Surtr

Filius, following a season of recuperation for an old wound, seems to have mellowed. He is not so angry now and has come to grips that Francois is gone.

The game opens with Des grabbing a late night snack. Filius also has the same idea. They end up having a conversation where misunderstandings are reconciled. Three days later a Redcap named Dumond comes to the covenant from Val Negra. He drops off a letter to Filius from Elaine. The letter says:

I write you on behalf of our Pater. We have received word that help is needed in the north. I will not go into details here, but this seems to be what the Defenders of the Order were formed to do. Please gather some of your compatriots and come to Val Negra. Try to be here by the harvest moon. Some speed will be required.

Also, bring along your petitioner. We would like to ask her a few questions.

Sometime that evening, he manages to slip a letter into Lillianna's pocket. The letter is from Apromor and reads:

Find a way to attach yourself to Filius and come to Val Negra. Make sure Albus does not accompany you. I have need of your services. Speak to no one of this letter.

A couple weeks earlier there was a conversation at Val Negra between Elaine and Parum. They discussed the Viking invasion, Flambeau's offer of assistance to Charlemagne, the continued presence of Apromor, and her letter to Filius. She asked Parum to lead the questioning of Sylvie, to which he agreed.

Two weeks after Dumond brought the letter to Calor Novus Filius, Sylvie, Lillianna, Kristoff, and Johnnie arrived. They were accompanied by Des, Hassan, and various Defensor Corona. Their reception by Apromor is chilly. While at Val Negra the following happens:

• Apromor deflects any attempts to see Flambeau

• Elaine provides some details about the viking invasion and Flambeaus promise to Charlemagne

  • It's made clear that Filius is carrying Flambeau's honor for this fight

• Flagratio joins the Defenders of the Order

• They find out that some other magi are helping with the northernmost assault

• Apromor grills Lillianna for details on Sylvie, Albus, and her ambitions

  • He also mentions that he wants the goat-headed rod he's heard rumor of

• Filius preps Sylvie for the questioning, telling her to just be herself and be honest

• The questioning occurs, during which Parum loses his cool

• Filius speaks last and makes an impassioned speech about the merits of adding Sylvie to House Flambeau

• Later Apromor informs everyone that the first day of Spring will be the “year and a day” Sylvie has to find a House or become an outcast from the Order

• Apromor pulls Sylvie aside and makes some reference that her moving to Val Negra might help her petition

After leaving Val Negra, Sylvie is approached during night watch by Diedne. Hassas has uncharacteristically fallen asleep and does not wake up when she calls his name. The conversation between Sylvie and Diedne is brief and uncomfortable. Diedne offers to let Sylvie “come home” and is firmly rejected. Diedne tells her a few things about what is going on with the vikings, specifically that her contact, Njáll, is in the tower and that is where the power for the invasion is coming from. He can be recognized by the goat-headed rod he carries. He should not be killed. Also Filius should not be taken to the tower.

After she leaves, observant Sylvie finds a quality sea shell in the undergrowth.

The complete their journey north and meet the army. It is headed by the now Colonel Lucius, who is accompanied by his page Tar. Lucius lays out a map with the invasion points and describes what is known of the enemy forces. He also mentions that Pralix headed north and he is expecting word back from her any day.

Sylvie, in wolf form, and Lord Fang leave to scout out the enemy forces.

Filius waits as long as he can for word back from Sylvie. Just as they are ready to move, a rider and a cart arrive. Inside is the unconscious Pralix. She is given magical assistance for healing and left with the chirugens.

Filius organizes the defenses. The army leaves behind a few men at the current location and moves a half day towards the enemy. There they spend a few days constructing a palisade. During this time Kristoff and Johnnie scout the area finding a couple entrances into the faerie realm of King Sunshine.

Pralix makes a recovery and is carted to the palisade. She tells them the Tale of the Horn:

During the summer she was contacted by Parum. She remembered meeting him with the Horn on Baron Savon's lands. He offered her the Horn in trade for a queen of vis and a promised apprentice in the future. She agreed and they made the trade. They found out about the viking invasions and decided to help before taking the Horn to Breton. She and a couple other magi headed north. They found the battle near the mouth of the Seine. The Frankish forces outnumbered the vikings, but their wizards had driven the Franks back. She worked with the Frankish commander and they planned an all-out assault on the vikings. The plan was executed well. The footman advanced, drawing fire from the giants and the wizards. Two of the Hermetic wizards began harassing the OoO wizards from a distance, Pralix focused on the giants. This helped and forced the vikings to send out their troops as well. The commander and his horsemen drove into the flank of the viking troops. Then the wolves came. Like a shimmering sea of gray pelts, they fell upon the horseman and caused chaos among the foot troops. Seeing the battle could be lost, Pralix decided it was time to employ the Horn. It had been decided beforehand that, if needed, Lycentus would blow the thing. And he did.

At first they heard nothing, then the sound came. It was like a thousand horns, the hoofbeats of hundreds of horses, and the screams of the dammed – all rolled into the sound of never-ending thunder. Those on the battlefield stopped fighting and fell to their knees. Men clawed at their ears as if to rip them off to stop the sound. Some tore out their eyes. Giants tore about them in pain and rage. Even the animals were driven mad by the sound. At first, awed by the devastation of the Horn, Pralix could not tear her eyes from the scene. She called on Lycentus to stop. The battle was done. But the sound continued. She looked over to see him struggling to release the Horn, but he could not. Before her eyes he began to wither. He gestured wildly and cast. Then he was surrounded by a swirling blue fire, caught in twilight beyond the touch of the mortal world. There was a bright flash as the blue fire exploded outward. Her last memory was watching Lycentus and the Horn disappear.

Pralix indicates that she will not able to help them. Filius sends her off to the Covenant in the Mist with a description of what they intend to do for future reference.

While out scouting, Lord Fang feels the call of the Wolf Master. He tells Sylvie to run as he is lured away. Sylvie makes best speed back to the encampment to find her companions and most of the army has moved on. She leaves to rejoin them. During this time she enounters a Raven that appears to be confused and lost. This is the raven guardian of the tower, normal size in her realm. She gives the raven directions back to where the tower is and then rejoins the rest of the group.

They move down the road another half day and construct another palisade. They repeat this until they have a series of four palisades, each a half day apart. The palisades are augmented by a series of pits, some covered and some left open.

The group then begins eliminating the enemies pickets and scout out their camp. They divert the stream supplying them with fresh water, kill and bury another scouting group of vikings, blast a bunch of the ravens that seem to gather whenever magic is used, and manage to weaken the entirety of the army that is visible to them. Many of the vikings suffer light wounds, items with animal components are damaged and weakened, and many things in their camp are set on fire.

Their actions bear fruit. The vikings are drawn out of their camp and attack at dawn the next day. The opposing force is massive. There are about 2,000 viking warriors and 15 giants, each pulling a sled of rocks. Filius begins striking the vikings with sheets of flame and Lillianna destroying boulders. Then two things happen: Kristoff sees a score of invisible goblin assassins slipping over the back wall and Filius enters twilight. Johnnie joins Kristoff and Sylvie covers the goblins in mud to make them visible.

With Filius out of action, they rally. Sylvie creates a barrier to deflect all rocks from the palisade. Then she and Lillianna start going after the vikings with offensive spells. This culminates in Lillianna creating a huge pit, just in front of the palisade, that kills most of the viking infantry. Sylvie follows suit with another huge pits that eliminates all the giants. Johnnie rallies the groups to repel the invaders that made it around the side of the palisade and Kristoff spots the first of the enemy wizards. With the main ground thrust taken care of, the troops sally forth from the palisade. Lillianna moves to the top of the tower while Kristoff and Johnnie sprint for the magi. A wave of wolves erupt from the woods, but one of the packs is led by Dire Lord Fang. His pack turns on the other wolves, breaking up their charge. As the Frankish forces turn to engage, they peel off to join Sylvie in the palisade.

Filius returns from twilight. He and Lillianna begin to hammer the enemy wizards. One of the manages to summon the Aspect of Surtr. He is a giant (size +3) flaming humanoid with a black greatsword that he wields with one hand. Johnnie and Kristoff pounce on him. Johnnie manages to stun him in the initial attack and Kristoff delivers a great wound. Unable to act, Surtr falls to their next series of attacks.

The battle is over, the enemy wiped out.

They head north and, having a sense for the enemies tactics, as well as perfecting their own, break the group at the river Liger. Some few escape, but many die in burning longboats as they try to flee.

They stop by the Covenant in the Mist to check on Pralix and head back to Val Negra. Pralix, feeling much better joins them. They are unhappy to learn from Apromor that Flambeau is again unavailable, having “left to meditate”, a fact they are unable to confirm. Pralix adds her support for Sylvie's petition in the form of a letter to Flambeau and lengthy discussion with Elaine.

Pralix heads back north and east, the troupe returns to Calor Novus.