Amber of York: session 3, 8/04/2005

• Dan: Laurens of Rocque
• Brad: Thomas Gray
• Brett: Gwynedd
• Alan: Sir Martin Neville
• Patrick: Gabriel of Brittany
• Makul: Donal Rourke
• Mike: Vivienne Avondale

Monday dawn arrives. Several people have been up all night. Vivienne has been stuyding about the Argent Unicorn in the library. Gabriel has been writing a report about the previous evening, but shows up on time. Thomas has been tinkering in his room on a special project. Gwynedd shows up all chipper. Donal shows up 10 minutes late with 2 bags and a fine looking if unusual sword, a rapier. Laurens appears with a broadsword added to his arsenal. Thomas arrives in sensible garb armed with a belt knife.

The horses and pack mules await. Gwynedd takes charge of them.

Sir Martin looks for his cousin, the Master of the Horse, but does not find him. He suggests that the group find provisions at Castle Raby. The group heads for Durham. It will be a 2 day trip through the hills.

During the trip, Vivienne shares the little information she has found during her studies about the Argent Unicorn.

The first night the group finds themselves in the village of Mt. Grace. They head for the Abbey. Sir Martin knocks and gets asked to say the Lord’s Prayer. He does and is asked if he vouches for the goodness of the rest. Without hesitation he does even for Laurens. Everyone goes into the Abbey to take advantage of its protection against the “dark” creatures. Laurens asks the brothers about news from Scotland, but no news has reached Mt. Grace. During the meager meal provided by the brothers, the group hears of a foul beast tormenting the village. Sir Martin presses for more information, but Brother Stephen, the Abbot, suggests it is merely whisperings of those in the village who do not want to let go of their old ways.

When sleeping arrangements are made, Brother Stephen asks who will guard the virtue of Gwynedd and Vivienne. Donal volunteers. Sir Martin states unequivocally that Gabriel will guard. Gabriel stays outside the women’s room all night. The others share a different room.

The group wakes at dawn and prepares to leave. Sir Martin makes a donation. Gabriel tells the group to go on ahead. He is going to wander around the village to see if there is something amiss. He says he will catch up by the next hill if he doesn’t find anything. the others ride on. During his search, Gabriel finds a dead sheep that has been partially eaten. He discovers tracks that walk on 2 legs like a person, but have clawed toes. The steps are larger than a persons. He follows them to a twisted copse. He decides to catch up with the group and let them know what he has found.

Gabriel says, “The Abbot was wrong about the foul beast.” Donal suggests that this is just a distraction from the true goal of the trip, but goes a long. He says, “The white knights will vanquish evil again.” in a sarcastic voice. The group heads back for the tracks.

When they reach the tracks, Gwynedd says the tracks belong to an ogre. An ogre is 8’-9’ tall, tough skin, dumb and very strong. The copse has an unsettling look.

Sir Martin says, “We can’t leave the women alone.” Gwynedd responds, “I’m looking forward to seeing my first ogre.”

The group takes their horses back to the Abbey and walk to the twisted copse. The only signs of the ogre’s passage are its tracks on the ground. None of the trees or bushes have been marked by its passage. The group begins walking into the woods. The brambles seem to be actively hindering their path. After many scratches, some tears in clothing and a few cuts, the group reaches a clearing. The clearing has a round hole/cave in the middle. A faint breathing sound can be heard from inside. Gwynedd readies her bow. Sir Martin draws his sword. Donal climbs a tree away from the entrance. Laurens gets a rock? Thomas grabs a few. Sir Martin starts a smoky fire in the cave entrance.

Growling starts. The entrance explodes as a huge, 11’, misshapen thing burst out. It is carrying a small tree as a weapon. Sir Martin takes a mighty swing. It steps aside an clips him with the tree sending him tumbling. The ogre roars displaying its yellow cat like eyes. Thomas tosses a rock. Gwynedd lets fly with an arrow and buries it in the ogre’s arm. Sir Martin stands and goes for a hamstring cut. He gets smacked by the tree. Laurens goes for the armpit, but his blade is turned by the ogre’s skin. The ogre starts a charge toward Gwynedd. Gabriel throws a knife into the ogre’s eye which is also deflected. Donal jumps down from the tree and lands on the ogre’s shoulders. He is grazed by Thomas’s rock and almost hit by Gabriel’s knife as it bounces off. Donal stabs the ogre in the eye, but also has no success in damaging the ogre. When the ogre reaches Gwynedd, it makes a mighty swing of the tree to hit her. Gwynedd meets the swing with Branach’s twig. The tree shatters sending splinters flying. Sir Martin chases the ogre down makes another cut into the leg. The ogre grabs him crushing his ribs and shake him like a rag doll. Gabriel goes for a foot with his short sword, still to no avail. Laurens kicks the ogre’s knees, causing it to buckle, and the ogre to fall. Sir Martin gets tossed and hits a tree across the clearing. He coughs out a gout of blood. Gwynedd smashes the ogre’s arm where the arrow is embedded. The arrow shatters. Thomas ineffectively, hits the ogre with a stick.

Donal goes over by Vivienne. “So about that dinner invitation ...”

Gabriel makes a strike into one of the wounds that Sir Martin has made. His sword digs in, and the ogre screams. The ogre lashes out forcing him to dodge and lose the sword. Laurens stabs the ogre in the mouth mid scream. The ogre stops moving. A nearly broken Sir Martin rises to his feet, stumbles across the clearing, and decapitates the ogre.

“So, Raby Castle.”

Gabriel, noting how injured Sir Martin is, says, “I’m really tired from that fight. Maybe we should stay the night at the Abbey.”

Sir Martin sits down. “Okay.”

Gabriel tends to Sir Martin. Laurens checks out the cave. He finds animal and human remains. Gwynedd sings a song to the clearing about an ogre getting killed. The ogre’s body decomposes very quickly. By the time it is finished, Sir Martin is feeling better. He can now walk with the help of Gabriel. Laurens salvages the arrowhead from Gwynedd’s shot.

At the Abbey, Sir Martin says, “You no longer have an ogre problem, Father David.” The group mounts their horses and returns to the road. Gwynedd tells a story about Branach’s Twig. The group travels uneventfully to Raby Castle. They are welcomed. Sir Martin makes a point of seeing his sister Cecily.

Donal heads into the port town of Durham.

At dinner, Sir Martin’s brother questions the group about the goings on in the Duke’s court. Members of the group get the impression he already knows the answers. Gabriel answers the questions with as little information as possible. Gwynedd sings a song of the battle with the ogre. It is well received. Sir Martin makes a toast.

After dinner breaks up, Gabriel heads to bed after being up for 2 nights straight. Gwynedd chats with folks in the castle and in particular Cecily. She wants to get the inside scoop on Sir Martin. Thomas heads to his room to attend to his “art.” Vivienne heads for the library. Sir Martin chats with his brother and suggests a detachment of men be sent to Mt. Grace. He then goes and visits some friends. Laurens returns to his room and prepares the salvaged arrowhead on a fresh arrow.

During the night, Gwynedd sees a figure in her room at the foot of the bed. It is a small creature.

Gwynedd: “Why do you bother me?”

Creature: “I’ve not seen one of the touched in centuries. Where do you travel?”

Gwynedd: “I travel north.”

Creature: “Do you seek a mate? I saw one in the ice.”

Gwynedd: “I’m seeking in the north.”

Creature: “What do you seek?”

Gwynedd: “The Argent Unicorn.”

Creature: “I can help your search.”

Gwynedd: “What is it you require.”

Creature: “A small price.”

Gwynedd: “What price?”

Creature: “A drop of your blood. You’ll hardly miss it. It will make me more real.”

Gwynedd: “What will you do then?”

Creature: “What other real things do.”

Gwynedd: “I ask that you be a polite guest.”

Creature: “Agreed! Do we have a deal young touched one?”

It moves up the bed while pulling a very small cup from its belt. Gwynedd pricks her finger with a needle and draws a drop of blood. The creature takes the blood into its cup and drinks it down.

Creature: “For my part, the chieftain of the MacLarens has the unicorn you seek. He is soul binding its horn to his tribe.” Gwynedd: “That sounds bad for the unicorn.”

Creature: “It is fortunate for the tribe. It will keep them from harm.”

Gwynedd: “How do you break the charm?”

Creature: “Break the spell. All the pieces of the horn will then turn to dust. Then to prevent it from happening again, you must bind the unicorn to someone else. Find Ola Menzies. She is their witch that is performing the binding. She must be replaced. When the army is completely soul bound, they plan to attack to the south.”

Gwynedd: “You spoke of someone to the north. Who is it?”

Creature: “The Dragon of Ice lives north. Good luck in your hunt.”

The creature leaves. The new day dawns. Gabriel and Laurens each go to the blacksmith to have their weapons repaired. The blacksmith is incredulous at the assertion that the blades were damaged by ogre’s blood. The group prepares to ride out. Most note that Thomas has a new knife. Sir Martin can’t figure out how he got it since he didn’t visit the blacksmith and didn’t leave the castle.

Gwynedd says, “I think I know where we need to go.”