The Journey Home

The 15th-28th day of the 3rd month 1372

The heroes bade farewell to the elves of Tanglewood and returned to Kronstadt. There, they made contact with the sellsword, Valdimar, who promised to take them to a glittering castle full of treasure—for a price. Fidlthid paid the man, and off they went into the high mountains. There, they found a bridge spanning a great chasm and the massive glittering castle beyond.

On the bridge, they battled large wolves whose breath was magic ice, and they made their way into a courtyard where two massive frost giants rose from beneath large snow drifts. After a tense parley, the heroes were taken into the hall before the Frost Giant Jarl. 

Filthid returned to the Jarl his dagger which he had previously purchased from the wretch, Syral Mora. Taran's honeyed words afforded them favor among the giants and as a reward, the Jarl allowed them to climb the high tower to meet his wife, Runa, a seeress. 

The beautiful Runa inhaled deeply from her burning brazier of herbs and gave her auguries. She said that the men of the Dunlands were to war with one another, that the elven couple would have a child, that many enemies were poised to strike from the shadows, and that the futures of Sabira and her child were shrouded in darkness. 

The giantess also intimated that she was unhappily kept in her tower by the Jarl, and one of her husband's thanes, Hrolf, would gladly overthrow the Jarl.

The heroes returned and spoke to Hrolf and he agreed to challenge the Jarl if the heroes would join him in battle. Hrolf issued his challenge and the battle was on. The heroes slew the Jarl as Hrolf and his man battled the other thanes. In the end, Hrolf made Runa the queen of the household, Runa gave the heroes her earrings of emerald and gold, and Valdimar (who had been caged for attempting to steal) was released. The heroes had made a powerful ally of Runa, who agreed to make more auguries in the following year's winter. 

The heroes traveled west and at the mouth of a pass, they saw a great ruined city of tumbledown stones. Within they met frightened wretches who made their home among the ruins. It seemed these people were troubled by other denizens of the city and wished someone to aid them. This the heroes promised to do when summer arrived. The heroes returned to Tandis some days later. 

Bishop Visefrin inquired about the knight who had descended into the dungeon. Sir Jean and his men had gone below weeks before and had not been seen since. Boraint also told Visefrin of a ruined temple, known only as the Forest Temple. This place was rumored to contain The Lost Canticles, a folio of powerful prayers lost to the faith. Boraint believed he knew the location of this ruined temple. 

Herionymous took to his laboratory to begin work on some new magical concoction and Wellborn saw to his household. 

Taran entered Tandis village armed with charm spells. She sought information about any enemies that may have been embedded among the villagers. The imminent arrival of the Court of Love, the many new building projects, and visiting pilgrims had all contributed to an increase in population. At the Inn of Ill Omen, she made contact with several members of the local demi-monde. They reported strange men and one pointed out a small serpent sigil carved into a table where they had been sitting. The informants did not know where these men were staying, but claimed they were likely to return.