Balmir snarls in disgust. "What a filthy vermin you are. A disgrace!" He moves into the room as quickly as his short legs allow. As soon as he is in reach of the rogue dwarf he swings at him with the hammer.
Once there's light, Tam wastes no time in conjuring one of his most potent new spells. He murmurs something that sounds forbidding and makes mystic passes.
Nobody sees anything happen.
Light suddenly bathes the area as you all rush in. Ingrahilde hits with both axes, but the second seems to not even be noticed. Likewise, Balmir rushes in and smacks his hammer firmly into the evil dwarf's side.
Suddenly a look of fear crosses the dwarf's face."NO!!! YOU CAN"T BE BACK!"
Whatever he sees seems to cause much mental anguish. But then the moment passes, and the dwarf looks angrier than ever.
Not a critical hit, but Mouser finds a vulnerable spot and pokes the bear.
Unfortunately, he also is close enough to witness that the wound is already starting to self-repair.
"Tricky, tricky..." he growls in dwarven. The next sound he makes is an agonizing wail, reverberating off the walls.
Then he moves back into the other room.
Mouser's AoO does cause a scratch, but then as he tries to move into the room, he finds that the dwarf monster is quick too, and has pretty good reach with that spear.
Luckily, the strike misses.
"Gotta learn to get some extra reach on my spells," grumbles Tam as Mouser rushes out of his reach.
Tam conjures a ghastly shadowy mass that launches from his hands and slams into the dwarf.
Ingrahild is momentairly suprised by the inhuman wail but will not let get someone defiling the family crypt get away. She steps up and into the room following the dwarf. She does stop at the end of the glass floor, while made she fears a trap.
Somer quickly moves into the room and steps to the side keeping his back to the wall. He simply fires one arrow for the moment.
"Milani give us a blessing, allow us to drive this vile traitor from this tomb for our friends." Derrik Calls out.
Balmir tries to shake off the wailing but it pierces him to his soul. Digging deep into his psyche and resonating with the dwarven heritage that he shares with the betrayer. The echos of that resonance leave him shaken.
As the dwarf moves away from Balmir he swings the hammer.
Then he takes a few steps to follow him and smashes down on him again.
As Balmir comes in the door, the dwarf takes another opportunity to stab at Balmir. But luck, and some decent defenses, prrevents any damage.
Mouser makes it around the room, and Balmir closes in, but Agrimmosh goes wide and misses the foe. Ingrahilde and Somer also manage to miss the target.
The Betrayer steps back 5 feet and starts spinning his spear around, attacking Ingrahilde first, and then Balmir. Ingrahilde is
hurt badly by the force of the blow.
Ingrahild wince in pain at the blow but steps forward axes flying fast at the trespasser. Her words come out between each swing of an ax.
"Why are you here! What have you done to my family!"
Somer holds his position slightly taken aback by the fury of their female dwarf friend. He mumbles "Get him." before casting a spell that wreaths his arrows in flame.
Spell Combat / Bullseye Shot / Point Blank - cant move
Balmir steps up when the traitor steps back and swings the hammer again and again.
Tam snaps his fingers and suddenly vanishes.
Derrik touches the Holy symbol on his face, the rose of Milani. "Milani allow me to heal the wounds of this righteous dwarf." A pulse of holy energy bursts out of Derrik.
Mouser darts in and stabs the dwarf in the back of the knee.
Balmir makes 2 solid hits, and Ingrahilde makes 1 critical hit.
Somer grazes the dwarf with two arrows, the first blasting him with fire, and the second being a little better aimed.
Still, it is just enought to put the dwarf down.
Screaming as he falls, his body crumbles to dust, leaving only his masterwork breastplate, a large longspear, Nargrym’s steel hand an elaborately braided dwarven beard decorated with three gold rings and an intricately engraved platinum beard clasp in the shape of a castle sitting atop a cloud.
Somer lets out a breath and nods. He looks to their dwarf companions.
"I hope this brings your family some peace. Whatever foul work he was doing is done now."
He looks over what was dropped after casting detect magic.
"Did we find out who he was? Maybe an ancestor of yours?'
Balmir's shoulders slump with the fall of the traitor. He didn't realize how much tension he was holding in them. How could a fellow dwarf do something like this?
He moves to the side of the room and sits down so that others can have time to sort through the remains of Lokmorr.
Looking over the gear, you see that both the longspear and the steel hand are magical, as is the non-metallic scale mail armor found in the viewing room down below.
Umlo thanks you for helping find and defend his ancestor's resting place. Pulling out a few history books he has, he does some research while you all rest and recuperate.
With Derrik's and Somer's help, the three of them come to the conclusion that the dwarf here was Lokmorr Edergun—now known as Lokmorr the Betrayer. He was buried alive in the tomb of the man he murdered. But his sentence did not end with his death, for Torag condemned Lokmorr with eternal life. Unable to die of natural causes and prevented by the curse from killing himself, the accursed dwarf has remained trapped in the tomb for 639 years. Lokmorr began his sentence locked in the cage next to Nargrym’s sarcophagus. After many years, he managed to escape by breaking most of his bones and brutally contorting his body, which left him horribly scarred and mutilated.
Finally free of his cage, Lokmorr wandered aimlessly through the tomb, sometimes sleeping for weeks at a time until nightmares and excruciating pain shake him from his torpor. Although his curse prevented him from starving to death, Lokmorr still felt hunger. Early in his imprisonment, he fed on Nargrym’s dead flesh and bones, and even tried eating many of the tomb’s treasures. It also appears her caught rats that crawl into the tomb and devours them when he can.
Lokmorr hacked off Nargrym’s beard and crushed his skull. He stole Nargrym’s magic spear, Heartspit, and even chewed off his own hand in order to take Nargrym’s fabled steel hand for himself.
Umlo requests a single heirloom to return to their family: Nargrym’s platinum beard clasp, which was crafted from a cloud giant’s ring. Lokmorr has the clasp among his possessions, still attached to Nargrym’s shorn beard.
The other artifacts, Hearspit (the spear), the Steel Hand (which requires a bit of a sacrifice of your own hand to use), and the armor which appears to be made from the fingernails of giants.
Nargrym Steelhand took this spear from the dead hands of the taiga giant warlord Neveraka, and used the weapon for the rest of his giantslaying career.
HEARTSPIT
PRICE 10,310 GP
SLOT none
CL 8th
WEIGHT 18 lbs.
AURA moderate evocation
Fitted with a menacingly cruel 2-foot-long barbed iron head, this Large +1 giant-bane longspear can skewer an opponent, lodging beneath the flesh and holding fast. On a confirmed critical hit with the spear, Heartspit’s wielder can attempt a combat maneuver check to grapple the target as a free action. This grapple attempt does not provoke an attack of opportunity from the target if that creature is not threatening the wielder. While grappling a creature with Heartspit, the wielder can move or damage the target with the spear only on the wielder’s turn. The wielder is still considered grappled, though he does not have to be adjacent to the target to continue the grapple. If the wielder ends the grapple or the target successfully breaks the grapple, the target takes 4d6 points of slashing damage as the spear’s barbed head is ripped free.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
COST 5,310 GP
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, hold person, keen edge,
summon monster I
Nargrym Steelhand crafted this scale mail coat from fingernails pried from the hands of hill giants he had slain.
GIANT’S NAIL SCALE MAIL
SLOT armor PRICE 9,200 GP
CL 7th
WEIGHT 30 lbs.
AURA moderate necromancy
This thick coat of +2 scale mail is crafted from waxy scales of varying sizes with a sickly, jaundiced color—the grime-stained fingernails of dead hill giants. Any creature of the giant subtype who comes within 30 feet of giant’s nail scale mail must succeed at a DC 16 Will save or take a –4 penalty on attack rolls and saving throws for 1d4 rounds. This ability functions as a gaze effect. It is a mind- affecting fear effect, but it does not stack with other fear effects to create stronger fear conditions. A giant who succeeds at the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours. If a giant rolls a natural 20 on its saving throw, it becomes enraged by the sight of the armor. The giant gains the effects of the rage spell for 1d4 rounds and is compelled to attack the armor’s wearer for the duration of this effect.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
COST 4,700 GP
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, fear, rage
Nargrym Steelhand replaced the hand he lost to a frost giant’s greataxe with this magic prosthesis.
NARGRYM’S STEEL HAND
MINOR ARTIFACT
SLOT none
CL 20th
WEIGHT 3 lbs.
AURA strong transmutation
Forged from solid steel, this magically animated prosthetic hand is elaborately sculpted down to the finest detail. Nargrym’s steel hand can be used to replace the normal hand of a humanoid creature—it can’t be worn in addition to an already existing hand. When attached to the wrist stump of a living humanoid creature, Nargrym’s steel hand magically forms a permanent bond to the wearer’s flesh and nerves. Once the hand has bonded to the wearer’s wrist,the wearer gains full control over the hand as if it were part of his own body. The hand has a full range of motion and functions as a normal hand. While worn, Nargrym’s steel hand grants its wearer a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength (treat this as a temporary ability bonus for the first 24 hours the hand is worn) and a +5 bonus to CMD against disarm attempts. In addition, the wearer can wield weapons of one size category larger than the wearer’s size without penalty and without altering the weapon’s designation as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon. For example, a Medium creature wearing Nargrym’s steel hand could wield a Large longspear as a two-handed weapon without penalty. However, whenever the wearer of the hand is within line of sight of a creature with the giant subtype, he must succeed at DC 15 Will save or be compelled to attack the giant, as suggestion. Once bonded to a wearer, Nargrym’s steel hand cannot be removed except by the wearer or after the wearer’s death.
DESTRUCTION
Nargrym’s steel hand is destroyed if it is smashed by a giant wielding a hammer of thunderbolts.
"Yes Umlo you can have that clasp, it is the least we can do for you and Ingrahild. Thank you for allowing us to come to your ancestors tomb and paying our respects." Derrik says while praying over the body of Nargrym once they are ready to go. "I can sanctify this place but it will be in Milani's name"
"Thank you. I believe Torag will not be offended by Milani's help, and my family will be forever grateful."
As you cleanse the place of the filth and repair the damages, you also rediscover the rolled up carpet filled with treasures - and some dangerous yellow mold. Taking care to transport it, once it is up to the sunlight, the mold shrivels and dies.
The carpet lies in the northeast alcove and contains a bronze abacus with hematite beads (worth 600 gp), a large drinking horn engraved with entwining oak leaves and silver inlays (worth 135 gp), an ivory measuring rod with carved Dwarven numbers (worth 25 gp), an obsidian statuette of a female fire giant (worth 250 gp), a wooden box containing a set of eight bronze measuring weights (from 1/4 ounce up to 5 ounces) carved to resemble squatting goblins (worth 130 gp), and a sack holding 400 cp. The valuables inside the southeast alcove include a pair of boots of the winterlands, a clay vase on an iron stand sculpted to look like a coiled dragon (worth 65 gp), three chunks of azurite (worth 6 gp each), a golden yellow topaz (worth 300 gp), and a small leather-embossed casket holding 2 pp, 35 gp, and 150 sp.
Derrik will go about the burial chamber, cleaning and Praying to Milani and Torag to bless this place and together they can protect this fallen hero.
Once outside Derrik will plant a small garden of roses, "Milani's flowers will watch over the outside of this tomb for all time." While on the road Derrik will look the hand over. "Seems an interesting item, one will have to lose a hand to put this on, I will volunteer myself if no one else objects."
Somer looks over the pile of treasure and other items.
"Mouser, these boots will leave not tracks in snow and allow you to move at normal speed. If we end up in the snow they may be good for you being all sneaky and short legged."
Beyond that he helps back things up to use as resources for their continued battles.
Umlo, Ingrahild what are you plans now. Come and fight the good life or return home and out of mortal danger?"
"As much as we would like to join you, our quest has already taken quite the toll on us. We have, with your help, achieved our gaol and must now return to our family to tell the tale. We will, of course, also spread word of your mission and try to get others to shore up the defenses. Take these items to aid you in your quest, and know our prayers will be with you."
The siblings will leave when you do, helping to reseal the tomb.
For the rest of you, this is probably a good time to level up to level 8.
'You are right Mouser, us Doublings are the true freaks." Derrik says with a smile.
"Now to this hand, we have to remove my right hand then sear this one on to the stump. Maybe we should do this still in the tomb so when I do yell it won't attract the entire planet?" Derrik says
"That sounds highly dangerous and painful," says Tam. "And what if something goes wrong? You won't be in any condition to cast a healing spell on yourself. Our best bet is to try this in a temple where priests are on hand - heh - in case of trouble."
"Then we press on to Shinnermans fortune? We can get there quickly and go from there to track down this giant threat." Derrik says carefully stowing the hand in his pack.
Shinnerman’s Fortune: This village is populated almost entirely by prospectors who pan for gold and silver in the Mindspin range’s many mountain streams. The small but sprawling settlement is isolated, and the fewer than 100 people who call it home fiercely value their independence. A small council sees to any governance needed, but it mainly represents the prospectors’ business interests. In recent months, though, the villagers have had to be more vigilant, as giant activity has increased in the mountains.
On the second day of the journey, after about 18 miles of travel, you reach a small stream that flows from the southeast, the same direction you’re traveling. An overgrown footpath runs alongside the stream, allowing you to set a faster pace. After a few hours, you come upon a remote cottage.
In a small clearing a few hundred feet from the stream, a wisp of smoke trickles from the chimney of a two-story stone cottage. Its front door has been bashed inward, its splintered panels hanging crookedly from a single hinge. Several large chips mar the exterior stonework and a sizable hole has been torn in the thatched roof. Loud crashing noises come from within.
Derrik looks at Balmir before unslinging his shield and attaching it to his arm and drawing his Morning Star.
"Trouble I bet."
"Sure looks like it." Balmir heft the hammer and rolls his shoulders. "With any luck it will be a giant in there."
|
Mouser nods at Derrik and is already racing toward the house. When he arrives at the front door, he ventures to peek inside, hoping to avoid being seen.
Mouser is quieter than the average mouse as he sneakes his way in to take a peak.
Inside, he hears a baby crying, apparently from up the stairs that are too narrow for the ugly troll, who is currently tearing apart the place in clear frustration.
Somer shifts from foot to foot bow at the ready. With no idea what is going on he just hopes Mouser is not seen as he waits.
Luckily for Mouser, the troll is so angry that it doesn't notice Mouser, who gets upstairs and finds the human baby.