Ascending the World Tree

Synopsis and setting

After dying in battle, a group of vikings is being brought to Valhalla, the hall of heroes in the afterlife. On the horizon the bright sky of Asgard, the realm of the Gods, nears. The thought of fights, mead and boar meat expecting them once there makes their eyes glimmer and their mouth water. They are flying with a Valkyrie, who was sent by All-father Odin to bring all the heroes to his realm. But this is no ordinary Valkyrie: she reveals herself to be the trickster God Loki, who drops them to his own amusement. They find themselves near the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree, around which all realms revolve. They will need to get back up to the land of the Gods, lest they be stuck between realms forever. In what appears to be a stroke of luck, a giant squirrel stops on the branch and looks at them. It's a Ratatosk, a messenger between planes, often friendly, but sometimes treacherous. He might be the only hope to reach Valhalla for the heroes.

This is a easy/medium social encounter designed for a party of 3 to 5 players. It might evolve into a full fledged campaign, but to keep this encounter stand-alone the heroes will reach their objective in a relatively brief time.

Location

The encounter plays out on the lower branches of Yggdrasil. It's a place between places, as on the giant tree are different realms of existence, from the foggy and dangerous Niflheim at the bottom, to the land of Gods, Asgard, at the top. Currently the characters are in neither of these places, and they risk being stuck on a lower branch for eternity.

Read or paraphrase the following:

NPCs/monsters/creatures

Ratatosks are one the few inhabitants of Yggdrasil, and probably the only ones able to nimbly travel up and down its massive trunk. They look like giant squirrels, generally caothic-good.

This one makes a point in twisting messages of spite between Nidhögg, at the bottom of Yggdrasil, and the eagles at its top, bringing discontent between worlds. He is quite cunning, but he might be the only hope of reaching Asgard.

Please note: the heroes might not quite know what this creature is, and should pass a 12 DC in Intelligence (Nature or Religion) to recall what they are looking at (might be higher or lower depending on background. This could give them an advantage to their checks later on).

For the sake of this encounter here are the three stats you should know about: Strength (8), Dexterity(16), Intelligence (12) and Charisma (16). The creature also knows the cantrip Vicious Mockery.

Right away the Ratatosk might start spreading the seed of diffidence in the group, so they should exercise caution when talking to him. (e.g. Ratatosk might tell a character that not all of them will enter Valhalla, and that his/her companions plot to leave them out. The character should pass an Int save (DC 12) to not be deceived. Depending on their background the DC may actually vary. If they pass they gain an advantage to their following tests, if they don't they get a disadvantage).

Objectives

The main aim of the group is to reach Asgard and get to their rightful spot in Valhalla. The heroes can try to carry out two main different approaches:

Conclusion

If the characters succeed, the Ratatosk takes them up the realms and finally to Asgard. It's a long journey, but thanks to the nimbleness and experience of the creature they finally reach their destination, where they feast and celebrate.

If they won't pass the social tests, the creature still accepts to bring them to Valhalla, but, in a twist, drops them halfway through, taking delight in their misfortune and watching them falling to Niflheim.

If the heroes fail at subduing the Ratatosk he flees, leaving them on the branch between realms.