We had an amazing time with our first session of Sagas of the Icelanders last night.
Characters:
Man – Ivar of the Broad Embrace, a plump and friendly farmer
Woman – Ivar’s mother, Gyda, a wily woman who left her husband on the mainland because he became a Christian
Wanderer – Ahmed Ali Muhammed, a Moor from Spain, learned and religious
Monster – Ulf, the troll blooded deformed friend of Ivar who saved his life in Ireland and came back to live with him
They live on a salt marsh by the sea, have two cows two sheep, and cut wood from the marsh forests, get fish and seals from the sea, and trade milk when they can. They have some artifacts they raided from Ireland: a tapestry of wild Irish Wolf Hounds, a broken cross, and north Umbrian Bishop’s robes.
There’s an arranged marriage (inspired by Jason Morningstar’s one-shot scenario). Gyda’s brother Olaf, the local Godi, has arranged for Ivar to marry Thora, daughter and sheild maiden of Sigurd the Beserk, raiders to the north in the fjords whom they’re trying to make peace with. The game begins the day before the marriage, and everything must be perfect. Ivar takes Ulf to trade wood for mead with their neighbor the one-eyed Yngvar, a fisherman by the sea. On the way a ship drifts to land, and aboard it is Ali. There’s many religious debates, and Ali ends up praying to Thor after defeat in a footrace with Ivar, but later Ivar must pray to Allah after loss in a debate. Ivar’s manliness is questioned, how could a farmer like him marry a shield maiden like Thora? To prove himself they must wrestle before the wedding tomorrow. Olaf has a bad feeling about the wedding, and there are many bad omens: Ali arrives on a ship of dead men that they burn, a cod flops out of the sea and dies, a grease fire starts in the house. When they return back to the house the all have dinner with the family, the Godi Olaf is there. After dinner Ivar insults Asgerd (his shield maiden cousin) and she beats him in a wrestling match. She seems angry at him, but no-one can figure out why! Then, after one too many slanderous remarks from Olaf to Ulf, Ulf freaks out and attacks and kills Olaf outside and no-one sees it! The Godi is dead the night before the wedding, but the only evidence is a smear of blood and a missing Ulf. This bodes terribly for the family, and they fear for the failure of the wedding tomorrow.
Gyda reads the runes (after she advances she chooses a Seidkona move!) and sees the future: Thora is crawling into bed with her niece, Asgerd, after the wedding! In order to secure the marriage, Gyda talks to Asgerd, and says as long as she allows the marriage of Thora and Ivar to go through, she is welcome to visit her house in the night. They agree it’s the best for everyone. Outside, Ivar and Ali and Ulf are searching for Olaf, and a boat arrives on shore. Sigurd and Thora have arrived early. CLIFFHANGER.
It was the first session and there was a bit of a learning curve with all the moves people could use, but about halfway through we were all really, really excited to use them and we all got the hang of it pretty quick. I’m thinking the God in play here is Odin, and the threat is obviously the beserkers. The Man gained the move Expansion from this session, and we’re thinking he might become the Godi, while the Woman might become either the Matriarch or the Seidkona.
