Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Muddled Pasts - Pathfinder 3.5
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Kassegore" data-source="post: 5470876" data-attributes="member: 94081"><p><strong>Interlude: Ritual of Atonement</strong></p><p></p><p>((OOC: So I had Kat run through the attunement ritual for her sword Hadarga. I figured I’d do it away from the table to save us all some time on Monday’s session. So herein lies that account. Oh and yes, Kat actually did roll a 20 on the third attack when she went beserk. I couldn’t have asked for better timing on that 20. ))</p><p></p><p></p><p> It was a brisk October morning as Tofa and Grezz set out from Magnidaar. A cold wind swept off the Varisian Gulf as the pair rode along the coastal road toward Sandport. No bandits interfered with their progress, perhaps it was the close proximity of Magnidaar, or perhaps the fact that accosting two heavily armed strangers is usually hazardous to one’s health. In any event, they reached the sea cliffs of Whitewall just before dark, and struck camp in a sheltered hollow. </p><p></p><p>As the morning sun broke the horizon, Tofa and Grezz had already struck camp, and they began the arduous climb to the top of the cliffs. Tofa crawled her way up the steep slopes, seeking handholds among the weathered stone. Grezz, not trusting his grip in the sea spray, muttered a quick incantation, and slowly rose to the top of the cliff. Once there, Tofa went about clearing a scenic spot on the bare stone which overlooked the Gulf. Under Grezz’s instruction, she took a hammer and chisels and painstakingly carved a large sihidron rune into the chalky cliff, and adorned each of the seven points with an oxtallow candle. When finished, Tofa drew Hadarga and sat in the center of the rune, the blade across her lap. Grezz sat nearby, watching the ritual, and making notations in his worn diary. Tofa quaffed a mug of the blessed hoarflower mead, and began to chant the mystic phrase gleaned from the tales of old. Slowly, her mind focusing inward, she slipped into a trance.</p><p></p><p>Tofa found herself standing naked on a long cold beach, the longsword Hadarga in her right hand. The beach was a desolate expanse of black sand covered by rotting seaweed, and the smell of rotten fish pervaded the air. Inland, the shore gave way to thick conifers, their dark green boughs undulating steadily in the damp sea breeze. Suddenly from behind Tofa, a deep rhythmic voice boomed across the wastes.</p><p></p><p> “<em>I am Hadarga Heregos. Bonebreaker. Marrowdrinker. Jotenslayer. Who are you to stand before me?</em>”</p><p></p><p>Tofa spun around, her sword held ready. Behind her, knee deep in the surf stood a veritable colossus. The huge figure was easily 40’ tall, with thick perversely twisted legs and an obscenely muscular frame. His head was small, looking very strange compared to his hulking body. Two tiny, pure white eyes looked out from above a massive white beard, woven with the skulls of kings and defeated champions. Tofa, to her credit, stood her ground, rendered momentarily speechless by the appearance of the titan. </p><p></p><p>Again the creature spoke: “<em>Well it appears a mouse has entered my kingdom, who are you to stand here before me?</em>”</p><p></p><p>This time Tofa found her tongue, and standing straight and proud declared “<em>I am Tofa Thryndottir, of House Hrafn</em>!!”</p><p></p><p>The Titan stared down at Tofa, his beady eyes appraising her for the first time. “<em>You are the one who Slew Njal Bloodaxe, a small and weak king was he. I do not believe you are worthy of me</em>”.</p><p></p><p>Tofa started back at the giant, “<em>You thought he was weak, yet here you are, trapped within a blade that I heard was made of your own bones. If you are are so strong, why are you still here? And where is ‘here’?</em>”</p><p></p><p>“T<em>hat is of no consequence!</em>”roared the hulking creature.</p><p></p><p>“<em>What is of consequence is that you find me unworthy. Worth must be proven and earned, just as respect must be. What would you have me do to prove my worth then? What task would you set before me? I may not be worthy now, but I can become so.</em>” Tofa replied calmly.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Tasks? Words?</em>” the titan snapped, “<em>You chose to sway me with words? You squawk like a raven! The southlands have made you soft! No? Am I wrong? Then prove it little one. Show me that the blood of the Hrafn has not become as weak as watered wine</em>!”</p><p></p><p>With that Heregos swung a massive open palm toward Tofa, but quick as a snake she ducked under the blow and struck a reply with Hadarga. The sword hit huge fingers but failed to penetrate the thick hide. </p><p></p><p>Heregos struck again, his backhand slamming into the barbarian and throwing her back like a rag doll. Even as the blow struck her, Tofa reversed her grip and hewed two-handed at the tree trunk wrist, but again the blade barely scratched the terrible creature. Picking herself up,Tofa spat out a mouthful of sand, and braced for the next onslaught</p><p></p><p>The titan roared, “<em>Not good enough! Is this all you are? Is this all you have to offer me? I, who have stood in the right hand of kings, shall not bow to one so weak</em>!"</p><p></p><p>With that Heregos’s threw his weight into the next blow; his hand shot forward, this time balled into a gnarled fist. Tofa was ready for it. As the fist came crashing down, she dove to the side and spun. Rage filled her vision and screaming she lunged, putting all her power into one mighty blow. Driven by all her might, the sword bit deep, and Tofa pushed the blade clean through the titan’s hand. </p><p></p><p>The descending hammer blow never fell. The fist stopped a foot above her head, the ichor of the monster pouring down her unprotected arms. The beast’s eyes narrowed, and it withdrew the hand. “<em>Now I begin to see. The fires of your ancestors do still flow in your veins</em>.” </p><p></p><p>The Titan Heregos turned and gazed out over the dead realm. “<em>Long have I been away from the northlands. My realm has grown warm. I crave the biting cold of a glacier’s heart once more. Give me this and I shall grant you my inexorable strength</em>”.</p><p></p><p>“<em>The scions of my hated foes still walk the land. I long to taste their warm blood, to bite their flesh, and crack their bones. Give me the still beating heart from a true son of Kostchtchie, and I will grant you my wrath</em>”.</p><p></p><p>“<em>I despise cowards and weaklings. Long have I traveled the mortal realm. I have given my strength to great kings, mighty heroes, terrible villains, and powerful champions, and through them I have seen what true strength can achieve. Only through mighty deeds of boldness and courage shall you prove your worth to me. Let the skalds sing of your true mettle until history ends. Only then, after you have given me everything you were, everything you are, everything you could be, will I grant you my soul</em>”.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Do these things and I shall be pleased. We will talk once more</em>”. </p><p></p><p>And with that the world began to dim, and Tofa found herself sprawled on the ground, once again in the world of the living. Grezz was standing over her, violently shaking her shoulder. The sun had set, all the candles had all burned out, and the only light which could be seen came from a softly glowing blue rune on Tofa’s wrist, where the Titan’s blood had made its trail.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Kassegore, post: 5470876, member: 94081"] [b]Interlude: Ritual of Atonement[/b] ((OOC: So I had Kat run through the attunement ritual for her sword Hadarga. I figured I’d do it away from the table to save us all some time on Monday’s session. So herein lies that account. Oh and yes, Kat actually did roll a 20 on the third attack when she went beserk. I couldn’t have asked for better timing on that 20. )) It was a brisk October morning as Tofa and Grezz set out from Magnidaar. A cold wind swept off the Varisian Gulf as the pair rode along the coastal road toward Sandport. No bandits interfered with their progress, perhaps it was the close proximity of Magnidaar, or perhaps the fact that accosting two heavily armed strangers is usually hazardous to one’s health. In any event, they reached the sea cliffs of Whitewall just before dark, and struck camp in a sheltered hollow. As the morning sun broke the horizon, Tofa and Grezz had already struck camp, and they began the arduous climb to the top of the cliffs. Tofa crawled her way up the steep slopes, seeking handholds among the weathered stone. Grezz, not trusting his grip in the sea spray, muttered a quick incantation, and slowly rose to the top of the cliff. Once there, Tofa went about clearing a scenic spot on the bare stone which overlooked the Gulf. Under Grezz’s instruction, she took a hammer and chisels and painstakingly carved a large sihidron rune into the chalky cliff, and adorned each of the seven points with an oxtallow candle. When finished, Tofa drew Hadarga and sat in the center of the rune, the blade across her lap. Grezz sat nearby, watching the ritual, and making notations in his worn diary. Tofa quaffed a mug of the blessed hoarflower mead, and began to chant the mystic phrase gleaned from the tales of old. Slowly, her mind focusing inward, she slipped into a trance. Tofa found herself standing naked on a long cold beach, the longsword Hadarga in her right hand. The beach was a desolate expanse of black sand covered by rotting seaweed, and the smell of rotten fish pervaded the air. Inland, the shore gave way to thick conifers, their dark green boughs undulating steadily in the damp sea breeze. Suddenly from behind Tofa, a deep rhythmic voice boomed across the wastes. “[I]I am Hadarga Heregos. Bonebreaker. Marrowdrinker. Jotenslayer. Who are you to stand before me?[/I]” Tofa spun around, her sword held ready. Behind her, knee deep in the surf stood a veritable colossus. The huge figure was easily 40’ tall, with thick perversely twisted legs and an obscenely muscular frame. His head was small, looking very strange compared to his hulking body. Two tiny, pure white eyes looked out from above a massive white beard, woven with the skulls of kings and defeated champions. Tofa, to her credit, stood her ground, rendered momentarily speechless by the appearance of the titan. Again the creature spoke: “[I]Well it appears a mouse has entered my kingdom, who are you to stand here before me?[/I]” This time Tofa found her tongue, and standing straight and proud declared “[I]I am Tofa Thryndottir, of House Hrafn[/I]!!” The Titan stared down at Tofa, his beady eyes appraising her for the first time. “[I]You are the one who Slew Njal Bloodaxe, a small and weak king was he. I do not believe you are worthy of me[/I]”. Tofa started back at the giant, “[I]You thought he was weak, yet here you are, trapped within a blade that I heard was made of your own bones. If you are are so strong, why are you still here? And where is ‘here’?[/I]” “T[I]hat is of no consequence![/I]”roared the hulking creature. “[I]What is of consequence is that you find me unworthy. Worth must be proven and earned, just as respect must be. What would you have me do to prove my worth then? What task would you set before me? I may not be worthy now, but I can become so.[/I]” Tofa replied calmly. “[I]Tasks? Words?[/I]” the titan snapped, “[I]You chose to sway me with words? You squawk like a raven! The southlands have made you soft! No? Am I wrong? Then prove it little one. Show me that the blood of the Hrafn has not become as weak as watered wine[/I]!” With that Heregos swung a massive open palm toward Tofa, but quick as a snake she ducked under the blow and struck a reply with Hadarga. The sword hit huge fingers but failed to penetrate the thick hide. Heregos struck again, his backhand slamming into the barbarian and throwing her back like a rag doll. Even as the blow struck her, Tofa reversed her grip and hewed two-handed at the tree trunk wrist, but again the blade barely scratched the terrible creature. Picking herself up,Tofa spat out a mouthful of sand, and braced for the next onslaught The titan roared, “[I]Not good enough! Is this all you are? Is this all you have to offer me? I, who have stood in the right hand of kings, shall not bow to one so weak[/I]!" With that Heregos’s threw his weight into the next blow; his hand shot forward, this time balled into a gnarled fist. Tofa was ready for it. As the fist came crashing down, she dove to the side and spun. Rage filled her vision and screaming she lunged, putting all her power into one mighty blow. Driven by all her might, the sword bit deep, and Tofa pushed the blade clean through the titan’s hand. The descending hammer blow never fell. The fist stopped a foot above her head, the ichor of the monster pouring down her unprotected arms. The beast’s eyes narrowed, and it withdrew the hand. “[I]Now I begin to see. The fires of your ancestors do still flow in your veins[/I].” The Titan Heregos turned and gazed out over the dead realm. “[I]Long have I been away from the northlands. My realm has grown warm. I crave the biting cold of a glacier’s heart once more. Give me this and I shall grant you my inexorable strength[/I]”. “[I]The scions of my hated foes still walk the land. I long to taste their warm blood, to bite their flesh, and crack their bones. Give me the still beating heart from a true son of Kostchtchie, and I will grant you my wrath[/I]”. “[I]I despise cowards and weaklings. Long have I traveled the mortal realm. I have given my strength to great kings, mighty heroes, terrible villains, and powerful champions, and through them I have seen what true strength can achieve. Only through mighty deeds of boldness and courage shall you prove your worth to me. Let the skalds sing of your true mettle until history ends. Only then, after you have given me everything you were, everything you are, everything you could be, will I grant you my soul[/I]”. “[I]Do these things and I shall be pleased. We will talk once more[/I]”. And with that the world began to dim, and Tofa found herself sprawled on the ground, once again in the world of the living. Grezz was standing over her, violently shaking her shoulder. The sun had set, all the candles had all burned out, and the only light which could be seen came from a softly glowing blue rune on Tofa’s wrist, where the Titan’s blood had made its trail. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Muddled Pasts - Pathfinder 3.5
Top