside. Svagnir, Maldgrim, and Hjorn (whose services had been purchased earlier) slept inside, surrounding themselves with some filthy curtains for a modicum of privacy. Svagnir did not sleep, his mind racing with disillusionment and doubts. The young druid was beginning to wonder if Valkheim was a place worth saving or not. While drunkenly passed out Maldgrim forced his way onto Hjorn's head. But not content with the drunkard's body, he continued to telepathically message Gretchen, offering her freedom and glory and all manner of things if she would wear him upon her head. The troubled woman, who feared for herself and her missing child, said she would do so only if Maeldun was killed and her baby found.

Ottar followed Maeldun into her private chambers. For joining her, Maeldun let Ottar in on more of her secrets. First she pulled the half-eaten tongue of a baby from a drawer and devoured it with a gulp. Ottar assumed that was what remained of Gretchen's baby. She then revealed that she sought a way to escape the horrors of Valkheim to a paradise world her mother, Ravel the Sleeping Queen, had somehow made. She asked Ottar to stay with her and help her escape Valkheim, as she found the daring and morally ambiguous man to be fascinating. Ottar politely declined, stating that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and that he had purpose here in Valkheim. Somewhat disappointed, the madam then instructed Ottar to sleep on her bed while she watched over him from her rocking chair. Ottar, sensing that he may be in very mortal danger, decided to live with the decisions he had made and go with it. He went to snuff out the candle Maeldun always kept within finger's reach, but the woman moved with feral speed to grasp his wrist and stop him. Her touch upon his wrist was...wrong. Ottar felt very strong elongated fingers with razor sharp claws rather than the delicate hands of a woman. Her appearance was an illusion! Now he knew he was in very mortal danger. Maeldun once again told him to sleep and promised he would be safe. She would watch over him. Complying out of a mix of fear and curiosity, Ottar went to sleep upon Maeldun's bed.

Ottar awoke in the middle of the night, paralyzed with fear. Perched atop his chest was what he knew to be Maeldun, but she looked far different. She was a younger woman, with midnight black hair and massive infected scars covering half her face. One of her eyes was swollen with infection, filled near to bursting with pus and blood. Her hands were elongated and clawed. Calmly Maeldun removed a necklace made of a dozen severed baby fingers and placed it around the neck of the paralyzed Ottar. She said that with this gift he would be her "eyes and ears" in the world. Ottar then passed out. When he awoke in the morning Maeldun was gone, but the necklace of baby fingers was securely around his neck. He discovered that he could not bring himself to remove it. He couldn't explain it, but it felt right draped around his neck.

Maeldun's the eighth daughter of Ravel, in her true form

As Ottar gathered himself for the day his keen eye and mind discovered a secret passage behind a cupboard in Maeldun's chambers. He opened it to reveal a passage beyond which sloped up. Driven by curiosity he ascended the winding tunnel. As he progressed, Ottar had the strange feeling that the tunnel was getting bigger, or he was getting smaller. Up ahead he saw light coming from what looked like a mouse hole. But with every step the mouse hole appeared to grow larger, or he smaller? Fear and good judgement finally overcame Ottar's morbid curiosity, and he turned back and left the strange tunnel. He rejoined his companions in the main hall of the brothel.

Maeldun, still with candle in hand, finally appeared from her chambers as the Storm Eaters were finishing breakfast. Tired of all the mystery and nebulous dealing, Janicka burst in the front door riding Eiuin in a threatening manner. Maeldun instinctually pinched her candle out and disappeared. It wasn't until it was clear that Janicka only meant to make a dramatic appearance, and not harm Maeldun, that the woman reappeared, candle relit.

A few more deals were struck in the morning before the Storm Eaters departed. The lives of all the whores, including Gretchen, were purchased for the magic potion of Last Hope the Lodge Eldritch had given the companions. And in a surprising change of heart, Svagnir traded the Crone's Tooth Staff to Maeldun for a promise from her to help and protect Mabd the she-dragon, do her no harm, and aid her in regaining her humanity. Maeldun was curious and perhaps even wary as to why Svagnir would want a dragon protected and helped (not to mention aiding it in regaining humanity?) but did not hesitate to make the deal. It was clear that the staff was something she truly wanted.

With that final deal complete, the Storm Eaters, Hjorn the drunk (with Maldgrim upon his head), six whores (including Gretchen), and two half elf girls left Maeldun's house of pleasure. What ramifications would come from all the deals they had made with the ancient and powerful hag...only time will tell.

Not far from Maeldun's, the Storm Eaters met Breg and his companions; three other barbarians and a pack of wolves (one of which was a massive black dire wolf). Breg once again offered his services as guide and guardian through these dangerous lands, for only a pittance of coin. The Storm Eaters accepted the very cheap deal. In the short trek north to Gardenholm of an hour or two, Janicka confronted Breg about his intentions, as he continued to seem obsessively fascinated by the Vaettir and Eiuin. Breg revealed that there was something special about Eiuin. She was a "queen among beasts", and even his mighty wolves were "trash" compared to her. Janicka responded by saying all men were "trash" compared to women, and his services were no longer needed. Without a hint of disagreement, Breg and his band of men and wolves left the Storm Eaters to their own.

One of Breg's warriors and two of his mighty wolves

Near midday the Storm Eaters came to the village of Gardenholm, a small human settlement under the banner of Hafrsted, built into the ruins of the ninth and final Elvish Garden. Elderman Tulkki (Gretchen's father) and a handful of old warriors and shieldmaidens came out of the village to meet the strange band of adventurers and whores. A frustrated and tired Svagnir told the Elderman to take custody of all the whores and children, but then had second thoughts when he realized he was probably just condemning them to a life of thralldom under the Elderman. Changing his mind, Svagnir said only the three human women would be staying, and the elves and half elf girls were staying with the Storm Eaters. Gretchen looked very upset being reunited with her father, and an observant Maldgrim quickly messaged her telepathically, promising to take her away from her father if she wore him. Gretchen responded that her father was a "monster" and quickly put Maldgrim upon her head. In yet another round of changes, a still frustrated and tired Svagnir told the Elderman that Gretchen was now staying with the Storm Eaters and Hjorn was staying with the Elderman. Confused and most likely intimidated by the dangerous looking group, the Elderman made no arguments. Hjorn and two of the human whores were left in Elderman Tulkki's care (to what fate is unknown, as though not as common, humans are also kept as thralls in some parts of Valkheim). The three elven whores and their two half elf daughters, along with Gretchen (now bearing a finally satisfied Maldgrim upon her comely head) accompanied the Storm Eaters northward past Gardenholm.
As the party travelled, they discussed what their plan was. Svagnir wanted to take the dragon's last breath within Halstein directly to Wrothgar in Svarthalla, hopefully using the secret entrance to the dwarven realm that Maldgrim claims to know through a place called Hregg Rot. Maldgrim, still untrusted among the companions, was not forthcoming with Hregg Rot's location, saying it is only to the north and west, which further frustrated Svagnir. Ottar wanted to take the dragon's last breath to Thaneshall, as he had been instructed by Helka of the Lodge Eldritch in her dreaming spell. The druid, the rogue, and the helmet bickered a bit, each trying to make their case. Svagnir continued to show signs of frustration and disillusionment, stating that he was beginning to think there was "no good in the world" worth saving. To that both Halstein and Gretchen responded that there was good in the world.
Torn with indecision, the Storm Eaters (along with their small entourage of whores and children) stood deadlocked upon the road north of Gardenholm. Which route would they choose? Follow the Lodge's instructions and procure a boat in Hafrsted to sail to Thaneshall? Cut their own path to Svarthalla through Hregg Rot using Maldgrim's supposed knowledge? And what of Breg Wind-in-Ears and his band, with their strange fascination with Janicka and Eiuin? Would the Storm Eaters encounter them again? And what would come of the deal Svagnir made with Maeldun to help and protect Mabd? How would an ancient hag and a young woman trapped in a dragon's body find each other's company within the bounds of the promise Maeldun had made? Time and blood with surely tell.

Report Date

08 May 2023