Week 1
Archon Ulric introduces the party to the head of his bodyguards, Father Eilif, who once worked for the Knighthood. Ulric says that he realises how important the party's growing fight with the Black Star has become and wants to lend them more help with it, through Eilif, who he trusts with his life. Eilif is part warrior and part priest and should be of great aid to the group. The party spend a lot of time telling Eilif of their past adventures.
Week 2 to 3
The party studies, performs duties, and otherwise passes the cold winter weeks. More meetings with Eilif continue to explain the party's past to him.
Week 4
Through his contacts in the Guard, Eilif learns that a thief names Skorri has been arrested, and wants to give information about the assassination of Origa's aide in return for lenience. The party speaks with him and he tells them of a man who called himself Svartskalla, who claimed to have performed the deed. This man supposedly fled the city on a ship bound for Stonsay and beyond. The party investigate the tunnels into the Cathedral again, assuring themselves that they really are blocked for good, and have a description of Svartskalla distributed by the knighthood.
Week 1 to 2
The winter months continue. Skeggi meets a young knight called Odlog, who has heard of Skeggi as a great teacher and wants to learn from him. Skeggi agrees to be his master, only to discover that Odlog is incredibly clumsy, and so unskilled with any weapon that he is a danger to himself to be around. Skeggi tries hard to find a weapon he is good at, and Odlog is always eager to try anything, except a bow, which he claims to 'not be good at'.
Week 3
Archknight Perion holds a ceremony for all the knights, to commemorate the fallen, and celebrate their heroes. During the feast Ina and Skeggi are both promoted. Skeggi is given an expanded unit to command on his own. Meanwhile Olvar's work with training the exorcists is going well, and Eirik joins him. The party also spend a while learning how to ride and care for horses, in preparation for a planned journey to the south in the spring. The party believe that another part of Arthur's writings, and possibly also a volume of Gainenval's work, may lie far to the South in the ruins of St. Sendar, a holy place beyond the borders of Tanaloth. Ulric agrees to the idea of the expedition, providing the excuse that the party must travel to the southern town of Stenabreck to procure some of their famous marble for his shrine.
Week 4
Olvar learns that a young priest by the name of Greymalkin claims that he was attacked by some sort of ghost or demon in the Necropolis. On investigation the seminary priests found a dead tramp, and are now worried enough to call in the exorcists. The part meet Greymalkin, investigate the graves, and are attacked by some sort of apparition that is hiding in the sea mists. At the same time Ina has a run in with some west bank knights that provokes a short duel.
Week 1
The party are plagued by ill dream,s and the attacks on random travellers persist. The party decide that Greymalkin is the target of the haunting and investigate his past. They discover to their surprise that he is the grandson of Odoric, the dead cultist who's ghost they saw in his ruined house. They use Greymalkin as bait to draw the creature out and destroy it, discovering at the same time that the ghost of Greymalkin's mother had also come back to help protect him. After the destruction of the demon Olvar has a dream where he sees the ghost of Odoric destroying the summoner of the demon, claiming that he will not allow Greymalkin to be harmed.
The party use Olvar's dream as a guide to find the crypt in the Necropolis where the dead cultist lies. Here they find a number of occult tombs, including one with the golden eye symbol on its front that they associate with the name of Kazak. Some of the party want this destroyed at once, including Ina, who leaves in anger before they open it, and Skeggi, who would rather stay outside than look at the book. When the book is opened, all of the party are dragged into a nightmare world.
Inside the book the party seem to have gone back in time. They are trapped in the ruins of Odoric's house moments before it is burnt at the hands of an angry mob led by Olvar's master Alfarin. When they try to escape they can't, instead being lost in tunnels full of cultists under the house. They confront the spirit of Odoric, only to be sent back in time, it seems, to the fall of the old kingdoms. They overhear strange figures promising the return of the Dark Gods and are very close to despair, when a vision of a figure in a black robe comes to help them escape. They make it through some more visions, before awaking unharmed in their own bodies.
After this Olvar and Alfarin hastily destroy the book (the Lectum of Kazak).
Week 2
Relations in the party are strained by the incident of the book. Ina and Godfred make up their disagreement, but Ina and Olvar cannot see eye to eye over the events. A number of the party are very traumatised by the events, believing they have briefly been to hell itself. Ina distracts herself by throwing herself into the training of Hodi and Freka, who are due to take the Proctor's exam to become knights very soon. In the knighthood preparations are underway for the return to Eregal as soon as the last winter storms are gone.
Week 3
The Proctor's exam is held. Freka excels and is given special duty, while Hodi is less spectacular. The proctors decide he will remain with Ina until she thinks he is ready for duty on his own, though he is given the rank of a junior knight in the meantime. The party plan to leave for the south after the first melt of snow, which should happen at any time. They are due to meet with the Gypsy Sibbe in three weeks and plan to leave just after, so much of the week is spent arranging to be gone.
Week 4
With the winter storms fading Perion decides that no more time can be wasted rescuing the Trollguard. The party sails with the Knight's Hart to Eregal. There they find a terrible scene, the camp is destroyed, the graves desecrated, and though there are signs of battles here and there it seems that all of the Troll guard has been lost. With heavy hearts they set about reburying the dead, but then discover one knight alive ... Ina's rival Vigdis. They learn from her that the Trollguard is indeed lost, she survived only by finding a small shrine to hide in, In the ruins of this shrine they find a missing part of the cannons and a blessed sword that Eilif takes from the hands of a frozen knight who knelt long dead at the window of the shrine.
Week 1
The party sail back with Vigdis, and heavy hearts. On the way they meet Njal's army and fleet at Wyre. Back at Tanaloth they tell their tale to Perion and the council of Archons. As a result of he heroism Vigdis is made a Thane. Eilif shows his sword to Angred and is allowed to keep it, while Eirik shows the lost Cannon to Ulric. A Bull from the Archpriest about the loss of the Trollguard is circulated, depressing the mood in the city, though spirits are raised somewhat by the news that one of the long lost missing cannons appears to have been recovered.
Skeggi asks Vigdis to be his new Domini, now that Halfdan, the Trollguard leader, is dead, she agrees, and begins his training right away.
Week 2
Skeggi meets his new unit at last, who turn out to be the scum of the Knighthood. His old commander the drunkard Logaeir, Unborg the thief, Odlog the clumsy, Skuld the womaniser, Osk the troublemaker, Manni the lame, Kispiny the one-eyed and Lifstaen the insubordinate. He tries to do something useful with them while being worked hard by Vigdis. She tests him to see if he is good enough and he passes. At the same time Angred decides to test Ina's progress and is satisfied by it.
The party go to Burrion to meet with the gypsies, but discover that they are not there, very unusual, since they always arrive in the spring. They return, but the gypsies are still missing. However they meet a messenger, Gudrik, who tells them that the Gypsies will meet them 'in the south' a mysterious message that they will not explain.
Skeggi ends up in a duel with a knight named Ludik, who is very insulting to him in the street.
Week 3 to 4
The party are involved in preparing for their trip south that they have decided to delay till the month of Deias. They buy a lot of supplies, including new equipment, digging tools, camping equipment, a chest of healing herbs, and so forth. They are presented with a map by Ulric showing the long route south. Skeggi is still trying to find time to kick his unit into shape despite being trained hard by Vigdis.
Week 1
The party set out on the long trip south. They have some trouble with the horses but enjoy the comfort of the various churches along their route. In one village they discover a false priest named Konmar, who they manage to capture and take to Corrain for trial where he is placed in church service. In another small village they stop to look for a missing girl named Kari, and end up killing a wild boar and feasting on it. They spend a couple of days at the monastery of Korforth, where a set of relics belonging to the saint Symeon are being installed (a sign of Ulric's favour). The monks give the party a gift of a fine map of the area near to Tanaloth, which they realise at once is a lot more accurate than Ulric's map.
Week 2
The party continues south across the moorlands of the Tarnmere. On the second day in the wild lands they find a washed out bridge where a knight names Engorm is disputing passers-by. He has a fight with Skeggi, who he beats and gains a bad impression of. He overcomes Olvar in a theological discussion and Ina in a close fought series of Sentit games, but eventually Eilif beats him in a contest of stealth. They stay a night with him while the bridge is fixed.
They head on to the town of Lambey, where Eirik has a parcel of silks to deliver to a merchant. However the silks are searched at the gate and found to contain Shikan seed. Eirik is arrested as a smuggler and fails to persuade them of his innocence. Some of the party wonder if he could be guilty but search for clues anyway. Meanwhile there is a terrible collapse in the overworked silver mines. The party volunteers to try a dangerous set of abandoned pitch mines, and manage eventually to get deep underground and rescue the trapped miners, including the son of the priest who will be trying Eirik (and also Andas Sigur's Cousin). After this Eirik is found innocent, and Ina composes the Ballad of Lambey to commemorate their role in the events.
Eirik realises that he was set up, and makes a guess that Kentigern may have been involved. He then realises that Ulric's seal and letters of credit have been stolen from his belongings while he was in jail! The party rushes out of town to catch the thief before she can head north.
Week 3
The party rests in Lambey ford after catching the Thief, but an assassin tries to kill Eirik in the middle of the night and is only just prevented. Eirik is only just restrained from riding back to Tanaloth to kill Kentigern on the spot, even though he is wounded. They return to Lambey for a couple of days and then set off for the Freetown of Noltland. On the first night in the wilds they are attacked by a badger. On the second night they are attacked by Dark Hounds, summoned demonic creatures with incredibly venomous bites. The hounds are scared off (or leave of their own accord) but Eilif is wounded in the arm. To prevent his death, or the loss of his arm, drastic measures are taken, including cutting open his arm and pouring the blood of Atur into the wound! They make for Noltland, dispatching a few bandits on the way.
Week 4
The party takes rooms at the Red Flag in Noltland, and stay a week and a half while Eilif recovers from his wounds. They make money in various ways to pay for their stay, Olvar works at the church, Skeggi gives fighting lessons, Hodi works for the local herbalist, as does Ina. Eirik meanwhile is studying his copy of the lost cannons. In Noltland the party learns of the Trollsworn, southern mercenaries and warrior who have sworn to protect the land from trolls and other evils. These men have gathered in Noltland where they make a lot of trouble. One of their sensible leaders is a long time mercenary named Brand. Ina meets with Brand and convinces him that there are better things for him and his men to do than hang around in Noltland.
Brand and ten of his most trustworthy men come and offer their fealty to Ina the heroine of Eregal, and the others. The party are a bit unwilling to take them on on faith and decide to let them ride with them for now, promising to consider making them their men.
Week 1
The party leaves Noltland and heads through the hills, guided by Brand, to the castle of Vadil's Hold. Here they are given a place to stay, and meet the lords of the castle, Scenek, and his children, Gunnar, Peligor and Harek. Scenek is not keen on a party of knights and priests and wishes them to hurry through his lands. Peligor trades books with Eilif, giving him an interesting herbal, while Skeggi defeats Harek in a practice fight and attracts his anger. Brand asks Ina if he has proved his trustworthiness in the past week, and she agrees to let him and his men swear fealty to the whole party as Bannermen, personal retainers of the party sworn to fight at their sides and die to protect them.
Week 2
The party leaves the castle for the town of Breidale. Here they learn that Scenek's lands are menaced by a foul worm that lives in a nearby marsh. Olvar is shocked that the local priest has put up images of the worm in the hope that they will keep them away and demands that the sacrilegious images are burnt. It takes the presence of the knights and Brand's men to get this done. The next day a small village is attacked by the worm, which demolishes houses, eats cattle, and leaves acid spittle everywhere. The party argue about whether to confront it or not. Olvar wants the worm slain, Ina insists its impractical and that they have another mission. They travel to the marsh and see the worm, a 40 foot long serpent, with massive head and teeth.. They shoot an arrow at it, but the head simply rebounds from its scales.
The party conclude that they cannot face the worm now, though Olvar writes an angry letter to Scenek accusing him of cowardice and bowing to an evil beast. They ride south to the Inn of the last cross, where brother Itas collects tales. Then they cross the open lands of the Mordudale to the southern city of Stenabrek, also known as Stenabrek of the White walls, a beautiful walled city built on a hilltop above a fertile plain. Here they meet Archdeacon Bjor, Regin, his guard captain and others. They tell them of their mission to buy stone, and also their intention to go to the ruins of Sendar, where it turns out Regin has been. They are told that the ruins are in the middle of a forest inhabited by harmless pagans known as the Woodsmen.
The party decide to stay for a little while in Stenabrek and enjoy the summer market. It is uncommonly hot and dry here in the south.
Week 3
The party secure the stone for Ulric, and persuade the Chapter Master here to advance them some money as they are very low. They discover that Elphastus is the patron saint of Stenabrek and set about trying to raise support for their new church of Stenabrek. Ina and Eilif meet a herbalist with interesting concoctions and make two deals with him. In return for reading Eilif's herbal he will give them cheap herbs, he also gives them a list of herbs they might find for him in the southern forest, for which he will pay. Skeggi sells his old sword and spends the last of his coin a fine Enscarian Broadsword.
Much to the surprise of the locals hundreds and hundreds of gypsies appear and join the fair. The party goes to the camp and meets Sibbe, who reveals that this is the entire gypsy nation! They learn from her the secret history of the gypsies, that in the days before the fall they were warriors of the church. Due to pride they failed to stop the fall, but as their last act captured the Skaalsrup, the servant of the Dark Gods, and bound it by the means of 12 keys. They tell the party that after they met last year they decided that the Skaalsrup was free and that they have no choice but to try and find the keys and rebind it, for which reason the entire nation is heading into the heathen lands to redeem themselves .... if they survive. The party realise that they were responsible for releasing the Skaalsrup, by breaking the last key in the Lion's Eye Shrine, but say nothing. The gypsies tell them what they know of the south and the Skaalsrup, and then head south.
Week 4
The party heads south. On the way they think they see a rider watching them from a hilltop. They remember something they heard in Stenabrek about black riders in the south, and are unsure what it may mean. They follow the gypsy trail to the edge of the forest, and then head south into it. The forest proves to be trackless, full of blind paths and tangles undergrowth. They are quickly lost, and though they see some signs of natives there is no clear trail of any sort. They see strange animals, an antalops, a picae and lincis, before ending up in a marsh. Here they regain their bearings, gather some herbs, and head south. Later they find some natives attacked by black riders and rescue them. The native, Melkar, is grateful, and takes them to his hidden village. Here they meet the headwomen, Olvar tries to convert them, and they get Melkar as a guide to the ruins. The woodsmen tell them that at midwinter a giant calling himself Omingar took over a ruined evil castle in the woods. Since then he has oppressed them, taking the men prisoner and turning them into mind controlled troops as part of an army he is gathering.
The party is worried by news of this heathen, and the natives interested in the idea that Atur could help free them from this oppression.
Week 1
The party are led to the grand ruins of St. Sendar, a great holy place and prominent in the mythology of Tanaloth. Searching it they find traces of two hidden documents both now removed, and they guess it was by the heathen Omingar. They also find the tomb of Gainenval, and managing to avoid various protective traps, recover the first volume of his writings, his sword, and some other artefacts, including a very evil bone sealed in a chest. The knight's body is uncorrupted by age, a miracle. On Midsummer they hold a mass and Ina scatters the ashes given to her by Honesty ... this turns out to be a terrible mistake, the ashes are evil and deconsecrate the holy church. A storm swallows the sky, the sun vanishes behind the black cloud and they feel a terrible evil. In their recollection they suddenly remember telling Honesty things they never meant too, and that the sky was always dark whenever they saw him! He is clearly evil.
The party is overcome by despair, till a vision of an angel, or Elphastus, appears and tells them not to give up hope, but to recover the lost manuscripts and make right the evil. Before the party can absorb this Omingar's cavalry arrives at the hill, nearly a hundred of the riders and they are forced to flee. The riders chase them through the forest till they manage to hide with the woodsmen. They decide they must confront the heathens and defeat their army.
Week 2
The party scout Omingar's castle and see an army of about 500 men, or more. They decide to return to Stenabrek and warn them, and to try and gather an army to defeat the heathens before they can invade. Regin and Bjor are convinced to the threat and the party splits up to gather troops. Skeggi gets troops from Kjol, Ina and Brand persuade Scenek to send men, though he demands the priests return and kill the worm, since the priest in town went off to confront it (after talking with Olvar) and was killed. Eilif and Brand return to the forest and manage to persuade the woodsmen to commit many archers, on the conditions that they will try to rescue the kidnapped men and that if they win the woodsmen can be converted to Atur.
Week 3 to 4
The troops train in the summer heat, anxiously waiting for news from the south. Harek and Gunner and the other commanders argue over command of the army, but Ina, Regin and the rest of the party are put in charge. Stenabrek is hastily fortified. The party has as many troops as Omingar, but less well armed or trained. At the end of the month a force arrives from the north ... the Trollsworn, brought by Brand, that swells the army by 200 men.
Week 1
News comes from the south that Omingar is on the move. It turns out that he was waiting for a huge force of 400 Trolls from the far south! The army worries that they can't beat the Trolls, but they march out to face them anyway. They meet in the middle of the Mordudale. The battles starts badly for the Tanalothi, some of the green troops crumble under the Troll attack, the left flank nearly collapses, though the right is held by the Trollsworn. Meanwhile Omingar's cavalry attacks from the rear. The party fight off eldritch magic and banish the Dark Hounds that attack them, but are about to retreat when a new force joins the battle, Gypsy Cavalry riding hard from the south on the trail of the Trolls. With their help the tide is turned, Omingar is defeated after Skeggi shoots him in the eye with his fairy arrow, Olvar abjures him, Ina pins him in place in a mighty struggle and Skeggi leaps up to behead him. With Omingar dead his army crumbles, though many escape. The Tanalothi army is beaten but victorious and makes its ay back to Stenabrek. On Omingar's body they find another of the mysterious parchment maps.
Week 2
After tending to the wounded the party heads to Omingar's castle to seek the prophecies they think he took from Sendar. They explore the castle, fight some guard who remained behind, but defeat them and recover the prophecies. The woodsmen are converted to the worship of Atur, and the Trollsworn who survived the battle recruited into the newly formed Stenabrek guard. They hear news from the north that there has been a lot of unrest in Tanaloth, but victory on the isles. At the end of the week the army is given medals to commemorate the battle, Ina composes a Ballad, the battle for Stenabrek, and they are given gifts, a formulary for Eilif, a valuable harp for Ina, consecrated garb for Eirik, a decorated cross-staff for Olvar, and a prototype woodsman bow for Skeggi. Gunner sends gifts of three fine horses.
Week 3
The party set of north. They learn the worm vanished when Omingar died (to their relief). They meddle a little in politics at Vadil's hold. They arrange for Sceneck's younger son to be fostered in Stenabrek and for his wife to go too, removing them from the danger of the older sons.
Week 4
They continue north to Noltland, and learn that the bandit problem has eased. Skeggi buys a Poniard dagger and some of the others buy new armour. In Lambey they find that Inshaku seems to be recruiting mercenaries, and already has 500 men at Lambey (explaining the missing bandits).
Week 1
The last leg of the trip north
Week 2
The party finally return to Tanaloth. There is some argument about bringing the bone into the city, but it is brought inside and stored in a blessed strongroom beneath the Cathedral. Someone (Kentigern) makes another attempt on Eilif's life, but fails. The party go at once to confront Honesty, accompanied by Inquisitor Ivar, only to discover to their horror that he is the Skaalsrup in the body of Honesty! The people who dealt with him or asked his aid (Ina, Olvar, Skeggi and Eirik) are unable to harm him, but he flees from Eilif and Ivar in the form of a shadow. They later learn that a shadow haunted the valley of Scarsmouth before being apparently banished by a father Honesty. The body of this priest was discovered only a few weeks ago, and the prisoner Astrid fled Scarsmouth to warn them (a little too late).
The party return to duties. Vigdis trains Skeggi hard, Beorn comes back from Eregal and spends time with Ina
Week 3
Before anyone can stop him Kentigern flees the city with Ulric's gold. The party chase him, but someone catches him first, kills him, and takes the money. The party suspects Andas Sigur but can prove nothing. A letter circulates the priesthood apparently from Dalmatian, filled with terrible heresy. A number of people write replies, including Olvar, Eirik, Godfred and Elfadd, helped by a pretty young illustrator called Gudrun who seems attracted to him.
Week 4
The war on Eregal seems to have ground to a halt, fighting rages in the hills of the Troll valley, but Njal cannot penetrate their defences. He does not want to give up before winter closes in, but he is fast running out of time. Vigdis claims that there is a flaw in the Troll defences, an undefended pass called the Teeth of Eregon. Ina insists on going to Eregal to check this out, as does Vigdis. The whole group ends up travelling to Eregal to advise Njal. They see the army there (5000+) and scout the pass. They are forced to conclude, despite doubts, that it seems a possible strategy. However before they can implement it scouts drag in a wounded, half dead, blind man, who turns out to be Halfdan, leader of the Trollguard and Skeggi's Domini!
Halfdan manages to tell a tale of being taken prisoner, and then Vigdis, also a prisoner, defecting to the other side! He saw this and was blinded as payment. Vigdis is a traitor! The party hurries to confront her only to find her already fled. They go after her, catching up with her as she is about to cross the Troll line. Trolls rush to attack but she holds them back and fights a duel with Skeggi, in which he is terribly injured and she escapes, taking the Knight's secrets and Gainenval's book. Njal decides to concoct a story of her heroic death at the hands of Trolls, but there can be no option now other than retreat.
Week 1
The party (bar Ina) return to Tanaloth and explain Vigdis' treachery to Perion. Skeggi and Halfdan both manage to survive their injuries. Ina returns at the end of the week. Although it takes a while they concive Perion that they did not do any wrong, but they are sworn to keep the secret about Vigdis concocted by Njal.
Week 2 to 4
Skeggi and Halfdan recover slowly over the rest of the month. Ina rents some land outside the city to make herself a small farm, a herb garden and cottage. Eirik studies the new part of the prophecies, learning occult and heretical knowledge about the servants of the old gods. Ina goes to the Bards school and is accepted as an apprentice to learn the Harp from a Master there.
Week 1
A shrine is built in the fortress for the relic of Gainenval, to hold the sword brought back from his tomb.
Week 2 to 3
The party trains. Eirik goes on a money making expidition involving Inks,and the party discredits some rumors linking Hussu with Kentigern's illicit dealings which they suspect may have been put about by Andas Sigur,
Week 4
The party recieve a message suggesting Dalmation is in Wearmouth, a small village near to Jarrow. They brave the winter snows to go and look for him. They have some misadventures before realising that they are searching out the wrong man, Dalmation being a common enough name in these parts. Along the way they manage to nearly murder some innocent peasents and stay some days to help nurse a sick woman back to health.
Week 5
Ina returns to Eregal and stays in the fortress for a week. Meanwhile Eirik has a few problems with Gudrun, who, egged on by Frekka, tries to profess her love for him. Eirik is sadly unreceptive, but after much confusion they agree to be freinds only.
Week 1 to 5
The party continues with its various duties around the city. The Knighthood, preparing once more for renewed hostilities with the first thaw, institutes a massive recruitment drive. Able bodied men from around the country are to be rained to join the lowest ranks of the Guardsmen, while every Thane in the land is summoned to call up their troops. Ina and Skeggi spend a lot of their time involved in this training effort over the course of this time. Eilif meanwhile tries desperatly to make money by the odd method of trying to catch deadly animals in the Catacombes. The animals prove more than a match for him, however, and he spends much of the month recovering from his encounters.
Week 1
A strange sign appears in the sky, a distant red eye or star. Over the course of the week the star becomes brighter and brighter in the dim winter sky, leading to much panic amongst the people, a rash of astrologers, and various portens of doom.
Week 2
The festivals are held, at the end of them something crashes into the harbour district and there is a great fire there. The firse is put out in time, but lots of buildings have been lost. Later these will be rebuilt as extensions of the Fortress to house the name new recruits.
