Storm King’s Thunder. Session 33: The Jarl’s Reckoning
16th Ches 1458DR
The Griffons had a mere 10 minutes to prepare for Haelgra’s arrival. Quickly scattering caltrops around the empty space where the Krigvind would dock, they hid in the seemingly abandoned building to the west and the giant’s drinking hall to the southwest, alongside the elves and dwarves. However, Korrak stood alone and brandished his warhammer as the ship drew closer.
As they got closer, they saw confirmation of what Carlan’s imp had seen: the Jarl held a chain tied around the neck of a white serpentine creature: scaled and draconic yet lacking wings. They docked and as three of the giants leapt off the ship, they landed on the caltrops, and yelled in pain as the metal pierced their boots. Amadeous ran out the building alongside a hail of arrows and crossbow bolts, His eyes ran black and unholy wings sprouted from his back as he unleashed the unholy energy of Celestial Revelation. The giants nearest recoiled at the sight of the unholy being before them and a fireball from Maganose blasted through their ranks.
The Jarl jumped from the prow, grasping the white serpentine monster’s chain and bellowed her force to charge. Steadying themselves, the Frost giants struck back with a hail of arrows of their own. Maganose and Amadeous were injured terribly by multiple 4 foot long arrows as two more giants charged Korrak, who engaged them blow-for-blow with his warhammer against their enormous axes. A giant charged into the western longhouse, cutting down two of the dwarves and one of the elves. Another charged towards the southeast longhouse slashing down one of the elves with it’s axe.
Several more of the dwarves fell before the arrows and axes of the giants. As the Jarl neared the longhouse they all heard a terrible sound. An enormous creature clambered down from the roof of the west longhouse. Covered in white scales and blue spines, it’s long serpentine face roared a challenge at Haelgra and slashed at her with enormous claws. It resembled the smaller creature: perhaps a parent?
As the battle raged on, the Frost giants gradually were whittled down by dozens of arrows and Korrak’s warhammer. As the Jarl struck out at the white monster, Amadeous charged towards her and cut her down. The last giant fell under Korrak’s warhammer and they all breathed hard as the battlefield grew silent.
The monster turned to them, identifying itself as “Isendraug”. Maganose recalled tales of these creatures: Linnorm. Rare, primeval creatures related to dragons, they were known to be cruel, fiercely territorial and spiteful. The creature addressed them in Draconic, which was fortunately spoken by Fenris. Isendraug declared that as they had helped free it’s young they would be permitted to keep their lives for now, but they would leave as this island belonged to her now as she would take the island for her nesting ground. It seemed the Jarl had kept Cryovain (the younger Linnorm) hostage, alongside Isendraug’s eggs to prevent reprisal. As the battle raged and Haelgra seemed distracted the Linnorm seized her opportunity to free her young and take revenge. They asked for the Conch, which Isendraug replied stated they could “keep the broken seashell”.
When asked for the Jarl’s Helm, it refused. Amadeous explained that he had promised the Helm to Queen Dagnabbet in Mithral Hall in exchange for a royal favour (Dagnabbet intended to use it for a bathtub). After some convincing, Isendraug acquiesced, deciding a dwarf using Haelgra’s Helm for a bathtub was suitably undignified and humiliating that it added to her revenge on the Jarl.
They headed towards the Jarl’s quarters and opened it with the amulet. The doors opened to reveal a large boudoir, decorated in hunting trophies, furs and weapons. A chest stood at the end of the Jarl’s bed with half of a huge magical conch mounted on the wall. After searching for traps they lifted it off the wall. It was clearly magical but also only one of the two parts of the item.
Maganose sent a message to Zephyra on the Sending Stone:
“Come and collect us dear. We’re at Svardborg. We are leaving in a boat and can be found near the coast. XXX Darius”.
After a few minutes a reply came:
“The tone of this message is highly improper Darius. I will travel with all haste to meet you. I will be there in 8 hours“
After this they bid farewell to Scandal and Thalassia (the only sea elves to survive), who left to return to their home in the north using one of the Uthgardt ships. Meanwhile Fenris directed Sibilwick and Cricket to load the Jarl’s Helm onto another Uthgardt ship. He repeatedly called Cricket “The New Hewen”, which made Cricket incredibly confused but he eventually realised that maybe everyone needs a Hewen in their lives and maybe Fenris missed his erstwhile friend.
It was starting to get very dark but after a few hours of sailing they felt themselves all teleported up to Zephyra’s tower. After updating her about the happenings on Svardborg (with Zephyra a little shocked that Svardborg was now a Linnorm nesting ground) they asked about Ironslag. Ironslag would take several days to get to: it lay 500 miles to the east in the bowels of Mount Hamarhaast. They felt a tug as the tower changed directions and they started their long journey east.
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