Eotenheim session report 30/04/26
My lord, it is Frigedaeg, and we are in high spring. Last night Eostre's Moon was bright and full, and all through Wulfwald the feasting tables are being set.
Before I speak of the Wulfashéafdu, some news from the realm: Ingrid of clan Gunnbeorn and Varghoss Sigurdsson have been betrothed, and neighbouring Gnupburg is expected to undertake a full month of celebrations and feasting. Thegn Olaf Gunnbeorn will proclaim the exact date of the wedding once his pet priest, Kjartan, has deduced the most auspicious date. It is an odd arrangement, and murmurs are rife. Not everyone is pleased at this pairing. Nevertheless, your presence will be expected at some point in this Moon's passing.
Now, of the Wulfashéafdu. I went to the Cave yesterday, my lord, and found the following there:
- Gyfu, Dweorgas Wyrdwebba
- Sigurd Velmasson, Dweorgas Shield-Brother
- Wulfhilda, Scildemaegden
- Penda, Redealinga Bogamann.
They were in a sorry state, spattered in blood and slime. They had been at the temple under Eotenheim the evening before, and had hiked through the night to arrive back at the cave by dawn. The Shield-Maiden in particular had been struck a blow near to death and was being nursed by her comrades -- her wounds looked like they had been left by the great jaws or pincers of some fell beast.
Most notably, they had with them a doe with fur as silver as the Full Moon. Her ribs could be seen poking through her pale skin, and she was covered in sores and puncture wounds. Around her neck hung a silver circlet -- that of the king Beornheard's beloved sister!
This is what the Wulfashéafdu told me:
They went back to the temple under Eotenheim. The Dweorgas fateweaver inscribed their torch with the rune Ken, which produced a silvery glow that brightened the nearer they got to the princess. They were plagued by spectral visions of the Dark One, Chetthe, that they had encountered before; he laughed and warned of their doom should they proceed further.
Nevertheless, rune-guided, they opened the great copper doors to the second level, but the Dark Wizard Chetthe laid in wait and launched a terrific lightning bolt. Sigurd the shield-man bravely blocked it, but was reduced nearly to ash. His shield is smote now with a lightning-scar, the old crest of his Dweorg clan near-erased.
Wulfhilda steped forward and bravely challenged Chetthe to a grappling contest. Inflated with ego, he agreed. Gyfu cunningly cast the rune of the Aurochs, giving the Shield-Maiden an ox's strength. In a clash of thews, Wulfhilda won, and struck the mage with her forehead so hard as to kill him instantly. She took from his corpse a shining mirrored helm and a starry cloak, surely items of wonder.
They pressed deeper, pondering the mystery of the buried alabaster heads at the bottom of the stairs. Several giant centipedes infested this level, but, all were slain. Wulfhilda nearly died to the pincers of one of them.
They found a similar font-basin to that which had revealed the giant longboat last time. Filling it, another statue-chamber revealed itself. This one had a kingly visage with a runed crown. In its top, a basin stained blood-red, and hanging over it, the Princess trapped in a spiked wicker cage! It was clear that she had been bled repeatedly over the last month to fill the font, for what foul purpose I could not even begin to divine. They freed the princess and crawled back to the Cave by dawn.
I was overjoyed at the princess' rescue, but felt that she could not be returned to the King in the form of an emaciated deer. Gyfu, despite the exhaustion of the night's efforts, decided to attempt a work of great magic: Runic wyrd-weaving to reverse the princess' curse. Penda and Sigurd both gave their own lifeblood to strengthen the magic, becoming permanently weaker. But it worked, and the Princess was returned to human form!
Although it pains me to say it, The Wulfashéafdu undoubtedly displayed great valour and sacrifice. Anticipating a showering of gifts from the King Beornheard, I allowed each of them to request a valuable boon in recognition of their efforts.
- Penda wishes for a trained raven.
- Sigurd Worm-Slayer harvested the iron-hard carapace of a giant centipede, and wishes for a smith to make it into a breastplate.
- Gyfu Curse-Breaker recieved a bejewelled staff fit of a true Wyrdwebba.
- Wulfhilda asks for a silvered broadsword.
Additionally, Wulfhilda took interest in the mirrored helm. I have entrusted it to her momentarily while she discovers its purpose, after which it shall of course revert to you if it is indeed of value. I suggested that she might seek out the dwarven brothers in the caves to the northwest.
I hope this news pleases you, my Thegn, and I await your orders as always. Your loyal liege,
- Jorru Adderfoot