Glaciea es Flammae

NPCs

[Names learned by the players]

Raven, a young dreamwalker.
Felix, the bee keeper
Lucien, Gael’s bodyguard
Carré, Abbot at Weska
Jug, a mule
Dion, a faerie lad
Pine Cone, a mountain brownie

[Names not learned by the players]

Jur, a wizard of the Order of Odin (has iron teeth and an iron banded staff)
Skuli, another wizard of the OoO (has a staff with the skull of an animal on top)
Hafdan, the third wizard of the OoO (one-eyed, who carried an iron rod)

The players find themselves locked in battle with a group of Viking warriors, berserks, and a wizard with an iron banded staff. During the fight several bandits working for Robert are gravely wounded or die. They manage to overcome the enemy and see another, larger group approaching fast.

In the present: Gael and Lucien, with Jug, are traveling from Gael’s covenant (see his lore for more information). They come across a young man, about Gael’s age, being beaten by three woodsman. They intervene. Lucien charges with his axe and Gael kills one with a spell. The remaining two manage to flee. They path up the hurt boy, whose name they learn is Dion, and promise to take him to his father

Raymond travels to Abbey at Weska where he waits for a full day before being admitted to see Abbot Carrè. The Abbot is cool towards him, viewing him as someone who does not put his trust in God and feels the need to meddle in others affairs. However, the Abbot confirms the stories Raymond has heard and brings in a witness for him to interview. The witness confirms the stories about the raiders that Raymond had heard.

At the covenant, one of Robert’s men has been stung by a really big bee. He investigates. They wound the bee and meet Felix the beekeeper. Felix lets them try some honey and offers to sell it to Robert and his men. They decide to pay him half the coin they carry, much less than his asking price, and let him know he’s lucky to leave without a beating. They do promise to return the next day if their masters are interested in the honey.

Filius is unhappy when he finds out a local faerie has been cheated. He is also disturbed by the power of the honey, which seems to be mildly addictive. Robert takes he honeycomb and Filius locks up the honey. Filus with a small group goes out the next day and pays Felix full price for the honey. After some bargaining, it is agreed that Robert and his men will not journey on this path for a year and a day. Arrangements are made to purchase more honey next summer as well.

Gael and Lucien follow Dion’s directions and end up in Faerie where the follow a white path to a shining keep on a hill. They enter the keep and continue to the throne room. The King wears a crown of flame. He introduces himself as the King of Fire and his wife as Ember. They are happy to see Dion home and safe. He takes them into a private chamber where he hears the whole story. He gives Gael a silver coin that is warm to the touch. The coin will always stay warm and will allow Gael to call for the King’s aid one time in the future. The King will help if he can. The coin has a third power Gael will have to discover for himself (note: this power is that it can be used to forge a magic item).

Gael learns a bit about Faerie etiquette while he is there.

They are brought back to their world quite a distance from where they entered. Their guide flees at the sound of hoofbeats. Raymond comes around the bend on horse. He recognizes Gael as a mage. After introductions are made, they continue on to the covenant.

Filius continues to have dreams. Raymond and Gael arrive. Gael and Inrisor seem to hit it off very well. After hearing of Raymond’s mission, Filius announces his intention to set out the next day.Gael and Robert agree to accompany Filius and Raymond.

On their journey Filius and Gael awake feel a desire to travel in the same direction. They leave the camp without notice and run into Raven in the woods. After some discussion they learn that Raven has been protecting Filius to the best of her abilities, she had a foretelling that showed her that her destiny lies with Filius, she is a Dreamwalker, and she is interested in joining the Order of Hermes.

Raven joins them and they continue on to Weska. They see the damage wrought by the raiders. While there, they learn about the cold that preceded the raiders and enormous amount of wolf activity in the area. They stay for a couple days helping out the villagers and then press on in pursuit.

Raven is distracted by a sending against Gael. During that time the wizard with the iron bound staff approaches Filius in a dream. Filius is not interested in bargaining with the wizard and the wizard departs when Raven enters the dream.

At dawn the next day, they are attacked by wolves and ravens. They manage to defeat the animals with minor wounds and continue on.

They track the Viking band into the mountains. The tracks end at a large cave mouth. But the cave is shallow and the tracks do not continue inside. After discussing various ways to enter a regionne, they decide to see if Raven can summon help. It takes a few hours, but she summons Pine Code, a small mountain brownie who agrees to help them for a nominal price. It is obvious the Fey are feeling the effects of the cold in their realm and are interested in helping. Pine Cone leads them across the boundary. Inside they travel onto the frozen plain. They are attacked by a firbolg, which Robert slays in a single shot with an arrow through the throat. Gael reduces the thick mist around them revealing two more firbolgs. After a difficult fight they are triumphant. They rest and take the bones and the teeth from the giants. They continue across the plain to the woods.

After making camp, they rest and have a shared dream where the combat on the frozen plain continues. In the dream they lose the battle. Taking this as a possibility, they change their plans and find a good area to defend. After setting defenses, Raven summons the wizard with the iron teeth (Jur). Before he comes they are attacked by wolves, warriors, and giants. They defeat the wolves and warriors. The giants are more difficult to defeat.

Meanwhile in the woods, Robert and one of his men hunt the wizard. They end up seeing three wizards: The one with the iron-banded staff from their dreams with a one-eyed wizard carrying an iron rod and another with a bone staff, complete with an animal skull on top. They hurt the man with the iron-banded staff and he runs off to the camp. They also hurt the one-eyed wizard with the iron rod before the bandit with Raymond is frozen in place and ravens attack Raymond. The attack allows the wizards to transform into a raven and a wolf. In these forms they flee into the forest.

At the ground Filius and company have decided to defend the giants are proving to be difficult to dispatch. Raymond puts himself in Gods hands and holds back the giants by brandishing his relic. He holds firm and the giants are unable to advance. Jur, the wizard with the iron-banded staff bypasses the defenses and moves towards Raven. Filius intervenes with his sword (the wizards seem unable to cast in the holy aura produced through Raymond). As though by a miracle, Filius’ flaming sword becomes white-hot and he cuts through both the staff and Jur. The giants are forced back into the pits and defeated.

Robert and his man spy on the fleeing raiders. Then lead retrieve the remaining treasure.

Once the treasure is gathered up, they make their way back to the cave where Pine Cone leads them back across.

Robert fetches Albus who extracts vis from the bones. Holy items are returned to the abbey and Filius promises to replace the value of what was given to the church. Everyone returns to the covenant where further introductions are made and options for repaying Robert are discussed. Raven returns to check in on her parents and promises to return to the covenant soon.

 

 

Lore for Gael

You are from the Doissetep covenant. This is the Domas Magna, or home covenant, of the Flambeau. It is in the Provencal tribunal. You were an amazing student. Early on everyone marveled at your quick mind and natural gifts. There was only one student who could match you: Ardoris. Even you admit her mastery of ignem is frightening. As you both aged, she grew into a strong young woman, while you remained somewhere between a child and a man. Soon admiration for you turned into whispers behind your back, while she took supper with the leaders of the covenant. During those later years your master Vitandi, one of the most skilled masters at the covenant, believed your curse was a sign of even greater magical abilities. He strove to pour every bit of knowledge he could into your head. But despite your accomplishments, Ardoris was always the favorite. Several weeks ago you announced your intention to leave Doissetep and find, or found, a new covenant in the wilderness. As the great Flambeau battled the Moorish wizards in Iberia, so shall you. With that in mind you have struck south and west. Accompanied by only Lucien, the servant and bodyguard your master sent with you, you set out. Lucien leads Jug, a tired old mule with your few things who was named for his big rounded head. Most people would think Jug is an odd mule, but they didn’t grow up in a magical aura. At the very least he does not seem too uncomfortable around you.

Bastards! The word springs to mind every time you think of the magi at Doissetep. Well, everyone except for Vitandi – he at least taught you very well. When he lost the vote to lead the covenant this spring, you knew it was time for you to leave. Though that was almost a moon ago, the anger still brings a taste of bitterness to your mouth.

Nonetheless, spring has passed and as you move south the summer sun warms you to the core. The forest here is thicker than home and late afternoon sun dances off the leaves, weaving patches of light and shadow.

You feel a hand on your arm and you turn. Lucien motions for you to be silent and cocks his head. Now you hear it too. There is a fight up ahead on the narrow path. Lucien begins creeping forward.

Jug, unattended, finds some sweet grass to munch on…

 

NOTE: The first scene takes place out of sequence. You know the names of Paul (Filius) and Hugh’s (Robert) characters. Roll with the scene.

Lore for Robert

Spring as passed and summer promises to be warm this year. For all the talk you hear of threats in this region, it’s pretty quiet. Even dull. You’ve yet to cross swords with these Moors (rumors have them hiding in the mountains and sallying forth all the time – and if they were in the mountains, you’d be the first to know). There’s not a witch to be found (though supposedly there’s twenty or thirty just outside of every village and farmstead). You’d settle for bad minstrel or scraggly highwayman just to break things up a bit. Your father, bless his heart, can’t be pried loose from this place with a lever. Now he’s drilling a couple of slaves Martain left behind instead of getting out and seeing the world with you, or liberating some poor trapped silver from the darkness of a tight-fisted merchant’s pouch.

Hey wait a minute! You know what you can do. This is a great idea. Dad will be so proud. First you get the boys together and…

Crap! What have they gotten into now? You specifically told them no more than one beer with breakfast. Your father is going to be pissed if there is one more fight over that girl in the village Heléne (who doesn’t seem to like any of the boys and is hardly her namesake Helen, she who launched a thousand bar fights). What else could all that yelling about?

NOTE: The first scene takes place out of sequence. You know the name of Tony’s character (Gael.

Lore for Raymond

Bonifus summons you to his office. He has received disturbing news. Very disturbing news. An abbey to the west of here was sacked. This was not the first abbey sacked during the winter. There have been a string of attacks, leaving ruin and death in their wake. There is a band of men, who some claim are part beast for they are larger than normal men and covered in hair. Their vanguard is a pack of wolves and the winter travels with them. The Abbot has charted their path and they appear to be moving this direction. Rumors say the Baron of Pamplona was slain when they crossed his lands.

He has asked you to look into the matter. He hinted that if the threat is unnatural you might wish to consult with Albus and see if they will help.

Your first task is to towards the monastery near Weska and talk to Abbot Carrè to see if he has learned anything. You may take a horse.

NOTE: The first scene takes place out of sequence. You know the name of Tony’s character (Gael).

Lore for Filius

As spring departed, so did Albus. He went with Martain (the slave trader) to look at procuring a craftsman and possibly some lab equipment for the covenant. He has asked you to take charge in his absence. You’ve had men out checking periodically, but still no sign of Old Meg.

You had a dream right after Albus left. In this dream you walked through a forest. The trees had dropped their leaves and a fine layer of frost covered everything. A beautiful woman, with long dark hair, was pulling on your robes trying to tell you something. You don’t remember everything she said, but you do remember her warning: Winter is coming.

A week later you looked into rumors of hermit that was cursing travelers who did not feed him as they crossed one of the lower passes nearby. The travelers supposedly suffered great misfortune as a result – A merchant’s assistant lost half his cargo in the river; A man’s wife was unable to have marital relations and he left her; The youngest son of a prominent noble was so inflamed by lust that he raped several women (he was later tucked away in a monastery to have the lustful spirit driven from his body).

For all the talk, it was obvious to you the man was no wizard, just a would-be ascetic driven mad by living alone with only his thoughts for too long a time. He was a pitiful creature, not worth killing. After scaring him nearly to death, you left him some bread and returned home. He seemed genuinely grateful for the bread, but the moment of lucidity passed soon enough.

You dreamed again last night. You were strapped to a rock high on a mountainside, like Prometheus of old, and a raven came down from the sky to feast upon your liver. Your world turned red in agony as the bird sunk its beak into your side. Then a shadow engulfed the bird. It screamed once and it was gone. The beautiful woman with the dark hair crept around from behind the rock you were chained to. She looked furtively about and told you He sees your future and he fears you. As she touched the chains, they fell away. She pressed a poultice to your side. You remember her asking if you could walk, nodding you held the poultice to the wound and stumbled down the rocky trail behind her into the cold clouds below.

When you woke and rose from bed, you noticed a black feather under the coverlet.

NOTE: The first scene takes place out of sequence. You know the name of Tony’s character (Gael.