Round 3 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Seamus-
Jarrek-acted
Kronug-acted
Trianne
Manticore
Kronug follows up Jarrek's successful attack with a devastating blow of his own, cleaving deep into the manticore's neck. It falls, bleeding all over the floor.
Seamus, seeing the manticore before him drop, scrambles out of the now small chamber, clambering over the downed manticore. Free of the scrum, he looks toward where Trianne faces the last manticore on her own, and immediately begins calculating how much explosive power is needed to down the thing, and not immolate his friends.
Trianne sees Seamus zip into the room. A good sign, and while she has no doubt her allies would fell this manticore as well, she doesn’t know if it will be in time to save her. Certainly no fault of theirs considering how quickly these beasts move, but she really doesn’t want to get eaten.
Her heart races with opportunity as she feels the door open behind her. She bobs and then slithers back through the doorway, the words of her spell rushing from her lips as she gets clear of the creature’s immediate threat.
Only as she fades from view does she risk a glance behind her to see if she has stepped towards anything worse.
Trianne finds herself in a small room with a set of double doors to the east and a spiral staircase down in the southwest end of the room. Except for her, the room is apparently empty.
The last manticore, badly wounded and alone, flees out the northeast doors.
Kronug does not bother chasing down the fleeing manticore.
He cleans off Gorum's Thorn and looks around at the items in the room.
The room contains a lot of things. There's a fancy silk gown sized for a giant, encrusted with gems and precious metal thread. Trianne figures the materials are worth 500 gp. Under the gown are a number of pieces of parchment, all written on in Giant.
You call all giants to bring ruin to the small folk. I, Grenseldek, answer your call, but I am not your soldier. I offer something better. I pledge my hand in marriage to you. I bring a dowry and a tribe of giants, ogres, and orcs, and I will serve at your side as queen. Take me and you will not regret it.
Your future bride,
Grenseldek,
Glorious Chieftain of the Twisted Hearts"
There is also a crumpled piece of parchment on the floor, written in Giant in a very different hand. Where the others are sloppy and uneven, whoever penned this one has a very precise hand.
I have no interest in your proposed union. Even now, hundreds of giants flock to my banner within Minderhal's Valley. You may bring your trinkets and your tribe and offer them as tribute, and I will consider not killing you outright for your audacity.
I give you this one admonition-do not approach me again with such a proposal. You are far below my station, and the very prospect is absurd. If I ever hear such nonsense again, know that I shall take much more than just your “hand.” I am the Storm Tyrant-my word thunders with the might of the sky and my justice strikes swift as lightning. You have been warned.
Volstus
Another piece of parchment contains
Lastly, a parchment map shows the location of a secluded valley in the Mindspin Mountains south of Belkzen. A note in the same sloppy handwriting as the draft letters decorates the back.
Other items in the room include:
A book of love poems written in Giant worth 25 gp;
a marble bust of a stone giant worth 100 gp;
a woven 25-foot square carpet depicting two giants making love worth 125 gp;
a polished, giant-sized drinking horn made from a mammoth’s tusk worth 150 gp;
a macabre necklace made from petrified human and elf ears;
a series of 12 framed drawings or proportion studies of different giants (cave giant, ogre, hill giant, marsh giant, stone giant, ettin, frost giant, tomb giant, fire giant, ash giant, cloud giant, and storm giant), each worth 50 gp;
a gem-encrusted scabbard for a Huge falcata worth 200 gp;
a bronze statue of a fierce storm giant riding a dragon worth 150 gp;
as well as 5 pp, 147 gp, 103 sp, and 976 cp.
Jarrek doesn't move to follow the fleeing manticore but does note "If anybody sees that thing they'll probably come investigate. We should get out of here." He looks around and notices Trianne's absence.
"Did anyone see where Trianne went?"
Seamus looks over the documentation, and begins translating for the others as he goes through. Looks to me like an unsealed marriage proposal between two giants? Anyone know the names - these have meaning for anyone?The hells have no fury like a woman scorned, and it looks like she's been scorned. OOoooo shinies! These look fun! he says, turning his attention to the loot.
Seeing the manticore flee, Trianne climbs the nearby stairs unseen to glance at what may await on the level above before descending again. She then darts over to the opening where the beast fled and scans the surrounding area before returning to stand with the party.
“I’m here,” Trianne replies as she reappears. The look of disgust on her face as she stares at the rug and the remainder of the dowry is almost comical. “At least we have a name for the Storm Tyrant now. Volstus. I haven’t heard it before. Grenseldek is the leader here that we’re looking to end, and who also likely holds the other half of the pleochroic tourmaline, the map to the Giantslayer’s tomb.”
“We’re also looking for Fabian Blix’s spirit in the chapel,” she added. “To put it to rest. But yes, we should definitely move on, quickly.”
The stairs descend to a small, empty room with a set of double doors to the north. It's a bit hard to see, though, as the only light in the chamber is that coming from above .
When she glances out the doorway she can see a misshapen humanoid bleeding on the ground, while two others like it seem to have finished off the badly wounded manticore. They're both looking intently at Trianne...or in Trianne's direction.
Haftor watches the beastie flee. ”Good riddance.”
He listens to Seamus translate the notes and comments, This Storm Tyrant thinks a lot of himself, eh? Wicked pen as well. Still, no need to be so rude.”
He takes the map and has a look at it. ”Any ideas what significance this valley might have?”
”That’s Minderhal.” Haftor points at the bust as he drops his knowledge. With nothing more to add, he just shrugs.
Haftor watches the beastie flee. ”Good riddance.”
He listens to Seamus translate the notes and comments, This Storm Tyrant thinks a lot of himself, eh? Wicked pen as well. Still, no need to be so rude.”
He takes the map and has a look at it. ”Any ideas what significance this valley might have?”
It has also been only, what, three combats in this foray? The grey oozes, the two giants, and the two manticores?
Kronug is at full HP. And there are 9 charges left on the CLW wand, it looks like.
Haftor folds the map carefully and stows it in his backpack. He frowns in thought as he collects the coins that they found as well. "The rest of this loot looks bulky. We should try to come back for it if we can, but I'm not lugging statues and carpets around."
He works his way south, along the cage, then west, until he can get to the double doors at the western end of the room. "Let's take a look in here; make sure we don't have any danger at our backs."
Kronug nods and moves up next to Haftor.
"I think there is danger all around us - there are so many passages that whichever way we go there may be enemies behind us. But let's do the best we can."
The doors open onto a set of stairs leading up.
"Hrmph. Haftor was not expecting stairs, and was not prepared to climb yet. He shook his head and suggested they stay on this level. "How about we try the double doors to the east instead?" Once again, Haftor will lead the way unless there is dissent from the group.
No one hears anything at the double doors, which open onto a small room. A low fence surrounds a rectangular opening in this room’s floor. A winch, a frayed rope, several rusted buckets, and three large water jugs sit next to the fence.
Seamus continues counting some of the coin as they walk through the chambers, agreeing with Haftor's assessment of not going up. Seeing the next chamber, he sighs Looks like the fort's water supply
But that floor looks about ready to give way, so maybe we shouldn't all get too close to it or we'll all wind up in the drinking water together? he finishes. I can inspect it, but maybe we've seen everything on this passageway and should check that other doorway out? I'm not sure getting wet is a worthwhile endeavor for our mission.
Haftor folds the map carefully and stows it in his backpack. He frowns in thought as he collects the coins that they found as well. "The rest of this loot looks bulky. We should try to come back for it if we can, but I'm not lugging statues and carpets around."
Jarrek shrugs, grinning. "If we can figure out how to strap it to my back, I can carry it." He follows the others, watching carefully for danger.
Jarrek shrugs, grinning. "If we can figure out how to strap it to my back, I can carry it." He follows the others, watching carefully for danger.
"We can come back for it, I agree.
Seamus, is there anything of interest down the well? I wouldn't ask you to climb down, but can you see anything? Do you think it worth asking Trienne to search for magic auras? Or should we move on?"
Seamus looks at Kronug, and sighs, Tying a rope around his climber's kit, and handing an end to the warrior, 'Old onto this, I'll go take a look.... and wanders over to the well, poking his head into the top and seeing what's down there.
Seamus sees a room below, with a well in the center and double doors to the north.
"This place is bigger'n I was expecting. We got an upstairs and a cellar, it seems.
"Hrmph. I suppose we ought to finish exploring this level first, before we wander up or down."
If there are no objections, Haftor will open the last remaining door they've found, to the North.
The party forms up by the door and Haftor opens it. Sunlight hits the dwarf's eyes, and he realizes that the door opens onto the top of the fortress wall, a battlement that's in full view of anyone in the courtyard below.
"Hammer and Tongs!" Haftor mutters under his breath as he quickly closes the door back up. "Well, now we know where that goes. So, up the stairs or down the well?"
“Stairs leading above the dowry chamber might lead toward Grenseldek’s chambers?” Trianne ponders out loud. “Stairs down — sewer, prison, a way across to the other side of the fort unseen. Same for the well, but we’d be harder to follow that way if someone came looking but there's the rotten floor...”
“Chapel probably this level or above but—” she finishes with a shrug.
"I'd wish to go to where we know there are foes. Thin out their numbers."
Trianne shakes her head and smiles as she says to Kronug, “A soldier’s mentality is something I’ll have to get more accustomed to. I think more like an insurgent.”
She points back toward the manticore room and adds, “A few ‘servants’ finished off the fleeing manticore in the courtyard and were looking our way, wondering how it got out. If we backtrack, we might cross paths with them.”
Then its settled, we go down. But let's try the stairs? I'd be nervous about all you big folks on this well, might make quite a tumble indeed! the gnome offers as he scampers back to the party.
"All right. Down we go."
Haftor leads the way down the stairs.
Kronug will follow Haftor.
Seamus troops along with the others, following the bigger party members, but staying near the front ready with bombs!
The party descends the stairs, coming to a small room with a set of double doors in the north wall. No one hears anything at the door.
On a roll, Haftor shrugs and opens the doors.
He's got his loaded crossbow in hand instead of his hammer.
The doors open easily. Rows of decrepit, mildew-covered wooden shelves line the apparent storeroom on the other side. Ancient red-brown stains soil the floor beneath piles of filthy bedding. A large cast-iron cauldron lies on its side in the northwest corner of the room under a thick layer of dust, undisturbed except for a single large handprint in the grime. A pungent, sour stench fills the air.
Haftor gives the room the once over, looking around for anything of interest, particularly around the cauldron. He also checks out the door on the west wall.
Haftor doesn't notice anything else.
Well, I will say this - these giant's aren't much for cleanliness.... Seamus says inspecting the room with Haftor.