THE RUNE QUEST
The Lords and Ladies of Uberheim gathered in the presence of their Majesties King Siegfreid and Queen Hella in the Morganshire on September 24 to join in an arduous and heroic quest to seek the sacred Runes which would lead them to the Cup of Ymir. They were guided through the perilous adventure by clues which helped them find the hidden Runes.
The first clue, read by King Siegfried, directed the party to Yggdrasil, where a poem was found by HRH Prince Fafnir. There they were to roll a die to choose a searcher, who would by the count of three hunt deep within the Spring of Urd to find the first Rune. Many searched, until finally it was found. (transcript forthcoming) The message attached to the Rune directed party towards the dread field of Ragnarok.
A heavy mist lay over the fated field of Ragnarok. The adventurers set out to search, soon losing sight of each other in the gray darkness. Suddenly, a shout was heard, and James of Lester triumphantly held aloft the skull of the Fenris-Wolf. The dire words read from the skull sent the valient searchers to the Forest of Og.
Og was dark and frighteningly still. In the pitch blackness did the party search, 'til finally Grendal, squire to HRH Prince Dancwart did at last at the base of the tree, find the Rune of death and mortal scares. Nearby also did Lady Skuld find a magical sword, with which she was to fight the dread demon Timendequast, minion of Hella. Grendal championed the lady, and holding the mighty sword Saxon in hand, called upon the demon.
Timendequast appeared, a terrifying visage in the murky depths, stalking forward to meet Grendal. And valiantly did the squire stand, until he was most cruelly vanquished by the vile foe. HRH Prince Dancwart stepped forward next, much aggrieved by the death of his good squire, and took up the sword Saxon and with it the challenge of Timendequast. But the glorious prince, though he fought with grace and cunning, was too most foully defeated. Lady Saga quietly blessed Grendal and Dancwart, wishing their souls a swift journey with the Valkyrie to Odin's hall, and did honor to their corpses.
Sir Hagen, Mighty Warlord of Uberheim then stepped forth to make his challenge and take revenge for his fallen friends. Hagen's battle with the creature was victorious. With great might did he smite the demon Timendequast and destroy the monster, and was heartily praised by his fellows. A message then appeared, which directed the adventurers to quit the dreadful Forest of Og, and seek the Wizards Guild. There they were to discover the Dragon's Blood, which, when given to the noble slain, would revive them to life. Carrying the corpses with all the respect that was due to the brave warriors, the party moved on in haste to their next destination.
The forest near the Wizards guild was a curious place, where mystic lights and voices seemed to float in the darkness, indicating that the party was being watched by creatures of air and fire. The Dragon's Blood was there discovered, and King Siegfreid took the first draught. To his delight, he discovered he could suddenly understand the speech of the birds and forest creatures. The elixir was then quickly administered to the fallen heroes, and miraculously they opened their eyes and rose, unharmed. The rest of the party then drank, and all could understand the speech of the animals and birds.
Sir Rudiger read the clue and found two more swords. Stellerex's staff was blessed with mighty strength for one battle. Sir Rudiger received the War Hammer of Midgard, blessed by the White Owl of Uberheim, and which was certain to make other weapons inert. Then in through burst of smoke and fire, Loveday spied the Rune. The clue attached sent the party back to Burgundy, the demesne of Duke Heimdal.
On the way through Burgundy, they met a wizened old fellow who told them he would trade a map of all the Runes in return for the magic sword Saxon. Despite the misgivings of several members of the party, the deal was made. Lady Skuld especially felt the map was sure to be misleading. Sir Rudiger attempted to decipher the map, and finally pronounced that it showed the way to Gunnigagap. They made they way along the curved path it showed, when just past a shrubbery a voice was heard crying from a thicket. "You there! Help me!" His Majesty King Siegfried reached into the brambles and freed a small creature who was trapped.
It was a little beastie named Helmrich, whom the party could understand due to the magical effects of the dragon's blood elixir. The wee blue creature thanked them for saving his life, and inquired what errand they could be on in such a dangerous place. When they informed him of their quest, and of the map they were following, he cried out in dismay. Helmrich told them that he was a visionary beast with clairvoyant powers. He said that the old man had deceived them, and that he was actually a trickster called Nima who was a Nibelung rogue. Helmrich explained that the old man's trickery would have led them to certain death.
The little creature's clairvoyance told him that the treacherous old man was even now making his way across Loki's Spine to the Well of Mimir in order to capture the rune which they were themselves seeking. Helmrich knew with certainty that if Nima found it, he would also possess the Cup of Ymir, and with the enchanted blade Saxon he would be as mighty as a giant. Helmrich prevailed upon the party to proceed with speed and caution and to stop Nima before it was too late. Exhausted by his psychic powers, the creature fell into a deep sleep. Lady Skuld's foreboding was proven correct.
The party beat a hasty retreat back across the Loki's Spine to pursue the evil Nima. Near the field of Ragnarok, the adventurers were suddenly attacked by demonic creatures. Sir Rudiger was felled, but Stellerx managed to destroy the creatures using his magic fire staff.
While the party traversed Serta's Grove, across from the twin fisted tree, the King was struck down by a poison mist from the fangs of the Midgard Serpent. It would have killed a mortal, but the Ring of the Nibelung aided the King's strength and determination to live. The Dragon's Blood would not revive him, and it was soon clear that the King would perish unless was found. Sir Rudiger, restored by the Dragon's Blood himself, carried the body of their fallen king to Hagen's Tree where Odin waited.
Odin knew of their quest, his ravens Hughin and Mughin having told him of what had come to pass. Allfather told the party that the King was indeed mortally wounded, and that their only chance to save him was to answer five riddles and find the next rune. The cunning questions were asked, and the party wracked their brains to answer them. Once they had succeeded, Odin said that the rune was to be found high in Hagen's tree, but that no one might touch the tree in an effort to retrieve it. Refusing to be outwitted, the party raised Rhianna high upon their shoulders, whereupon their tenacity earned them the Rune Tiwaz.
And so it was that they finally gathered at the sacred Well of Mimir. Glowing torches lit the smoky cave where the rushing waterfall fell. Thor waited within to tell the seekers what they must do. The Thunderer told the party that the Rune lay hidden within the Well, and that they might search, one at a time for the count of 30. Lord Stellerx tried first, desperately searching the rocks and beneath the water for the Rune. At his failure, Lady Saga came next, again in vain. Then Lady Skuld, to whom the future is like an open book, tried her luck, and discovered the Rune.
The rune directed the party to choose among it successful seekers two who would compete with enchanted blades for the right to call the ferryman and retrieve the Cup of Ymir.
Those who had found Runes assembled. They were Prince Fafnir, James, Lady Skuld, Sir Rudiger, Loveday, Squire Grendel, and Phillip. Among them it was chosen that Sir Rudiger would face Philip.
Though both warriors fought with all their might, Philip was the victor. He however chose Lord Stellerx to go with the boatman in his stead. Thus with three blows of the horn was the ferryman summoned across the Rhine, and Stellerx entered the vessel and slowly moved off to seek the Cup of Ymir.
Meanwhile those remaining on the shore of the Rhine were attacked. A gruesome undead being appeared and engaged Duke Heimdal in battle. Yet when the duke advanced, the creature disappeared.
The ladies Skuld and Saga began to travel together back to the place where the King was resting, when a vile undead creature arose from the ground and foully murdered Lady Skuld. Lady Saga raised a cry of alarm, and the rest of the party came quickly to their aid. Reviving Lady Skuld with the Dragon's Blood, they then engaged in a fierce battle with more undead. Most horribly, those that were slain by the monsters were turned into zombies, their corpses dishonored by being made to fight against their comrades. Among these zombies were James and another lady.
His Majesty King Siegfried was carried to Yggdrasil and guarded by Odin and Thor. Odin stood at Siegfried's head, while Thor placed the sacred battle hammer Mjollnir on Sigfried's chest, helping with their mystical power to keep the felled king's life from slipping away. The mighty battle raged on, but finally, all the evil foes were defeated. Stellerex returned bearing the Cup of Ymir. When it was touched to the King's lips, he awoke in confusion, and immediately asked what had happened. Upon learning the heroic tale, he praised Stellerx and Philip. Then Thor and Strllx performed an incantation to dispel the evil with blessed water from the Rhine. When it was poured upon the rotting corpse of the one remaining undead monster, the evil visage melted away, and they discovered that it was none other than Sir Hagen, who had been placed under an evil enchantment. The Dragon's Blood was quickly administered, all were healed, and the party was recovering and recounting tales of the evening's adventure when Helmrich awoke again. The mystical beast said that he foresaw that they would not be able to understand him for much longer, for the elixir's power of understanding animal speech was wearing off. He then had a vision of many lord and ladies drinking and feasting under a tent where there was much merriment and celebration. Thanking Helmrich, the Gods, Immortals, and the noble lords and ladies accompanied the rest of the party back to the Morganshire to fulfill his happy prophecy.
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