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Vael returns to the hideaway, letting them all know Raen has returned. When they all start filing out he collars Whistle Pig, keeping him behind to have a discussion.
"I'm going keep this simple and to the point. If you think, for one second, that Raen has ever meant to do you harm then you are the worst judge of character ever. After all, you've had that ring on for weeks. Months even. And it never caused you harm. You only recently questioned it. I haven't called you out on this mostly because I thought it was not important. But I was wrong, and so were you. So I'm going to put this to you plainly: you've said some hurtful things to a friend. A friend who wanted to keep you safe. So how are you going to fix this?"
"harm? Harm can be many things. It can be intended damage and there can be neglect. Both cause harm. Raen intentionally put something on me that I could not take off. She did not ask, she just did what she wanted with me. I did not want or ask for it. That is no different than my masters back home." WP looks straight into the dwarf's eyes "What did I do to make this happen? what did I do wrong? What about this did I do to cause this??" every time Pig says the word 'I' he jabs his pointer finger into his crest. Tears start to well up in his childlike eyes. "Tell me Vael, what do I need to do to fix this?"
"You need to apologize. Because you are projecting a lot of your hateful slavery fears on a person who, despite a poor approach to their methods, meant to help not harm. This is not your past. This is your present and your future. Make it one where you have room in your heart for understanding, tolerance, and kindness," Vael answers the halfling's question. "I cannot explain it better than that."
Ham looks to Whistle Pig.
Apologize, just to get an apology and move on. I don't think Raen's able to take that first step, but you are. When you're ready. If you need to sit with this awhile, you should. I would.
Ham exhales and looks off towards where Raen went and huffs.
I fear for Raen's soul. And I don't know how to help. Enough for now. I'm going to saddle Sammi and start out. If you're coming, grab your gear.
Ham does just that.
Doxon stumbles out of the hideaway, then hops about a bit as he fastens the last buckle on his armor, his arms not flexible enough to easily reach the strap with each hop hopefully bringing his cold steel fingers close enough to grasp it.
He then swings his arms wide in a wild stretch, which forces the release of two quick toots, which he ignores.
Mornin' all. Sorry if I didn't chew the fat with everyone last night. A hard day of giant killing is about as good as a full day at the forge to just knock the sleepies into me. Feels like I was out before I could even make it to me bunk.
He blows a quick snot rocket and stops to stare at it a moment. He then blocks the other nostril and blows again. Satisfied. he takes a few steps and slings his backpack down. He rummages around a bit for some hard tack and jerky.
I hope we can get this all wrapped up soon. I need some real food. I know all this magic food stuff is healthy and all but it's got me all irregular something fierce. Chimney's all stuck up and I can't open the flue.
He pauses in thought for a brief moment.
Unless... unless... Hey, Vael! Can you conjure up some bananas? Or some hard cheeses? That might help.
It's then that Doxon notices the somber mood around him.
Hmmm. Did I miss something?
Whistle Pig has no need to apologize, Ushyle says with conviction. If he chooses to, that is his decision.
But he appears to feel betrayed, and I cannot blame him for feeling that way. His reaction is understandable, and that's before one considers what he has endured in his past. I do not believe he has done anything wrong.
Raen gives Hamilton and Doxon each a curt nod as they emerge before turning back to face the northern passage in silent solitude.
It's then that Doxon notices the somber mood around him. Hmmm. Did I miss something?
"Nothing of import," Raen answers. She does not turn around.
Hamilton makes funny faces at Raen when her back is turned.
"This morning I called upon the spirits and asked their advice. Our goal is to find Tytarian and Quivixia because they, according to Tulia, know where the Storm Tyrant is. So I asked about the dangers in our route, and got some vague information."
The shaman walks about, establishing the usual connection of his life force to the others. "Despite our best efforts, their defenses are growing stronger. I don't know how, just that they are. It might be that they are crafting more powerful weapons for their defense, but I am not sure," Vael struggles to translate the confusing divination.
"Further on is a 'maze'. Maybe a literal maze, but more likely it's a mess of passages and will be difficult to navigate. Ham and Whistle Pig, your going to be important. And one we're through that, there should be some kind of forge. We've already seen the one to Minderhal, but maybe there's another. It might be that the Hammer of Unmaking will play a part." He says this last bit with a look to Doxon.
"Beyond that we should find ourselves outside, at the peak of the mountains. And there will be 'giants of renown'. I think that will be Tytarian and Quivixia."
Vael grips his longspear, the weapon he long ago took from a giant skeleton. "Are ye ready?"
Ham makes a big show of flexing and he kisses his own plated bicep.
I'm always important.
The biceps kiss* is the last bit of the mornings drama.
Raen holds on a little longer, but the walk is a couple hours long so there's plenty of time to converse.
Upon getting close to the cavern which leads to the top, the party stops at the end of the hall. The room beyond looks empty, hastily abandoned.
Nerditry. Biceps is singular.... and plural, unless you're an uber nerd and it's bicipites.
Raen's unease persists. "A moment, if you please," she asks softly. She weaves a spell, bringing threads of reality from far away closer to her mind's eye, seeing far into the distance.
The eye moves into the room. At one point is passes through a singular plane beyond which the room changes. It's LOADED with defenders. The eye moves into the room. In stark contrast to the fire giants, a frost giant belows, "LOOK! A scrying eye! They cometh!" The giant immediately moves to the path upwards.
Otherwise you see 4 ettins, 2 fire giants, 2 hill giants, and one fire giant lieutenant. The frost giant seems like some kind of warrior with arcane trappings. The giants seem to be awaiting an attack.
After losing sight of the runner and recognizing that her eye will not be of further use, Raen ends the spell and pulls the giantslayers back a few dozen paces.
"Hard fighting ahead. The gate is not unguarded; rather, they conjured an illusion to make it appear so. I counted four ettins, two hill giants, and three fire giants, including a lieutenant. A leader of some kind, a mage, retreated up the mountain quicker than I could follow."
"They are waiting for us."
"I don't like leaving enemies behind us, otherwise I'd suggest we bypass them somehow. They're getting smart, and subterfuge is not likely to work."
Raen puts a hand on Ushyle's shoulder and a glamer melts over him, rendering him invisible to all but the Varisian. Raen then weaves another spell and seems to shift instantaneously a few feet to the left. "Let us begin," this new Raen says, and strides into battle.
The true Raen flies above, glamered as Ushyle.
Raen's double strides forth. Everyone sees it pass through the illusion of an empty room. Similarly everyone hears the roar in Joten, "THEY'RE HERE!"
This rough natural cavern is lit by magical light and has tunnel exits to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. Stairlike natural ridges climb toward the northeast exit, which is blocked by a pair of large iron doors. Near the northeastern exit, stout wooden beams hammered in place with iron spikes support a cracked ceiling. An elevated area takes up much of the southern wall, with a smooth-hewn area beyond it.
Round 1:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Raen's illusory double stops in the center of the ring of giants, intoning arcane words and making precise somatic gestures. Some distance to the south, near the ceiling, the invisible Raen does the same. Raen waves an invisible arm in a vicious arc, sloughing off an enormous crescent of stone from the ceiling that turns suddenly to mud. The great mass of earth, weighing some 3.5 million pounds, smashes into the giants below.
Only an instant later, a tiny orange dot springs from her glamered hand and sails through the air, landing amongst a trio and exploding into a mighty conflagration.
Raen's illusion in place, Ushyle charges forward, brandishing Milani's Thorn as he studies his foes and prepares to strike.
Vael flies forward, making sure to not block the charge lanes of the group's warriors. He begins a chant, his voice occasionally adding popping sounds to his intonations as he calls upon the spirits of heaven.
He then gestures at the nearest fire giant, and lightning arcs from his fingertip to strike the giant! From there, it forks out to strike several nearby foes!
Tulia flies forward and takes aim at the fire giant (red) with her crossbow.
Raen opens with an epic display of magical might. Mud and flame combine to immediately soften up the front line of giants. Unfazed by the mud, the lieutenant prepares to change tactics.
Ushyle's charge brings Milani's Thorn down between two ettin heads and dropping the two-headed giant.
Vael's lightning strikes the lieutenant who shudders after the hit. The arcing lightning electrocutes the two closest ettins! Tulia's bolt sinks into the giant's neck. Steaming blood pours from the wound.
Round 1:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: MAGIC!
Ushyle: Giant kill.
Vael: Two giant kills.
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red Ettin: 31
Fire Giant Lieutenant: 111
Purple Hill giant: 57
Doxon calls on the might of Torag and with the celerity granting him by Torag's blessing, he charges forward into battle.
Only able to reach the hill giant's ankle, even while enlarged, Doxon's hammer cleanly shatters the leg!
Round 1:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: MAGIC!
Ushyle: Giant kill.
Vael: Two giant kills.
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Hit
Giants: TBD
Red Ettin: 31
Fire Giant Lieutenant: 111
Purple Hill giant: 57
Yellow Hill Giant: 28
Hamilton looks about and considers spurring Sammi to flight, but alas... They're not ready.
But she can handle a bombing run.
Ham fast dismounts:
Then he clicks his tongue and trills a little. Sammi flaps her wings and takes off, but grabs Ham by his shoulders as she does so. She flys overhead of the strange giants on the ledge... And by Ham's semi-telepathic command... Drops Ham straight down onto a giant. (Yellow, weird hair on ledge). Ham points Heartspit straight down, aiming to spear charge it from above.
If my DM allows... Falling, from above... Power attack charge:. On hit...
To make life easier, as I suspect:
Acrobatics:
Ham will take 2d6 Falling? Non Lethal, then Lethal and may be prone? I did nat 20 the Acrobatics check. :)
Hamilton drops and lands atop the hill giant. The gambit works! The wound he opens is worse than Doxon's. The giant doesn't succumb to its wounds, but it won't take much more to drop it.
Somehow Hamilton lands on his feet, Desna smiling wide enough to show 20 teeth.
Round 1:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: MAGIC!
Ushyle: Giant kill.
Vael: Two giant kills.
Hamilton: Reagh Greenleaf
Doxon: Hit
Giants: TBD
Red Ettin: 31
Fire Giant Lieutenant: 111
Purple Hill giant: 57
Yellow Hill Giant: 71
It takes a quartet of bullets, but Whistle Pig brings down the lieutenant! The other giants look like they're on the verge of panic, but they fear death by you more than the alternative!
For good measure the plucky halfling scores a telling blow on the other hill giant!
The two hill giants close on Hamilton, working their way through the terrain:
THREAT
for
MISS
for
They pummel the roughrider!
The lone surviving ettin closes with the illusory Raen.
The fire giants in the back share a quick signal as one closes, and the other retreats to the door.
It hurls a flaming boulder at Doxon! , but he dodges the rock!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red Ettin: 31
Purple Hill giant: 81
Yellow Hill Giant: 71
Ushyle turns on the remaining ettin, activating his bane ability as he charges in unseen.
The illusory Varisian's spell "fizzles" as the ettin closes; she begins another. The real Varisian moves to cut off the escaping fire giant, weaving a tangled mass of sticky spider webs into existence in the narrow defile of the gate.
Raen's web doesn't stop the giant's progress!
Ushyle's blade continues is work, cleaving giants with preternatural ease.
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Giant kill
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Purple Hill giant: 81
Yellow Hill Giant: 71
Whistle Pig sets to work. His hoopak working over time. The first stone kills the giant standing over Hamilton. His second stone kills the hill giant just behind him. His third stone strikes the fire giant in the nose, shattering it, despite the distance to the target!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: 2 giant kills.
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Giant kill
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Purple Hill giant: 81
Yellow: 22
Battered and bruised, Hamilton crawls out of the pile of mud, blood and Hill Giant corpses. The Rough Rider is completely covered in it. He pushes his way out of the receding shore of mud and staggers to the ground. Sammi comes over and trills, pushing Ham with her beak.
I'm fine, Sammi. You should see the other guys.
He uses her reins for support and pulls himself up. He...
Swings back into the saddle and directs her forward towards the edge of the ridge. He readies his bow.
With Hamilton the only one wounded, the life link allows a slow trickle back to the roughrider, closing his wounds.
Knowing that he needs to slow the far giant from escape, Vael moves forward and begins a chant. From the other end of the cavern appears glowing, rainbow-hued pattern of colours that immediately fascinate the far away giant.
Tulia reloads and fires a bolt at the nearest giant. The weapon vibrates angrily in her hands.
Determined, the giant shrugs off Vael's spell. Tulia's attack is a little harder to resist as the other giant grunts on the shot.
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: 2 giant kills.
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Giant kill
Vael: Hit
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Purple Hill giant: 81
Yellow: 34
Using his enhanced speed, Doxon hustles forward.
He readies Agrimmosh should the giant close to melee.
Hamilton mounts up for action while Doxon preps for the oncoming attack. The mud slows that attack down, and Doxon cracks the giant in the ribs on the way in! The other giant presses through the webs: and gets to the door to escape!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Yellow: 64
Raen floats forward and dismisses the ineffective webs. Meanwhile, her illusory double loses another spell and begins again.
Ham sees the Fire Giant rabbiting, and they make with all speed possible to catch him. Full Round Action to Run.
They stop in melee range and thrust at the giant to make the point.
Going somewhere, coward?
Raen drops the web, giving the escaping giant a glimmer of hope. Hamilton comes forth like a divine zephyr, closing in on the giant as he tries to pen the door. The only response is a frustrated snarl!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Move and dismiss
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Run
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Yellow: 64
Ushyle moves adjacent to Doxon and whispers in Dwarven:
Then he brings Milani's Thorn to bear!
Ushyle's blade cuts deep. It looks like it's enough to drop the giant, but the massive creature fights on, albeit barely!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Move and dismiss
Ushyle: Hit!
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Run
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Yellow: 136
Trusting his teammates to handle the giant close by, Whistle Pig opts to go after the one trying to escape. A trio of missiles cracks against his back, despite the distance!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Move and dismiss
Ushyle: Hit!
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Run
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Yellow: 136
Red: 71
Intent on slowing down the running giant, Vael begins a chant. At the other end of the cavern appear great magical hailstones that pound down upon the earth and upon the fire giant. The shamanic power leaves the area within and beyond a virtual winter wonderland with blowing snow and clumps of ice littering the ground.
He then flies forward, ready to help with the closer giant if need be.
Tulia reloads and fires her crossbow at the nearby giant.