The session opens with Jorunn overlooking the sea wondering what has befallen her brother … has he been successful? Has he found Thaugolos? As she turns back around, she can see a growing light in the sky, a red fiery light … as it grows she mutters to herself, “Oh, Arn, what have you done? What have you done?”
Arn Kalapunki begins to walk across the bridge, to make his way to the other side of the gorge. Snow is blowing everywhere. As he gets about half-way, Vestlidi begins whispering to him again and shows him a vision of a character leading him along the bridge to a tunnel on the other side.
As Arn approaches the tunnel, he sees the entrance is surrounded by Elvish sigils, reinforcing in his mind that this was once, long ago, an Elvish tower. Again, Vestlidi gives him a vision: the figure leading him across turns around .. and has a wooden mask, for it is a Wood Elf .. it gestures to him to enter the tunnel.
“What else have you been hiding all this time,” Arn asks to Vestlidi. He takes a left and spots a winding staircase up to the tower.
Arn finds a pile of rubble and detritus as he approaches, and within it he finds the burnt remains of an Elvish mask .. Vestlidi against whispers to him and grants him a vision: the Elf leading him turns to look up, as fire burns down around them, incinerating the Elf and charring the mask. Coming back to, Arn notices a series of sigils in the old charred mask. He recognizes them, and pulls out the Elvish hammer and there are aspects of them that are the same!
“The Elf that went with Vestlidi was from Windhaven. Aha!” He leaves the mask behind and continues on toward the tower .. signs of massive melting is to be seen everywhere as he approaches the nest he had spotted from below. Within the nest he sees a host of shattered eggs.
He realizes that they were split with a blade … each and every one of them. He realizes that Thaugolos is a female and that Vestlidi destroyed her brood of eggs.
Vestlidi grants Arn yet another vision: he is speaking to the Elves, saying that they can end the scourge of the Dragons, their shared enemy, by going to the last nest of Dragon eggs in the land. He asks them to help him get to the nest to destroy them, and free the Ironlands forever from Dragons.
“Vestlidi,” Arn says, “you did this …” and for the first time Vestlidi speaks “A Dragon’s fury will never die until the source of her vengeance is gone. You must end this for she will end you, and your sister!”
Thaugolos is not to be found among the stone of the tower as Arn enters its ruined walls and looks out upon the landscape. He scans the sky and can not see her, but he fears that she can sense him and may even now be on the way back. He decides he must set an ambush before she arrives. Surprise is his only chance!
He manages to find an excellent hiding place at the top of the tower. He waits, concealed. Soon, the flap and creak of leathery wings can be heard as Thaugolos returns. She circles, examining the tower, but does not see Arn .. and lands near the tower. He grips Ulvetann and steels himself for combat …
Thaugolos turns around, sniffing the air .. and she catches the smell of the sky iron in Ulvetann, the object of her vengeance and fury … as she becomes visibly enraged, Arn Kalapunki attacks!
He rises from his hiding place and with the fully repaired and readied spear leaps down upon her, she yet unaware of his location. Vestlidi goes absolutely crazy within the spear, knowing that this is their chance to complete what he could not in life. The spear sinks deep into her back, Arn lands on the ground, and the dragon turns towards him.
Thaugolos sucks in a great breath of air and breaths out a blast of fire .. Arn manages to dive out the way as where he was standing bursts into flames, consuming his pack of supplies. She spins about with full reptilian fury, all teeth and claws ..
She snaps down with her jaws at him, but Arn dives away again .. and readies Ulvetann again and once again does massive amounts of harm as the spear bites deep in to the dragon. In response, Thaugolos launches a flurry of attacks, shredding his armor and cutting into his flesh, and he parries causing further wounds … but his health is diminished to near death.
Both are now deeply wounded .. and so the dragon takes to the sky to strafe him with fire. Arn takes the moment to dive for cover as she wheels in the sky, blasting flame across the battleground. Arn runs into the safety of the ruined tower, and Thaugolos reaches in with her neck straining, snapping at him … her serpentine head reaches Ulvetann, bears down on it with her teeth, pulls it out of Arns grip, and with one move of her neck flings it down the gorge.
Ulvetann is lost! She begins pacing in front of the tower, waiting for Arn to emerge. He realizes his precarious position, but only has his bow …
without the initiative, Arn Kalapunki leans against the wall with bow in hand: “Thaugolos, if you can understand me, I know why you are hunting my people. I know what my grandfather did. He killed your children. But he is dead. Your vengeance has already been realized. Let my people go and we will leave you alone!”
Thaugolos stops prowling, considering Arn’s words …
“Thaugolos I have caused you great harm. I can do so again. But I have no such intention. That was my grandfather. But he is did. He is gone. This feud between you and my folk does not need to continue. You may live out your days. I know you are the last of the great dragons. I know you are alone in the world. But I know what it is to be alone. Forgive us! Forgive us!”
Thaugolos visibly calms … and Arn steps out of the protection of the tower’s rocks. “What say you dragon? My life is not worth it, but your life is precious for you are the last dragon in the Ironlands. If you pursue your quest of vengeance, others will come.” He warns her of the Elves, and urges her to fly far into the North where she can at least be safe.
Arn pledges to tell the people of the Ironlands that she is dead, a secret he pledges to take to the grave, so they will leave her be. Thaugolos lifts off and flies high, and higher, circling about, and lets out one last bellowing roar .. of acceptance.
… and flies off into the North, to the highest peaks in the Ironlands.
.. and with that, Arn has freed the people of Wolfstone.
On the Southern cost of the Ironlands, the scattered encampments lay of the Ironlanders. Jorunn wonders if Arn has been successful .. she sees on the horizon a red fiery light that begins to grow with intensity … and as she looks at that light, she thinks of Arn and asks what he has done.
… and out of the light of that new dawn, walks Arn Kalapunki. Jorunn squints to see through the light, and runs towards him through the flowers of spring, rushing towards him to embrace him, looking into his eye and overwhelemed with emotion .. but she steels herself and asks “Is it done?”
Arn responds, “Thaugolos, the scourge of the mountain, will never bother the people of Wolfstone. The deed is done.”
The years of running are over. As the light begins to illuminate the settlement, a murmur spreads among them.
Arn proclaims, “My friends, people of Wolfstone and of Highmark, your days of running are over. The dragon is gone!”
The people celebrate.
“You have done it,” she says to Arn Kalapunki, “aand now I give to you what is rightfull yours: the overseership of Wolfstone“
“The people of Wolfstone have had their overseer this entire time,” he responds. He tells her he must return now to the South, where he has friends and unfinished business.
“Arn Kalapunki, you are an honorable man!” she yells to the departing ship .. as they set out south on the deck of the ship.