As the wounded stream back into camp, their adversaries become more fanciful! It was a red dragon! It was an army of elves! It was a horde of zombies! (It was never dwarves, as no self-respecting giant would admit they were bested by dwarves!)
It was decided for the next day to send out few patrols with more giants!
Sven was quite pleased with Brother Hawthorne's leadership when it came to hunting down the giants in the wilds. It truly seemed like the Bard was going to have to right a saga about his own exploits when this was concluded.
"How much longer do you think they can keep this up? I mean, even giants have to be able to realise these patrols are accomplishing nothing besides thinning their numbers."
As almost they could hear Ingrid's words. The giants stop sending out patrols the next day, but the camp is fully alert.
When he is told about the change in the giants habits, Brother Hawthorne nods in approval "working as intended. They can't stay at high alert for forever."
”Certainly not. Is there a way we can sabotage their remaining supplies? It would force them to start sending our more forces to forage, be it for food or water. Or should we wait them out for their guard to lower?”
”We can make an attempt.”
"We should keep harassing them, at the very least, even if we can't get to the supplies. Have Kurag snipe at them from the darkness and retreat before they can get him. Maybe let me go in invisibly again and collapse some more towers, too - they might hear me coming, but they still won't be able to see me. Keep the pressure on. They're already too scared to send out patrols. If we make them see that staying at the camp isn't safe, either, they'll have to see that their only remaining option is to flee."
You all are having great fun ambushing giants as they resupply.
One night while Kurag is standing guard, he hears a voice from a source he cannot see, but sounds like it is coming from above.
Psssst! Kurag is it? I wish to parlay. I think we can help each other. What say you?
Rubbing his eyes as he woke, Sven got to his feet. ”Ach, Kurag, who’s the friend of yours?” Realizing what was occurring he woke the group. ”Parlay it is. Step forward and be known.” He said to the mysterious visitor.
Wary as to the trickery of dragons Kurag motions for Sven to come and listen. Who are you and how do you know my name? It takes a lot to get the jump on me out in the wilderness and you have me at a disadvantage so I respect your skills. I will listen to you and take your council but can not commit to anything beyond that. I agree to parlay and if you would show yourself I can offer food and drink as a sign of my honest intentions.
Perception
Very well. Thank you far agreeing to meet with me. The dirt on the ground stirs as if something is landing and indeed, something is landing! A red dragon to be exact! This is no young dragon but an adult dragon! As a sign of peace it is obvious that she is surprising her frightful appearance since you don't feel as afraid as you should. She smiles a dragon's smile.
Greeting adventurers! I have been studying you all for a few days now invisibly from the air. That is how I know your names. My name is Naximarra. Normally you all and I would be fighting each other you as a snack for me and you to make armor out of my scales, but I believe these giants are a threat to you both and ask that we form a mutually beneficial relationship. As dwarves, a giant army is a most distressing possibility and I believe we can join together to help destroy it. What say you?
”I say that we have a partnership.” The old dwarf said, seeing as how his comrades were too awestruck to respond. ”It would seem that together we can take the head off this army. Naximarra, do ye have a plan in mind?”
Brother Hawthorne makes every effort to go unnoticed. The wielder of the Drakesbane Horn should not anger a true dragon of this magnitude!
Ingrid studies the dragon for a moment, carefully considering her words, before nodding at Sven's reply.
"Aye, it would seem our goals are aligned and a partnership makes sense. But I'm guessing there's something more to it, if we're having this conversation. If you've been watching us, you know our plans. And I think it would have been trivial for you to bring enough destruction and fear to the camp that they would have decided to disband."
Kurag jumps backwards almost notching an arrow to his bow at the sight of the red dragon appears before them. His first instinct was that the dragon lied was and going to attack them. Yet when it just continued to speak and not threaten them at all Kurag finally allowed his nerves to relax. His body visibly shook as the adrenaline ran through his body without taking any action. My apologies, Naximarra. Even though I heard your words sometimes instinct takes over. I have acted hastily and almost foolishly. Kurag bows his head exposing his neck in homage to the dragon.
After a moment Kurag lifts his head back up to look at the dragon as a creature and not a foe. While I am not opposed to helping each other take out the threat of the giants, I am curious as to your reasons behind helping us? It seemed that the 2 of you are allies. How have they wronged you?
Even though the dragon was repressing its fear aura Lucky moved away and high tailed out of there. A close up look at the 'smiling' dragon was enough to see that 1 tooth was big enough to rip out Lucky's underside. And as big as Lucky was it still seemed that he would be but a snack if Naximarra attacked.
Yes! You are correct noble adventurers! I do have a reason for forging this alliance. The Storm Tyrant possesses an Orb of Red Dragonkind and has dominated dragons under his command. One of these is the old red dragon Akazerath, but he also uses younger dragons as messengers between his headquarters and his outlying holdings such as Skirgaard. The dragon assigned to the village normally nests in a watchtower near Skirkatla’s tomb , but it has been absent for some time.
The one doing the training here is named Skirkatla and she is a frost giant jarl. Skirkatla is a possibly immortal frost giant of legendary power and resilience, who is certainly capable of reforming the training camp elsewhere if she isn’t stopped permanently.
I can aid you with charm person spells and provide you with scrolls of dominate person.
She tosses a scroll in your direction. Here is one for now. I might be able to carry out certain actions myself, provided they do not result in revealing my presence to the giants. If the giants spot me, the situation in the village would soon become much worse, and any victory accomplished by my direct intervention would likely prove short-lived.
Even worse, the Storm Tyrant would learn there is free-willed red dragon actively plotting against him. I would rather die than be forced to spend my life doing another's bidding - especially one as oddious as him!
I'm not sure what all knowledges are appropriate to hit more detail on those names and such, but these are my guesses:
=2 for local art/music scene
Ingrid listens cautiously to the dragon's words, trying to see through any signs of deception.
"Your reasons make sense, Naximarra. The knowledge that this Storm Tyrant has the ability to enslave red dragons to do his bidding is worrisome, but we should focus on the immediate problem and do what we can. With the dragon absent for now, I guess this is the best time to strike at Skirkatla. But we should make sure we're as best prepared as possible. Anything you could tell us about her and her abilities would be welcome."
Between Brother Hawthorne's rolls and Naximarra, who has lived in the area a long time tell you the tale of Skirkatla.
Skirkatla is the undead leader of the Skirkaling frost giant tribe and commandant of the Storm Tyrant’s training camp at the village of Skirgaard. She is responsible for instructing the diverse giant recruits on how to fight with discipline and intelligence, as well as selecting the best of these trainees for advanced instruction with the fire giants of Ashpeak.
Skirkatla was born in the Tusk Mountains and seemed destined to be a jarl from youth. Few frost giants of her generation demonstrated her degree of viciousness and cunning. Skirkatla often broke with tradition and custom, however, preferring victory by any means, whether in battle or other contests. This earned her many enemies, and she was eventually driven from her homeland southward to the Mindspin Mountains. Skirkatla founded her own tribe there, the Skirkalings, and built the village of Skirgaard high upon a mountain plateau. Yet the queen could not ward off the passing of time, and she grew obsessed with retaining her power in her twilight years. To this end, she sought dark counselors—hags and tomb giants—to advise her.
Throughout her life, Skirkatla had followed Thremyr, the traditional god of the frost giants, but her offerings and prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears. So the queen’s advisors offered her a new patron: Urgathoa, goddess of gluttony and undeath. Even though Urgathoa relished sensual decadence more than the frost giant was accustomed to, Skirkatla was drawn to Urgathoa’s authority over strength, war, and the bloody satiation of hunger. If the Pallid Princess would offer the jarl a means to escape the ignominy of death and grant her a reign unending, Skirkatla was prepared to pay any price.
After years of research and preparation, Skirkatla and the goddess’s emissaries enacted a perverse ritual. On a moonless night, the frost giant queen gorged herself on the flesh of her tribe’s captives (and her own consort), then immolated herself in a massive pyre to burn away the last of life’s limitations. Before her charred bones and blackened armor could cool amid the ashes, Skirkatla arose as a graveknight, an undying champion of terror.
But immortality came at a price. Skirkatla eventually lapsed into a lethargic torpor that has endured over the last century, and the strongest of her living tribe assumed command of the Skirkalings in her absence. The frozen queen became an oracular whisperer in the darkness, rarely offering advice to her people.
The Storm Tyrant’s arrival changed all this. When Volstus spoke of the conquest of all Avistan and demonstrated his dominion over dragonkind and the sky itself, Skirkatla roused herself from her dead dreams. The two came to an accord and Skirkatla emerged from her tomb to take command of her people once more.
"I see. If we're going against an undead foe, there's a few preparations we may want to make. I can pray to Torag for protection against negative energy tomorrow. We'd be risking having the dragon come back, though. Up to you all. We can try to sneak in to her hut and bring her down swiftly today, if that's what you all prefer."
Ingrid then looks back ro Naximarra. "Would you think it likely for the dragon to come back tomorrow, Naximarra? And you mentioned charm person spells and possibly other actions to aid us, provided they don't reveal your presence to the camp. What did you have in mind? Any chaos you could bring to the camp when we make our move for Skirkatla would be welcome - the more time we have before we have to deal with reinforcements, the better."
The mighty dragon shakes her head. Skirkatla is a formidable for alone, no less surrounded by an army. I would cation against going against her right now. I can tell you what I observed of the camp.
The encampment is divided into two distinct campsites, a lower camp and an upper camp to the north. The lower camp also hosts an obstacle course where the giants can develop their skills in moving through human settlements.
Giant recruits live in these camps when not engaging in exercises and drills. During the day, trainees are often marched down the mountainside to practice fields where they skirmish against each other and practice tactics for use against humans and other smaller humanoids.
At morning, early evening, and night, the camps are brimming with hill, cave, and frost giants, as well as ice trolls and a handful of more exotic giant types such as cyclopes and ettins. Attacking the camp when so populated is certain death.
There are a few things you might try.
There is a cave that winter wolves dwell. They are led by a Huge divine guardian winter wolf named Ranfearg. He does not have good relations with Skirkatla because all these giants are making game scarce, and he feels she is an abomination. Perhaps if you can convince him to keep his wolves from the giant's patrols, that might be helpful to sow dissention in the Giant camp.
In the tannery there is a frost giant with two hill giant workers. He knows tannery and not many other giants do. Killing him and his workers would leave the camp without the services of a tannery.
Can any of you cast charm person?
Sven listened, slowly getting used to the idea of a dragon not eating him. While he was under no illusions of their alliance being one based purely around a common enemy, it was good to know that they were not alone.
"Not I. But eliminating skilled workers like the tanner certainly will destabilize their forces."
The mighty dragon continues. In the mess hall I observed an athach and it looks like a hill giantess. perhaps you might poison the food, or maybe the cooks could meet with an accident!
The giants also keep about six woolly mammoths in the stockade that they use to teach other giants to ride. It would be a shame if they got out. The dragon says with a wicked grin.
Kurag shakes his head no at the mention of spellcasting prowess. Thise abilities are beyond me. I can harness some of natures powers into spells but I can’t change humans thoughts or feelings.My skills belong elsewhere. The idea that the giants go someplace else to train intrigues me. Would it be possible to spy on them and determine their numbers and perhaps set an ambush for them. I would love to scout the mountains above them and see if there is a way to set an avalanche upon them as they are marching to and from the camps. Hinder enough of them and I could take out the rest at range as they are digging themselves or others out.
As for this Skirtakla, if she is a creature of the night I have no abilities to counter her powers or even protect myself from her. I would follow your lead Sven and yours Ingrid as to how to proceed in that encounter.
Survival check for forecast? wanting to know about next snowfall to aid in an avalanche
As for the wooly mammoths it may be possible to lead them astray and I do have some skill with animals. The trick would be to get close enough to interact with them without them giving my presence away to the giants. I will have to think on how to manage that.
Ingrid nods at all the suggestions thus far. "I am not able to cast those spells, either, Naximarra. I could see them helping in making sure Kurag gets a chance with the woolly mammoths."
"Your other suggestions, though, hitting the tanners and the cooks, is something we can readily do. It isn't t much different from what we were considering regarding their storage supply. If we go invisible and cover the area in a silence spell, we should be able to take them out without alerting anyone. Getting out unnoticed will be trickier, of course. But the damage will be done. With us being able to take to the air, and most of the camp being off training, I figure we should be able to get back without much problems."
If you are going to take out the tanner that seems like it might be close quarters work. That is not my strength and would think that would be better for all of you. I would stay back to guard our camp and provide cover if needed.
Brother Hawthorne strokes his beard thoughtfully, pacing a small circle before stopping to address the group.
"Listen up, everyone. The giants have stopped sending patrols, which means we've got them nervous, but that also means they are hunkering down and consolidating their forces. If we keep picking at them strategically, we can dismantle their operation piece by piece. Here's my plan."
He pauses to make sure he has everyone's attention, then continues, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.
"First, we hit the tannery. It's a vital operation for their supplies, and without a skilled tanner, their ability to repair armor and gear will dwindle. We'll move under the cover of night, use invisibility to get close, and silence to prevent any alarms. Once the tanner and his workers are taken care of, we retreat swiftly to avoid detection."
He begins pacing again, the tone of his voice steady and confident.
"Next, we deal with the woolly mammoths. Those beasts are not just a symbol of their might; they are a practical tool for mobility and training. If we can release them—or even better, cause chaos by spooking them into the camp—it'll sow further disarray. Kurag, I think you and Ingrid can handle this with your skills in handling animals and spells to keep us hidden."
Brother Hawthorne stops and looks each member of the party in the eye, his expression serious.
"Finally, we sabotage the mess hall. Poison the food, disable the cooks—whatever it takes. If the giants start dropping from within, it'll weaken their morale and their numbers without us having to face them all in direct combat. Naximarra's information about the hill giantess and the athach gives us a clear target there."
He clasps his hands behind his back, nodding as if satisfied with the plan.
"By the time we've completed these strikes, their camp will be in shambles. They'll either scatter or be too weakened to pose a real threat when we finally move on Skirkatla. It’s a risk, but calculated. We attack in waves, keep them off-balance, and avoid any direct confrontation with their main forces. What say you?"
"It's a good plan. Or at least, it's the best plan that I can see." He added "Of course, there's the chance that when we move in, the alarm will be raised. With that being the case, we should have a defensible position planned. But we'll dig that mine when we get to it."
------
Spells Cast before moving out
Endure Elements (48 hr duration)
Magic Vestment (20hr duration)
Enlarge Person (40 min duration)
Weapon of Awe (20 min duration)
Spells left to be cast, probably when combat starts
Divine Favor (2 min)
Blessing of Fervor (10 rounds)
"I agree. Let's move out for the tannery then, when everyone is ready."
Brother Hawthorne will hit himself with see invisibility and feather step before we head out.
Kurag leaves his spell hiding the camp in place but chooses some more animal friendly spells for the eventual task of convincing the mammoths to escape or run amuck.
Sounds like a good plan until we meet with the enemy. Then we just have to have each others backs and support each other. I will be ready to move out in the morning.
A large, flat-topped log building squats in this remote part of the village. A well-trodden path leads to barn doors set in the main structure to the south and east. An area open to the sky stands adjacent to the north side of the building, surrounded by a tall stockade fence that blocks outside view, with a gate set in the northeast side. Built into the north side of the fence stand animal pens designed to let creatures in or out on either side. Smoke rises from the rooftop, and a rank odor pervades the entire area.
The building is a simple but sturdy log structure, approximately 20 feet tall. All of the doors in the tannery are strong wooden doors that can be barred from within (hardness 5, hp 20, break DC 30).
A giant-sized rail fence cordons off this large plot of land. To the north are four large barn-like structures. A barred gate is built into the fence to the south. Bales of grass and other vegetable matter are stacked on either side of the barns.
At least a half-dozen or more woolly mammoths are penned in this yard.
Sven strode forward, and with a single swing of Agrimmosh demolished the barred door. With all of the doors barred, the tannery was going to turn into a tomb for the giants within. "Right. Let's do this, quick and painful." The dwarf said.
Kurag activates his wand of gravity bow and pass without trace to mask his movement and let him hit a bit harder. He stands back as Sven hits the door trying to break it and alerting half of Golarion in the process. Let me see if I can lift the bar from the outside if possible.
He slips a dagger between the edges of the door trying to get a purchase on the bar before lifting up.
Disable device
Deciding to hit the tannery, the party quickly passes through the slaughter yard. Kurag stops Sven before he breaks down the door and is able to lift off the bar. The sound of the bar falling to the floor is loud, but not as loud as Sven breaking down the door.
This area is filled with numerous racks where furs are allowed to dry and hides are cleaned and stretched during the tanning process.
The racks are large enough to provide cover to the dwarf and giants alike.
It does not look like any giants are here, but they might be hiding.
Brother Hawthorne steps cautiously into the drying room, scanning the area with a practiced eye. He holds up a hand to signal his companions to pause and whispers to them.
"No sign of any invisible foes, though the racks provide plenty of cover. It's possible they could be hiding, but I see no indication of movement in the shadows."
He pauses for a moment, focusing his attention on the space around him. After a brief moment of concentration, he begins to cast a spell, his voice low but steady as he calls upon his arcane knowledge.
"Let me confirm this further."
With a flick of his wrist, he completes the incantation, and his eyes briefly glow with the faint shimmer of detect magic.
"Auras—if there are any—should become clear now. Give me a moment."