d100 Strange Hermits

As there was a talk about hermits of late I bumped this up my to do list.

The PDF's got about same interest as typical blogs - I did get nice letters of thanks and some offers of money and possibly a few new readers. One reader gave me tip to design stuff with room for ring binder holes. I put all mine in plastic sleeves but I think this is pretty realizable.

I assume most hermits are male here but feel free to adjust. I will do a hag table for the ladies later. When we are old we can all play Hags & Hermits. I had some entertaining research into sects which will bear fruit in later games. Ive also considered when I do my religion campaign notes I will present a ancient church with a pantheon of gods vs a modern version more like monotheism with pantheon head as supreme and other gods portrayed as angels or archons or Deva with saints instead of heroes. It will make interesting schisms and fights in game.

Hermits are mostly holy or pretend to be or thought of by locals as hermits at least. Some actually fraud and dangerous. Hermits often know things and are invaluable as sages or teachers. Some can be horrible villains. Good for source of adventure, training, aide, mentors and information.

also see this
http://dungeonofsigns.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/d20-random-lunatic-hermits.html

Some more stuff non fiction stuff here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit

Your churches need more schisms
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Heresy.pdf
Ah the good old days
http://listverse.com/2014/02/07/10-bizarre-early-christian-sects/

Format
Hermit Name, alignment, description including class if any
Teachings, each hermit has a specialty skill or wisdom

I use the first batch of tables to create my own hermits on the fly or ad extra info to the full d100 hermit table. Udually they are formed enough to not need all the tables.

d100 Where do I Find Hermits?
01 In a hole

02 On a pole
03 In a tree
04 In a bush
05 In a ditch by side of the road
06 In a tower 1in6 bricked up
07 In a well crafted cell
08 In a crude piled stone hut
09 In a humpy of woven sticks scrap
10 In a cave
11 In a grotto with running water
12 On a ledge on a cliff face
13 Under a tree
14 In a wild beasts lair
15 In a well
16 In a shrine
17 In a old tomb
18 In a ruin
19 In a forest
20 On a mountain top

D12 Hermit Livelihood (or roll D10 for common ones)
01 Donations from travellers and pilgrims
02 Fed by local church
03 Fed by local folk
04 Gathers food and goods in the wild
05 Gathers scraps from local farms for chores
06 Makes handcraft like baskets, shoes, wood goods to sell
07 Labours cutting wood or stone, carrying water or gardening
08 Earns money as guide, watchman, porter or gatekeeper
09 Earns coin as a scribe, sage, artist or healer 
10 Animal friends bring food daily
11 Hermit uses magic to call divine food
12 Hermit no longer needs food or drink

D12 Hermit Dress
01 Stark naked
02 Filthy old loincloth
03 Clean loincloth
04 A scratchy hair shirt
05 A plain cloth shirt
06 A shirt and hooded cloak
07 Tattered moth eaten robes
08 Coloured robes 
09 Clean but coarse layered robes
10 Faded old worn Clerical vestments
11 Animal skins
12 Monk cossack

D12 Hermit dislikes
01 Local children or youths who tease him
02 Sinners who live unquestioning lives
03 Violence or those who live by death
05 Mainstream organised religion
06 Improper morals or alignment conduct
07 Anyone who disturbs hermits
08 Local gang, bandits or humanoids
09 Those who abuse gifts like beauty or magic
10 Supernatural spirits or phantoms or demons who taunt him at night
11 Unjust rulers or authorities
12 Displays of wealth and status

D12 Why a Hermit?
1 Atone for sin
2 Fled a tragedy
3 Questioned authority
4 Broke taboo
5 Sect decimated
6 Avoiding temptation
7 Lost a struggle for position
8 Questioned faith
9 Discovered blasphemous secret
10 Solace from other people
11 Orders from hierarchy
12  Had visions

d12 Hermit Secrets
01 Knows of a local dungeon
02 Knows secrets of local evil
03 Knows local comings and goings
04 Knows local version of legend
05 Knows of scandal evidence
06 Knows location of a lost thing
07 Knows a formula for potion or drug
08 Knows long lost truth of history
09 Knows of strange location
10 Knows why a location haunted
11 Knows a rare or unique spell
12 Know of other planar beings

D100 Strange Hermit Quirks (d3 each hermit)
01 Covered in caked on filth

02 Overgrown toe and finger nails
03 Long hair and beard on the ground
04 Painted all over with mud
05 Diseased skin
06 Face and hands painted with symbols
07 Tattoos all over
08 Missing teeth
09 A wizened staff
10 Holy symbol necklace
11 Collection of bead necklaces
12 Collection of skulls
13 Snakes, owls or some other small pet
14 Dog, goat, deer, mule or some medium size pet
15 Lion, Wolf, bear, horse or some large animal pet
16 Long Eyebrows
17 Shaved head
18 Vile smell of unwashed
19 A Idol or shrine
20 A holy book
21 Wine bottle
22 Calligraphy set
23 Old pot
24 Begging bowl
25 Pipe and stash tin
26 Fishing line
27 Lantern
28 Wide brimmed hat
29 Tattered old banner
30 Flail or lash for holy self abuse
31 Smell of frankincense, incense or scented oil
32 Holy water sprinkler for blessings
33 Fishing rod and bucket
35 Bag with bread,onion and cheese
36 Holy water flask
37 Gourd
38 Instrument, probably flute or bagpipes
39 Hand bell
40 Shepherds crook
41 Sickle
42 Scythe
43 Brazier
44 Fragment of old religious artwork
45 Item from pilgrimage to holy place
46 Basket
47 Ashes in funerary urn
48 Bundle of skeletal remains of predecessor
49 Stone Tablet
50 Religious Scroll
51 Scarified from war or torture
52 Scrawny with sagging skin
53 Apparently blind with white eyes
54 Blood shot red or brilliant blue eyes

55 Missing limb
56 Missing eye
57 Nose or ears cut off
58 Missing fingers
59 Exotic and foreign

60 Floral garlands
61 Ornamental piercings
62 Locked in manacles or yoke
63 A large vegetable
64 Surrounded by birds
65 Surrounded by vermin
66 Surrounded by flies
68 Smell of honey and flowers
69 Singing birds follow

70 Has no tongue or vow of silence, cant speak
71 Face covered by mask, hood or veil
72 Broken or old discarded templar weapons

73 Ring with noble crest seal
74 Humble tasty honey cakes or pies
75 Loaves of bread
76 Huge skewered roast honey locusts
77 Bowl of porridge or groats
78 Tea set with herbal tea

79 Talks to invisible friends (spirits or crazy?)
80 Pale or darker skin than typical 
81 Covered in freckles or spots or warts
82 Hunch backed
83 Club footed
84 Has palsy
85 Has terrible breath
86 Tempted by pretty young people
87 Tempted by vice
88 Foams at mouth
89 Sickly and seemingly near death
90 Stutters or lisps
91 Has great inspiring nobility
92 Knows a secret technique
93 Always jolly, laughing and knows good jokes
94 Protected by invisible entity 
95 Has a minor saint relic, hidden on person or in relic box
96 Weather seems to respond to hermits mood
97 Strange music sounds when hermit met
98 Does not sleep
99 Feels no heat or cold
100 Has a halo, different shape for each alignment

D10 Quick Hermit Types

01 Wild Men

02 Wanderers
03 Madman
04 Wicked cultists
05 Charltans
06 Holy recluses
07 Loner monks
08 Heretic
09 Prophets
10 Magicians

d100 Strange Hermits

Hermit Name, alignment, description including class if any but most priests

Teachings and beliefs

01 Balshebbar, Chaotic, Filthy Insane cannibal who hides grisly feasts in a old well
Teaches how to sustain self from cannibal diet, concealment and wilderness survival

02 Baraney Crungle, Chaotic, filthy crazy squirrel eater with squirrel cape
Teaches secret .language of squirrels, hundreds of recipes including a plague cure

03 Old Zeravny, Good,  balding bearded pauper who watches hills for bandits and worse
Knows the mountain trails and many of the humanoid dungeons and bandit hideouts
04 Kubal the wise, Neutral, A tattered robed old bearded man with mice and birds in hair
Knows many secrets of nature and animals,  bird friends tell him gossip from afar 
05 Lazlo the wild, Chaotic, a fierce wild man who flings feces at intruders in his glade
Knows secret entrances into secret dungeon and tunnel complexes
06 Zarb Bardabing, Chaotic, laughing madman who lives in a tree stump
His friends the trees know many secrets forgotten by younger beings historians 
07 Tulnab Dingle, Chaotic, robed forest philosopher with lichen covered beard
Knows location of secret magic herbs and the unicorn glades and secret elf outposts  
08 Fard Brinditch, Lawful, stern wild philosopher with his animal friends
Occasionally comes to fringes of civilization to preach against corruption of  humankind
09 Old Bear Grillson, Neutral, a wildman in a bearskin who prowls woods living as a beast
Knows many secrets of survival and hidden caves and lost things in the hills
10 Cardjad Frawlthistle, Nuetral, lives under a bridge and advises travellers about routes
Is fluent in ways of trolls as he was enslaved by them and some say he lives like one  
11 Krall Tinwhistle, Nuetral, wanders across land with but a staff, shirt and begging bow
Knows names and gossip of adventurers and murder hobos across the land
12 Pwrall Bugrump, Nuetral, travels across land examining mysteries of wells
Knows of subterranean water ways and strange wells across the land  
13 Zabab Graal, Lawful, wanders the land as a homeless old man looking for true heroes
Seeks heroes to train to recover a holy relic guarded by traps and moral tests
14 Nopka Thuze, Nuetral, ramble around country side gathering herbs and treating the sick
Happy to teach others herbalism and knows some secret recipes for strange ailments
15 Arden Truel, Lawful, wanders the land seeking gifted students to teach literacy to
Teaches reading, writing and the classics to poor, sometimes helps fund scholarships
16 Shamden Bogtrotter, Chaotic Good, a drunken jolly fatman who wanders tasting grog
Actually he is is looking to find wicked cultists and adventurers he can provoke to kill them
17 Zolran Trone, Lawful, a crazed old man looking for supposed long hidden evils
Looks for strange cracks in earth and long hidden places, also needs adventurers to search
18 Manderbrog Bafflegab, Lawful, is a gibbering wanderer who talks too much
Actually he seeks the truly wise by hidden phrases he can share his secrets with 
19 Jaleb Bharji, Chaotic Good, a strange foreign man who is tolerated as a tinkerer
While skilled in fixing things, secretly he searches for lost relic from his distant homeland
20 Banthra Karg, Chaotic Evil, wanders land giving dungeon maps to heroes
Actually he is paid by dungeon lords to send ill prepared unskilled adventurers to deaths  
20 Kybold Ming, Chaotic Good, lives in filth on fringe of village talking to self
Actually knows technique to see invisible things in spirit world and protects village 
21 Korben Lax, Chaotic Evil, was been on run for murder for years and keeps moving
Offers to teach students and lures to death traps, often uses bandits or humanoid allies
22 Mandiger Folx, Chaotic, former adventurer who tells rambling stories in return for beer
Some of his stories contain truth and he knows many dungeon locations in region
23 Olag Blag, Nuetral, likes to badly play crude instruments and busks for his daily keep
Actually is a bar and spy, often tries to manipulate adventurers to investigate humanoids
24 Borag Mog, Nuetral, collects cats and lives in filthy shack with dozens of them
Actually can teach how to speak cat and trained several youths in thievery
25 Plugly Gilthwapper, Chaotic, lives in shack in garbage heap making things from junk
Skilled at tinkering and many handicrafts, also kows movements of local humanoids
26 Plunkwhistle, Chaotic, drooling old fool who falls over and people pay to stay away
He knows common scriptures and many forgotten ones no longer popular 
27 Bobbit Crunktadger, Chaotic, has been locked up as public menace and keeps escaping
Actually he is a skilled escapologist and former agent of the high holy heirophant 
28 Zebran Draab, Evil, pretends to be harmless and helpful old fool
Spies on peoples comings and goings then performs horrible murders framing innocents
29 Brog Gelb, Nuetral, a hard working wandering labourer, shunned for his madness
Knows techniques for great endurance and long distance running
30 Polka Zin, a dancing old fool who talks to graves an carries a skull
Actually can speak to dead and tries to help dead resolve issues so they can rest in peace
31 Oolran Bor, Chaotic Evil, acts as a teacher and adviser to poor and down trodden
Actually recruits them into the embrace of the mad frog god cult
32 Master Zeringer, Lawful Evil, Wise holy man who helps who helps find hidden witches  
Encourages mobs to persecute women, pretends to be kind and reasonable, serves Hell
33 Barnaby Zellwien, Lawful Evil, Old man convinces locals to destroy "evil" pagan relics
In reality these relics and monuments have trapped evil beings he seeks to release 
34 Giles Cockleby, Chaotic Evil, helps farmers while introducing them to demon cults
Seems like a kind helper of common man, actually cult leader on mission from evil god
35 Master Kithreon, Lawful Evil, spends time indulging in luxury, vice and wickedness
Spreads corruption and vice with cash he gets from a local dungeon lord from Hell
36 Kalandor, Evil, a popular attractive healer who gives medicine to the poor
Expert in brewing addictive drugs, perverts commoners to join drug cults  
37 Modorian the Wonder Worker, Chaotic Evil, uses his blessed powers to help commoners
Actually a sorcerer who dupes pious into joining his inner circle a demon vice cult 
38 Fenwick Marsh, Chaotic Evil, a local marsh guide who sells fish and heals the poor
A fish cultist who charms women and offers to restore their virginity with his holiness
39 Karzan Brimble, Evil, Warns commoners of unhappy spirits and helps battle undead
Actually creates undead and cons people into making cash offerings to appease dead
40 Doctor Grimblebee, Lawful Evil, kindly old man helps many with personal problems
Actually he is desperate to buy souls for Hell in a deal to get his own soul back 
41 Gimble Thorn, Neutral, helps the poor with inexpensive healing potions he makes
Actually a fraud using narcotics to make dupes feel better, moves on if any suspicious
42 Paddra Thune, Neutral, This kindly healer sells charms to protect women
Actually he seduces them leaving a trail of illegitimate children, former baker from city 
43 Nunria San, Nuetral, Kindly advises local business men with his astrology skills
A fraud who manipulates commodity prices and cons suckers to buying them
44 Paldor Than, Nuetral, Collecting donations for a wondrous new church or monument
Actually a shameless con man who spends money on booze, gambling and prostitutes 
45 Tolun Nitron, Evil, Recruiting young men to join his merry rebel band in the hills
Instea of freeom fighting the victims are press ganged into being poorly paid bandits 
46 Zobra Tor, Evil, Travels about aiding farmers with his agricultural wisdom
Also encourages some to grow illegal drug crops and evil spell components
47 Old man Thorsby, Neutral, travels to help commoners with his livestock advice
Works with thieves who steal best animals in county after he moves on
48 karon Meldham, Neutral, sells lucky and charms an offers personal prophecies
A former trinket crafter from city who sells work to country rubes as magic
49 Illior Turan, Lawful Evil, Visits communities and has a knack for finding witches
Actually blackmails women for sex and tries to grab land of old women with little family
50 Loran Despule, Lawful Evil, Kindly old man selling city apprenticeships for children
Actually he sells kids to sweatshops and slave traders and cults
51 Sanpa Gnodstrom, Lawful Good, A once important cleric in hiding from church authority
Has knowledge of ecclesiastical scandals, regions ancient ruins, and fallen angels
52 Tozer Rundok, Chaotic Good, wild bearded scholar deep in mystic contemplation
Avoids distractions while trying to understand secrets of his holy clerical texts 
53 Kozak Braan, Good, prays in is cave for worlds salvation, avoids people but will heal sick Abstaining food and water and trying to prey self to death but angels keep restoring life 
54 Padrial Zemna, Good, wears faded patriarchal robes of banned sect but helps the needy
Teaches secret doctrines no longer part of modern church including new spells  
55 Porius Lecta, Good, former cleric adventurer now living in stone hut in hills
Will put on old armour to help needy or foolish young adventurers out of there depth 
56 Zamna Thorg, Good, guides road travellers and knows how to avoid bandits and trolls
Knows local bandit lairs, troll holes and other dungeons and caves best left alone 
57 Golrod Stang, Good, former judge from church court, locals still seek for judgement
Expert on church lore ans cunning extractor of truth from commoners, well respected
58 Salma Stern, Good, former priest of now rare sect destroyed by tyrant decades ago
Sect knew many secrets of cults and local demons an elder gods in the region 
59 Asran Varp, Good, Former teacher lives in isolation to prey and still offers advice
Retired due to temptation teaching holy virgin sisterhood, tries to avoid looking at women
60 Rolgan Thark, Good, former inquisitor who had innocents killed with weak evidence
Expert on atonement rituals and now dislikes judging others, will fight obvious evils
61 Brother Rolgar, Lawful, survived his orders destruction and now avoids humanity
His sect had known many secrets of cosmic law and the mysteries of overspace 
62 Brother Weltron, Lawful, failed his orders leadership challenge now dwells in a pit
Wise in the ways of medicine and natural philosophy which he scribes in his journals 
63 Brother Sannel, Lawful Evil, removed from his sect for wicked plots and theft
He secretly trains bandits in esoteric fighting arts while pretending to be a wise scholar
64 Brother Hroldar, Lawful, a jolly wine maker exiled from order for drunken revelry
He still makes wine in his cave but now it use ceremonial only, but he will teach others
65 Brother Dzelrak, Lawful evil, from a sect fallen to devil worship and burned by king
He now pretends to be a kindly teacher and tries to dupe heroes into finding evil relics
66 Brother Tralorn, Lawful Good, lives in ruins of his order, the last of his kind
Seeks new students but cant find truly disciplined ones but he keeps searching
67 Brother Latan, Lawful, hunts signs of chaos, corruption and  evil but is getting old
Tells tales of his old battles but villagers don't believe in the power of chaos now days 
68 Brother Phebus the lightbearer, Lawful, he guides nigh travellers and fights undead
Has knowledge in finding undead and the taint of their evil in graveyards
69 Brother Selinor, Lawful, living off nuts and berries living in a cave, tired of humans
Actually keeps a minor relic in cave and knows where there are several more in dungeons 
70 Brother Flaius, Lawful, seeks atonement for burning church building, helps travellers
Was a famous scribe and calligrapher, has been writing several books with his cat
71 Camus Faran, Lawful, exiled for unusual interpretation of holy texts, has pet snakes
Know the language of snakes and obsessed with their every mention in holy books 
72 Zoran Kerax, Chaotic Evil, wild man has written additional scriptures justifying murder
Lives in a cave full of skulls, writes on flayed human skin, kills visitors, deceived by demons 
73 Alleous Toran, Nuetral, lives in harmony with beasts, disapproves of church buildings
Speaks many animal languages and is superior animal doctor who helps farmers
74 Wallen Gorb, Good, was tortured by goblins now prefers solitary life in prayer
Knows goblin ways and underground tunnels through mountains, keeps set of goblin idols 
75 Talen Rael, Nuetral, sits on top of ruined column and fed by locals, fantastic long beard
Believes everyone should live like him and lived like this for decades, was a skilled healer 
76 Varran Klator, Nuetral, driven from church for seduction of youths and nudity
Preaches fornication and preaches in nude as god made him, locals throw rocks at him
77 Balrezar, Nuetral, spends time praying god unmakes the universe as it is a mistake
Expert on creation, dawn age and the elder races before man, seeks spell of annihilation
78 Tolrad Brathe, Good, exiled for arguing church give all money to poor, lives in ditch
Opposed to greed and property ownership, hunts bandits and thieves who rob poor
79 Erod Sunn, Chaotic Evil, spreads corrupted church beliefs and demon worship
Always smiling and works at corrupting local faith, killed several priests and keeps skulls
80 Marren Bor, Good, adopts orphans who live in stone huts preying and living simply
Local church leaders don't approve of his archaic doctrines about nature of divinity
81 Master Terran Vorr, Chaotic, dwells in stick hut having mystic visions, fed by locals
Having visions of apocalyptic changes to structure of the universe and cosmic threats
82 Zogorra Than, Lawful, in hiding to contemplate if the angel who gave him tablets is true
Composed a new potentially heretical book of prophecies and new insights into doctrine 
83 Horzel Mishma, Lawful, has been scribe of secrets told to him by possibly rebel angel
Has been keeping in hidden trunk all his writings with gold "angel" gave him for copying 
84 Paleb Drule, Nuetral, people pester him for future visions an he has had a gutful
Hides in mountain with animal guardians now, might share presight for great purpose 
85 Kural Pradshem, Good, currently hiding in wilds and tormented by demons nightly
Undergoing tests from the angels, forthright in all dealings, fears demons might hurt others 
86 Terewel Knorrad, Nuetral, hiding in woods having terrible visions about a local killer!
Actually he is a werewolf and is the killer, he is a fine poet but demons attack his spirit
87 Prawlogg Skren, Chaotic, spreads exiting new teachings inspired by angels!
Actually serves chaos frog demons of limbo preparing cult for a visitation of the frog gods
88 Horlog Blanb, has made a prophecy of the fate of the kingdom, some say he is just daft
he has had his doubts but now is sure angels inspired visions, everyone must get ready! 
89 Azrag Truell, Chaotic Evil, gossips about hidden enemies, betrayals and family secrets
actually a demon in disguise stirring up small communities and provoking murder
90 Curdmas Trey, Good, hiding in isolation in ruins in hope angel voices return
Has been given specific knowledge on demon and evil cults, they hunt him every night 
91 Simony Magaros, Teaching he is new incarnation of god from his cliff shrine
Actually a sorcerer into drugs and vice using spells and drugs to pretend he is a priest 92 Honoriad Trast, Lawful, former inquisition master now a quiet wandering healer
Aculay member of secret order battling planar intruders and finding heroes to fight chaos 
93 Calabus Corimm, Nuetral, well known and loved for aid to farmers and commoners
Actually a druid who avoids conflict with urban priesthoods to keep helping commoners
94 Marastad Galum, Lawful, actually a wizard but but strong in faith, lives in a treehouse
Working in his study and identifying evil beings in the area secretly up to no good
95 Zortell Madden, Lawful, a former templar who roams back hills hunting evil
Actually seeking to recover a relic entrusted to him and locating area dungeons and lairs
96 Korgax Ran, Chaotic, formerly a barbarian who converted and joined priesthood
Occasionally comes from hills to form a posse to exterminate local bandits and humanoids 
97 Sirriax, Nuetral, a helpful but shy hermit well liked by villagers for driving away monsters
Acyually they are an elf using a false bears to keep an eye on humans
98 Kozrax the Dwarf, a short angry hermit sick of people who lives in a hole
Actually he was a very short man, property of royal court and escaped, sick of big people
99 Morzigan Truel, Lawful Evil, a mighty hermit who has sealed many dungeons with spells
Actually helping dungeon lords on his faction and impeding those who refuse to join 
100 Korzarrim Skyrax, Lawful, a stern preaching philosopher who lives in bramble bush
Cynical of human good being able to save world, preparing own strange ritual to save world
Thanks John P on G+ for spotting something funny about 92 i fixed

The Last Vikings: The Sacking of R'lyeh

Sorry been not doing new stuff - been working full time, socialising, dating, making art again and trying to finish proof copy of my table book.

So vikings has bee lots of fun for 6 months. Started as dirt poor farmer teens ended up international dread runelord warlords throwing themselves at the shores of Rlyeh and utter madness. All had written wills.

Hrafn a werewolf runelord champion of Odin doomed to die soon
Alrec despaired at difficulty of pleasing gods has become a dread sorcerer
Briedr a farmer and champion of Thor
Thorhadr a former weak youth raised by rival clan now a famous Scald and Sorceror of Tsathogua
Thora a priestess of Freya, mother and merchant princes wife preparing to leave Midgard
Throa her sister a runemaster, blacksmith and mother famous fer her iron mace
Yvette widow of Johan now a champion of Njordr the sea god with her sealion servants

So after killing all European in north America and Greenland (a hundred years before they return) they sailed in their warship with three others, each ship with a fifty men and women. Sunk cultist ships converging on Cthulhu's dread city R'lyeh. Also known as the hall of the Jörmungandr serpent or castle of the leviathan depending on your gods.

Found a rock Island near Greenland with cult ships. Evil monks from Ireland, savage Pict's, evil Briton druids, Orkney fish cultists and many other depraved drooling cultists had gathered here to perform rites to keep Cthulhu awake despite the stars not being quite right. Band marched up hill as their men slaughtered the cultists guarding the ships and burned them.

The heroes battles cultists including evil vikings and killed them all with relish. Into the depths they went down a spiral staircase till they found green robed cultists at a great green monolith led by a cowled being in tattered robes. Slaughtered the cult but those who approached the leader saw it was in fact a crawling mass of worms in a mans shape that had somehow learnt to walk where it ought to crawl.

It hurled a sticky black glob from a tin bucket with a spatula which Thorhadr blocked with his shield, but Briedr was struck by one which ate some of his intellect before they destroyed it. Smashed the worms as best they could and one of the younger Stonedale's they brought along began to eat worms laughing.

The planted elder signs and destroyed everything they could and collapsed cave mouth. Found cultists with a great gold disc with alien sigils they cut into three parts. Saw R'lyeh rise in distance. Alien angles troubled them but they approached. Sure they had ruined great cult ritual they were determined to inflict as much suffering as possible on the old ones.

Saw a blue monolith atop the second tallest peak and marched for it while soldiers hunted and killed deep ones and cultists on the Island howling with glee to be with the lord of madness. While climbing the high hill one man slipped into an odd angle never to be sen again. Entered the blue monolith and battled a horrendous tentacled frog demon which their magic weapons harmed. Killed it but several increasingly shaken. Hrafn was looking for death and did not care.

The place elder signs in the altar and climbed the stairs. Knowing they had hurt the cult scheme they now saw Cthulhu's crypt open and the vikings began to snap. The awful visage sent some over the edge. Thorhadr drained of magic went inside and carved a gate in the wall and jumped in to Saturn as Eibon had thousands of years go. Breidr went mad and was a feral beast. His tatooed skin made him greater than many beasts they had killed and it took four others to kill him. Alrec summoned a Byakee which didn't help the band's sanity. Young Stonedale who had eaten worms was bashed and knocked off the building to break all his limbs and laugh in a broken heap below. Others went inside a the living mountain came at them. They placed the sacred star stones at the entrance on ground and on top of tower. Thora entered a trance and left to Elfland. She begged her sister Throa to join her but she would not abandon all her children. Cthulhu lumbered over them and Hrafn climbed to the top of the Tower. Throa's old husband, keen for a heroic death charged and struck cthulhu with a pole axe and the alien titan stomped at him. The brave old warrior who now had a son longed only for death managed to deflect the blow but his shield arm was torn off. He got up and swung again and Cthulhu crushed the man into a smear on the eldritch staircase. Others struck at cthulhu and even harmed the horror using the warded tower to retreat into if needed. Hrafn preyed to Odin, his head that of a wolf and all his Odin inspired fury he mustered and jumped at the god, cutting his shoulder. Cthulhu snatched him in his tentacles before he hit the ground. Hrafn threw an elder sign down the gods throat before him. As he fell into the horrendous god maw, he heard sound of raven wings and the spear of Odin burst through his chest. Odin whispered into his ear from behind.

"You were doomed to die but not in the belly of the serpent, you were always mine to take to my halls"

Hrafn's spirit was carried to Valhalla. The warrior smiled as his spirit hung limply, his blurred vision of the horror god below choking, writhing and vomiting up the star stone. Throa and Yvette the only vikings left ran and with star stones to ward off evil fled to the boats and where there men were killing cultists. Many men had grabbed gold but the Alrec on his Byakee star demon came and warned them to leave Cthulhu's treasure. Those who disobeyed were either killed by deep ones or turned into disgusting ruined messes of outre fungus.

The ship pulled back as the Island began to sink and the sleepy god, having spewed up the elder sign staggered back to his eternal slumber for another thousand years or so.

Ragnorak was averted for at least a while.

Throa did see her sister again who tried to take her to Elfland. The sisters embraced and cried but Throa wanted to see her many daughters and part dark elf son live. Even the one the loki cultist claimed was really his via the use of his supernatural disguise prowess granted him by his god.

Yvette and her new husband and her children to Johan and pet sealions went to the bright Islands of Njordr to live forever.

Alrec was distraught without his brother. They had quarreled and fought together and he felt incomplete. He returned to Thor worship and spent time carving a runic version of the Necronomicon as a warning to future he named the Jörmungandrsaga dedicated to his brother. He tried many foul means to find his brother and eventually flew away into the stars on his Byakee one night never to be seen since.

Next time I run vikings will be 910 AD and children of these heroes will be players. Only Throa will remain to advise them.

Planet Psychon for rest of month them Cthulhu Babylon begins for bronze age shennanigans

Viking Interlude: Hrafns Own Funeral Plan

Steve who plays the Odinite werewolf beserker, put this on our group FB page:

After a weeks prayer in the temple of Odin, the grim warrior rises and gathers to his side, his family , a scribe and a legal official from the court of Norway. The dour man proceeds to proclaim ...

His death song and warchant :
Who dare face the StoneDale clan ?
Who ?!
We'll split their skulls and rend their hand !
Who ?!
Their bloody hearts our gods demand !
Who ?!
They'll breath their last in this here land !
HA !!

His dividing of earthly wealth and Will:
Wife : Superior Shield 14 armor - 10,000 pennys - 1,000 pennys worth gold chain - Arcane Device (FlareGun with 4 shells)- Magic Hyperborean Dagger - Two handed Sword - Superior Shield 12 armor (ornate) and of course her own dwelling, goods and lands. Furthermore the Chieftainship of the Norway branch of the Stonedale clan until the time where one of the bloodline is proven more worthy.
Eldest Son : 10,000 pennys.
Twin Brothers : Two trading ships.
Daughter : Warship.
Youngest Son : 6,000 pennys - Broadsword (ornate 1000 pennies worth) - Selfbow.
3 Adopted Sons : Under the leadership of the eldest - lands , house, thralls and all other goods of their mothers household split evenly between them.

and lastly his burial goods :
The Anklebiter Bastard Sword - Broadsword - Armor - wolfpelt helm and any gifts of worth his family , friends or others may wish him to have in the afterlife.
For it is not for a man to measure his own worth in death, but rather for the gods and those who have known him to decide.

Let it be known that the Wolfhelm beserker, brother of Alrec the Unruly is now legally dead. Though he still might draw breath and have the blush of life in his flesh, he now stays by the kindness and grace of his family and relatives, he is nothing more than a dead man walking. The living echo of a warrior that died the day he became Odin's champion and now bides his time till his earthly doom approach.

Vikinglog: Cheating and killing Cthulhu's Cult

So the vikings had travelled back in time and gone to backwoods to Rus and Novgarod to prepare themselves better than the three months left in their native time stream.

Thorhadr the skald had spoken to his god Tsathogua who warned him not to abuse time portal or the hounds of Tindolas would hunt them and destroy them body as soul as if the never were. But Tsathogua said friends wouldn't notice if he went through gate an extra time for two more years. So he spent time with reading blasphemous books and eat human flesh to retain his youth, The friends would never notice. And the hound thing risk minimised a fat bit. With Extra time he stole the book of Eibon from monks in France and was given the means to travel beyond the earth. He learnt more magic songs and his ability with them could teach and lead others who joined him. The marching song of endurance was most popular with others.

Most learnt magic of some kind. Thora taught her cousins all he spells there thick skulls could keep. Hrafn had been teaching each others to activate beast totem forms. He was always in his wolf helm, looking grim, Ready for doom ahead. He had taught his wolf sons to become humans and was teaching them to fight. Lots of werewolves in Rus. Enters battle a man then becomes something horrible in battle. An Odinite werewolf beserker.

His brother Alrec the Unruly was now convinced Al Aziv the Arabic Necronomican is the one and only book for all time and given him power over gods instead of letting gods pick at your fortune like flies. He was sure would ever be a champion of Thor in time so it was sorcery for him easily the choice, It was kind of strange he became so adept at Arabic since meeting Arab merchant when young.

Briedr having the pleasure of rebuilding a fortune, becoming more tattooed and learning to work with his battle goat companion sent by Thor to aid him. Remained in Rus for the moment.

Thora was pleased to have a daughter first child in years and first with this husband who had been good for so many years. Now she could spend time with him on his business trips to Rus that she had missed him by remaining in Iceland with her cousins and adventures. Cheating on herself with herself. Has been magically preparing herself for final fight.

Throa finally has a son why seemed odd and sickly at first but since thrived and fat and jolly. Her husband would be surprised when she returned home with a two year old son. Could make up some story about making him give girls good dowries. Working with metals and runes. Loon creepily suggested his new gifts from Loki to shape shift meant he was real father of child while he was in disguise. She knew if anything it was during her brief visit o land of the dark elves.

Yvette was hoping to gain some status with the Cult of Njordr the sea. Was striving to replicate her heroic husband that made her part of the Stonedales. Has a colony of friendly sealions in Rus.

So party returned changed and two years wiser (none knew Thorhadr now has a Cthulhu mythos beyond %50 now and was in fact 4 years wiser and a cannibal).

So assembled many ships with two warship of 50 men sworn to them. King of Norway sent one of his ships for years of work they had done for his wars. Other families who had prospered near them or been saved by them over the last 11 years came too. Eleven years adventuring that's 13 for most of party or 15 years for Thorhadr. It was all coming to an end soon. With six ships gathered and ready to sale heard how ally had died. Sailed to Iceland. Different stories heard of death but real one told by widow to party. Hero was dismembered in battle by mad cannibal men of Vinland, Party enraged set sail. Arrived though a storm and a ship missing lost all hands.

Five viking warships followed the shore. Saw three small ship trying to stay out or reach. Heroes ship went forward with one other, other three went back and around. Sure enough say three trying to lure into groug of three war ships and three smaller longships like the greatly missed Wavebiter they hap too leave in space. Heroes charged to wipe out small ships to find fish men attacked with three small ships. Bigger rebel fleet of cultists closed in, a mix of fish cultists and demon of darkness cultists and viking wendigo beserker cultists. So fishmen surprised they had attacked boldest of the fleet who all sung as they quickly shattered the surprise attack and the three boats. When the big group came with 300 men their formaion was broken between both groups of the heroes surviving force a total of 250. One viking ship sunk but most saved by kin. As apparent to all 0that party winning, cult on shore summoned a waterspout to strike the fleet. Breidr saw this with his far sight spirit spell then he called on his god Thor. A bolt of lightning struck the high priest exploding his charred body and driving off the cultists.

Vikings came ashore and saw mound with steaks around the multi cultist village. Led best towards fish cult on shore while other group attacked wall. Th fish men and viking with them proved weak. The heroes had superior weapons, armour, skill and magic. Fish men butchered on beach before summoning complete then led horde onto wall. Alrec jumped wall while rest hacked down with pole axes.

Inside saw other tribe and outlaw vikings fighting the second group of the heroes force that had gotten through the wall. Alrec saw something amid the breach, a whirling whilwind of destruction, a avatar of a dark god. Alrec lept over a wave of troops after his friends still behind him. Then he lept with the mighty sword into the battle.

Others following Alrec hacked their way on. Hrafn was now a were wolf, with his runes to Odin awakened. He swam into the battle like a salmon, killing everything and fearing nothing. He had gone beyond the berserks he cheered on as a boy. He was a monster of Odins fury, a beat fit for the end of the world. Alrec managed to strike the avatar of the demon of darkness down. He knew what it was and it was a reliability weak form. It did bite him but not by much. Superior armour won the day and the cult was destroyed. All cult were killed and burned with their diseased unwholesome livestock and crude hybrid style culture of Indian, Eskimo and Norse. Found a boy possesed by local spirits who told them where cult was based up river. Next morning visitors from outside tribes came and helped vikings destroy several more homesteads. These locals explained they all hated these tribes.

Went up into hills and found forest of flayed human skins in trees and piles of corpses. Slew them all including beserkers of Iquatha they had let escape years ago. Another Avatar of Nyarlathotep came but heroes had no fear with magic weapons slaughtered the cult queen in demon god form. Found body parts of their old friend and freed sacrifices. Burned everything.

The heroes declared that none would settle Vinland again for a hundred years. Or the Stonedales would come back to kill them.

Went past Greenland and exterminated the cultists there too. It was revenge on every enemy viking since their first battle.

Arrive in Iceland to prepare to sack the city of Cthulhu!

Vikinglog: Giantland and cheating the Apocalypse

So party crossed to the viking dreamlands into the nine worlds to Jotunheim. After several hours all made it through with Loon which was a surprise as he said he would stay on Ithaqua's frozen planet.

Marched into blizard and used sun stone and navigation kit to head south. If Jounhiem was north of home then south was a pretty good start. Some heard insane distant gibbering laughter and then all felt the ground shake. A 23m tall frost giant in mammoth pelt clothes, a club and a sack of cows came. Thlorhadr was hit by a thrown cow and blocked it as it flew past him. Thanks to shield and armour he survived but shield arm wounded. Byzantine style arm armour saved a few of the guys. So the vikings charged while some held back with thrown spears and axes and shooting arrows. As were closer supernatural cold sucked the life from them. The giant failed to hit mortals who gorily chewed into his legs with axes. Alrec took one of his famous leaps and struck it's head. Giant fell, then his club arm was hacked till he dropped the club. All other vikings hacked up the giant. In has sack were many damaged cows. Vikings turned corpse into a tent then slit him open to released blood. Cooked cows with fire and storm eventually over using giant corps as tent.

Giant yapping dogs awoke party who crawled out of giant to see 8 more giants but several in fine kingly clothes and attractive like the richest courts of Sweden and Norway.  Other four in thrall dress. Spoke to the giants who offered hospitality. Carried party in sacks. Alrec got carried by young noble girl like a doll and he cooed sweetly like a baby for her. Yvette got to sit on a giants shoulder as the giants all thought the huge beauty very attractive (STR and SIZ 19).

Taken to kitchen and introduced to giants servants and pets. Loon sneaked into rat hole and found huge rat dung. Taken to court for feast where party and their adorable weapons were to be guests for dinner. Thorhadr used his holy song that obligated all who hear to not harm each other for 24 hours. So the vikings came to live among giants for a bit with the scald singing the hospitality song each night.

Alrec spent time in dolls house eating cake and drinking mead as giant girls waited in him and a stuffed polar bear and some dolls. Others spent time with scholars reading about magic (to be fair Alrec has now learn enough magic to ruin the world with his Necronomicon). Studied Ragnorak, the final war and how giants hope to invade Midgard shortly and expected  vikings would help and serve them.

Yvette put on dancing shows and collected pounds of huge silver coins. Loon with Thorhadr robbed the giants treasury of gold and silver. Thorhadr backed down as was too risky. Loon stole their relics evoking Loki to aid his theft. Alrec out in garden with the giant girls found graves of other tiny people. Alrec came by at night and opened grave of great hero taking a nice sword.

Days past and the song of hospitality every night renewed the bond between them until one night a letch old giant. Alrec starting to claim his Necronomicon dread magic was superior to native Norse magic. One night Throa and Breidr were looking in garden after seeing Alrec wave about the mighty nameless sword he stole. Meanwhile Alrec was in his "manor" when older boys took of roof and tried to drown him in boiling porridge. He ran off with his booty bag and heard Yvette with her husband and bear and bag of giant coins fleeing the seedy old giant. Other vikings heard noise too and Loon started using his rat maze to skulk about house. As giant got to bottom of stairs to grab Yvette, she with her bear and husband struck the giant. Meanwhile Alrec and Hrafn appeared from behind striking the old giant mans hamstrings. Viking heard noise outside and found a undead Draugr had wounded Briedr and Thora badly. They here both laying on ground. Vikings slaughtered dead while he was moaning about his stolen sword.

They fled south and eventually passed mammoth troll beasts they heard of years ago. Past ice to wasteland beach with a few meters of seaweed mounds around shore, then tonnes of logs and driftwood. Set to work studying giant relics and lore by night and building a raft by day. Killed many sea birds. Found giant cauldron (cup) filled with beer every day so there was good cheer. Tried giant horn and saw coast patrolled by huge angry scarred toothed whale. Thora had brought a giant puppy. It tried to escape but Yvette tied it to her polar bear.

Eventualy went to sea and throa used dream skill and spells to take them home beyond the veil of sleep. Also to bring their bodies through the freamlands from the distant moon of Hyperborea. Found shore of Greenland and went to stay with scraelings rather than oathbreakers trying to build a new home in Vinland. After days with native friends one of their own trade vessels saved them and took them to Iceland. Back home as the anguished only three months left and how their lucky ship was stranded in another world.

Thorhadr came up with a plan. The golden scepter of Irem they took from dread Arabian ruins could open time gates. So in cave behind farm in Norway they went back two years. Hiked to other port and went to Rus to hide out training and preparing for the assault on the city of Cthulhu. Throa was keen to have some more children before end of the word and finaly a son. Thora was healed by Freya cult and became pregnant too. Thora thought she could find her husband in Novgorod and have fair with him while he was in on trade missions in Rus years ago (she was infertile for over six years and she was now cured). More time travel next session.....

which will be soon as I'm running late....

Vikinglog: Storming Iquatha's Castle in the Stars

Long weekend for Queens birthday so got in a game of BRP Roadwar 2000 (will report on when adventure finished) and will run for a few weeks then alternate with Cyberpunk game with other GM. Alternating Marvel and Shadowrun Sat nights with another GM. Has not run much due to other events, cons, etc. Running Planet Psychon for a day on holiday monday arvo.

Vikings ends end of month. Three players going away so am going to wrap up. Story heading that way anyhow, now I have a date. Still have several adventures i have not used so will run another game later set 910 in future with children of this party.

Running poll for a brief interim game for a month then Cthulhu Babylon in about 1800 BC under Humarabi. Players can be Babylonian, Elamite, Assyrian, Sumerian, Minoan, Egyptian, Hittite Urartian, Harrapan, and others.

Meanwhile the vikings have been swept away by Ithaqua to a far off star system...

Inspired by Brian Lumley books at this point

Sailing on strange see under strange stars in the Wavebiter. Warmer than home but weird prehistoric fish. Lonn ate one and all relieved were edible. Saw an Island, then smoke, then a settlement. As approached saw a old style viking ship in harbour.

The northmen here were friendly and asked what island party from they explained not from here. Locals understood and took them too the temple. Explained they were on moon of Borea and everything here brought from Midgard.Why? To save things from Midgard for Iquatha, things he could, eat, sacrifice to himself, get worshipers from and mate with. Things other gods might destroy or with hold from him. Things that might die off left on Midgard.

The vikings here very religious and offered to help prepare party. Advised a great north frozen land crawling in Iquatha worshiping scraelings could be visited. Also was an Island led by woman who was a daughter of Iquatha and had escaped Borea. She hated father and might aid them. Spent a week here and Hrafn became ordained as champion of Odin. Awoke from trance with new tattoos and a raven familiar. Had vision from Odin he was doomed.

Others sailed to meet the Queen from Borea and were attacked by sea serpent. Alrec wounded it's neck, Yvette cut of a flipper. Rest hacked of it's head but many poisoned by venomous breath.

Arrived in the Queens's port and brought to her court. She was tall and pale. Her husband died and she has a son. She liked Yvette and the strong women of the wavebiter. Her son liked Yvette. Explained that Borea was a wasteland where a glacier surrounded by star stones held back Iquatha and men had fortified selves from him for millennium. Other moon was a place where undead priests of Iquatha dwelled in eternal slumber. She could take them to either world. The men of Borea might help them.

Thora visiting the Freya Temple was told of another possibility. To travel the world tree in dreams coulds find away home and even take bodies. She was also instructed dreamers secrets of making dream things real. Her sister Throa worked with local ship and metal workers and helped them catch up on advances on midgard. Some of the norse here were bronze age and older. Thora hearing of the power to make dream ome tru hoped she could conceive a son.

Briedr spent time training to be champion of Thor. He wasn't intellectual or talkative enough for Odin. Found himself with more tatoos and a pet billy goat familiar. His brother Alrec spent time learning spells from the Arabic Necronomicon, being a Champion of Thor was too hard.

Party spent some time hunting, training and healing from serpant. Yvette married the Queens son, a superior specimen who felt not the cold. Finally decided to travel to Borea.

Atop the Islands tallest peak the ice queen summoned a hurricane and swept then to space. She explained Iquatha already had changed them to survive  and he had used power of Yog Sothoth to travel across interstellar space. Alrec had been studying Al Aziv concurred.

Landed in frozen Waste and into the Glacier. Savage warriors from the polar wastes of Midgard dwelled here and greeted them. Some were jealous of newcomers status. Several adopted polar bear cubs. Throa investigated the elder sign defenses and taught their wise ones how to replace them. In return they received enchanted stone axes and learned secrets of making them. Yvette enchanter her own pole axe, others took stone ones. Saw how they mined frozen food from glacier and the hot springs in caves in the depths.

All agreed they would help hurt Iquatha by slaying his undead priests and his stores of power in a distant Ice castle. Then try the dream ritual home.

With a score of glacier barbarians they crossed the spiky waste where since prehistory, Iquatha had brought men her to be made into undead. The glacier men would usually rescue as many as they could. In the Ice they found a strange metal ship. Crept inside to find hacked up dead and strange artifacts. Recognised language that looked like latin but was not. Took various trinkets including a high quality knife, harpoon and axe. Thora found a strange book she kept. Also found a box with bandages and strange vials and a red cross on front. Hrafn found a strange device and accidentally fired a great burning bolt which terrified everyone. He played with device and worked out how to load the 30mm Olin flare pistol.

Ice men told other strange things here, even a metal bird with similar strange things inside.

Moved to great ice wall and climbed up a thousand feet of slippery stairs. Several mishaps but the crew managed to help each other. Yvette fell and hurt herself but was treated to be mobile.

Into a tower atop the wall where sleeping frozen undead mummies in niches lay. Went through quietly not to wake them and went through to great gorge and up more stairs to Iquatha's castle. Explored it for a while with hundreds of sleeping horrors. Found in centre a great crystal structure that Throa determined was full of souls stored for Iquatha's black magic. So they shattered it. Undead began to awaken screaming and heroes backed out with Ice men before and after them. Fled down stairs and the glacier men took brunt of the dead while vikings hurled missiles and Alrec and the loon jumped off stairs into melee. While the rear guard volunteered two to hold door, Yvette used her husbands Hyperborean ring to seal the door behind stick strands of goo making sacrifice uneeded. Battled through the front gate where Loon fell hes face torn and his friend Alrec carried him outside. Half glacier men had fallen in retreat and out the castle they fled.

Through the gorge and back to the watch tower wher sixteen mummies defended. Heroes smashed through leaving undead body parts crawling everywhere. Some more slips on the great stair case of ice and through the plains of shipwrecks and garbage from Midgard. Persued by nearly sixty undead and could hear chanting IQ-QUA-THA!  IQ-QUA-THA!  IQ-QUA-THA! Alrec knew the god on his way and angry.

As they scurried across ice, dead priests following them the Ice bear cavalry from the glacier came to save them, killing many dead and carrying them into the glacier. The doubters among the glacier men were now converted to admiring the Stonedale clan on Midgard.

Finaly they were ready to dream quest to Yggdrasil. Sealed in a chamber with bears. Took drugs and were led by Thora in ritual trance. One by one they awoke in an atrocious whiteout which Thora identified as the land of the Frost Giants. While giant were a problem they might have knowledge or power to aid the fight against the old ones.

Throa had a slight diversion. She had awoken in darkness amids root filled nightmare. Creepy eyes and voices taunted her. She was unpeturbed and asked If they could help her bare a son. Voices approved and she blacked out the awaking with others.

Vikinglog: The Old Gods Hate Us

So the vikings managed to get help travelling from Mecca to Cairo and were met at border by friendly man Khalid who offered them accommodation and aid. Hrafn was having dreams of the Dagger of Thoth he took from a cultist in Irem. His own powers of prophecy let him see further than the cursed visions were intended by the dark powers. He was concerned by his fate.

Did some relic shopping and bought a jewelled scarab and some trinkkets as gifts back home. Around the house crowds of beggars were wanting to sell fraud relics and see the strange foreigners reputed to be rich trinket hunting wonder workers and giants. Khalid had his men drive them off but Throra saw one man make strange signs. She saw something in the old mans face and escaped to meet him. He was a priest of a Coptic order who were battling cultists and warned the party they were in clutches of a killer and madman.

He told her he had a plan to aid them but needed them to obey him. So she smuggled him in house and called Khalid into viking suite. Vikings grabbed him and tied him. The Coptic priest warned those wishing to not learn forbidden lore best not look. Most looked away but some saw him cut his hand, pour blood on earth and drew a sign on floor. A shambling wizened lurching thing, arose from the floor and grabbed Khalid and dragged him to whence it came. Vikings kind of wary of horror they witnessed but priest warned them if Khalid vanished will leave his servants and cult headless and confused. Party packed and left for the the south where ruins of Hrafn's vision village were seen. Really it was ancient Thothopolis. He had seen them as they were in past and knew the processional pathway to the temple of Thoth. As they crept through the night, hairy creepy sand men things came but party hacked them to pieces beyond recognition. They had killed these in Irem already and no onger afraid of them. Wendigos back home tougher.

Found a ruin with catacombs behind a secret door that Hrafn had seen in his dreams. Into the darkness where huge rats, cobras and scorpions attacked at every turn. A subterranean pond with crocodiles was a major obstacle and the vikings hacked them to bits. Hrafn got a sore leg but was helped to be mobile with Thora's magic. Deeper into catacombs with more rotten mummies and into a deeper level. Finally they found a dread temple of Nyarlathotep. Rows of haunting black sphinxes lined entry and heroes battles some ghouls. They did not feel pain or bleed but that did not mean they could not die if hacked to bits. Finally in the sanctum they met a Arab with a strange presence he asked for the knife of Thoth and the vikings refused. Briedr cursed him and threatened him. Hrafn lunged at him to stab him but man began to swell, splitting his skin, growing and erupting into a thing beyond comprehension. It blasted Briedr with eldritch fire for his insolence before Hrafn stabbed it. The being screamed, Its skin sloughing off as it grew and faded into nothing. The priest took the dagger, a elder sign and blood and used a ritual to cleanse Hrafn of the curse. Then Hrafn smashed the dagger. Johan had seen too much and snapped attacking them to defend the monster god crying for Njordir and Cthulhu as he saw they were truly one. His wife knowing this time would come bashed him from behind and other tackled him. Thora new it was too late to save her cousin and finished him while calling on Freya and the Disr to take his soul. Pleased she might have helped his soul she comforted the grieving widow Yvette.

Searched ruins and found the original Al Aziv (the other one they had was a copy from this). Battled a chamber of mummies with beast heads then left having finished work. Stayed with the Coptics exchanging wisdom for a week and gave them one of the copies of Al Aziv. Alrec having learn ed Arabic well completed reading it (his first non Koran book) and was now learning rituals to dismiss daemon sultan and other gods and Djinn. Several others had grown surprisingly resilient but those dabbling in magic and the Mythos were spiritually scared and weary. Got a boat to Spain and found one of their own slaver trade boats and returned to Norway. Ideas of trip to Ghaarne city of the Cthonians was quashed by recent horror and unwillingness to face great worms of the earth.

Over winter more studied magic. Thora taught many of the cousins new spells through Freya to everyone. She realised the Black Ice bear spirit, the Dun-man of the dream lands and the monster man in the hidden temple in Egypt were all masks of the same god.

Throa lost a child and a horse over winter and was melancholic. Birth of yet another daughter to rich husband who longed for one more son. He was keen to go to his last battle. She was now a master blacksmith. She made a new elder sign making parties total of three.

Hrafn was glad to be home and was feeling full of himself for thwarting the demon of the outer darkness. He was glad to have shunned reading and become sad like his brother. Thora trying to convince Briedr to become priest or champion of Odin. All feasted, glad to be in familiar lands again.

Alrec who learnt to read and speak Arab better than he spoke Norse was learning all the names to call and dismiss the elder gods. Al Aziv the Necronomicon is a great first book.

Come spring the band met in Iceland and allotted silver from family trade and farming and slave trading. Briedr dished out family shares in Arab and German silver were appreciated. Wondered what to do next as only 9 months till the serpent arose ending the world. The surviving monks half had become viking. They served as clerks of family businesses and were married into the clan as freemen. The monks of St Bartholomew who remained still christian had been slaves but now were serving vikings for God. They believed the Northmen would be able to stop the castle of the Leviathan from arising in the northers sea. All the past and present monks formed an advisory group on stopping the end of the world. If the great sea serpent can be averted from arising with his great hall, then the other events of Ragnarok will be delayed till the stars are almost right again in a thousand years.

They had an inkling cultists could be stopped and elder signs could help. Some of the clan wanted to raise an army and invade the rebel colony beyond Greenland or even the clan who robbed them a decade ago. Others said Jotunhiem could provide more knowledge in the north. Giants sound worse than crocodiles and trolls thought Hrafn.

Thorhadr of course wanted to go to France as he knew where to find a book of Eibon as Tsathogua had instructed. Others less impressed by any advice from he great Skald. He is torn between Tsathogua and Hiemdal cult. His kin call him Loki lover but he is doing what he thinks is best for everyone and thus Loki favours him not. He belies the rivalries of the old ones can be used to fight them. Nobody else thinks this is so.

Johan's huge wife will take his place at the helm as she is a mighty woman second only to Hrafn's wife a descendant of legendary Siguard. The two women are beautiful and stronger and larger than any of the men. Thora the Freya Priestess is still a famous redhead beauty while Thora is famed for fighting and ironwork not her looks which are merely normal.

Agreed to go to Norway to raise an army and set sale from Iceland. Then worst storm ever seen came from north. Surrounded them in winds and a waterspout lifted them into the sky. Wind carried the Wavebiter up and up into the night sky where the saw the earth curve away and grow distant, into a shere then a ball then sweeping them into interstellar space. Aurauras swirled around them and then they came to a new sun and a new planet and a new sea.  Stunned they looked on the alien sea.

Iquatha had his revenge. The gods would stop the meddling vikings at last.

With strange new stars to guide them they sailed on. What would they find?

Used old Curse of the Cthonians module and ideas From Brian Lumley's Hyperborea books here.

Viking Log: The city of Irem to Mecca to Cairo

Vikings left Baghdad last time intending to travel to desert for lost city of Irem then onto Mecca.

Days of searing heat, had easily scared off bandit scouts. Days into desert a horde of 70 pagan tribesmen attacked the party of 25. Camels all made a racket as vikings prepared selves with prayers and put on a choice piece of armour. Thora and Johan managed to injure and kill almost 20 of them. A few more fell as spears and javelins got closer and a few vikings took arrows. Thothadr wondered if releasing his darkspawn was a good idea right now.

After the archers softened up the vikings then a charge from the horde with swords and vikings made a mess of them. Pole axe and spears set particularly good. Thorhadr started to just kill horses which unnerved everyone. Everyone is wary again of him.

Managed to lose many men and camels of water but all up killed and injured 40 men. Many prisoners and piles of swords. Had to kill horses from lack of water and went on. Had a hard time till another merchant band saved them.  Finally arrived at a trade oasis where locals would be able to help them explore the cursed waste.

Found a German knight there with start chart he was using to eek city as well. Vikings told local tribe leader man was a sorcerer in league with devil and tribe killed him. Party sacked his documents and found he had been exploring area. Maganged to get some of his baggage handlers. Heard from wise men of Al Azred, the lot city and the imprisoned demons there. Met a man who had been there once and bribed him to return.

Johan's wife sick so some of party went onto mecca including the loki berserk Loon.

Into the desert managed to scare of some of the starving desperate bandits easily. Days into desert made camp. Thorhadr heard something and saw a creepy humanoid with large ears and bristly sand coloured hair. Creepy and like a man but not like a man too. Party chased thing away and a few shaken by creature.

Nights later managed to injure one trying to signal party but a viking shot it. Grabbed it and bagged it while it was screaming. Heard it's clan scream back and eventually let it go in fear of creatures harassing them.

A few nights later Hrafn was extra careful to stay with water and awoke to see eight of the sand devils trying to damage water supply. Breidr and others slaughtered the creatures.

Finally found a collapsed ruin that looked like earth had recently swallowed up the place. Looked alot like German drawings but less intact. Could he have done this?

Guides led them on and into city. Spent a day lookinging around found thousands of shattered start stones. Throa performed her rune seeking trance and sat on the heap. Thora passed out trying to call a raven spirit again. Rest kept searching and Thorhadr had seen visions of area search intently an area. His suspicious cousins wary of anything Thorhadr interested in joined him and found a tunnel partly blocked by sand.

Into the depths they went of the forbidden city. Found a great mosaic mural of lizard folk. Then found galleries of mumified lizard men, sand people and a great kraken like horror that thankfully was dead. All troubled but gathered some mummy dust for a recipe from Necronomicon they had read of. Eventually ahead of them the guides with weapons and leader with a magnificent gold thoth headed hilt dagger commanded them to surrender. Vikings slaughtered them. Followed the way the cultists had directed them a found old cells. Also found strange compulsion to not leave area. Second sight aw emantions from ahead so they all headed there. Saw a sand person flee so chased it. Unfortunately into a chamber with a horror beond evil. A Cthonian giant covered in dirt and slime, a horror land kraken and it was laying an egg into a sand persons hands.

Vikings kind of snapped. Alrec ran at it crazed and hacked off a tentacle, others prayed and Hrafn ran to help his brother. Those praying almost wiped out party by pausing. Alrec grabbed the bleeding sulfur tentacle and started to eat the Ichor. Another tentacle hit him almost destroying his arm. Johan sat back vomiting again. Thora was in shock babbling but managed to heal Thora. Hrafn got some good hits and his parry attempts wounded the creature more. Finally Breidr charged in frenzied with a sword in each hand and finished it. Hrafn was partly crushed underneath but alright. Alrecs arm healed and functional again. Hrafn stomach burned from ooze he ate and others tried to make him be sick. He had crazy idea would grant him godlike powers.

Found chamber with sand persons and some cultists, one was suckling blood to a baby cthonian. Others crawled on floor and some eggs were there too. Party destroyed everything and increasingly frazzled. Alrec took an egg perhaps it was worth something.

Also found copy of Al Aziv of very own. Alrecs dream o reading a book was going to come true. He had been studying from the Koran for nearly two months.

Wandered around more and discovered strange golden metallic door. In minds a voice asked who lay slumbering beneath the sea? Cthulhu of course and door opened into amazing chamber with four more doors. Then door lammed sealing them inside. One door opened for Iquatha to a barren glacier with frozen corpses in ice. Home? Nobody interested. Another opened for Shudemael to a blasted volcanic wasteland in darkness. The next opened for Cthuga and saw giant sun over a black lava plain. Final one they couldn't get so found description in AL Aziv of very room with a few hour searching. Opened for Yog Sothoth into a crystal chamber of mists. Alrec and Thorhadr went into mist and returned looking weary with hair grown and no memories. Everyone pulled the out sensing a superiority about them. One held a gold scepter other had a elder sign. They hastily closed door so could open the Cthulhu door again and fled. Alrec and Briedr had been a way a month and now had new knowledge of the mythos and the stars and nature.

On surface all guides gone or dead. Throa had been on rune quest in spirit world and had returned from it with knowledge to make an elder sign. Crazy old Johan was sure his knowledge of stars and what he had learned from arabs would hep them get out of here.

Found way from desert and arrived back at oasis a mess but alive. Relieved they had killed the evil the vikings rested. Thora had lost 40+ sanity in adventure and recovered. Johan got down to 4 SAN. Thorhadr spoke to his god Tsathogua who told him his sorcery was progressing well and gave him more visions of the French version of the Book of Eibon and taught him a ritual to make him an immortal insane cannibal. Is aware that the god are competitive and can be turned on each other. Thora had a vision that the Hyperborean reindeer god was a stooge for Cthulhu cult to drive out Tsathogua. The reindeer cult symbol was upside down more like a squid. Travelled overland and found friends and headed by ship to Cairo. Left the Arab Doctor who had considered betraying them all to Mecca officials. He had been persuaded vikings on gods quest.

Got boat and camel train to Cairo and saw Pyramids. Hrafn having dreams from the Ibis Knife. Under second sight it is most powerful item they have seen. Johan's wife recovered and Alrec reading Al Aziv. Hopefully home by winter. From all the san losses, reading and the crystal chamber of yog sothoth several have 10 -30% mythos now. Two that have no mythos have 99 SAN.

Vikinglog: Byzantium to Bagdad

Stonedale cousins a long way from goat watching days in the Fjiord as kids

Sisters
Throa the blacksmith rune master and fighter
Thora the priestess of Freya and archer

Brothers
Hrafn the Norway Stonedale clan Cheif and werewolf worshiper of Odin
Alrec the Iceland Stonedale clan Cheif and ship captain worshiper of Thor

Other Cousins
Johan navigator, helmsman and mentally unstable worshiper of Sea god
Thorhaddr the Skald worshiper of Hiemdall and Tsathogua

Regretting burning those arcane books 7 years ago in the Abbey of St Bartholemew Vikings travelled to Byzabtium. Spent time shopping, seeing sights, staying with Pagan Viking minority. Went shopping for magic books. Some looked at weapons and got plate armoured arms as local vikings had.

Collectively bought an Arab Doctor Nabu to learn Arabic and medicine. Alrec got a Arabic woman and a child. Got some occult books and cultivate new branch of knowledge beyond viking mythos.

Throa conjured a raven spirit to seek magically warded places in city.

Thorhadr talked to his god Tsathogua and discussed the comparability of his gods and he was told weak gods take your power because you are cattle. True magic offers immortality and no limits of power and knowledge of great Truth. Was taught a spell to blur memories. Decided he was watching for threats by keeping a Darkspawn and talking to elder god so in accordance with Hiemdall. Besides Cthulhu and Tsathogua had beef and he was willing to do anything to stop the end of the world.

Given visions of ruins of Gharne and Irem with tempting star stones and a building near warf he had already seen. Checked it out was a small closed and boarded temple of Posidon next to a large former customs house. Had sea motifs carved in building. Seedy sailor scum from many lands sat on steps and lounged about like hoodlums. Was a flophouse for sailors in need run by Benevolant order of Dagon.

Thora met order of St Barnabus Greek branch and found the city HQ of the Cthulhu fighting order the Vikings had raided when young. Most of those first thralls dead and last two assimilated Freya and Thor cultists now and freed for this voyage. Greek and Roman church monks, former monks and Vikings all agree on fighting the demon Cthulhu more important. Arranged to study some black books. Had a senior abbot locked and gagged in basement from reading Greek Necronomicon. Alrec decided to learn Arabic from slaves with Koran as this reading stuff seemed to be getting more important and all those books he used to burn possibly valuable.

Johan and Hrafn spied on Dagon order and climbed onto roof of temple to hear chant inside. Apparently they were told Poseidon cult was divided and this sect closed 60 years ago but still considered sacred.  Found two locked rooms one couldnt get in but Thorhadr picked one and found girl from Syria wrapped in a carpet. So climbed downstairs to watch cult chant around sea water well with a chain set up to be lowered from ceiling into pit. Cultists came up to find sacrifice to Dagon and found Vikings who killed them instead. Fled with girl who Johan and Wife adopted.

St Bartholomew council of war against old ones agree to get Star stones from Arabs and send party past Big library in a hidden monastery on way. Warned that in Byzantium had to fight in secret as cultists everywhere. To stop cult need to disrupt their ceremonies at the right time, destroy or remove their relics and place your relics in the castle of the Leviathan.

Johan and Thorhadr returned with evidence of Dagon cult and time to interrogate loony former librarian. Thorhadr tried to talk in brief but started to try and get spells from the unmasked chained man and Hrafn kind of displeased. More indications to find the city that inspired the Mad Arab.

Doctor Nabu said if he could go free he would guide party as needed to Mecca. Was a row and some wanted a 7000 in silver ransom too. Because being mean and cheap always wins on adventures. 

Party assembled with merchants, four knights of st George. Marched though Anotolia through mountains with escorts and taken up elevator to tiny monastic library. Met local monks and shared tales. Alrec wanted to read his first book ever and try his Arabic skills so he aked to read Al Aziv. Didn't happen but a good first read.

Moved on through to Mesopotamia passed mysterious carved humanoid gods in mountains and unreadable script of ancients. Down Tigris-Euphrates river basin till camped in Ruin of Babylon. At night heard digging and men. Went to catch by surprise as drunk and bored and ambushed treasure hunters. While others looked at men's loot of strange clay tablets and questioned men (and killed some). Alrec and Throa the impulsive ones went into opening and found the tablet mine tunnels and followed.

After about 10 minutes in darkness in burried library, a striking naked mature woman stepped from darkness and smiled. Alrec was keen to touch her and Throa pushed in way. Throa spoke to Lamia and bargained lives of prisoners for location of a burried star stone and her cousins left unharmed. Lamia came to surface and now clad in clothes. Thora freaked seeing its true form with thick black hairs and bird feet. Alrec grabbed first victim as agreed and she kissed him to near death. Dug up a temple of shamash and found stone she had seen thousands of years ago so she could now move freely. Drained other men and vikings returned to camp.

Morning in Bagdad. Party with reasonable searched for the tablet buyer the tablet diggers knew. Had one mention something like a star stone and man was a wizard. Sold tablets to a servant and and tried to impress him with occult books and relics of Hyperborea to see his master.

Fat jolly wizard Anbu in turban was pleased to see goods but laughed at their not very blasphemous occult manuals on alchemy and roman prophets. Bowl of otherworldly visions party got in Greenland pleased him very much and discussion of Hyperborea emerged.  He asked to see more and they showed him h bell from Tsathoguas temple that was a shoggoth control relic of the Old ones an age before Hyperborea. Old mad librarian had given them an inkling of bell. When man saw it he begged then to put it down gently. Offered a silver ingot worth 4000 pennies each relic and copy of Pnakotia in Greek. Party bought another black book in Arabic and man scoffed at Irem and Arabs knowledge but drew them a map to Irem. Thoprhadr showed what he kept in a stone bucket and was amazed. Rest of party did not look but appalled. Came out about whole in communication with Tsathogua thing.

Discussed in indirect manner nature of mythos philosophy with Anbu and Thora increasingly suspicious he was not human. Truesight of Thora confirmed she had never seen aura like this.

Celebrated with Anbu after sale and party returned to Greek hotel. All argued about Thorhadr's possible treason and some wanted to kill him and monster. Thora told him gods displeased and he rationalized a looking out for threats and that he knew of most of what Anbu said but didn't want to blow their minds. Some discussion of killing Throa's adopted deep one cult kids. Sh agreed to throw them in the sea and let Dagon sort them out.

Thora vexed but undecided declared she would ask Freya for guidance. Spent several days on building a ritual cult wagon and sanctifying it as a shrine. Called for Freya's Wisdom in seven words according to spell.

"Kill as necessity - Time is not right"

All cooled down and watching Thorhadr. Now onto Mecca and Irem.

Anbu very happy to destroy the masters control bell. He had not seen one for millions of years. The mirror was worth some kicks and the books would drive them mad just like Abd-al-Hazred. All at a great price.

In the North Iquatha is hatching plans for ones who have harmed his cult to return.

Deep ones increasingly getting testy too.