AD&D 2e / A Toast to King Níðuðr’s Sons / Otsuka RPG Day

(**Please be sure to read the "Notes on Theme" below before signing up.)

King Æthelwulf of Wessex is a strange sort of Christian. He is obsessed--more than is typical and healthy for any good Christian--with the past, with his faith, and with the story of his sacrificed god. He searches doggedly for artefacts of the days of his god's death and resurrection... a tattered shroud, a chipped and worn spear, a fragment of rotted wood, and... a silver cup. His men scour the known lands in a never-ending quest to find any hint of where these holiest of holy treasures might be hidden. Following every lead, pulling at every thread of ancient story tapestry, his tireless research has led him to the land of the Danes, to the story of Völund and the vengeance-fuelled silver chalices that the ancient smith crafted from the skulls of King Níðuðr’s sons.

You have been approached by one of Æthelwulf’s agents, a Christian warrior by all appearances, to help him find the chalices from that ancient tale. He promises to pay your weight in silver. You laugh at the outlandish offer, but it does seem he has the backing of a king, and Christian silver gleams just as brightly as Danish...

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The Völundarkviða (part of the Poetic Edda, a collection of Norse mythological tales) tells the story of Völund, the greatest smith, of his betrayal by the king, and of his gruesome vengeance upon the king and his family. The PCs know this story well. But you, the player, can find it in many places online. Here is one translation:

Völundarkviða
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Notes on Game:
- The system is AD&D 2e and will be using the "Vikings Campaign Sourcebook" from that same edition. Need a very quick refresher on 2e? Here you go: Rules Breakdown: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition
- The year is 840 CE.
- The game will be low fantasy (eg. subtle magic, like Invisibility, is fine, but flashy stuff, like Fireball, doesn't exist).
- Considerable creative license will be taken with history and culture in this session.
- Pre-gens (4th level) will be provided.
- Need some music to inspire? Here you go: Wardruna - Helvegen

Notes on Theme:
- This adventure is centred around dark themes.
- Players are free to explore dark themes during the session.
- It also contains themes related to real-world religions in conflict.
- This adventure may not be for everyone. Please consider this before signing up.