Hope's Rest: Odin's Temple

[archolewa]

May 1, Year 1 of Rappan Athuk Campaign

Ingulfr makes his way through the bustling streets of Hope's Rest to the moderately sized temple to Odin and his Pantheon. Though dwarfed by Jupiter's opulence place of worship, it nonetheless possesses a spartan beauty about it. Simple, but elegant and solid. A fortress temple for a Pantheon forever at war.


Statues of elegant, but fierce Valkyries flank the temple doors. The statues hold real spears, and Ingulfr knows from experience that if tugged on the right way, they can be removed, though to do so for any reason other than to defend the temple or grant honor to a fallen warrior would be the height of blasphemy.

Ulfr sighs, and taps his spear gently against that of one of the Valkyries, a common sign of respect, and desire to one day be carried off the battlefield by one of these warrior maidens. "Feels like comin' home, sir. Gettin' tired of all the frilly opulence of the Empire."

The inside of the temple is a long, straight room. Statues of Odin's vassals, from the mighty Thor to the beautiful, but fierce Freyja, line the walls. Like the temple itself, the statues are simple, but elegant. Unadorned, simple, but excellently executed works of art. At the far end, standing mighty and proud, Gugnir held above his head in a throwing position, is a statue of Odin One-Eyed.

[Rex]

Ingulfr

"Yes it is Ulfr, always like coming home. We will pay our respects and let someone know we are about before heading back to find our companions."

Ingulfr will move to the statue of Odin and offer thanks in the most appropriate way. Once both of them are done doing so he will see if he can find someone who resides here.

[archolewa]

Ingulfr clangs his weapon against his shield, while Ulfr pounds the butt of his spear against the ground. The two sing a brief chant honoring the sacrifice of Odin's eye, and his death and resurrection so that he may receive the wisdom to delay Ragnarok, and stand against the forces of Evil.

Ingulfr then bows his head and declares that he has arrived to challenge Rappan Athuk, just as Odin demanded, and asks Odin for a small sliver of His wisdom, that he may challenge the terrible darkness and return successful.

As the two wrap up, an older fellow comes out, using a spear to help him walk. He bears a steel symbol of Odin around his neck, and his ropes are simple, but well made.

"Ahh, a cleric of Odin and his retainer has come to town," says the old man in a thin, but otherwise firm voice. He bows. "I am Michael, cleric of Odin myself. Though, I must admit that I am long retired from the battlefield. What brings you to Hope's Rest? I do so hope I did not hear what I thought I did, that you plan to challenge Rappan Athuk? Be wary, for I've heard that deep inside that accursed Temple of the Demon Lord Orcus is a great goblin city. Big as Hope's Rest, maybe bigger, and all the hideous little cretins are devout followers of the Demon Lord. They will not welcome you kindly."

[Rex]

Ingulfr

"Yes, we plan on challenging Rappan Athuk. I have had a vision from Odin, calling on me to seek it out and to destroy or at least try to weaken the followers of Orcus. Something big is afoot. I travel with a Paladin of Muir who had a similar vision from Muir. Have you heard anything lately that seems different, a change perhaps? Anything, no mater how small may turn out to be useful."

[archolewa]

The old man frowns. "Odin himself came to you? Disturbing, yes that's disturbing indeed. Always looking to delay Ragnarok is our old man Odin. If he wants you to challenge Rappan Athuk, well. As for what I've heard, alas, not much. Adventurers venture into that place, and very rarely return. I, hmm..."

The old man thinks some more. "I have heard rumors of folks spotting a dragon in the distant sky near Rappan Athuk. Could also be a wyvern, you know how excitable folks get about dragons. The power in that realm seems to be growing darker as well. There's a Druidess who lives out there. Used to be a pleasant enough woman, but lately she's turned, well, rabid I suppose is the best way to describe her. More and more frequent rumors of nasty monsters coming out of the dungeons, and settling on the surface, or coming and settling in the wilderness around RA. Trolls. Hordes of giant spiders. Even rumors of a village of bugbears somewhere in the forest now. Powerful, numerous bandit groups. Nasty place, nasty place and getting nastier by the day."

[Rex]

Ingulfr

"It sounds like the darkness is growing then, which explains the call. Why me? No idea, but Odin has made it clear to me where I must go, how I am to succeed is another mater."

He thinks for a moment.

"Thank you for the information, he may indeed be very useful. I will seek out my companions now and share what you have told me with them."

[archolewa]

And you'll head back to the Hope's Rest thread here: viewtopic.php?p=747120#p747120