Wednesday Pendragon Campaign

Session 034 - Erge, Exeter, and the Hounds of Hecate

7 min read

In-game year: 490

Summary

The conroi remained split between two dangerous roads. In the north, Millicent, Geraint, Asterius, and Brother Nerovens followed the trail of Giant Erge near Stafford, first hiding from him and then tricking him through his own vanity. They convinced Erge that a rival giant had dared leave larger tracks in his lands and steal meals from his shadow; enraged, Erge stormed away after the other trail.

In the west, Liam and Drustin survived Uther’s assault on Exeter. The castle was lightly defended and likely never held Gorlois or Ygraine in force. Drustin was first onto the wall, fought from the ground, shattered the elite resistance, and opened the gates. Liam spared a child soldier but was badly wounded. Exeter fell, but Uther found no duke and ordered the army onward toward Tintagel. Far north, the questers discovered the Shrine of Hecate, attempted the maiden’s trial, and survived an attack by one of the Hounds of Hecate before choosing not to continue the ritual for now.

Scene/Beat Log

  • Erge sighted: The northern questers spot Giant Erge above the treeline and hide among the trees. He does not notice them and moves south.
  • Folklore and failed nerve: The company recalls that giants are often gluttonous and arrogant, though not always simple monsters. They consider a rear charge, but Erge’s size and stench break their nerve before the attack begins.
  • The boastful giant: Asterius and Geraint call out that the locals named Erge the greatest giant in the land, yet the questers have seen larger tracks. Erge declares these are his lands and that he is the greatest giant of all.
  • Millicent’s question: Millicent asks why Erge eats people. Erge answers simply: because they feel good in his belly.
  • Tracks and goading: At Geraint’s suggestion, the questers lead Erge first to his own tracks, then use the smaller/larger trail confusion to enrage him. Millicent flatters his might while pointing to the “proof” of another giant’s insult.
  • Erge diverted: Erge flies into a frenzy and storms off after the other trail. The questers follow at a safer distance.
  • Siege ladders at Exeter: Liam and Drustin struggle on the ladders. Drustin reaches the wall first; Liam falls and is pelted with missiles before finally climbing up.
  • Light defenders: Drustin realizes Exeter has only roughly forty-five defenders, mostly squires with a few elite knights — far too few for a duke’s true refuge.
  • Drustin prone: Spearmen knock Drustin onto his back, but he keeps fighting from the ground and kills one.
  • Liam’s mercy: Liam reaches the wall and finds himself facing a child soldier. Rather than killing him, Liam gives him a non-lethal clout and moves on.
  • Elite resistance: Liam and Drustin encounter three elite dismounted knights near the route to the gate. The knights fight honorably one-on-one, but Liam is struck down by accumulating wounds.
  • Drustin’s rage: Seeing Liam fall, Drustin gives himself over to reckless fury. He knocks down or out each knight who steps into the gap and smashes the last resistance aside.
  • Exeter falls: Drustin opens the gates. Uther’s army storms into Exeter. Liam is badly hurt but alive.
  • Uther’s fury: The victory does not satisfy Uther. Gorlois is not there, most of his men are absent, and Uther demands answers.
  • Toward Tintagel: Drustin humbles himself and suggests following the tracks from the emptied village. Liam adds that the Cornish likely evacuated as Uther’s army approached. Tintagel is identified as the likely refuge, and Uther orders the army onward.
  • Liam slows the march: Liam quietly tries to delay the march and succeeds too well. The army is misdirected to the wrong castle, but Drustin takes the blame. Uther is furious, and Liam does not risk more sabotage.
  • Mountain shrine: Following Erge by night, the northern questers reach a mountaintop cave and shrine beneath the full moon. Three statues — maiden, mother, and crone — bear moon pendants.
  • Greek inscription: Asterius reads the Greek text: supplicants may undertake the Triple Goddess’ phases, each requiring three skills, two traits, and a passion. Success brings a reward; failure looses the hounds of Hecate to devour the supplicant’s soul.
  • Maiden’s trial: Millicent attempts the maiden’s trial. She succeeds with dancing and loyalty to her companions, but guesses the trait Honesty incorrectly.
  • Hound of Hecate: A hound appears with hide like iron and terrible strength. Asterius is badly hurt, Millicent is mauled but holds, and Geraint lands the decisive blow. The hound vanishes in fire and brimstone.
  • Trial deferred: The ritual resets. Wounded and warned, the questers choose not to continue the trial for now.
  • End state: Uther’s army reaches Tintagel as autumn leaves fall. The northern party continues toward Appleby, with Erge, the second giant, and the Hecate shrine unresolved.

Characters (appeared / impacted)

  • Millicent — Helps bait Erge through flattery, attempts the maiden’s trial at the Shrine of Hecate, and survives the hound’s attack.
  • Sir Geraint — Helps mislead Erge with the track ruse and lands the decisive blow against the Hound of Hecate.
  • Asterius — Helps bait Erge, reads the Greek inscription at the shrine, and is badly hurt by the Hound of Hecate.
  • Brother Nerovens — Continues with the northern questing party toward Appleby.
  • Giant Erge — Proves vain and cannibalistic; is tricked into chasing the second giant’s trail rather than fighting the questers.
  • Drustin — First onto Exeter’s wall, fights from prone, breaks the elite defenders, opens the gate, and is later blamed for Liam’s misdirection of Uther’s march.
  • Liam — Spares a child soldier at Exeter, is badly wounded in the assault, and quietly delays/misdirects Uther’s march toward Tintagel.
  • Uther — Takes Exeter but finds Gorlois absent; redirects the army toward Tintagel in fury.
  • Gorlois and Ygraine — Not found at Exeter; believed to have withdrawn to Tintagel.

Loot / Rewards / Glory / Notable Rolls

  • Drustin earns the distinction/glory of being first onto Exeter’s wall and opening the gate.
  • Liam chooses mercy toward a child soldier rather than killing him.
  • Millicent learns part of the maiden trial’s requirements but gains no goddess reward.
  • The party defeats one Hound of Hecate; the ritual’s deeper reward remains unclaimed.

Consequences & New Facts

  • Exeter has fallen to Uther, but the victory is hollow because Gorlois and Ygraine are absent.
  • Tintagel is now the likely Cornish refuge and Uther’s next target.
  • Liam successfully delays Uther’s march once, but Drustin is blamed and Uther’s anger rises.
  • Giant Erge has been diverted after a supposed rival, leaving the northern questers free to continue — for now.
  • The second, larger giant remains unresolved.
  • A mountain Shrine of Hecate offers a dangerous pagan ritual with real supernatural enforcement by soul-devouring hounds.
  • The northern quest toward Appleby/Loch Lomond continues without the shrine’s reward.

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