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Tale of the Wolfbiter Axe
Bargrim the eldest son of Baldred, clan leader of the woodland Hall. Took possession of the axe, after his father’s death in the Battle of Five Armies.
Bargrim carried the Wolfbiter, when he let a party of brave Woodmen warriors to Dol Guldur, to investigate the abandoned stronghold.
The stronghold was indeed abandoned by the Necromancer, but one of his evil servants, the Gibbet King, had been hiding in the deep dungeons of Dol Guldur, and the shadow creature had just emerged, when Bargrim arrived at the Stairs of Woe.
At first the Gibbet King was surprised to see Woodmen in the ruins, but soon realized, that his own presence would soon be noticed by the Woodmen. He could not let that happen. He feared that he would be revealed to the forces that had driven the Necromancer away from his stronghold. So the Gibbet King assaulted the Woodmen with his spells and drove them up the stairs and into madness. The Woodmen fell upon each other and all were killed except Bargrim.
When Bargrim realized what he had done, he broke his bloodied axe on the stairs of Woe. Took the pieces and fled into the forest. One piece he kept for himself, but the rest he threw at various locations, thinking (Correctly) that the axe was now cursed, and was the cause of the kin-slaying.
There are 5 pieces of the axe.
1st fragment was in the Hermits (Bargrim) possession, until he gave it to ? (If you have played Tales from Wilderland you know who
)2nd fragment was thrown into the Black Tarn. It is in the treasure beside the Black Tarn now. (The treasure throve, that one of the maidens reveals to the Woodmen in Years End 2954 – DoM) (Or alt. to the players in Treacherous Waters –DoM).
3rd fragment is in the lair of the Werewolf of Mirkwood. The Werewolf hates the axe and was drawn to the fragment, he found it shortly after Bargrim had thrown it into a crack in the earth.
4th fragment has been found by Turin the Tinker (HotW) on his travels in Mirkwood. He is anxious to get rid of it, and will pass it on to anyone he thinks is up for the adventure.
5th fragment was taken by the Gibbet King and brought back to Dol Guldur. He has left it at the scene of the kin slaying. The players may find it when they are searching Dol Guldur for signs of the informant (Secrets buried - DoM).
The Wolfbiter axe is an heirloom of the Woodland Hall, and as such, the players will never be able to get it as their own. But they may, if one is elected War Leader of the Woodmen, carry it to war or loan it to combat the Werewolf of Mirkwood, if the Woodmen finds the applicant worthy.
But first the Axe must be remade by the Dwarves, and that require some treasure. Say 5 treasures.
If a Woodman player is allowed to purchase it with Valour, then they need to pick the Axe as a unique item for 2 picks at once (Discount on abilities due to the curse).
Description of the Wolfbiter Axe:
The Wolfbiter Axe is a one-handed Axe. Forged of steel by Dwarves of Greydelve at the commission of a Woodman War Leader.
Damage: 5 (+ Valour against Wolves)
Edge: 9
Injury: 18 (Wolves roll the Feat Die twice and keep the lowest result)
Enc. 2
Called Shot: Brake Shield (Piercing strike against Wolves)
Intimidate foe ( Free attribute bonus against Wolves)
Cursed by the Gibbet King:
The effect of a Bout of Madness while carrying this axe results in a Kin-slaying frenzy, that will not stop until everyone is dead or the holder is knocked out or killed.
Wolves are both afraid of the wielder of this axe and at the same time extremely hostile. Encounters with wolves will develop, as an all out attack on the wielder. All the Wolves will try to kill the wielder first before concentrating on anyone else.
Further ideas on Wolfbiter Axe's significance are welcome
