Giantkiller (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

[i]The remaining giants surrender and pledge that they will follow the queen.

Queen Quivixia bows slightly to you.

"My thanks for your help in overthrowing that brute. Too long have my people been under the thrall of him and the Storm Tyrant. As we promised we will leave the humans in peace and return to our homeland. Feel free to take anything in the throne room. I have not been to the Storm Lord's flying castle so can not tell you much, however if you follow this lave tube (pointing to a passage behind the throne) it will take you to where the flying castle is currently moored."

Loot: +2 lucerne hammer
2 potions of cure serious wounds
500gp in gold and gems
hammer of thunderbolts
3 potions of cure serious wounds
+1 adamantine full plate
+1 adamantine human bane halberd
brooch of shielding (89 points remaining)
cloak of resistance +3
crown of conquest
dusty rose prism ioun stone
prisoner's dungeon ring
ring of minor cold resistance.

"Thanks Queen Quivixia. I will not easily forget your help" Leira makes a reverence on the loyal queen, and starts to look through the stuff looted "I guess you will take the ioun stone Zavier. I already have a cold resistance ring"

"Good, it seems we have a direction forward" Leira looks to the lava tube.

"It seems we are nearing the end of our journey. Our final goal is in sight. Though, I believe that there are still some significant challenges before us it has been an honour travelling with you all. I will do everything I can to ensure we make it out alive and victorious. But, should I die I would be remiss to have not said this has been the best work I have ever done and none of it would have been possible with you."

Heading down the lava tube you come out into a caldera. The caldera at the top of the mountain forms a natural arena, surrounded by barren cliffs and jagged ridges. Roughly circular, the crater has a dusty floor covered with pumice gravel and strewn with loose boulders, interspersed with numerous tiny cracks and fissures that spew warm, acrid vapours. Overhead, an enormous, bluish-grey castle floats atop a roughly spherical cloud just a few hundred feet above the caldera floor, casting a shadow across the mountaintop. The cloud almost touches the rocks beneath it, dripping a thin rain on the gravel below.

Five immense chains emerge from the depths of the cloud, connecting to great winches beside an equal number of colossal siege cannons arranged atop a ridge in a semicircle around the floating keep. Three of the chains appear to have been loosened or severed, dangling vertically out of the cloud. Two chains are still taut, seemingly anchoring the castle to the ground. A round tower stands on the caldera's slope to the north. Two tunnel entrances delve into the mountain to the east and southeast.

@Sid- please could we have the maps labelled Inner Crater and Defense Tower- thanks

"I second this Sid. My feelings are same" Leira gives a huge hug to the ratfolk before heading down the lava tube.

Observing the layout of the caldera, the young girl looks up for the fortress "It seems we will need some serious flying up there. Do you think we should leave this chains anchored here or we should break them before going up?"

”Im not sure. Part of me would like to still be anchored, but maybe this strange flying city gains powder from the chains somehow...”

You come out into the caldera via the fire giant tunnels.

This sections a bit tricky, we'll be doing things in rounds but will roll separate initiative if combat occurs. Is anyone still invisible, etc?

I don't think so.

Can't we just... magic ourselves up and down? Zavier says hopefully looking at Sid.

"Perhaps we should make sure the defenders in the towers cannot bring us down while we fly up?" asks Leira.

"Shall we explore the tower first?" the young girl points to the tower at E.

"That sounds good. Do we want to teleport to the top? Or go in invisibly?"

As you stand there for a moment one of the giants in the tower sets off a whistle - a loud noise of escaping steam echoes around the caldera. At the same moment some strange crystal like creatures start to very slowly emerge from the north.

Knowledge dungeoneering

"Oh! What's that?" no dungeoneering Leira looks worried "It seems we have been discovered, so probably teleport will be more on place"

Seeing they are made of crystal, Leira casts shatter on one of the creatures if it is close enough.
Shatter sonic damage: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1, 6, 2) = 41
Fort DC 16 for half

dungeoneering: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26

They're currently too far out of range for your spell to affect them.

Sid you recognise the creatures as carnivorous crystals. They have damage reduction against everything. They are vulnerable to sonic damage. Bludgeoning attacks can deal critical damage to them. Their attacks can also entrap their victims in crystal if they hit, and can petrify in crystal if the victim fails their save. They also have an aura that can stun.

"Cool, that makes my spell even more juicy against them, but we will need to close up first" Leira says pointing to the crystal beings, then to the top of the tower "Shall we go engage them, or just teleport to the top of the tower and finish the guards that raised the alarm?"

Zavier scratches his head. I think they are not danger to anyone. Who else but us is coming here? Hah. Maybe they will leave once we kill big bad guy!

One vote for straight teleport.

Sid teleports the team to the top of the tower. What fresh hells await us?

A metal shingled parapet fortifies the flat roof of the tower, which is fitted with a smoking copper chimney. Inside the parapet, a ballista and catapult are mounted on a rotating platform on circular rails, allowing clear fields of fire in all directions. As you arrive you see 5 very surprised giants, you have not met their type before.

Knowledge nature.

Leira raises an eyebrow not understanding what is this no K. nat. "Hi. Might you be pleasing enough to explain us what this chains to the Storm Tyrant fortress are and how they do work?"

The young girl raises high her falchion, ready for battle.

Know. Nature 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

Troll Dolgrym scratches his head as he attempts to figure out what he knows.

Leira, make a Diplomacy check

Dolgrym you recognise these creatures as ash giants. They are immune to disease and poison. Their slam attacks deal disease which does Con damage and Charisma drain.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
The girl casts a radiant smile that reflects charmingly in her well polished falchion "Have I mentioned we are Queen Quivixia's allies?"

"Your allies of the Queen, well of course the chains are anchors to hold the flying fortress in place. However the Storm Tyrant wants to take control and fly the structure himself so we've been ordered to release the chains and watch out for any intruders."

"Well, we are envoys and need to have a serious talk with the Storm Tyrant" Leira keeps smiling at the giants "It would be great if you could hold the chains for a while more. At least until we could see with the Tyrant and come back"

"Is it possible?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Sid watches amazed at the nimble skill with which Leira wields her words.

"We will not stop you, however the giants to the west (B4) have already been ordered to destroy the chains and they are somewhat single-minded, they will not accept orders to stop except from the Storm Tyrant himself."

Leira nods to the giants "Understood. We value your help"

Then turning to the group "Then I guess we should hurry up"

Shall we go against the giants in B4 or try to go up to the fortress fast before they cut it away?

”Lets go convince those giants to stop cutting away at those chains then!”

I'm good with that

"Great! Let's go convince them!" with that Leira raises her falchion up and air walks to the western area B4 to have a "talk" with this rather loyal giants.

Arriving at the anchor chains you can see that 4 of them have been freed already. A group of four ash giants riding in a howdah on a colossal black scorpion are currently walking around the area, using the scorpions jaws to release the other chains.

"Do we negotiate, lie or cast a mass mind control spell?"

”Giants are pretty dumb. Let’s try mind control!”

"Yeah, let's make these ones work for us. And if not..." Leira raises her falchion and smiles "...I think we will negotiate with the blade as this ones are Storm Tyrant giants"

Zavier sighs and nods. At this rate they'll only wrestle one giant in the whole flying castle place. At least that one will be a very big one!

No worries from my side, Zavier just wants to wrassle

Sid casts mass charm person on the giants. DC 25 Will each.

will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

One of the giants manage to shake off the effects of the spell, the other three await your commands.

What do you want to do?

"We are going to make a small voting here" Leira let's Sid lead the interaction with the giants, but she speaks in their language to reinforce whatever he wants to tell them to do "Sure you will let those two remaining chains be and let us climb up the fortress, isn't it?"

Looking with a smile to the giants she concludes "Votes in favor, votes against?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Sid says in giant, "Yep friends we are here to help and those chains need to stay so we can. Would you be so kind as to keep them in place until we can meet with the Storm Tyrant? Once we are I'm sure he will send updated orders."

Aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11

The giants are perplexed, they know something is wrong but they don't know quite what. They say the following to Leira

With that they leave the area and head back towards the tower.

I'm loving how you're diplomacising your way through the fights here.

Seeing the giants go Leira smiles "Good trick Sid!"

"So... should we now go climb up the fortress while it is still anchored? Or do you want us to approach the crystal creatures and discover what were they about?"

Are we still under the mass air walk spell? It had 120 min remaining when we fought the King

"Let's make our way up. I'm inclined to conserve as much as we can I don't want to try and rest up there."

Ok, I have no problem with you climbing up via air walk- you are getting through this last bit quickly! Sid can we have the map labelled Ironcloud keep Engine level please.

First level up.

You arrive at the top of the chain, the only open areas on this level seem to be some kind of defence platform (F2 sections on the map. In each a spacious platform extends from the base of the castle, overlooking the vertiginous heights below. An archway carved into the rock opens into a large tunnel with an ascending staircase that leads deeper into the immense structure. On each platform are 3 giants and several creatures that appear to be a mix of a bear and an ape.

Knowledge nature and knowledge arcana checks

Know. Nature 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22

Having no idea what the creatures are, Leira just points to the northernmost platform F2c "Let's land there and deal with the giants"

She charges in with her falchion high to open up space with her weapon.

Nature: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (14) + 26 = 40
Arcana: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (7) + 26 = 33

Sid you recognise the strange creatures as Yaoguai. They have damage reduction against everything, they are immune to being nauseated or sickened and have spell resistance, they are susceptible to polymorph. They have reach and constrict.

In addition you and Dolgrym know that the giants are cloud giants. They have the rock catching ability and can levitate and cast obscuring mist at will, they have 15 foot reach

Leira I'm holding off on your action for a sec in case info changes tactics.

Discussion page

Ok so just wanted to give a brief rundown of how I'll be running:

Firstly for combat i will roll initiative for everyone and then publish the initiative order for each combat. It is Ok if you say what your character wants to do out of order (for the most part) - appreciate from time/life perspective that sometimes people post when they can. I will deal with the actions as they go in the initiative order.

Secondly I will roll passive skill checks e.g. Perception or Knowledge skills. If you want to recheck things yourself this is fine.

I will add a treasure list and campaign specific treasures where appropriate as well as maps.

Finally, I live in the UK, as such I will be posting probably early in the morning and late in the evening (my time). You may find that due to time differences I will be posting a lot/little. What I will say is that I don't want to rush you guys through things so I will try not to direct play too much. My basic rule of thumb will be to go with what the majority decision is, but I will allow everyone to say what they want to do. Very occasionally this may be superseded by the story but I'll try not to do this too often. If I'm ever going too fast/too slow with posting please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Think that's about it for now but any questions please ask.

Everything sounds great. One question 'no feat taxes' means we are using the modified rules correct?

Other than that I look forward to seeing the characters people bring.

cool. looking forward to it. I'm planning to work up a character this evening after work

@ Grandlounge - yeah modified rules for feats

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What is everyone thinking for class/role? I’m happy to let the rest of you go first, and fill in whatever role we need.

I have no real idea. Something ranged I think... Or maybe an earth kinectist(kinect Knight) dwarf.

I have a few ideas haves been bouceing around my head but I'm pretty flexible.

Utility/support: I have an evanglist cleric archer

Melee: Goliath druid

Cavalry: Halfing on a bird (inquisitor)

Caster: Wizard (I'm leaning toward this as it is the most different from anything I have played recently)

I'm also looking for something I haven't really done before. I think I'm gonna go with a half-elven oracle of metal. Should have usefulness in combat and out of combat
2 questions: are we doing point buy? 20? 25?
and are we doing background skills?

Some builds information is on the recruitment page. 25 point buy.

ah, cool, thanks

So a wizard and an Oracle? That covers arcane and divine.

Rorek, I’ll wait on you to decide your role and I’ll fill in the other. If I am the melee, I will probably play a Goliath Druid. If I am skills, I will probably look at some sort of inquisitor.

Half elf metal oracles make amazing martial casters, if that is the way you are going. I have a couple melee oracles myself I love them. I look forward to seeing the character.

Half elf metal oracles make amazing martial casters, if that is the way you are going. I have a couple melee oracles myself I love them. I look forward to seeing the character.

feel free to throw suggestions/recommendations my way (you can PM me if you like)

I'm debating between a half-elven ranger/slayer, or some type of a kinectist atm.

since we are using feat tax rules I have a cool idea for a switch hitter twf ranger making use of a (thematic re-skinned)twin-bladed staff.

Are people ready to start or would you like a bit longer?

I have my character worked out. I will have it online tonight or tomorrow. So as long as no one objects to me playing a wizard, and the book does not start mid combat I'm happy to proceed.

I need a day or two to get my character together. I’m goinng Goliath Druid. I’ve got the numbers worked out at home, just need to transfer them from paper to profile.

I'm almost done (I think) but life is hitting me at the moment. I don't think I'll have everything up before sunday

I should have the vitals, sans gear up sometime tonight, I think.

This will be my character, I just need to revise his build. (though it will be similar)

Here is Gerald’s Goliath Druid. Ignore the equipment section. I copied it from another sheet and will clean it up this weekend.

Hi all,

I am now on holiday for a week. I will try and post as/when I can but it may be sporadic.

Dan

Gallant a mighty palidin of Shelyn arrived three years ago. His stories were known by most in Trunau. He had fought hordes of orcs, slew dragons, and rid many areas of unspeakable evils. Gallant was brave and kind. For a time he fought in Trunau helping to protect the settlement against raids. As was his nature, he grew bold and impatient. After three months he sought to bring about a permanent end to the problem. He marched into the Holds of Belkzen with his squire and horse in tow. Many battles were fought to astounding victory, but it was not a war one man could win. Nine months later Gallant's squire rode back into town with a dead Gallant slung over the shoulders of a tired and overburdened horse. Three days later the horse died, and its master was buried. Gallant's tales have faded in the absence of fuel to stoke the roaring fire that was his life.

The squire, a bookish ratfolk, tutors in town and does clerical work when he can. Not being fit for the militia and lacking funds to travel to his home in Absalom he remains in Trunau. Sid is often referred to as Squire, though the name pains him. Sid arrived three years ago, two years ago he lost his closest friend and a horse who seemed much smarter than a normal horse. On that day he found a small chicken sized dinosaur who seemed much smarter than a normal chicken sized dinosaur.

okay, I think most of the crunch has been revised

here's the character link for the Oracle. I'm going with warsighted oracle of metal. Done soon, again sorry for the delay

No worries is it ok to start for everyone?

Yep, let's see if I can keep a wizard from becoming giant paste for a few levels.

yea. Heads up guys, in combat I can only speak Aklo

I’m ready!

"Sid knows much of the darklands. I will translate."

excellent. Thanks Sid

Pre-game post to establish any connections with other PCs.

Here were my thoughts:

As a ratfolk Sid would be pretty reconizable.

Part of this work is identifying magic items for the militia so he may have crossed Rydell if he had uncovered something odd on scouting mission.

It seems that given Kohl's curse they may have talk about magic and the darklands.

No idea for Sharpaxe, though I imagine he and his animal companion are noticeable figures.

Kohl's pretty personable. Since Sid and Rydell seem to be locals, it should be easy enough to meet them, chat with them. Dolgrym will be hard to miss with the dinosaur, and since Sid also has a smaller dinosaur, it'd be natural for them to talk about that, right? And I feel Kohl will probably be really interested in the dinosaurs

Sounds like a plan. The Dino guys!

I love it.

Quick question - how are people finding the pace of the game - is it about right, too fast/slow - etc.

It’s working fine for me right now.

Rydell hasn’t posted in a week and that worries me, though.

The pace is good for me. I look forward to getting a little deeper into the story to get some good PC/PC or PC/NPC dialogue going!

works for me too

sorry all, been busy and forgot to submit a post.

No worries - glad to see you back.

Two quick questions about campaign style.

I assume you're not using the dice roller as a digital version of a gm screen is that correct?

Do you want to run without maps? I ask because I got giantslayer in a digital bundle, and have never opened it. It does mean I have access to the digital maps. If you wanted I would be happy to put together sides for combat so you don't have to.

@ Sid Not using dice roller am rolling dice manually.

Yeah if you can do the maps that'd be great

So I don't spoil stuff for myself if you Dm me pages I would happily put them together. I will put together the ones you have already posted this weekend.

What's the easiest way to send the stuff Direct message doesn't allow attachments as far as I can see.

DM me just the page numbers of the maps. I will make a google spreadsheet with all the player tokens and I will make it editable for the group. I will also put a bunch of tokes that we can use for enemies.

Nice Ok