Sealman is brought to one knee as he is sliced from neckline to waistline. Steadying himself on Thunderpuss and later aided by his friends, Sealman begins to chop down giants in the fey woods.
Thunderpuss also lashes out with tooth and claw in hopes to bring down one of the giants.
Lucian heals the dwarf's wounds as Seal continues to batter the giants. It takes two more strikes before the leader falls and his third swing drops one of the cloud giants. Thunderpuss then lends her aid by biting into one of the giant's legs!
cloud giant 2: 66 dmg
cloud giant 3: 51 dmg
cloud giant 4: 51 dmg, staggered
Rissi pulls out a different wand, this one shaped like a gnarled piece of oak. She points it carefully and utters a simple command, upon which a bolt of lightning leaps out.
Rissi hits the giants with a streak of lightning!
cloud giant 2: 91 dmg
cloud giant 3: 63 dmg
cloud giant 4: 76 dmg, staggered
The giant barely dodge's Miana's punch and then turns on her:
The second one pummels Seal a bit more:
And the third goes for Seal as well but is still a bit out of it:
cloud giant 2: 91 dmg
cloud giant 3: 63 dmg
cloud giant 4: 76 dmg, staggered
Rissi drops one wand and pulls another; two fireball burst from it, liitle popping sounds that grow into roaring flames.
DC 24 halves
DC 24 halves
Lucian checks to see if one of his companions is grievously injured, then casts a spell.
Salman is able to dodge the first swing but he is caught by the off hand. The last giant hammerfists Seal as well. The giantslayer takes his lumps and pulls himself with Isoult in hand. Thunderpuss pounces at his attacker too.
Thunderpuss pounces at the giant that tried to take out his master.
Between Rissi's fireballs, Seal's raging fury, and Miana's expert attacks, the giants are quickly taken down!
"These giants were no rabble, we should rest and gather our strengths before we enter the city." suggests Lucian after healing all of his companions.
Sealman shows no sign of weakness in front of the giants, even the dead ones. After being patched up, he claims the greataxe and stores the greatclub on Thunderpuss.
"That would be fine. Maybe more giants will come in the night."
Time and legend have a way of making such distortions seem like fact, yet Xin-Shalast is indeed a place of wonder, mystery, and danger. Once the crown jewel of the nation of Shalast, and arguably the greatest of all Thassilon’s capitals, Xin-Shalast has remained hidden from prying eyes for ages, standing strong against the steady march of decay due to its proximity to other worlds, where the very rules of existence are twisted and wrong. Today, high in its mystical mountain valley, when the wind cuts just right between the jagged peaks, listeners can still sometimes hear the otherworldly voice of the Ancients piping, “Tekeli-li... Tekeli-li...”
This tableau defies belief. A narrow mountain pass opens into a glacial valley extending north and then turning to the west at the base of the vast mountain at the far end. Filling this valley is an ice-capped city of enormous proportions. The near end is mostly blocked by a huge fortress of smooth black stone, with multiple towers rising from its high walls. Exiting the bailey of this fortress is a massive causeway of gold that dominates the city as it travels down the center of the vale. Enormous towers and spires of many-colored stone pack both sides of the central thoroughfare, rising to prodigious heights and giving the illusion that the road itself is a valley. The eastern slope of the valley has been partially subsumed by an ancient volcanic flow—nearly a quarter of the city appears to have been so buried. That section is now little more than a great mass of ice, with the jagged angles and peaks of ruined structures poking through its topmost layer here and there. Where the valley curves slightly to the west, the structures, if anything, grow even larger, becoming truly gigantic as they climb up and over the rocky spur. At the far end of the valley, the city abuts the lower slope of a truly massive peak. Yet the city builders appear to have taken no heed of this change in slope, for the great causeway merely elevates at a steep angle and continues to climb the incline in a nearly straight line, transforming into an immense stairway. Additional buildings cling precariously to the mountain face alongside the causeway, growing even larger and more impressive as they ascend. The gigantic buildings finally give way a few thousand feet above, but the mighty road continues to wend its treacherous way to just below the mountain’s peak. There, a spired citadel looms, its size and proportions truly magnificent. It, too, fails to summit the mountain—instead, its topmost spires end just below the dominant face of a stern man, carved into the peak of the mountain and surveying the city below. The otherworldly quality of this strange panorama is further reinforced by the sound of the cold winds slicing across the high peaks, making strange cries and shrieks in the thin mountain air.
Sealman takes in the surroundings and the absences of modern civilization. The wind through the spires and the rustle of bare branches. He eyes the road before him and realizes he is not finished and the steep grade speaks to how difficult the road will become. He observes the ground for any tracks and only murmers, "Where is everybody?"
+6 for giants, +2 for magical beasts.
Lucian, riding his phantom steed, attempts to see at main gate to check how heavily it is guarded.
"Rissi, do you happen to know a few spells to scout ahead, by chance? If the city's filled with giants, it could help, I guess."
Using his own divinatory skills, Lucian takes out his revelation quill to proceed to a divination session, asking: "What would be the safest way to reach the spires of Xin-Shalast from where we are?"
He also casts an augury, letting his quill run on the paper until the powers that be give him an answer. He writes: What will happen if we tread through the main gate of the city? Weal or Woe?
"The inhabitants are hiding from the cold, perhaps, or just hiding. They are skulks after all. Perhaps we should avoid exploring the fortress and peak until we are ready, and concentrate on squeak finding a member of this "spared" faction."
Rissi looks over the city, impressed.
"I lack divination strong enough, but perhaps illusion will help"
She will cast [i]seeming[i], masking the group as skulks.
At Miana's prompting, the ratfolk pauses to take a trip through her memory palace.
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (planes)
Knowledge (religion)
Rissi is certain that Tekeli-li derives from an even older form of Thasillonian but what it might have meant in the time of the runelords or indeed what it might mean now is a lost secret.
Lucian's first spell returns an unexpected answer: Destruction of the Beast and salvation of the Spared. His next question yields a more promising response: Weal.
The ruined road branches here, a narrower route leading around to the west while the main thoroughfare passes through a looming stone wall flanked by glossy black towers. It seems to be some sort of ancient gateway to the city proper. A dark mass of gritty, rocky ice presses up against the fortress’s northern face, the ancient lava flow apparently stopped (but only just) by the stone walls.
This is Krak Naratha, a huge fortress that guards the entrance to the valley of Xin-Shalast. Its walls are 50 feet thick and rise to a height of 75 feet. The square towers extend as high as 200 feet. Krak Naratha is composed of volcanic glass harvested from the caldera east of the valley, its roof and edges once gilt in gold but now only retaining splashes of color. Its joint seams are very fine and almost invisible in the dark stone.
The gates of Krak Naratha fell long ago, leaving an empty gatehouse to provide entry to its bailey. The former garrison blockhouse has partially collapsed, as has much of the northeastern wall. The ancient volcanic eruption did significant damage to these structures, but not enough to completely destroy them.
As you approach, there is a loud sound from atop one of the walls as of a thunderstone being set off. Seconds later three creatures fly from the walls toward you, landing in your path. They are harpy-like
lamias. One of them speaks up in the ancient tongue.
Skulk rissi looks about furitively. "Sorry masters, we went down the roads, walked the outside paths. We wanted to see what was there; it had been so long, we were curious."
Lucian happily treads forward as the good omen is scribed upon the parchment. Upon encountering the flying lamias, he beams a charming smile.
"Well met! I am Lucian Arvandru, travellers of many roads, and these are my companions. We only wish to bargain for safe passage. Of course, we bow to your authority and wisdom. Perhaps we could offer you food, or some other convenience? I'm sure we can reach an understanding, among reasonable individuals."
Sealman unable to understand the conversation between the two, leans over and whispers to Thunderpuss. Hunched over he secretly point at the lamias under a cupped hand.
"That's what happens if you keep humping Miana's leg at night when she sleeps."
The flying lamia creature eyes Lucian warily for a moment but then catches a glimpse at the symbol around his neck. "Ah, I see. No, you bear the symbols of loyalty. You are free to pass, though I suggest your friends who do not open show their Sihedrons do so." With that, they turn and fly back atop the walls. There are no more thunderstone-sounds and the way is now clear into the city.
This section of the ruined city has been cleared of rubble, leaving a roughly circular courtyard about a quarter-mile in diameter. Many oversized tents and crude shelters have been erected in the clearing, turning it into what looks like a giant-sized refugee camp.
Hundreds of giants dwell in the yurts, tents, and surrounding ruins, awaiting assignment along with dozens of other new arrivals and refugees.
Lucian nods to the flying lamiharpies, acknowledging their advice without showing sign of submission. Perhaps a sign of the pervading influence of the Dominant Runeforged weapons? He treads forward, leading his companions into the giants' camp.
"A giants' camp... barely where we would find our possible allies... unless some of them have been made prisoners? It's a possibility that would be worth investigating, I guess. Sealman, I would ask from you not to charge and fight those giants, as breaking our cover as Karzoug's agents would be tantamount to suicide. I love life and haven't yet experienced all it has to offer, so please indulge me, friend."
Then, providing the group accepts his plan, Lucian walks to a stone giant, and while his Sihedron medallion is well-visible on his chest, declares:
"The Master's gold may shower you, always. We have been sent to interrogate one of the despicable Spared that were caught. Can you lead us to them?"
Rissi hisses in concordance with Lucian. "Yesssss.... and the faster the better. You know how they get if we take to long on these sorts of things."
"Kill'em all... later."
Sealman is trying to hold on. His hands are constantly gripping and re-gripping Isoult. His left eye twitches wildly and white dribble slowly milks out from the corner of his lips.
Perhaps misunderstanding your intent, a nearby stone giant growls, "Spared? If you're one of the Spared, you better not be caught crawling around here...." Another cuts him off though, understanding you better. "Ain't no Spared prisoners around here. If you catch 'em, best to squeeze 'em into jelly before they run away."
As you walk further in to the city on the outskirts of the giant encampment, it soon becomes clear that a stone giant is following you. He is heavily tattooed and stands out from the other giants. "You..." he rumbles when he realizes that you have spotted him. "All of you. This way." After motioning to a nearby deserted street, the tattooed giant leads the way and wait for you.
"No body asks about the Spared, nobody would want to talk to them. You came from the direction of the Path so you must be new here and certainly a newcomer wouldn't even know of their existence. So what's your real purpose here?"
Lucian also frowns and tries to get a feel of the giant before answering.
Lucian raises his eyebrow but seems to sense something in the way the giant is phrasing the question. He nods to Miana and she takes a leap in telling the giant the real reason. The giant's face is blank for a few tense seconds and then breaks into a subtle smile. "I thought as much. You should be more careful. My name is Gyukak. You are not alone, I should tell you, not even among the giants. There are those of us who would escape Xin-Shalast and claim several now-abandoned giant homelands on the Storval Plateau."
Gyukak narrows his eyes. "You are making for Mhar Massif, are you not? Be careful, there is some sort of field around the peak, although I suspect there are some in this city with special items that let them pass unmolested. I will not pry as to your ultimate purpose except to say that if you provide a distraction to the north I could use the opportunity to lead many of the giants from the city and lessen Karzoug's army by a great deal. The blue dragon Ghlorofaex is a menace and his loss would not only provide such a distraction but would also be a great blow to Karzoug. Losing Ghlorofaex and half his giant army in one day would send quite the message to the Runelord, would it not?"
Storval Plateau Sealman takes a mental note for later.
Seal growls to himself, as he wouldn't actually converse directly with a dirty giant.
"Lose any entire army would be an even bigger message."
"Be reasonable, Seal. The giant is offering us a way to deal a great blow to the giant army - it's more then we can hope to do by ourselves with significant resources at our disposal."
"That sounds fair. Do you know where we can find this Ghlorofaex?"
Gyukak shrugs, "I have avoided him and do not know where he lairs. But from afar he is certainly blue and nearly as old as the stones. I will send someone to watch over the north of the city and send word to me once you have snuffed out the dragon. Then I will lead away as many giants as I can muster. Good luck. I hope our small efforts here prevent what might be a great evil for Golarion's future."
"Wait, what? We aren't taking out the giant army? How about we switch places. You take out the dragon, we'll get the giants? Sounds good to me."
"If we stay this course, I'm sure we will have giants aplenty for you to slay. You will simply have to concern yourself with more squeak high-value targets."
Lucian nods, accepting whatever little information he is given regarding the dragon.
"You have a deal, Gyukak. Now we'll depart and try to find this dragon."
... or the Spared. Hopefully I can learn more about the Beast of the prediction I was given earlier.
Lucian looks for less crowded streets, hoping to stumble upon the Spared where the giants do not tread.
"So Rissi, what do you know about old, blue dragons?"
Gyukak ignores Seal's comments and simply nods to Lucian before turning and walking back to the giant camp.
You start heading north into the city to seek out the dragon. Along the way you spot an immense dome of stone which rises at the end of an elevated road here. The structure towers five hundred feet in height and is capped by a smaller dome that brings its total height to nearly seven hundred feet in all. Numerous arches and openings decorate the building’s sides, all allowing access to its cavernous interior.
"You should ask Kufieno. This one might even share blood with him. Yes... they are students of illusion, deception, and of course breath shhhh lightning with abandon. In whole, fearsome opponents, and great manipulators I've heard. Given to manipulating shorted lived races from behind the scenes. It is odd to find one as a servant of a runelord. I suppose it squeak speaks to the human's power."
"Let's explore this dome. It looks like it is an important building, so maybe we'll encounter some of Karzoug's agents. Gyukak mentioned they had something special to ward them from the field protecting the higher points of the city." Lucian proposes as he follows the tougher members.
You decide to check this structure, hoping to find a way to protect yourselves further on or at the very least to weaken Karzoug by taking out his allies. Although no giants have dwelt here for thousands of years, its current tenants are no less huge: a tribe of particularly violent and loathsome yetis roars as you try to enter their structure. At the peak of the rubble pile in the middle of the chamber, the snowmen maintain a 30-foot-tall altar apparently venerating their chieftain or leader.
+4 if giant