The Book of the Titan is enormous; two feet tall, a foot thick, a foot wide. Its pages are of cured calf-skin, magic written into it by sorcerous giantblood, centuries of dust caking its cover and edges. Its runes are inscrutable to those unversed in the language of Giants, its techniques requiring a mage of their blood.
Searching and asking has dug up the name of Zoarth, cloud-giant, wizard, friend or at least not enemy to the smaller races, living in his giant sky-castle, last spotted flying towards a high peak in the Kodar Mountains.
His throat freshly lubricated, your informant nods eagerly. He loosens the goatskin jerkin around his thin shoulders, basking in the tavern heat, as he speaks. "No, no, it's the truth, I swear! A castle in the sky. The mountain shepherds have been talking about it for weeks. A great building, with spires and towers, slowly descending to escape the Great Storm, to hover above Mount Kallaris." He takes a sip of his brew, then returns to describing what seems to undoubtably be the great sky-castle of the wizard Zoarth. "Its roofs are blue, its single door thrice the size of a man, a chunk of earth beneath it 'sif it was ripped from the ground itself one day and took flight! None of the shepherds have gone near it, they've all moved their flocks off the mount since they saw it. Some say it's a long-lost Giant King, returning to lead his kin in bloodwar." He points off to the left; on the compass, south-east. "A few weeks' travel that-a-way. Leave here from Eldentre, take the trails, climb the mount... you'll see it! Even if it left off immediately, it flies slow enough that it should still be seeable!"
Authion raises his flagon to his lips, drinking deeply. "A flying castle, you say?"he asks quizzically. "It's not the strangest thing I've heard, that's for certain. Have the shepherds spoken of this so-called giant king? Have any actually seen him?"
"Not a word; they've just seen the castle and the giant-sized door and feared."
"I see. Well, it wouldn't be half as much fun if we knew all the answers before setting out, would it?" the elf says with a smile as he tosses a few coins on the table toward the informant. "Thank you for the information anyhow; You've given us more than enough to start our journey. Another round?" he smiles, gesturing to the barkeep for more refreshments.
Senna leans back, looking small in the heavy wooden chair. Her dust-caked, well-worn boots rest on the table next to her goblet. Slender fingers tap lightly on the conical lacquered metal hat sharing her chair. Having worked with her for awhile now, the sorceress' allies are unsurprised when she offers the informant a pragmatic question. "Did the shepherds say how high off the mountainside the keep floats?"
"Closest was about two hundred feet up. Since then, it could have flown away, or gotten even closer."
Senna smiles slightly, pleased with the answer. She picks up her goblet and takes a sip. "It must be quite a sight."
Sitting a short distance away at the bar, Tathlan surveys the room. His interpersonal skills lean toward "enhanced interrogation" and barking orders, so the squad decided that it would be best for him to keep an eye on the room while they speak with the informant. There's also the fact that they just met him and took them into their group. If they didn't trust him yet, it was completely understandable.
So far nothing seems out of the ordinary in the tavern, though this many Ulfen stuffed into a tight space filled with spilled beer is not an olfactory experience Tathlan wants to experience again. His eyes continually scanning the bar for anyone suspicious who may be paying too much attention to them, Tathlan takes a swig of the weak ale as he waits for the interview to conclude.
"Amazin'! A building, flying on its own..."
Tathlan's keen elvish ears enable him to realize that he is the discussion of a heated yet friendly debate among three women in the corner. Closer eavesdropping realize they are discussing the merits of dexterity over strength in... certain locales and activities. Otherwise, the tavern patrons seem focused on drinking their way into tomorrow's gutter.
"Indeed, friend." She gives the man a charming smile, and indicates the coins Authion left on the table. "Thank you again and fare you well."
After the informant moves off, Senna looks at her allies, raising an eyebrow at the man's story. "Thoughts?"
" It seems legitimate to me." Authion muses. "Every lead we've chased so far has ended with these same mountains, and it would take a giant of some considerable magical skill to raise a fortress into the sky. I think we've found our mark." he motions to Tathlan as he speaks, beckoning for the stoic older elf to join the table.
Tathlan blushes slightly as he hears the women talk about him. He certainly wasn't expecting that. Thankfully the awkwardness is over quickly as the squad's informant departs and Authion motions for him to come over.
Gathering up his ale he moves with economy to the chair the informant just vacated. "Seems like all of the reports line up," he says as he settles in. "Looks like we've got an appointment with a flying castle."
"It most certainly seems worth investigating. May I suggest that we bring along lots and lots of rope. Should be useful to have"
I wonder why Tathlan is blushing.
"I suggest that you all buy mounts. Combat trained ones should probably be ok around Jensal"
He then goes outside and speaks to Jensel :
"Jensel my friend, our companions are about to buy some horses. Please, please, please do not play any tricks on them. I know that you mean them no harm but they're stupid animals and don't realize that you're just playing tricks on them. Promise?"
"Oh, and try and make nice with Dwin too. Calling him DimDim isn't nice"
Sir Haldern then writes a quick letter to his wife, paying a local merchant to see that it is delivered.
Authion drains the last of his second mug of ale, nodding in agreement with Tathlan. "We should leave at first light, it sounds like we've quite the journey ahead of us." he says, stifling a yawn.
With their course of action decided, Tathlan nods brusquely. He doesn't stick around at the table for long and retires to bed after a minimum level of polite chit-chat. As expected he is up at first light on the next day, ready to with a roan horse already saddled.
There is a road- more of a path, really- that ascends Mount Kallaris in the northwestern spur of the Kodar Mountains, allowing access to the peak where Zoarth's castle was last spotted descending towards. The journey to reach the path alone is dangerous; this is giant land, and danger attempts to lurk behind every corner but usually protrudes over it by a good eight feet. But eventually, after a week or three of travel, the party make their way up the peak. The storm above angrily spits lightning from black clouds and intermittently slashes downwards with showers of hail and rain, as the castle comes into view.
Standing at the pinnacle of the mountain, a truly remarkable sight rises overhead. A round castle of brass and glistening white stone floats amid and atop swirling clouds, rising like a massive pillar. Only a winding brass pathway, which starts at the mountaintop and swoops steadily upward, connects the castle with the ground. Beginning to climb the pathway is a giant raiding party- four hill giants, four dire wolves and their den mother, four ogres. Clad in raiments of war, they beat their clubs against their armor in time with their strides as they climb up to what appears to be a massive, blasted-in hole in the keep wall, a hundred feet shy of the intended main entrance. In the air, an air elemental makes a final strafing run on the group, charging in to strike, but a hill giant swats it out of the air with his greatclub and keeps marching upwards.
The group has not spotted you yet.
As Authion spies the chaos ahead, he tugs on Dwin's neck fur, indicating for the great wolf to stop. He turns to his companions "Time for a little morning exercise?" he says, grinning as he retrieves his mighty bow Caladwen from its place in his quiver.
Focused on the castle above, the raiding party marches upwards.
Senna surveys the giants calmly. "This should be interesting." She draws a rod from the bandolier slung across her body then utters words of power that fill her allies and mounts with an almost-electrical nervous energy.
1st Spells (8): x
2nd Spells (8):
3rd Spells (7): x
4th Spells (6):
5th Spells (4):
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3):
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL ATTACK ACTION; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move - RND: 1 of 10
Authion will move 30 ft closer ( move action)
He'll cast abundant ammunition of his quiver(standard)
Dwin's will move with him and ready to defend against anyone who comes within melee range.
Abundant Ammuniotion
Duration: 11 minutes
Effect: replenish all ammunition removed from the container the round previously.
Tathlan sees that the copper pathway up to the castle will provide cover to the giants from his crossbow bolts. Nodding his thanks to Senna for her spell of quickness, he sets off for the base of the spiral road, unslinging his crossbow, finely crafted from dark green and brown wood.
Sir Haldern flies up to just below the path where he should still be out of sight from the Giants, preparing to attack when his companions come close enough or start hostilities.
Note: I accidentally moved the wolf. Not sure if I put it back into the right place. Zoomed too far out and mistook tokens
The heroes move up; the raiding party looks to the side and spots new enemies. They call halt and turn to survey the group below; the wolves growl and prance about, saliva dripping eagerly from their jaws.
Heading up the ramp, Tathlan keeps his crossbow trained on the closest enemy wolves. He waits for Authion to begin his rain of arrows before unleashing his own shot.
Senna urges her mount forward, following in the wake of the crossbowman. She draws the rod from her bandolier and weaves a simple spell with it. A tiny ember flies among the closest rank of giants and ogres then explodes in a roaring conflagration that silhouettes four of the lumbering beasts.
1st Spells (8): x
2nd Spells (8):
3rd Spells (7): xx
4th Spells (6):
5th Spells (4):
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3): x
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL ATTACK ACTION; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move - RND: 2 of 10
Two of the ogres disappear in a burst of fire and destruction; the remaining giants are heavily burnt, one more than the other. They roar a challenge, and charge. "SMASH CLOUD-GIANT FRIENDS! GET 'EM!"
The ogres and giants charge ungainly down the spiral; two giants pause to aim blows at Sir Haldern as their wolves circle around to flank and bite. The rest charge upward, Tathlan faced by a den-mother dire wolf clad in chainmail barding.
Dwin rushes towards the pack of wolves as they move toward Tathlan.
Authion, seeing the older elf swamped by foes, unleashes a barrage of arrows on the beasts.
A flurry of Authion's arrows *THUD* into the den mother, causing immense pain as it rips up her belly. She remains standing and snarling, however.
No biggy.
Sir Haldern will just try and kill the giant in front of him. Using power attack.
Do I get +1 for high ground advantage? I think I need it :-)
"In the name of the Inheritor, die foul beasts"
for
for
for
Jensal then tries his luck. Also power attacking
"Sqwaarrrk"
for
for
for
We then both take a 5ft fly backwards
If somebody swings at Jensal, I'd try to avoid it with mounted combat
Jansel is able to bite and kick chunks off of the giant's knees and shoulders, but can do little more.
The sorceress sends another ember among closest giants and wolves. The roiling cloud of fire kisses (but misses) Tathlan.
1st Spells (8): x
2nd Spells (8):
3rd Spells (7): xxx
4th Spells (6):
5th Spells (4):
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3): x
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL ATTACK ACTION; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move - RND: 2 of 10
Its probably too late (and I'm completely fine with that) but I completely forgot about the haste. Still getting used to PBP. I'm about to adopt Senna's tactic of status.
In case it isn't too late, I think the extra +1 made a couple of misses hits. And I get an extra two attacks (one from me, one from Jessel)
for
for
Buffs: Haste
114/114 HP
AC 28+1=29
+1 to hit
Reflex +1 = +12
Buffs: Haste
77/77 HP
AC 31+1=32
Reflex +1 = +11
Flinching from the heat of the fireball, Tathlan steps back and prepares to fire his crossbow the moment the huge alpha wolf does anything.
Haldern manages to land a last few piercing blows with his lance, but not enough to down his giant foe.
Senna summons another ball of fire.
Wolf
Wolf
Giantw
GiantW
Wreathed in flame, the two giants are instantly immolated, falling to earth burnt husks. One of the wolves follows them, the other managing to leap away from the worst of the embers.
Tathlan fires a flurry of bolts into the den mother, but fails to town it. Growling, it and the rest of the raiding party launch a cascade of attacks. "GETTIMGETTIMGETTIMGETTIM"
The giants and wolves move up to surround Sir Haldern.
trip
trip
The den mother and hew grown pup aim powerful chomps onto Tathlan's legs.
trip
trip
Two trolls move up to engage Senna.
Sir Haldern first lays on hands on hands on himself
Sir Haldern then lays into the wounded giant, switching to the unwounded giant should the first giant fall,
"In the name of the Inheritor, die foul beasts"
for
for
for
for
Assuming the first giant falls, Jensal 5ft flies up and towards the second giant. He is hopefully 10 ft in the air at this point. If he is, he lunges at the giant. If not, does not.
Jensal then tries his luck. Also power attacking
"Sqwaarrrk"
for
for
for
for
Buffs: Haste
Lay on hands - 9 of 10 remaining
Hopefully at least 5 ft in air, preferably 10ft
92/114 HP
AC 28+1=29
+1 to hit
Reflex +1 = +12
Buffs: Haste
77/77 HP
AC 31+1=32
Reflex +1 = +11
Crit confirm roll
for
"Praise the Inheritor"
As the trolls move up to attack Senna, Authion turns to unleash a second barrage in their direction. Dwin charges up toward the den mother, tearing at her with his powerful maw.
With a mighty cry, Iomedae's chosen lays waste to the hill giants, downing them to slide off the brass spiral and collapse to the ground like rocks.
Shifting up, the Spire Elf's barbed arrows make their mark, downing each ogre in turn, leaving them fallen amid their chained armor.
Dwin makes a successful charge for the den mother's throat, bloodying her fur with torn tissue, but she remains standing despite his grapple.