Session 079

# Jarl Fireforge is Anointed

**Age of the Wolf, Year 5, Autumn, Laelun Toil 2, Days 5-6**

*Vindr continues to lead the army in the parties absence, but gets beguiled by Fang Li in the process. Esbjorn and the rest of the heroes establish his authority over clan Surtshellir, but infighting within the party occurs over how the duel took place. Nygaar's leadership is sharply questioned, and Jor learns that Loki has had a hand in Nygaar's destiny. Vindr eventually compels Harald Greycloak to admit to his treachery, earning his respect and allegiance in the process. The party learns that Cryocrax is stalking the traitor Umbrian cavalry, and the party hurriedly rushes to their defense, defeating the dragon who barely escapes with his life.*

PREVIOUS --- NEXT

## Player Characters Involved

* King Nygäär the Fey Blooded Rogue/Fighter/Crusader played by Dana
* Esbjörn Fireforge the Fire Giant Blooded Barbarian/Cleric/Surtr's Chosen played by Greg
* Heiða the Mother Fucking Veleda the Dökkálfar Blooded Dread Necromancer played by Justin
* Vindr Skreevarson the Mongrel Blooded Human Scout/Ranger/Cleric played by Donnie
* Jor the Emberwrought the Giant Blooded Human Transmuter/Beguiler/Human Paragon/Ultimate Magus played by Jason
* Irrian the Shadowborn the Human Shadowcaster played by Koski

## Vindr is Smitten by Fang

Vindr stood on a cliffside, overlooking the disgruntled troops far below him. As the sun rose, he watched as the various leaders of the army factions argued bitterly. His keen hearing overheard a noise behind him, and he turned and found himself face to face with the wizardess Fang Li. Vindr was surprised, and prepared himself to slay the witch if necessary. Fang spoke quickly, assuring Vindr that she meant him no harm. She warned him that the frost giant king, Ístr Icesjel, was furious that the Umbrian cavalry had switched allegiances, and had plotted his revenge. Fang went on to explain that the king had fed nine virgin maidens to the dragon Cryocrax, in exchange for the destruction of the traitorous Umbrians. In addition, Vindr learned that the feared frost giant sorceress Arianus had been tasked with destroying the party at all costs. She held out a golden comb, which Vindr took, and explained that the comb belonged to Arianus and that such a personal token may be of help to the parties seidr practitioners.

Vindr accepted Fang's information with skepticism, and stared at her with suspicion. Unperturbed, Fang stepped closer to Vindr, and smiled seductively. Vindr felt a wave of warmth wash over him, and suddenly began to feel a strange and powerful attraction towards the foreign witch. Fang grinned as she watched Vindr's eyes fill with seidr-wrought affection, and she pressed up against him in a warm embrace. Whispering in his ear, Fang asked Vindr to help her secure the frost worm's heart, and promised that in exchange her body and soul would be his. Vindr frowned with displeasure when she broke the embrace. He watched Fang walk away, her slender yet shapely hips swaying seductively beneath her furs, before vanishing in a flash. Madly in love, Vindr resolved to obtain the heart as quickly as he could and put it into her hands so that Fang could be his. With that goal in mind, he made his way down the treacherous cliffside to treat with the army far below him.

Vindr spoke with Laerad, Harald, and Lucius, the respective commanders of the gathered troops, urging them to break camp and find shelter in all haste. Vindr knew well that the enemy would not rest and surely knew where they had camped. Harald argued strenuously against moving camp, confirming Vindr's suspicions that he had already been in contact with the frost giant king. Eventually, with reluctance, Harald conceded, and the army made ready to march. Vindr moved among the troops, voicing words of encouragement and solidarity to the common soldiers. His vows to lead and protect them with his life markedly improved morale, and the army was soon ready to depart. The lovely goat maiden Laerad suggested they go to a hidden cavern near the base of Odin's Heart, and Vindr agreed, knowing that she was well versed in the local terrain. Following Laerad, the army marched, with Vindr taking the time to get to know Laerad better while also keeping a watchful eye on the traitor Harald. The goat maiden, innocent in the ways of love, seemed smitten with Vindr, yet he only had eyes for his beloved Fang. As they marched, Vindr marveled at the cleverly wrought paths and carvings through the mountains, and deduced that the goat people had long ago forged hidden byways all through the mountain terrain.

## Jarl Fireforge Assumes Command

Meanwhile, the rest of the party stood before the collective clan Surtshellir, Ulrick Sword-Breaker dead at Esbjorn's feet. All the heroes turned to Esbjorn, waiting for him to act. Heida glanced at Nygaar, her face impassive but her eyes blazing with fury. Esbjorn immediately addressed the assembled crowd, pronouncing that while the circle was never officially drawn, what was done was done and he would immediately assume command of the clan. Holding his sword high in the air, and facing the graven image of Surtr, he invoked the name Fireforge, and a towering, spectral image of himself in god-like fury appeared above him. Drawing on the power of the god rune, he cast a ray of flame from his sword at Surtr's visage, and the black stone carving erupted in a tremendous explosion of dust and debris. A spiraling sliver of stone spun towards his forehead, on a course to impale his skull. Jor, seeing the impact play out, immediately spoke an esoteric utterance, and distorted the web of fate to make the stone shard miss its mark. Only Esbjorn and Jor realized how close the shard had come to plunging into his skull; Jor grinned knowingly at his clever use of seidr. Droog, meanwhile, sought to help his master's performance, and used some seidr of his own to create the illusion of a flock of red ravens emerging from the dust and smoke. At this godly display of power, the party watched as the clan knelt as one before their new jarl.

After a moment, Esbjorn's brother Wulf arose, and called out "hail, Esbjorn Jarl" in a booming voice. The clan echoed his announcement, and excitement rippled through the crowd. Near the back of the assembled mass, a slender noble spoke up, calling out to Esbjorn. It was Starolf Goldenhand, the feminine young grandson of Ulrick, and he demanded in a tremulous voice a blood debt of five hundred gold pieces, along with his grandfather's battle gear. Irrian, disgusted by this display of greed, and unfamiliar with the customs of Seron, sent his massive shadow elemental to harry Starolf, who gasped and cried out in unmanly fear. Esbjorn called out for Irrian to hold his creature in check, and used his clerical seidr to instill elation in his supporters, as a way to improve the general mood and seek out those who still opposed them. He then ruled that Starolf would get the gold but not the gear, to which the weakling quickly agreed. While Jor used his eidetic memory to pinpoint and memorize the faces of those who were unaffected by Esbjorn's magic, The noble members of the clan called out their loyalty one by one. One moment of tension arose when the famed leader of the magmamen, Logee the Obsidian, stepped forward to speak.

Logee looked long and hard at Esbjorn, a man that he had known since boyhood. Finally he nodded, and called out his allegiance. At that, the gathered troops who were suicidally loyal to Logee began to bang their shields with their weapons, pronouncing that they too would follow the new jarl. Esbjorn was inwardly relieved; he needed Logee to be with him. Their loyalty assured, Esbjorn stood impassively, bleeding from a number of gruesome wounds, as the common folk of the clan passed by to swear their fealty. He called out a number of times as the traitors, whose identities were whispered in his ear by Jor, made their way past him. While this was taking place, Nygaar ordered Logee to ready Ulrick's body for interment in the lava, while Heida watched and catalogued the magnificent gear as it was stripped from Ulrick's corpse. Esbjorn offered the clan an exorbitant tithe in treasure and battle gear, and the people were amazed at the wealth that had suddenly been thrust upon them.

The oaths of fealty complete, Esbjorn proceeded to make further pronouncements. He said any worship of Surtr would be punished by death. Esbjorn went on to announce that Nygaar was the true king of Seron, and that clan Surtshellir would be the first among equals of all the clans that would soon fall under the united dominion of King Nygaar, an announcement to which Nygaar publicly concurred. To this cries of "Hail King Nygaar" were heard, led by the clan volva Auntie Toffie. Esbjorn then ordered the building of a new temple to Fireforge to proceed at once, and informed his people that the red raven was a sacred symbol of Fireforge. Esbjorn next appointed a council to rule in his stead, consisting of Wulf, his father Sigvard, his wife Logandi, Toffie, Logee, Starolf, his niece Ulfra, and the hunchback Somerled Opirsson. Nodding to Logee's wife Aada Goldenbow, who was great with child, he then demanded that all treat the goat Johan with respect, an odd order than the clan nonetheless swore to obey. Next, he had the party search the crowd and bring forth the traitors Jor had spotted.

Using his magical boots, Esbjorn walked out onto the lava and brought those loyal to Surtr up to the edge one by one. Looming over Esbjorn stood the fire and shadow elementals controlled by Jor and Irrian respectively. Nygaar listened using his torc as Esbjorn questioned each in turn sharply. Eight were put to death, while three clan members of note bore remembering. The first was a massive young warrior named Tore the Strong, who boldly told Esbjorn he would never turn from his god, and that he would seek him out during Ragnarok. At that, Tore unflinchingly stepped into the lava. Next was a woman named Geyrid, who admitted that she still worshipped Surtr but said that she could still be useful to the clan by bearing children. Esbjorn nodded at her cleverness; it was well known that the population of clan Surtshellir was small, and a giant-blooded female was valuable breeding stock. Esbjorn agreed, and called out if there were any who would take Geyrid to wife. A hesitant voice called out; Starolf agreed to take her and get a son on her if he could. Nodding, Esbjorn told her to begone, and made her swear she wouldn't betray the clan. Last, a brave youth named Lodin stepped forward, and asked to be struck down by Esbjorn himself. Esbjorn agreed, telling the young man to bring a warning to Surtr as he struck off his head with his vorpal blade. As Jor reshaped the cavern wall in the image of Fireforge, Nygaar gave orders to Wulf and Henry Ravenscroft, and Henry was assured that the parties word was the same as his friend Wulf's. Wulf then went to hang Nygaar's banner on the face of the Maw. With that, Esbjorn dismissed the clan, and once he was among only his companions, he went down on one knee in exhaustion and pain from his gaping wounds. The clan was officially his.

## Harald Greycloak Confesses

Meanwhile Vindr and the army were making steady progress through the mountains. His watchful eye on Harald proved invaluable; as the army rested, Vindr was able to catch Harald drawing the magical mirror he used to talk to Istr from his pack. Harald quickly tucked the mirror away, and at first responded coldly to Vindr's attempts to talk. Eventually, with probing questions that hinted that Vindr knew the truth, Harald confessed all. The noble ranger was wracked with guilt at his betrayal, revealing that the frost giants had his wife and two young sons hostage, forcing him to betray his people. He drew out the mirror and handed it to Vindr, swearing that if Vindr could find a way to save his family he would serve him for life. Vindr nodded, and continued to display empathy in his dealing with Harald, assuring him he would help him save his family.

With Vindr's assurances, a weight seemed to be lifted from Harald's shoulders. The gruff ranger had tears in his eyes as he swore that not only he, but the Golden Wardens which he led, would follow Vindr once his family was safe. Harald opened up about his god, Heimdall, and how his sworn duty to watch and protect the realm like his deity had made his forced betrayal so hard to bear. Vindr nodded, glad that he might have ten new men to serve him in the future. He handed the mirror back to Harald and told him he would instruct him on what to say to the frost giant king going forward. The army marched on, with Laerad leading them unfailing through the mountainous terrain.

## Heida Questions Nygaar's Leadership

Back in Voluspa, the party made their way to a private chamber in the clanhold to discuss their next moves. Making sure they were alone, Esbjorn then chastised Heida for using her seidr during his fight with Ulrick, but ultimately acknowledged that it wasn't her fault and thanked her for her help. Turning to Nygaar, he angrily asked him why he had invoked Odin in such a delicate situation. Nygaar conceded that Seron had lost a good warrior, but seemed somewhat nonplussed by how it had all turned out. Heida, who had been holding her tongue up to that point, suddenly erupted in rage, shouting at Nygaar for his behavior which had cheapened Esbjorn's victory. Nygaar shrugged, stating that it had worked out for the best. Now seething with rage, Heida openly questioned his leadership, saying that he had yet to win a clan for himself. She went on to say that perhaps Nygaar had been tainted by the Trickster's touch all along, and that the mask he had worn long ago (the dark elf relic that had changed his outlook utterly, found in Storm Hammer Keep) had made him delusional. When Nygaar reminded her of the recent sign from Odin and his acquisition of the Umbrian cavalry, she scoffed. Doubling down, Heida continued her rant.

Shouting that Nygaar was sick in the mind, she turned angrily to Jor and asked him, since he knew everything, why he hadn't studied what it was that had happened to Nygaar in that dungeon many toils ago. Turning back on Nygaar, she claimed that he had caused the battle intentionally, weakening their cause with the death of Ulrick. Nygaar casually shrugged and repeated that it all worked out for the best, while conceding that Seron had lost one good warrior. Heida, now as angry as any of them had ever seen, screamed that Nygaar was sick in the mind, even going so far as to call him a fool. Nygaar's face darkened, and he called Heida a foolish woman for even voicing such a foolish opinion. At this, Heida drew her blade, but Nygaar did nothing but grin in response, not even bothering to make an attempt to defend himself.

Meanwhile, as the two continued to bicker, Jor asked to examine the mask. Pulling out a dusty tome, he began to hurriedly leaf through the pages, which were incomprehensible to all but him. Casting a spell to aid his study of the mask, Jor began to read and think at a pace incomprehensible to most mortals. Surprisingly quickly, those who were paying attention noticed an expression of surprise briefly cross his face, and he hurriedly put the book away. Using his telepathic speech, Jor regretfully reported that Heida was correct; the mask had been planted by Loki all along. That being said, there was more to the story, and he wondered if the spell book Heida held, sent by Loki (for Jor), was actually tainting her. Eventually, Esbjorn intervened, and asked Heida if she had lost complete faith in Nygaar. Heida shook her head, and made ready to leave in disgust. Before she could, Jor stopped her, and asked her again about the book she held. As they discussed disposing of it, and with secret whispers going back and forth between various party members, Esbjorn eventually asked Heida for the book. She quickly handed it over in disgust; no strangers to curses, the party recognized that the book was (probably) not influencing her since she was able to so easily do so. Heida then turned on Jor, and demanded he tell her everything he knew about the mask and how it had affected Nygaar.

Jor, with his odd manner, stood thoughtfully and took a moment to answer. After careful study of the false dark elf runes and carvings on the mask, combined with the information he had found in his dusty tome of worldly knowledge, he recognized that the story was more complex than Heida suspected. Eventually, he did confirm that the mask had been secretly placed by the Trickster, and that it wasn't to curse Nygaar or make him serve Loki. Instead, the Sly One had hoped to manipulate Nygaar's fate, which had Loki not intervened would have been to serve and help the return of the god of light, Baldur. This made no sense to Heida; surely there was no way to bring Baldur back from Hel, where she assumed he was trapped for all time. In any case, the heroes continued to bicker amongst themselves, and finally they decide to heal up and rest overnight before returning to the northern army. Before they retired, Esbjorn drew Heida aside, and asked her if she was absolutely sure that Odin was guiding her correctly. Heida could only shake her head, and voiced her confusion on why Loki would seemingly fear Baldur more than Odin. Heida voiced her belief that Odin had probably not chosen Nygaar at all, and this threw all she had done, and the services she had provided to Nygaar and Seron, into question. The party went to sleep, all troubled by what the future entailed.

## Vindr Becomes Obstinate

Far to the northwest, Vindr and the army reached a dry and spacious cave, near the base of Odin's Heart, and settled down to camp and rest. In the morning, Vindr sought out Laerad, and asked her about the secret hiding places and cunning paths and tunnels her people had created over the centuries. Laerad, clearly taken with Vindr, talked proudly of her people and their mastery of their home in the unforgiving mountains. After a time, Vindr changed the subject, talking about Fang Li and how important it was that they attack the frost giant stronghold without delay. Sensing something strange, and knowing based on her own abilities that seidr can be used to fascinate others, Laerad asked pointed questions about how long Vindr has known Fang. Eventually, Laerad used her powers to fascinate Vindr, just to demonstrate how it could be done. Unfortunately, Vindr remained unconvinced, and continued to swear his undying love for Fang.

Vindr next sought out Harald, and instructed him to contact the frost giant king and tell him where they were, and that they would be moving towards the citadel soon. Harald seemed confused that they would tell the king the truth, but nodded in obedience and immediately used the magical mirror to do what he had been bid. As Vindr watched him walk away, he nodded his head in approval, eager to get the army moving and win the frost worm heart for his love.

Meanwhile, the rest of party awoke ready to depart and return to Vindr and the army. Efficiently sharing out Ulrick's plundered gear, Heida drew forth her scrying crystal ball and reached out to Vindr. She saw that he was in a cavern, and was making preparations to march with various troops. Heida asked where he was, and Vindr told her, but also said that they couldn't possibly stay and wait and that they must leave at once to attack the Rime Citadel. Heida was confused, and repeatedly asked Vindr to wait a few hours until they arrived. Vindr obstinately refused, and Heida broke contact in frustration after learning where the army planned to travel next. Realizing something was amiss, she contacted the lieutenant of the cavalry, Matrick, and learned that the cavalry was separated from the rest of the army and that they were being stalked by the dragon Cryocrax. Quickly letting her companions know, Irrian made ready to step into the shadowlands; his mastery of the dark path exceeded even Jor's. Strangely, as Irrian began to weave his strange foreign seidr, Nygaar took particular note of what he was doing, and asked a number of pointed questions. After a few moments, they stepped into the shadow realm and hastily traveled back to protect Vindr and their army.

## The Raven Cavalry and Cryocrax

Stepping out the shadows, the party was quickly reunited with Vindr and Laerad, who had safely hidden the rest of the army in a nearby cavern. With Laerad leading the way, they were able to locate the missing cavalry in short order, and found the normally highly disciplined troops somewhat agitated. Vungar, their old lupine friend, rushed forward to greet them, while Matrick reported that the white dragon was somewhere in the area. As the heroes contemplated the best path forward, all among them noticed that Vindr was acting strangely. Seemingly obsessed with attacking the frost worm, Vindr seemed to shrug off their present predicament, and told them all what Fang had said to him. The party now knew that Cryocrax had been fed nine maidens in return for killing the cavalry, and that the witch Arianus was tasked with stalking and killing the party. Vindr wasn't shy in professing his love for Fang, and the party collectively sighed in exasperation and what they quickly deduced was some sort of love geas. As a heavy snow fell, groups of the cavalry suddenly reacted in fear, and the tell-tale whoosh of a massive creature flew high above them. Vindr's enchantment would have to wait.

In a well-rehearsed flurry of activity, the party made ready to face the dragon. Nygaar activated his cube of frost protection, and drew his weapons, hoping to see some action. Jor immediately cast a protection spell upon his fellows, while Heida flew up to survey the area. Esbjorn activated the relic upon his sword, which glowed with flowing lava, while Irrian summoned his shadow elemental. Vindr readied his bow, while Vungar howled and ran towards the dragon as it criss-crossed the sky, striking fear in the horses and troops. Calling out to the cavalry to seek what cover they could, the party waited for the beast to attack.

It didn't take long; out of the blinding storm the dragon descended, blasting his icy breath weapon and engulfing one group of troops after another. The creature was wily; his attack came on the troops farthest from the party, who could only hear the carnage far to their north in the narrow mountain valley where they stood. They rushed towards the action, with Jor ensorceling his fellows once more so that they could take to the air in flight. Unfortunately, Nygaar's racial resistance to seidr worked against him, and the spell failed to take effect for him. Irrian's shadow elemental reached the beast first, as Droog used his illusion magic to indicate where the dragon was for the rest of the party. The beast had landed, eager to feast on the five dead horses and riders who had been frozen solid from his breath weapon. The shadow elemental attacked, actually harming the dragon, and the beast wasted precious attacks in trying to strike the elusive monster that Irrian had summoned. Heida eventually came within striking distance of the dragon, and enveloped it in a billowing mist of acidic vapors. As the dragon struggled in the mist which severely limited its movement, the elemental kept up the attack, sapping the beast's strength as Irrian channeled his dark shadow magic through his servant. Taking advantage of his tremendous speed, Vindr also reached a point where he could attack, and buried one of his arrows deep in the flesh of the massive white dragon.

Roaring in outrage that he might be trapped and harmed, the dragon eventually cleared his head. Using the innate magic he possessed, he instantly stepped through a conjured portal, and transported himself out of the acid fog and high in the air some four hundred feet. Jor sighed in frustration, but as always he was prepared for this eventuality. Jor slowly turned, eventually sensing when he was facing in the direction of the dragon, who was flying high above them moving west to east. Moving towards the beast, he at first failed to spot it, but eventually realized the dragon was invisible when he nearly ran into him mid-air. The He-witch raised a high pitched squeal, reminiscent of a sickly bird, in order to call his companion's attention to the location of the dragon. This display was successful in alerting his companions, although it was a strange way to do so. Meanwhile Jor turned to face the dragon on his own; a crackling green ray leapt from his outstretched hand, which seemed almost sluggish in reaching its target. Cryocrax's joints and muscles stiffened up, to the point where he could barely move or maintain flight. Roaring in frustration, and knowing he had been defeated, the dragon teleported away, intent on seeking revenge in the future.

PREVIOUS --- NEXT