Session 052

# An Alliance Strengthened

**Age of the Wolf, Year 5, Autumn, Aerlun Toil 3, Day 10 - Maelun Toil 1, Day 1-2**

*The heroes return triumphant to the dwarven stronghold of the Firehand Clan. Once there, they renew their bonds of alliance, and Heida is (temporarily) relieved of the burden of the influence of her sentient weapon. They gather information about their allies and enemies, and learn of some options in regards to where they can dispose of Byrmoor once and for all.*

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## Player Characters Involved

* Nygäär the Dark the Fey Blooded Rogue/Fighter/Dualist played by Dana
* Esbjörn Sigvardson 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
* Jor the Emberwrought the Giant Blooded Human Sorcerer/Dracolexi/Incantator played by Jason

## A Thing Between Heroes

Exhausted after finally escaping the labyrinth, the party chose to rest near the edge of the entrance to Isorm's lair before continuing any farther. A powerful illusory magic concealed the hole as just a smooth glacial surface, yet they (rightly) judged that none would dare approach so close to the linnorm's lair. As dawn approached the weary heroes settled down to sleep, and awoke refreshed just past midday, the magic of Jor's magically evoked hut and Heida's Orb of Storms protecting them from the elements. Well rested, they held a folkmoot amongst themselves in the light of the dim autumn sun to discuss where best to venture next.

Heida consulted the spirits, and confirmed that the boy Dreki was most likely in the hands of the Frisian jarl Crom the Crippler, an infamous and wealthy warrior who operated with extreme cruelty to all he perceived as enemies. Nygaar had been told by Wulf that the Frisian clan and clan Surtshellir were working together in some kind of potential alliance, and all wondered if they should travel directly to Trondheim. Heida also had concerns about the princess Asleif, and the Umbrian heir she carried within her. Heida argued that the girl would be safer amongst the dwarves than with clan Surtshellir, but eventually the party decided to keep the girl where she was for the time being. That decided, and knowing that the boy Dreki was (relatively) safe from the clutches of the wizard Faegun the Magus in Aarhus, the party decided to seek out the dwarven king of the Firehand clan, and finish the task which had brought them into Wulfling lands in the first place. They had given their word to sever the connection to the demon realm of Svartalfheim, and would secure the allegiance and troops of the dwarves by completing that task. Jor revealed that the giantess Angrboda had revealed some dark new seidr to him, a way to walk in the shadow realm between worlds. After some discussion about the Trickster traveling in the same way, and against the advice of the demon Droog, the party decided to make use of this mode of travel, and set off into the shadows towards Odin's Heart.

## The Return to Firehand Keep

Following a darkly illusory, shadowy and quasi-real path, the heroes sped across the terrain, moving at a breakneck speed. Jor warned his companions to stay close, as there was a real danger that they could get separated and lost amongst the dark forces of the shadow realm. After a full day's march, and hearing the sounds of various dark creatures as they traveled, they stepped forth from the shadow path and onto Kettel's Road. They had traveled hundreds of miles in mere hours, and all marveled at the power Jor had displayed by such a feat. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, they Marched the short distance from the road up into the foothills, and beheld the mountain fortress of the Firehand Clan once more.

The dwarves had been busy, as the rope bridge which had once led to their fortress had been replaced by an engineering marvel. A massive and retractable stone bridge had been constructed, and as the horns sounded and the party was recognized the priest Asrik Bronze-Fist greeted them and bid them enter the keep. Nygaar presented the dwarves with some frost giant skulls, and the dwarves gladly accepted them and added them to the collection of other heads mounted on pikes that surrounded their stronghold. Nygaar informed Asrik that the Swan Maiden had been found, and the one handed cleric of Weyland the Smith led them directly to the king. Heida and Valindr avoided the meeting and feasted with some dwarven warriors while Nygaar, Esbjorn, and Jor presented themselves before the King Grammar Oakspine.

Nygaar boldly proclaimed to the king that the swan maiden had been found, and that they had only stopped here to rest before liberating Storm Hammer Keep of the influence of the dark elves and demons that had infested it for good. The dwarven prince, Durin Oakspine, seemed excited by the news, and was eager to join Nygaar in his fight with the foreign invaders. Grammar was more circumspect, however, and complained that they had yet to fulfill their pledge while Esbjorn continued to use a borrowed sword not yet properly earned or won. Esbjorn was offended, and reminded the king that his word as a champion of Surtr and representative of clan Surtshellir was an ironbound oath. Nygaar smoothed this disagreement over, and inquired on Heida's behalf about what the king knew about cursed weapons.

Between Asrik Bronze-Fist and the king, the party learned that the weapon Byrmoor, as an artifact, could only be destroyed upon two forges that they knew of. One was the forge of the famed and semi-divine dwarven smiths known as Brokk and Eitri, two dwarves who had taken part in making the great gifts for the Aesir in times long forgotten. Their mountain holdfast was in in the dwarven world of Nidarvellir, however, and the only way to reach this world was to destroy the duergar dwarves and recover the passageway back to the dwarven home world of old deep within their mines. The only other forge they knew of was the Inferno Forge, once held by the Fire Giants in the Age of Yggdrasil but now hidden and forgotten deep beneath the Rime Citadel, the impenetrable fortress of the Frost Giants guarded by the Eldritch Frost Worm. The Inferno Forge, while closer, had gone out long ago and Asrik claimed that to be used it must be rekindled by some magical means. Asrik did think that he could help the party in their goal to limit Byrmoor's power, however, and went to consult his scrolls and rune sticks.

Meanwhile, Nygaar and the others continued to converse with the king, and soon learned that the Fire Giants and the Western Harii were at war in Geat lands. He also confided that the priests of Heimdall had gained some new allies (the king knew not who), and were waging a guerilla war against the frost giants. Nygaar asked if the king had been contacted by the Umbrians, and at first the king was less than truthful in his response. This enraged the prince Durin, who had been speaking to Esbjorn about the keep's forges. The prince stormed out of the room, and Esbjorn followed thinking he had caused offense. Meanwhile, Nygaar contemplated why the king might have lied. Asking Jor to go "check on Heida," Nygaar asked him again, and revealed that he knew when he was being lied to. The king conceded that the Umbrians had approached him, specifically a representative of Phaegun the Magus. The Umbrian wizard had asked the dwarves to stay out of the fight, and in return Grammar had been offered the promise of the annihilation of the dark dwarves (and a chance at his long held desire to return to his homeland in Nidarvellir). Sensing an opportunity, Nygaar swore that he would exterminate the duergar after the current war had ended. Swearing a blood oath, Grammar and Nygaar renewed and strengthened their alliance, with Nygaar promising the king to bring the remains of Heedi home to be laid to rest in the crypts as well as finishing what the party had started at Storm Hammer keep. In return, Nygaar would get the two hundred troops he had been promised, and would also have full access to the forges of the Firehand clan, trading privileges as between dwarves of the same clan, and a promise to help the party in regards to the sentient weapon. As the Norns would weave it, Nygaar even asked after a magnificent suit of leather armor that caught his eye, one of the kings trophies, which turned out to be the armor of Yarboris Diamonshard, captured long ago by Grammars distant forebears.

## Byrmoor is Imprisoned

While Esbjorn toured the forges with the Noble Forgemaster and prince Durin Oakspine, and worked a trade offering Marlowe Payne's steel plate mail in exchange for magical plate more suitable for his size, the party washed themselves and feasted, their every need met and every care taken to make them comfortable and happy. It had been a long and weary road, and the merriment of the dwarves and their generous accommodations gave the party the chance to finally relax for a short time. They were shown to lavish (by dwarven standards) quarters, and slept peacefully. The next day, Asrik sought out the party, and said simply "it can be done." Asrik was still wearing the helmet he had put on the evening before, upon learning of the sentient weapon Byrmoor's ability to detect thoughts. Nygaar took Asrik aside, and found out that the dwarf had a plan to imprison Byrmoor, at least for ninety days time. As Asrik began to get into the esoteric methods in which this should be done, Nygaar returned to the party and informed Jor that he was needed, and to go and speak with Asrik.

As Jor was instructed upon the methods of Byrmoor's imprisonment, which included trapping the weapon in gold infused with anti-magic runes to limit the weapons power, Nygaar sat thoughtfully at their breakfast, Heida and the others eating quietly. Unfortunately, Byrmoor was no fool, and wondered what it was Nygaar was up to. Considering Heida had avoided the king's presence, it seemed something was happening. Byrmoor reached out with its powers to attempt to read Nygaar's thoughts, and saw plots and betrayals on the surface of his mind. It immediately sought to take control of Heida and attack Nygaar, bathing the hall in magical darkness. Byrmoor succeeded, and Heida's iron will was overpowered. Esbjorn stood between Heida and Nygaar, and stated to the weapon that the king of Seron was not to be harmed. Byrmoor, now a glaive in Heida's hands, offered itself to Esbjorn. Esbjorn hesitated, wondering if his superior jotun strength and will could put the weapon to good use for his clan and god. Luckily, Nygaar tumbled into the fray, and knocked the weapon out of Heida's hands. After a moment, it magically appeared in her hands once more, and repeated it's offer to Esbjorn. Heida refocused her will and attempted once more to control the weapon, and finally succeeded, falling back and away from the others.

Meanwhile, Jor had taken possession of a magically infused glove given to him by Asrik, and rushed forward to seize Byrmoor. Not knowing what was happening, and well aware that Jor had been dominated by Byrmoor in the past, Heida at first resisted this attempt. Finally, the aged priest Asrik huffed up, out of breath, and told the volva to relinquish the weapon. Heida reluctantly allowed Brydd to take hold of Byrmoor, and at once the weapon reverted to an inert lump of metal. Leading the way breathlessly, Asrik led Jor to a vat of molten gold, infused with shimmering blue runes, and bid Jor thrust the weapon within it, as the glove would only function for a short time. Jor did so, burning his right hand in the process. The attempt was a success, and the gold wrapped around the inert chunk of metal known as Byrmoor, encasing and imprisoning it for nine toils. Asrik warned Heida that she could not just cast it aside, however, and this was proven when the bar of gold disappeared from the bottom of the vat and reappeared in her hands. It seemed the party must seek out a forge to break the weapon once and for all, if only to ensure it never fell into the wrong hands. The party relaxed slightly, and made ready to do some trading in preparation for the next stage of their adventures.

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