We found ourselves in possession of Abigail’s hand, and the claw-like gauntlet that contained it. As we gazed upon it while pondering the significance of slicing off a vampire’s hand, the hand itself began to dissipate in a sulfurous mist. Presently, the hand completely disappeared, though it left behind the gauntlet, intact and seeming to smoke as the hand dissolved.

We gave Heimdell’s crowns to Harald and Maeve. Menka returned the holy symbol of Odin to Harald’s curate, Olaf Iverson.

Kyril

• 2 vials of holy water
• Oil of Fiery Burning

Cathal

• Gamred the Golden (+3 two-handed sword, double-damage vs clerics in case Menka gets mouthy, plus user can Detect Magic and Remove Fear 30’ radius 1x/day)

Harald and Ninax, Menka and Cathal discussed the orcish incursions . Cragenheim will be levying troops from the surrounding area in the near future. Priest and knight assured them we would be back through at some point.

Menka, Cathal and Seamus planned to travel to the Hall of Seven Pillars the following morning. Ninax offered to ride with us to the block house. With the cessation of the frigid, lingering winter the road to Westkeep was re-opened, though only a well-protected caravan dare make the journey.

Auntie T. flew with Kyril, accompanying him on his journey to meet with Brann mac Thorn. The archdruid of this region appeared to be equal parts human and plant matter and, as he spoke, there were long pauses in communication. Brann informed Kyril that this would be the last time he could help Kyril gain a level. From here forward he must work with the Great Druid directly.

Since Flint was not leveling-up, he killed time in Markheim at the Diamond Spider Tavern, drinking ale and ‘assisting’ the dancers (i.e. attractive thieves wearing translucent silks) there with robbery of certain customers (“marks”), most of whom were out-of-towners passing through on caravans, merchants or farmers selling their goods in Markheim.

The Diamond Spider was, as you know, the local Thieves’ Guild in Markheim, headed by the owner/proprietor, Spider Braz, and the retinue of dancers, bouncers and barmaids, all of whom were guildmembers, or at least non-thieves in the know and on the payroll. There was a complex system regarding who called be “rolled” and who should be left alone, and Flint neither fully understood nor got involved in that.

Since Gonchar was not leveling-up, he passed the time between adventures by volunteering to ride with the Castellan’s men on patrols of the region around Markheim and Ninax’s Blockhouse. He was given a small-ish pony of surprisingly-surpassing speed (“Mala”), and was told by the men he would be riding with to get used to the horse for a day or two, for they must ride swiftly. Gonchar got used to the pony for a day or two, and the animal was smart and fast, and Gonchar - a below-average rider at best - was soon able to ride well and with speed with only two days of getting used to Mala. He was also fitted for lighter chain mail armor, as he was told that plate would not work for the kind of riding they’d be doing.

At the Temple of Thoth, Father Malai had described the Hall of Gods to Menka and stated that it would be a good idea to show proper veneration to the gods if we entered that sacred hall. Father Yuyu had described the prayers and intonations for proper sacrifice and veneration to Osiris for this purpose and Menka made note of it (see 5.6.6).

With the portal below the tower closed and danger at least temporarily averted, Creel advised the party that he had sent messages out to his fellow 8 wizards (of ‘The Nine’) asking for assistance. While the party bivouacked at the tower, some of this aid arrived.

Osgoth Map Key#

Note to players: this is a map of the ‘known world’. The major regions are denoted by numbers, with descriptions of each set forth below. Each region is summarized in terms of political situations, rulers, gods, terrain and some description of note to adventurers. It is all ‘common knowledge’ a resident of Osgoth such as yourselves would know. Only major cities are noted (and described below) - no cities are named on the map, because an 8x12 piece of paper didn’t allow room. Major geographical features (large mountain ranges, hilled areas, forests (temperate and pine), large lakes, huge swamps, major deserts/steppes, significant islands and the largest rivers) are noted. This is not to say that ‘clear’ areas on the map do not include smaller forests, mountain/hill regions, lakes, ponds, smaller rivers, swamps or other terrain. Only the major areas are noted. Further, countless smaller keeps, cities, towns and villages exist throughout the continent, and none are noted on this map.

Ronan MacHood was a well-known figure in Hibernia. MacHood was known as a warrior of note, well-known for his skill with the bow, and even as a young man the bards sung of his feats in the wars against the giants of the north of Hibernia, and it is said his sword and arrows helped defeat the Giant-king O’Grummach, and sent he and his brutes howling back into the mountains and caverns to the north.