Summer Solstice 1238:
The intepid Magi Venture into the Glittering Plains Regio in search of Einar. There, in the waving fields of yard-high barley the come across a air of peasant farmers. These Giants escort them to the City, Glasvellir, where they are introduced to the King, Gudmund, a Giant among Giants, who is hailed as a Son of Mimir (which, notes Karl makes him brother to Odin...)
They are feasted, and King Gudmund is loath to let them know where Einar is, and the Magi comport themselves will all due decorum.
They discover that not only do Giants live in Gumund's domain, but so do Humans, and Einar has settled down here, and started a new familiy. Alas in the past Six months raiders from the neighbouring domain of Geirrodargard (a dank and oppressive place across the river, ruled by Gudmund's brother Geirrod), have kidnapped many children from the outlying settlements. These seemed to have unbalanced Einar, and he has flown off in a rage to try and recover them.
A slight issue of protocol came up as to when it would be polite to leave the feast, and, obviously, it was settled by Certamen between Orlaith and Martin. Martin won, so another round of drinks was had, and enjoyed by all.
The inebriated magi excuse themselves from the feast and try to find the citadel of Geirrod on the other side of the raging river
The see a large walled city, which Orlaith peers over to see through the stench and smoke that a Ziggurat/Pyramid of unusual design is obviously at the centre of the city (which is about 5 miles in diameter), and something is going on...
The Ziggurat is carved from what looks like a single solid block of Obsidian, and three golden winged Sphinxes guard the stairs on its flanks. Atop the structure is a chamber sealed by an iron door.
A ceremony on a dias in front of the door is being player out, and a small gaggle of children are penned near a great roasting spit.
As they are debating what to do Einar reveals himself and gets into a fight with teh lead celebrant. This is presumable Gierrod. While Einar flashily and noisily engages with Gierrod, ghostly Landvettir start slowly plucking the children from the pens, and wafting them to safety. The Magi help ti intervene, narrowly dodging the molten balls of metal that Gierrod hurls at al and sundry. They are lucky but Einar gets hit badly, and dies. Enough of a distraction has been made, and enough of Gierrod's might has been stripped, that the children can be led away by Fr Micheal to the safety of Glassvellir.
There is another Feast, and much rejoycing. In thanks for rescuing the children of his domain, he grants them the right once a year to take a draught from a spring in the forested part of his domain, if they would but honour them with their presence at a feast.
The draught gives the Virtue Free Expression for a season, or otherwise is worth 3 pawns of Creo Vis. Karl notes that this is a generous gift, and the covenant would do well to think of some small annual service to perform in return, to cement the relationship.