Still alive and gaming! Once again, I’ve fallen far behind on posting game reports. While I haven’t been blogging, I’ve certainly been running the campaign. This session occurred months ago. We’re scheduled to play session 11 next week. Anyway, see this post for a recap of Session 5.
When not gaming or working, I’ve had the opportunity to harvest medicinal plants and berries to make a tincture, some syrups, and a jam. After sitting about eight weeks in alcohol, my yarrow tincture is ready. I also made some delicious thyme and lemon syrup that not only was good for some coughs the kids had (not COVID!), but also for some lovely cocktails! Lastly, just this morning, I was finally able to harvest the now purplish elderberries. Didn’t get a lot thanks to the birds that also find the berries delicious, but enough to present my loving partner with a tasty jam this morning. Here are some pics of the yarrow tincture before moving on to the game report!
Evening of Day 4 of the Long Night Campaign (Session 6)
Date: Evening of the full moon in the Month of Three Milkings (Ðrimilce-monaþ). Early evening at Seaxwulf’s feast. Equivalent to May 21st, 536 AD.
Players Present for Sessions 6:
- Wulfgar: Wolf-warrior class, farmer/herder background
- Eardwulf: Wolf-warrior class, former slave, now free
- Osbeorn: Bear-warrior class, wandering warrior
- Wilfrið: Wolf-warrior class, hunter
Select NPCs Present for Session 6 (many more are mentioned in the below report. It was a big feast!!):
- Seaxwulf: The village’s ruling Ðegn (Thegn) whose blotchy patches of skin are rumored to be brought about by malevolent ylfe or dweorgas
- Æthelflæd: A beautiful peace-weaving woman married to Seaxwulf whose snow-white skin stands in stark contrast to her husband’s complexion
- Ecgred: Wulfgar’s loquacious father and head of one of the six families that traveled north with Seaxwulf to establish a new community on the gifted hides of land
- Burgwulf: Wulgar’s ostentatious grandfather who frequently claims to be communing with higher powers
- Leod: An obsequious traveling merchant up from the south to deliver goods for Seaxwulf’s feast
- Beagnoth: A inquisitive scop that arrived with the merchant Leod
- Æsca: A pompous man gifted with prefect bright white teeth who is the head of one of the six families that traveled north with Seaxwulf to establish a new community on the gifted hides of land
- Gode: A seemingly shy farm girl and Æsca’s eldest, and most attractive, daughter who is eligible for marriage
Session 6
Wulfgar, Eardwulf, Osbeorn, Wilfrið, and Burgwulf entered Seaxwulf’s newly constructed meadhall and seated themselves with the other members of the Ecgred family. Besides servants and slaves, present in the meadhall were:
- Seaxwulf and his wife Æthelflæd seated at the head of the hall and flanked on either side by the six members of his hearþgeneat, his hearth companions/guards. At times, the companions moved about the hall to mingle and drink. However, at least two remained with Seaxwulf at all times.
- The Æsca family
- The Beornfrith family
- The Bregowulf family
- The Dryhtweald family
- The Ealdwine family
- Leod, the trader and his men
- Beagnoth, the Scop
Festivities had already begun and the atmosphere was one of good spirit and cheer. Men and women were socializing, drinking, eating, and participating in various activities such as axe throwing and wrestling. Osbeorn and Eardwulf began by immediately filling cups and drinking (heavily). Both participated in some axe throwing with Wilmund, Ridda, and Oswig (three of Æsca’s sons) and Tilmann and Swegan (Bregowulf’s two sons). Eardwulf, already near-drunk, was terribly inaccurate and almost put an axe in someone not even close to the target. This generated a roaring round of laughter, and some light-hearted ribbing about the party’s skill. Wilmund and Ridda suggested a small wager to make the activity more interesting. All participants agreed that the worst throw would result in that person dancing on a table while exposing themselves (a wager highlighting both youth & inebriation). A round of throwing followed with Eardwulf, again, completely missing the target. Wilfrið had the best throw, followed closely by Swegan, Bregowulf’s younger son.
Eardwulf then leaped upon a table and started dancing. He also pulled his manhood from his trousers and mimed plucking at it like a lyre. To his credit, he does this with performative (yet lewd) skill and the meadhall erupted in laughter and roared with approval.
Osbeorn drank more than anyone present and went around encouraging others to various bouts of drinking, but astonishingly he was never affected by beer, mead, or ale. Later, Eardwulf (while drunk) lazily scanned the room to ascertain potential short term female companions. He only noted (to his disappointment):
- Bregowulf’s huge wife
- Ealhwynn, smoking a huge pipe like a man
- Beornfrith’s boney wife, Bebbe
- Dryhtweald’s wife, Hild, and her pointy hair and crazy grin.
- Æsca’s young daughters, Gode and Byrnflæd.
These last two held promise for Eardwulf in terms of attractiveness, but the evening was still young. Meanwhile, Wulfgar remained seated drinking and eating at the table with his family while scanning the room. Some of things he observed included:
- How Beornfrith’s son, Beornfrith the younger, was large like is father, but more soft-looking and flabby. He had a depraved look and was eyeing Eadgifu (“Gifu”), Wulfgar’s eldest sister. His father’s clothes seemed too small, and were stretched tight over his body. Beornfrith’s brother, Ingram the Blacksmith, nodded politely to Wulfgar. All three of these men stood in stark contrast to Beornfrith’s wife, Bebbe, a frail-looking and thin woman.
- How Æthelgeard, his older brother, was withdrawn and not very social. He was fixated on repeatedly stabbing slabs of pork with his seax.
- How Leod, the trader, seemed to be enjoying the festivities with his men. Like Æsca, his party was seated closest to Seaxwulf, a place of honor, or a token of hospitality for the goods he brought to the community.
- How Æsca approached Ecgred (who was proud and happy) to congratulate him on the success of his son and his men in their recent adventuring. His eldest daughter, Gode, was present. Later, the two heads of family were seen huddled together deep in conversation.
- How Seaxwulf seemed distant and uncomfortable. It was noted that his skin had discolorations and a diseased-like look. Occasionally, Æthelflæd was seen to reach over and touch his arm lightly, and seemingly in a loving way. With her touch, he would straighten and made an effort smile to those in the hall.
Eventually, Æthelflæd called the hall’s attention with words of gratefulness. She was well-received. Wilmund, Æsca’s eldest, was called to the front where he was honored for his noteworthy work and dedication to establishing the community during its first year. Seaxwulf gifted him an arm-ring, and Wilmund pledged his loyalty in return. Æthelflæd then called the players up, and the ritual gifting and pledging of loyalty was repeated. At that time, Wulfgar and the other members of the party gifted Seaxwulf some of their loot and boasted of their recent successes. This was well-said and well-received by Seaxwulf and the community. Æthelflæd then kissed all that were gifted with arm-rings. The community responded with approving words and the clapping of cups.
Beagnoth, the scop, then began to transition from simply playing music, joking, and mingling to telling stories. He related the adventure of the players searching for Leod’s men and how they tracked down a murderous fiend to its dark and watery liar. There, they slayed the monster that had murdered men that same evening. The community responded with more approval.
The scop then launched into an old tale about King Ælfwine from across the sea. The tale recounted a large battle with monsters and creatures from the Otherworld, magical weapons, bravery, and overwhelming odds. The story climaxed with the blowing a magical horn that summoned Woden and a host of warrior spirits. Beagnoth wove the tale in such a way that the players seemed to be transported into the story itself where they assumed the roles of Ælfwine and his loyal companions. The story spoke about creatures arising from Underworld, threats to the Middle World and the Great Tree, and the mysterious eoten, monstrous creatures described by Beagnoth as “man-eaters” possessed of great knowledge and always greedy for more. He also stated that some thought them to be “giants,” giants forever warring with the gods, but it was really that their appetite and greed was “gigantic” (i.e., never to be satiated).
Wulfgar then lifted his ale up in approval of Beagnoth’s performance and turned to inquire about Seaxwulf’s unhealthy appearance. Ecgred, his father, responded, “Not sure, but people talk… often, too much. In any case, I’ve heard some say he has some kind of skin-wasting disease caused by ylfe (i.e., “elves”). But, then again, most people are fools. Whatever ails our lord, best not draw attention to it with gossip.” Burgwulf then harrumphed with, “He needs a galdre if that’s true for only powerful charms can cure one of the woes brought about by the likes of ylfe and dweorgas (i.e., dwarfs).”
Billfirth, Wulfgar’s uncle, then stumbled up to the table with a sloshing horn of beer and loudly announced unnecessarily how he “had arrived!” He spilled beer everywhere and began greedily eating. Wulfgar noted how he was covered in welts, apparently bee stings. These were painful rewards earned from recent attempts at establishing bee colonies for the family.
Elsewhere in the hall, Eardwulf (exceedingly drunk) rose from a table clumsily, nearly flipping the plate of food in front of him. He grabbed more ale, took another draft for courage, and boasted to Wilfrið about his “silver-tongue’s” ability to woo lovely women. Wilfrið ignored his drunk friend and went off to join other men engaged in wrestling bouts.
Gode was huddled together talking with her sister, Byrnflæd, and another young woman with painted eyebrows. This other young woman looked to be in the same age range as Gode and Byrnflæd. Eardwulf recognized her as Ealdwine’s daughter (head of the Ealdwine family), although he could not recall her name. The three of them stood near the table where Æsca’s wife, Burgwynn, sat. Burgwynn was a stout, wide-hip woman with bushy winged eyebrows and disarrayed hair that she obviously seemed unconcerned with combing. She eyed Eardwulf warily.
Things did not go smoothly for the hopeful Eardwulf. His drunkenness and wolfish appearance caused the young women to dart away like spooked rabbits [poor Reaction Check]. Burgwynn then smacked her meaty hand on the table and shouted, “You there! Best stumble back where you came from. You have a swarthy look about you, and I don’t like your hungry eyes upon my girls. Don’t let a good time and good drink make you forgot your place. Off with you!” Eardwulf, feeling shamed, fled the meadhall to seek the comforts of the moonlit night.
Meanwhile, Wilfrið approached the group of men wrestling in the hall, pulled his shirt off (very manly), and shouted, “I’m next!” Horsa, a beardless hulk of a youth missing a thumb, had just tossed another lad onto his back. He smiled with the confidence of youth as bare-chested Wilfrið approached. The crowd roared with approval as Horsa charged and the two locked together like mad bulls. In the end, Wilfrið slammed Horsa hard to the ground and pinned him. With an opportunity to inflict more pain and hurt on the helpless Horsa, Wilfrið instead pulled him up and clapped him affectionately on the back. Wilfrið then toasted Seaxwulf for the outstanding feast.
The festivities continued, but eventually Wulfgar, Wilfrið, and Osbeorn sought out Eardwulf in hopes of ending a memorable evening hunting under the light of the full moon.
End of Session 6.