Kingdom of the blind:Thalweg Journal

Session 1

Dardek, Grymm, Jacobsen and 1 more. (DL, AM, NC, NM)

The convoy gathered in the early hours of the morning in the market square in Wullman. The clear sky and crisp morning were a promising sign for the caravan that was to set forth for the whaling port of Abbleton on the coast via the treacherous Ice River Trail. The wagons were heavily laden with the good the town was so famous for - precious minerals, rare ice pearls and mysterious heartwood, as well as the people that made it infamous. The ragtag expedition of wagoneers, guides and guards were lead by the grimm Tor but also played host to a bevvy of common folk, a pair of knights, a mute, a shifty looking individual, an odd couple and various other strange folk who paid their passage to leave Wullman. Stranger still were the steeds that pulled the modified wagons that ran wide spiked wheels but also carried stout wooden skis. A pygmy mammoth, pair of elk, and wooly horses were chosen for the task. This was not Tor's first expedition, but was it to be his last?

The caravan ventured forth from the foothills onto the icy tundra of the glacial valley that played host to the chillest winds known to mortal man. A few days of trekking brought them to the ice floes of Logjam River. The crossing was treacherous and was not without loss. One beast of burden perished in the event when an iceberg calved and dragged the poor creature into the crevasse. Not to waste anything, Dardek quickly carved up the elk. With one wagon stranded on the wrong side, the caravan had no choice but to separate and head to another known crossing, The Autumnford.

Blizzard storms swept in that afternoon and erased all sense of direction.

Session 2

Grymm and Larry (AM, CS)

Ever the practical ones, Grymm and Larry work to try and secure supplies and directions from the brothers of Gorm in order to get their caravan back on the road (and out of this weird temple). Larry tries to avoid becoming involved in an inter-factional war and instead revives a classic trick to swindle the brothers of four pounds of corn and some dried meat. The pair leave the rest of the party to finish the bizarre initiation rituals and descend further into the temple contemplating the reasons why the brothers of Gorm weren't willing to retrieve a cursed sword from the tomb of a fallen general themselves.

An encounter with some (possibly drunk) pixies with very short attention spans provides no further wisdom on the issue. Upon stumbling on a statue of a naked child with a sack of jewels Grymm suggest that they pull the wand that the statue clutches (Grymm chose to stand back, having already damaged a monument already and not willing to risk the ire of the owners). His hunch proves correct and the statue slides back to reveal a hidden passage.

The pair skulk into what looks like a place of worship (or a classroom) complete with astronomically accurate glow-in-the-dark stars and interrupt a sermon (or lecture). The silver masked rainbow robed acolytes quickly draw wands but their action is staved off by the Master. He engages in a discussion with them and offers them the chance to join the Order of Umisiris if they are willing to wage war on the brothers and the warrior maidens (??). The pair decline politely and try to hide their surprise when he casually suggests that they retrieve a sword for him (no mention of the curse this time). Larry thanks him with a hug in what he assumes must be the custom and pockets the Master's wand.

As quickly as he had taken the wand, Larry is eager to dispose of it and hides it under a loose stair, he shudders at what the rainbow priests may do once they catch up with them. The move deeper into the temple and step into a shirt corridor. The door closes behind them. A panel on the wall features 8 levers with strange runic design.

Session 3

Dardek and Larry (DL, CS)

Dardek and Larry continue on from where they left off in the 'lazy susan' room quickly discovering how it functions. Before preceding ahead they double back so that Larry can retrieve the wand he hid under the stairs. While Larry recalls the exact stair he hid it under they encounter a group of three dark cloaked figures with demon masks, the people swing censers and chant in a strange language urging the intruders to "BEGONE". Larry attempts to make peace with them but is overcome by the narcotics in the smoke. In a strange turn of events the pair find themselves lying on the ground in the corner of the room, Larry naked and a gaping hole blasted in the wall.

After regaining their composure and clothing, the pair head through the hole in the wall and find themselves in a wardrobe. Donning some very fancy rainbow robes and masks they enter the boudoir and determine that the guard wolf will only lick them. After some debate they steal a chest (with one key), set fire to the room and set off with the wolf in tow.

As they reach the penultimate room to their escape they encounter two brothers of GORM. They engage the pair and are able to slay one with a barrage of acid and hot lead, and drive the other off. A hastily fashioned winch allows them to lift the chest out, but not before the brother who fled returns with two companions. A pitched battle ensues in the temple entry with one of the brothers falling victim to a classic pit trap and another succumbing to a gout of acid from the wand and Larry's savage axe-work. They other is taken down by some savvy grappling (wrestling?) and a clumsy but brutal axe to the chest.

The pair escape the temple and free the stone that held the door, sealing it for... well who knows how long...