21:59, Today: Sigurd Svartulf rolled 11,6,2,10 using d12,d12,d12,d12.  individual mystery rolls.

Sigurd calls back up to Amund, "He says he wants out! I don't blame him. I'll try to get him out of the cage. If I can't open it, could you warriors pull up the chain?"

Sigurd then says something to the caged dwarf. [Language unknown: Eeenos stryinfor vor e ha ecaius m Ou et eeshe ssta. Wer enma?]

When Sigurd reaches the cage, he will try to jimmy the lock. In such a hazardous position, he doubts if he can, but he'll still give it a try first. He secures himself a position, takes some small bits of wire, files, and metal rods out of a concealed pocket, and holding bits in his teeth, between fingers, and back in the pocket when not in use, tries to open the cage's lock.

OOC: Open Locks 15%

Vermundr finds a comfortable rock to prop himself on, inspecting the the wounds freshly etched into his body.  Pulling out his wineskin he takes a huge pull, several swallows in length, and sighs heavily.

"A dwarf", he thinks to himself. "This could be pretty entertaining, although I'm not certain it's going to help us much."

"I dunno . . . I hear tell that they have some skill in the healing arts.  'Course, could just be wild rumors."

"We shall see but if he wants my help pulling that thing up, he's going to have to give me a moment to collect myself."

With some effort, Sigurd manages to get the lock open.

Sigurd carefully puts his tools back in their case and once again deposits it in the hidden pocket before extending a hand to the dwarf. [Language unknown: Eknc t... ateanyout?...dimiek ous...necean t ni thesankor, olrios.]

Within a few minutes the party has a third new member, though unlike the as yet un-introduced Sigurd and Wulfgar, who are both human, the newcomer isn't.

Short, squat but powerful looking, and with a beard that covers his chest and then some, though the hair on his head is wispy. Perhaps most striking, he appears to be covered in scars.

In reply to The Norn (msg # 353):

Happy to be free but a little dubious about his rescuer. He climbs out of the cage carefully and takes the hand offered whilst he attempts to climb up the face slowly and very carefully.

  he utters once safely secure.

Ludvig looks from Klaengr to the dwarf and then nods.

Sigurd answers the dwarf.


To the party and their discussion of bringing the dwarf along or not, Sigurd just shrugs his shoulders. If they will have him and the dwarf along, Sigurd is pleased. If he's back to wandering on his own, so be it. Fate wills what it wills.

Still sitting against the rock Vermundr observes the dwarf with a sly smirk.

"If he wishes to join us in slaying Jotunn than why bar him?  He may yet prove of great value."

Dragnar shrugs.  "I've heard of dwarves, but not much about 'em.  This could be a chance to learn something new.  Although, I must say,"

The bard casts an appraising eye at Sigurd.

"I'm impressed that you can speak his tongue."

Amund sniffs at the air and speaks to no one.  "Amund has adventured with a dwarf before.  He was a little hot tempered, but a good fighter."

He walks closer to the dwarf and speaks very slowly while waving his arms.  "Hey little man, d o  y o u  s p e a k  t h e   c o m m o n  t o n g u e?  How did you come about being hitched to a Jotunn?"

"Come now, this poor bastard has been through it just as bad as we have.  Give him a moment to collect himself."

He motions towards the dwarf and yells "Catch", tossing his wineskin.

The dwarf is soon safely on solid land, the now slightly larger party dripping wet and shivering in the night air.

Sigurd grins at Dragnar, and winks. "What, is it such a rarity? My...teacher and I would often speak Dwarvish words to one another while we planned our worked. It did seem as if he did it to avoid our conversations being overheard."


If Erik doesn't seem to understand what the others are saying, Sigurd will translate as best he can for the dwarf.

"I could use a bit of wine, myself," he comments, shivering with the cold. "And some nice, clean clothes."

Wulfgar steps forwards, raising a hand in greeting to the group. "I don't think we've been introduced. My name is Wulfgar Olafson. I would be honored if you would allow me to join you in your journey, seeing as how my..." He shifted his gaze towards the corpses of the villagers and demons strewn about. "Hrmph. Other plans have 'fallen through', as they say."

Ludvig looks about the bodies, ignoring the discussion in favor of being certain the dead are as they appear.

Ludvig finishes off the last few twitching zombies, and ponders the fact that one of the demon-kin escaped into the night, but he doubted it would be returning.

The rest of the party grudgingly examined the new-comers, suspecting they might be more -'mouths to feed' then assistance, but their options were thin.

A natural fire seems out of the question, sadly, and all of the party gear is either wet, or already dry due to freezing. Not a good thing...

"Brothers...we need some sort of shelter.  Being out in the open once was nearly the end of us.  Tell me Wulfgar, are you familiar with this region?  Or perhaps our dwarf friend here knows of some cave nearby we may be able to utilize?

Sigurd turns to the dwarf and relays the question.

In reply to Sigurd Svartulf (msg # 367):

Erik, glad to be on solid ground and his sense being bombarded by all these new experiences. He turns from one to the next not knowing what anyone is saying and no clear idea who was friendly and who isn't. He stays close to Sigurd because at this moment in time he is his only connection to this group.

He turns to Sigurd and talks to him.

"I have those runes we discovered some time ago . . . one of them is a rune of warmth.  We can pass it around as needed, and in that way we can survive the cold.  But I must warn you . . . "

Dragnar's tone changes; it's as if he feels personally wounded by something.

"  . . . it is Jotunn magic.  Twisted, but it will serve us.  So if that bothers anyone you don't have to use it.  And remember: we found it, I didn't make it, so don't go suspecting me of anything."

Ludvig returned to the party, not mentioning the demon-kin as everyone had more immediate concerns. He could think of nothing, but the Jotunn stone did not make him comfortable. He watched the others in hopes of leadership.

Dragnar triggers the stones magic, and feels the warmth of the stone spread thru his body, even going so far as to start drying his clothing.