The Ageless Promise

After salvaging what they could from the remains of Mistreach, together with the wounded (Bjorn, Olso, Ivar and the dying Jarl), the PCs returned to the cave where they had left the non-combatants.

Olso and Bjorn finally told them what they knew about the relic, about their journey to Vigil, about how they sacrificed Eaudrik’s company of paladins, and about the other two relics. They know that the Key to the Moon is kept in Tian Xia, while they have no idea where the Crown of Shadows might be.

After Freya said goodbye to the convalescent Erik, the PCs decided to repair a drakkar and sail it to the city of Birka, to find passage to the continent, while the rest of the refugees would travel to Birka overland with a cart.

As soon as they arrived the PCs met the harbour master, Thimble, who took a liking to them. Then they went to the town hall, where they reported that an army of undead had destroyed their village, that the undead would probably reach Birka, and that the refugees were on their way too. The council would meet in three days, and they were advised to have the refugees camp outside the city, because there was no way to house them.

Thanks to one of Dahlia’s cakes they then met the eccentric gnome wizard Wilforth Shorthalt, who gave them a magic pendant able to shorten a sea voyage by a quarter.

They then bought a book to learn to read and speak Common, and finally they took advantage of Captain “Willy”’s desperation to get passage on his ship, and to be paid 500 gold coins on top of it.

This put them in a bad light with both the captain and Thimble, since the PCs haggled over the share of the profits without knowing, or caring, that the captains are merely employees.

To raise the 250 down payment the PCs demanded, Willy took on further debts, and things will not go well for him.

In the evening, back at the inn where they are staying, they were visited by a seagull carrying in its beak a stone marked with Eaudrik’s symbol.

The ship would sail the next day.

Throughout their stay in Birka the PCs had the impression of being constantly watched by Eaudrik.

NPCs

Bjorn, Ivar, Erik, Olso, Dahlia, Wilforth Shorthalt, Thimble, Sigrun