Legends of Old Urthe - Hell on Urthe  (D&D v3.5)
Home | The Book of Ages | Our Heroes | Maps | Races | Pantheon | House Rules | RPoL

< Back

Fifth Age - Hell on Urthe: Journey to the Cold Wastes

With the Pearl handed over to Amhairghin for safe-keeping, the party left Talhamnoduin unheralded and unseen, accompanied by Melzakre. Though horses were provided for the travellers, the pace was slow. A day's ride from the city lay Banomomen, a mean village bordered by dead woods, where stunted crops were carelessly tended by the sullen locals.

The journey north was the better part of two hundred leagues, and the weather worsened all the while. Thin blankets failed to keep out the chill, and the few settlements found on the way could provide nothing better. Thirty days the party travelled through the mist-shrouded lands, cold and hunger their constant companions, until they arrived at last in Wolsten, a rough and dangerous place, the inhabitants little better than animals.

There they befriended Captain Desje and, despite his warnings of the Flesh-eaters that ruled Ice Hold, arranged passage across the Straits on his ship, the Ice Maiden ...

Also plying those waters was the Falmar en Salka, a slave ship with a full hold of human cargo, destined for the tables of the Flesh-eaters. Among those wretches were Luthien, Teagan, Curta and Viemon, bound in chains, but refusing to surrender to their fate.

Unbeknownst to them, Hamin Carmine was also on that ship, returned from Kalibar in the Grey Wastes, disguised as a guard as he scoured the Urthe for his daughter, chasing a rumour that she had been captured and taken to the Flesh-eater's stronghold.

And one other, a creature of the sea, a hundred foot long with a writhing mass of tentacles, worshipped almost as a god, that took exception to those who trespassed in its domain. A creature whose name was spoken in whispers.

The Kraken.

Summoning a storm, the beast sought to destroy the intruders, slamming its bulk into the side of the Ice Maiden, once, twice, splintering planks and throwing crew and passengers alike into the churning, frozen waters. Eric'K and Jarret perished there, as did Myshrall, while Melzakre's magic barely kept him from the same fate. Indeed, it was only Amhairghin's song that was able to calm the beast and save the ship.

As Brugar and two sailors struggled to ready the ballista mounted on the foredeck, the Falmar en Salka, loomed out of the storm-tossed seas. Only Desje's skill prevented a collision, but Amhairghin was thrown to the deck, his song stilled, the Kraken loosed once more. Brugar's shot wounded the beast, but it chose to vent its anger against the slave ship ...

Aboard the Falmar en Salka, the slavers had thought to offer the sea-god a sacrifice to appease it, but those chosen had seized their opportunity and fought back against their cruel captors. Aided by Hamin they slew their guards even as the ship was holed and the slaves frantically tried to divest themselves of their manacles and escape the icy waters.

As Saffaris took to the waters in an attempt to stop the Kraken's destructive rage, the slaves managed to overcome the crew. Successfully diverting the beast, Saffaris used her magics to patch the hole in the Falmar en Salka, and both ships limped into Ice Hold's docks.

There to be met by the Flesh-eater's mirror-helmed guards.

< Back