The Viglundings - ideas wanted

[Dunkelbrink]

Thanks for sharing, Corvo, this is really useful as I'm getting nearer the years of the campaign where Viglund becomes a factor in Wilderland.

[Corvo]

Thanks for sharing, Corvo, this is really useful as I'm getting nearer the years of the campaign where Viglund becomes a factor in Wilderland.

Hope you can make something out of it.

I was looking for a difficult situation to kickstart the feud between Viglundings and Beornings, and my players promptly delivered: the adventure ended with a dead Viglar...

[qwercus]

the adventure ended with a dead Viglar...

How did it come to that?
Thanks for sharing!
Greetings, Qwercus

[Corvo]

the adventure ended with a dead Viglar...

How did it come to that?
Thanks for sharing!
Greetings, Qwercus

Well, once Othbald came around, Viglar looked like the "good cop". The fellowship got some real sympathy for him. Neverthless, the parley went awry, tempers flared and it was battle (against the Men of Othbald and Viglar, before Viglund arrival).
Othbald was slain in single combat by the Beorning Errand-Rider, while Viglar.. well, he was found killed by an arrow, and the Heroes are pretty sure it was not one of their own arrows....

The truth is that Viglar was killed by Thunar (HotW page 30), but nobody realized it. The fleeing Viglundings had just a name to tell to their angered chief: Magnar the Fleet Footed, the fellowship's member that tried to brocker a truce and declared his name.

So it happened that the one that most tried to find the peace is the target of Viglund's revenge...

[Murazor]

As soon as the fellowship in my game discovered the viglundings and their thrall taking ways the whole campaign became all about bringing them down. They set about raiding logging camps and freeing the slaves. They then went to the dwarves around the mouth of dust (who owed them a big favour) and there is now a strange gestalt community called freiburg there. The first stage of war has already played out in late 2947 with Viglund's scout forces being defeated. None of this was planned but it's kept us busy for over a year of real time now.

[Jussi Marttila]

Had to shove the Viglundings a few sessions to the future, but I decided on some general guidelines while at it.

- Viglund himself is an extremely ruthless man (and a tyrant), but to some degree he does mirror Beorn: he can be a good friend but the worst enemy. If he gives his word, he keeps it. He doesn't give it easily.
- Quite a few of Viglund's men are far worse than he is himself. His son Viglar is the worst of the lot. Viglund doesn't think twice about executing someone if they have stood against him and his, but he doesn't revel in evil. Viglar does.
- Othbald is a swine and will get a bad end.
- Thunar and Aestid are the natural allies of the player characters. Since HotW mentions Aestid is in love with a young Beorning, well, why not make it the Beorning in the Company?

I haven't thought written an actual end to the Viglunding guideline, but one idea is that if the Company manages to keep strife between the Beornings and the Viglundings contained, by both showing a good example and proving the Viglundings that they're trustworthy, Aestid might marry the Beorning and their future children will lead to the Viglundings essentially becoming a strong clan, friendly with the Beornings and stopping the slave raids.

Then again it might all end up in tragedy, friend fighting friends. Which is ok too in my book.

[zedturtle]

Good stuff. In my adventures, Viglund has not made an appearance, staying off-stage and thus mysterious. One of the other folks you named is about to make an appearance.

In not entirely unrelated news, I've become increasing dissatisfied with Jarn's* name. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

* A Thane of Viglund

[Mytholder]

In not entirely unrelated news, I've become increasing dissatisfied with Jarn's* name. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

Light the beacons of Onomastikon!

Specifically these guys.

[zedturtle]

In not entirely unrelated news, I've become increasing dissatisfied with Jarn's* name. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

Light the beacons of Onomastikon!

Specifically these guys.

Thanks man. Lots of choices there, better than the list I was working off of.

[Michebugio]

- Viglund himself is an extremely ruthless man (and a tyrant), but to some degree he does mirror Beorn: he can be a good friend but the worst enemy. If he gives his word, he keeps it. He doesn't give it easily.
- Quite a few of Viglund's men are far worse than he is himself. His son Viglar is the worst of the lot. Viglund doesn't think twice about executing someone if they have stood against him and his, but he doesn't revel in evil. Viglar does.
- Othbald is a swine and will get a bad end.

This is exactly how I'm playing these NPCs!

I've found very interesting ideas in this topic, and since I'm playing this part too I'll share mine:

1) The plot hook comes directly from Kinstrife and Dark Tidings, from Tales of the Wilderland. Valter (the bandit villain from that adventure) managed to escape the battle at the Old Ford and sought refuge in the land of the Viglundings with his surviving warriors. Sharing a hatred for the Beornings, the two allied. The players embark on a journey to the Upper Marches to find Valter and bring him to justice, but how can they convince Viglund to let him go?

2) First, they need some information. They can ask around, but moving in the lands of the Viglundings can be risky, especially if there are Beornings in the Fellowship. They can seek the advice of Mab (Heart of the Wild) in the Sceadudene (the Western Upper Marches), or trade information with the bandit Cruac (same supplement). Both will ask something in return, though. One way or the other, the characters will discover that there is a number of ways to convince Viglund to stop protecting Valter:

a) Capture Black Tom (in the Sceadudene). Viglund wants Tom's lands, and conquering his farmstead will let Viglund to extend his dominion there, so he'll gladly abandon Valter if the characters will do the job for him. This is a bad course of action, though: they'll need to fight the Stone Trolls that protect Black Tom's farmstead, or bribe them. Moreover, this will reinforce Viglund's power and the followers of Black Tom will be enslaved. The characters will get a lot of Shadow points for this.
b) Convince Mab to prepare a potion that can "compel" Viglund into accepting the characters' request. This is difficult too: Mab will ask something in return, even requiring a magical oath that will bind the players to Mab's will for the years to come (and what are her aims? Is she really a witch?). Then they have to find a way to pour the potion into Viglund's drinking horn...
c) Take a direct approach and face Viglund in his home, asking permission to get to Valter. This is a no victory option: after the Encounter, Viglund will decline and will then enslave the characters! Fortunately, Aestid will free the players, involving them in her escape from Othbald and giving them in exchange the chance to get to Valter before Viglund can send warriors to protect him. This can be mixed with option b) above, since the plan of poisoning Viglund may fail, or it can be carried out by Aestid in exchange for the Fellowship's help in her escape.

3) If Valter is not killed outright in the confrontations above, the characters may bring him to the Carrock to face Beorn's justice.


These are my ideas, hope someone will find the useful!