The Heroes return to Mandal, where they can lay Machteld
to rest. A monumental mausoleum will be erected to
commemorate the Battle of Mandal, where many brave men and
women gave their lives to guarantee the freedom of the
Rjurik Highlands.
* * *
The Rjurik Highlands are united once more, under the
protection of High King Sigurd Hrothwulfson of House
Jotunulf. Bearer of the Crown of Iron, wielder of of the
Runefang of Reynir, the very image of the hero-kings of
old. With the support of his Council of Kings, and both
the Emerald Spiral and the Oaken Grove at his side, the
future of the North looks bright and full of hope.
* * *
Even an immortal can feel the sting of loss, but Malik
holds back the tears as he holds his son in his arms, as
he sees in his eyes the reflection of his beloved
Machteld. But he will not rest for long; he has avenged
Machteld, yet he still has not plunged his poisonous
dagger in the heart of the one that killed his mother.
Just a matter of time.
* * *
Gerold and Beate Karlburgher honor the memory of their
warrior mother, who gave them a realm away from home. Who
taught them to fight on the battlefiled, and at court. The
Black Lion flag flutters in the wind, a promise of prosperity and conquests yet to come.
* * *
As always divided, as always of two worlds, Niobhe takes
the time to be together with her husband and son in
far Anuire. But she has not forgotten her duties in the
North, as a queen, as a mage, and as the bridge between
the world of Men and that of Elves. Her gaze lingers on
the ancient map, at the realm of Shadows that marks the
border between Anuire and the Rjurik Highlands; one war is
over, a new one may too soon begin.
* * *
Who would have thought he would reach so high? As he watches his beautiful queen and his lovely princesses playing in their vast chambers, King Storm of Stjordvik gazes on his city from his royal balcony. Adventure, riches, love, adoration from his subjects, and now immortality in the songs of the skalds. He has it all! Yet he knows... out there, beyond the horizon, one more adventure awaits.
A D&D 5th edition Birthright Campaign - Started July 2014 - Ended November 2015
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Session 63 (10,000 xp)
Heroes: Sigurd, Storm, Machteld, Malik, Niobhe
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter)
The Heroes face the many guardians, traps, and riddles defending the abode of the White Witch. In an arcane laboratory, they find Queen Rowena, still under the influence of the White Witch charms. The Heroes must battle her and her chain devils before they manage to bring her back to her senses. Trevan, who has accompanied the Heroes this far, reunites with his wife, and stays behind to take care of her.
When the Heroes finally arrive in the main temple, they find the White Witch and her troll elite guards waiting for them. Behind her throne, the portal to Frozen Hell is wide open. The time for words is long past, and the Heroes throw themselves at he awnsheg, who flies around the temple carried by icy winds. While Sigurd and Machteld keep the trolls at bay, Malik and Storm fire their bows at the Witch, and Niobhe alternates between casting spells and striking with her fiery blade, to make sure the trolls stay dead.
But the magical powers of the White Witch take their toll, as the resources of the Heroes are depleted, and more than once they fall, only to stand up again when the ghostly image of Vladimir, their long lost friend, infuses them with the healing powerf of Kirken, so that they may fight once more.
Rowena and Trevan also join the fight, using their powerful spells to destroy the trolls, and bring down the Witch where the blades of the Heroes can have more effect. But the awnsheg powers remain tremendous, and when she utters a word of divine power, Machteld, having suffered many grievious wounds, falls dead.
Sigurd runs to the portal, to place the cursed sword Eternal Winter in the middle of it. As the portal slowly closes, the White Witch unleashes her most powerful spell, calling forth the divine help of Kriesha herself! But the goddess has not forgotten of her arch-priestess' alliance with Geryon, and she denies her help, taking away her ability to fly. The Heroes rush to her, and Sigurd brings her to her knees, yet shows mercy. As she laughs at this final act of piety, Malik runs forward, and cuts her throat, damning her soul to Hell.
The White Witch lies dead. One final act remains. Niobhe steps forward, to the now sealed portal. She strikes at the frozen image of Eternal Winter, and the portal shatters in a million fragments, forever gone.
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter)
The Heroes face the many guardians, traps, and riddles defending the abode of the White Witch. In an arcane laboratory, they find Queen Rowena, still under the influence of the White Witch charms. The Heroes must battle her and her chain devils before they manage to bring her back to her senses. Trevan, who has accompanied the Heroes this far, reunites with his wife, and stays behind to take care of her.
When the Heroes finally arrive in the main temple, they find the White Witch and her troll elite guards waiting for them. Behind her throne, the portal to Frozen Hell is wide open. The time for words is long past, and the Heroes throw themselves at he awnsheg, who flies around the temple carried by icy winds. While Sigurd and Machteld keep the trolls at bay, Malik and Storm fire their bows at the Witch, and Niobhe alternates between casting spells and striking with her fiery blade, to make sure the trolls stay dead.
But the magical powers of the White Witch take their toll, as the resources of the Heroes are depleted, and more than once they fall, only to stand up again when the ghostly image of Vladimir, their long lost friend, infuses them with the healing powerf of Kirken, so that they may fight once more.
Rowena and Trevan also join the fight, using their powerful spells to destroy the trolls, and bring down the Witch where the blades of the Heroes can have more effect. But the awnsheg powers remain tremendous, and when she utters a word of divine power, Machteld, having suffered many grievious wounds, falls dead.
Sigurd runs to the portal, to place the cursed sword Eternal Winter in the middle of it. As the portal slowly closes, the White Witch unleashes her most powerful spell, calling forth the divine help of Kriesha herself! But the goddess has not forgotten of her arch-priestess' alliance with Geryon, and she denies her help, taking away her ability to fly. The Heroes rush to her, and Sigurd brings her to her knees, yet shows mercy. As she laughs at this final act of piety, Malik runs forward, and cuts her throat, damning her soul to Hell.
The White Witch lies dead. One final act remains. Niobhe steps forward, to the now sealed portal. She strikes at the frozen image of Eternal Winter, and the portal shatters in a million fragments, forever gone.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Session 62 (6,000 xp)
Heroes: Sigurd, Storm, Machteld, Malik, Niobhe
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Citadel Coldsteel
The Heroes are brought to Geryon, surronded by minotaur guards. The situation looks dire, when unexpected help arrives. Trevan receives a magical message from the tiefling Drusus, their fellow prisoner on their way to Citadell Coldsteel. He instructs Trevan to get all the party as near as possible to Geyron, and then use the first of two scrolls he has provided him.
When Geryon is tired of their bantering, and the tension has reached the limit, the Heroes rush to Geryon, and Trevan uses the scroll. A magical dome of force surrounds the Heroes and the Arch-devil, making it impossible for the dozens of minotaurs and devils to assist their lord.
The Heroes attack Geryon with all they have, while Storm begins chanting the imprisonment spell that Tormora the hag gave them. After a short but savage fight, Geryon fails to resist the spell, and his soul is trapped in the magical gem. Trevan then uses Drusus' second scroll, a teleport spell; unfortunately something goes wrong, and they find themselves outside of the fortress, on a icy ledge up on the glacier, with no easy way to leave, and legions of devils looking for them.
The Heroes manage to camouflage their tent by covering it in ice and snow, while they try to make a new deal with Geryon. After a prolonged duel of wits and treachery, they find an agreement with Geryon. They will free his soul, in exchange for safe passage back home, and the promise he will cease his alliance with the White Witch. Also, he will make sure Tormora is dead so the deal they made with her will be null.
When they free Geryon, he calls his legions to himself, and has the Heroes captured and tortured for five days. He will keep his promise, but before he will have some fun with them.
The legions move to Tormora's town, and raze it to the ground, killing all the hags, including Tormora. Then Geryon calls the boatman, and throws the battered bodies of the Heroes on his vessel. He pays the boatman, and instructs him to give some water of the Styx to each of them, to make them forget they were ever there. Better they don't go around bragging to have bested Geryon at his own game...
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter) - Ruins of Mandal
The Heroes awaken in the underground cave below the temple of Mandal, with no memory of the last few days. Still, the pillar of frozen energy powering the armies of the White Witch is gone. The united armies of the Rjurik realms have won their most diffcutl battle, albeit with heavy losses. The Heroes take their time to secure the city, heal the wounded, and plan their next move.
With more than a thousand men, they march north, to the coast, where several longships and cogs are waiting them to bring them even farther north, where the hiding place of the White Witch is said to be. After almost a week at sea, making their way between icebergs and floating islands of ice, they spot the entrance of the Temple of Ice.
They disembark with their troops, and approach the glacier. But at the feet of the ice covered mountain, they're attacked by Ice Golems in great numbers. While their men fight the frozen constructs, the Heroes make their way up the mountain, and enter the Temple.
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Citadel Coldsteel
The Heroes are brought to Geryon, surronded by minotaur guards. The situation looks dire, when unexpected help arrives. Trevan receives a magical message from the tiefling Drusus, their fellow prisoner on their way to Citadell Coldsteel. He instructs Trevan to get all the party as near as possible to Geyron, and then use the first of two scrolls he has provided him.
When Geryon is tired of their bantering, and the tension has reached the limit, the Heroes rush to Geryon, and Trevan uses the scroll. A magical dome of force surrounds the Heroes and the Arch-devil, making it impossible for the dozens of minotaurs and devils to assist their lord.
The Heroes attack Geryon with all they have, while Storm begins chanting the imprisonment spell that Tormora the hag gave them. After a short but savage fight, Geryon fails to resist the spell, and his soul is trapped in the magical gem. Trevan then uses Drusus' second scroll, a teleport spell; unfortunately something goes wrong, and they find themselves outside of the fortress, on a icy ledge up on the glacier, with no easy way to leave, and legions of devils looking for them.
The Heroes manage to camouflage their tent by covering it in ice and snow, while they try to make a new deal with Geryon. After a prolonged duel of wits and treachery, they find an agreement with Geryon. They will free his soul, in exchange for safe passage back home, and the promise he will cease his alliance with the White Witch. Also, he will make sure Tormora is dead so the deal they made with her will be null.
When they free Geryon, he calls his legions to himself, and has the Heroes captured and tortured for five days. He will keep his promise, but before he will have some fun with them.
The legions move to Tormora's town, and raze it to the ground, killing all the hags, including Tormora. Then Geryon calls the boatman, and throws the battered bodies of the Heroes on his vessel. He pays the boatman, and instructs him to give some water of the Styx to each of them, to make them forget they were ever there. Better they don't go around bragging to have bested Geryon at his own game...
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter) - Ruins of Mandal
The Heroes awaken in the underground cave below the temple of Mandal, with no memory of the last few days. Still, the pillar of frozen energy powering the armies of the White Witch is gone. The united armies of the Rjurik realms have won their most diffcutl battle, albeit with heavy losses. The Heroes take their time to secure the city, heal the wounded, and plan their next move.
With more than a thousand men, they march north, to the coast, where several longships and cogs are waiting them to bring them even farther north, where the hiding place of the White Witch is said to be. After almost a week at sea, making their way between icebergs and floating islands of ice, they spot the entrance of the Temple of Ice.
They disembark with their troops, and approach the glacier. But at the feet of the ice covered mountain, they're attacked by Ice Golems in great numbers. While their men fight the frozen constructs, the Heroes make their way up the mountain, and enter the Temple.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Session 61 (3,500 xp)
Heroes: Sigurd, Storm, Machteld, Malik
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Steadfast Chill
The day after, a unit of minotaurs arrives to escort the Heroes to Geryon's fortress. They travel in an enclosed carriage, where one more passenger is present: a fiendish humanoid, calling himself Drusus. It seems the horned creature has already been in Geryon's abode, but fears to be returned there.
When they arrive at destination, they find countless legions of devils camped on the frozen plains at the feet of a mighty glacier. On the side of this mountain of ice, iron towers flank gigantic steel doors, the very entrance to Citadel Coldsteel.
The Heroes are brought in, where more devils and minotaurs keep watch on Geryon's domain. They're ushered into a dark cave, where they're ordered to wait under the vigilant gaze of their minotaurs escort.
But Sigurd proves impatient, and accidentally awakes the guardian slumbering in the cave... a fiendish white dragon! When the Heroes fail to quench its rage, they're forced to fight the beast. Taking advantage of his ability to fly, the fiend unleashes his icy breath on the Heroes several times, clawing and biting at them when he plunges from on high.
Dherg Wir is mauled by the dragon's claws, and not even Machteld's healer skills can bring him back. Storm grasps Dherg's sword, Hrunskvang, awakening its divine powers with his Reynir bloodline. The greatsword shines with holy vengeance, sending the minotaurs still in the cave to run for their mster. Yet Storm realizes he can be deadlier with his magical bow, and drops the swords between the dragon and Sigurd.
Malik keeps pelletting the dragon from a distance, when finally Sigurd reaches for Hrunskvang, and unleashes an avalanche of deadly blows on the dragon. Once, twice, and more and more the holy blade slashes at the dragon, until the monstrous head of the fiend detaches from its neck.
As they bind their wounds, and mourn Dherg's death, the minotaurs return and gather around them, seizing their weapons, to bring them in the presence of Lord Geryon. They have killed his most prized pet... now there will be Hell to pay...
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Steadfast Chill
The day after, a unit of minotaurs arrives to escort the Heroes to Geryon's fortress. They travel in an enclosed carriage, where one more passenger is present: a fiendish humanoid, calling himself Drusus. It seems the horned creature has already been in Geryon's abode, but fears to be returned there.
When they arrive at destination, they find countless legions of devils camped on the frozen plains at the feet of a mighty glacier. On the side of this mountain of ice, iron towers flank gigantic steel doors, the very entrance to Citadel Coldsteel.
The Heroes are brought in, where more devils and minotaurs keep watch on Geryon's domain. They're ushered into a dark cave, where they're ordered to wait under the vigilant gaze of their minotaurs escort.
But Sigurd proves impatient, and accidentally awakes the guardian slumbering in the cave... a fiendish white dragon! When the Heroes fail to quench its rage, they're forced to fight the beast. Taking advantage of his ability to fly, the fiend unleashes his icy breath on the Heroes several times, clawing and biting at them when he plunges from on high.
Dherg Wir is mauled by the dragon's claws, and not even Machteld's healer skills can bring him back. Storm grasps Dherg's sword, Hrunskvang, awakening its divine powers with his Reynir bloodline. The greatsword shines with holy vengeance, sending the minotaurs still in the cave to run for their mster. Yet Storm realizes he can be deadlier with his magical bow, and drops the swords between the dragon and Sigurd.
Malik keeps pelletting the dragon from a distance, when finally Sigurd reaches for Hrunskvang, and unleashes an avalanche of deadly blows on the dragon. Once, twice, and more and more the holy blade slashes at the dragon, until the monstrous head of the fiend detaches from its neck.
As they bind their wounds, and mourn Dherg's death, the minotaurs return and gather around them, seizing their weapons, to bring them in the presence of Lord Geryon. They have killed his most prized pet... now there will be Hell to pay...
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Tormora, Lady of Larvae
Tormora controls the larvae trade in Steadfast Chill, the Realm of Kriesha in Stygia, the 5th layer of Hell.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Session 60 (4,000 xp)
Heroes: Sigurd, Storm, Machteld, Malik
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter)
The Heroes enter the Cathedral, making their way through empty halls covered in ice. In the main temple, at the center of the compound, awaits a Death Knight, the former general of the Hogunmark Dragon Guard, now an undead monster wearing the magical Armor of the Frost Giant King. He sends forth his legion of zombies, which the Heroes must cut through before finally engaging the undead knight. After a long and strenous fight, Storm decapitates the knight.
The Heroes find a secret passage leading to the underground chambers of the temple. After descending several levels, they emerge in a vast cavern. One side of the cavern is bathed in sickly white light emerging from a lake of oily water. Waiting by a small pier, a frozen boat and a boatman can be spotted silhouetted against the light. When they approach, the Heroes glean from the boatman that he can bring them through the wall of light, and then to Stygia, by way of the river Styx. Having already discovered that the power of the White Witch originates from the Lower Planes, they pay a coin and jump on board.
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Steadfast Chill
The infernal boat brings them to Steadfast Chill, the realm of the goddess Kriesha in the 5th layer of Hell. It is an endless expanse of ice and glaciers, jagged frozen cliffs and devoid of colors. Pale whites and sickly greys rule the sky, with the floating citadel of the goddess herself taking the place of the sun in the eternal greyness.
Yet, the forlorn landscape is inhabited by the souls of the faithful, Vos and Rjuven who tend to the millions of larvae filling the pits of the night hags. The Heroes attract the attention of a patrol of minotaurs, servants of the fallen arch-devil Geryon, former ruler of this layer. After an adequate show of power, they convince the minotaurs to inform Geryon of their presence. The minotaurs bring them to the homestad of Tormora the hag, to await an official summon from Geryon.
While they're guests of the old crone, they glean a few important details about Geryon and his alliance with the White Witch. Most importantly, they strike some sort of a deal with Tormora, who sees an opportunity to be exploited in the Heroes' arrival.
Year 653 MR (1st Quarter)
The Heroes enter the Cathedral, making their way through empty halls covered in ice. In the main temple, at the center of the compound, awaits a Death Knight, the former general of the Hogunmark Dragon Guard, now an undead monster wearing the magical Armor of the Frost Giant King. He sends forth his legion of zombies, which the Heroes must cut through before finally engaging the undead knight. After a long and strenous fight, Storm decapitates the knight.
The Heroes find a secret passage leading to the underground chambers of the temple. After descending several levels, they emerge in a vast cavern. One side of the cavern is bathed in sickly white light emerging from a lake of oily water. Waiting by a small pier, a frozen boat and a boatman can be spotted silhouetted against the light. When they approach, the Heroes glean from the boatman that he can bring them through the wall of light, and then to Stygia, by way of the river Styx. Having already discovered that the power of the White Witch originates from the Lower Planes, they pay a coin and jump on board.
Baator - Stygia (5th layer) - Steadfast Chill
The infernal boat brings them to Steadfast Chill, the realm of the goddess Kriesha in the 5th layer of Hell. It is an endless expanse of ice and glaciers, jagged frozen cliffs and devoid of colors. Pale whites and sickly greys rule the sky, with the floating citadel of the goddess herself taking the place of the sun in the eternal greyness.
Yet, the forlorn landscape is inhabited by the souls of the faithful, Vos and Rjuven who tend to the millions of larvae filling the pits of the night hags. The Heroes attract the attention of a patrol of minotaurs, servants of the fallen arch-devil Geryon, former ruler of this layer. After an adequate show of power, they convince the minotaurs to inform Geryon of their presence. The minotaurs bring them to the homestad of Tormora the hag, to await an official summon from Geryon.
While they're guests of the old crone, they glean a few important details about Geryon and his alliance with the White Witch. Most importantly, they strike some sort of a deal with Tormora, who sees an opportunity to be exploited in the Heroes' arrival.
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