Ivinia Darkness

Scribe Notes

Summary

GM: Jono Bean
Season: Spring 816 wk
Night: Wednesday (starting 14th Sept, 6:30pm)
Location: 39 Tudor Road, Henderson, Auckland
Level: Medium/High
Information: Information from players for Jono.
Play test: Alchemist, Assassin, Beastmaster, Thief, Ranger, and others.

Preference given to those who played on Chelemby Northern Darkness part one, or guild members who's background is from the northern area.

Party

1. Ragnfríðr Yngvarrsdóttir Gythja of Hel - Kelsie
2. Mungo the humble So Named by Odin Himself - Michael
3. Mordrin Freya's champion- Clare Mil Sci
4. Serra Angelus - Elven, Hard Drinking Earth mage
5. Lady Cher of Maltheim Cross, Binder, played by Sean
6. Silverfoam

Mission

In the warmth of Spring go to Chelemby City, travel to the Kingdom of Ibanvaal and assist the local leaders with a siege.

Help by rescuing some missing people. Kill two important people who poisoned the wife of a son of Thor.

Time allowing follow up on a treasure map.

Pay

A meal of blessed náttmál for each person.

6 X Reinforced Salamander Hearts.

6 X Amulet of Blessed Antlers.

Scribe notes

up-to-date as of 27-09-16 (mostly)

Chapter-1

The sub-party left guild, via the Destitution Portal, which refuses to transmit anything over 5000 sp worth --- surprised that each of us is technically of such low value. (PS Correction: apparently it only cuts out possessions. Even more surprised that none of the party are technically possessed, especially the pacted).

We 3 (Cher, Mungo, Silverfoam) arrived under a pier in Chelemby City, some wetter others; sailed up to the rustic, Royal fortress of Dagenborg in Ibanvaal.

The Mission

We met the rest of the party who had been training. General introductions were made; including the fact that Mungo was once changed into a camel, but only briefly because he can change shape.
Cher: "What? Like Loki?"

We continued with discussions of the mission specifics, such as they are; also philosophical discussions on Pragmatics and relativity of Truth. There was some uncertainty about phrases like "That's what the Son of Thor claims". Indeed Ragna & Mungo disagree on whether the son of Thor could have been tricked or would lie. (Or both.)
Mungo: "He's the son of Thor, and Thor NEVER Lies. Well, only about his battle averages; but that doesn't count."

It was explained to Mungo the humble (... etc) that the "noble" or courtly view of facts & other motives depended on one's position and the Good of the State. Truth & the worth of witnesses/accusers customarily depends on various GotS (ours & theirs).

We agreed to track down the villains who poisoned the wife. Unfortunately the accused poisoner is a substantial Jarl over the border, where his father is the local king. Therefore the Evil Jarl might refuse to acknowledge Mungo's status to issue a challenge to a Trial by Combat

And even if someone, er, differently important like Mordrin or Ragna challenged, they might be met by the Kings Champion. Or maybe they'd just poison the party --- if the Evil Jarl has done it once and got away with it, why not again. (We learnt more when we visited Ragna's family.)

CONCLUSION: We have informally contracted "Execute" the King's Summary justice on the instigating poisoners (and perhaps any colluding conspirators) who murdered the wife of Thor's son; rather a complicated Trial of any sort.

DETAILS: Idgar Thorson's wife was poisoned in his own hall ... by something that may have been succubitic or incubus-like. Jarling Strossar (36ish) is a Menglanan leader, the charismatic holder of Fryoheim (a fortess on the coast; just a fortress not a town). Mystical investigation confirmed that the perpetrator was indeed a Name that translates approximately as King of Menglana. Idgar will reward is we slew the Jarl.

Official Party Position: They (the poisoners) have been judged by the Gods and we are here to carry out the summary justice. No need to make a fuss.

Summary of Political implications & problems for/to party-members.

• Mordrin, Freya's champion, warrior dwarf: the king wants her & others claim to "their" lands over the border in Menglana, near Sillabin (QQ).
• Ragna a Priestess of Hel who are the only Healers in this part of the world because, she reminds us, they kill any others who claim to be*). It's not clear if the Priestesses are also the only Necromancers. Ragna also has several marriageable daughters.
  Note: The party's elves are not even claiming to be veterinarians.
• Mungo, Odinist, warrior: evil half-brother; Acknowledgement/DaddyHeritage issues ("I'm the son of a king" // Ragna: "you're a bastard son, you'll have to fight for it" // M: "It doesn't matter").
  

Quite so: Mungo is well known to be a bastard acknowledged in Chelemby.

• Silverfoam, unpacted: not known to have visited these Kingdoms. Suspicious of the already known-to-be-Perfidious Destinians, who were slave-trading here in past years (which was distinctly mentioned at a previous guild meeting).
• Cher, no involvement.
• Ser Angelis, no involvement, other that the mission last season.

Party holds a Thing

The party met (had a Thing, as the locals say) to plan strategy:

• SF proposes party go by ship (mostly by sea) to Menglana — much easier than going over the mountains. Infiltrating through the mountain passes would grossly disadvantage us in ambush-rich terrain familiar to the enemy. Other cunning stratagems and devious covers were floated and some sunk.
• The Shopping trip to Pelby was discounted.
• But that lead to a counter-proposal to stop at Fuhreling (Ragna's home town) which is on the way, and a vital source of more intelligence, equipment, and Greaters.
• Mungo suggested the party could be disguised as elves by putting on dresses and acting like women. Which grossly offended Ser Angelis, but amused the MilSci, who possibly wanted it all to go as far as a swift shaving off unelvish sideburns to teach Mungo the difference between devious & deviance (but the scribe cannot comment further).

Ragna: Please officially note that Mungo is perfectly willing to become a woman if necessary.

• Cher offered to itemize useful things — see Itemisation (Binder S-7)
  

Ragna: "If you have a hot roast pig & itemize it, will it be hot & fresh when unitemized?" // Cher: "Of course". // (Excited muttering & slavering by party.)

The Feast: Merchants & Mungo's loose women.

We attended a feast presided by the Queen Halfreth, the 3rd wife of King Osidar Dagen of Ibanvaal. 40 or 45 turned up, some with horses, wearing finer clothing ... as did many of their riders (sorry, traditional Elvish humour). Two-thirds of the attendees were female (whose men were lost or are at The Front), so Mungo swarmed by undiscerning females. Although later we discovered Women were not so much undiscerning, as cunning & desperate. Three of them were considering killing off each other and make Mungo King of the South, until "dissuaded" by Mordrin's words and meaningful glares and "hard looks" from Ragna's "frightening" face (the one on the left).

Also attending were Merchants from Chelemby who have been contracted to supply materials for the rebuilding. (Don't tell Mungo, but they were actually the Guests of honour). SF socialises and discusses rebuilding. He later arranged to borrow, on surety, some wood so that the party can have a small ship when needed.

Indeed, we noticed the next day that a third of the town's burnt & demolished; with a temporary, wooden palisade erected. Also thousands of graves with spears on them. The Party Leader borrowed a scorched, broken end from the Ridge-pole of a burnt longhouse to become the prow figurehead of the party's boat — name "The burnt Ram", familiarly "The roast Lamb"

Rumours and Bon mots from the Soirée

• Orm_the_Dragon has been active in the area.
• The Dwarves are known to make items for the gods; are believed to side with the Gods, thus with King Osidar (Idjar's uncle) and his covert summary sentence against the Offending Jarl.
• "Turns out we didn't HAVE to fight a shipload of undead, that was just entertainment."
• Mungo effortlessly insults the wife of the Captain of the guard (the Arms-master that trains all the Household fighters). And somehow "What are you saying about my wife ..." quickly, predictably became an alcohol-fueled a fight, with each combatant standing on shield upheld by their supporters; followed by more mead and high-spirited shenanigans.

Home is the Priestess

We stop at Ragna's home town Fuhreling. There is a large Destinian vessel in the harbour. SF wondered aloud about securing some planks of it, maybe the rudder, to enlarge our ship "... purely in jest!" (added for legal reasons).
Mungo: "Take the wood from the bottom [of the boat], so they won't notice."

We pulled up on the beach. Those in need of Greater enchantments went to the new Temple of Luck to enquire further. SF, Mungo, & Cher stay at the boat, purchasing some dried fish and gossip (included below) from locals for cash over shared mead and strong cheese:

• There's a lot of abducting and raiding in the region; many are then sold on to the Destinians (hiss!), especially women and them what speak the language.
• The trickster-god's temple in Fuhreling is newly built, in stone! They dug a hole overnight, 40' deep, and then paved over it.
• Mist comes up (at night?) and turns icy and turns blue. And people are gone, and you can't hear anything not even their screaming.
• Betty Crowfoot is working in the west in [the Kingdom of] Rogna, commandeering pirates. She's a foreigner, magic-using, in league with Destinians.

The party reunited and headed for Ragna's family home-cum-jewelsmith-workshop, a longhouse. Four guards in chain & furs guard the door. Both sides of the longhouse roof come down low and one must bend low to enter it. (Resisted the natural urge to limbo in — first impressions are always so important with jewellers, and it's somewhat indecorous when first meeting a guild-member's family).

Inside the House of Yngvarr, it was warm, with the inviting smells of food & metalwork; A big household, well furnished, including assorted weapons strategically place about the room. Cher bought a 1700 sp 2-handed sword (the lady has impeccable taste in jewellery).

Ragna askes her family if there's anything they should tell us. Various members of the household said:

• Fendrid, a Hero has come in to the lands of the living, seeking to kill 2 giants ... Aid him in his quest.
• Four direwolves, celestial casters, were in the area a month ago, up to something ... we don't know what.
• Gothrick of the demon-cursed is active (and may have been the poisoner?? Or involved??).
• Half a dozen women have gone missing in the past month (your daughters no long go alone).
• Indeed, Someone/thing hunting two of each type of women: 2 dwarvish (which is why they were worried about "Princess Mordrin"); 2 human, 2 elvish, 2 hobbit.
• A skraeling beast, like a lizard, was seen in these parts. It's not Cher; this one came ashore earlier. (Is Cher at risk of abduction??)
• The trickster's temple was built 2 months ago.

Sarkel, a 60-year-old badly scarred on 1 side of her face told Ragna: "Words of spring will be uttered by the High priestess in Lokis, and she will make a prediction of something, which will carry weight. People will be going to Galvinaal for the rites of Spring."

Mungo & Ragna went to the the newly-paved temple, to make offerings for their Greaters. As suggested, they pay with gems (including certified valuations provided by Ragna's kin, to get full value).

---

Chapter 2: From Fuhreling to Lepesaar

In Fuhreling

After several party-members have been "lucked up", we decided to investigate the missing women.

Thora, a human woman recently disappeared from a poorer part of town near the West bay. It happened in the dark of the night before yesterday (3am-ish), the darkest time of the night.

Mungo asked that information be left for "Laugh-throne the elf"(?) with Ragna's family; but by planting coin in plenty of dirty hands, possibly some useful rumours might grow. The impoverished locals cooperate ... mostly. There are suggestions of strange people hanging around (eg, someone who had frog/duck feet, but looked like a man otherwise).

Thora went down a very seedy alley with a dog-leg kink that hides shady acts from the main street. Her client was not froggy-foot, but with a big bearded guy, a foreigner about 7 & half feet tall --- We later guessed he was probably a half-giant). Ingmar the Doxie turned him down, but had a good look first ... [short pause for Mungo to insert a few silvers and prompt questions] eg,
Mungo: Did he have greasy hair maybe?
Doxie: Take of yer helmet ... yeah, greasier than yours.

Apparently the Big guy had crossed axes [tattoo] on his forehead; nice-smelling breath, smelling of apples; Southern accent.

Through a crystal darkly

Cher can see the past of her current position, briefly, if she knows when to look. At the Alley Kink, Cher whipped out her crystal ball and we gather round. Taking a punt at the right time (15 minutes between 3 & 4am), some of us see the indulging pair as the ground-mist swells and a bear-like shadow falls over them. Mungo gets a different view (looking at the crystal from a different angle). There was a Dark silhouetted figure stepping across the roof, clearly different from the bear shadow.

Mist coalesces & gathers in height while Thora & her customer are oblivious. Big guy is dark-haired, back to the alley; Thora is mostly unseen except for legs clenching her "investor". Fortunately SF (as a master courtier) is a connoisseur of courtesans & their techniques, and saw enough of Thora's foot, ankle, & akimbo lower limb to get a Locate.

A whitish polar bear (browning with age) was creeping up with intent and transformed into an Axe-wielding GIANT (10-12' tall) wearing a bear cloak and, as the mist swirled, stepped up to the hanky-panky couple. The person or entity on the roof threw a coin and the swirling mist dissipated with no-one left. And the roof-creeper was gone from view too. Possibly looked like one of Fenrid's minions (one of the people from the ghost ship, prev. adventure).

SF Located the courtesan's leg, Thora's leg is to the South; a quick Windwalk indicated 50/60-ish miles south; then Located the bearskin cloak's distinctive clasp --- very close! SF (grumbling about low mana) guided party to a nearby supply/pawn establishment.

Cher engaged the canny proprietress, feigning interest in scale-pigments, etc, and then turned to the bearcloak...
Cher: What a quaint cloak and clasp. How long have you had it?
Pawnbroker: That were passed down from me aunt years ago, who served the queen of mumble-mumble, a hancient heirloom what she won for great ...
Cher: So a couple of days then.
Pawnbroker: Quite.

After ludicrous amount of silver exchange hands, we confirm that a woman found the cloak in the alley.

Some townsfolk give offerings to Ragna, to get her to ignore them, and one of the tearaways touched up Mungo (for luck apparently).

The party go back to the Burnt Ram and we set off at a modest pace, before cutting across land mostly Southwards (barring detours to avoid 2 towns). Later that day we confirmed that Thora's leg is in or near Lepesaar. So we returned to the water ...

Lepesaar: Giants & a strange water cult

... and sailed around the Hagelborg promontory NE of Lepesaar's Island and approach Lepesaar itself from the East at a modest 13-15 knots, very like an innocent longboat rounding the Southeast of Langia (the mainland, such as it is) intending to sail to the standard route to the Western parts of Ivinia. Lokemheim#Lepesaar.2C_Thran_.5BK10.5D Outside the town, we see BIG tents (military in style) near Lepesaar. 5 ships 2 pulled up wintering; another 3 take 60 total. Humans & giants are rebuilding/replacing the walls. We engage a local fishing boat buying fish and gossip in exchange for silver and a small cask of mead. Olvir the fisherman gives us useful information:

Family of stone masons have come to work the area. All the ways from Jellmar. The king of Suteling owns the place & is paying them for it. Problems with raiders last spring, ... lots of raiding etc, a spiritship a few years ago.

When we asked about strange people in the vicinity, he replied:
"No nothing, no priestess or frog-foots" [vigorously, anxiously?] "I wouldn’t be saying anything about any smelly frog-feeted ..."
But he did mention, coincidence-like, there ARE priestesses of water who work with the giants. They have created a sacred place, a large pool or lake ("We don't go there, bad luck for fishing").
LATER THAT NIGHT, Olvir did tell us saw dead fish (put in the lake?)
"Two large sharks and two large tuna. I thought they were dead, but I have seen them move strangely"
Maybe necromancy? Or just something big playing with its food? Neither option is reassuring.

Lepesaar: home truths

We got on well with Olvir and he invited us back to dinner at his place in Lepesaar town because twilight is almost falling. The party transferred to Olvir's fishing boat and SF beached & anchored our (Located!) vessel on the exposed shoal suggested by Olvir and quickly swam back to the party.

As we approached the town, there was a warm breeze through the Argos pass. Spring's almost here. Fish on the shoreline were drying. The Locate-arrow pointed to the main hall. (confirmed as we proceed). The partially built walls were impressive ... about half completed.

Orm his wife (same name as the Dragon; did one mishear?) was indeed a fine cook (excellent chowder!) and, despite the astounding number of human children (mostly trying to creep up on our priestess, and running away in pretend fear when she turns around) there was a homely feel to the house.

After dark, we went for a walk ... Bonfire with animal bones. The new walls with freshly exposed faces beautifully glistened with light off the bonfire. Big bones in the pits, but nothing alarming. Much Singing & Incitment of people to carouse. Ambling innocuously through town (spy much), it was clear the defences were a noticeable enhancement.

As evening progressed, Orm & Olvir relaxed more. They confided intelligence of interest to us, but only after first attempting to resolve some family matters:

• Trying to get Ragna to take away young Fluhr (son) to a safer place.
• Trying to marry an older son to Ser Angelis.

Olvir: You're a fine figure of a woman. Are you married yet?
S.A. [diplomatically playing along]: Away Fighting ... towards Alfhhiem.
Olvir: Where ?
S.A.: About 3000 miles that way.
Olvir: Ah! So you Don't have a husband then.

Facts that emerged:

• The giants need entertainments: Bards, singers, jugglers and "entertainers" of all sorts.
• Quite a few of the Giants working on the wall wear bearskin cloaks.
• The giants needed entertaining, or else there would be a sacrifice every night.
• From the couple's descriptions, the priests on the island were identified by Mordrin & Ragna as being from the Cult of Nyord.
• Olvir thinks the priestesses and priest are going to do some magic on the wall that requires sacrifice [Bound earth? it's clear all the party-members were thinking it]
• There's been all sorts of talk about one of the kings not paying.
• Olvir denies knowing anything about the particular giant we described as being involved in the abduction of Thora, but isn't surprised that it happened.
• "There's one giant that's trouble the rest are alright".
• All sorts of people have come and gone over the last 4 months.
• There was some mention of Ooger (?)

---

Chapter 3: Unpleasant things near Lepesaar

The Nyordic lake

The party skirted around Lepesaar town, approaching the cult's stronghold though a dried out ravine leading to a newly-created mysterious lake a couple of hundred feet wide.

The Cult of Nyord are based a short distance north of the town on the lone, small Island (perhaps 50 foot across) in the middle of the Lake. The trees locally are fir & needle pines; but the dimly perceived, black, weepy, willowy "things" on the island are wrong and dark in too many ways. Scary Werewolf-Mungo threw his spear into the air & it became a very large raven (called Yak?) that flew around the island. It seemed to be travelling a long distance and took a long time. When he returned, he described a central place with 4 archways (dressed stone arches) leading to places he couldn't perceive.

Examining the air over the water, there were 3 rings of protection all of a very similar aura. The magic is "Distance blight". We spent some time trying to understand the sinister air, the strange lake (silted with suspended sediment), and getting our ducks in a row --- they got very argumentative over dried fish, but said there was a quiet stalking school of eels in the southern end of the lake (to our left) between the village and the island. We headed back to the town.

Two giants, somewhat undead, wanted to attack Mungo in single combat (possibly a something about Zora the Ice-drake) while the party DA-ed the opponents: enchanted armour; oath (quest fulfilment). The Axe was "bane of living" (destruction based around joints). Taunts were made.
The giant asked: How does the Mungo creature say it, ... "Pwauk pook-pook Pook"?
And eventually Scary Werewolf Mungo agreed to fight both giants sequentially (the wimp), in a battle circle, with 6 more giants watching; some even, in a half-tuned sing-song, allegedly cheering on Mungo "Come on the Mongrel"

Mungo evades, waiting for the younger undead giant. So the giant threw an ax, ... then another, then has 3 axes whizzing in the year (are these magic axes). And suddenly Mungo was subjected to unnatural axe in the back ... but only a Ft blow. Mungo hit 2 axes outside the circle; and then hit the giant for 26 End ... Fortunately Mungo made both resistances against Necromantic magic (assisting with counterspells didn't count as cheating).
The giant cried out: "You wound me ... Ah ... oh" [staggers to the left, staggers to the right ... pauses for applause].
Then Mungo & the smaller undead giant traded insults ... mostly to do with giving birth to 8-legged goats (it's a northerner thing). It's a pity when a live werewolf loses a battle of Wit against an undead giant.
Ragna: The giant's funnier than you are.
The giant was struck by Mungo's [borrowed] spear & falls to and into the ground ...
Undead giant: "Bastard that's the same blow you did me last time".
Mungo [confused] "... It was the other one I was fighting".
Un.Gt: "When we were fighting back on the ship you fool".
Mungo got a grievous & took it on his shield. Giants applauded.

When we ask about who/what lives on the island ...
Giant#1: "They have drunk from the bowl" [meaning the nautilus-ish shell] "after which you cannot return".
Mungo: "You mean the toilet".
Giant #2: "There speaks the werewolf".

The Fisherman's Tale

Olvir updated us on what else is known. There's a chest of coins for people that bring in one of the creatures (i.e., a reward for the abducted women). The coins vary ... perhaps 5000 worth ??

The lake has been there for about 9 months. They did a Ritual and water flowed up from the land; then land flowed up from the water. Three to start with, then with agreement from the headman, they sent a message to the king and more giants. Every night the witches pour water into the nautilus shell every night and the coven & giants drink it --- getting somewhat drunk (& probably controlled ??).

Selling some slightly soiled party-members

Woken with the kids, we snuck out of town to the cliff beneath which our boat was anchored. Using Mungo's magical rope to climb down safely. We plan to sell all 3 creatures (with their consent/connivance, naturally), so we "sail" into the small harbour. The 5 giant huts are very prominent from here. Ragna would be a very important person, even if she weren't bringing in some rare creatures. She is introduced to the other important people by the head witch In the background, the priestesses are all tying knots in ropes & recording stuff in the knots (like the "Elvish" quipu in the Empire of the Sun).

Jora welcomes the party (well, just Ragna really) "Great Mother, this is our Headman; his name is Eagle. My name is Jora "[PoO Alusia; pacted to Nyord; counter required for her greatest attack spell: Water special]. "I have a boil on my back & I do trust my sisters to lance it ... the bitches will stab me in the back". Ragna heals the 4" boil.

"Have you got something to put it in". It being a spiderlike thing [Magical; no GTN; caused by Rk 7 magic; death to ingest; PoO Alusia]. Jora offered Ragna a charm ... Water in a Nautilis shell (Gtr enchanment; lower duration). Two more priestesses turn up; the younger is missing an eye.

"Worshippers of Odin tried to stop us a few months ago. One of them [meaning Thorfin] tried to do unspeakable things to my sister We return them to Fuhrelng ... with Haggulda the haggler to advise. Odin sent a curse." (Ser Angalis DA's: Nature of the curse is sterility).

Inside the Creature Room were 2 hobbits, 2 elves; 2 dwarves (now) & 1 whatever-cher-is [suarime]. There is a man called Glum, who is sword-brother & Axman to Oddy, and who was due to arrive in Lepesaar in 4 days. Jora said she would pay Ragna a chest if we defeat Glum.

The Handmaiden's Tale

One of the human abductees related her story to Mordrin, Cher, & SerAngelis when the revealed they were here to rescued:
"I was at the last place the Ritualled & came here with them. I was the only one to make it here ... The other humans were buried beneath the foundations. Just being used as spell components to protect them against our species. The hearts of women are used because men cannot cross them." [A human & the other dwarf go over and punch a woman; apparently she was working for them]
"There are 6 priestesses & 1 man. Sometimes all are in the building, not often ... but don't known for certain. We're only let out once a day for food at the spit and plenty of giants around."

Cher spoke to Thora. She was brought by Glum (some ghostly or magical creature; he can summon the mist up & everything goes still & quiet. I think he is a shape-shifter and can turn into a bear. (SA DAs Thora, last magic to impact [sleep]; on the coin & nature of its magic [uniqueness]) Thora: "I don't really trust you, I am part of a new temple".
"So the cloaked man on the roof was your associate?"
Thora suggested Mordrin/SA/Cher pass the coin to their outsider support (ie, the rest of the party)."Lt Kolla is the person coming for me". They have a terrible monster in the lake & another monster made of water from their shell (someone drowned in it)

The party plotted ...

---

Chapter 4: A violent Dinner

The Nautilis

We discretely lashed object of interest with Detect aura & Detected enchantment. The Giant nautilus shell can be infused with pearls or other valuables, get it to do endow the water with magical potential. There are several "snail" shells (from the Isle of adventure region) used as cups, that determine which particular effect is conferred on the drinker: Luck; Charm; (Waters of) Healing; etc. The rank varies from 8 to 12. Confirmed since the duration of Charm on the giants is about 24 hours.

Useful Sooths

Several of us sought and saw a strange, nigh Seer/Soothsayer. Some strange sooths she said were thus:

• [to Ragna]: You have walked many land are long in the tooth but young of face.
• What can you tell me of the sheep they have brought me?
• [of Cher] She has already sacrificed herself.

Also useful tips to Mungo on feeding Elk and dealing with other family members. However she did have many useful things to say about defeating the sinister Cult:

• The Thing-in-the-lake is their teacher. Your friend is susceptible to its charms, but your gill-laden friend will be immune in his wolf form.
• If you cut these priestesses off from the water, it will diminish their power.
• Have Warriors to pay them a visit with steel; only axes will defeat them.
• If you entreat, Aid will from an enemy; with the assistance of elements.
• Have you spoken to the locals? I think thy have forgotten their heritage.
• But I have seen a flood wash over their land. Not a literal flood; I think you are the flood.
• If you free the giants they will fly into a rage.
• There is a spy.

Her advice for Mungo

Mungo offered to cross her palm with silver. Seer: I want not your silver; I think you should give it to those who you have fornicated with. The elk will eat silver from your hand and pass it in 4 days. They change the silver. Feed a coin, one from each hand. Mungo: But I don't have anything to say to an elk. Seer: Shh you've been under the thrall of the evil priestesses She also told him:

• Your brother will come for you before next winter. He will tell you a message of some importance.
• If you defeat him 3 times in this lifetime he will go on to great things.
• Your gut feelings will be repugnant to him.

The headman's tale

Following the hint to talk to the locals, we spoke to the headman away from the priestesses, after SF confirmed he was charmed and dispelled it.

• They (the Nyord cult) were originally staying only a night, but time has passed.
• Sombody has paid them to come & do this.
• I know the king is coming now to bless the walls.
• The king will come & they will magick him.
• My son is gone for help ... he knew something was wrong. He's gone to the king to get help.

The Dinner & Mungo's triumphs

The Giants, priestesses, Ragnar, their guards/mercenaries, Mungo & SF are at the. The abductees are acting as servants The giants, in Dwarvish, ask Mordrin to tell a story — and she tells a good, distracting, story. They're totally engrossed in this; SF translate the dwarvish story for those that don't understand, to draw attention & then pass it back to Mordrin and slips back into the hut to spell-up (Mana sense, Armour spell, Dispel Magic & recover fatigue). All this was pre-planned distraction so that Cher could perform the vital task of NOT giving the Charm drink to the giants. In fact she had a water-skin up her sleeve and was just giving them the water. As Mordrin reaches the dramatic high-point, with disrtacting animated gestures and sound effects ...

TO BE CONTINUED (will finish at lunchtime)