Episode One. The Meeting...(3/13)
Our stalwart adventures having arrived at Swampgate separately, Reinn son of Halldor, and Stigr son of Hallsteins, arriving with their employer, semi-precious trinkets, have gone to the tavern for a night of drinking. Whilst there, another adventure, mysterious and dark sauntered into the tavern, followed by a second somewhat unattractive half-blood Pict. After ordering and downing a horn of mead, Sven Svensson saw that the bartender was mistreating the Pict, something he had been "treated too" on numerous occasions. He Intimidated the bartender into serving Teel (Kustin'teel Nepso Yeil), the Half-Blood properly.

Having then noticed Reinn and Stigr sitting at a table, raised his glass to them and was asked to come and join them Teel in tow. The group made some introductions and proceeded to drink heavily. After a short time, noticing that the tavern patrons were uneasy, Sven bought a round of drinks for them. After being toasted by several of the farmers, Reinn and Stigr realized that their employer, who was only supposed to be out for a short time had not come. The farmers let the party know that he was seen leaving via the north gate and likely on his way to visit the outer farms.

The party grabbed their gear and headed out from the tavern, following the suggestion of one of the farmers and going to the wise old woman of the town. Arriving at the woman's "hut" Sven called in "(Woman's name) May we enter as we seek your knowledge". After paying the old woman 2 gold, the proceeded to go into a trance and when she came out said only "Children of Ullr". Sven deducting that her reference possibly meant Skraelings (little elves) decided that this was the root of the rumors he had heard and is pursuing. Having lingered too long within the hut, 2 of our party were overcome with the smells of incense and murre and were entranced themselves into a joint apocalyptic vision.

Leaving the Hut and heading to the North Gate, the party followed the road, and Sven using his tracking still found the correct tracks and followed them down the east road after the crossroads. Coming up to a farmstead, Sven noticed the wagon tracks becoming more and more erratic. Stumbling upon an area that looked like the Cart had overturned and the horse had run off, Sven went into stalking mode, handed his bullseye lantern to the others and asked them to follow just out of sight of the light. Following the tracks, he came upon the biggest hillock where he saw in the distance three adults (two men and a woman) calling out two names, Erin and Tarin (female and males) seemingly like they were missing. After they moved over the top of the hillock Sven moved to the base of the hillock where he discovered the wreckage of the cart and waited for the rest of the party before proceeding...

Last edited by BlackKnight (4/18/2019 2:41 pm)

Episode Three: Onward Into the Dark...
(4/17/19)

This week our intrepid adventures move into the darkness, exploring the dark depths of Dagon's mound in search of our two missing children...

Teel, not feeling well after overnighting in our staging area stayed behind to guard the entrance/exit and make sure our rope out of the cave system does not disappear. Our other three adventures Sven, Stigr, and Reinn move forward into the depths. Following a time-honored tradition, they follow the right-hand wall as it will make it easier to map their journey.

Having left the view of the sky, our party moved NE where the path broke NW or ESE, Following the rule of the right, they moved ESE, coming first upon a small cave and noting that there seemed to be a "shelf" along one wall that was barely detectable. Making note of the shelf, and that it may be a feature that could be in any of the caves further in the complex, they moved on following the tunnel. The party came upon a tunnel heading north, they stayed following the right wall.

They proceeded a little further then noticed some lights (dim red light) in a room beyond. As they closed the bullseye lantern, they saw that the red lights were moving. Moving to the entrance of a cave to the NE and a corridor going SE, they would follow the SE, but first must deal with the Fire Beetles!

Having smartly dimmed their light, they were able to approach the fire beetles without notice and surprised them. Sven and his trustworthy Bow shot slew one before they could even react. Reinn and Stigr forming a melee line with Sven standing between to funnel the beetles into the corridor, thus reducing their frontline and the amount of attacking Beetles. Sven’s unwavering aim slay two more beetles before they were able to engage in Melee with our party. Stigr cleaves one on his first strike, Reinn not so lucky is struck not once, but twice by the giant insects, nearly dying from them. Reinn, as he backs away, tries the potion that was gifted the party by the farmers, and it worked to help him gain some stamina back. Covering Reinn’s retreat from the front line, Stigr stays in Melee, and Sven unleashes more deadly attacks with his bow, killing the rest of the beetles.

After seeing to Reinn, making sure he feels up to the task, the party takes one of the glands from the beetles, hoping that if in a pinch they can use it as a distraction, they proceed to the SE, Reinn notes that as the gland was removed from the beetle a rather pungent odor was coming from the south. Moving into the tunnel that descends down they come into a room, noting some “rubble”, the party finds that it is some sort of discarded skin, not unlike a Chrysalis from a moth or butterfly, but larger and with a putrid stench that burns the hair from their nostrils. Following the cave opening SW they find the source of the pupa, Sven notes what they are right off as they are one of his hated enemies, DAEMONS!

The party attacks again with some surprise, Sven with his trusty bow slays one easily. Reinn and Stigr form their Melee line, with Reinn shooting his crossbow until they are in melee range. Thankfully, between Reinn and Sven’s rain of arrows, they managed to slay enough to force the daemons to reconsider their actions and they turn to flee, being killed by continued volleys of arrows. A thorough search of the room finds another one of the “shelves” along the wall, this time though, the party finds treasure in them. 12 stones of amber varying in size, but roughly fist-sized, and a necklace with a beautifully carved piece of amber, Sven claims the necklace and the amber goes into party gold. Following back now heading NE the party fins the unborn eggs of the Daemons. Slaughtering 33 of the Daemon spawn, the party cleans their weapons and prepares to retreat to the room of the fire beetles.

Finding nothing else in the fire beetle room the party follows the tunnel that leads north from the fire beetle room and after a small room discover the ancient remains of a fellow Norseman. Trying not to disturb the body, the party discovers that, though long dead, like the first sarcophagus with the Armor, this sword, with runes on it calling it Thorn is untouched by time. Stigr chooses to wield it as Reinn cannot use Melee weapons, and Sven prefers his trusty bow. As Stigr examines the sword, Sven finds a leather pouch on the body that has calcified with age. Breaking off the top cover they find over 100 coins and a small bone scroll case sealed with wax. Opening the tube Sven finds a journal from what seems like the Norseman himself. On one side of the parchment is a self-portrait of the warrior, the other has the following text.

I found the Roman legionaries in an old Hyperborean copper mine from before the Green Death. The legionaries were mining, but I observed their efforts as feeble. Carelessly they struck at the rock with rusty [hole rotted in vellum here] equally peculiar that they still were garbed in their harness, which appeared in poor repair. Then I realized that these men were no longer alive. They were walking corpses!

I retreated before they could detect my presence, but then I was pursued by their descendants: The Little People. These abominations have Roman facial features, but they are small, with pale skin and eyes that glow like lamps. I do not believe they are still men. I think they have degenerated to something different. Maybe this is why their paternal fathers, the Romans, are cursed with undeath. Never should they have taken wives in the terrifying depths of Underborea.

[large patch of rot] and it is in a southwest cave of this system. I have heard that it is called the Stygian Stone, a dodecahedron-shaped rock, each of the 12 faces engraved with a curvilinear alien character. The Little People, the cursed progeny of the Romans, revere the artefact.


Deducting that a Dodecahedron has sides with 5 facets each, the party assumes that it may be what was on the pedestal at the beginning of the tunnel system. The Party chooses to rest briefly here, while it prepares to continue its journey into the dark…
 

Last edited by BlackKnight (4/18/2019 2:52 pm)

Most of the characters are first level, with the Ranger just gaining his Second...

The Characters are:
Stigr Son of Hallstiens, A Norse Runegraver
Reinn Son of Halldor, A Norse Monk
Kustin'teel nepso Yeil (Teel for short), A Halfblood Pict Warlock
and Sven Svensson, A Norse Ranger With Green/Gold eyes, Redish blond facial Hair (Head Shaved, Gotee and long beard) and His Mothers Numidian Hunter ritual facial scarring on his dark skin

Sven's (Mine) background is as follows...

Sven, Son of Sven Erickson and Sianoba a Numidian Princess that fell through the veil from the old world.

Sven's Father was out Ranging, following rumors of strange happenings some 300 miles west of Ragnarheim in New Vinland. As he was searching along the edge of the Glacial mountains he saw strange lights in a grove. As he entered he saw what looked like a shimmering Rainbow Doorway into a different land. A land filled with Sand and a bright yellow sun. As he watched, a horse and rider came over a dune toward the doorway riding hard. Not watching where they were going, but looking back. As the rider approached the doorway, from behind the dune's crest a group riders wearing armor and wielding bows emerged and let fly with a swarm of arrows. Hitting the first rider several times.

The injured rider plunged through the doorway into the deep snow losing control and coming to a heap a dozen yards into the new realm, to the amazement of both Sven and the riders following him. Just as quickly as the doorway appeared, It started to shimmer and it was blinking out of existence, leaving behind a rider, now splayed in the deep snow, and a critically wounded horse. Sven stalked forward silently to find not a man, but a beautiful, now unconscious and Dying woman with dark brown skin, darker skin than he's ever seen before, black like coal, but smooth as the silks she wore. Sven leapt into action and began addressing the arrows sticking out of her applying bandaging and salves to staunch the wounds. Then calling on the spirits of nature that he knew the names of, asking for them to empower his hands with healing.

Sven was able to heal her body quickly enough to fend off the clutches of death, but he knew she would likely remain unconscious for several days. Knowing she would not/could not survive in the now harsh climate she was in, having come through the door in silks and light armor. He immediately wrapped her in all the cold weather gear he carried, and using his many wilderness skills, he immediately began building an extensive shelter and gathering the necessary food and water to sustain himself and he new companion for an extended stay. 

After about 4 days, while Sven was tending the fire he caught out of the corner of his eye a slight stirring of his guest. He watched as she moved with the cunning and grace of a panther, stalking prey as she moved behind him, making not a single noise. Sven then asked in (in common), "Now if you were to kill me, how would you thank me for saving your life and caring for you these 4 days?". She stopped dead in her tracks, clearly not expecting that the man had any inkling of what was coming.

Sven Took a small drink from a large horn filled with sweet mead, reached around without moving and said "please drink, you must be very thirsty. Food will be ready in a few moments", "do you have a name? Do you understand what I'm speaking?". She with amazing stealth reached out, took the horn, and with a whisper said, " I am Sianoba, Princess of Numidia" She then drank the whole of the horn of Mead, and finished "Where am I, who are you, and why am I not dead?" As Sven explained, and told her of this world, Himself, what had happened, and that she came through a veil like door that may never open to her again, she became visibly shaken, and Sven could see the sadness in her face. Sven pulled a fur from his sleeping platform, moved over, placed it over her shoulders and gently comforted her. The start of their time together.

After some time together, they became lovers, and some time later, baby Sven was born. Sven and Sianoba raised him, taught him the wonders of the forrest, and how to move without sound and hidden from sight. Sven was a great study. As he got older, his father would bring him on his ranging and taught him the bow, His mother taught him the short spear as both a melee and ranged weapon. When he was 10 years of age, and nearly a man, Sven and his parents went for the first time to the Closest City together (Brigand's Bay). This was the first time Young Sven had seen anything so big, and with so many people, he was utterly amazed. But being in front of many people, some of them not being in favor of his and his mothers dark skin, can be bad. One night, While Sven, Sianoba and young Sven were bedding down for the night in a tavern a band of bad men formed outside and started throwing stones at the window of their room. Sven ordered young Sven to hide, and Sianoba and Sven went outside to deal with the "rabble". As they exited the tavern, they were unprepared for the skill of several in the mob and were over come. The mob then came into the tavern. Sven hearing them coming into the tavern gathered his and what was left of his parents belongings and ran into the hallway and saw the access to the attic. Climbing into the crawlspace of the attic and moving to one end he found an opening to climb out onto the roof next door and within moments he was several buildings away.

Looking down from the rooftops, he could see the 3 men that were holding his father and mother. His mother glimpsed up and saw him, she made an almost undetectable nod "no" and made sure to turn back to her captors. After antagonizing Sven, the leader threw a knife at his feet and told him if he lived he and his "slave" could go free... As he was about to take the knife, the leader winked and a dagger found it's mark at the base of Sven's skull. Sianoba Cried out, and with the grace of a giant cat, lept, grabbed the knife from Sven's neck and lunged forward, slashing the leader's face seemingly before anyone could even flinch. She rounded to strike again, but as she did, two arrows found their mark, Felling her. As she was passing into the darkness of death, she looked up once again to the rooftop that Sven was crouched upon, and without a sound, mouthed the words, "We love you, Go".

Tear's in his eyes, and the images of the three men that killed his family burned into his brain, Sven crept across the rooftops making his way out of the city with all that he could cary of his mother and father's belongings. He escaped back into the wilderness, moving within the Forest, Mountains, and Glaciers back to his family's home, knowing that he would one day hunt those men from one side of the Black Gulf to the other and extract his vengeance upon them. From this day, to the end of his days, he would train and become the best warrior he could be, with the skills that his mother and father taught him, he would be formidable, and soon...

Teel also has a Background written up...

“By Ullr, it's better to die out there, boy, in the world, then to die amongst these Gods’ forsaken trees”

Those were the last words the old Viking smith said to him before Teel left his home for good.

Bjarke and his forge were a constant in Teel”s life. Always there, telling stories and making room for the boy and always looking past the scars at the boy underneath. He even managed to hammer some Old Norse into the boy’s thick skull. Bjarke had been a valuable resource to Teel’s small band. Always there to repair weapons or fashion tools used in the hunt, he became more of member than a stranger in their midst.

Teel’s people lived a precarious existence. A small palisaded settlement on the edge of the Boreal Forest, they refused to swear fealty to the ‘False’ King of Fidib. Last to stand tall, soon they were beset by Pictish warbands demanding tribute for the brutish king.

The tribal mystics, like Teel’s mother, used their powerful magicks to hold the hordes at bay, but the elders understood that this would not last. A deal was brokered. Teel’s people would assume the yoke, but not before all the able bodied young men and women were secreted away. Some by magical portal, some through hidden forest paths, while others glided away in blackened war canoes under the cover of darkness. The village was emptied except for the Elder’s, mystics and a few too infirm or aged to make the trip.

Teel often wonders what horrible retribution the False King wrought for being swindled out of his prize, but doing as his mother asked, Teel has never looked back.

Last edited by BlackKnight (4/22/2019 7:31 pm)

Caveman wrote:

Cheers Knight, nice facial markings...

An unusual mix, interest variety of cultures (if not more a Viking wargang) and classes.

Hmm, interesting background stories, a struggle of the soul...

 

Thanks Caveman

Wanted to give Rom as many options for adventure hooks as possible.

However the game is on a short hiatus while the GM takes care of some things.  😞

Need another outlet now. I guess I’ll start writing on “Problems in Freydisborg” again. Should be able to get it to 25-30 pages of unformatted text 😜

Last edited by BlackKnight (5/01/2019 9:42 pm)

Rom had to take some time off, so there will be no more updates till some time in June... Stay Tuned...