The Chronicle, Session 6

Dramatis Personae

• Tori, mixed-heritage Shamaness from Gal City
• Kildun Graax, Hyperborean Necromancer from the City-State of Khromarium
• Tyrm, Oonish (androgynous clone) Warlock from the City-State of Khromarium
• Saya'da, Yakut Berserker from the Plains of Leng

The Chronicle

The snows fell thick and heavy over Bryn Celli as the companions stood within the audience hall of Blood-Reeve Maelcon. Noon bells had not long faded when the lord entrusted them with a grim charge: discover the fate of Rhodric the ranger, whose disappearance now cast a long and fearful shadow over the settlement.

Present before the Blood-Reeve were Tori, shamaness of Gal City; Kildun Graax, necromancer of Khromarium; Tyrm, the strange and androgynous Oonish warlock; and Saya'da, berserker of the Leng frontier.

Much discussion followed. They spoke of whom they might question next: Aera of the Ashen Oak grove, old Nerys, Torla of the Sheep’s Rest, and especially the huntsman Taran Macc Niall, who was expected to return to Bryn Celli within a day or two. They also spoke at length upon battle tactics, comparing weapons, spells, proficiencies, and the merits of shield walls, dual-wielding, and heavy two-handed arms. Such matters had gained new urgency after the terrible death of Cire Leachim beneath the claws of the tiger.

Before departing, they questioned Maelcon further. Poaching, the Blood-Reeve explained, was scarcely an issue in those lands, for unlike many lords he claimed no sole ownership over the game of the forests. As they withdrew from the hall, however, they beheld an unusual sight: a company of Moorish spearmen awaiting audience with Maelcon. Twelve scale-mailed warriors stood with a finely armored officer at their head. Their foreign garb and outlandish appearance seemed profoundly out of place amidst the snowy landscape and down-to-earth people of the Gal Hills.

Outside the hall, tensions briefly stirred among the companions. Kildun voiced suspicion that one of their hired men had failed his watch the night Cire died. Tyrm answered sharply that he himself had stood watch as well, and if blame were to be cast, then it belonged equally to him. Tori sided with Tyrm, and Kildun relented.

Thereafter the company scattered through Bryn Celli on separate errands.

Tyrm sought out Brenna Ink-Hand, tattooist and herbalist, accompanied by Saya'da and Tori. Within her warm and incense-scented tent, Tyrm commissioned a memorial tattoo to honor fallen Cire: a symbol of Raven, the dead adventurer’s deity. As Brenna worked her needles into flesh for a few hours, Tyrm questioned her concerning hunters and the trade in wild game. Brenna explained that Bryn Celli relied chiefly upon sheep and fish for meat, though Blood-Reeve Maelcon himself possessed a taste for venison and other forest game.

When Tyrm recounted the tiger attack and Cire’s death, Brenna grew thoughtful. She advised them to speak with the chief huntsman, for Taran Macc Niall had once claimed to have seen a tiger prowling those woods. At the time, none had believed him.

Their conversation soon turned toward herbs and remedies. Brenna spoke of wolfsbane and belladonna, describing the places where such plants might be found. Tyrm listened intently, already considering how fresh wolfsbane might be harvested freely rather than purchased dear.

Meanwhile Tori and Saya'da wandered the snowy market streets while Tyrm endured the tattooing. Later, impatient with waiting, Saya'da swept through the curtain herself and took Tyrm’s place in the chair. She requested tiger-stripes inked across her neck: a vow of vengeance against the beast that had slain Cire. Brenna attempted conversation regarding Saya'da’s older tattoos, slowly drawing words from the usually taciturn berserker.

Tori likewise discussed designs with Brenna, though the work would require two sittings and had to be delayed.

Elsewhere in Bryn Celli, Kildun pursued stranger ambitions. First he visited a leather-worker to discuss weaving flexible wire into his whip. The craftsman suggested instead the forging of a proper chain whip. Intrigued, Kildun carried the idea onward to the weaponsmith, who admitted never having crafted such a weapon before. Nevertheless, for fifteen gold pieces paid in advance, he agreed to forge the exotic arm and promised it ready by Earth-day.

With business concluded, Kildun sought the company of old Nerys, finding her in the common room of the Sheep’s Rest with warm cider in hand. The necromancer purchased drinks for them both, and together they spoke quietly while snow beat against the shutters.

Nerys mentioned having seen a strange shadow pass over Maelcon’s hall about the same time the Moorish visitors arrived. Whether omen or mere coincidence, she could not say. More importantly, she warned Kildun against placing too much trust in the strange voices that whispered to him, cautioning that such things seldom served mortal interests faithfully.

Other business occupied the remainder of the day. Tori arranged for silver sling bullets to be cast for her use. Tyrm considered purchasing silver arrows, though he remembered the temporary silver shafts recovered from Cire’s belongings and decided they would suffice for now.

That evening the companions reunited at the Sheep’s Rest and exchanged what each had learned. Torla confirmed that little wild game came regularly into town, though huntsmen occasionally sold her meat quietly for her kitchen. She also suggested another possible source of information: Eluned of the Lower Pasture, a shepherdess rumored to hold affection for Rhodric.

The companions discussed wolfsbane at length, reviewing tales concerning its use against werewolves. They spoke of shield walls bristling with wolfsbane-tipped spears while archers and spellcasters struck from behind. Tyrm proposed harvesting the herb fresh and trading it with the druids for prepared bundles rather than paying exorbitant sums.

As the night wore on, thoughts turned toward more practical concerns. The party considered seeking permanent lodgings in Bryn Celli instead of continually paying for rooms at the inn. A rented house and home-cooked meals might greatly reduce their expenses if they intended to remain in the region.

By the next morning, Saturn-day, the snowfall had ceased. Saturn-day dawned cold but clear beneath broken clouds. Torla, hearing of their interest in long-term lodging, offered to introduce them to a landlord she trusted, recognizing that outsiders often found little welcome among the folk of Bryn Celli.

The company then divided once more.

Tyrm and Kildun departed for the Ashen Oak grove, seeking both druidic counsel and fresh wolfsbane. Along the forest edge they discovered flowering plants matching Brenna’s descriptions and harvested several bunches before continuing onward.

Aera received them calmly, already aware of their earlier dealings with Eilleann. When informed of Cire’s death, she merely observed that even such tragedy might serve the Balance, for to Aera all things ultimately returned to that sacred equilibrium.

They discussed Rhodric and the new commission from Blood-Reeve Maelcon. Tyrm offered the fresh “wolfsbane” they had gathered in exchange for dried bunches prepared by the druids. Unfortunately, the pair had actually harvested hydrangea instead. Nevertheless, the druids accepted the flowers with amusement and goodwill, gifting the companions several proper bundles of wolfsbane besides.

Aera further revealed that a young druidess named Fiadhan required final field training. She proposed assigning the novice to accompany the adventurers for a time. Tyrm and Kildun accepted readily.

When Tyrm suggested that Rhodric, if truly transformed into a werewolf, might perhaps be captured and cured rather than slain, Aera answered in her usual cryptic fashion. The Balance, she insisted, mattered above all else. Perhaps Rhodric’s curse served that Balance better than any cure. Yet she admitted that lycanthropy might still be reversed if the ranger were captured alive and relatively unharmed. She then instructed them carefully in the proper use of wolfsbane, explaining that it repelled such creatures rather than injuring them.

Meanwhile Tori and Saya'da journeyed southward to the Lower Pasture in search of Eluned. There among the rolling snow-dusted hills and scattered flocks, they found the shepherdess waiting beside her sheep, singing to keep them calm.

Eluned greeted them warmly once Torla’s name was mentioned. It became immediately apparent that she loved Rhodric deeply and feared terribly for his fate. Though she repeated rumors already known to the adventurers, she also provided new information of great value.

Rhodric, she explained, maintained a hunting cabin north of Bryn Celli, two or three hours distant by game trail. The cabin was shared among the huntsmen, though Rhodric favored it particularly. Nearby stood a shattered ash tree bearing deep claw marks and fragments of leather armor, and there too his bow had been found abandoned.

Most importantly, Eluned revealed that Rhodric kept a personal diary hidden within the cabin. Though she had never read it, she believed the ranger recorded many observations there.

Saya'da, with characteristic bluntness, then asked whether Rhodric had been Eluned’s lover. The shepherdess flushed crimson and inadvertently revealed knowledge of a birthmark upon Rhodric’s left buttock before realizing what sort of “information” the berserker had truly intended to uncover. Soon afterward Eluned dissolved into tears, leaving Saya'da profoundly uncomfortable. As the pair departed, the Yakut woman could still be heard muttering the word “buttock” beneath her breath.

Before leaving, Tori cautioned Eluned not to seek Rhodric alone within the forests.

By noon the companions had reunited once more at the Sheep’s Rest. They exchanged all that they had learned: the hunting cabin, the claw-marked ash tree, the diary, the strange Moorish visitors, the ominous shadow over Maelcon’s hall, and the promise of a druidess soon to join their ranks.

Thus the hunt for Rhodric deepened, drawing the adventurers steadily toward the dark forests north of Bryn Celli, where tiger tracks and werewolf tales mingled beneath the ancient snowbound pines.

The Chronicle, Session 3

New Allies, Well Met

The last ships of the season came through the mist-choked waters beneath the cliffs of Bryn Celli, bearing with them three strangers: Tyrm, Bran, and Saya’da. Though unfamiliar with the town and its dour folk, the three had traveled together for some time already, bound by circumstance and whatever rough trust adventurers place in one another. They disembarked knowing full well what the season meant: only an occasional, rare vessel was likely to brave these waters again before winter’s end. Whatever fate awaited them in this bleak northern land, they were committed.

The townsfolk greeted them with cold stares and guarded silence. Yet as they passed near the well by the south gate, an old woman resting there raised her head and called to them. It was Nerys the Seer, her clouded eyes strangely intent despite her frailty. Without introduction she urged them to seek out Aera of the Ashen Oak at the druid grove west of town. Work awaited them there, she said — and perhaps companions as well.

Bran, ever eager to make a favorable impression upon gods and mortals alike, offered the old seer a small carved rune marked with the image of a goat and gave her his blessing. Nerys accepted it with gratitude. Saya’da merely urged the others onward with impatience.

Passing through Bryn Celli and out by the north gate, the newcomers followed the western road toward the grove beneath the ancient oaks. There, under the watchful gaze of Aera of the Ashen Oak, the two bands of adventurers finally met.

The original company had already been speaking with the druidess regarding the restless spirit of Eilleann. As the newcomers approached, they overheard enough of the conversation to quickly understand the matter at hand. Aera spoke solemnly of an ancient rite of release — one not performed in living memory. To calm the dead girl’s spirit permanently, her name must be spoken, an item belonging to her placed over the site of her murder, and a vow sworn that her killer would face judgment, whether by mortal hands or the gods themselves.

The ritual, Aera warned, would take several uninterrupted minutes to complete. If the one performing it were harmed or distracted, the rite would fail and must begin anew.

Worse still, Eilleann’s spirit could not be slain by ordinary steel. Only silver or enchanted weapons could wound her, and even then only briefly delay her wrath. The ritual itself was the only true means of putting her to rest. Tori volunteered to perform the rite while the others defended her.

Aera explained that the local smith could silver their weapons for little more than the value of the silver itself — enough to coat blades and arrowheads for a handful of strikes.

At this point, the newcomers introduced themselves...

Tyrm stood silently for much of it, staring vacantly as though only half aware of the conversation. Cire, naturally wary of strangers and reliant upon the judgment of trusted companions, greeted the newcomers cautiously. Kildun's unusual height was quickly noticed, leading to an exchange of "short" jokes and puns.

Saya’da remained mostly silent, watching.

At last Bran introduced himself properly, offering his services so long as all could work together as equals. He mentioned that Nerys had directed them here and had even foretold another company of adventurers.

This seemed enough for Tori and Cire. Cire clasped Bran’s hand warmly in welcome. Bran, for his part, promised he would be “high risk, but give potentially alarming returns.”

Kildun appeared openly relieved to see additional warriors among the newcomers and welcomed them readily. Saya’da smiled faintly but said nothing.

Tyrm, meanwhile, spotted a gap in the trees where sunlight pierced the grove canopy. Without explanation he wandered away from the conversation entirely and stood basking in the light.

Not long after, Tori began quietly speaking with her fox totem spirit — invisible to everyone else.

With hours remaining before midnight, the newly joined company set out to prepare. Tori inquired whether holy water might aid them against Eilleann’s spirit, and Aera admitted it could perhaps prove useful. Tyrm questioned the certainty of Brion’s guilt, forcing the others to admit that despite rumor and suspicion, they possessed no true proof. Discussion turned to the clues they had uncovered thus far and to darker possibilities — particularly the rumors surrounding the missing ranger Rhodric and whispers of lycanthropy in the region.

The party resolved to continue their investigation before nightfall. Tyrm simply turned and began walking off, apparently assuming the others would follow him, or simply not caring. Fortunately, they did.

Before leaving the grove, Bran paused to offer an earnest — if deeply awkward — prayer to Ullr:

“Oh great Ullr,
Grant me success in this upcoming endeavor,
Which I assure you is extremely important,
And not at all a poorly thought-out scheme involving strangers’ coin.
Bless my aim — metaphorically or otherwise —
Though preferably literally, if there’s any archery involved.
Guide my steps as you guide… skis?
Yes — like skis upon the fresh powder of destiny.”

The company’s first stop was the smithy, where silver could be applied to weapons and ammunition alike. Several members also purchased permanently silvered arms, unwilling to rely solely upon temporary coatings.

Thereafter the investigation resumed in earnest.

When Tyrm noticed several idle youths loitering in the streets, he approached them directly despite his almost supernatural lack of social grace. The boys mocked him openly for his odd mannerisms and unsettling demeanor, but Tyrm appeared either oblivious or unconcerned by the insults.

Cire eventually intervened, flipping one of the boys a silver coin. The change in attitude was immediate. The youths admitted they had known Brion and went so far as to accuse him of Eilleann’s murder outright. None had witnessed the deed, but all claimed they knew the sort of person Brion truly was. Yet fear and shame had kept them silent — none willing to confront Eilleann’s grieving parents with what they suspected.

Elsewhere, Galenos had returned to the Sheep’s Rest for drink and warmth, soon joined by Cire. Tyrm instead headed for the docks accompanied by Kildun, Saya’da, and Tori. There they questioned local fishermen as the men cleaned nets and boats after the day’s labor.

The conversation quickly descended into comedy as Tyrm attempted diplomacy. Saya’da attempted to salvage matters by falsely claiming Brion owed her money, but the fishermen saw through the lie at once and laughed openly. Even so, the men shared what little they knew. Brion had often kept company with two wastrels named Lonan and Lachlann — “toadies,” in the fishermen’s words — though the dockworkers knew little more than that.

By evening the scattered groups reconvened at the Sheep’s Rest before continuing to question Torla Red-Hand. She confirmed that Lonan and Lachlann had indeed been among Brion’s closest companions and described them as layabouts frequently found wasting time in the streets. Tyrm immediately recognized the description as the very youths they had already questioned.

Torla also revealed the names of Brion’s parents, Onchu and Dairine, and directed the party toward their small home on the east side of town.

Having obtained this information, Tyrm walked away again without explanation. Kildun, increasingly fascinated by the strange man, followed after him. Galenos settled the tavern tab while Cire departed separately to speak once more with Nerys.

The company divided into three groups.

Tyrm and Kildun confronted Lonan and Lachlann again. The boys initially laughed, admitting they had earlier sent Tyrm wandering on a fool’s errand. Yet with the towering Kildun looming silently behind him, the humor quickly faded from their faces. This time the youths admitted openly that they had been Brion’s friends and confirmed much of what the party already knew concerning the night Brion and Eilleann disappeared.

When the boys attempted to leave, Tyrm laid hands upon their shoulders to stop them. They jerked free in alarm and fled down the street.

Afterward, Tyrm turned to Kildun and spoke in ancient Hyperborean, catching the necromancer very much by surprise.

Meanwhile Bran, Saya’da, and Galenos visited the home of Brion’s parents. Bran politely knocked, and after a long hesitation a weary, hollow-eyed woman answered the door. She confirmed she was Brion’s mother but insisted she had not seen her son since his disappearance and knew nothing of his whereabouts.

Bran attempted gently to press for more information, but fear hung thick within the cramped house. A harsh male voice barked from somewhere deeper inside, and the woman hurriedly explained she needed to prepare supper for her husband. Though Saya’da was clearly displeased, the group eventually relented and withdrew.

At the well, Cire and Tori found Nerys once again seated in quiet contemplation. Sadly, the old seer had no fresh visions to offer them. The voices, she explained, did not answer questions on command. Still, she confessed that before Brion vanished she had sensed darkness clinging to him — the same darkness she had once perceived upon his father. She had tried warning Brion’s mother, but the woman refused to listen.

Cire spoke of their intention to perform the rite for Eilleann and asked whether naming Brion specifically during the vow might matter. Nerys could offer no certainty.

As dusk deepened, the scattered companions reunited near the home of Brion’s parents. Tyrm questioned Kildun regarding lycanthropes, but the necromancer knew little beyond common tales and rumor. He did, however, remind the others of the troubling stories surrounding the missing ranger Rhodric.

Suspicion and unease thickened around the company as they circled the narrow row houses in search of another entrance. At the end of the row, between the houses and outer palisade, they discovered a cramped alleyway behind the dwellings.

And there, approaching quietly through the gloom, they heard voices from within:

A man shouting in anger.

And a woman pleading desperately for peace...

Brandulfr (Bran)

Brandulfr, commonly known as Bran

Class: Runegraver

Heritage: Viking

Origin: New Vinland

Tyrm

Tyrm

Class: Warlock

Heritage: Oon

Origin: City of Khromarium

Saya'da

Saya'da

Class: Berserker

Heritage: Yakut

Origin: Plain of Leng

Galenos

Galenos

Class: Cataphract

Heritage: Kimmerian

Origin: The Fields of Vol

Cire Leachim

Cire Leachim

Class: Legerdemainist

Heritage: Half-blood Pict

Origin: City-State of Khromarium

Kildun Graax

Kildun Graax

Class: Necromancer

Heritage: Hyperborean

Origin: City-State of Khromarium

Reltoria (Tori)

Reltoria, commonly known as Tori

Class: Shamaness

Heritage: Mixed

Origin: Gal City

The Chronicle, Session 2

The Spider and the Treasure

In less than a minute, the fight with the giant spider was over. The party was incredibly lucky: no one bitten, no one poisoned. As they caught their breath and recovered ammunition from the field, Cire started looking around for the spider's lair. The others quickly joined him in this search.

And they found it: a massive web strung across multiple trees in a large copse, not far from where they had been ambushed. And beneath that web, the wealth of several fallen adventurers, victims of the spider's predation.

Returning to Bryn Celli, the party rested for the night. The next day, they spent time upgrading their gear and talking with the same folks who had got them started: Torla Red-Hand, innkeeper of the Sheep's Rest inn, and Old Nerys, seeress at the town well.

They were eventually directed to Eilleann's parents, who were of course the ones to originally put out the call for help in locating their missing daughter. Torla accompanied the party, to provide an introduction, which was critical: the parents initially had no interest in talking to outsiders, but Torla convinced them to give the party a chance. The group then told of what they had found, and presented the copper ring they had taken from Eilleann's neck. This broke the dam, and the parents then shared everything they remembered about the night that Eilleann had disappeared.

The group learned that it was not only Eilleann, but her suitor, Brion, who was missing. The two young adults had been seeing each other for a long time. Their relationship was stormy, many times seemingly over, but they always got back together.

Now... who knew? They had disappeared on a night like many others, with the two of them heading up to the Trysting Glade to spend some time together. Young couples had been doing this for generations, so it was no strange thing. And in fact there were known to be others up there on that night, but no one admitted to knowing anything about what might have happened.

The party resolved to search for possible witnesses and interview them, as well as Brion's parents. But first, believing that the spirit haunting the glade was that of Eilleann, they decided to seek out Aera of the Ashen Oak, the head druidess of the nearby grove. From her, they hoped to learn more about the spirit, what type it might be, and how dangerous, and most importantly, how to put her to rest.

The Chronicle, Session 1

The Party

• Reltoria (Tori): Common heritage, shamaness, from Gal City
• Kildun Graax: Hyperborean, necromancer, from the city of Khromarium
• Cire Leachim: Half-blood Pict, legerdemainist, from Khromarium
• Galenos: Kimmerian, cataphract, from the Fields of Vol.

Initial NPCs

• Old Nerys, herbalist, witch, and seer. Often found sitting near the town well, people-watching and offering her services to any brave enough to ask.
• Torla Red-Hand, innkeeper and owner of the Sheep's Rest, the main inn of Bryn Celli.

The Adventure

The party arrived at Bryn Celli via ship, the cog known as the Sidhe Wind. Walking up from the docks, they passed through the gate and started walking around. People were business-like, at best: the merchants would deal with them, but no one was willing to talk about local rumors, and running conversations would go silent as the party approached.

The party did note that local prices for common goods and equipment were higher than expected. Perhaps the merchants were subtly price-gouging them?

In the square, they met Old Nerys sitting by the main well, who addressed them as they were passing by. From her, they heard the rumor about The Beast of Hollow Cairn. Tori gave Nerys a silver coin for the info, and Nerys then added a rumor about Lovers' Lament.

Nerys also directed them to Sheep's Rest inn, and its owner Torla Red-Hand, for more info. Kildun slipped Nerys a gold coin because she reminded him of his mother.

They went to Sheep's Rest inn, met Torla. From her they received more rumors about both Hollow Cairn and Lovers' Lament. She directed to Dafydd Barrow-born, the town's grave digger.

Went to speak with Dafydd, in the graveyard just northwest of town, and learned some more about Lovers' Lament and the missing girl, Eilleann. He said that he'd gone to check it himself but was chased away by a ghost. He believed it was the spirit of Eilleann, come to "steal his soul".

The party decided to go to the Trysting Grove to investigate the disturbed soil. Found the grove easily enough, no encounters on the way. Investigating the area, they quickly found the disturbed earth at the base of the old oak. Also discovered some footprints heading northwest away from the area. Dug into the earth, found a young woman's body about two weeks dead (coincides with Eilleann's disappearance).

Noticed neck bruises: evidence that she had been strangled. She also had a leather thong around her neck, with a man-sized copper ring on it. Cire took the ring as evidence. They re-buried the body and tried to cover the smell so it wouldn't be disturbed by animals.

The party then followed the footprints in the dried mud, out to a different path than the one by which they had entered the grove. The footprints disappeared as the ground hardened, making tracking impossible. They continued along that path north for a short distance, and encountered a giant spider that ambushed them from above!