Kufieno waits anxiously. "I could make myself invisible and go first. Actually, I could make a couple of us invisible....Seal?" He whispers, then finishes with a grin at the dwarf.
Evanya returns and reports what she has seen. "A single kobold sentry, wielding a magic spear and bearing a black armor. Most unsusual, you would think that they'd use stronger sentries for a giant stronghold!"
"My pa always warned me of kobolds and their traps. Otherwise, let's send her to the Other Side."
Lucian conjures a flash of pure starlight to blind the kobold.
Lucian moves forward then prays Desna to tip the odds in their favor, bringing unluck to the kobold sentry.
The ratfolk wizard summons a flaming sphere at the feet of the kobold, and unleashes magic missiles as well.
Seal slinks his way through the narrow passage like serpent keeping his eye on the kobold. The dwarf's muscles twitch in ancipation to pounce the unexpecting warrior. Drawing on Thunderpuss as a totem, Seal charges the lone guard, materializing from nothing. Thunderpuss pads forward into the open room ready to join the fray.
Seal continues to pound the kobold with the Dorn with the ferocity of a savage animal.
Thunderous joins the attack as if he was helping a pride mate take down prey.
Lucian catches the kobold off-guard and blinds it! He then says a prayer over the party! Rissi likewise blasts it with fire and then plunks the kobold with magic missiles! Seal charges in and hits the kobold, then continues to beat up on her for a bit! Thunderpuss joins the party in beating up on the poor kobold!
Seal's and Thunderpuss' attacks hurt it but don't seem to do full damage .
Miana and Kufieno
Under the cover of invisibility, Kufieno moves up, casting a spell, and reaches out to touch the kobold.
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Miana moves along the wall, ready to strike but not engage the kobold unfairly.
Miana will move up, fist at the ready. "Please stand down! You are surrounded and there is no need for more bloodshed."
If the kobold attacks, she'll deliver a stunning punch.
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Kufieno leaves the kobold quite bloodied, although she is surprisingly still standing. At Miana's words the kobold drops her spear and raises her hands. "Yield! Yield!"
Rissi nods as she hovers a few feet off the ground.
Seal keeps swinging his dorn, ready to let it fly at a moment's notice. Both he and Thunderpuss release a low, rumbling growl to keep the kobold in check.
Understanding the dracospeak, Kufieno listens with interest.
Lucian marvels at the intonations of the speech shared between Rissi and the strange sentry, not sure what they are saying but definitely happy to see the matter be resolved with another issue than death.
"We seek Mokmurian, as well as any *squeak* rooms of lore or weapons. Where do we find such things?"
"Well, there's plenty of that around. Mokmurian is about, although I don't see him much. Just a guard, and a captive at that, that's all I am. As my new captors, though, just give me some work to do and I'll keep the post. Until I have new captors, that is."
"Lead us to their vaults then their leaders. Stay quiet and do right and you can bath in the blood of your old captors.
By the way, you can really take a hit."
"Grumelda will be in the kitchen preparing the food. Bland crap, if you ask me. We'll want to avoid the Shrine of the Ancestors to the north until we meet Conna. Blasphemous sacrifices leave that area tainted. Now if you're here to take down Mokmurian, you might want to meet Conna the Wise, she'll be very interested to hear what you say.... Come with me."
Enga the kobold leads you northwest to the kitchen and eating areas. "Don't mind us, Grumelda." She says as a female stone giant rises from a large chair next to a fire with an enormous pot boiling over it. "No food for us now, thanks." Grumelda gives you a wary eye but clearly isn't an overly aggressive giant and sits back down to tend the fire.
Enga leads you past the cannery and points to the north. "Shrine of the Ancestors. Bad stuff without Conna to protect you."
A smoldering brazier sits in the intersection ahead. Five stone giants sit about, a female with no armor and runes etched into her skin sitting at the head of them. She holds her hands up, palms out. Enga says, "These came out of the tunnel. They want to talk about Mokmurian."
"I don't have much time, but know that if you are here to slay Mokmurian, I am your ally. Come with me to a place we can speak in peace, for I would aid you in your quarrel here-without my assistance you might find only your graves below Jorgenfist."
She leads you to the north where the walls are painted with red, yellow, brown, and black figures, among which are apparent images of giants, mammoths, elk, deer, and wyverns. Others are harder to figure out: ogres, perhaps, or giant children, or even humans. The dwarves are very clear, with beards and tiny axes being crushed under enormous giant feet. A simple oil lantern lights a small altar at the far end of the cavern A modest offering of antlers, hooves, and patches of fur has been piled in front of the altar.
"Mokmurian made a foul sacrifice here as he became more and more obsessed with Thassilon. His first act was to sacrifice Vandarrec, the father of his old tribe. Vandarrec was my husband and rightfully I should be the mother of the tribe but have been deposed from my right. This was several years ago. We have a common problem in Mokmurian."
"I know of the impending raid on Sandpoint. Mokmurian was only testing your defenses before. By your descriptions I am certain that you are the Saviors of Sandpoint, yes? Good. We have a common solution to our problems: slaying Mokmurian."
"He has spent almost all of his time int he library level below this. There are fewer perils if you go to the southeast and approach that level from the west. I ask only that if you encounter more stone giants you refrain from killing them if possible, although I understand the risks."
"I must tell you one more thing: I fear that Mokmurian has fallen under the influence of a powerful evil spirit, indeed one of the Ancient Lords themselves. I have heard him whisper a name when he felt he was alone-Karzough, a name I recognize from secret myths shared by the elders of our tribe. He was one of those who enslaved our people, and if Mokmurian has fallen victim to this Ancient Lord's influence, the danger facing my people and all of Varisia may be greater than anyone has yet suspected."
Kufieno looks grim as he listens to the giant's tale. Thinking for a moment, he says. "About the other giants. Is there a phrase or sign that we could offer, that would let the other giants know we are allied with you? So as to not cause them harm." He finishes, glancing at Seal with a meaningful look, as he says the last part.
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Seal looks like a pot ready to boil over, shaking and trembling by being in such close proximity of giants without wetworks occurring.
"Everyone...Will...Suffer."
Conna the Wise thinks for a moment. "If I give you an item of my own, they will simply think that you have killed me. I dare not disrespect the traditions of my ancestors by actively working against the current clan leader by aiding you directly. I am already skirting close to passing that line as it is by telling you what I have already said."
"My suggestion would be to tell them that you know of Vandarrec and the injustice that was suffered upon him. Knowing and being sympathetic to that name will get you far with the other giants. If you are avenging Vandarrec, they will know that you have my blessing."
"I knew it, there's an evil curse at work here! Don't worry, Conna, we'll get rid of Mokmurian. When it's done, can you guarantee that your people will leave humankind alone and cease their raids? We would be more than glad to forge an alliance with your kind, helping each other instead of destroying one another. What say you?"
"*squeak* Possessed by the spirit of the Runelord Karzoug? That seems highly unlikely; that Azlanti, if he is not merely an aggregate of historical characters, has been dead for many thousands of years."
"Yes, an alliance. The raids go against my judgement and character. You can rest assured that with myself at the head of the tribe, such things would never again happen while I yet live."
"I'm sure having a good agreement in *shhhh* place will be mutually beneficial to all parties. All are empowered by the practice of good trade, be it knowledge, wisdom, or goods. Shall we press on to our destinies then friends? I'm interested to see what manner of Runelord transmutation magic this Mokmurian might have uncovered in this *squeak* ancient fortress."
"...while you yet may live."
"Now Seal, stone... large people aren't like the other giants. When they... aren't practicing policies of territorial expansion many are known for their reservation and wisdom. I'm sure Conna would not harm any of you or your kine"
"...would harm any of you and your kine. Ready for the slaughter," Sealman says in a flat, droning monotone staring through anything in front of him.
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Miana, constantly worried that Sealman may snap surrounded by so many giants, tries to reason with him. "Think of it this way, wouldn't it be more honorable and glorious to defeat the giants that want to fight, that do want to do evil? These folk only want peace and are not a fitting challenge for you."
Conna senses the uneasiness and offers, "There are more than stone giants here. There will some ogres, I think, guarding the way. And there is a particularly foul jotunblood hill giant to the east. Or if you prefer, a pair of young red dragons lairs to the southeast of here as well. Many of my fellow stone giants will be to the south, I believe."
"Regardless, we mustn't disregard potential allies in this hour of need. Slaying everything that moves isn't going to solve anything on the long term, on the contrary. Conna, you have our support. Let's avoid the stone giants for now, and focus on slaying the red dragons and the jotunblood hill giant. Is that agreeable to both parties?" he asks Conna and Seal.
Seal looks a Miana like a wild animal not understanding speech. He cocks his head to the side and twists it like a bird when words such as "honorable," "glorious" and "peace" are used.
Seal doesn't hear Conna offer. It is as if the dead are trying to speak through the wind.
The giantslayer nods with a manical smile, not looking at the party, but looking forward to the blood that will be shed.
"Slay everything that moves. Solves everything. Kill'em all!"
Seal draws Isoult, still thick of gore from the many giants he has vanquished. Twirling the oversized axe in one hand, he storms off down the east tunnel with Thunderpuss in tow.
With a tip-off from Conna that one of Mokmurian's main supporters is nearby, you head to the chamber to the northeast. The door is carved with an immense seven-pointed star=the Sihedron Rune.
The immense hall beyond is an unexpected break from the rough stone walls of caverns and caves. The rectangular chamber is fifty feet wide and a hundred feet long, with riblike spines arching up to a vaulted ceiling fifty feet overhead. The room's floor is loose soil, while the wall opposite the doors is carved with an immense bas-relief of a seven-pointed star. Throughout the room, seven fifteen-foot-tall tree trunks have been driven into the ground like immense stakes, their sides carved with countless more stars. Each trunk has been fitted with an iron ring from which dangle chains affixed to manacles Next to each trunk stands an iron brazier filled with smoldering coals. A long branding iron, its tip also featuring the seven-pointed star, leans against each brazier.
"Recruits ready for branding?" the hill giant inside grumbles. "No, Lokansir don't think so. Lokansir smash the unfaithful."
"I'm afraid we aren't ready to join you. You die today, Lokansir!"
Focusing his thoughts, Lucian casts blessing of fervor on his companions, while Evanya uses her wand of good hope to empower her master's companions.
Rissi begins an Enlarge Angry Dwarf spell upon her erstwhile dwarven companion.
Lucian and Miana start preparing for the fight ahead!
Seeing a open lane, Kufieno winks at Seal. "Try to keep up, dwarf!" He calls, as he use his extra speed to get to the giant.
The giant is not quick enough to react as Miana runs in and punches the giant in the hip! Kufieno is not able to cut through its thick skin though. The giant raises his club and blubbers some curses in Giant as it swings down at Miana!
His swing is wide and cleaves into Kufieno!
Rissi finishes the incantation of enlargement, and proceeds to summon no less then three balls of lightning.
Once enlarged, Sealman growls to Thunderpuss, "Rage with me."
Frothing slobber spews forth as the giant slayer quickly dashes across the hall. Taking advantage of his reach and intimate knowledge of giants, Seal arrives just in range for Isoult to take a bite a runed giant.
Thunderpuss joins into the fray, he too foaming at the mouth like a rabid cat.
Rissi hits the hill giant with lightning as Seal and Thunderpuss charge in to leave the giant bleeding and screaming in pain!
It doesn't take long for the rest of the party to finish him off!
Kufieno looks at fallen giant and shakes his head. "Poor bastard. Didn't have a chance...."
Grasping his side, he winces, then glances at Miana and Seal. "He got a few good licks in though. This hurts!"
Seal picks up the large greatclub and looks it over, surprised by its craftsmanship.
"May I? It would be useful against vamperic-demon giants"
Rissi muses. "You know *chhhh* Sealman there are ways to make you as large as the giants permanently. Would you want that?" the wizard cautiously asks.
"I have thought about being a giant dwarf. At first, I thought I would hate myself. I was afraid I would rage whenever I passed a mirror. But in the end, it came down to having to try and find an outhouse that would fit my new size," Seal says sheepishly.
"I would like Thunderpuss to be bigger. That way he can be ridden into battle. Next time we are in town, I want to find a druid who can perform such miracles."