Session 081

# The Trial of Harald Greycloak

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

*The party is finally able to reach Vindr and convince him that he is under the compulsion of a love geas casted by Fang. Imra reluctantly shields Vindr's mind, and the party heads back to deal with the traitor Harald Greycloak. On the way, a new ally is well met, and Heida receives a vision. Harald is tried and found guilty, and the party plans it's next move.*

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## 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 Returns to the Fold

Vindr stumbled away from the party, still trying to understand why his fellows were attacking him. Sensing he must put an end to this folly, Nygaar stepped forward, and called out to Vindr to stop running and return to the material plane to talk. Vindr reluctantly stepped out of the ethereal, and looked warily at Nygaar. He asked the party why they were attacking him, and Heida angrily answered that he was charmed and that this was his last chance. Vindr still refused to believe he was bewitched, and cautiously stepped back as Nygaar stepped forward, ready to flee again. Vindr turned to Esbjorn, and said he only felt comfortable talking to him.

Meanwhile, Jor was actively contemplating two dozen likely alternative scenarios that might offer a way out of killing and reviving Vindr. After a few seconds, he called out telepathically to Heida, and offered up a solution. Surely Heida could order her ghostly follower Imra to meld with Vindr, shielding him from the effects of the geas. Heida paused, and answered that she thought that would work. Jor then broadcast the solution telepathically to the rest of the party, and Heida informed Vindr that he must prove that he wasn't charmed. Sensing that Vindr was still confused, Jor explained that the party had attacked him because they thought it was the only way to break the charm, and that they had planned on bringing him right back. Luckily, the party now saw a new way, and Nygaar used the powers of his newly forged crown to suggest to Vindr that Imra be allowed to meld with him.

With what can only be described as distaste on both their parts, Vindr reluctantly allowed the disembodied ghostly spirit of Imra to pass into and meld with him. Immediately, Vindr understood that his friends were correct; he had been ensorcelled by Fang Li. Meanwhile, Vindr's loyal steel Glaer was still running around the battlefield in confusion, and it took several moments before Jor decided to dispel the confusion spell. With Vindr in his right mind and Glaer recovered, the party decided that Imra would stay within Vindr's head for now. Heida wasn't happy about this turn of events, but reluctantly went along with this temporary solution. With the crisis averted, Esbjorn removed the seidr-based fatigue Vindr was suffering, and the party agreed to rendezvous with the rest of the army and deal with the traitor Harald Greycloak. Marshalling the cavalry troops with them, the party headed south to the cave where the rest of the army awaited encamped.

## Odin Sends a New Ally

As the sun fell, the party marched south at the head of some five dozen cavalry troops. After perhaps two hours, some of the more sharped eyed heroes spotted a large raven slowly descending towards them high in the sky. Heida spotted the bird as well, as she was flying high above the heads of the other party members, most of whom were riding on the broad back of the boar Gullinbursti. Yet unlike her fellows, Heida saw a bright golden light that at first enveloped the raven, but subsequently flew directly at her, engulfing her in light and putting her into a seidr induced stupor. As the blue rune covered raven, the size of a war horse, landed in front of the party, the heroes watched puzzled as Heida sunk slowly to the ground lost in some kind of shamanic trance.

Meanwhile, Nygaar heard a strange yet noble voice sound clearly in his head. It seemed the strange bird before him had been sent by the Princess Quilla of the raven-folk. The creature claimed that he had come to serve the holder of the Odin-marked token and champion of the people of Seron. Holding the marker high above his head, Nygaar greeted the creature, who he learned was named Branoc, warmly. The winter wolf Vungar howled a greeting to Branoc; it seemed the two were old friends. The party watched amazed as Branoc changed from raven to wolf and back again, seemingly without effort. It seemed this was some kind of shape-shifting magical beast sacred to the All Father. Nygaar nodded in obvious pleasure and took to the sky, riding on the back of the giant bird. After circling high above their heads, Nygaar directed Branoc to land, and went to see what had befallen the party's volva.

After a few tense moments, Heida seemed to regain her senses. Although she acknowledged the presence of her fellows, and nodded at their inquiries of concern, she was forced to take a few moments to gather her thoughts. When she finally spoke, she first turned to Vindr, and apologized sincerely for attacking him so hastily. Everyone was much surprised, as this was seemingly out of character and came as a result of some kind of strange event none of the rest of them were privy to. Yet Heida was not done; she next turned to Esbjorn, and assured him that he had an ally in Odin, and that the Trickster was not omnipotent. These statements were of a different tone and tenor then what the heroes had been hearing from Heida lately, who had as of late seemed short-tempered and agitated. It didn't take long for all those present to realize that the Harii witch had indeed had a vision, of the kind that seemed to change her deeply. Leaving her alone to ponder, the heroes continued their march through the winter darkness, and finally reached the cave they sought at the base of Odin's Heart.

## The Trial of Harald

As the sentries announced their arrival, Nygaar led the way, marching hurriedly over to confront Harald. Nygaar's cousin, Gryfhild Völundson, stood nearby, along with the elvish captain Lucien Blodskald. Nygaar scowled openly at Harald, who seemed to sense that his secret had been revealed. Harald glanced at Vindr imploringly, but saw no help in the face of the Mixin scout. In short order, all the mixed troops of the elves, Heimdall priests, and goat men were called together by order of the party. Once a crowd had gathered, Vindr broke the news to Harald; there would be a trial concerning Harald's betrayal of the army and Seron. Looking in disbelief at Vindr, Harald turned to Nygaar and awaited what he knew would come next. As Esbjorn drew the time-honored circle of a holmgang, Harald openly admitted his crime, and asked to fight Nygaar to redeem himself. Nygaar laughed mockingly, knowing full well that Harald was no match for him. Nevertheless, Nygaar nodded and led Harald into the blood ring.

As expected, Nygaar made short work of Harald, who swung his dual battle axes bravely but with scant skill, at least in comparison to Nygaar's blazing speed, power, and accuracy. Rather than strike him down, Nygaar held back at the last minute, and disrespectfully knocked Harald out with a backhanded fist. Speaking to the gathered masses, Nygaar told them to behold the fate of traitors, and that Harald didn't deserve to go to Valhalla at his hands. Tying Harald up, Nygaar called Esbjorn forward, and asked that he chop off Harald's forearm. With more delicacy than expected, Esbjorn used his fiery blade to sever the limb, making sure not to kill Harald in the process. Henceforth, Nygaar announced that Harald would be his slave. The gathered troops seemed to accept this sentence; Droog spotted only one man who seemed taken aback by what had happened; Nygaar's own cousin Gryph. Voicing his surprise at Nygaar's actions, and marveling at what a hard man he had become, Gryph nonetheless accepted Nygaar's authority, only asking that perhaps his one-time friend Harald be offered a path to redemption. Nygaar promised to spare Harald's family, which seemed quite generous given the circumstances.

## The Party Contemplates Their Next Move

As the trial ended and the crowd dispersed, Esbjorn sought out Vindr to ensure that the events earlier in the day were not weighing too heavily upon him. Esbjorn wanted to ensure that the bond of friendship between himself and Vindr still stood; Vindr assured him that it did. Vindr did, however, voice his concern over having Imra within him, and even voiced his distrust for the rest of the party. With Imra hissing angrily in his head, Vindr finally resolved to kill Fang and end this curse himself. Esbjorn tried to reassure Vindr, and voiced with confidence that Vindr could in fact trust the other heroes. VIndr seemed unsure, but resolved to try. Meanwhile, Gryph approached and greeted Esbjorn, his one time companion from what seemed so long ago but was in truth less than a year past. Gryph told Esbjorn that his reputation preceded him, and that he had heard that Esbjorn was attempting to attain godhood. Esbjorn proudly affirmed that this was so, and greeted Gryph in a friendly manner befitting the cousin of his king. After a time, the party decided to regroup and decide their next move.

Nygaar wanted all of the troops to camp at the Freehold, and ordered everyone to make ready to march. Laerad agreed to lead the party through the mountains on her own, so that they could face the frost worm and assault the Rime Citadel without broadcasting their approach. Jor advised that perhaps they could continue to confuse the frost giant king by having Harald suggest everyone was retreating to the Freehold, while Esbjorn said that he would like to have some time to forge at the Freehold (for perhaps three days). Their next move still uncertain, Heida placed a geas on Harald, making him swear to obey Nygaar in all things without malice and to be constantly supportive until Fang and the frost giants were dead and the Rime Citadel was captured. After a scant hours rest, the combined armies made ready to march. It remained to be seen if the party would retire for a few days or push forward immediately to face the frost giants.

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