Plantmonth 12th, 289 or the 29th age, 3 PM. 202 years in our past. We had taken the tour of Remembrance Overlook, getting a feel for it. We had come back to the House of Silk and Smoke where Cargalane hooked us up with Dinner. The thought was that we would want to go and see if we can get an audience with the Speaker of the Sun. There were things we wanted to feel out., So we concocted different ideas and scenarios that would not only entice the Speaker, but also have him grant us access to the Crater.
The matter was taken out of our hand when 25 hours after we arrived in Tilani, the Speaker had sent a herald from the palace to fetch: Wilhelm, Asher, and Nathaniel. We agreed, changed into our finest, and the three of them went to the palace. 6 stories tall, majestic in size and grandeur. Alabaster white and yellow, bathed in sunshine from the Prism that constantly focused the sun’s rays upon it.
The Herald was waiting and eventually led us through the wondrous palace, to the 2nd floor, and eventually to an art nouveau decorated smoking chamber. Three elves were here, each one was older than the next. The first was in his 60’s (if he was human – making him in his late 400’s). Grey elven, silvered gold hair, oversized symbol to Frey on his chest. This was the Most Beloved of Frey – Scortine Honeywine. The next was in his 70’s or so, ageless in his look. The Hierophant Druid, Valerion Silvereyed, Druidic leader of the Vael’Thanar. The last was venerable and looked to be in his 80’s (over 600 years of age). Translucent skin, older than anything. Glasslike visage. Logari Simuscene – the Speaker of the Sun.
They asked some questions of the group and it was obvious that the Vael’Thanar (and others in town) had reported our travels so far to date and what we were doing here, who we spoke to, and what we seemed to be interested in. They talked about their home, Aelfheim is a place of wonder and beauty and light, ruled over by Frey of the Vanir.
When the great dragons came to Midgard to seek riches and power after Ymir’s falling, the various races came here as well to stop the Wyrms from growing too strong. Losing their way home as the gates fell one by one. The thought was though the elven Lifetrees, grow their roots not only here in Midgard, but also back to Aelfheim – and as long as it stands – they can eventually make their way home.
Right now, fuck the dwarves. Fuck them hard. Whatever weird shit they have cooked up has shook the land and turned the southern sky to black fire for 2 days. They are like dangerous children playing with war machines. In fact the palace collects the piss pots and when they get a barrel full, the Speaker laughed about it that he has one of his mages cast Metamorphosis liquid on it, changing it to a stout beer they call “Long Ear Stout” and they supply to Stuntietown. It makes them feel good that the dwarves are drinking their piss.
The elven race here is a race in decline. There are other elven enclaves around Midgard, and maybe they have done better but they are all separated and who knows anymore. Frey and Freya have always been big on fertility so the idea of half breeds is ok in theory, but to the SOS, it’s just the last gasp – another proof of how far their people have come that in order to keep any of the elven race alive, they have to water their blood. The Most Beloved of Frey was damaged after the fall of the Lifetree, Frey stroke a bolt of lightning down, infusing the elf with his divine power but scrambling his brain. He was focused and simple, but dangerous in his questions.
Scortine is big on saying 12, 9, 3, and 1 (12 gods, 9 realms, 3 races (Aesir, Vanir, Asgardians), 1 life tree).
No, they cannot go to the crater. Only Scortine goes and that’s to do every 2 month or so soil and moisture checks. Valarian is aghast at the idea of it and decrees that no one has trod upon that ground for over 250 years. So whatever they think they need to do, it’s not going to happen. The entire place was sealed up and the counter runes to negate the ward are stored at the overlook under glass and key. Sorry but in this case, there is nothing the SOS can do for them and eventually they are wished well.
We all reconvened and discussed what we learned. We wanted another chance to maybe check out the tour again. Also there was the runes there, the words Frey had said when the tree fell under glass. Wanted to check them out.
Plantmonth the 13th, awoke early, ate breakfast (each of us was gaining weight, prompting Darius and Connal to pay more attention to their calorie intake as well as exercising. We got on the tour early and took a more serious interest in how Remembrance Overlook was laid out as well as the people here.
The walled path display was composed of 3 long winding “S” turns. There were flowers, bushes, trees, statues, walls, busts, and other objects and artifacts from that day as well as the years to follow. Every 80 paces or so were guides who could answer questions or just watch the people visiting. The feeling was they were all druids or druid adjacent.
After a bit of walking and slow incline, the tour then extends over the Crater at a height of 75’ feet, fenced so no one can step off or fall down (most likely runes or counterspells to prevent anyone from getting down there. We could see the black prism shell as well as the crater below. From here, the path turned and ran along the side of the walls, dropping down through slopes and stairs to about 15’ below ground level. It turned again and here was a shrine to Frey, 3 druids at least, and the stone that blocks off the Crater.
The stone is 10’ diameter, 4’ thick, and had to weigh 13 tons. Just before it were a series of strange looking runes, supposedly the very words that Frey said after the Lifetree fell, burned into the very rock. A 2” pane of glass was stationed in front of it, preventing anyone from getting a rubbing of the runes.
Shim, Godrick, and Nate had some forgery skill (or at least drawing), so they took the time to study the strange runes. The druids answered questions and at one point, Wilhelm tried to see if they were magic. The runes were not – like not the stones. The actually words themself were.
Past here was a gift shop where you can get small trees, carved animals, homespun, and even some “hanging dwarves” – crude looking dwarves with nooses around their necks on a stick. We bought a few.
We went back to the Hotel and asked Cargalane for some paper, ink, graphite sticks, and quills. Then the 3 of them went to the room and tried to copy the runes – specifically – the 12th, 9th, 3rd, and 1st – as per The Most Beloved of Frey’s oft repeated litany. It was hard going and the quills failed early. So we had to get more. Many hours later they put them together and then Wilhelm used a scrying spell in a bucket of water – taking us to the display outside the crater. He did note that the crater was in a null zone – no scrying through the dome.
After comparing all 3 people’s 4 sets of runes – they were confident that they had 2 and 3 - the 1st and 4th were no good. So they broke for dinner and tried again. They scryed once more and felt the 4th run was now good. Four attempts were made and finally they ended up with a full set. Nate carefully cut them all out and using his forgery kit, made a single circular page that matched the rough size of the Most Blessed of Frey’s holy symbol.
Now to find out when to dare to use it. We scryed carefully over the next few days. There were 3 or 4 guards we had to concern ourselves with – but after 10, it looked like we were down to 1 poorly attentive druid guard. This gave us a 4 hour window. We were going to need a day with no rain, after 10, and as today, it was now Plantmonth the 16th (10:30 PM) – 1 day after the new moon – so it was very dark.
We anticipated trying tomorrow (after a predict weather spell assured us no rain). We were going to load the Leomund’s hut with all our gear and then make our way to the Crater, sneak in, and see if we could find the rip that Shim assured us was there and under the ground.
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