GM Tyranius Giantslayer (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Wren snorts.

"There is a difference between that which the gods tell us, and that which we choose to believe in, Dwarf. Iomedae confirmed to both me and your brother of the danger of the beards...and it is your folly, not mine, that you choose to ignore it. It only hastens our fates," Wren gruffs back. "But that you have fist and goat to make up for what you lack in good sense at heeding good warning is nice. Gozreh, though I have always found his changes of her moods to be strange and jarring, I like that he favors you."

Wren walks on, pondering.

"Squats, I have been quiet of recent, but I have been watching. You have been slow to engage our enemies in every fight...is there some way to get you to engage more quickly with our foes? Is there a reason why you dally so?"

"I am not as fast as a yak." Rogzul growls in anger as the elf questions him. "So I tried to fly to the cyclops. My spear is stronger when the spirits grant me their gifts and I hoped to hold the trolls at bay."

"I did not expect the dwarves to react so quickly. It is still strange to fight along side them."

Once again the sun begins to set after a long days travel through the rocky valley. Though all is not a waste as near the end of the day the mountain flanks begin to draw together,creating a narrow pass that seems to be blocked by an impressive wall that spans the entire valley. Sloppily cemented stone and timber make up the wall, which contains a large archway in the center blocked by a massive portcullis of sharpened logs bound together with thick hemp rope. The wall is nearly 30 feet in height with an uneven surface all throughout.

Earlier, on the trail...

Overhearing Wren's conversation with Rogzul, Kraygan offers his own opinion on matters of tactics.

"Nevermind the elf." He snorts. "His contributions have consisted mostly o' sayin 'this won't work' or 'this is a good way ta die'. From what I've seen, ye've been doing jus' fine. With light armor, longspear, and magic, ye shouldn't charge in first. Ye recall what happened ta Jorgan against the cyclops? Well we all get decades o' trainin to dodge giant attacks, and sometimes even it it ain't enough. I'm sure he's reminded every time he scratches his hairy balls with his metal fingers. HAR!" Kraygan looks to his cousin with a barking laugh. "Listen up ye two. Let me an' Torgan lead the charge. We'll keep 'em busy long enough for ye to work yer magic and meet the enemy prepared."

To Torgan, he adds, "Speakin of which, we should train ye in ridin' attacks or get ye a proper lance. Chargin in with that hammer is leavin ye open."

***

At the wall...

"Balls." Kraygan takes in the fortified obstacle in their way. "Could be lots o' giants behind that. Wren, do ye think ye could scout it without bein seen?"

Wren looks at the portcullis, then at Kraygan.

"That won't work, dwarf," Wren opens, again surveying the portcullis and the walls around it, looking for a weakness for his magics to find purchase to create an opening.

Maybe I could shape the very stone to allow it to be opened easily? Or might fire burn through its embers? Hmm...

"This is a good way to die, dwarf," Wren opines again. He glances at Rogzul, the halforc who had grown wings in the past.

"Say, Flying Squats? Think you can do the first round of scouting? I can follow up if my magics are needed to breach the walls," Wren asks. "You should take a rope with you as well, in case we need to scale it to open it from the other side."

GM Ty: might stone shape (and a few selected dagger cuts) or a wall of fire work to gain entrance?

Stone shape could indeed reshape this wall as the majority of it is stone.

I was about to say that the description says the portcullis is sharpened logs and there is other wood in the structure as well:

Jorgan offers, "Well, I think I could warp that wooden porcullis and make us a door like I did at the other fort. Of if we find another place in the wall that's mostly wood I could do the same. That way we don't need to scale any walls and the animals can come with us."

Correct. The portcullis itself is made of all wood while the surrounding wall it is attached to is mostly stone with bits of wood.

Wren finally rends his verdict.

"Yeah, betwixt me and SilverThumb, we can magic our way through this. All we need to do first is make sure there isn't an ambush waiting for us on the other side. Who knows what might open the portcullis as we begin our work. We need scouting first," Wren casts an eye to Rogzul.

"Can we build another Trunau Yak?" Kraygan jokes. Or not.

"Can we build another Trunau Yak?" Kraygan jokes. Or not.

Jorgan grins and rubs his hands together, ready to get to work but his smile is wiped clean when he hears the grinding of elven teeth nearby.

"Now you need my dalliance?" Rog snarls at Wren as he commands Kashag into the sky to report what he sees.

"I will not waste the spirits gifts when my companion can scout just as easily."

He waits patiently for his bird to report back and discusses it's findings in a strange language that the hawk seems to understand.

Perception (Kashag): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Khashag takes to the air and sees that the valley widens on the opposite end. All traces of vegetation disappear, having been cut down of trampled into the dirt and mud. Plumes of smoke from countless campfires rise into the sky and loud, guttural speech and shouts fill the air in the distance.

Ahead a towering edifice of stone looms over the canyon, carved into the face of a mighty mountain. Between the sheltering slops of the surrounding peaks stretches a broad, muddy expanse where countless giants have set up makeshift camps. Wide roads of trampled earth traverse the valley floor, connecting the camps to smaller side canyons to both the north and south.

Below the cathedral, eager applicants attempting to join the Storm Tyrant’s army cram into the valley. Numerous ogres, trolls, and several varieties of giants have set up camp here, desperate for attention and waiting impatiently to prove their worth and be accepted. Most of the giants have clustered together with others of their own kind; while all have gathered here for the same reason, there is little love lost between the various giant species, and their encampments are widely spaced, with several hundred yards between them.

In the middle of the valley, dirt- and blood-splattered giants form a long, snaking column, pushing and shoving their way up the western side of the valley toward the great gates of the Cathedral of Minderhal. These giants—mostly hill giants, a few stone and cave giants, and a smattering of lesser giants (ettins, ogres, and trolls)—are all new recruits. Having proven themselves in the fighting pits. They wait for the chance to stand before the ancient forge in the cathedral and swear fealty their new liege lord, the Storm Tyrant.

More giants trudge along the roads crossing the valley floor. Those heading south drag loads of timber, herds of livestock, great sacks of provisions, and other supplies for the growing encampments of new recruits. The giants traveling north carry little but their own weapons. The giants number in the hundreds if not thousands Attacking them straight-out would be definite suicide.

Khashag turns back quickly as dozens of small drakes begin to leap from the ledges surrounding the Valley and begin to circle around the small hawk.

Wren shakes his head as Rogzul (presumably) relates what the bird saw.

"Hmm...maybe we should go around. We have little hope of battling through all that. It sounds like...many many," Wren is happy to be suicidal, but hopes for better odds to strike true.

"Jorgan, see if you can part the woods, while we consider our options."

"Do not fret Reluctant Prophet. We shall valiantly address the entirety of the Storm tyrant's Army and best them in combat." says Torgan as he takes a deep draught of his lambic, Steelkeg #6. [b]"I shall cut them down t' size!

After listening to Kashag's report, Rogzul updates the rest of the group, translating as best he can. He laughs at Wren's reservations.

"You said this mission was suicide elf. Meet your death bravely."

Rog nods approvingly at Torgan. "I will gladly help you cut these giants down but Kashag did not mention the human we seek, or the dragon."

The half-orc frowns, stroking the hawk absentmindedly as it sits on his arm. "I can not send him back to search or he may be attacked by the drakes."

Knowledge (geography): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Ah, the Cathedral of Minderhal. I never thought I would see it. The giants refer to the peak as Utgorheim. But to the business at hand, what about infiltration? Does anyone else speak Giant? It was embarassingly easy to learn, mostly grunts and gestures. Do we have any way to disguise ourselves? Not that I fancy looking like one of them ugly bastards, but it's an idea. That or we need to find a quiet place to sneak in and start slitting throats one at a time."

Wren listens to Jorgan, but also notes that the portcullis still looms like an unbreached barrier.

"Yes, that may be the Cathedral, but where do we go from here?" Wren thinks. "I cannot conceals ourselves from all that. Even if I could, not sure it would be a good idea. So...what?"

GM Ty, what are the options here?

"I kin speak giant." Kraygan nods to Jorgan. "I got a few potions that could make some of us nearly giant-sized, but I don't know if it'd last long enough to get us far. And that's a lot o' giants ta deal with if a disguise fails."

Scratching at his beard, he slumps in his saddle a bit. "Maybe we should withdraw. See if there is another approach to the Cathedral?"

GM Ty, what are the options here?

Basically all you can tell at this point from the birds eye view is what is above along with hundreds if not thousands of giants spread out across a 16 mile stretch. 1 inch on the map is roughly 8 miles. You may be able to gleam a little more getting closer and observing for a bit. Once you get through the gate that is.

I guess we'll just have to get past the wall and see what happens.
GM: can you put a distance marker on the map that represents 1 inch (8 miles)?

Yea, let me rip one off the actual map. The one paizo sends to edit off traps and such takes all that off. It should be up now.

I guess we'll just have to get past the wall and see what happens.

GM: can you put a distance marker on the map that represents 1 inch (8 miles)?

Or there could possibly be another way in somewhere in the mountains also. but who knows. :). This is a very sandboxy part. Lots of different routes this could go.

All up to you guys what you wish to do.

Ok, the scale is a bit smaller then I thought. I'll stick with my first impression. Let's back off and explore more of the map.

Kraygan shakes his head trying to imagine the numbers of reported giants.

"Hun'reds... perhaps a thousand. Even if the bird's numbers r' way off, it's too many. We could take maybe a dozen at a time, but they got a dragon up there somewhere too. Let's look for a wand'rin patrol to interrogate, or a cave system to approach from below."

"I say we jus' attack them head on. The boldness o' our actions'll keep us safe an' we will take thousands o' giants t' their graves." Torgan asserts with a smile on his beardless face.

Rog laughs as Torgan preaches rushing head first into the Giant army.
"To battle! I agree, but first we must pass this wall or find another way around. We might find an easier entrance somewhere else in these mountains. If we don't, we can come back here and force our way in." Unless anyone has a better idea he starts back the way they came, picking the trail back up and looking for where the paths had diverged.

Let me know how you guys wanna take care of the gate or if you choose to go explore a different trail just place the x near which off shoot you want to check out.

"We need t' know more, and have a better plan, before crossin that wall." Kraygan wheels Haggis about to head back east. "Let's backtrack n' see what else is about in these mountains."

The map doesn't have editing permission yet. I say we head back north and take the first eastern trail.

"I say we head back north and take the first eastern trail," Wren says, daring Kraygan to challenge him. "We can't take them all on. There isn't enough magic in all of Kyonin for that."

Wren begins to move to the north. If Jorgan had wanted to bypass the gate, he would have already.

"Let's go."

Turning away from the giant recruitment camp the group heads down the first path leading east that they come across. Though the path only heads east for about a mile before it cuts sharply south.

The boulder strewn slopes of the mountains on either side of the valley give way to a series of jagged ravines that seem to split the valley floor. A tremendous stone bridge arches over the widest of these gorges, connecting to a worn path on the far side.

Standing at the end of the bridge look to be two giant stone statues, though upon closer examination it seems as if the statues are moving and breathing. Their bodies look to be chiseled from the mountain itself.

It looks as if they may be guarding the bridge stopping anyone from entering the area beyond. The bridge spans 200 feet in length as it covers a 100 foot deep gorge. The huge arch looks to be stable enough to cross. The giants have not noticed you approaching yet as they seem to be in the middle of a discussion and tossing boulders down the gorge to pass the time.

You are roughly 50 feet off the map still at this point as you approach the bridge. The dirt road you see on the map is actually all bridge as there is no good map for this encounter. Each square is 10 feet.

Knowledge Local + Student of Giantkind: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18

"Stone giants." Kraygan grumbles.

GM: Any useful knowledge about them that might help us here?

You get 1 question. Anything special you want to know about or just something at random?

Let's go for something random.

"Hmm.." Kraygan strokes his beard in thought for a moment, hoping to recall something useful about this race of giants.

Kraygan knows that they can see quite well in darkness and are able to hurl large boulders across long distances.

"As far as I recall, they're pretty much just like other giants." Kraygan finally says with a shrug. "Wren, do ye think ye could sneak close enough to hear what they're sayin?"

Are they speaking giant or common? Can Wren speak giant?

It is difficult to make out what they are saying exactly as you are over 200 feet away, though it does seem to be in giant.

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 Know (Local)

Wren tries to stop the yakkenhorde before they trip over the giants.

"Stone giants. That ain't good. No telling what parts of my body they'll eat first," Wren grumbles. "Well, the good news that this bridge has several hundred fewer giants guarding it than the other way. Also, it's good that they are on the far side, not the near. Hmm..."

Wren ponders, but if given the choice, he'd probably start shooting them from here, trying to get them to come over the bridge into the charging hooves of the dwarvenhorde.

"I do not speak their language, Kray," Wren answers, wishing he could but he had already tainted his tongue with dwarf and orc, something he disliked. The grunting family of languages (dwarven, orcish, and the like) tended to simultaneously hurt his jaw and dehydrate him with the amount of angry, grunting spit that need be expelled.

Wren unlumbers his bow and readies to shoot some giant.

"I can speak giant, but I don't know if I can listen in without them spotting me first." Rogzul offers, knowing from experience that stealth is not a strength of his.

"We could just beat them and force them to answer our questions." He draws his longspear and prepares for a more straightforward approach.

"I kin speak it," Kraygan says, "but I got even less chance o' sneakin up on em."

Considering a moment, he asks Rogzul, "I seen ye use magic t' make yerself as big as a giant. Kin ye do th' same fer me? With my helm on, and at a distance, I might pass fer one long enough t' ask em directions to the Cathedral, and why they are guardin this bridge."

Sorry, another two long days finishing up our sidewalk project. Hand-mixed and poured about 4000 lbs of concrete this weekend. It's 98% done though and looks great. Huge improvement to our front-yard landscape.

"Also, it's good that they are on the far side, not the near. Hmm..."

"How is that a good thing?" Jorgan interjects. "In case you've forgotten, they can hurl boulders. As far as I know, none of us has that skill. If you're going to start firing, then we're gonna make a charge across that bridge before they can even pick up a pebble."

"That might work."

Rogzul produces his wand and taps Kraygan.

"If we make this a habit I can start disguising you as a giant magically."

"Anyone else? If this works maybe we can get enough of you across that why won't be hurling boulders at the rest."

"How is that a good thing?" Jorgan interjects. "In case you've forgotten, they can hurl boulders. As far as I know, none of us has that skill. If you're going to start firing, then we're gonna make a charge across that bridge before they can even pick up a pebble."

Wren snorks, laughing at the dwarf.

"You forget that I am likely of better aim than they are and quicker about it as well. There are more of us that can shoot at them than the reverse. Plus, do not forget the lessons of the 4-ogre-fire," Wren chides. "I would happily trade arrow and boulder with them while I would not wish them close. One of their fists on me is the end of this elf."

"All I'm 'earing is ye need a front man." Torgan says as he slams his chest with his fist. "Let's go Malt! TALLY HO!" he bellows as he draws Agrimmosh and Brinya's Love and kicks his heels into the yak.

Torgan is ready to go into rounds but won't charge ahead of the group too far. So maybe 30' this time?

In the process of being enlarged by Rogzul, Kraygan thrusts his lance out before Too-eager Torgan.

"I'm goin first. Take the lance and be ready to charge after I'm done takin to em."

Leaving his lance, and Haggis, behind, Kraygan stomps out onto into view and approaches the bridge.

Steeping out into view on the bridge, well enlarged though still a bit of a runt compared to giant standards he seems to catch their attention. One of the stone giants slowly taps the other on the shoulder pointing down the far end of the bridge. They stand up and each grasp a boulder as one hollers out in a deep gravely voice that sounds like two stone clashing together. Normally it would still be difficult to hear at this distance but the voices seem to echo and reverberate across the gorge and valley's walls.

Give me a disguise check Kraygan.

URATASH SENDING NEW GUARDS ALREADY? WHERE IS YOUR PARTNER?

Wren moves for a clear firing range as the dwarf moves up to muck things up. He circles the long way around (from the north on the map) before sneaking closer via the trees.

Dwarf-giant Kraygan stops at the bridge and holds up a hand and calls back. "WAT!? THIS NOT WAY TO MOUNTAIN CHURCH!?"

Disguise: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (10) - 3 = 7 I'm hoping there are modifiers for size and language?

Of course and also for distance since it is now dark and both of your vision is only good to about 60 feet out. Though a 7 is still pretty rough. Will give +10 for distance and +3 for language, +3 for size. for a total of +16.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

The stone giant lets out a heavy sigh as he seems to have answered this question a dozen times.

NO! CATHEDRAL IS BEHIND YOU TO THE SOUTH. GO SEE THE RECRUITER!

Small rocks and loose dirt shake loose with the sound of his gruff voice.

"THIS NOT SOUTH!?" Kraygan calls back. Pointing beyond the stone giants, he asks. "WHAT IS THIS WAY THEN?!"