Of Shields, Stories, and Hammers

In the town of Agnoor on the east coast of Carufell, five members of the Nurmendemar and two Poi’Mareath wanderers, met in the longhouse. They were being sent on a mission to retrieve a relic of the Nurmendemar that had been sold to the King by the Order of the Burning Palm, a shield that had been brought into battle against the god Hlesmil. They met the Lorekeeper Morgar at his camp and he gave them further instructions. It took a couple weeks to get to Tarabrenth. Along the way they stayed in the ruins of an ancient tower, braved a blizzard, and fought White Badgers of Nezeril on the frozen Emerin River. Before the gates of Tarabrenth they met Luka. He showed them into the city and told them his plan for sneaking into the palace. They broke into the keep, stole the relic, and Willa and Alekiai ended up in a fight with Quinta Yon-Suk, the Chief Knight of Carufell. But in the end the Nurmendemar got their shield back.

Player Characters

 * Calvin: A young boy from Agnoor, seeking to prove himself to the Nurmendemar.
 * Staavin: A travelling Poi’Mareath scholar, searching Carufell for his history.
 * Tiihbid: A Poi’Mareath thief, and boyfriend of Staavin.
 * Valera: A former member of the Silver Circle, trying to find a new place in the Nurmendemar.
 * Willa: A young warrior with two axes and the Blinding Blight.

NPCs

 * Alekiai: A fearsome Nurmendmar warrior, recognizable by his large hammer.
 * Aspen: A local hunter and member of the Nurmendemar.
 * Luka: The spy of the Silver Circle, stationed in Tarabrenth.
 * Morgar: The Lore Keeper of the Nurmendemar, a well respected mage.

Summary
The town of Agnoor was built around two things. First the seaport, a small wooden dock with a few ships anchored, going nowhere in the winter freeze of AeP 447. It was, after all, the worst winter in living memory. The frost was both colder and crueler than in years past. Few animals walked the woods, and fewer people. Instead they were clustered near the second pillar of Agnoor. The longhouse, tavern of the Nurmendemar. This was the spot where five years ago a riot started and broke them free from the rule of the Order of the Burning Palm. This was where their leader Thèandìl helped her people find their lost heritage. This is where people were gathering now. The longhouse itself was made of dark wood and aged stone. Inside was a stretch of long tables with relics of eras past hung above them. Things such as shields, swords, and furs of monsters. But as many relics as there were, there were more missing from their place. In the center of it all, two people waited. They were waiting for the other five people who would come to help them retrieve one of these missing artifacts. The seven were going to Tarabrenth to steal back a shield from the king.

Part one
The longhouse was the unofficial headquarters of the Nurmendemar. It was filled with communal tables, tapestries, and relics on the walls. It was a collection of over a thousand years of history. The group assembled, introducing themselves. Alekiai and Aspen were leading the trip. Alekiai was a fighter who had lived in Tarabrenth until five years ago. Aspen was a hunter, they knew the woods like few others. Valera was a former member of the Silver Circle. She had fought against the Burning Palm five year ago. Calvin and Willa were both young members of the clan, sixteen and twenty two respectively. Then there was Staavin and Tiihbid, a travelling Poi’Mareath couple who wanted to make their way to Tarabrenth. The group spent some time in the longhouse making introductions.

Their first destination was the camp of Morgar the Lorekeeper. The trip to the camp took a rough few hours. In the summer months there was a path, but in the winter it was covered in snow and not well maintained. The condition of the camp was a contrast to the trail. It was made up of several small but sturdy wooden cabins built around a training area with a cave to the north side. There were about ten kids there in training. They were practicing with weapons, tanning deer hides, and cleaning the camp. A brown bear slept outside the cave, guarding a wooden door. One of the trainees called their arrival to the camp, and Morgar stepped out. The lorekeeper was almost as much a beast as the bear sleeping outside his door. He was an old man, in his sixties. His only greeting to the group was a nod and a growl seeming to invite them into the cave. The inside was dry and warm. Morgar didn’t offer the group anything but he began to talk about the relic they were going to retrieve. It was a shield that had long ago belonged to a Nurmendemar King named Sandamar. He had brought the shield into battle against Hlesmil, the Guardian of the Dawn. The shield was partially melted but Sandamar survived. During the time they had ruled Agnoor, the Order of the Burning Palm sold the shield to the crown. It now lay in a royal vault. To help them, a spy named Luka would meet them outside Tarabrenth. Despite his gruffness, Morgar also told them to be careful. After answering their questions, Morgar spoke with Aspen, Alekiai, and Willa. He asked them how they were. He had helped train all of them in some way. Calvin asked Morgar if after the trip he could study here. Morgar grunted, telling Calvin to speak with him when he returned. Calvin took it as a rejection.

The group left, trying to cover as much ground as they could. When they camped for the night, Aspen set up camp. Staavin, Tiihbid, and Calvin helped them. Alekiai, Willa, and Valera patrolled around camp to make sure it was safe. At camp that night, Alekiai spoke loudly to the others. Valera and the Poi’Mareath remained quiet. Alekiai began to tease Calvin, until Valera told him to stop. The routine continued for several days. They followed the Emerin River west. On the fourth day the winds began to pick up. The winter that year was harsh and winds meant a blizzard was on the way. They needed shelter. Just before they were going to make camp, they came across an old decrepit tower, probably abandoned in the War of Ascendance. The tower gave Alekiai and Valera a bad feeling. They decided to walk around it to inspect the area. The others entered, finding a decayed staircase in an empty room. Tiihbid climbed the stairs, following the path of Calvin’s bluebird Remin. The second floor had a rusted ladder leading to the roof, rotted wooden furniture, and an old iron knife. Tiihbid grabbed the knife and decided not to climb the ladder. He went back down and told the others it was safe. They camped there for the night, but Alekiai and Valera couldn’t shake their feeling. Valera in particular was distressed she couldn't see the stars. Both were glad to leave.

Only a few hours after leaving the tower, the wind became a blizzard. People could barely see five feet. The storm was so sudden they didn’t have time to seek shelter. The longer it blew, the more separated the group became. Those close together formed up. But the people in the front of the line were getting farther away. Tiihbid thought quickly. Using his innate magic he produced a burst of wind away from himself. The winds flew out clearing a circle around him for a few moments. He was able to get the attention of everyone but Aspen, who was just out of range. As everyone else grouped up, Valera ran forward to get them. Everyone else ran to a nearby snowbank. Calvin put together a windbreak out of sticks, rope, and a blanket. Valera caught up with Aspen but was once again lost in the flurry. Willa put on her glare blinders and ran out to grab them. She led the group back to the small shelter. The seven weathered the storm there. It was cold and unpleasant, but safe enough.

After another two weeks of travel through the harsh wilds of Carufell, the group came to the bank of the Emerin River. They needed to cross it to get to Tarabrenth. The frozen river was a few hundred feet wide, but they weren’t sure how stable it would be. Using rope they tied themselves together, stepping out one at a time. When the first person was about halfway across, Aspen called out. Their ferret Track, was uneasy. Aspen had learned to trust Track’s instincts. The air seemed to be colder than it had been moments ago. Alekiai broke the silence ''“Though the storms around us were tepid, the snows that month were as cold and deep as if we were in the far North. And they hid a great many horrors”'' It was a quote from the Books of the Moth. Suddenly two White Badgers erupted from the snow. One attacked Willa, the other went for Valera. Staavin and Aspen ran from the shore, firing arrows at the badgers. Alekiai and Willa went toe to toe with the badgers. Valera’s wounds forced her to retreat, but she organized everyone as she ran. Tiihbid fought the badger that had attacked Valera. He pulled out the knife from the tower and stabbed the monster. The blade was made of Threnish Iron, designed to kill monsters. Willa joined the assault and together they killed the badger. Meanwhile Staavin used his innate magic to attack the ice beneath the other badger. The ice cracked and Alekiai struck it with his hammer. The blow shattered the ice plunging the badger into the river. The group grabbed the one on the surface as a trophy and made their way to the other side. Aspen patched up Valera. They were worried about more badgers coming. It was a bad omen, monsters of Nezeril roaming this far north.

Part two
The roads became busier as the group approached Tarabrenth. Even though the winter was harsh, farmers and traders still made their way to the city. At long last, the group made it to the capital. Remember the instructions Morgar had given them weeks ago, they found their way to the South of the city on the edge of the woods and the farms. Sitting on a rock, right where he was supposed to be, was a man in a grey coat. He was tossing a knife in the air and he turned to them with a smile. He was Luka, spy of the Nurmendemar. Luka introduced himself, shaking hands with everybody. Valera had met him before, only briefly. He had been part of the Silver Circle and led the final attack on Hundred’s Keep, which Valera had participated in. He gave her a smile and led them into the city. Luka began casually chatting with the others, asking about their trip, complaining about neighbors and politicians, and giving local gossip. The Hand was upset about recent tax increases, and the barons were asking the King how he planned to deal with the winter. Luka didn’t go into any details. The city itself was dirty and rundown. The wall was well kept and maintained, but the inside was full of dirty snow and decrepit buildings. Luka explained to them that only two thirds of the city was occupied. There were more buildings than needed here, and of course everyone had heard the stories of the tunnels below.

Eventually as they go deeper into town, Luka stopped at a door. He explained that this was the home of his friend Cara, who had graciously agreed to house them. He knocked and Cara opened the door, greeting the group with a hot meal. She showed them to their rooms. After everyone was settled in, they gathered around the kitchen table and Luka explained the plan. He had obtained a map of parts of the upper layer of the tunnels. A map that could lead them to the castle's secret door in the tunnels. Once they got there, the group would be on their own and they still needed a key and directions to the vaults. However Luka had arranged a meeting with a Winter’s Hand captain, who could sell them a key. Her name was Ritaak and she happened to be Alekiai’s former commander. There was also a man named Geril who was a former member of the Silver Circle, now a merchant. He did business with the crown and could provide them directions. The  group split up. Alekiai and Willa went to meet with Ritaak. Valera and Luka went to meet with Geril. Staavin and Tiihbid went to find more information about current events. Aspen and Calvin went to the markets to purchase additional supplies.

The two Poi’Mareath made their way to the part of Tarabrenth closer to the castle and parliament house. They quickly realized they would stand out any place they went. Their clothes were dirty and torn after spending weeks in the woods. To fix this they decided to steal some new clothes. Tiihbid snuck into a nicer looking house while Staavin distracted the butler at the door. With their new outfits, they sat down in a bar called the Golden Chandelier and listened. It turned out the king was away in the South for the winter. Security would be more lax, but he had left his Chief Knight, Quinta Yon-Suk behind. Meanwhile Luka and Valera went off to a seedier bar. They had arranged for Geril to meet them there. As they waited they discussed their lives in the last five years. Both Luka and Valera had been happy when they beat the Order of the Burning Palm. But since then both had felt sidelined next to the Nurmendmar. Even though they were supposed to be equal, Valera felt that the Circle and the worship of Selviir had been diminished. Luka meanwhile was more happy in Tarabrenth. He still believed in Thèandìl and wanted to follow her. But he was glad to do so in the capital city where he could relay information without getting caught up in internal politics. To Valera that sounded perfect. The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Geril. He was upset. Geril had moved on from the Circle and chided the others for hanging on. He was reluctant to betray the king and potentially lose his contract. However Valera assured him no one would know he helped them and he would be getting a generous payment. After Luka handed over the money Geril told them “Enter, two lefts, past the seconds kitchen, under the mural of bear, past the door, one right, then the second door on the left.” Then he stood up and left.

Nearby Alekiai and Willa were going to meet with Ritaak. The two also took time to converse. They were both glad to go on this mission and glad to put their skills to use. However Willa had an ulterior motive. She was suffering from Blinding Blight. Morgar had been able to help soothe the pain, but he had not been able to provide a cure. But he had said long ago the clan knew of one. Willa had been hoping to find it in Tarabrenth. Alekiai, distressed at seeing a warrior be taken down with sickness, promised to help her. They entered the part of the city called Mercenary Town and found Ritaak. She was an older Poi’Mareath. She wore no uniform but had a sharp haircut and neat armor. She smiled, glad to see Alekiai again. Ritaak asked after his family and gave them the key and made them promise not to hurt any Hand members. They agreed and she promised to have the Hand stay away tomorrow. Before she left she told Alekiai “you know if you stayed you would have made captain by now”

Meanwhile Calvin and Aspen were out looking for extra supplied. Calvin wanted to see what was available and Aspen was protecting him. While shopping Calvin began to express his worries. He was dismayed at Morgar’s apparent dismissal and worried he would never get to study with the Lorekeeper or anyone else. He wanted to be like the kids at the Lorekeepers camp. Aspen’s only response was to remind Calvin that he was out here on this trip and they were at school. Calvin saw the logic in that and was reinvigorated. They returned to Cara’s house and found the others. Cara was measuring them for their disguises.

The next morning they donned their outfits and entered the tunnels. Luka lit a torch and walked them through the wet, narrow hallways. It was dark and cold and people said little. It was clear why so many horror stories were told about the tunnels. After maybe an hour, Luka stopped. In a whisper he told them that around the corner was a long hallway that led to the castle. Tiihbid peeked around and saw four guards at the end. That left the problem of how to subdue the guards without them raising the alarm. Valera stepped out in the open and called out rudely to the guards. She then stepped back around. When the four ran out and turned the corner they were immediately taken down by Willa, Alekiai, Tiihbid, and Aspen. Just before Tiihbid could kill his guard, Alekiai stopped him insisting that they be left alive. Luka promised to tie them up while the others entered. He said his goodbyes. There was still one issue. The directions they had were from the front door, not this one. They either needed to find the entrance or find a short cut. While they were discussing what to do, Staavin picked up a sword from one of the fallen guards. Using a technique he had always known, he spoke with the sword. It was not so much a conversation as a flash of images, memories the weapon carried. Staavin put down the blade. He knew how to get to the bear mural.

The group rushed through the castle, their disguises drawing looks but not questions. Tiihbid was disguised as a jester and he was sufficiently annoying that he warded people off. They found the bear mural, and from there the vaults. The door was guarded by two more soldiers. True to her word, Ritaak had cleared out all the Winter’s Hand. Moving quickly they subdued the guards. This time Tiihbid didn’t hesitate to plunge his knife into the guards stomach. Much to Alekiai’s distress, the guard died. The door was also locked. Willa quickly broke it down, then went to help Alekiai hide the body.

Inside the room was full of relics and valuables. The shield was in the back, mounted on the wall. It was ornate and large, and half melted. Sandamar’s shield was a masterwork ruined by a dead deity. The Value was clear. Calvin walked up almost reverently and began to lift it. Something clicked. Calvin froze worried he set off a trap. Valera ran up to help while the others stood guard outside. She picked up something heavy and while Calvin lifted the shield, she slid the object over the mount. They froze for a minute to see if they set off the trap. But it seemed safe. With the shield in hand, the five fled. Tiihbid led the way ringing a bell yelling “make way”

Meanwhile Alekiai and Willa found a closet where they stuff the body. As they were leaving they saw Quinta, the Chief Knight approaching with two soldiers behind her. Alekiao and Willa froze, pretending to guard the door. They hoped Quinta would walk past but she stopped. She took a look at their uniforms and demanded to know why they were guarding a supply closet. “Isn’t this the vault?” Willa replied. Annoyed, Quinta led them to the real vault, where she saw the unciousn guard and a blood pool. The Nurmendedamer moved fast. Alekiai went for the guards,and Willa went for Quinta. Right before entering, Willa had consumed Berseker’s Brew and she was itching for a fight. She slammed into Quinta and brushed off an attack. Alekiai knocked over the other guards, and helped Willa trip Quinta. Then in a burst of rage Willa swung down her twin axes, chopping off Quinta’s ankles. The knight screamed and her soldiers scrambled to help her. Knowing more guards would come, Alekiai and Willa fled, escaping into the tunnels.