The Game Journal: Arctic CampaignThis is an approximate Journal of the Arctic Campaign in the World of Verden. Entries are subject to change as more details are remembered.
Stay tuned for enhancements.
Part 1
First Session:
Grendal and Peytr discover Bob has been sent on a suicidal trip south to Isclair by some unknown faction. It is not likely that anyone could survive it solo. They head south by fast dogsled hoping to catch up with Bob who is travelling using a slower sleigh pulled by two reindeer. Grendal and Peytr meet up with a party of Trollkin and sweep south finally finding Bob's sled. The deer have been savagely mauled and Bob is trapped under a ledge of ice while a massive snow bear attacks. Snow Bear are white like a polar bear, but much bigger and more like a Kodiak in shape. Bob is rescued with the help of the Trollkin.
Second Session:
In town they discovered that Bob was approached by a man who was willing to pay big bucks to have a bag of diamonds shiped south. The diamonds turn out to be cheap culls. The journey intended to get Bob out of the way because he witnessed something. That something was a fellow named ###### who was hiring people to kidnap the child of a member of the local diamond cartell. This fellow was found dead somewhat after Bob left Nordland.
Third Session;
Bob, Grendal, and Peytr discover some odd happenings in the area of the diamond works. They discover the guard dead, frozen in the outhouse. In another building they discover a woman who is liing on her own over the winter in a cabin there. It turns out that she is taking care of the kidnapped young girl. Bob is sent back for help and Bob and Grendal take chase after the woman who is escaping. Eventually she is headed off by the town guard coming from the city. It turns out that she is simply a woman on hard times escaping from her husband's beatings.
Fourth Session:
The little girl is returned to her family, part of the diamond cartell run by Gomez and Lilian her parents. Joined by Hernan, the security specialist the look into who was the kidnapper and why. Also how this tied in with Bob being sent south. Joined by Umasa and Maurius the Husband, a priest, is found and made to pay for his beatings of the woman. The priest is made to set up an orphanage. Marius has a divine vision that they should go to the grainary. At the city grainery they find a confrontation. Felix and Ignatz are arguing about whether the kidnappers should get full payment for the kidnapping even though it was not taken to completion. Felix argues that the outcome of the job was what was desired and they should get full pay. Ignatz counters that even though the goal was achieved since the job was not completed they should be happy with half pay.
Fifth Session:
The party ambushes Ignatz and Felix and escort them to the City Guard Jail. Ignatz while being questioned blows up. Many dead ends are found and without Hernan's help they loose any in they might have into the Cartel to find out just who all would profit from the disruption of the Cartel members lives.
Part 2
Current Cast:
Marius (Sam) 3rd adventure Dog Sled (pulled by large St Bernards?)
Peytr (Oliver) 1st adventure Dog Sled
Grendal (John) 1st adventure Dog Sled
Umosa (Matthew) 2nd adventure Dog Sled
Fred (Gemma) Tek Sel Din Frod "Fred" 4th adventure Sled pulled by reindeer
Wickinanna (Corene) 4th adventure Sled pulled by elk
Captain Morgan. (Micheal) 4th adventure Dog Sled
Bob (npc friend of party) Brobobda 1st adventure Sleigh pulled by reindeerGrizelda (npc fire wizard who hired party)
Chik Don Dav Hoy "Hoy" the Mountain Trollkin. 4th adventure Sled pulled by mountain sheep
Bartlet (npc Grizelda's hired man friday)
Berafal "Bobb" "pop" (npc Grizelda's maid) 4th adventure Large Sleigh like a stage coach or medicine wagon. Pulled by reindeer.
Gwenhwyfin "Gwain" "Emalda" the slender guide 4th adventure Sled pulled by red deer
Fifth Session Continued:
Time passes and the short summer is upon Nordland. Marius has come upon a Trollkin, Frank, who is inquisitive about Marius and his visions. Marius has a vision telling him that something important is coming from the East. It turns out to be a ship with slightly interesting crew and passengers. It seems thought that although important, there is not intended that Marius do anything about it. The ship leave port for the West though it is close to the time when it would not be safe to leave for fear of getting caught in the ice.A second ship appears late into the season after the other ships have left. This one will not make it back before winter snow and ice set in. The ship's passenger seeks a group of adventurers to take them across the wintery tundra and to the mountians. From there they wish to be taken through to the coast and where the ship they were on would have taken them if it were possible.
The party applies for the job and journey, though Grendal would rather kill the wizard.
Sixth Session
March 1 2002
Though Grendal still has his reservations the party equip an expedition to North Gate by way of Isclar. They leave when the tundra is frozen enough to take sleds across. On the trek are:
Magician's PartyLady Grizelda the Fire MagicianPlayer Characters
Bartlett, Grizelda's aide-de-camp
Pop (Dutch for Doll) Grizelda's Maid (Audun Veslemoy's Daughter)Peytr OliverNon Player Characters
Grendal John
Umosa Matthew
Maurius Sam
Fred Gemma (Tik Paci Amor Frich) (Tek if female)
First Draft Pick* Regan
Second Draft Pick* CoreneBob, every party member's little brother... Big little brother* New Party Members can take on either Bob, Pop, or a Trollkin enroute to North Gate. They might also choose a trapper, traveler, outlaw or such. Once into North Gate things are pretty open as to choice of characters.
Several dogs including one hotdog
Several reindeerThe party heads south to Isclar. Griz, Bartlett, an Pop are in a sleigh pulled by 9 reindeer, everyone else has their own dogsled and team.
Occasionally shadowed by Trollkin hunting parties and passing by the occasional Land Bear who are very good at not being seen or scented. It takes around a month and a half to reach Isclar where the party rest a bit and replenish supplies. Grendal checks out the local branch of the church knights for information that might have trickled down from their bretheren in Nordland as well as information on Grizelda. All he can find out is that she works with fire and heat.
A week is needed for the snows to cover the route to North Gate as the snow is not that full here yet. It is the beginning of November.
Enroute the party's sled dogs are attacked by very large wolves. The same sort of wolf ridden by Forest Trollkin to the south. These however have no riders. They are after one of the sled dogs who has come into heat. They are beaten off by fire and some precautions are taken. First to mask the oder, then to encourage its passing. Other bitches are given a herbal remedy to prevent them from going into heat.
About one week out of North Gate, the place to which the adventurers are hired to take Grizelda, she explains her goal. She is hunting out a person she calls an "Evil" Mage who takes over the bodies of others. This leaves the victim in her body and dead. Well, sometimes "her" body, as likely it can be "his" body. One weakness is that the Evil Mage does not gain the knowledge of the victim.
Grizelda offers that the party stay on further because she now knows them an knows them to be competent."I would hire you for half plus what I would pay unknow people."It will have taken a month to travel from Isclar to North Gate. That takes it to mid November
"I make this offer here, to give time for you to think it over it might"
"All I wish is that you defend me from normal dangers an I will take care of the abnormal"
"I will not think less of you if you do not join with me. For I know it is through lands different from those you have left."North Gate, the Gateway to the... North, Mountains, Gold Country, Arctic... etc. think Gold Rush City with a middle ages fantasy fling. The Gold Rushes aren't at North Gate anymore, but it is a largish city enroute.North Gate is also in The Cordilerian Confederation rather than the Three Kingdoms of Havne (TKH?). The CC is not a Kingdom but is run by an elected council with representatives from all city states. North Gate is one of those City States. There is also representation by Trollkins and the Church. The CC actually was responsible for the cementing of the three Kingdoms/Principalities into the TKH. The CC was formed by people fed up with the constant wars and disputes between the three Kingdoms. They picked up and went west eventually forming a land without Kings.
Seventh Session
March 23, 2002
Starts in Islcar
Wikianna is come across with her elk pulled sled, crippled with a broken runner.
The sled is repaired though not perfectly
There is sun in winter due to being further south on the way to North Gate
Wikkianna is heading to North Gate and from there to the ocean, though perhaps staying the rest of the winter in North Gate. She has come up from the road along the mountains from the south.
The party on the road/runners once more starts coming upon low hummocks on and along the road. Anywhere from 1 foot high and 4 feet long to 4 feet high and 20 feet long or longer.
They appear to be made from packed snow. They aren’t just snow drifts.
The trail seems like it is dragged once in a while to keep it level.
Grendel notices one of the larger hummocks has toes, big pink toes.
The party stops and shortly after a large man shaped but furry and much larger creature stand throwing a small boulder at the sleds and party members.
Umosa and Grendal attack the snow beast with swords. Umosa’s sword is burning.
The creature is making lots of noise and jumping as ht throws stuff.
Noise is heard from the rear and Peytr runs to the back of the caravan.
Pop is on top of Grizelda’s sled with a spear.
The creature starts running away down the trail westward.
There is a shriek from the back of the caravan.
Pop shrieks!
Marius and others head to the back of the caravan to find upturned sleds with goods scattered about.
The salted and smoked meat is missing along with a couple of tarps.
Grendal and Umosa are chasing the creature that fled eastward.
Grendal heads back to the caravan after a while of chasing the creature down.
Umosa chases after the creatures who stole the meat from the back of the caravan.
Grendal thinks it was an ambush!
Fred has heard the mountain Trollkin mention something like this.
Two days to North Gate
Enough food to make it since there are emergency reserves.
The party waits for Umosa to return. He is chasing the two creatures who took the meat.
The two creatures meet up with the other who attacked.
Fred and Maurius decide to wait for Umosa while the others carry on.
Eventually Umosa returns and the party continues on.
The party approaches North Gate but are forced to race a storm into town.
Eighth Session
April 6, 2002
Party is entering North Gate having just outrun a snow storm.
They seek shelter for the night at a hotel.
“Joes Dog House and Bath House Inc.”
“Mables, We welcome Royalists and Feds” “and their dogs”
The party settles at the “Joes” And get to know Wikkianna.
The storm looks like it might last a while.
Decision to check out the local Church Knights about Grizelds.
Old Couple comes into Inn. Look like grandparents, small and have a bird on the woman’s shoulder. White bird hooked beak. Between a crow and pigeon in size.
Selarian Knights. An entry saying Grizelda is a fire mage. Inquiries about a rogue magician rumored to be murdering people and taking on their forms. Inquiries from Isclar and Northlands. Some inquiries from Havne and Volet. No important news from Nordland.
Sorcerer’s Guild in Scunlugad.
No Sorcerer’s Guild in North Gate.
Party willing to go along with Grizelda if it would be possible to check in with Church Knights along the way. Ie if they don’t reach the next check point they will be looked for.
Dec?
Will the party have to change to wheeled vehicles.
Ninth Session
April 26, 2002
Robust small folk with Gypsy wagon and talking white bird.
Went off into the storm.
Parties names passed on to the next two chapter houses the party was expecting to get to.
The Knights will be looking for them in Scunlugad and Dunlugad.
Party seeks a few additional party members familiar with coast and traveling the mountains in winter.
Slender fellow Wikkiana thinks will be useful. He seems to know his stuff. Grendal likes a slightly scruffy Mountain Trollkin.
Slender fellow is Emalda
Scruffy Mountain Trollkin is Hoy
The Jolly Crocodile
Captain Morgan seeking a caravan going to the sea.
“LET GOD BE OUR GUIDE” Maurius
Maurius discovers something about Emalda.
Bartlet chooses to bring both.
Captian Morgan joins.
Grendal keeps an eye out for hills with pink toes. (foothills I guess –Darrell)
Hoy points out dangerous cornices above the road in places. “You have to sneak past those.”
Well, you get most of the way across when you hear an ominous rumble overhead....
Part 3
Current Cast:
Grendal (John)
Marius (Sam)
Moon Shadow (Sandra)
Dog St Bernard, Marius'
Gwenhwyfin "Gwain" "Emalda" the slender guide
Tenth Session
March 21, 2003
The Avanlanche hits scattering the party. Some have been carried over a precipice and lost to the frozen river valley below. The three who were carried over the precipace to the valley bottom are Grendal, Marius, and Emalda.
The rest of the party either are still above the edge of the precipice or were washed into the frozen river below. No sign of them except for one quickly disappearing broken dog sled viewed through a deep chasm in the ice over the river.
There is a shadow on the far side of the valley in the shape of a bunny... no in the shape of Marius Holy Symbol! People are cold and in rapidly freezing clothing from being mostly buried by the avalanche. Grendal needed help in getting unburied.
In a warm dry cave is Moon Shadow. How she got there is anyone's guess but she observes the others' progress across the valley from the slide and up to the cave she is in. When Grendal, Marius, and Emalda get into the cave, Moon Shadow hides in the shadows. The Dog notices her and begins barking. Soon a further avalanche covers the cave entrance forcing all to the back of the perceptively deep cave. A cave that seems to be glowing gently on its own. The ice and snow plug must be over 20 feet thick and there was a warm breeze coming out of the deeper parts of the cave before the second avalanche.
Where the others of the party have ended up, either in the river and under the ice, or higher up above on the far side of the valley is unknown.
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