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"The stone giant Urathash walks this plane and seeks to rise to the ranks in the Storm Tyrant's army. They are foolish! These giants seek refuge in a place they have no respect for, don't understand, and do not even wish to learn of! They want the powers of Minderhal, but do not possess the patience or aptitude to take it to the task. They speak big, but are fools, idiots, they must be chased out of my sacred home."
"In my visions, the stars speak to me, they tell me of heroes who seek to cleanse this valley, cleanse them of the foul pest that roam the cathedral and bring the cathedral to life!"
Before you're able to speak, or ask any questions, she continues into a long tale. “According to the sacred texts, four ancient heroes first brought Minderhal’s Forge to life."
“The first was Mymrith the Maker, priestess of Fandarra, who prepared fallen warriors for the afterlife by anointing their bodies with sacred clay. She lined the forge with the clay to contain the fire within."
“The second was Aduromi, the Priestess of Crystals, whose veins ran hot with molten metal and who could temper steel to a hardness that would cut diamonds. She brought with her the secrets of the fire geodes, which once ignited would burn for a century."
“The third was Jogrothir the Hunter, guardian of the sacred horn Drakesbane, which he used to call the ancient drakes native to the surrounding peaks. Jogrothir brought the forge to life, for he alone was able to capture the dragon’s breath, the only flame hot enough to ignite the fire geodes."
“The last was Rosag, the Preserver of the Forge. A great priestess of Minderhal, Rosag held the secrets of water—both its ability to temper metal as well as its capacity to quench the sacred flames. She performed the Blessing of Rosag, the final incantation that stoked the fires and sanctified the forge."
“Only by following in the footsteps of the blessed ancients, by repeating those acts which have been undone, shall the fires of Minderhal’s Forge once again blossom.”
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Harsk scratches his beard "Rid the valley of the foul pest...Rings true with me. The Hunter sounds like me. Where's the dragonhorn did you know?" He turns to his friends. "Rid the valley of the foul pest sound good?"
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I heard an elder say. True it is..
He reaches into his pack and grabs a piece of jerky for Biter and drops it for the badger.
Biter steps over and gobbles up the jerky.
He looks up at his friend Harsk.
More?!?!
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"No legend! History, history of sacred forge" She chimes in annoyingly. But before she is able to speak, Ferrin steps in and intervenes before anything escalates.
"We have studied the stories and have come to understand the ruins across the valley that might help us find what is required to bring the forge back to light. We are unable to take this task ourselves as we are always under constant watch of Urathash." She relays to you four locations outside of the cathedral that lies somewhere in the valley.
- A large forgotten church where the clay was once obtained.
- A chapel where the priestess Arudomi once served
- The last known whereabouts of the hunter, a cave in the hills
- A ruins, now underwater but once a temple of dedicated to Rosag
"For as to find a dragon, a red one lies at the very top of this cathedrals tower. I do not know his intention or purpose, but Urathash has made it very clear that no one should disturb the lair of the dragon."
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I think none of this will help us directly against the Giants.
He turns to the Giant Oracle and says.
If we're able to reignite the forge, what after? Did the giants there will follow you rather their actual leader? I don't mind helping you to do that if the end meet our need.
Turning to his comrades he adds
I'm good with any places, but I think any place could have something that will help us at the end.
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"I care not for the giants that walk the valley, they are nothing more but useless pawns of the Storm Tyrant. You seek to rid them, as do I. The forge will bestow us powers and they will not be able to face us with the might of Minderhal behind us!" The oracle scowls back at Devko, and awaits the parties decision.
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"Let us use the forge against your enemies! In order to assuage the fears of the Hellknight, would you agree to a peace treaty between you and your surrounding human nations, once we relight your forge? a smaller giant nation under your command focused on religion, culture, trade and metal forging would endure in the long term, as opposed to the risky and short lived nature of warlike fiefdoms. What say you? our resident Hellknight or priests can no doubt help drafting the treaty. I am sure the humans would readily trade gold, food and other goods in exchange for giant crafted metalwork!"
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"Do not be so hasty, old woman! listen to Ferrin! What is a few additional moments to ponder what lies ahead when you've already waited for decades for this to happen? We are the only ones capable of making this work for you. You would do well to remember it, before we change our mind about this endeavor. Now, change your tone and tell us what is in store for the lands of men. If you are unable to compromise, don't expect me to play a part in your charade."
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Devko turns to Theodric, a smile on his face. He don't want to be with hellknight but for sure he uses the same method!
In a gesture of peace, Devko shows his hands
Calm down, Theodric, no need to enrage our only ally here. I think we all want the same thing here, that these giants get out of this place and scatter.
Harsk is right, for now, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So, lets go do some digging around the site she tell us to find and we will know if it can help us in the way we want.
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She scowls back at Theodric, but doesn't raise her weapon. "So be it, if you can prove your worth in bringing the forge to life and ridding my home of the Storm Tyrant's army, then perhaps an alliance could be in the consideration."
Regardless of the outcome, the group decides for the best that they calm themselves and perhaps explore the valley to learn more about the forge and their enemies. If nothing more, it will make for a goof chronicle into the chapters of the Pathfinder Society.
~~~
A broad wood of young aspens and birches sweeps through this vale. The trees sway softly, their pale branches glimmering in the light. Near the edge of the grove, a forgotten pathway of badly weathered dark stone pokes through the forest floor, leading to a clearing containing a large structure of timeworn stone. Colorful lichens cling to the walls, and most of the slate roof has collapsed inward. Jumbles of great granite blocks lie around the building, half buried beneath the soil and fallen leaves. Once a beautiful structure now seems abandoned.
A row of five half-columns splits this foyer, their crowns carved into small stone offering bowls. Beyond the foyer, a wide set of stairs descends to a recessed central chamber with three long prayer benches. The stone benches are cracked and covered with moss. Much of the ceiling has collapsed into piles of giant slate shingles. Shrubs and weeds grow through the floor, covering everything in verdant tangles. Along the west wall, two flights of stairs climb to raised balconies with cracked stone railings. The first staircase coils around a slender menhir topped with the crudely carved countenance of a heavy-browed fire giant.
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Brother Theo watched the reaction from the Giantess. "Actions speak louder than words. Let us talk about this after we deal with relighting Minderhal’s Forge." Brother Theo said as the group departed.
As the group prepared to enter the Chapel, Brother Theo started to cast some spells to help protect the group.
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Shocked by the sight of the monstrous plant, Harsk hesitates in the face of danger. The towering plant made of a mass of vines and barbs lunges forward towards the closest Pathfinder. From one of it's several stalks of horribly mobile green toothy jaws, it reaches out to grab a hold of Devko, pulling him towards itself.
~~~
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After Harsk's turn, if the flytrap is still alive and grappling me:
Free Action: With great sadness in his heart, Glaube thinks, "Oh, Everlight, the corruption in this place has even affected the flora. Though I abhor violence, I am grateful to be here to bring light to this place."
Standard Action: Activate aura The human cleric closes his eyes and a soft, warm light extends 30 feet out from his body suffusing those in its radius with a sense of calm and peace.
After Harsk's turn, if the flytrap is down, I'll heal myself:
"Thank you, Harsk."
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As Theodric bravely charges at the monstrous mass of greenery, one of the terrifying looking jaws lunges and reaches out at the human. Theodric manoeuvres around the attack, avoiding the grasp, but still takes a cut as from the sharp jaws as it grazes him. Theodric follows through by swinging his sword, cutting a good chunk out of the monster.
With the fighter being the closest living body, all of the giant living plants jaws attempting to snap at Theodric, but Theodric demonstrates his prowess by defending himself, avoiding all hits, with only a single falcata.
~~~
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The vitality granted by Glaube's heroes' feast absorbing much of the plant's bite damage, Theodric carries on with his attack. However, when Devko yells to the dwarf to 'finish it!', Theodric steps up his effort not to have the dwarf claim his kill once more!
for adamantine magical slashing damage.
for adamantine magical slashing damage.
=================
for adamantine magical slashing damage.
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Theodric's efforst cut away several heads of the giantflytrap! Coupled with a few flaming arrows, the creature is immediately defeated and the threat no longer remains. Armed with your weapons still, the Pathfinders cautiously explore the rest of the giant ruins.
To the north, a set of steps climbs to a broad dais facing the benches. A huge fire pit fashioned from sheets of hammered black iron, bent and riveted together, stands upon the dais atop an ornately forged cast iron frame. A wide stone altar stands behind the fire pit, engraved with a giant helm with huge fangs. The altar and dais are draped in a thick blanket of stringy greenish moss. Light spills through the open/broken room, making the scene rather dainty.
Theodric picks up a long the way, a sapling rod hidden within the branches littering the floor.
The ceiling in this room remains whole, but dark mildew and splattered patterns of black mold cover all surfaces except the floor, which hides beneath a layer of stagnant brownish sludge. The room is practically empty save for a dull worn leather giant-sized bag of holding, and several neatly stacked dull brown geodes. Each stone is about 2 feet in diameter and weighs around 1,000 pounds.