Pirknok waits for the librarian to get around to answering his questions, as he glances around at the various materials present.
"Um..." begins Pirknok, pausing when Jess makes her other request. "Do ya have anythin' about um... how killin' giants could help Karzoug come back from... uh... wherever it is he is?"
"All information relevant to your query is in those materials", the librarian says with a gesture at the stack already acquired.
"I can't read real fast..." mutters the dwarf, lifting up a tome and flipping through it carefully. "And I can't read this language, either," he adds with a sigh.
"We can always come back," Jessamy realizes. "Should we go tell Conna that we got rid of Mokmurian? And then let Sandpoint know they should be safe. Sort of. For now. Maybe?"
"Let's inform her and then get out. Perhaps we can teleport back here for some research or after we tell Conna, perhaps things will be better?" Ensu says.
"Perhaps it would be best to rest in here? It seems safe enough, if we lock the doors." Krojun glances at the others, whose wounds, while minor, may prevent them from being at their best.
"I'm open to telling her of Mokmurian's defeat, certainly. I even have some magic left over in case things go poorly."
"Great. Let's go then."
Jessamy leads the group to the door, ready to carefully go find Conna and tell her that Mokmurian has been overthrown.
Returning the way they came, the party makes their way up to the previously level. It takes some doing to avoid the frequent patrols but a few minutes later they find themselves back in the unnerving shrine. The skulls of the deceased chieftains lining the shelves on the walls are as eerie as ever but now instead of staring in judgement from beyond Pharasma's Graveyard, it feels like they offer approval.
Conna is kneeling in mediation when the party enters and the two giants guarding her begin to shout in alarm and reach for their weapons. The stone giant elder raises a hand to silent them and climbs to her feet.
"Is it done? Is Mokmurian slain?" she asks with hope in her voice.
Pirknok reaches for his sword when the two guards alert, but narrows his eyes and doesn't draw when they quiet down. "He's ded," he replies evenly. "Wut're you gonna do now? Go back ta yer killin' ways?"
Siolad nods. "Yep. If he were any deader, he'd be a lich."
Jessamy nods, though she shoots a quick glare toward Pikrnok as he challenges the giants.
I guess it's a good question, but he should have asked in a nicer way. I suppose it's tough considering how much he hates them.
Ensu nods to the skulls as they enter and steps backward when the guards shout.
The guards are visibly hostile after Pirknok's outburst but Conna speaks again before anyone can act.
"Good, then it's done. These outsiders are my agents. At my command, they've slain Mokmurian. Gather the clan, everyone, and meet me in the great hall. Mokmurian's madness is over. Jorgenfist follows him into oblivion no more."
The guards hesitate for a moment but quickly yield to the elder giantess's stern gaze. They depart without a word.
"Thank you outsiders", Conna says once the guards have left. "I hope you understand. It's important that my people think that Mokmurian's death was my doing."
Krojun nods slowly. "There is wisdom in your words. They will follow you if they believe such."
Jessamy shrugged. "As long as we can tell the truth in Sandpoint, I guess it's OK if the other giants don't really know. I mean, I guess they still know that we were the ones who killed him, right? So we'll have peace with you and Sandpoint now? We don't want to have to fight more if we come back here."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, boss." Siolad grins a little. "Would you object at all if we rested here for a bit?"
Ensu looks up at the giantess and asks, "You know anything about Karzoug? Old Mokmurryman said something about him returning. Seemed a bad thing to this here gnome. Any help would be appreciated."
"Sandpoint? The human city? Yes, tell the humans the truth of what happened here. It's unlikely to make its way back here and even if it does my people won't believe it", Conna explains to Jess. "It should be safe for you in Jorgenfist now and you're welcome to spend a few days here to recover your strength. It's the least I can do."
Ensu's question makes the stone giant matron grimace. "That is not a name often spoken in polite company among my people. And you say Mokmurian heralded Karzoug's return? That would explain his explosive rise to power and insatiable hunger for conquest. I knew Mokmurian was mad but was he truly mad enough to contact the ancient runelords? Ancestors forgive us all..."
"Oh, OK, thanks."
With the giants lost to the the rituals and celebration that comes with naming Conna as their new chieftain, the party is all but ignored and allowed the rest they've been denied for too many days. In time, the heroes eventually fall into a deep slumber free of nightmares magical or otherwise. Conna greets the heroes with a breakfast of wild bacon and root vegetables on over-sized stoneware platters.
"Eat and regain your strength. For the ruin you've saved my people from I owe you a debt that can never be repaid but I think it best if you leave for now. Mokmurian has allies outside Jorgenfist that will feel betrayed and they may seek out scapegoats. Once the dust has settled I will send word and hopefully have a way to better reward you for your efforts."
Krojun nods to the wise giantess. "You are kind. The best reward is a cessation of the hostilities that Mokmurian brought to us. Still, any knowledge of this 'Karzoug' would be helpful for our cause."
Ensu looks up at the giantess and says, "Thank you Conna, hopefully the good giants like you will rule for a long time." With that said, he gathers his things and waits for the others to ready themselves.
"Bacon! Thanks!" Jessamy said with excitement.
Mouth more than half full, she manages to agree with Krojun: "Like he said, not having to fight you is the best thing."
Feeling safe and accomplished, she waits for Siolad to return them to Sandpoint, where she will again be treated as a big.damn.hero.
Pirknok watches stone-faced as the giantess approaches with the meal. She offers food; meat, too, so she treats us as warriors. It's almost identical to the greeting of a neighboring chief! But she can't know the meaning of what she does. She's just doing it to keep us from killing her as she deserves!
Isn't she?
Doesn't she?
Slowly, the dwarf reaches up to accept the plate from the giant. His mouth moves for a moment before any sound emerges; then he grits his teeth and nods, the traditional words of thanks finally forming on his lips. "Naki—" She's not going to understand that. Speak it in Taldane. The dwarf frowns slightly and starts again. "Er... as a warrior of my people I... give you greeting and... accept nourishment from your hand."
Siolad awakens for the day, feeling refreshed and bursting with arcane power. He has a giddy smile on his face as he wolfs down his bacon.
"Don't menshun it." He says with a mouthful of bacon. "It's the leasht we could do."
Once everyone has had their fill of breakfast, he gathers the rest of the team around in preparation for a teleport to Sandpoint. "Anyone need to get anything before we go?"
"Alright--next stop, Sandpoint!"
Siolad casts his teleport spell...
Krojun feels the now familiar feeling of being there, then being not there and finally being in a new place. He blinks his eyes and looks around.
Conna seems to accept Pirknok's formal thanks in stride. "It is freely given. Go in peace and health", she says with a slow bow of her head.
***
The party arrives in Sandpoint to find the city on high alert but things are otherwise much as when they left. Laborers, guarded by Sandpoint's militia, can be seen hard at work repairing the damage from the earlier attack.
"I guess we should go talk to the mayor and everyone and let them know what happened..." Jessamy suggests.
"And start figuring how to stop this Karzood guy." Ensu says.
"Right--to the town hall it is then!" Siolad cheers and marches off into the town.
He returns a couple of minutes later. "...um, which way's the town hall?"
"I will head to the Sheriff and let him know that the threat has been dealt with." Krojun nods and heads off to find Belor Hemlock and let him know that the giants will not be returning.
Pirknok nods at Krojun and heads off to pick up a few pies from the Vinders' to take to his little friends.
Jessamy, Ensu, and Siolad find the Mayor Kendra Deverin in Sandpoint's town hall. The guards present instantly step aside allowing the heroes their audience.
"The heroes return!" the woman says with a tired but heartfelt smile. "But absent your mighty Shoanti warriors. Please tell me the giants didn't claim their lives."
***
The militia salute Krojun proudly as he makes his way through the Sandpoint barracks into Sheriff Hemlock's office. The sheriff had always been a bit high strung but the stress of rebuilding and preparing the city's defenses should the giants attack again have clearly aged him in the short time the party's been away. He looks up from behind his cluttered desk and his eyes brighten.
"Spirits above, tell me it's over old friend", he says in a hoarse voice.
***
Unfortunately, it seems the Vinders are too busy with feeding refugees to prepare their usual pies but Mrs. Vinder makes an exception for Pirknok and puts together a special batch just for him.
"Give those little ones my best wishes", the older woman says as she hands the dwarf a tightly bound satchel of treats.
Siolad shakes his head. "No, no, no. They had business to attend to before coming here--Krojun wanted to speak with the sheriff, and... well, I'm not sure where Pirknok went off to."
Krojun smiles broadly and claps the Sheriff on the shoulder. "It is indeed, Sheriff, and with glad tidings. The giants' foul leader is dead and a peaceful one installed in his place. There will be no more giant attacks against Sandpoint. You may rest a little easier knowing this."
Ensu grins and says, "Everyone came back with all the same parts they left with. Well except for Murkman, he lost his head."
"I've never heard better news", the mayor says as she gets to her feet and offers the heroes each a handshake. "Well done. I promise we'll throw a parade in your honor or something as soon as the city's put itself back together. Are you certain the giants are no longer a threat? What's to stop their next leader from trying to finish what the late Mokmurian started?"
***
"Glad tidings indeed. The men will be happy to hear it. The milita's been pulling double and triple shifts ever since you left. Half of them are ready to drop dead from exhaustion", Hemlock explains. "Get out there and give them the good news and then get some rest. Come tomorrow I want the full story, who was Mokmurian and why the hell was he set on destroying our city?"
Pirknok thanks Sheila deeply and heads off to find his little friends (and their dad, if he's around). After the pies are delivered and he's content that everyone's okay, he returns to meet up with the others.
Krojun bows deeply to the Sheriff and goes out. He finds the small knots of militia wearily watching and tells them the glad tidings, bidding them to spread the word.
Ensu thinks for a bit and then says, "He was gonna bring back some old guy named Karzoug or something, I misremember names a lot. Anyway, he's dead, new giant is a wo-gia er, giantgirl, uh...she's a female. She's seems nice and has promised not to attack, nothing stopping her from breaking her promise I'spose." Ensu finishes not really sure he's helped.
"Yeah, her name's Conna. She seemed nice. I mean, for a giant and all. I think even Pirknok sort of liked her. A little. Maybe. He really doesn't like giants. She did seem worried about this Karzoug. He sounds like a really bad giant."
Sandpoint has been through a lot in the last year, including a goblin raid, slaughter at the Glassworks, several grisly murders, and most recently a full-blown assault by giants and a dragon. It’s certainly a testament to the towns’s resilience that her people are able to pick up and carry on as hardily as they do time and again. It's no more than a week after Mokmurian's defeat and the Heroes's return when Sandpoint's next catastrophe strikes, a fearsome earthquake that shakes the city's very bones.
Despite the relative mundanity of the crisis, Sandpoint is no stranger to seismic activity, the Heroes find themselves swiftly summoned to the Cathedral. Within they find a nervous Father Zantus pacing and wringing his hands. "Thank you for coming!"
The party is swiftly invited into the Cathedral's office where Zantus makes a hasty gesture of offering water and a place to sit.
“Of course, we’re all very pleased to hear of your success with the giants. Sandpoint owes you a huge debt of thanks for ensuring its safety yet again. And while I’d like nothing better than to let you relax and enjoy a well-earned break from your adventures, you’ve doubtless heard, or felt, about the earthquake earlier. A few structures were damaged but more importantly, the ground collapsed just north of the Garrison, right in the middle of Tower Street. The north wall of the Garrison took some damage, and while fortunately no one was seriously hurt when the sinkhole appeared, I have a bad feeling about the situation. If there's anything these past few months have taught me it's that everything happens in this city for a reason and I'm certain that sinkhole isn't just a sinkhole."
"I worry that Sheriff Hemlock is determined to handle this on his own. He's got a team assessing the area to make sure there's no danger of further collapse but I think you should be there. If there's more to this than an act of nature, the group of you are the best chance we have of keeping Sandpoint safe."
Pirknok nods in agreement. "Sounds like we should go now. Can you keep the rest of the town away from it, in case it's dangerous?"
Ensu stands up and says, "Danger is my middle name." he pauses, "it's not really but it sounded appropriate..it's really Maximillion. Much less impressive, probably." Ensu says as he paces around the office.
"Of course we'll be there," Jessamy exclaims! "That's what heroes do!"