-Religion pass 3-
Lighting a torch, and exiting the temple, we check the first alcove to the left, where there are small cages, likely for birds, and some iron rings set in the wall. Traces of hay and a water trough are present. “Animal sacrifices were kept here.”
There is an old ledger, partially burnt. I put it in my pack.
Q: Is there water in the divination pool? NO
The second room from the temple contains an elevated basin and the wall is lined with smaller incense bowls. Several blackened incense cones remain and the faint aroma of sandalwood can be detected.
“Let’s continue this way,” I suggest and we press eastward.
-Immersion-Scratchy environment-
Scene #22 (Positive Alteration):
We follow the hall to the east, and in the first room to the north, there are great combing machines designed produce yarn at a large scale.
The next room appears to be a glassblower’s shop, broken jars and shards of glass little the ground. There is part of a stained glass window, the metal frame complete, depecting leaves and flames, but only the bottom quarter of the window is complete. Judging from the debris, it seems other sections have been knocked out, though it may never have been completed.
There is a fire wood supply here, ancient wood that is dry and brittle.
To the south are two small storage areas and a forge with varying sizes of anvils. It looks like both large projects, like armor, and smaller tasks, like jewelry and wire making were completed here. There is a spool of what seems to be silver thread that we take with us, and the head of an old hammer with an interesting looking rune on it.
We discover barrels of ancient weapon and tool handles, rusted ingots, and old tools, but not much of true use or value to us.
“This is a dead end. Let’s go south,” I tell Hjalgrimm.
-Immersion-See something decorated above us-
We follow the hallway south from the temple as it descends slightly. Above us are engravings of the sky and a great dwarven figure holding a pick in one hand, and pointing to a great mountain, that seems to be the one that overlooks Drangholm. Smaller figures are depicted mining.
To the left and right, there are areas of natural stone that seem to have been partially chiseled away, as though for future expansion. To our right is a storage room, with lots of unprocessed ore, rich with iron and other elements. To our left is a small forge and behind that a room filled with ancient mining tools, picks and shovels, buckets, helmets with candle or lamp holders on them. The passage continues south and another goes back to the east. Our search here turns up nothing of value.
-No wandering encounter-
-Immersion-Something fluffy on my skin!-
Scene #24:
We descend down to the east, and come to what seems to be an ancient well. It’s walls are impressively ornate and a great chain and block serve it. There is a skeletal body lying nearby, something reflects the light near his neck.
E: Ambiguous Significance: the Breaking of Failure
We walk over to the well. “For water, right? Seems very large, perhaps it is a lift for people to descend into the depths below?” I hold my torch out.
Q: Is water visible? NO Q: Openings for lower levels? YES Q: Total collapse? YES
Hjallgrim grins, “Yes, there is another level below us. Look at that opening!” He then walks over to the lift crank, and begins turning the wheel. There is a great cracking noise, and the ancient wooden beam gives way beneath the weight of the chains as it starts to coil it up, sending the string of rusted chain plunging into he darkness below.
Q: Do we hear a splash? YES Q: Does this wake something? YES
For several seconds, we hear steel bang against stone, then there is a tremendous splash as the lift carriage hits unseen water below.
-Generate foes, two Vault Attendants-
Two of the four pillars that support the vaulted ceiling of the well room open up, and two bronze automatons step out from them.
I step towards the nearest bronze guardian, and hurl my axe at it, hoping to bring it down quickly.
The two constructs are far from each other, so we press against one. Quickly bringing it down with little difficulty. Then I reclaim my throwing axe as Hjalgrim positions himself to wait for the second to arrive. He beats his shield and taunts it, as though the machine might be intimidated. Having stepped up on a ledge, he has a good advantage against it, and I am able to get behind it, but it still takes some time to bring it down as it is quick to dodge and block our attacks. We hit it a few times before it lands a good blow against Hjalgrims leg and another to his chest, but then Hjalgrimm cleaves its arm off and the thing falls to the ground, spilling out blackened lamp oil.
I retrieve my weapon, and notice Hjalgrimm moving a little stiff legged. “Let me check that out,” I say and he pulls off his breaches. I apply an herbal compress to prevent bruising and after a few minutes, he seems to be moving better.
“Damn those things!,” he curses as he paces around.
I smash the skull of the dwarven corpse, then pick up the amulet draped around its neck. Some sort of badge of office. It shows what appears to be waves. I put it around my neck. “We should rest a bit, catch our breath,” I suggest, still a bit winded from the fight.
Q: Does Hjalgrimm agree? YES
Hjalgrimm reluctantly agrees, “I would that we pressed on, but yes, we need to rest a bit.”
-No encounter-
After catching our breaths, I look down the hole into the abyss. “Let’s…check the passage south before we descend. Maybe we won’t need to.” Hjalgrimm agrees.
-Immersion-Smell Fish-E: Positive for Njora the Acolyte: a Dispute over the intellectual
Scene #25:
We take the hallway south, and are assaulted by the smell of rotting fish! Wincing from the stench, we reach an area that seems to have once been livestock stables, but to the left, there is a room that looks to have been filled with sacks of grain, long since rotted, with swarms of tiny crabs still scuttling about seeking anything they might eat.
As we search the area, the crabs scatter. They are a common variety often caught for food. “At least we won’t starve if we get stuck in this vault,” Hjalgrimm notes.
I shake my head, “I think I’d rather starve that eat any more of these things.”
Searching further, we find a tack room, with a small ferrier’s station, old horse shoes, and a small desk that contains a number of decayed papers. There are two sealed parchments that we take with us since they seem undamaged by the passing centuries.
“Another dead end!” Curses Hjalgrimm in frustration. I nod, and signal for him to go back to the well room with me and look back down into the darkness. While he waits, I go check on Njora.
She is still within her trance, but her words are becoming sharper, more discernable as though she is growing more comfortable with whatever she is chanting. I still cannot awaken her.
Leaving behind our plunder and taking the rope from her pack, I return to the well. Soon, we have secured the rope to a pillar, and between Njora’s ropes and Hjalgrimm’s have enough length to drop to the first two openings beneath us.
-Immersion-Smell of Alcohol
Scene #26:
We descend into the darkness, and I land in the first opening. Dropping from the rope, I immediately strike a fresh torch so I can see. There are ancient casks all around on this landing, and I see movement in the shadows.
E: Resolution of ‘Free Njora from the green glow’: Guidance regarding Trials
Q: The captain’s badge thwarts them? YES
Two skeletal dwarves approach us, their spears and shields upraised. Then they stop suddenly as Hjalgrimm stands before me. As he moves, their eyes track him as they now stand at attention.
“The symbols on their shields match the one on that badge you are wearing,” I tell my companion.
He grins wickedly, “Then we should strike them down before they realize I am not one of them.”
-Hjalgrimm fails his self control roll-
I caution him to stay his hand. He shakes his head, and brings his axe down, shattering the skull of the first one.
Immediately, the other skeleton lunges at him, but he leaps aside. My axe is deflected by the corpse’s shield as it thrusts again. Hjalgrim cries out as the ancient spear drives home, but my second blow shatters its neck, clavicle and shoulder. The ancient warrior collapses, the green light from its empty eye sockets flicker out.
-First Aid fails-no hit points recovered-
I check on my companion. We peel off his armor and I bandage the wound after setting a poultice to help absorb the blood. “No unnecessary fights!” I snap.
-Passes self control-
“Don’t leave a foe behind us,” he seethes. I tap the badge, and remind him they were letting us pass. He scowls.
We explore the area beyond the undead, and discover a series of dormitories. Some seem to have been homes to families, some to workers. There are too many skeletons to count. Men, woman and children, in decayed garments of tremendous age.
“There must be coins and other valuables here,” Hjalgrimm’s eyes gleam.
“And it would take hours to search every room” I note, picking up some loose coinst hat are plainly visible. Hjalgrimm claims a pair of ornate steel gauntlets one skeleton wears and fastens them around his wrists.
-Encounter-No-
We quickly pass up and down the hallways, peaking in each room, but see nothing immediately obvious of value. These were people’s homes when whatever cataclysm befell the dwarven race.
Q: Are there signs of battle? YES E: Action by Veilborn Intruders: the Harm of Opulence Q: Fratricide? YES
It is clear that many of the people here died defending their homes. Ancient spears and other weapons lay beside the fallen. Skulls were smashed int, limbs severed, doors battered. There are no signs of a foreign peoples. All of the corpses are dwarven.
(The next area is a workshop, no encounters, but I am including the veilborn indicated above)
E: Progress on ‘Free Njora from the green glow’: the Transformation of Weapons
Scene #27:
As we pass through the barracks, we hear an unearthly screech, echoed by three more, coming from up ahead. I set my torch on the ground, light a second one and set it behind us a bit, then ready my shield.
(There are no slates to be found here by random die roll, but given the mythic prompt that her freedom is resolved and that transformation of weapons progresses it, I say the two remaining slates are here in the great forge somewhere)
“You don’t hear the battle cry? The challenge? You mean to wait here?” Hjalgrimm questions me.
I nod, “Yes, let them break against our shields. There are no foes behind us unless the dead rise or they come from below. We stand here,” I command.
-Self control fails-
Hjalgrimm steps foward, bashing his shield. The howling grows louder and rather than echoing around inthe distance, it seems to glow closer, better defined in front of us.
“Get back here,” I caution as I ready to throw my axe.
“Bring the light forward,” Hjalgrimm counters. I step forward to one side as I notice a flicker of motion in the gloom.
“This is it,” I mutter, taking aim at the moving shadow.
A shadow races towards us, and I see more moving behind. It is the same thing that I killed near where the scythe nearly took Njora! The same type that nearly took off Hjalgrimm’s leg. He scowls and curses as the things let off an unnerving screech.
I hurl my axe, and it goes wide, but Hjalgrimms finds its mark, slowing the creature’s advance. I pull my spear from my back and Hjalgrimm’s shield meets the creature’s claws as he fumbles for his second axe.
My spear hits the second foe to arrive, but it lashes my arm as the wounded adversary closes in spite of its wound. The first one struggles in desperate fury as Hjalgrimm challenges it, but it strikes low, taking his right leg out from under him as Hjalgrimm brings down his axe. His shield blocks its tail as it spasms in death.
My foe then falls to a quick thrust of my sword as two more reaches us. Blows are exchanged but meet air or wooden shield, until I find an opening and stab the third one in the throat. The fourth leaps on Hjalgrimm, trying to tear out his heart, but Hjalgrim throws it to the side, smashing it with his axe before it can recover, and then collapsing in a pool of his blood and theirs.
-First Aid-Critical success!-3 points-
I rush to Hjalgrimm’s side. He is smiling up at me, “Showed those bastards!” I nod. I can lecture him later. I quickly bind his leg up, and then check his other injuries. He’s pretty bloody, but will likely survive.
“You had to go an make this complicated didn’t you?” I chastise him. “Now I’ve got to haul you back out the well!”
“Not until you find those slates,” He laughs, in pain. “Let me rest here a bit” I nod, then bandage my own arm as best I can before taking on of the torches, retrieving our weapons, and pressing ahead.
-Immersion-Goosebumps-
Scene #28:
I step forward. My skin tight, goosebumps forming, as i press onward injured and alone. There is a great heat ahead, an orange glow, and I do not know from whence it comes.
E: Ambiguous Significance: the Release of Portals
There are side corridors to my left and my right, but the orange glow comes from two passages that both lead ahead, beyond the statue of a great dwarven smith.
Q: Valuables? EXCEPTIONAL YES
The statue is of obsidian it seems, gilded with silver and gold, and with what must be saphires for eyes as my torch flickers and illuminates it. It has been scratched and chipped at, very recently it seems. I move past.
Q: Do the guards ignore me? YES
Then I see a great forge, molten iron like a waterfall as dwarven automatons work bellows, in an endless task. What fuels the forge, I cannot imagine, but the guards me no mind.
Looking around, I see a second great statue, but instead of a smith’s tools, he bears a quill and book in his hand, and there are slots beneath his feet, where six stone slates once belonged. Two are present. I look around, and then take them.
Q: Do the automaatons react? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Hostile? EXCEPTIONAL YES
Suddenly, the automatons working the bellows turn towards me, and begin rushing my way. I make a dash out the great hall toward Hjalgrimm. “Stand, damned you! Show your captain’s badge!” I yell for him
He struggles to his feet, relying on his spear and the brace I’d made him to help him rise. I ready my axe just the same, abandoning my torch as I shift the slates into my left hand.
Q: Does the badge halt them? YES E: Negative for Veilborn Intruders: a Delay of the intellectual
The constructs stop when they see the badge. I stand beside Hjalgrimm and catch my breath, securing the slates, belting my weapon, and helping him move while he holds is badge for the brass dwarves to see.
At the edge of the well, I secure the rope around his chest, “I’ll pull you up after,” and then climb up to the first level.
-Climb checks have been easy today so far!, but the strength check, Whoof!-
Above, I call for Hjalgrimm to slide out so I can pull him up, but immediately lose my grip, and he falls several feet. He gasps in pain, and falls silent.
I pull him up, and he is unconscious. I swiftly untie him from the ropes and check his breathing. He seems to be breathing fine, but the wind was knocked out of him by the sudden jolt to his already injured body.
-First Aid passes, 1 point-
I gently massage his chest where the the rope dug in, soothing him. Slowly, he comes around. “Wait here. I will be back.”
“I’m not sure I have a choice,” he mumbles.
-Immersion-Shhhh-
Scene #29 (Positive Alteration):
I leave a torch with him, strike another, and return to the great temple where I find Njora speaking clear and firm in that strange language, but there seems to be a smile upon her face, and there seems to be a blue corona around her now within the green.
Q: Do I hear the portals slam shut? YES
I place the slates with the others we had found. There is suddenly a flash of blinding blue light that ripples out from Njora, and a terrible screeching sound that reverberates through the entire complex.
Then there is only the light of my torch and Njora’s lamp. She lies in a heap on the ground, glowing blue at first, still chanting, but softer now. I whisper for her to be quiet, taking her in my arms and gently rocking her as the blue glow from her skin slowly fades.
Q: Does she regain consciousness? YES Q: Is she frightened? YES
Eventually, her eyes flutter open, “Worlds beyond worlds,” she mutters with a look of horror in her eyes, “The Shadow Maw consumes all. The damned cross the veil into our world, to bring our world into theirs” She looks up into my eyes, “One portal is closed. Others must be sealed. That is our destiny”
I nod, concerned, but not fully understanding, “Can you stand?”
Q: Can she walk? YES
I help her to her feet and she takes several deep breaths. Her footing is unsteady and her limbs are trembling, but she can walk. I shoulder our gear, and lead her to the well, “You’re wounded!” She blurts out in concern, “Where is Hjalgrimm?”
“Alive. We need to get to the landing and leave this place.” I tell her. She nods.
“The slates,” She reminds me.
Q: Does the green glow return? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Does it capture one of us? NO
I pull one free, and the green glow returns. I look over at Njora. She nods her head for me to collect the others, “It will not harm us. It has told me what it was meant to,” she whispers solemnly.
“Who is it?” I ask her.
Q: Does she know the god that spoke to her? YES Q: Does she say? YES E: Positive for People of Drangholm: the Communication of Wishes
“It is the First Flame. The power of creation itself flooded my soul and entered my mind. The father of the gods, and all that lives,”
I look at her in astonishment. She manages a feeble smile, then closes her eyes in thought. Opening them again, she suggests, “Let us go. There is nothing else here for us.”
Q: Do we safely exit with no further incident? YES
I guide Njora to Hjalgrimm, and the three of us make our way to the landing. Then I retrieve all of our supplies and we wait until morning. When Istvar arrives, he takes us back to town.
Njora commands help from the local watchmen and we take Hlagrimm up to the temple.
Q: Does Kaedra sense the change? YES
As Njora and I bring Kaedra the slates, the elder halts us. “It is as I foresaw. You are chosen by the gods for some great task. Whatever the burden, bear it well.”
Q: Does she take my hand? YES
The acolyte bows her head, and pledges to do so as she wraps her hand in mine. She looks at me, “You must come with me, as my protector, as Kaedra commanded.”
I bow my head, “So I swear, I bind myself to guard your life with my own.”
She smiles, “I entrust myself to you.”
—
-So, with all of the Mythic responses hinting that this story was closed, and due to the mounting combat pressure, I let it happen in spite of not actually rolling the final two slates in any random treasure. There comes a time when a story must logically end. Thankfully, everyone survived. And this is the end of a major quest, all successful, so a large session bonus, and a need to level up. Also, I am giving Njora some freebies due to her communion with the First Flame, and she is now a caster-
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