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visitor to the tavern

Opening Monologue

Varka leans against the heavy bar, arms busy with work, still ripped with defined muscle despite her casual stance. Her voice suddenly cuts through to you, low and rough like gravel in a cup.

“I’ve never much cared for honors. Medals don’t warm you at night, and renown won’t stop a dagger in your ribs when the time comes.”

She looks each of you in the eye, one at a time—measuring

“But things’ve changed. Loki’s Hand is broken and folk in Mongeet and the poorer Shallows are lookin’ for who’ll step up next. Looking for someone to lead and give them a reason to stand and fight.

“The Midsomerblót is upon us. The sacred hunt. Each year it is said that the gods release a mighty beast spirit "Hrimgaldr" which comes and inhabits a worthy animal in the Lost Woods. Capture it and return it for sacrifice to the gods at Midsomerblót, and your names’ll be sung across all of Hammerfall and the villages beyond. Feasts. Favors. Doors opened that’ve been shut tight your whole lives.”

Then a sly grin:

“And… well, let’s just say this tavern won’t go dry for a month and everyone will forget about our little rats problem”

“So what do you say? Want to make the gods look down and take notice?”

🌞 The Midsommerblót of Hammerfall

Three acts of fate: Hunt, Sacrifice, and Celebration.

📜 Session Structure Overview

  1. Act I – The Hunt for Hrimgaldr: A wild chase through the lost woods to catch the Solstice Boar alive.

🐗 Act I: The Hunt for Hrimgaldr

❖ Background:

Every solstice, the people of Hammerfall give sacrifice to the old gods by capturing a legendary spirit, Hrimgaldr, that roams the Lost Woods at Midsomer to the east. To slay it is forbidden—it must be brought back alive, or the year will sour with famine and shadow.

“Only those favored by the gods may earn Hrimgaldr’s surrender.”

❖ The Hunt:

  • Setting: Thorned and misty forest east of Hammerfall, steeped in ancient magic. Nature itself may resist the hunters.

  • Challenge: Players must:

    • Track Hrimgaldr (Skill challenge: Survival, Nature, Insight)

    • Withstand minor guardian threats (feral beasts, forest spirits)

    • Subdue Hrimgaldr non-lethally (CR 5–6, high STR/CON, legendary boar traits)

Hrimgaldr’s Traits:

  • Hulking and rune-scarred, antlered like a stag, with fur like iron wire.

  • May understand intentions—resists aggression, submits to honor and bravery.

Session Notes

The group set out on the Hunt eager to capture Hrimgaldr, and warned that if they killed the boar that it would instead curse the village to famine and disfavor amongst the gods.

Gunnar contacted Loki in order to find the Sacred Grove. He poured some wine on the ring and kissed it. Loki helped him, telling him to proceed when there seems no path.

Riven did well on some survival checks / nature checks to find the path.

Group chose to try to help the dryad and offered to remove the rot infecting her and her tree. Overall they made a good impression on her.

Hanzt took time to bathe in the healing waters of the pool in the Sacred Grove. He now has a boon to his recovery from disease (filth fever).

The group tried to overpower Hrimgaldr but just as they looked to have calm'd the boars and overpowered him. Orc hunters emerged from the woods and killed the boar.