Bethany strides forward and lifts her mug to her mouth, forming her lips into a little 'o'. As she blows across the rim, a cacophonous sound streams forth across the nearby foes!
Bethany Blarghs a vrock, who looks both rather unhappy and confused.
ESCALATION INCREASES TO 2
The confused Vrock rakes the green one with its giant filth-covered claws.
The green Vrock breaks away from its confused companion and descends onto the now alone fortuna with its
but is too slow to get the mage
The poisoned wound continues to fester.
ESCALATION 2
Initiative
Giant Vrocks (Y 267/333) (G 288/333 15 ongoing poison SE)
Hrarsk 160/160
Khellirin 160/160
Fortuna 140/140
Orcs (216/250) {50,100,150,200}
Ashen Giants (W 270) (*B 236/270)
Doug 102/176
Bethany 91/128
Hrarsk and Khel are up!
Large Ash Giant
AC 24 | PD 22 | MD 18 | HP 270
Vulnerability: cold
Resist fire 16+
Large Vrock
AC 24 | PD 21 | MD 21 | HP 333
Orc Horde
AC 27 | PD 25 | MD 21 | HP 50(250)
Khel tries to slip past the orc in his path, but the hulking brute blocks his path. "Someone stop that giant!" he cries out. "It's making me nervous thinking about what'll happen when those chains break!"
He concentrates on the orc before him, missing with one hammer and smashing him with the second!
Asking for help for him and his allies in their fight, Hrarsk dodges the orcs that had surrounded Khellirin, heading straight for the giant pounding at the chains, giving him a sound strike with his axe which brings him dangerously close to death.
Khel gets bogged down with the orcs, killing one and almost killing the other.
Hrarsk risks a strike from the remaining orc on his side.
He misses but also swings at Hrarsk with the back end of his double axe.
This time connecting!
Hrarsk lands a humongous blow, staggering the Ashen giant, causing ash and lave to spew nearby.
ESCALATION 2
Initiative
Giant Vrocks (Y 267/333) (G 288/333 15 ongoing poison SE)
Hrarsk 125/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 160/160
Fortuna 140/140
Orcs (154/250) {50,100,150}
Ashen Giants (W 270) (*B 57/270 Staggered)
Doug 102/176
Bethany 91/128
Fortuna is up!
AC 24 | PD 22 | MD 18 | HP 270
Vulnerability: cold
Resist fire 16+
Large Vrock
AC 24 | PD 21 | MD 21 | HP 333
Orc Horde
AC 27 | PD 25 | MD 21 | HP 50(250)
Fortuna ducks the vrock attack and tries to spin away from the foetid wings and claws, but can't get out of range of the foul fowl. She draws her short sword from long habit, but wields her smoky wand instead.
"Feel the fury of Fortuna's Forceful Flying Fiend Fender!" she yells as a smoke ring erupts from the end of the wand, fiery light playing inside the clouds as it expands to envelop both her attackers. A weird shimmer plays across the center of the ring, seeming to damage the vrock as it slides along their bodies.
Even with Fortuna's shield she gets clawed by the giant Vrock
Fortuna's powerful spell not only damages and hampers both Vrocks, the flensing effect of Fortuna's fying fenders causes the flying vrock to land and it seems unlikely either of them will be able to take to the skies again for at least a round.
Bethany finds herself strangely checked by the wind as well.
A pair of orcs with bows reach the top of the tower and fire down at Bethany.
One of them connects, staggering Bethany.
The orc nearest Khel pounces on him
and connects once
The pair of orcs by Doug both drop their bows and draw their axes to try and fend off the paladin.
Both miss and neither is in a good enough position to get their second swing.
Hrarsk's giant gives him a quick shove.
but Hrarsk stands firm.
The giant gives the chain another yank and it almost comes free!
Seeing they are likely to be overrun soon the other giant abandons his rock throwing ways and beings working on his chain instead.
ESCALATION 2
Initiative
Giant Vrocks (Y 187/333 Hampered) (G 208/333 15 ongoing poison SE Hampered)
Hrarsk 125/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 95/140 15ongoing poison SE.
Orcs (204/300) {50,100,150,200}
Ashen Giants (*W 270) (**B 57/270 Staggered)
Doug 102/176
Bethany 54/128 Staggered
Doug and Bethany are up!
"Hey, listen up!" calls Bethany, taking a deep breath to steady herself after the projectiles and alliteration. As the various heads swivel toward her, she grins and begins to sing.
Doug bullies his ways past the orcs and gets up close to his giant and clips him with a smite.
Smite: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 4 = 21
Half damage: 8d8 + 18 + 4d12 ⇒ (7, 6, 3, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5) + 18 + (1, 8, 1, 2) = 65
Bethany calls down the thunder, taking out 1 of the nearby orcs, making the vrocks suffer and nearly finishing the nearby giant.
ESCALATION INCREASES TO 3
Strange growths begin to bubble on the Vrocks but are not quite ready to burst yet.
Now that they have lots of enemies nearby they try to screech, but Fortuna's magic holds them back and forces them to rely on their claws.
The other descends on Beth
Both claws connecting with Fortuna leaving her with a nasty set of poisons while some how Beth is completely missed.
ESCALATION 3
Initiative
Giant Vrocks (Y 142/333 Hampered) (G 147/333 15 ongoing poison SE Staggered Hampered)
Hrarsk 125/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 4/140 15ongoing poison SE.15ongoing poison SE.15(30)ongoing poison SE.
Orcs (158/300) {50,100,150,200}
Ashen Giants (*W 238/270) (**B 11/270 Staggered)
Doug 102/176
Bethany 54/128 Staggered
Hrarsk, Khel and Fortuna are up!
AC 24 | PD 22 | MD 18 | HP 270
Vulnerability: cold
Resist fire 16+
Large Vrock
AC 24 | PD 21 | MD 21 | HP 333
Orc Horde
AC 27 | PD 25 | MD 21 | HP 50(250)
As the vrock flies down toward her, Bethany swings her mug in a wide arc intended to leave quite the knot on the evil monster's head.
ESCALATION 3
Initiative
Giant Vrocks (Y 22/333 Hampered Dazed staggered) (G 147/333 Staggered Hampered)
Hrarsk 125/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 4/140 15ongoing poison SE.15ongoing poison SE.15(30)ongoing poison SE.
Orcs (158/300) {50,100,150,200}
Ashen Giants (*W 238/270) (**B 11/270 Staggered)
Doug 102/176
Bethany 54/128 Staggered
Hrarsk, Khel and Fortuna are up!
Khel's head spins in one direction, then another, finding foes at every turn! Fortuna and Beth are having a tough time of it! But we have to stop the giants from breaking those chains! And are those more orcs coming! Realizing the most important thing is saving his friends, he bounds over and swings at the vrocks, his hammers a devastating whirlwhind of carnage!
Hrarsk prays for help in battle. In response, a giant orb of sunshine burns both of the two giants, causing one to die and one to be wounded. The orb moves to Fortuna and helps her to continue fighting. Hrarsk then prays that Bethany too be healed.
Fortuna drops to one knee and breathes heavily, trying to shake off the vrock's venom and basking in the glow of Hrarsk's sphere.
Khell turns on full blender mode and massacres the vrocks.
Hrarsk heals Beth and Fortuna while finishing off the Giant and the nearby orcs in the tower.
Once a battle, every PC can use a standard action to rally, spending one of their recoveries and regaining hit points they’ve lost in combat.
Doug's Orcs, finally no longer extra dangerous
Go for as many swings as they can on the paladin, hoping to find an opening.
but are unable to find purchase in Doug's mighty armor.
The ashen giant gives Doug a quick shove.
but can't pop free and works to finish detaching the chains. Almost completing its work.
ESCALATION 3
Initiative
Hrarsk 115/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 3/140 15ongoing poison SE.
Orcs (86/300) {50} Staggered
Ashen Giants (**W 238/270) **
Doug 102/176
Bethany 102/128
Doug and Bethany are up!
Large Ash Giant
AC 24 | PD 22 | MD 18 | HP 270
Vulnerability: cold
Resist fire 16+
Orc Horde
AC 27 | PD 25 | MD 21 | HP 50(250)
Shaking off the effects of Fortuna's evil alliteration, Bethany realizes that the valley is nearly a perfect amphitheater. If she angles her voice just right... there! As she tilts her head ever so slightly to the left, the booming second verse of her song resounds throughout the entire valley!
Doug continues to work on the giant, hopefully faster than the giant can break the chains.
Meanwhile Bethany fills the caldera with thunder, finishing off an orc and helping wound the remaining giant.
ESCALATION INCREASES TO 4
ESCALATION 4
Initiative
Hrarsk 115/160 Ongoing Fire 10
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 3/140 15ongoing poison SE.
Orcs (33/300) Staggered
Ashen Giants (**W 138/270) **
Doug 102/176
Bethany 102/128
Hrarsk, Khel and Fortuna are up!
Large Ash Giant
AC 24 | PD 22 | MD 18 | HP 270
Vulnerability: cold
Resist fire 16+
Orc Horde
AC 27 | PD 25 | MD 21 | HP 50(250)
Sickened by the vrock poison, Fortuna decides to go down swinging. She staggers in the direction of the beleaguered paladin and unleashes a sizzling bolt in the direction of his enemies before she drops.
Khel sprints across the caldera at the ashen giant, his magic boots making his first strike especially painful for his foe!
Fortuna lightning bolts the remaining giant, wounding him severely and finishing off the remaining Orc.
Khel, aided by his Elven grace makes it across in time to finish off the giant before he is able to break the chain.
Neither chain is hanging on by much more than a thread but you've got a few minutes to rest and recover before heading up.
Hrarsk 105/160
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna -27/140
Doug 102/176
Bethany 102/128
Bethany takes a deep breath of free air as she moves over to help Fortuna to her feet. "You alright there?" she asks, handing the ever-full mug over to the wizardess.
Fortuna sways while shakily gulping from the mug.
"Not so much, no." She breathes heavily for a while, then looks up at the floating castle. "Anybody want to go up first and defend the top of the chain while the rest of us climb?" She grins and twirls her wand between her fingers.
After a bit of rest, Hrarsk takes up Fortuna's offer and heads over to the chains to make sure they don't break. "These chains are barely hanging on," he calls to the group he left behind. "I hope they don't break. Maybe we should do something about it."
Hrarsk 152/160
Khellirin 135/160
Fortuna 58/140
Doug 102/176
Bethany 102/128
The the Cloud Giant castle not immediately escaping the party has time to catch their breath and ascend the chains into the storm giant warlord Volstus's flying cloud castle, Ironcloud Keep.
With intelligence you gained from the Fire Giants' diaries you know that Volstus's command of the flying keep is strong enough that if you defeat him, the castle will likely crash... right into the caldera and likely setting off a chain reaction that would eventually cause the old volcano to explode and cover the landscape for 100 miles in ash and molten lava.
You'd almost certainty have time to escape though.
---
Of course you could instead take a detour through the engine room and sabotage Volstus's control there. You might even end up with a working castle by the time you're done...
Of course you'd be pushing yourself beyond your normal limits by the time you encountered Volstus though...
"There's not much good stopping a giant invasion if we replace it with an eruption that destroys everything around," Fortuna argues, winded from the climb up to the deck, "I think we need to take the control room first."
"That's right," Hrarsk agrees. "But we should definitely be careful not to raise an alarm before we have to."
Heading up the stairs from the anchor room takes you to the engine level. From this level you should be able to find your way to the engine room and disable what needs to be done before heading upstairs to confront the storm king.
The hallways large and giant size, from here you can head east to a southern door or further east and then turn north.
There is also a twisting passage to the west.
"I don't know where the room we need is. Unless someone does, we might as well head west."
"We need to shut off an engine is that the plan? Maybe head in the direction that has the most noise and vibration?" Doug offers as they try to decide where to go.
"That makes sense to me, Doug," Khel weighs in. He lays a hand on the wall, then the floor, then the opposite wall, trying to sense where the engines might be.
Khellrin's sense in no way help him tell where the engine room is, however he does find the foot prints of many giants.
To the west you find a room with bunk beds and packed with supplies.
The off duty resting giants are quickly dispatched and amidst the useless junk is a set of blueprints for the level showing you where you need to go.
Despite the quickness of your battle the sounds must have echoed around as you hear an alarm in the distance.
Clearly dallying will do you no favors.