The Monastery of Odin

 

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Just five miles north of Whiteheart there is a monastery on the banks of the  Otofjord river. This is run by the clerics of Odin, with 30 actual clerics, 20 men-at-arms and 20 non-combatant lay servants.  The monastery is a centre of clerical training and the clerics are spread across a wide range of levels from acolytes to two Patriarchs. 

Part of the monastery's purpose is to act as the headquarters of the church of Odin in southern Soderfjord, and the monastery advises and supports clerics in nearby villages and towns. The monastery is also known to send squads of clerics to places where they are urgently needed to maintain the ways of Odin and Asgard. The monastery can also offer healing and other clerical services (even Raise Dead) though always at a price. If the recipients do not have enough gold and silver then serivces in lieu may be accepted. 

However, there is an unspoken purpose, one that only the senior clerics know: It is there to keep the lid on a malevolent force of chaos deep beneath the monastery. 

The Cult of Nidhogg was a nihilistic, destructive cult of Chaos that worshipped Nidhogg, a serpentine dragon-like entity of primal chaos that supposedly gnaws on the roots of Ygdrassil, the world tree of Norse cosmology. Furthermore they worshipped a massive green-glowing crystal in a chamber deep in a dungeon beneath where the monastery now sits. The cultists were vicious enemies of Thor, Odin, Frey and Heimdall, but were defeated in a battle over 200 years ago. The dungeons were sealed up and the monastery of Odin was established, with the most senior clerics of Odin being aware of their secret directive - make sure the cult of Nidhogg does not revive. Some might be surprised that clerics of a neutral immortal are getting involved in the conflict between Law and Chaos. They are supposed to be neutral in such matters aren’t they? Normally yes, but the cult of Nidhogg is everybody’s enemy. It is so destructive and corrupting that even normally neutral people and immortals have to confront it.   

The green crystal is similar in nature to the eldritch crystals of the Arvorians, and it is both the source of magical power and also corruption and mutation. There are no normal humans living in the chaos-warped tunnels beneath the monastery but there are creatures kept alive by the crystal's abnormal influence. The cultists of Nidhogg called it The Fang of Nidhogg, and although they did not believe it to be literally a piece of their patron, they did believe it to be sent to them. When the monastery was first being built the clerics in charge ordered that the bottom floor of basement be lined with sheets of metallic lead. This protects the clerics on the surface from the Fang's malign influence radiating from below. There is a lead trapdoor that leads from the basement down a shaft to the dungeons. The clerics of Odin are forbidden to go down there. It is locked by the patriarch, partly to stop people from going down but also (unbeknown to most folks) to stop things from coming up from the dungeon into the monastery. 

The cult of Nidhogg has followers on the surface, particularly a band calling themselves The Gnawers of the Earth. To most folks this is a rather odd name for bandits and thugs led by a lunatic cleric, but those who know of Nidhogg may well make the connection and understand the band's true allegience. The band wants access into to the dungeon but can currently only do so via the monastery. Thus the leaders are considering how to either infiltrate or destroy the monastery. The Gnawers of the Earth have tattoos of a snake or long thin dragon coiled into a spiral,with the head in the centre and the tail on the outside and their banner has the same symbol, albeit a black serpent on a green background. Their latest project is to establish a camp near the monastery and dig their way into the dungeon, bypassing the monastery. 

What is actually in the dungeons is not clear, nor is the size and extent of the dungeon. When the clerics of Odin defeated the cult 200 years ago they attempted to clear the dungeon but the radiation from the Fang of Nidhogg caused such sickness, madness and mutation that they were driven back before they could destroy all their cultist foes. But it is clear that whoever ventures down there should be prepared for many dangers, not all of them monstrous. 

NPCs of the Monastery

Hrallmir Ravenspeaker - Patriarch of Odin for southern Soderfjord

13th level cleric, human male, align Neutral

Str12, Int 13, Wis 18, Dex 8, Con 15, Cha 14

Hrallmir is the most senior cleric in the monastery and takes a broad overview of the situation, including dealing with other senior clerics of Odin in Sodefjord City, Ostland and Vestland. He is ultimately responsible for keeping the forces of Nidhogg contained down below, though it is not his top priority, as he is more focused on proselytising the faith of Odin both among Soderfjorders and foreigners. After all, Odin is a great immortal and if everybody followed him then the world would be much better.  

Grimnir Garrallsonn - Deacon of Odin

10th level cleric, human male, alignment Neutral

Str 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Dex 11, Con 10, Cha 13

As Deacon of this monastery, Grimnir is responsible for the day-today running of the establishment and also its defences against both outside attack and also the unspoken threat from below. Grimnir is something of a brawler, and has been in numerous battles and skirmishes. Grimnir knows something of the  Fang of Nidhogg and the dungeon below but does not pay much attention to it, considering it safely contained. He focuses more on immediate problems such as bandits roving around the monastery (including a gang calling themselves The Gnawers of the Earth), and ensuring that folks at the monastery are doing their respective jobs.  

Aesbiornn Oystercracker - Chief Cook for the Monastery

5th level cleric, human male, alignment Neutral

Str 10, Int 13, Wis 15, Dex 10, Con 14, Cha 10

Aesbiornn is the cook for the monastery, and as such regularly enters the cellars where provisions are stored. However, recently he has opened up the lead trapdoor leading to the dungeon. This was mainly out of curiosity though there was also the hope of finding treasure. He is now reluctant to expose his torso as greenish reptilian scales have started to form on his midrift and back, a mutation caused by the accursed aura of the Fang of Nidhogg. Of course, Aesbiornn is not going to tell anybody about this as he might get into trouble. 

Mjorlloth Jurtensonn - Trainer of recruits, Dean of the Monastery

8th level cleric, human male, alignment Neutral

Str 9, Int 14, Wis 15, Dex 10, Con 10, Cha 15

Mjorlloth is responsible for turning teenage aspirants into acolytes and adepts ready to go out into the wider world and serve Odin. 

Svanhild Fairtress - Deaconess of the Monastery

11th level cleric, human female, alignment Neutral 

Str 13, Int 12, Wis 17, Dex 10, Con 13, Cha 11

Svanhild is joint deacon with Grimnir, and she looks after both the lay staff and also the females in the monastery. Technically she is Mathilda’s superior though the two treat each other with mutual respect . She does not quite share Mathilda’s worries but acknowledges the threat below must be contained. She doesn’t get too suspicious about her staff, and she knows that not everybody adheres to the monastic traditions, but there’s something odd about that new scullery maid. 

Mathilda Oswaldottir - Monastery Librarian

10th level cleric, human female, alignment Neutral

Str 8, Int 16, Wis 16, Dex 10, Con 8, Cha 10

Although physically not much, Mathilda is the most knowledgable person in the monastery. She looks after all forms of knowledge, both mundane and esoteric. She also has the powers of rune casting and can teach this to those who she deems worthy. She is the most informed about the Cult of Nidhogg and what lies beneath the monastery, having studied the records of past generations . As such she is also the most concerned, and while other senior clerics consider keeping the forces of Nidhogg contained as a duty, she considers it of vital importance and defending both the monastery and the wider world from an existential threat. Some (such as Grimnir) think she is being overly nervous and a bit obsessive. 

Driffa Hjortdottir - Scullery Maid

2nd level fighter, human female, alignment Chaotic

Str 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Dex 16, Con 10, Cha 9

Driffa keeps a low profile and generally just does the washing up in the monastery kitchen. She is on good terms with Aesbiornn and will often talk to him. Sometimes they speculate about what’s below that lead trapdoor in the cellar. Driffa is in fact a mole, an agent of Chaos who has infiltrated the monastery. She has links to both the Gnawers of the Earth and also the wider Cult of Chaos across Mystara. She is not brave or foolish enough to go down into the dungeons herself but she will happily encourage others (such as Aesbiornn) to investigate. After all, the cult of Nidhogg must have acquired a lot of treasure before it was overthrown.