Dot then erase
You have learned that the storm giant warlord Volstus the Storm Tyrant is gathering an army of giants in a hidden valley in the Mindspin Mountains. So extensive are the Storm Tyrant’s efforts that this army would threaten not only Belkzen (and the town of Trunau), but also the other human nations bordering the huge mountain range, including Lastwall, Molthune, Nidal, Nirmathas, and Varisia. After returning to Trunau after the conclusion of “The Hill Giant’s Pledge,” Halgra and Silvermane have encouraged the party to travel to the valley to try to stop Volstus before he can assemble his army, thus preventing untold bloodshed and destruction across western Avistan. Fortunately, the party has found a map to this “valley of giants” among the dowry of the hill giant chieftain Grenseldek in Redlake Fort.
In addition, you now hold both halves of the geode treasure map that leads to the tomb of the fabled dwarven giantslayer Nargrym Steelhand. Adventurers and treasure- seekers have long sought the tomb, as according to dwarven custom, Nargrym was laid to rest with his armor, weapons, and riches—including the magical steel hand that allowed the hero to wield the giants’ own weapons against them. According to the map, the tomb lies on the way to the giants’ valley, and if it still exists, recovering such a cache would prove invaluable in a fight against the Storm Tyrant’s giant horde.
Nargrym Steelhand’s tomb lies approximately 90 miles southwest of Trunau, a journey of just over a week on foot through the mountains (assuming a speed of 30 feet).
Having learned much during his time in the woods Zekal made sure his Haversack was stuffed with extra food before the group set out for the tomb. Well that and more arrows. Not a large man he appears to travel light but with his quiver and bag looks are deceiving.
As the others talk or tell tails of the journey he smiles but only talks of the times they were protecting people not of the actual battles.
He does make a point of taking some target practice whenever he spots a squirrel having grown to like the taste.
When the break he does silent pray before each meal, if anyone else is inclined to join in he mumbles quietly for them to hear.
Trotting happily onto the back of her horse, Lys appears to be a constant dynamo in the saddle. Sitting up, left, right, and occasionally even shifting around to look at whoever's behind, her horse appears somewhat tired of her shenanigans. "Ugh. I propose,", she starts saying as she picks up her crossbow and aims in the distance, sitting sideways on the horse. "When we die, old and gray, I suggest we tell our descendants to build our massive monumental tombs in the middle of the town.", she quips. "That way, when they inevitably need to pilfer our worldly remains for whatever reason, it's not too inconvenient for them.", she giggles.
Frowning, she sheathes the crossbow, squints her eyes and shakes her finger in a crone-y fashion. Pulling her new, dark gray cloak up over her head, she shrieks, "Back in my day, we had to crawl for a week to raid tombs! Uphill, in the rain! You kids have it too easy!" She straitens up suddenly.
"I was meant to be looking for tracks, wasn't I?", an almost apologetic grin spreads on her face, as she quiets down, beginning to scout the surrounding area.
[ooc]Regarding ammunition, can we assume that Lys is carrying 50+5 special bolts on her at all times, and has the rest of them as arrow(bolt?)heads on her horse/storage? I'll purchase some, too, and get some Oil of Abundant Ammunition as well, in case we're expecting prolonged combat.
Crom shakes his head at Lys as he marches along. "You do know there ain't no growin' old and dying for the likes of us right? Live by the axe, die by the axe - that's what my dear pappy always said. Until he was torn limb by limb by orcs, that is. That whole axe thing was more of a metaphor or something. Anyway, the point is we're going to kill a lot of giants! You hear me?"
Crom spits out an exceptionally large wad of tobacco.
Having hear this or a similar exchange many times Zekal sighs and grins.
"Crom my friend. I fear by our standards you are already old." his grin gets a little bigger before speaking more quietly, more to himslef. "Still, yes, the giants shall die.. it is Erastil's will."
With one hand on the sword strapped to his side, he make little comment as the others spoke of monuments and what to do with one's axe. Instead he absently allowed his hand to hold the sword hilt as he followed along. Draped in traveling clothes and a re-enforced leg protector too often called a skirt he had a few tattoos on his left arm peaking out from his rolled up sleeve, "And your masterful plan for assaulting a whole host of giants and their ilk is, what exactly?"
Reaching down he tapped at some of the scroll cases on his belt and pack, "We still only have the map to tell us where to go, but we need to have a plan that doesn't involve 'glorious deaths' I believe the phrase was."
Varin glanced at the Wizard and grinned, before patting the large Greataxe he carried over one shoulder. "Well I had thought to introduce them to this, repeatedly, till they stopped moving. Death, for us at least, features nowhere in that plan. I'm sure with me, Wulfy and Crumbles holding the line, you will have nothing to worry about. Do you have a better idea Kaden?"
Varin glanced at Lys and shook his head, "That is a big no from me. If I die I want to be laid out on a throne, wearing my gear, so I can become one of those cool looking treasure skeletons that adventurers find in long forgotten caves. I don't want my gear to be so easy to find. They should strive for it, hunt it down. Or how would we know they are worthy of it? I also would really like to haunt either my armour or my weapon, not sure, so I could come back to abuse whoever finds it, for being lesser than me.'
"What about you old man? What do you want us to do when you die of old age in oh... a week or so?" Varin glanced at Wulfrum with a cheeky twinkle in his eye.
Raising an eyebrow at Zekal, Lys laughs out. "Wait. We have standards?", she asks, before nodding at Kaden. "Yes, I don't much care for glorious deaths. I think the plan for now is to get at least a bit closer, so we can at least know where the giants are.", she explains as she sits cross-legged atop the saddle.
Lys throws a raspberry back at Varin. "I'd say something about ego too big for your armour. Though, I probably shouldn't be one to talk.", she chuckles.
Zakal smiles as the others talk.
Sure there is ego too big for each of us. How else do simply folks stand again giants that shake the very earth. Still I the gods will provide if we work for ourselves.
Happy to listen he moves to the front of the line and keeps his eyes open.
"Aye I'd likely come back with 'Kids in glass houses shouldn't throw stones', or some such old persons sayings. You know the type? Things your mum would say if you were misbehaving as a wee-un. Not that we ever misbehaved, or that you aren't still a wee-un!" He moved over to walk beside the horse.
"I would kill for a bath and a hot lamb stew right now..." he sighed as he glanced towards the edges of the road, keeping an eye out for any danger.
Raises an unamused brow at the discussion of attempts at overwhelming physical force he barely restrains the need to roll his eyes and shake his head. He wasn't unfamiliar with a blade, but he knew to work smarter instead of harder whenever possible and at the moment it seemed the level of surging zealousness was reaching the point it would soon become some form of fog.
Instead he pointed ahead down the road and spoke flatly, "You're more than welcome to go charging into what I assume are several hundred very blood thirsty giants if you want. I'd prefer to find some narrow rocky terrain and dislodge large chunks of rock onto their formations and let gravity do our work for us, personally."
He sniffed and waited a moment before continuing, "Or we could just use poison in their grog. Not as glorious, but you cant really argue with results, can you?"
Kaden you are right, clearly. Charging in to face creatures at least twice our size," a smile "well three times Crom's, that would be foolish. Seperate and destroy as they do towns we do them. Poison, not in my background but sure if it can be used with precision. Grog is good but not rivers. I guess."
Lys continues to sit on her horse, listening to the conversation. "Not sure how good poison's going to work on giants. Like.", she shrugs. "I'm not a giant scholar or something, but considering the amount of shit they eat, and the places some of them eat, I don't think they can eat enough poison without bursting from being stuffed.", she raises her hat to scratch herself behind her ear.
"So, uh, we can combine both plans.", she raises a hand, pointing it at everyone. "We tactically apply us meatheads to wherever we can do the most nasty stabbiness. And then, we make ourselves scarce." She crosses her arms and bursts out it laughter. "Although, we have to get in a tomb first, and I'm your trapfinder. So, you know. Don't plan too far into the future."
"Don't sell yourself short Lys, we will only get bloodied by a few traps that you miss I am sure." a small chuckle 'Thats why you tolerate my dour self isn't it? A little bolstering before the real works begins."
Not sure but Kaden may well consider me a 'meat head' no matter really. I have seen more then one wizard find religion when faced with a giants ax. Best we get to this tomb soon I think.
They have been walking for some time now it would seem.
"Maybe we should camp soon. When this mythical tomb is found we can finally stop talking I think."
As the Pathfinders exchange stories of past adventures they notice something ahead on the path. From what you can vaguely remember it appears to be a greater barghest.
Raising a an open hand with the back of the hand facing his friends Zekal quickly comes to a stop. He points ahead and nocks an arrow.
Wulfrum was silent through most of the ride. He was a large man, riding a rather fat oxen and was not pleased to be doing it at all. But with his short legs and already heavy pack, he agreed it was necessary.
He smoked his pipe, enjoyed the cherry scented tobacco till they came up on the creature on the pass he sighed and put the pipe back in his belt pouch.
He hopped off the Oxen as Zekal drew his bow. He swung his shield in place and grabbed the cord attached to the warhammer and swung it up into his hand. He nodded at the priest and readied a charge.
Crom unlimbers his axe and readies to charge. ”This thing looks like it needs killing.”
Lys' face draws pales in an instant as she spots the barghest. Is..., she balks for a moment, as her hand reaches for her boot, drawing a fistful of silver bolts, which go into the crossbow with mechanical motions. "Let's... Let's kill it. Now.", she lets out with a wane voice, the sights of the crossbow focusing on the weird, wolf-like creature.
The party decides that the creature needs to die and ready themselves for action.
A nod when Lys motions to kill it, that is all the encouragement he needs with a beast like this. He takes a step forward preying and fires.
Erastil, grant my bow your guidance, this beast is clearly a threat.
Wulfrum waits for the barghest to make it's move, preparing to charge when it's in range or attack if it gets to him first!
Lys aims the crossbow at the barghest's head, pulling the trigger. "What the hell is that?", she shrieks out as the strings and pulleys load another bolt into the crossbow's arms.
Grit: 6/7
Crom will charge the barghest and attack.
Seeing the large creature ahead he lifts his hands and begins a soft cant, rising in speed and volume before he lifts his hands up and unleashing a distorting flash.
Varin grinmed wildly as he gripped his axe, feeling the magic fill his body, forcing more out of his legs than ever before. Varin charged, swinging his axe at the beast with as much power as he could manage.
Lis fires at the creature and one crossbow bolt lands solidly in its side. The creature lurches as you see the blood slowly flow from its wound.
The creature tries to bite Crom, but it’s teeth can’t seem to penetrate and do any damage.
Zekal launches a few arrows and one lands clearly right next to the bolt sticking out of its side. The creature begins to bleed more severely.
Wulfrum charges the beast and as he hits the arrow and bolt are pushed all the way through the creatures body. It lurches in pain as the blood steadily flows from its gaping wounds.
Crom launches an attack and lands right in the creatures other side. The creature, once again, lurches in pain.
Varin launches an attack, but the swing just misses the creature.
Barghest
Taking a small step to kepe his firing lane open Zekal mutters an almost silent prayer as he fires of two more arrows.
"Guide my arrows that I may protect the world."
2 is acid
5 is acid
Varin gritted his teeth before throwing himself at the creature with renewed ferocity.
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Crom goes into a berserker frenzy.
; power attack
; haste
; power attack
; power attack
Zekal launches arrows at the beast and they all land true. Varin launches attacks right as the Zekals arrows penetrate its flesh.
The creature lurches forward and let’s out a loud groan as it falls forward dead. It’s insides spilling out from the enormous wounds.
With a nod Zekal moves to retrieve any arrows that can be salvaged from the creature.
"One less threat in the world."
Lys lowers her crossbow, then quickly begins disarming the bolts from her quiver. "What in the name of Torag's holy beardcrumbs was that?", she asks, clearly distraught. Shoving another bolt into her crossbow, she fires it point blank into the thing's skull, before moving closer to recover her bolts.
Sighing deeply as the world speeds up to its normal speed, she mounts her horse. No more moseying around, I guess. And that's not even counting the giants that are coming. Turning to look at the others, her eyes lock with Kaden's. "You think there's more of those where they came from? Whatever friendly woodlands critter they are?"
Wulfrum looks down at the beast and shakes his head. "Aye, this was a waste to be sure. All that just to make me stop smoking. Should've just let you kids handle it." he said before he pulled back out his pipe and relit it.
He dragged the warhammer through the grass to wipe any blood off before he mounted back up upon his bison.
Crom searches the surrounding area for tracks or any sign of a lair. "The bloody thing probably isn't operating alone, so be wary."
Varin pulled his axe up to inspect the edge for cracks and chips, still not used to the supernatural strength of magic, before nodding.
"Crom is likely right, we need to keep our eyes peeled and our ears... paired?"
Lys raises an eyebrow at Varin. "Ungunked? Prostrated? Suitably extruded?", she suggests, moving towards her horse. "I think that's enough scenery to last us a while. I just wish we put less of it in the stew.", she shrugs, pointing forwards. "I'll take point, say five-hundred paces? You hear shouting, get those pots and pans moving.", she says, pulling her new cloak's hood over her head and quickly disappearing down the trail. That, and I need a little teeth-shaking after that thing. Regardless of how fast it went down..., she sighs deeply.
"Eyes peeled... always thought that was a weird expression. I saw some some folks that eyes had been peeled by some goblins. Glad I hunted and killed the goblins after that."
He nods as Lys decides to take point.
"I don't mind ranging ahead but can admit your eyes are a little sharper then mine. A little. "
" A little. "
"I heard that!", Lys' voice sounds from several paces forwards, as the archer turns with a grin.
It is possible the stoic cleric smiled. But just possible.
"Course ya heard it, ya ungunked yer ears!" Varin laughed and dusted off his hands before shouldering his axe and moving after Lys slowly.
After dealing with the creatur the party moves on.
Following the geode treasure map, you arrive at the base of Stag’s Pike, a slender stone spire in the Mindspin Mountains near the border between Belkzen and Varisia. From Stag’s Pike, a narrow footpath climbs into the high mountains where the dwarves of Janderhoff built their mining fortresses in past centuries. But the map points away from those settlements, instead indicating an overgrown trail that leads to a high and lonely plateau overlooking the source of the Runtash River. While little is left of the path, small, weatherworn stone markers placed every hundred feet or so still mark the route. Upon reaching the plateau, the trail heads into a secluded wood of pale, silvery aspens with golden leaves swaying slowly in the brisk and chilly mountain breeze. According to the map, the tomb of Nargrym Steelhand lies within the wood.
"If I was the sort to take the time to make a tomb I doubt I would do it in the middle of nowhere. Seems counter intuitive for one to think themselves so important and yet to hide the tomb away."
This is not said as a complaint just lack of understanding of how others think some time.
"Well best we follow the trail I guess."
Lys' scouting is far from her usual performance, as she appears to be distracted. "Yup.", she nods as she returns back with the rest to check the map. "Wouldn't have minded stopping off at Janderhoff. But why wouldn't the tomb be in the middle of nowhere.", she sighs. "And in a forest. Hey, it could've been somewhere underwater, guarded by those toothy fish things with the many teeth. Sharks.", she nods.
"At least it's pretty.", her eyes glance on an aspen tree. "And there's bolt material." Turning towards the rest, she scratches her head as she starts guiding her horse in the forest. "Are there any crazed tribes, fey, or insan... eccentric wizards in that forest?", she looks at the more book-read members of the party, before slapping her forehead. "We should've asked the crazy dead druids for something to prove that we are qualified to deal with crazy dead druids!"
Crom will help Zekal search. "Now look here son, you got to check under every rock! A proper dwarven tomb ain't just going to be sitting out in the open with a 'welcome looters' sign on the front door. I don't think anyway."
Wulfrum snorted as he listened to the others "Aye, and whens the last time you've heard of a Dwarf putting himself a tomb up on the surface instead of in the mountain proper. There ain't nothing proper and normal bout this Dwarf at t'all I reckon." he offered.
Lys' eyes scan the forest. "Maybe he was a dwarf that enjoyed the forest? Or decided to build a tomb into the grounds in the forest?", she reasons. "There's plenty of dwarves around the world who don't have a mountain next to them.", she shrugs. "Don't make them any less dwarves, I think."
Wulfrum grunted "Aye bet you're one of those people who say All Beards are created equal too, eh?" he said scowling. It's unsure if that was purely a joke. "Ye may go bald but you'll never shave is my family's motto about it all." he said before taking a small nip from his flask.