Session 018

## Dragon Country

**Age of the Wolf, Year 5, Spring, Laelun Toil 3 days 6-8**

*The party debates the merits of their quest, and what they intend to do next. Heida revisits the stone giant Menja. Vindr and the party are reunited. The mountains prove to be a dangerous and wild landscape. The party finds a settlement in the wilds, and tracks down the Ruegian Arch Magus and leader of the mages guild the "Cunning Folk."*

PREVIOUS --- NEXT

## Player Characters Involved

* Vindr Skreevarson the Bastard Blooded Human Scout/Ranger played by Donnie
* Nygäär the Dark the Fey Blooded Rogue/Fighter played by Dana
* Heiða the Seer the Dökkálfar Blooded Dread Necromancer played by Justin
* Esbjörn Sigvardson the Giant Blooded Barbarian/Cleric played by Greg
* Brydd Hjarta the Jörmung Human Sorcerer/Marshal/Sand Shaper played by Jason

## The Party Contemplates Their Next Step

The cursed arm rings safely in the hands of the stone giant Menja, the party debated what they would do next in their camp outside the tomb of Chaosjaw. One option was to continue on to the dwarves, as directed by the Green Robed Law Speaker. Brydd suggested that perhaps they should seek out Yric the Sly's master, Arch Magus Halldor, to ask him his counsel. The party was unsure how to proceed, as it had become obvious the Law Speakers had their own agenda, due to their advice to acquire a cursed item and visit the mad and seemingly untrustworthy hermit Ornolf. Meanwhile, Heida remained deep in thought concerning her visitation by a messenger of Frigga and felt it best to consult the spirits.

Heida wished to know why Frigga had visited the party, and what the heroes should do next. The spirits were uncertain and advised her to fight the Frost Giants as the goddess had suggested. Deep in thought, Heida ultimately deduced that they would need powerful allies in such a fight, and decided to go back to Menja and turn over the construct consciousness Steinvordur to the shamaness.

Informing the party of her inclination, Heida asked the others if they should hand over Steinvordur to Menja. The party agreed, and Heida donned Brydd's winged cloak and returned to the mountaintop. The shamaness was surprised to see her and asked her why she had returned. Heida said that things had changed and that due to Frigga's message she felt it best to hand over Steinvordur to her. Menja gratefully accepted, swearing eternal friendship with Heida and her companions. Their original bargain still in place (the retrieval of Menja's stone necklace in return for Raen's Arm Rings) Heida returned down the mountainside to her companions. Ultimately the party decided to press on to visit the dwarves of the Firehand Clan. Thus resolved, they headed back down the mountain to Ornolf's hut.

## Vindr Returns to the Fold

Meanwhile, the Mixin scout Vindr Skreevarson had come upon Ornolf's cave and asked him if he had had any contact with Arch Magus Halldor. Vindr had been on his own for many long weeks, fulfilling the will of the wizard Yric the Sly. It seemed Yric had survived the sea battle near Raendale after all and had washed up upon the shore to be dragged safely out of the sea by Vindr. Once the wizard recovered, he asked Vindr to head northwest and seek out his master Halldor, in order to report the battle between the Umbrians and the mysterious band of local heroes who were running riot in Geat lands. Told to obey the wizards by his masters, Vindr wearily agreed and headed out into the wilderness in search of Halldor. He eventually found the wizard's encampment but learned that he had headed east to the town of Gratisby (also know as The Freehold) in an effort to recruit local warriors to the Ruegian cause. Vindr ventured on, eventually reaching Ornolf's cave on his way to Gratisby.

Vindr had heard that the Arch Magus sometimes had dealings with a mad hermit near the mountains, and had stopped to see Ornolf as it was on his way. Ornolf advised Vindr that he had seen Halldor perhaps a week before and that he had continued on to Gratisby. Anxious to continue on, Vindr at first refused an offer by the hermit to stop and camp. But subsequent conversation led Vindr to discover that the party he had met before was nearby, and if they survived would soon be making their way down the mountainside. Astounded, Vindr decided to stay and wait after all.

As Vindr and the hermit ate, the party wearily entered the camp, as their trek up and down the mountain had taken its toll. Surprised to see Vindr, the party and the scout soon learned their purposes overlapped, and Vindr joined the party once more. They caught up, and the party was surprised to learn of Yric's survival. One interesting tidbit of information was the spell that nearly killed Yric - it seemed he was struck by a modified fireball spell that burned with black fire and had vastly longer range, as a black bird made of shadow triggered the explosion. It struck the party that Ornolf was asking pointed questions about the arm rings and their future travel plans, and they realized he was not to be trusted. The party decided to camp for the night and leave first thing in the morning, thinking it best not to disturb Ornolf's rest. Heida especially did not trust the hermit, as the spirits had informed her that he was going to report to his masters, who the party surmised were the Frost Giants or the White Robed Law Speakers (or both). The party quickly packed up and departed. As they rode away, they debated killing the hermit but eventually decided against it (at least for the time being).

## The Lord of the White

Spring was finally upon the lands, and the party worked their way through the foothills of the mountains heading east. Eventually, they came upon a rapidly raging river and realized they would be hard-pressed to make the crossing with the wagon. Brydd used his winged cloak to fly up and survey the area and spotted an old and neglected bridge not far away. Returning to earth, Brydd informed the others of his finding, and the party went to see if the bridge would serve.

The bridge was old and barely serviceable, but the party felt they had no choice but to attempt to use it. Esbjorn and Vindr were the first to cross, as the giant blooded priest reasoned even if the bridge gave way he could walk upon the waters with his magical boots. Unfortunately, as Esbjorn and Vindr carefully and slowly traversed the bridge, they were being watched from the air by a terrible beast. Vindr spotted a large white dragon approaching them and called out in fear and wonder alerting the party. Brydd recognized the white dragon for what it was, and called out to his companions of it's wicked, reckless, and violent nature. Perhaps the beast was hungry after a long winter, perhaps it thought the party was easy pickings, or perhaps it attacked out of simple spite and wickedness. It would not matter ultimately. Battle was joined.

The white dragon took advantage of the party being split up, concentrating on Esbjorn and Vindr who were on the east side of the river. The beast immediately landed and blew it's icy breath weapon, damaging both heroes severely. The party scrambled to recover, and Esbjorn and Vindr quickly starting their retreat back over the bridge. Brydd frantically enhancing Nygaar's strength and rush to Esbjorn to provide protection against another icy blast. The dragon pursued, and at first, the battle went very poorly for the heroes. Heida attempted a number of spells that had no effect on the beast, and Nygaar entered the fray only to get raked with the dragons fearsome claws and bitten severely. Eventually, the tide of the battle turned, as Brydd used his cloak to fly above the beast and set it on fire with a combustion spell, and Esbjorn and Nygaar struck a number of fearsome blows against the savage lizard. Sensing these humanoids were more powerful than it thought, the dragon bounded up into the air, fleeing back into the mountains. Brydd gave chase but the much faster beast was able to escape, so Brydd flew up to watch where it had fled, losing sight of it as it escaped behind a mountain peak. The party briefly contemplated tracking it to find it's lair but decided against it. As Brydd had shared, white dragons hold grudges - it seemed likely that the party had not seen the last of this particular beast.

## The Freehold

The party ventured onwards, eventually reaching the settlement of Gratisby:

*As you travel through the foothills, the spring rains have started in earnest. The snow is gone here, and you see well-cultivated fields laid out before you as you travel east. Eventually, you find yourself traveling down a dirt road, and in the distance, you see a large wooden wall with what looks like a moderately sized settlement behind it.  You see two men standing over a large wooden gate looking down the road towards you. They look like common folk (Osvald and his son Bol the Dimwit) but are wearing iron chain mail and brandishing long spears. One of the men (Bol) waves at you in a friendly manner; the other guard gestures at him sternly. Outside the walls you see many common people tilling the fields and directing livestock. Some of the common folk outside the wall stop what they are doing and stare openly at you.*

 The gate guards asked them if they worshipped the true gods, who it soon became clear did not include the One God. With an answer in the affirmative, the party was granted access to The Freehold and told to seek out Kettel Magnusson, the headman of the settlement. They followed Osvald's direction to seek out the ancient ash tree located in the town green and find the big hall on their right where Kettel made his home. The party found the hall easily enough and heard shouting as they approached the large wooden doors. Entering the hall, the party found Arch Magus Halldor and Kettel in a heated exchange. It seemed Halldor was eager to recruit some local warriors, but Kettel was having none of it. Eventually, the stern-faced headman with the cold blue eyes and short white hair and beard turned to the party, asking them who in the gods they were and what they wanted. The party introduced themselves, and Vindr revealed that they were actually here seeking the Arch Magus. Exasperated, Kettel left them to it, retiring to his inner chambers. The party turned to the Ruegian wizard, a kind-looking older gentleman with short white hair in white and green robes. Halldor smiled at them warmly and raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

PREVIOUS --- NEXT