Ondek 3d8+3 3 charges
Kurag 3d8+3 3 charges
If we keep finding these giants, ogres, and trolls in small groups like this we will have no problem clearing out the entire mountain range. Sooner or later though we will be discovered and then have a real fight on our hands. Until then I say we push on as soon as we can and clear as much territory and explore as much as we can.
perception looting bodies and looking for other goodies
"It also isn't needed that we kill all of them to eliminate the threat, however fun that might be!"
A small timber raft strung together with sinew and reed is tied up to one of the burial markers. It holds a rotten crate that contains the scrags’ treasure: a few humanoid bones, the bones and feathers of several large swamp birds, a jar of restorative ointment, and three pieces of jade .
If we continue in the swamp we may want to take the raft with us to ease our travel. Any thing to make life easier out here can’t be passed up. The gems are ok but the ointment is really nice. Regardless let’s keep on moving.
"What, pray tell, does this ointment do?"
Ondek casts detect magic and concentrates on the medicinal stuff.
Glancing around the structure, Khari wrinkles her nose at the smell. "It probably helps with aches and pains, or it will help you moisturize. It can't hurt to bring it along." She shrugs, placing her pickaxe back in its holster.
"We may as well backtrack up this pass and head down to the Southwest at the junction. There's no telling what kind of stuff down that way, especially after seeing these constructs and oozes and such."
Sounds wise. I will scout a head a pace as we travel and see what other forms of creatures will attack us.
Perception +4 vs giant subtypes +1 traps
Stealth
Letting the scout decide the path to take is fine with Rask, so he shoulders Agrimmosh and moves with Kiln to be at the front and starts moving out, once Kiln is feeling better.
Running a hand through her hair, Khari nods along with what Kurag suggests and falls in line with Ondek. "Sounds good. Should I be listening for any signal or will it most likely be 'Oh no. I'm being attacked. Help'?" She adds dryly with a good natured smile.
"At least we'll know for sure that something is going wrong. Too much uncertainty and we might think you just found something exciting and new, right?"
Very funny Khari. Hopefully the only sounds you will hear is my voice giving you the all clear. Believe me if I run into anything problematic you will hear them shouting in pain.
The boulder-strewn slopes of the mountains on either side of the valley give way to a series of jagged ravines that split the valley floor. A tremendous stone bridge arches over the widest of these gorges, connecting to a worn path on the far side.
The bridge is 200 feet long, spanning a gorge 100 feet deep. The huge arch is stable.
"There are two stone giants about halfway down on the bridge. They think they are hiding, but not doing a good job of it" Rask says quietly.
"A stone giant seems to be sitting at the center of the span, most likely waiting for a good moment to throw a rock or smash someone with a club. I can charm it, but I'll have to get quite a bit closer."
"..." Khari hums quietly, straining her eyes to try and see the creatures. "Maybe we can talk with them? They're typically not evil." she whispers, drawing her pickaxe from its holster.
Perception
I only see 1 but that is enough for me. Khari if you think there is a chance for diplomacy I will let you try it but we must be prepared as well should they attack.
Kurag let’s Khari take the lead if she wants to talk but taps himself with his wand if gravity bow as a precaution.
+2 vs unusual stonework
"Giants you say? I don't see them, but I'm happy to fight them. Do we rush out, or maybe start plinking them with arrows?"
Ondek yells in Giant towards the giants hiding.
"Hey! We see you lads there, hiding in the boulders. We'd like to speak and parley, and not have to drop your dead bodies off this bridge. What do you say we have a conversation rather than kill you?"
The giants look at each other confused. Then one yells back in giant,
Me thinks it will be your bodies that would be flying off the bridge! What can you possibly say to us that will be more fun than throwing little dwarvises off of the bridge.
There is more of a hint of curiosity in his voice than malice.
The warily start to approach you.
"Well, what about having a chance to rebuild the grandeur of the stone giant civilization, and spread the teachings and beliefs of your people? From what I understand, there are non-stone giants out there fomenting distrust between the small folk and giants, and causing all kinds of problems. And you lads seem to be sat out here, just sitting among some boulders and apparently waiting to ambush us. Certainly there must be something more interesting for such strong folks like you to do."
"What's all that gibberish they're yelling? You let 'em know I don't have an axe with their names on it, mine is simply addressed 'to whom it may concern.'"
"I'd rather not have to engage with giants on a bridge with no railings or walls. Bad enough to get whalloped by one of their clubs, but a hundreds of foot fall afterwards seems a bit much. And who knows, maybe they're smart enough to not want their knees cut off by an axe and sword."
The giants stop 10 feet from you and say in giant, You wanted to talk little dwarvesies? Well talk before we get bored and stomp you!
"Yes, of course. We would not wish to waste your time. From what we understand, there is a mass of giants gathering in the valley. And from what we witnessed thus far, you would seem to be exemplary candidates for enlistment. I.woumd caution you against this action, however, since you would become fodder for the army against the small folk. Better, by far, to gather the stone giant clans and challenge the leadership as a group. Two stone giants, that's a dangerous encounter, but an entire clan mobilized against a common foe, now thats a truly scary thought."
Ondek spins a yarn, hoping to entice these two to go off and do their own thing, playing to their egos and hubris.
Kurag just keeps to himself and let’s Ondek do the talking. At the first sign of provocation he will unload upon the nearest giant.
One of stone giants looks at the other. You are too late dwarvesy, Most clan joined with the Storm Tyrant. That is why we are here on bridge. We do not want to take orders from someone not stone giant so we figure we will take over bridge instead. We have great fun throwing others off bridge. So why shouldn't we throw you off of bridge eh dwarvesy?
"Ah, the short sighted ones have cast their lots with the Storm Tyrant, I see. That's too bad. I and my companions are actually out trying to recruit warriors and officers for a new force, based near Riddleport. An ancient rune giant has awoken and is working to build the lost empire of Thassilon once more. He is asking all true giants and strong bloods to aid in his work. I can draw you a map, and a letter of introduction if you'd like."
Ondek pulls out his own and parchment, slowly, and makes good on his offer if they agree.
Kiln turns to the others, "Can anyone tell me how this conversation is going?"
Rask just shrugs his shoulders, "well Ondek hasn't told us to charge yet, so no news is good news.... So far."
"Sorry, lads, I forget not everyone speaks giant. I'm just telling these two about the other giant army amassing on the other side of the continent. Hopefully they'll decide to go that way and not play "toss the dwarves over the bridge" like they planned."
Ondek fills in the party in dwarven.
Both stone giants laugh at the same time. If we don't wanna take orders from a storm giant, why would we take orders from a rune giant. But you make us laugh little dwarvisies. You may cross our bridge and we won't throw you over.
[Ooc]My bad, thought we had resolved this.[_ooc]
"Well, comrades, they say they will leave us alone and continue about their days. Shall we?"
Ondek bows slightly and waits for the more martially skilled dwarves to take point.
You cross the bridge as the giant's get back into their ambush positions on the bridge.
A low fog rolls in, dancing between the slender gray tree trunks and painting everything in a silvery mist. The blanket of brown fallen leaves crunches softly underfoot and the air smells fresh and earthy.
You see a hunchbacked and sickly-looking giant with boil-covered skin and four ogres. The ogres appear to be playing a game in which they hurl a furry ball at each other while laughing and making jokes. On closer inspection, the ball turns out to be the severed head of an unfortunate wood giant.
They stop playing their game when they hear you approach.
"I doubt I will be able to talk these fellows around. Ogres are notoriously stupid and unlikely to parley."
There is no signs of a camp so it seems like they were just resting on the trail, playing a friendly game of 'Catch the wood giant head' when you disturbed them.
As they have not made a hostile move yet, Rask will wait a moment to see what the green ogre will do. If it attacks or otherwise makes a hostile move, he till step up (if needed) and attack, otherwise he lets Ondek talk to them if they choose to talk.
Kiln silently hopes this is a combat encounter.
The green ogre stops 10 feet from Rask and tries to hit him with his club.
He almost hits himself with the club!
Rask steps up and does not miss!
Blue takes comes up and thinks he can do better!
He does better than his friend!
"As I suspected, violent, stupid, and short-sighted. Ogres are predictable in some ways, I guess. "
Ondek draws a scroll from his case and casts, a swirling, ticking rune appearing around the party as time seems to slow just a little bit.
"Strike them down, brothers, and we'll be just fine here."
Kiln takes a 5' step up to get onto blue, and starts attacking...
19-20/x3, S
19-20/x3, S
Hasted attack...
19-20/x3, S
Ondek casts haste, while Kiln brings down blue!
Yellow steps up to Rask and attacks!
"These guys really should get another line of work."