Tag: ragnarok

Ragnarok-Session 2 Destruction of Hel’s Needle

May 13, 2015 / Mason Alexander

After much traveling, the party finds what they believe to be the source of the recent undead bear problem for Evingard. It’s a tall bone spire surrounded by several smaller altar looking things in the middle of a large crater. Several undead bears seem to be stuck in the crater and through some clever use of logs and boulders the part dispatches a few before they begin a crazy skiing attack. All goes in there favor and they manage to kill the bears with little risk. The bears being dealt with, the part is able to focus on the spire.

They determine the spire is belongs to Hel and know it must be removed. The bone spire has several alcoves and each has an item in it. Each altar has several items on it and the party decide that these items work like keys for the spire. They conclude that the right combination could very well destroy or remove the altar and stop the problem. However, the wrong combination could possibly lead to even worse troubles for the area. Eventually, they find the right combo and barely escape the bit before the bone spire explodes. Elated over their success, they head back to the hunting lodge to rub it in Grimm’s nose.

Arriving at the lodge, they are surprised to see that Grimm is very impressed and throws a large celebration of drinking, wenching, and dining. A large bar fight breaks out in the middle of it, but no serious injuries were had and all were friends again the next morning. Still drunk on success(and some ale), they rush off to speak with Volstag, the Einharjar that’s come to town.

Discovering he and the Son of Muspel are in Evingard looking for Fafnir’s Treasure, they agree to help in the hopes of preventing the inevitable confrontation that will occur between them. If the two immortals were to cross paths and fight it out, little of Evingard would likely survive. Through some good fortune and tactics, they find a short cut to the treasure and manage to defeat it’s guardians. As promised, Volstag allows the party to keep some of the usable items from the treasure horde and then returns to Asgard.

Sigurd’s Account
Episode 2 is an exciting Saga of life after death, drinking to the point you wish you were dead and recovering a legendary treasure of “Farnir”
The Saga is split into 3 major sections…. Plus the usual “LIST” for the final section..
Bear Hunt, the Weapon of Hell and a Message from Beyond
Terrible undead bears must be destroyed, we wander for what seems like days to finally find a strange skull tower with 3 smaller alters with alcoves. It is located in a deep valley and we see large undead bears around the massive tower. We know in our bones this must be the unclean source of undead and decay…    We must destroy this weapon of hell!!!
In our Viking way, we get the idea to roll large boulders and logs down the massive snow slop to strike the 4 undead bears below. We are able to damage or destroy 2 of the bears… Next in true Viking form we decide to ski down to slay the undead that plague’s the land. So we yell and ski down, its a race to the bottom the first Viking to hit a bear will have glory this day.. We ski down and destroy the undead bears.. Vikings 4 – BEARS 0….
The Vikings examine the strange massive object.   Sigurd communes with the object and enters “Hell’s domain”, while there he encounters Ingvar (Thorvald’s “The undertaker’s” wife). She claims “There is hope”. We realize this device is causing the country side to decay and the bears to arise from the dead. It must be stopped. There is a sequence of objects that must be placed in the alter/alcoves to create effects with the alter. We realize these effects may be good or bad….
So the valiant Sigurd, who has lived a good long life, nobly stays behind to test and find a sequence to destroy this “weapon of Hell” – weapon of the gods. As Sigurd succeeds with the right sequence calling on the power of the fire god.  Fire rains down and destroys the device, Sigurd barely escapes, running with his aged legsOnce at the top of the hill, Sigurd tells his friend Thorvold of the encounter with Ingvar and the hope she professes.
Sigurd vows to do everything in his power to help Thorvold and Ingvar to be together again.
Our adventures head back to town to tell the tail of the destruction of the weapon of hell and the defeate of NOT 1 Undead Bear but 6… Vikings 6 – BEARS 0… Go VIKINGS!!!
ǫlðr Ale-Party at “Grimm the Hunter”
Our adventures arrive back to party at the home of “Grimm” the Hunter in his langhús (Viking Longhouse). He is a great host and offers his ale and fine stout drinks. We play Viking party games and get to “Oath, Boast and Toast”. As any good Viking Ale-Party does about 2 hours into the festivities breaks out a drunken brawl…  Sigurd takes this opportunity to exit, while the younger and more attractive men are fighting, amidst the chaos this old wise man grabs a willing lovely young lass to feel the warmth of a woman….In the morning, one of our party is still dealing with the effects of the powerful drink we have consumed. But as good Vikings we press on…
Farnir’s Treasure
Our group of sturdy Vikings agree to find out why this immortals are in the town.  We approach “Volstag” the immortal of the “Einherjar” (and not Aud the Son of Muspelheim)..   Volstag claims he has come to locate the “Farnir’s treasure” and specifically the ring of “Andvarinaui” if we help him there may not be a cataclysmic battle that could destroy the town between he and Aud.
He tells us of the treasure that a dwarf was swindled by the gods (Odin and Loki gave the ring to the King of the Dvergar “dwarves”) Then it was taken from him and a great curse was placed on the ring by the dwarf. Our adventures ventured to the location where “Volstag” told us.. We followed the river down the path near the barrows. We faced vile water sprits to gain entry to the treasure chamber.   We uncovered the ring “Andvarinaui” and headed the warning of “Volstag” not to touch it our the curse we be on us as well..
We return to “Volstag” victorious and claimed two swords (Heart Seeker, Hrotti), the helm of terror and the golden chainmail. Sigurd is honored to keep the helm of terror…
And so our adventures continue…   It also seems Sigurd now has a touch of fire in his soul.. It may have been granted by the fire god from his destruction of the hell weapon.. He also improved his knowledge of Arcana by studying these new magical objects.
THE FINAL/UPDATED LIST – END OF EPISODE 2:

LIST OBJECTIVE: WHO WE CAN FIGHT TO HAVE A HEROIC DEATHMERCHANT/MAGNUS & HIS GUARDS (Exploiting the Weak and harvesting wealth from their sorrow)
CANIBALL MINERS (For Eating People)Candidates for future consideration…… But NOT currently on the list… BUT POSSIBLE!!!
Godi of Odin (Why is he lying..)
Immortals (Not ready to fight them yet, It might be less than a heroic death)…
Bola the confused (is she an agent of Loki? What is she all about? Intrigued, but not ready to add her to the list)
Removed from the list…
OUR NEW BEST FRIEND – GRIM THE HUNTER (Can throw one heck of an Ale Party)
DEFEATED- UNDEAD BEARS (Killing the Innocent, now destroyed by our heros)
WILLING TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE – PEI WEI (Late food order over 1 hour late, gave food to wrong people, nice wife had to wait, starving gamers)

Ragnar

December 29, 2014 / Mason Alexander

RAGNAR

This is the truth of what lead to Ragnar’s trial and banishment from Iceland…

The Death of the Godi Bjorn

Godi Rashemon of Surt:
“Do you understand your mission?” asked Rashemon
“Yes,”my hired assassin answered,”but I don’t understand why.”
Because Ragnar must not be in Iceland when Ragnarok comes. The
prophecy must not come true. Framing Ragnar for the murder of a godi
would lead to him either being killed or banished from the island. True,
if he were banished, his sentence would be over before Ragnarok, but he
could be killed, and maybe he would decide not to come back even if he
wasn’t. Of course, the assassin could know nothing of this.
“That is not for you to ask or know. All that matters is that you
kill the godi and leave only Ragnar as a witness. Any other witnesses
must be killed.”
With no one to testify but Ragnar, my position of power would make
it easy for me to get him convicted.

Ragnar:
Godi Bjorn of Odin had requested a meeting with me, and he was not
to be turned down. We were to meet at the local inn, the “Halls of
Valhalla Inn & Buffet.” I walked into the inn, and saw him at the bar. I
walked over to him.
“Greetings Godi Bjorn. What did you wish to speak about?”
“I fear for my life. I was hoping I could hire you as a bodyguard.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no? Why not?”
“I will not live my life following an old man around to be his
enforcer. I live to help the people of Iceland. I am needed to soothe
the blacksmith’s burn or fix the woodsman’s broken leg. I work miracles
of healing, not of pain or death. I will not do it.”I turned to leave.
“Wait!”I turned back.”Let me show you something, I think it will
change your mind.”
I followed the old man to his room. He told me to wait, and went
into a side room. A minute later I heard him scream. It was loud,
surprised, and scared. Abruptly it was mangled and muffled, then ended,
punctuated by a thud. I ran into the room to see him on the ground,
stabbed in the throat. Then I noticed the blood flowing from his back
and ear, he had been stabbed there as well. In his hand was a letter.
It read: Bjorn,
I have foreseen that your life will be threatened
soon. I have seen that the only man that can save you is
Ragnar, but he might also kill you for asking for his help, so be
careful. Still I think it is better to ask and face
possible death as opposed to keeping silent and facing
certain doom.
Your friend, Rashemon

Karm the Assassin:
I followed Ragnar into the inn. He walked over to the godi, and
they began to talk. The conversation had barely begun when they started
to argue. Perfect, that would make it easier to frame him. Then Ragnar
started to leave.
“Wait,” the godi yelled.
Ragnar turned back to the godi who told him something to make him
stay. They got up and left to one of the rooms, and I followed at an
inconspicuous distance.
There are many tales of people who can turn into a wolf or a bear.
You hear them all the time, and they are often true. However, I would
bet that you don’t hear about people turning into poisonous snakes. That
is because I am very careful about not leaving witnesses.
As I turned into a snake, my clothes and possessions turned to
scales. My arms and legs became one with my body, and I fell to the
ground. I grew longer and thinner, and there were soft crackles and pops
as my spine elongated and other bones disappeared.
It was over in a blink of the eye, and I slid under the door to
their room. The godi finished saying something to Ragnar and went into a
side room. I followed to him rummaging through a desk. He pulled out a
letter and shut the drawer.
Now was the time. I came out of snake form and stabbed him in the
base of the back, near the spine. A miss. He screamed, and I stabbed him
again, this time in the throat. I stabbed him once more, this time in
the ear, a fatal blow. Then I dropped the dagger, turned into a snake,
and slipped away out the window. In no time at all there would be plenty
of people in the room. No doubt they would find Ragnar over the body,
and the murder weapon nearby.

Session 1 – “Arrival at Evingard”

December 23, 2014 / Mason Alexander

The party met in Norway and found passage to Iceland with a brief stop at Evingard. They
made some enemies…well, mostly enemies at this point and killed a few undead polar bears. Some of my players typed up an in character summary of what happened. Here they are.

SIGURD’S ACCOUNT
Sigurd and Thorvald “The Undertaker” have been friends for some time now.  They both enjoy the dead more sometimes than the living. They both enjoy speaking with the Angels of Death, revere their beauty and roles they play in this land…  Sigurd also sees some of Sigil in Thorvald, while he can be rough on the edges Thorvald is a good man.. Sigurd enjoys travelling with him, life is always an adventure and Sigurd would be honored to die beside Thorvald in a hero’s death.
So our story begins as Thorvald has received a contract to bury the dead (Inga) in a far away land. So, Sigurd and Thorvald find themselves in need of transportation to Iceland. They come across a ship’s captain in the port town. Her name is Bola. Bola is a mercenary/captain who likes gold and calls her weapon “Vira”. She has two companions Ragnar “the Free Spirited” and Grimnir “the Varangian” a seasoned traveler who has been across many lands and fought in many of them.
Sigurd seeks to negotiate passage on her ship and buys a round of drinks for the bar, then he begins the critical negotiations with Bola and after a short while she will allow Sigurd, Thorvald and Inga (the dead) on the longboat.
Very pleased we agree to meet in the morning to head out..
The next morning upon arrival to the ship, Thorvald and I are carrying Inga. I have to say it’s more like Thorvald is carrying his end, but my old bones and having challenges carrying my side. I am also thinking that Inga is VERY HEAVY for such a young and thin looking lass. Anyway, I struggle, but don’t drop the dead woman….
Upon arrival to the ship we uncover that Bola is not the captain and a bit of a trickster (I think to my self, maybe she is a follower of Loki… She is an attractive girl, but she bears closer observation, I am not sure what motivates her)…
I then discuss with the captain, who finally after we import the criticality of the situation and I offer to help speed up his journey with my rune magics allows, Thorvald, Inga and myself on the ship. We also have to lash Inga to the bow, Thorvald is always thinking of how to best handle the dead. Then I freeze her a bit so keep the smell down…
We travel to the Faroe Islands, partially through our journey a Kraken attacks the vessel. I saw an omen of the attack and realized that the thinner crew would be attacked last, so I sucked in my gut stayed near the center mast and got some of the thinner crew to stand with me….. Saving a few lives.. Others were all fighting for their lives… after what seemed like an eternity we fended off the Kraken and continued on our journey, we lost over 10 crew, our mast and had to row the vessel into the Faroe Islands….  A broken ship indeed…
Upon arrival, there was Blood on the snow, death in the air (my kind of place)…. I started by speaking with Dead, how I enjoy these conversations as the dead do NOT lie, where the living, that is another matter.. I then find out about Undead Bears had attacked the town…
Then as we head toward the entrance to the city, we are attacked by rogues wanting food in the streets. As Bola was carrying a large basket of fish to sell in the market. During the fight we quickly defeated the rogues, but Bola lost her mind. She started talking with another voice and said she did not know how we got here. Both Ragnar “the Free Spirited” and Gimnir “the Varangian” acted is if nothing had happened. I secretly thought she might be an agent of Loki the trickster. I will keep my eye on this one…
As we approach, we see on the branches of a tree. a Black Owl and White Owl near the entrance – I see an Omen that the one that is suppose to be trustworthy may be lying…
When we arrive at the town, Thorvald and others, speak with Guard and find out about Cannibals in Mines, confirm that 12 polar bears attack the fisherman.. Thorvald complements the guard on his lack of intelligence.   We are soo good at making friends…
I start to make a LIST OF WHO WE CAN FIGHT TO HAVE A HEROIC DEATH!!!
I place the Undead Bears on the LIST….
The Cannibal Miners are…….. ADDED to the LIST!!!!
We meet a Godi of
Odin, finally a good person. During the discussion, we find out there are two immortals in town and the one that represents the Gods, is actually not trustworthy and the other representing the Giants can be trusted. Bola or whoever she says she is now, whispers to me that the Godi knows more than he is telling and may be lying to me..   I directly confront the Godi (as I plan to die a heroic death any day know and don’t have time for pleasantries).    He seems offended, I wonder who is working for Loki here either the Godi or Bola (or who ever she is now).. I will most likely die soon, so I may not have time to unravel this mystery..
Then we see a very wealthy man, and meet the Merchant Magnus and his guards We start a conversation with Magnus and realize he is just exploiting these people. We don’t like him and let him know that.. Then he walks away.. I think HOW RUDE……. So…… I add him MAGNUS THE MERCHANT and his Guards to the LIST!!!
Next we decide to save the town from the Brutality of the Undead Bears (secretly I check the list and believe this might be my glorious death, I am so excited, I may see my fathers and mother soon)….
Meet Hunter Grim (on the List) – He is a skilled and boastful hunter…. (he seems powerful and is maybe deserving to be on the list). As we speak to him, he is boastful and powerful as a hunter. But as Thorvald points out, he spends his time boasting versus saving the town from other bears… He claims to have killed one… For his pride, boastfulness and power he Grim is…………   Added to the LIST!!!!! We then tell Grim we are heading to get at least two bears pelts to show him we are greater. I also secretly want to kill all the bears and free this town from the icy grip of BEAR DEATH and BLOOD, hopefully one of the Skald will write an epic saga of our salvation of this town…. I will then get entry into Valhalla.
So we head off west, per the instructions of the Hunter Grim
<OUT OF GAME – MY Loving Wife head to pick up a food order for 6 starving gamers to have dinner…., It takes over 1 hour because PEI WEI gives our food to the wrong people and they have to re-make the order…. FOR THIS!!!!!
PEI WEI is ………………….. Added to the LIST!!!!!
So back to our adventurers as they sleep on the white snow, approx. 2 am in the night two undead bears attack the camp.. During the conflict we have a glorious fight, blood is spilled on our side and we vanquish the 2 giant Undead Bears…. For more details… Read the “Heroic Poem of Sigurd, the Bears of Undeath and Saving Bola the confused” (Coming soon)…..
At the end my entrails are being stuffed back into my body, I was moments from death, but this is NOT my time… But hopefully soon…….   We have more Undead Bears to track and kill and I need some rest…..
Please read more as coming soon, Episode 2: The Adventures of Sigurd – Rune Master

RAGNAR’S ACCOUNT

The Return of Ragnar
After the battle, I wondered to myself, why am I here anyway? I thought back to when I met my companions. I had arranged for a voyage here because I heard that this place suffered great misfortunes and needed someone to help. I went to the tavern to socialize for the last time before we left, and I met four people and a dead body who were also coming. There was a little trouble when we got to the ship and one of my companions tried to usurp the title of captain. I now know she’s not quite right in the head. After that was settled, we left. A few days into the voyage, we were attacked by a kraken. When it had its fill it left, leaving only 5 or 10 people alive. The ship made it to our destination intact. Noticing that the other ships here had been frozen in and stripped of their goods, we decided to make sure nobody would steal from our ship by burying the goods near the shore. The only thing we didn’t bury was a basket of fish that my multi-named friend brought to sell at the market. At the gate we talked to the guard and heard about the many troubles that beset this town. We started making a list to keep track. On our way to the market we were attacked by thieves who wanted our fish. Then we spoke to a deceitful godi and a selfish merchant/king. Then we went to a famous hunter for advice. He was full of himself, boasting that he had the skin of one of the undead bears plaguing the town. We told him we could get two if he told us where to find them. He told us, and we went. In the night we were attacked by two undead bears. they nearly killed two of us, and after our victory, we
noticed one of them was the one that the hunter had skinned. That put us into overkill mode, and we chopped everything but the heads into tiny pieces and then burnt the pieces. It was a great victory, but our time on this island is long from over.