"No little one. Indeed, some giants are deeply benevolent. I am saddened that you have only experienced evil."
As Renfal tells his tale, Ushyle watches for any hint of deception, going so far as to discern lies as the apparition speaks.
"Not so, little one," Raen speaks quietly to Whistle Pig. "Though they have been few, some giants on our journey have indeed chosen a better path."
She thinks on Renfal's words for a time, considering any brush with these names in her reading.
At length, she speaks to the spirit. "As we find you imprisoned, I suspect your knowledge of outside events is sparse. We are citizens of Trunau, a small human settlement among the many Volstus now threatens across Avistan. We have struck heavy blows against his forces in recent months, and now breached his stronghold, yet still his menace grows. In addition to Zephyr Hall, he now controls an Orb of Dragonkind and commands many clans of giantfolk."
"Our aim is to snuff out the Storm Tyrant's dreams of conquest, and to restore peace to these mountains. If, in such pursuit, we can help you find rest, we shall do so. We would welcome any knowledge you have of Zephyr Hall, its workings, its history, and its denizens."
"How came you to be excluded from the Boneyard? When was your spirit imprisoned here? What became of Nalbia and Dyzelke? How does the cloud diadem function?"
Knowledge Local, Are Storm Giants a thing? Are they different from Cloud Giants? How are they different:
Hamilton isn't sure. He never thought he'd have to delve this deep into giant lore.
Raen doesn't recognize the names, but the descriptions of giant behavior seems reasonable. Renfal listens intently before responding.
"I know not of your settlement, but I do know that an orb in Volstus's possession is good for no one but the Tyrant himself. I will lend you what aid I can when I can."
"I am currently damned to this plane until Volstus is dead, I can tell you that. Once he is dead, I can move on. The diadem is a simple thing to see and to use. When one wears it, they control the motion of the castle and can power various functions, such as commanding the stone guardians in the throne room."
Ushyle studies the ghost for a long while.
Finally, he says simply, I believe this Renfal..
Raen nods to acknowledge the information. "And how came you to be sequestered in this chamber?" she asks, gesturing to the remaining invisible walls. "How many moons have passed since your imprisonment? Is Nalbia still a threat? Dyzelke? What have you witnessed of late from your cell? What sort of stone guardians defend the throne room? What other defenses of the castle ought we be aware? What aid might you be able to lend?"
"Even in death, I am unwilling to leave my beloved cloud castle in the hands of the Storm Tyrant, and as a ghost I have returned, haunting its halls and tormenting its occupiers.... Well, that was my fate. My repeated spectral sabotage eventually spurred Volstus to create a prison for me in the torture chamber where I died and now rejuvenate. I know not how long it has been, for time seems so strange to me now."
He looks about at the walls, "My mind has been a bit addled, but I can journey with you. I don't remember the exact layout, but I do recognize the construction. I can point out secret doors which have been added throughout. I also know that there's a bomb fail safe built into the castle. Volstus would rather destroy the castle than let another have it. I can show you how to handle it if you come across it."
"Well little one" says the 18' tall giant, "I suspect I'll do nothing. My hope is that Volstus's death will bring about my peaceful passage to the Boneyard."
"My mind has been a bit addled, but I can journey with you. I don't remember the exact layout, but I do recognize the construction. I can point out secret doors which have been added throughout. I also know that there's a bomb fail safe built into the castle. Volstus would rather destroy the castle than let another have it. I can show you how to handle it if you come across it."
"Such aid will be useful," Raen agrees. She takes a moment to look over Renfal's prison for anything of note or use. She turns to Whistle Pig. "Shall we proceed?"
"My young halfling, why does anyone build a castle? To have a well protected home. Cloud giants live in the clouds, or rather, we feel that we are meant to. If you are worried about it as an offensive weapon the way Volstus is using it, just remember, not all giants are inherently evil."
Renfal vanishes from sight, but you each feel his continued presence...
-----
Whistle Pig leads the party down the hall. He stops them at the corner, as there is a full on trap door in the hall. It goes across the entire hallway. Unlike the one before, this one seems to have but one purpose, ejecting unwanted guests.
Raen simply nods, waiting patiently
Whistle Pig recognizes the trap within the trap. It's not actually a trap door, but it's made to look like one. He catches the glint of a well placed rune... This trap will explode as soon as he touches it. Using his mastery of foiling the magic, he disables the Greater Glyph of Warding.
With the trap disabled, the party pushes a bit further. The eastern wall of this room is fitted with an array of three-foot wide ceramic tubes that run from floor to ceiling. Several giant-sized cold weather outfits hang from pegs in an open wardrobe on the western wall.
The tubes are large enough for a man to crawl through. They seem to function as a heating system as the air comin gout of them is consistently warm.
The clothing all seem to be suits of cold weather gear, sized for a cloud giant. Whistle Pig does find a giant-sized broach though...
Raen inspects the brooch carefully.
Raen quickly discerns the powers of the Cloud Engineer's Badge
Well, they're host to not just cloud giants here, right? Perhaps they're just being hospitable to their cousins who aren't acclimated to the colder high altitueds.
"Or for when they go out? Especially at higher altitudes the temperature can be brutal, even for them."
When Raen describes the badge, Vael nods. "I'm betting that magic helps them reduce to a size that helps then fix things in the vents."
"Indeed," Raen agrees, looking at the vents. "Perhaps they would be worth investigating ourselves, too."
"Let us continue," Raen says, looking to Whistle Pig and gesturing east.
Ham spends this time checking over Sammi--her feet, her wings. And making sure his gear is all in working order and readily accessible. Straps are intact, blades and armor are adjusted properly.
Vael waits. He just... waits.
Whistle Pig has no problem getting into the tube, and can even walk upright in them.
These tubes connect in a dizzying network. You could easily become lost if you take too long. Unfortunately, they only seem to lead back out to various hallways. What you DO learn is that they all seem to lead back to the center of this floor. You can't find an egress there, but whatever is powering the heat seems to be coming from the middle of this level.
Frustrated you couldn't learn more, but happy about what you think is an "Important Clue." you head back to the party.
|
"well that was fun!" flops out of the tunnel with a smile on his face. "These tubes go all over this level with all the tubes seem to be leading towards the center of this floor."
He dusts himself off as he continues, "It a maze in there. I could hide in there for weeks and they would never know I was there."
"we should probably head up the stairs now."
"No," Raen quickly cuts in. "Let us conclude our investigation of the basement before ascending to the the higher levels. I suggest we proceed east." She gestures at the open hallway.
This long hallway eventually leads to an intersection.
Whistle Pig doesn't even turn the corner when he hears sounds of something big working metal in a forge.
"Now is a prudent moment to augment our fighting power," Raen comments. She casts a spell, weaving a shield of force into reality beside her.
Whistle Pig turns the corner, and can see the room at the end of the 50ish foot hall. This room contains a large steel table with a matching chair, a giant-sized smelting kiln, a massive anvil, and several metal boxes. A huge shelved cabinet with stained-glass doors stretches across one entire wall. In the middle of the floor, a circle formed from solidified molten steel reflects the soft light emanating from the kiln.
Working within the room is a creature the halfling has never seen before. Its body seemingly made of iron, this shapely feminine form has wrists pierced by chains that end in curved blades.
She doesn't seem to notice the party yet.
Still in the hallway, Raen considers the conversation with Renfal and ponders her reading on crucidaemons.
Raen knows little:
Darkvision 60 ft. with constant deathwatch, detect good, true seeing;
"Hard fighting ahead," Raen suggests simply. "And illusions will be of little use. Let us strike hard and fast."
She casts haste and hurries into battle.
Raen casts a spell of haste as the party rushes in. The intended victim though is not taken by surprise. Her supernatural senses keen to the attack!
Haste completes, no surprise round:
(Extra +4 Mountains/Hills, +2 Subterranean )
The creature immediately flies into action. She begins chanting in a flowing blend of Infernal and Abyssal
Round 1:
Crucidaemon: Uh-oh
Whistle Pig: Go
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Vael: Go
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen listens carefully.
Raen knows a summoning spell when she hears one, even if it's a unique technique.
"Engage, quickly! She must not complete that spell!" Taking her own advice, Raen hurries around the bend, quickly gaining altitude . She lets fly a volley of force bolts, hoping to disrupt the daemon's delicate intonations.
With a cry and a blur, Hamilton and Sammi ride around the corner and attack. The trained rider and mount move at magical speeds and as they get in range, Hamilton's spear shoots forward in a hastened series of strikes.
, Damage on Hit:
, Damage on Hit:
, Damage on Hit:
, Damage on Hit:
COME ON EVERYONE OR YOU'RE GONNA MISS THIS PARTY!!! HIYAH!!!
It takes all of Ushyle's movement and the preternatural enhancements offered by Raen's spell to close all the way; he is unable to bring Milani's Thorn to bear just yet, having just enough time to study this metallic target.
Only by virtue of her training does Raen punch through the daemon's natural resistance to mortal magic! She keeps chanting!
Hamilton and Sammi close in with supernatural speed. Hamilton thrusts repeatedly, but only once finds purchase in daemonflesh! Unfortunately the weapon pulls back having left no wound at all!
Ushyle hurtles himself into the fray, but takes a safe route to get there.
Round 1:
Crucidaemon: Uh-oh
Whistle Pig: Go
Ushyle: Move
Hamilton: DR negated
Vael: Go
Raen: MM
Doxon: Go
Daemon: 22