Session 020

## The Dwarves of the Firehand Clan

**Age of the Wolf, Year 5, Summer, Aerlun Toil 1 days 8-10**

*The party ventures into the wilderness in search of flatheads, but instead meet with someone unexpected. The dwarven king proves as crafty and unpredictable as they had heard. A new adventure is undertaken, and the mountains once again prove to be fraught with danger.*

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## Player Characters Involved

* 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

## In Search of the Flatheads

The party breathed a sigh of relief following their battle with the foul flatheads that had attacked them. Nygaar took their right thumbs to prove to Kettel that they were friends of the Freehold, while the party looked for any creatures that were not yet dead. Finding a few, Heida put them to rest, while they kept one alive. The party pondered healing the creature and following it back to its foul lair in an effort to eradicate the creatures. Brydd used his magical talents to talk to the survivor. It understood common and had a rudimentary language of its own but it wasn't very helpful or informative to talk to it. Ultimately, the wolf Vungar spoke up, saying that he could follow their trail easily. Keeping the flathead in-between life and death, Heida had her undead minions carry the creature as they followed the trail up into the mountains.

The party headed off Kettel's Road and into steep and inhospitable terrain. Vungar was able to follow the trail easily, and they made some progress. With Nygaar out ahead in his normal role as the parties scout, and using his enhanced vision, the fighter suddenly spotted something unusual in a large pine tree. High up in the pine and perched on a large branch were two raven-kin, humanoid creatures that resembled something between a raven and a man. Nygaar called Vungar's attention to the raven creatures, and the winter wolf scoffed, calling them "Odin's Children." Nygaar was unfamiliar with these creatures and went back to warn the rest of the party.

Brydd alone was familiar with these creatures, informing the others that they were an ancient race descended from Odin's ravens Huginn and Muninn. Catching up with Vungar, the wolf warned them all that the raven-kin were a mysterious race that may or may not be friendly. As the party contemplated what to do, one of the humanoids swooped down out of the tree and stood before them. Esbjorn made some semi rude comments and referred to the raven humanoids as "chicken-heads" but to his surprise, they understood the common tongue. They just could not speak the common tongue, which they described as "gutter-speech." The few comments did not raise any issues since no apologies were asked for or granted; the raven-kin simply ignored the giant-blooded's priests slur.

The raven-kin spoke only in the ancient fey tongue and warned the party that the way they were going would bring them only death. The strange creature warned the party that their path would lead them towards the lair of a clan of Thursir Giants, strange and evil giants that resembled nine-foot-tall dwarves. It seemed these giants were neutral in the war between the Fire and Frost Giants, as both factions sought out the Thursir Giants for their skill in making armaments. Taking this threat seriously, the party contemplated what to do. The raven-kin told them if they were to camp a league (an ancient measurement equivalent to 3.45 miles) east of their current location they would be in "protected lands." The party decided to trust the bird-man, much to Vungar's disgust.

While staying in a thick stand of pines, Esbjorn was on watch when he heard the sounds of battle to the west of their campsite. Vungar went to find out what was going on. The winter wolf reported that there were a number of dead flatheads lying perhaps a quarter of a mile away, and they had been slashed and pierced by thin blades, much like the one the party had seen the raven-kin carrying earlier in the day. It seemed this was raven-kin territory, and they had fulfilled their pledge to the party to offer them protection.

The next morning, Esbjorn informed the others with a semi regrettable tone that they had been protected from flatheads during the night by some of the "chicken-heads." Still curious as to why they were being helped, things soon became clear with another visit from their nightly guardians. This time, the raven-kin introduced herself as Quilla and said she was the daughter of the queen. It seemed Nygaar had been singled out in the dreams of the raven-kin queen, and the princess gave him a black onyx stone with the All-Father's symbol carved upon it as a token. The scholars Heida and Brydd contemplated the stone; it seemed it was a stone that ensured one's entrance to Valhalla upon dying. Puzzled at this turn of events, and with Heida learning from the spirits that trying to kill all the flatheads would be an impossible task, the party decided to turn back and go visit the dwarves of the Firehand clan.

## Into the Firehand Stronghold

The party made their way back to the road, and soon reached the ancient dwarven outpost controlled by the Firehand clan:

*Ahead of you lies a vast chasm, hundreds of feet deep with sheer cliffs on both sides. There is the outcrop of a stone bridge that reaches about 10 feet out over the drop, but it looks as though it collapsed long ago. The chasm is roughly 50 feet across, and you can see the remains of the stone bridge on the other side as well. Starting near the stone edges of the broken bridge, and looking to be in good repair, is a narrow rope bridge. There is a flag flying from the top of one bridge post - a checkered flag with a red and orange hand made of flames emblazoned on it. Across the bridge, and built into the side of the mountain, is a pair of tall stone doors 25 feet tall. You can see the murder holes from here, as well as openings high above the door in the mountainside which are glowing with torchlight. You can see no other way to approach the door, other than by crossing the bridge. The wind whips viciously, sending the snow up in clouds from off of the surface of the mountain path you are standing on. A large black raven lands on the bridge post adjacent to the flag, and quorks at you menacingly. Standing on the far side of the rope bridge are four short humanoids, wearing ornate plate armor and holding shields and battle-axes.*

Using his belt of dwarvenkind, Nygaar attempted to gain the party entrance to the stronghold. Nygaar said that they were there to form an alliance and were friends with Kettel Magnusson. The dwarven guards at first told them to wait, then said they would have to relinquish their weapons in order to enter. Fortunately, a priest of Weyland the Smith (a god known as Volund to the dwarves) named Asrik Bronze Fist intervened, introducing himself to the party and allowing them to enter the stronghold armed.

## The Dwarven Prince

The party was led into a stronghold the likes of which none of them had ever seen; the skill and time involved in crafting such a place seemed beyond the skills of men. The priest Asrik, whose defining feature was a bronze hand that had been crafted in the shape of a weapon, led them to the dwarven prince Durin Oakspine. Durin was sparring with three dwarves and was surrounded by a large number of warriors who were drinking, laughing, and cheering their lord on. The party watched as two dwarves were forced to douse the prince with barrels of water when he took a sharp blow; it seemed Durin was a berserker.

Following this light sparring, the dwarven noble approached the party and asked them their business. Introducing himself, he seemed a friendly sort and offered the party drink and food. Satisfied that they wished to see his father and form an alliance of some kind, he soon lost interest in the parley. It was clear he had no intention of going to see his father and was delighted when Esbjorn and Brydd decided to stay and spar with him. Meanwhile, Nygaar and Heida followed the priest Asrik deeper into the mountain to treat with the king. While they were gone, Durin seemed to take a liking to Esbjorn, and Esbjorn learned that Durin was a terrifying and mighty warrior indeed through the course of their sparring matches. Esbjorn also learned that the smith of the Freehold, Hermon Forgebreaker, was much beloved by Durin. The prince asked Esbjorn to carry a message to the master smith, asking Hermod to return to the stronghold, and Esbjorn agreed to do so.

## Grammar Oakspine

The volva and the warrior followed the priest known as Bronze Fist into the throne room, a decidedly impressive chamber:

*As you enter the throne room, a stern and imposing dwarf adorned in ornate steel dwarven armor (inlaid with gold and gems) frowns down at you from his seat upon an ornately carved granite throne, surrounded on both sides by dwarven soldiers in bronze plate mail armor. The walls are adorned with intricate tapestries showing epic scenes of battle between dwarven heroes and their fey and giant enemies. The room is lit by four huge braziers that burn brightly but give off no smoke. There are two twenty-foot tall statues standing on each side of the room.  There are many armaments and enemy banners hung in places of honor upon the walls as war trophies. The weapons and armor are of particular note - a mix of darkwood bows, large dragonhide shields,* Mithra**l** *helms and chain shirts, and a large assortment of swords and axes. Above the granite throne hangs a large bastard sword, made of what appears to be a strange jet black metal (adamantine) that glows slightly with a magical red luster.  The king sits perfectly still upon his throne and stares at you menacingly.*

Following the lead of Asrik, Nygaar and Heida paid homage to the dwarven king by taking a knee before him. Nygaar told the king they had been sent by Kettel and the green-robed Law Speakers and offered up an alliance to Grammar, which the king was not exactly receptive to. Eventually, they came to an agreement: if the party agreed to venture into an old dwarven stronghold once called Storm Hammer Keep and rid it of a beast known as a Crag Drake, the dwarf king would agree to a temporary alliance with the party in their fight against the Umbrians. Nygaar learned that the Duergar dwarves were mining and trading mithral to the Umbrians in exchange for gold, and Grammar needed help to put a stop to that. One bright spot in an otherwise tense meeting was when the adventurers were introduced to the king's niece, a lovely young dwarf lass named Heedinfrid “Heedi” Hammerbuckle. Heedi was ordered by the king to lead the party to Storm Hammer Keep, which she graciously agreed to do. Feeling he made the best bargain possible given the circumstances, Nygaar returned to the party with Heida in tow.

## A New Quest Begins

The party feasted with the dwarf prince Durin and were allowed to stay overnight within the stronghold. They all agreed that they would need any allies they could get in their fight with the Umbrians and the Frost Giants, and felt that Nygaar had made a decent bargain. Sleeping in a guest room, the party was awakened by a strange occurrence. Esbjorn, who had curled up on the stone floor, was floating and bathed in bright red flame! The fire gave off heat but did not burn, and the rest of the party contemplated what this might mean. It seemed the god Surtr had visited his champion and bade him do his bidding and slay the frost worm. Esbjorn also learned that his young charge Kurg was still alive, which he accepted with a mixture of pride and happiness. The giant blooded priest arose from his vision appearing decidedly different; his hair and beard had turned a vibrant red and grown twice their previous length! It seemed Esbjorn was following the correct path, at least according to his strange beliefs. The party went back to sleep wondering where such favor by Surtr may lead them.

Rising the next day, they met Heedi at the giant golden forge of Weyland the Smith, which she and Brydd offered up prayers to. Asrik Bronze Fist provided the party with some healing potions, which they graciously accepted, and they ventured onward. As they traveled through the mountains, Heedi impressed the party with her friendly nature and courtesy. She led them unerringly towards their goal, and the first day passed uneventfully. But the mountains, which had already proved quite dangerous, had more in store for the party. As fate would have it, Heedi was on watch in the middle of the night when suddenly the party was awakened by the young dwarf noble screaming in fear and calling the party to take up arms. Springing into action, the party saw three terrifying beasts looming over them.

## A Mantidrake Ambush

Fast asleep, the party was at a decided disadvantage. To their horror, they looked above them to see three fearsome creatures, one perched upon an ancient and rotten wooden tower and two others upon the cliffs above them. They resembled large, powerfully-built lions with white dragon’s heads, large scaly draconic wings, and long serpentine tails that ended in a large number of sharpened spikes. Each beast was easily twelve feet long and weighed over one thousand pounds. Without preamble, the beasts blew their icy breath weapons upon the party, followed by whipping their serpentine tails and sending foot long barbs into their midst.

During the vicious battle that followed, Nygaar and Brydd were both brought near the point of death, falling in battle. With great foresight, Nygaar had already imbibed a potion that immediately began to heal him after his nearly mortal blow. He was back on his feet just in time to save Heiða. Still surrounded by sigils of floating skulls from her amulet, the beast tore into the seer so savagely that it seemed supernatural that she remained on her feet. Perhaps the beast though his prey was dead after coming away with no small amount of the petite woman's throat. Still standing, however, she bought the time Nygaar needed to deliver three blows, the final one fatal to the creature. With Esbjorn and Heedi finishing off the last mantidrake, the party was able to barely squeeze out a victory and stood stunned at such a close brush with death. Without question, these mountains held terrors they had only guessed at before. Healing up as best they could, they looked at one another in relief. The speed and ferocity of the attack coupled with it coming in the dead of night shook to the party to its very core. With any luck, they would survive the night and reach Storm Hammer Keep without further incident.

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