RuneChads Session 3: There's Whiskey in the Jar

The morning of Gwylltdydd, the 48th day of Moon Season, was cloudy and cool. Rain hung in the air...but not on the ground. Kane looked at Wlfgar as he posed with a large trout he had pulled from the Afon Dyffi not an hour before. "Let's go kill a giant," the troutless man snorted.

Into the Mountains

They set out to the north towards Dolgellau in the morning mist. Up into the mountains along the well traveled road, they travelled as seriously as death. As they approached a crossroads, two men stood on the path to the north, the path that led to Gogifran. Kane hailed them from a distance and signaled his intent to parlay. The two men looked at the approaching riders inquisitively. One, Kane, was an armored mass of bronze astride a powerful warhorse and Death traveled with him. The other man wore a leather hauberk and cap astride a horse of sorts. A serviceable animal, not one to take to war for certain. 

What is funny is it is retrospectively obvious that this initial encounter set up the final contest in the game. Through reaction rolls it became evident that Clancy and Chauncy took neither Kane nor Wlfgar seriously. When Kane uncermoniously announced his intent to kill the giant, Gogifran, the two guards laughed outright. They dutifully sounded the alarm and five cavalry responded with the sergeant also not taking them seriously. The cavalry treated the guards rudely as well and left. Clancy and Chauncy shrugged and looked at the RuneChads blankly. Daunted, the RuneChads returned to Derwenlas where they considered...Plan B.

Plan B consisted of stealthily approaching Gogifran's Keep by the back way...through the forested mountains on foot. Brilliant! So, with first light the next day they headed up due north from Machynlleth. They figured once they reached the summit they could set their course for the Keep and head straight on until they had the giant's head rolling at their feet. Smiling at the brilliance of their plan, they did not see the three camouflaged cliff toads hanging upside down overhead as they passed the rocky outcropping. 

THWIP! Wlfgar was struck in his chest by a giant toad tongue which wrapped him up and pulled him up out of the saddle. The damage was sufficient to drop him to -2 in the chest. He was officially dying. They were close enough that Kane could immediately engage the next round and combat was on! Wlfgar was losing consciousness and took crushing damage as the cliff toad tried unsuccessfully to swallow him. Tongues largely missed Kane and when they did hit, they did not pierce his armor. Kane cast True Sword on his enchanted iron broadsword and rolled a Special (Slash) on his attack. When the damage was tallied, to location 20 (Head), the cliff toad's head was separated from its body and Wlfgar was no longer in danger of being swallowed. He was, of course, still bleeding to death and unable to act. Another round and Kane cleaved the hindquarters off one of the toads while the other happily swallowed the dead cliff toad and hopped away. 

Kane Asserting Dominance

Another round and Wlfgar would be at zero HP and dead. Kane was able to cast a Heal Wound rune spell and pack it with 12 Magic Points to heal Wlfgar substantially and allow him to travel. It reduced Kane to 1 MP and made him unable to meaningfully use magic without real rest. They looked north at a pass leading around the cliffs between them and Gogifran...and they turned back to Derwenlas.

They met Malo who returned from some minor galavanting and shared with him their meager bits of intel such as they had gathered any. After some discussion about how to proceed, they agreed the best course of action was to have Wlfgar challenge Gogifran to an alcohol drinking contest.

Excuse me?

That...was...a plan?

Yes. Yes it was.

They found four amphora of Derwenlas whiskey able to be bought between Derwenlas and Machynlleth. This totalled almost 20 gallons of liquor. Malo had purchased a mule during downtime and back up to the keep they went!

When they approached Clancy and Chauncy again, the two guards greeted Kane and Wlfgar warmly. "So, back to kill Gogifran I imagine. What? No? You've brought whiskey to...drink with him? Right then, 'ere's your ribbons that will give you pass up the mountain. Send our regards!" They laughed while tying the passes to the horses and mule.

Amazon Prime

As the RuneChads advanced up the draw towards the looming summit, they saw traffic up and down the mountain from Dolgellau. It became apparent they were not unusual in any way as commerce of various sorts was regularly occurring. They reached a clearing at the base of a cliffline with large, wide steps cut into it leading some 300 yards to the summit whereupon stood Gogifran's keep. The clearing was evidently a staging area of sorts with the cavalry stables and barracks next to a very artificial looking lake.  They continued up the steps and entered into the courtyard of the Great Keep.

A courtier or chamberlain of sorts stood at the entrance to the Great Hall. Ledger in hand, he was checking off people and goods as they came and left the Hall. A failed attempt by Malo at a FastTalk and Kane approached, FLEXED, and crushed an Intimidate roll. The Chamberlain was suitably convinced to carry the RuneChad proposition to Gogifran: Drink or be Shamed.

As a rightful Lord, Gogifran would not be shamed in front of his men. A 50-foot-tall giant he was, and his ego was a right bit bigger! "When I win, you will bring me the Daughter of Derwenlas!" He laughed loudly. "When we win, she will be Wlfgar's to marry and this hall shall be his!" Malo shot back.

A series of Reaction Rolls later, the contest was on! Yes, Wlfgar threw up immediately on Round One

Giant Rounds

and it took Malo crushing a Fast Talk to keep the contest going...and expanding it into a Great Hall Feast complete with breakafst cereals and orangutans. After Round Four, BOTH Wlfgar and Gogifran failed their respective CON rolls, and passed out. At this point, few were paying attention with the feasting going on. While Kane applied First Aid to Wlfgar to keep him from dying (again?), Malo walked up confidently to Gogifran and poked him with the butt end of his spear. "Gentlemen, it appears we have a draw!" The crowd cheered. For a moment. 

And then Malo drove the point of his spear deep into Gogifran's brain, killing him instantly.

"By right of conquest, this Hall is ours."

Confusion gripped the crowd and some immediately took off the bronze torc they were wearing and thrrew it to the middle of the room. Others became ashen white and ran from the room. The Captain of the Guard, an intelligent fellow (who failed his Loyalty Roll), took off his torc and approached Malo. "We will summon the alchemist from Dolgellau to treat your friend. Tonight we will be safe here but there are no Wards to stop the Owl Witch from arriving. Arrive she will, once she gets word her minion has been vanquished."

A lore dump occurred at this point, much of which I think was not processed as it had grown a bit late. There will be another post "What Stonefoot Said" in the next few days. The RuneChads had won...for now.

Dang thing is HEAVY!