Now that the giants are dead, Balmir takes some time to explore the various mines. They all see to have been collapsed. "This is odd. It is a rare Dwarven mine that collapses. I can't believe that these all collapsed by accident."
Blue steps back and slams his club down on Balmir, but bounces it off.
Somer chuckles at Toboyn distracting Balmir.
"I am sure you are hungry but best we finish this first."
Not wasting magic he takes careful aim and lets his shots fly.
Balmir gaze seems suddenly to fix on the caves, mid-fight ... "Balmir, are there more of them coming from the caves??"
Balmir focuses on the giant still standing in front of him and brings his hammer down on the giant.
Tam blasts the giant with a blinding ray, his scintillating illusion finding its mark despite the swirling chaos of the battle!
Dazzled briefly, but the combination of attacks from all of you quickly bring the last giant down.
One of the giants carries a battered +2 dwarven urgrosh, which she happened upon by chance during some half-hearted excavations in one of the larger caves.
"This looks like a spot easily secured, and dinner's made. Not one to pass by a good picnic, and a chance to recharge."
And a bit of a morale booster, he suspects.
"Cailean can provide the drink, since our hosts have been kind enough to bring the main course. In the morning, we can explore some of those turns we passed by."
Somer nods to the new addition to the group. 'I think he will fit in. The gods provide the tools for our fight.'
"Sounds a good plan to me. Balmir's attention seemed to wander so a change to eat and sit might be what we need."
Tam takes a seat and characteristically packs his pipe.
"I don't know about you all, but I need a nap and a sandwich," he says matter-of-factly before carefully lighting a spark and bringing it up to the pipe tobacco.
Balmir looks at the weapon. "Well, I think I could use it. I normally use this hammer but it's good to have a backup weapon." He slides the haft of Agrimmosh into the belt loop that holds it the magical hammer. Then he reaches over his shoulder to where a large, double-bladed dwarven axe lays strapped to his back. Pulling the axe free he looks at it with a touch of nostalgia. "This axe has been with me for a while. A fair companion, you might say." He leans it gently against a nearly boulder. "But this urgosh you guys found. It looks like it is better made. Maybe even magical." He raises an eyebrow towards Toboyn. "Is it? I think I should take this as my backup. If any of you wants that other axe, feel free to take it."
The issue of the weapon settled, Balmir pats his stomach and a rare smile cracks his bearded face. "Food? Now that's another good idea."
You rest and eat, and eventually fall asleep. Yes, you found all these giants seemed to have of value. The next morning, you feel somewhat refreshed and ready to continue your journey.
A giant scarecrow (20 ft tall), crudely formed from tree trunks lashed together, stands at the entrance to this forested vale.It’s overgrown with moss and spotted with lichen. On either side, steep, rocky escarpments climb sharply toward the sky. Clinging boulders jut from the slopes, entwined by the thick roots of twisted ash trees determined to hold themselves fast. A cold breeze whisks through the rift, sending a blizzard of silvery ash leaves scattering through the air.
Now there's something you don't see every day. Balmir, do you suppose it's made by giants to ward off dwarves, or by dwarves to frighten giants?
Either way, the forest is a nice break from all this rock, though he supposes his delving friend might not agree.
Balmir scowls at Tobyn. "Giants couldn't possibly make something like this. They're barely more intelligent than animals." He snorts in disgust then mumbles to himself. "Stupid giants. But I've never seen any dwarves make something like this."
"It's a warning, like a scarecrow is supposed to frighten off birds from the crops," says Tam. "To let giants know that they're on notice - push off this land."
Other than what you see, the scarecrow dose not appear to be that interesting.
"It's to scare giants? Well, ok. Let's just keep going."
Balmir replies to Mouser. "Chilly? No, I don't think so. Why?"
Toboyn moves forward as well; he's walked past tavern bouncers a lot more frightening than this. "Tread carefully; if the people who mounted this display are trying to scare something away, they may have laid traps as well."
"Mouser is the one for traps, you probably do not need to worry about him. Now if Balmir was scouting ahead, well.... you know."
He smiles looking at the cleric, clearly attempting a joke in his address.
"Youngster, I am glad you have found us in the woods like this."
Clearly he does not think it is chilly.
A little ways further into the valley, and you find no traps, but suddenly some large and stinky things head your way.
"Ugh! What are those foul thing? No matter. They don't look friendly." Balmir moves directly towards the first of the creatures, pulling his hammer free while he strides.
Thinking these things look a bit tougher then the last Somer whispers a spell and several images of himself appear around him. Once in place he closes to a shorter range.
"Mouser, you want the quick hide, or the serious business?" asks Tam.
Tam grins as he casts greater invisibility on Mouser once again.
Incoming!", Toboyn shouts at the dwarf as he again calls upon Cayden to intercede on their behalf.
"We need to talk about rushing forward, Balmir. It can limit my options.
Red attacks Balmir, while Green moves forward towards Toboyn, taking a swing at Balmir as he goes by. Both just barely hit, despite the dwarf's giant training.
Blinded and hurt, Blue and Yellow stumble to spread out a bit.
"Not much else I can do here," says Tam. "My illusions are mostly useless against the undead."
He hefts his little crossbow once more to plink away.
Green's eyes are right where Toboyn wants them:
Or perhaps not.
Toboyn makes a slight strangled noise, and decides to widen the gap a little between Green and himself.
Balmir gasps as the creatures slam into him but that doesn't keep him from slamming his hammer into the one closest to him.
As soon as he's done swinging the hammer, he steps to the side to try and get out of reach of one of the giants.
When the dust clears, you see Balmir dodged both giants and returned with a blast to red's kneecap (only the second attack hit).
Unfortunately, both Tam and Tobe miss.
As the blue abomination is standing in the open and looks to be blind Somer draws back and fires arrows wreathed in snow at it.
with first hit.
Mouser does some significant damage to green, but Somer hits with only the first shot (and only because the creature is momentarily blinded!). It hits the undead giant hard in the head, but does not disable it.
Green swipes at Mouser.
Blue charges Somer.
Yellow double moves toward Toboyn,
Red slams down a fist trying to crush Balmir.
He'd been saving this for the correct opportunity … not what he'd expected, but here it was:
Balmir only grunts as the giant tries to crush him. He easily shrugs off the attack and then returns in kind.
"What are we fighting here my friends? Anyone know."
"Maybe, but they're not the boss of me, Mouser!", Toboyn exclaims gamely.
Tam blasts a blinding ray at one of the giant undead, hoping that it might still be effective.
One of Somer's images disappears.
Tam blasts Yellow with his blinding ray.
Balmir and Mouser each drop their targets.
Blue attacks Somer again. It is a miss, but still close enough to destroy another image.
Yellow, blinded, still tries to attack Toboyn.