The Fury of the Northmen

The party was nearing Kalsgard, and had reached the Thundering River. A freezing fog rose from the river as the sun set, and party wasn’t surprised to see the blood-feather raven that had been dogging their path watching them from the far end of the old stone bridge where they had made camp. The fog only intensified with nightfall, and the party prepared to endure a cold and damp night’s sleep. But suddenly, they heard a sound from downriver – the muffled thump of oars in oarlocks. Alert for danger, the party fanned out, some heading out onto the bridge while others headed for the western side of the bridge. A slight breeze parted the mists for a moment, and those on the bridge saw a dark shape materialize out of the fog. There was a crunch of wood scraping on gravel as the longship beached on the riverbank, followed by the sounds of splashing feet, and the war-cries and battle songs of dozens of Ulfen warriors, who came pouring out of the ship!

Ill Omens

Having defeated an ambush of moss trolls in the Grungir Forest, the party paused to catch their breath. Wondering if the trolls might have a lair nearby, they sent Spivey flying off into the forest to make a quick survey. She returned about half an hour later, reporting that she might have found something.

North to Kalsgard

The party awoke still hardly believing what they had learned yesterday. Their friend, Ameiko Kaijitsu, who they’d always known as a somewhat rowdy former adventurer and innkeeper, was, in fact, the last surviving heir to the Jade Throne of Minkai! They were now setting off for the city of Kalsgard, deep in the Land of the Linnorm Kings, to help her recover her family’s ancestral sword and possibly secure passage across the Crown of the World to the fabled Empire of Minkai!

Visions of Jade

The party had descended the final staircase into the depths of Brinewall Castle. The stair spiraled deep down into the rock below the castle, ending in an portcullis, its bars sunk deep into the floor and ceiling, with no apparent opening mechanism. Beyond it they could see a small room, its smooth stone walls spattered with ancient bloodstains and deep, violent gouges. Deep drifts of dust lay on the floor, while immense stone doors hung open to the southwest, revealing empty vaults beyond.

Horror From the Abyss

The party had descended into the lower reaches of Brinewall Castle, and fought off an ambush of troglodytes. As they caught their breath and tried to stop retching from the trogs’ stench, they took stock of their surroundings. They were in the castle’s mess hall. One of the groups of ambushers had come from a large room to the north, but the door had swung closed behind them. The leader had come from a door to the east, which stood open to reveal a narrow hallway.

Trog-lo-dyte!

Our intrepid adventurers were in the midst of fighting the elusive quickling, Buttersnips, but so far she’d been too quick for them. The only time they could see her was when she would zip past them with her poisoned sword. Bella had been briefly poisoned but quickly recovered, but Zhustin was still suffering from the poison’s weakening effects. Meanwhile, Sawyer and Shinjiro were in the throne room, guarding against the return of the troglodytes they’d chased down into the dungeons, while Marie did some exploring. Oh, and Nicki had set Ameiko’s castle on fire, ostensibly in an attempt to flush out Buttersnips, but more likely just because he just enjoyed watching things burn.

Treachery!

 After defeating Kikonu and finally getting some sleep, the party had elected to explore the tower above Kikonu’s study. Bella led the way, and found herself facing a harpy at the top. Unlike everything else they’d met in Brinewall, she did not attack; instead she held out her left hand in a supplicating gesture, while with her right she pointed to her mouth and throat, miming that she was mute. Bella, however, could only see the sharp claws at the ends of her fingers, and backed away. Sawyer and Marie climbed the stairs and the harpy turned her silent entreaties to them.